The "Three Step": DEBUNKED!

Now don't get me wrong on this one, I like clinique-- i really do. But I gotta be honest, i have not exactly "drunk the koolaid" as far as loyalty goes. Recently, as I have previously mentioned, i became a shiseido convert. This expenditure, however, was not exactly small, so I have decided to rationalize it a little bit.In addition to this fact, I had a discussion with a good friend and coworker of mine just a few weeks ago about the silliness of the so called "three step" because if you use all the things clinique would like you to in your skincare regime the cost would increase dramatically.I will elaborate: C tells you that in order to get the most effective use of your cleanser you have to remove your makeup first... using another cleanser.

After washing your face twice, you are supposed to exfoliate. And while the clarifying lotion is the basic exfoliator,  you are supposed to enhance the effects with turnaround concentrate.

Following your exfoliation is the moisturizer. Use the basic dramatically different lotion/gel and you will find that your face is without sun screen and/or any major benefit you might want from your moisturizer (e.g. anti-aging, de-aging, antioxidants, etc.) for this you will need a "booster moisturizer" as a supplement.

Beyond these things, and this goes for all skincare, you need an eye makeup remover and an eye cream.

let's tally it up.

C bills their 3-step as costing between 53 dollars and 56.50, depending on your need of pumps and liquid/bar soap.

Here is the run down:

Take the Day Off (Eye M.u. remover): 16.50

Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser: 17.50

Facial soap: 10.50 (bar w.o dish)/ 14.50 (liquid)

Clarifying Lotion: 19.00/19.50 (w. pump)

Turnaround Concentrate: 36.50

DDML/DDMG: 21.50 (w.o pump)/ 23.00 (with)

"Booster" Moisturizer: 32-48.50 

Eye Cream: 27.50-38.50

whew.

*drum roll please!*

181-214.50!

YIKES!

Not only did you drop 2 bills on your skin but you also have EIGHT steps, not THREE.

Debunk-tion complete.

to be fair, the investment is worth it, by all means. I do, however, have a problem with the idea that this plan is the "exception" to the accessibility of department store products. This is not affordable to everyone, get over it.

That said, I was in meijer last week perusing the cosmetics when i came upon the Olay "definity" stuff, and all the other new intensive aging products from meijer, which to my surprise, ran about 25-30 dollars a piece.

So you decide. What's the difference? IS there a difference?

At the end of the day, clinique has the right idea, although it is by no means unique to this line. Cleanse.exfoliate.moisturize.

Any good skincare will have those three aspects.  I can't tell you what to use, but I can tell you what to do... So do it!