Clinique 3-Step Review

clinique 3 step

First off, let me say that the Clinique 3-Step (~$50) is a waste of money. For those who don’t know what it is, basically it breaks down your facial routine into 3 easy steps. Step 1: Use the liquid facial soap to wash your face (there are two available options for the facial soap, one for oily skin and another for dry skin). Step 2: Apply clarifying lotion on a cotton pad and gently wipe your face and neck. Step 3: Squeeze 1-2 pumps of the moisturizing gel (there are also two available options for the moisturizer, gel and lotion).

I bought the Clinique 3-Step Set for combination oily to oily skin types. Typically when using the product, I would use a separate make-up remover since the facial soap alone didn’t do the job for me. I used the facial soap (step 1) twice a day, once in the morning and again before bed. I limited the clarifying lotion (step 2) to only once a night after washing my face. As for the moisturizing gel (step 3), I applied it only once in the morning after washing my face.

Here are the levels of each of my products after consistently using each everyday for 3 months.

clinique 3 step

Let me share with you my thoughts about each step individually

STEP 1:
Before using the product, I had very clear skin with no acne. But for some reason, right when I started using the Clinique 3-Step, I began breaking out. What was causing me to break out was the liquid facial soap. Right when I finished the entire bottle of liquid facial soap, and had switched back to the face wash I was using before, all of my acne disappeared! I’m pretty sure the Clinique facial soap was the cause of it. However, I do also know that this product works for others. But as for me, it was quite the opposite.

STEP 2:
I’m pretty sure that the clarifying lotion doesn’t do anything. Sure it looks like you are cleaning your skin because a little color/dirt rubs off onto the cotton pad, but B.S. It’s all a lie and utterly useless! In fact, this is very similar to rubbing alcohol all over your face. It is very drying and probably does more damage than good.

STEP 3:
This is the only product out of the Clinique 3-Step that is worth the money. But keep in mind, this is a review of the moisturizing gel. It’s friggin’ awesome! Doesn’t make you oily, and it also does the job in giving your skin the moisture it needs. Also doesn’t cause breakouts. So A+ for the moisturizer in GEL formula.

Clinique 3-Step for Oily Combination to Oily Skin Rating: ★★
– as a whole, this 3-step system fails.. but I would rate the moisturizing gel alone 5/5  stars
– step 1 & 2 were both very, very drying
– liquid facial soap causes breakouts for me and didn’t remove makeup
–  I felt like I was putting too many harmful products on my face
– unnecessary
– will buy the moisturizing gel again, but not the other steps..

6 Replies to “Clinique 3-Step Review”

  1. Hi, I am having the same problems with the 3-step causing me to break out. Could you please let me know what face wash you were using before (and after) that you were not having problems with? Thanks!

    1. Hi Ashley! I used the Biore blemish fighting ice cleanser. You can buy it from amazon, but I you can get it for cheaper at a drugstore or at Walmart. Hope this helps you! I recently recommended this to a friend of mine and she said it helped her a lot, too.

  2. I’m having somewhat of the same problem you were. I was matched up with the oily skin formula 3 step which I knew was wrong in the first place because I do not have oily skin! So I went back in and they told me to go down to the dry combination skin type, I tried it for the first time and my skin was burning so bad from it, I had to wash it off. Now my face is a mess and won’t stop breaking out because of the oily soap and the clarifying lotion 3.

    1. dang that really sucks… yea, my skin was REALLY good before i started using this product. i started using clinique because i thought to myself, it must be good cause it’s clinique!! sooo wrong. i actually still have the clarifying lotion 3 and i hate it each time i try to use it again! LOL, i don’t know why i try it every now and then, but i am FINALLY going to toss it! every time i use it, it makes my skin look super shiny and that shine is so hard to get rid of. i recommend that you stop using the product if you haven’t already 🙂

  3. Hi dear!! I had suffered from acne all my life, but finally my acne clear out.
    Clinique told me to start using the three step for oily skin. My oil hasbt been control much, but i dont care about that. My skin started to break out again :((((
    They told me that is natural at first then it will get better. I been using this product for
    Two weeks. So should i give it time and see if it works?
    What do you recomend?
    Thankyou!

    1. Kathy~ aww i’m sorry to hear that your skin has started to break out again 🙁 That always sucks. it’s really up to you if you want to keep using your Clinique 3 Step products. Maybe you can try complaining and returning it? Or give it away to someone else that it might work for.. I like the lotion a lot, and I think I actually finished the face wash. I just recently threw away what was left of my clarifying lotion. I’m kinda cheap and I tend to use up all my products, even if they don’t work well (bad habit).

      Currently, I am using (actually experimenting with) Clean & Clear ADVANTAGE 3-In-1 Exfoliating Cleanser, 5 Ounce and Clean and Clear Advantage Oil-Absorbing Cream Cleanser, 5 Ounce. I’m using one in the morning and the other one at night.. I can’t say much about these two products since I haven’t been using it for very long…

      But I do truly love the Biore Pore Perfect Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser, Cools & Clears , 6.7 fl oz (198 ml). You can find it on Amazon.. This has been the best product for me personally.

      Hope this helps! Good luck to you Kathy!

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