Just because something sells very well, does NOT mean the quality of the product is any good.
Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is a prime example of a product that remains on the market simply because it sells so very well. Let me be clear—from an ingredient perspective, a performance perspective, and a quality perspective, this product could not be more outdated a formula if it tried.
Introduced in 1971, this product has not had a single change in its formula since its inception. In forty-two years, there have been a great many technological strides made in the world of consumer cosmetics that make this product so outdated. I am not sure what the appeal actually is, except maybe for nostalgia. Many people fondly remember this product from childhood and have continued to use it as time has gone on. Indeed, some 16,300 bottles are sold every day of this product, worldwide! At $43CDN a bottle, that is over $700,000 a day in sales. That is $256 million per year in sales. That certainly ranks as a best-seller, by anyone's standards.
Let me say, this product is so not worth a single penny paid for it. It is neither inexpensive nor does it contain any important ingredients known to benefit the skin.
Here is the entire ingredient list:
Water, Mineral Oil, Sesame Oil, Propylene Glycol, TEA Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lanolin Alcohol, Petrolatum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Red #33
Of these ingredients, we can immediately dismiss (because they are not active ingredients that do anything for skin health):
Water: All lotions are an aqueous solution. This means the ingredients have been dissolved in water. All creams and lotions are made this way.
Propylene Glycol: This is simply a carrier that allows the active ingredients to penetrate the skin.
TEA Stearate: An ingredient used to create opaqueness in the formula.
Glyceryl Stearate: An emulsifier.
Lanolin Alcohol: A thickening agent.
Methylparaben, Propylparaben: Preservatives to prevent fungal growth in aqueous solutions.
Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Red #33: Colour additives that do nothing except create the yellow shade of the product.
So, almost 77% of the formula does nothing to improve the quality or health of the skin.
That leaves the remaining ingredients, which are the actives, to provide some benefit to the overall health of the skin:
Mineral Oil and Petrolatum: Two inexpensive by-products of petroleum. Yes, petroleum. These ingredients are occlusive (that is why so many people get clogged pores when using petroleum-based ingredients), and unless very specifically refined, contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. PAHs are known carcinogens. You may recall back in 2007, when many baby products were recalled for containing 1, 4 dioxane, because it is a group 2B carcinogen. Guess what contains 1, 4 dioxane when not refined under very specific conditions? Yep, mineral oil and petrolatum.
Sesame Oil: The only ingredient in this formula that is great for your skin. With the same molecular structure as a human lipid, it will provide moisture, prevent water evaporation, and leave a wonderful soft and supple texture on the surface of the skin.
That's it. No vitamins, no peptides, no exfoliators, no sunscreen, no trace minerals—absolutely nothing to help improve the overall health of the skin. The main actives actually have been shown to cause skin and health problems.
This formula is outdated, completely not in line with what is known for skin health, and, quite frankly, a waste of hard earned money.
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