When I stumbled across the new Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly online, I did something unprecedented for me. I contacted the local Clinique people and pretty much brazenly asked if I could have a go. There was one reason why I found it so eye-catching.
Its aesthetics.
You must admit that you too would have done a double-take upon seeing this clear bottle. Most of us would be familiar with Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion, affectionately known as DDML. The bottle with the yellow lotion moisturiser would have accompanied many a teen on their skincare journey. That said, I didn’t use it LOL! I never tried it till much much later.
And if I’m to be honest, I hated DDML. It broke me out when I thought I could not break out anymore. I tried different textures, and it was the same. Meh. Naturally therefore, when Clinique generously handed me a bottle of Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly to try for myself, it was with a little trepidation on their part. I don’t fault them for I am also known to be caustic when things don’t work out 😛
Happily for both of us, I am quite quite happy with the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly 🙂 However, I will have a few caveats that anyone contemplating this product should bear in mind.
The Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly is targeted at those with oily skin types, hence the gel texture. This is a true gel, not the gel-cream of Moisture Surge. The texture is very very light, and for me, unless you have very very oily skin that cannot tolerate any heavier form of moisturiser, this is really too light to use as a moisturising product.
What it is however, is a very decent hydrating serum.
The key ingredient in the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly is our old friend, hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is key in all moisturising products, because it is known to be a moisture magnet that can hold up to 1000 times its weight. When used in skincare, it draws and retains moisture in your skin so skin remains plumped and hydrated. The other benefit is also that it helps protect skin against pollution.
While Clinique now talks about their Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly as an anti-pollution product, I won’t really focus on that. The reason is because it’s something we can’t see and we won’t be able to judge how it performs. If it works, great! Living in the city, I can do with pollution protection. But it isn’t something I can judge for myself. What is visible however, is the hydration benefits.
Having dry skin, I use the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly as a hydrating serum. Just one pump, smoothed all over my skin.
It pumps out a clear jelly, just as it looks in the bottle. For me, this is incredibly fun. Also, The pump is great, because you don’t have to mess around with droppers or a liquid lotion. On contact with skin, it does become a little more runny, but nothing that you can’t easily handle.
I have read of people who find this too sticky, and I don’t really get it, because it does not feel remotely sticky on my skin. That said however, products that have high hyaluronic acid content do tend to be feel a little more sticky on the skin initially (see the Hada Labo lotion). The trick is in how to use it which you can read here, or if you’re lazy to read, is about patting and pressing it into your skin. The pressing motion relieves the stickiness, and leaves your skin plumped with hydration.
If you think about the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly as a hydrating serum, it takes on far better value for money than as a moisturiser. Because it is marketed as a moisturiser, it comes in a large 125ml bottle. By any reckoning, this is good value, when most serums come in at the 50ml mark.
In terms of performance, I find it satisfactory, speaking as someone with dry skin who is perpetually on the hunt for moisture. I do use the moisture sandwich method, so this fits in quite nicely as a cushion of hydration under serums and creams. It sinks right into my skin with no reside whatsoever, and without any sticky feeling I might add. In fact, if the Hada Labo lotions tire you, this is an acceptable substitute, because there is far less work involved. I sometimes use both in my routine, but that’s because I’m just kiasu like that 😛
As a hydrating serum, I think it is very decent, easy to use and excellent value. As a moisturiser however, I am not so convinced, as my personal view is that it is far too light, and due to the properties of hyaluronic acid, you should really be using this on damp skin, and with something else. Otherwise, what is it going to grab onto to deliver moisture? In this instance, I feel that understanding the product is as important as selling it to the masses, whether you be the brand marketing people, or an influencer trying to influence your followers 🙂
IN A NUTSHELL
The Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly is a brand new very lightweight gel textured moisturiser. It might work as a moisturiser on very oily skin, but otherwise I’d posit that this is a very acceptable hydrating serum. This is due to the fact that its key ingredient is hyaluronic acid to attract moisture and retain it. Used as a hydration serum, I find it helps my dry skin retain hydration and remain hydrated through the day. I do use it only as one of my layers of skincare, not on its own. It feels comfortable, absorbs almost instantly and helps my skin stay hydrated, which for me is very important. I don’t find it sticky nor greasy and the pump dispenses just the right amount per use. This is a pretty decent product, just not as moisturiser, in my view.
HOW TO USE: (short method) Cleanse -> Acid tone (optional) -> Facial Mist/Hydrating Toner -> Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly -> Moisturiser
PROS: Affordable, Pump dispenses right amount of product, Makes a good hydration serum for layering under moisturiser, Very lightweight texture, Absorbs easily and quickly into skin, Keeps skin feeling hydrated all day without feeling sticky, Aesthetically pleasing
CONS: Too light for a moisturiser
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone with extremely oily skin who cannot tolerate lotion moisturiser, Anyone who wants a hydrating serum that is pretty affordable
PRICE: RM147 | US$28 | £31 | S$60 for 125ml
WHERE TO BUY: Clinique counters and stores and website, Sephora, Feelunique, Ulta, Asos
Here is the ingredient list for the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly.
Water\Aqua\Eau, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Hypnea Musciformis (Algae) Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D’Orge, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Sucrose, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Sorbitol, Sodium Polyaspartate, Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Trehalose, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol
Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly vs Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate
Let me pre-empt this question 😛 Some of you may be wondering how this DDHJ fares as compared to the Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate. Well firstly, DDHJ is marketed as a moisturiser and can thus be used on its own, while the MSHSC is a serum to be used with other products. That’s your primary difference even if the MSHSC is also a moisturiser. Confused yet? 😛
Second, as a hydration serum, MSHSC is more effective for me being lighter in texture and seemingly more plumping. However, it is also pricier, costing more for less product. I detect a faint metallic scent in MSHSC which is not present in the DDHJ, that smells like nothing at all. Also, MSHSC contains colour to give it its signature peach hue. DDHJ is colourless, and I prefer that.
If I were picking a moisturiser, I’d pick the DDHJ. If I were picking a serum, I’d pick either one. But if I were on a budget I’d go with DDHJ because you’d get much much more for your buck, and a nice boost of hydration to boot!
Has the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly caught your eye?
I’m sure the transparent jelly in the bottle has made you pause at one time or another! Let me know if you’ve tried it – I think they also sell deluxe sample sized tubes or you can always ask for samples 😉
Paris B
Ahh I was wondering if you were going to review this. I’ve only tried this out in the shops and agree that it feels a lot more serum-y than moisturising for me. Having said that, if I had used this when I was a teenager (if I was a rich teenager that is, which I wasn’t because hello Biore only), I would have loved it as a moisturiser. I used the DDML faithfully for years in my late teens (GWP hand me downs from mum. Remember those cute wee yellow sample sized bottles?). To be honest I didn’t like it much because I wasn’t a fan of the scent. This I would have jumped on right away.
I’m keen on using this as my HA serum. Value-wise, I think it’s a winner.
Normally, I wouldn’t have because of the whole DDML fiasco previously LOL! But I have to admit that it’s very interesting. You know the irony? The price of this today isn’t as prohibitive for a teen (or a mom buying for a teen) than it was during our time. Perhaps it’s because prices of skincare in general have gone up so suddenly this seems “affordable”. And yes, I remember the DDML samples. Clinique always had some of the best and cutest samples around! And very generous too!
Yes, I would definitely use this as a hydrating serum, layered with lots of facial mist, but then seal in the goodness with a moisturizer.
I am wary of this whole “anti-pollution city life” concept. In the old days, we used to call it “gentle, yet thorough cleansing, antioxidants, and sunscreen”. It’s a marketing fad, IMHO. 🙂
LOL That’s just how I’m using it Maja! Great minds and all that 😀 I am as sceptical of the whole anti-pollution trend as you are. In my view, it’s just an off-shoot of skincare with antioxidants. Any product with anti-oxidants would be “anti-pollution”! 🙂
I want to try this product mostly because of its aesthetic (SO minimalistic! It’ll make me feel like a minimalist even though we all know I’m not one LOL).
I would try the ‘travel’ sized version first, before forking out for the gigantic bottle. I LOVE that so many brands (both skincare and makeup) are releasing more and more travel sized products 🙂
Yes, that’s exactly how I felt Sylvia! I just HAD to have it because it looked good haha! I saw they sell smaller 50ml sizes online, but in tubes. You will lose the aesthetic, but hey, you still get to try it for a lot less! And I love the deluxe travel sizes too! I don’t mind that they’re for sale, because sometimes, you don’t really need the full size just to “try” do you? And it allows you to bring your favourite products on holiday too!
I am confused now. Currently I am using moisture surge 72 hours as serum also as i feel using it as moisturiser alone is not sufficient. Sometimes, I even use the Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate then follow up with moisture surge 72 hours and moisturizer as I always feel my skin is dehydrated. So among these 3 products, which would you recommend as serum and have the best hydrating effect?
In your case, either one can be the serum LOL! To be honest, I feel that these 3 items – DDHJ, Moisture Surge 72 hours and the MSHSC do roughly the same thing. I’d go with either the DDHJ or the MSHSC for a serum because they have a more serumy texture and absorb better. MSHSC does seem to hydrate a wee bit better, if I’m being picky, but for me DDHJ does the job. It might be because I layer so many hydrating and moisturising products too. If your skin feels very dehydrated all the time, try my moisture sandwich method – it’s quite a game changer! 🙂
This looks so pure and refreshing – very tempted to try it although I still have a brand new bottle of DDML in my drawer. Why do I only have one face? Ha Ha. There are so many things I want to use right now. LOL!
Join the club! I am itching to put a ton of stuff on my face but forcing myself to wait LOL! The good thing about skincare (unlike makeup) is that it is mostly permanent, so there’s time yet! Does DDML work for you? I find the bottle so big, which is great value, but a bummer when you want to try something new cos it never seems to finish LOL!
The DDML is still brand new and unopened. It’s queuing for its turn to be used. 🙂
I’d used DDML when I was in my teens or 20s and remember I didn’t love it. I’m curious to know whether my skin 20 years later would love it better. Anyway, this new DDML was part of a holiday set that I’ve acquired last year. I would probably not have purchased DDML on its own.