Review: Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Colour Corrector

I was super excited about this product. However, I am not sure what to say about the CC Cream yet. In early spring I have light skin with pink undertones and very light freckling but not nearly as light as porcelain or ivory. I was told to use the level 2 shade, “light” which I think is technically correct. I’ve been giving it a try this week. Upon first application, I was horrified. The color was much too dark and very beige on my complexion. I used a normal amount as I would any other sunscreen. I tried evening it out with an application sponge but that didn’t help the color at all so I even tried getting some of it off with a tiny bit of water (something I wouldn’t normally want to do because of the lost sunscreen benefits.)

I know that technically there is an ideal amount of sunscreen you want to use in order to get the full protection offered. I have had more luck the past couple days using much less of this but I feel like for how little I am able to wear without it looking really weird I need to be wearing another 15-30 SPF underneath it (I live at over 7000 feet elevation, where sunscreen is an absolute must.) I also found that wearing a lighter/fairer powder foundation and mineral veil over this helps diminish some of the overwhelming beige color of the product but I am pretty sure I am stuck between the two lightest colors in terms of ideal shade. Last of all, I am surprised that compared to the “glowing” before and after pictures of the women pictured for this product who have perfectly moist and hydrated skin, I did not find this product very hydrating at all. In fact it goes on a little dry and pasty compared to what I was expecting with a Moisture Surge product.

I mixed a pump of the DDML Gel with it to even get it over my face; otherwise this is way to thick to spread comfortably (another negative for the possible sunscreen benefits.) Overall, I’m going to keep trying to make this work over the next week but am not sure I am keeping it or repurchasing it yet. I still gave it 4 stars instead of 3 because the idea is good, and if you have a more hydrated/oilier skin and can find a shade that matches well it probably is a good product on its own. I will always need another moisturizer with this if I stick with it, which doesn’t seem to match the media hype surrounding this product.

Pros

• pretty good coverage
• makes my face look dewy and radiant
• feels very light-weight on my skin
• helps reduce the redness on my face and makes my face look smoother and younger

Cons

• test out colors in the store. There isn’t a huge color selection so you need to make sure the color you choose works for your skintone
• this is a slightly oily formula so you may need to use extra setting powder to tone down the shine
• people with super oily skin may want to test this out first to see if they like it
• I still needed to use concealer to cover the redness around my nose

 Suggested Usage:
-Every morning, apply to clean skin after 3-Step Skin Care and treatment serums.
-Smooth evenly over entire face, or just to areas of concern.
-Wear alone or under foundation.
-For gentle, efficient removal, use any Clinique makeup remover.

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Ingredients:

Active Igredients: Octinoxate 7.5% Octisalate 5.0% Titanium dioxide 5.2% Zinc Oxide 3.2%. Inactive Igredients: water, squalane, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, butylene glycol, propanediol, blyceryl stearate, behenyl alcohol, peg-40 stearate, polyglyceryl-10 pentastearate, aloe barbadensis leaf water, thermus thermophillus ferment, treahalose, daffeine, glycerin, linoleic acid, lecithin, stearic acid, hydrogenated lecithin, sorbitol, polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, tocopheryl acetate, ammonium acryloldimenthyltaurate/vp copolymer, sodium stearoyl lactylate, sodium hyaluronate, tetrahexyldecyl ascrobate, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, isopropyl titanium triisostearate, synthetic fluorphlogopite, santhan gum, silica, alumina, sodium dehydroacetate, tin oxide, disodium, edta, phenoxyethanol, (+/- mica, titanium dioxide (ci 77891) iron oxides (ci 77492) iron dixides (ci 77491) iron oxides (ci 77499))

What it is:
An oil-free, color-correcting, perfecting formula to create a natural glow while hydrating and protecting the skin.

What it is formulated to do:
This must-have color-correcting formula smooths the complexion and creates an ultra natural radiance. It instantly corrects a range of complexion concerns including dullness, sallowness, and redness. Perfect for wearing alone or under foundation and recommended for all skin types, the lightweight, oil-free cream moisturizes and protects with sunscreen, leaving the skin soft, fresh, and flawless.

Bottom line? This CC Cream is lightweight and oil free and should not cause any clogged pores or acne. You may want to try a sample at your local store first before purchasing to make sure it suits your skin and doesn’t cause any breakouts…