A with most great battles throughout the ages, there are rarely any real winners. This is how I’ve always felt when it comes to the issue of my skin. The beauty industry likes to neatly compartmentalise us into skintypes, it makes it easier for them to sell us the products they think we need and it gives us a sense of understanding and order in our already chaotic lives – it serves a purpose. The problem is that many of us don’t neatly fit into those prescribed compartments, it’s not that they’re irrelevant to us… it’s just that they don’t provide the full solution.
I’ve always described my skin as dry. This is because I get flaky skin in the winter (despite exfoliating), visible flakes around my nose and chin whatever the weather when I wear a foundation that my skin won’t tolerate, and a tightening sensation after cleansing with any type of water. I’m loathe to describe it as sensitive, because although I do have redness, I never get reactions or burning sensations when applying products (and I’ve tried a lot!). That’s all pretty standard so far, but the thing is… these areas are at the same time oil-slicks by lunchtime! How is that even fair?
I pretty much tolerate it because it can be blotted, and I know it’s not as bad as people with true oily skin get… I only need to blot a couple of times a day for example, but surely that I, with all my flakes… shouldn’t have to blot at all!
That was quite a lengthy introduction but it seemed important to express how I feel about my skintype because the product that I’ve been trying for a few weeks has proven itself to be perfectly suited to my particular concerns.
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay-Matte Hydrator is an instant skin mattifier with an oil-free formula that importantly (for people like me) promises to supply necessary hydration to the affected area. In the past, I haven’t had huge amounts of success with Clinique skincare, I’ve found that it pampers to the extremes and I know that some oilier-skinned types really adore the classic 3-step skincare system, but I found that it simply eft my skin feeling uncomfortably tight.
The Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay Matte Hydrator has a lightweight formula and I only need to use a small amount across my t-zone once my moisturiser has been given five minutes to settle. It’s priced at £32 for 50ml which isn’t unreasonable for the quantity but judging by the rate I’m getting through the bottle, I’d prefer to pay £16 for 25ml you know?
I’ve found that my t-zone remains far more matte throughout the day since using this, which has had the wonderful side-effect of not seeing my foundation slip from my nose as the day wears on. I can’t say that I’ve noticed any particular improvement in pore-refinement but my “dry” skin is remaining comfortable despite using this and I’m not experiencing any additional flakiness.
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay Matte Hydrator is available to buy on counter and online at clinique.co.uk priced at £32 for 50ml
Does your skintype fit neatly into the dry/oily/combination compartments?
* press sample
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