Clinique

Clinique is one of the world's largest supplier of prestige makeup and fragrance products. It was launched by Estée Lauder Inc. and premiered to the public at Saks Fifth Avenue in August 1968.

History

In 1968, magazine editor Carol Phillips had consulted with Park Avenue dermatologist Dr. Norman Orentreich for an article titled "Can Great Skin Be Created?". The article caught the attention of Estee Lauder and Dr. Orentreich was brought onboard to help create the first Dermatologist developed skincare line. There is an unsettled debate as to whether Charles Revson stole Lauder's idea when he created Etherea (a line with an identical premise as Clinique), or whether it was the other way around – Etherea and Clinique debuted at the same time. Clinique was at that time different from most cosmetic companies in that its goal was to meet individual skin care needs by categorizing skin types. Its lower prices can be thought of Estée Lauder's budget line when compared to other Lauder divisions like Prescriptives, Origins, or Estée Lauder's own line.

Skin care

3-Step Skin Care system. Clinique was originally based on a 3-Step Skin Care System. The steps are

1. Cleansing using a facial bar soap
2. Exfoliating using a liquid exfoliator, called Clarifying Lotion
3. Moisturizing with the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.

These steps are to be repeated in the morning and the evening. Since Clinique categorizes skin types, the elements in all three steps of the 3-Step System are tailored for these different types.

The soap was originally available in either mild or extra-strength formulas; by 1998 Clinique introduced an extra-mild version, for drier skins. These are tallow based bar soaps that are french milled to make them last much longer. In 2006, Clinique launched a liquid form of each cleanser; although labeled "liquid soap", the ingredients reveal that none contain any soap at all.

The clarifying lotions are available in 5 strengths; 1,2,3,4 (from mildest to strongest) and a version simply called mild. These are the most controversial of Clinique's products, and a favourite item for beauty editors like Paula Begoun to criticize. All numbered versions contain denatured alcohol, an ingredient most cosmetic companies no longer use in their astringents due to a negative consumer perception. Although not publicized, all numbered versions have been reformulated over the years, which each new formula eliminating a controversial ingredient; acetone, phenol, turpentine, thymol (Trachyspermum copticum), and methyleugenol have each disappeared from the formulas with time. Clinique launched alcohol-free clarifier in 1987; it was not popular and was replaced with a formula called mild clarifying lotion in 1997. Neither version contains any of the controversial ingredients listed above.

The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, a yellow coloured lotion in one formulation used by all skin types, would eventually be flanked by an oil-free gel formula in 2006. Called DDML for short, the original formula contains lanolin and mineral oil; both ingredients have gained a negative reputation over the last ten years for use on the skin. DDML is meant to replenish the lipids soap and water cleansing strip; thus, any further skin concerns/needs are to be addressed with another products, applied over the DDML.

3-Step is still central to the Clinique brand. At each of their cosmetic counters, Clinique consultants use a specially designed Clinique Computer to determine each customer's skin type (dry, combination dry, combination oily, or oily) and provide the products that will best suit the customer's needs.

Expansion. After the classic 3-steps are established, new products are introduced to address further concerns and/or needs of the skin. Women who wear makeup, for example, are encouraged to use a specific eye makeup remover and another separate product in cream, lotion, foam or oil form to dissolve makeup on the rest of the face. The user then follows this by washing their face with the soap. Clinique asserts that soap cleans the skin thoroughly, but does not remove makeup, facilitating the need for additional products.

Another addition is a topical scrub product. Although Clinique clarifying lotions all contain salicylic acid, the company recommends a mechanical exfoliator for use 1 to 3 times a week.

Clinique also recommends the daily use of an SPF15 product on the face; this is a separately purchased product, as the DDML (either version) does not contain any sun protection. Moisturizers, serums, masks, eye creams, and night creams addressing specific skin problems such as acne, enlarged pores, dullness, uneven skin tone, lines/wrinkles, excess oil, and dryness are all applied over the DDML lotion.

Clinique also has a facial care line called CX which contains products targeted at specific skin concerns such as Rosacea, irritated skin and stretch marks associated with pregnancy. These products are much more expensive than is typical for Clinique, and thus only sold in high-end department stores like Neiman-Marcus.

Hair Care

Clinique has been selling a line of fragrance-free hair care products since the mid-1970's. This line includes shampoos (including an anti-dandruff formula), conditioners, and fixatives. In 2001, Clinique reformulated and repackaged the entire hair care line.

General cosmetics

Although mostly known as a skincare line, 50% of revenues for Clinique are derived from makeup products. The line is strongly associated with foundation makeup, and holds a #1, 2, or 3 position in this category across global markets. Clinique makeup products are mostly know for being more sheer and subtle than traditional cosmetic lines, consistent with their target junior customer's tastes. However, in recent years, Clinique has begun to offer a larger array of color cosmetics. Clinique also offers a line of makeup brushes coated with an antibacterial solution.

Fragrances

Women's Fragrance. Clinique's original fragrance is Aromatics Elixir. Its ingredients include rose, jasmine, ylang ylang and vetiver. Launched in 1971, Estee Lauder created Aromatics Elixir as to address a segment of the population that wanted to wear perfume, but had allergies and could not. Up until then, these women had to hunt for fragrances that, by word of mouth, were "known" to be suitable to more sensitive skins, or simply go without fragrance altogether. Estee Lauder was involved with the development of the fragrance and guided the formulation to use fragrant oils that were known to be well tolerated. The final version was tested extensively without reaction, thus, Estee Lauder created an oxymoron in developing the world's first hypo-allergenic fragrance.

Clinique's most famous fragrance, called Happy, is advertised as being "a hint of citrus, a wealth of flowers, a mix of emotions and a chic, modern, multi-layered sparkling floral." Happy is also available in other products. With the success of Happy, Clinique then went on to develop Happy into other sister fragrances, such as Happy To Be and Happy Heart. Clinique also introduced two Limited Edition Happy fragrances Happy Holiday and Happy In Bloom, the latter of which is currently available in shops.

Other Clinique women's fragrances include Wrappings (which only appears during the holiday season) and Simply (discontinued).

Men's Fragrance. There are currently two Clinique men's fragrances available: Chemistry Skin Cologne for Men is designed to wear daily, which contains Jamaican ginger, citrus and amber. Clinique Happy For Men.

Men's Skin Care

The range targeted at men consists of products in three main categories: Skin Care, Shaving, and Grooming.

Basic Skin Care consists of the men's version of the Clinique 3-Step process: Facial Soap or Liquid Face Wash, a range of Scruffing Lotions in various strengths, and M-Lotion or M Gel-Lotion; specialist Skin Care is made up of things like Eye Hydrator, Lip Balm and M-Protect 21 (a daily moisturising sunscreen). [1]

Clinique's shaving line includes pre-shave exfoliating scrubs, Electric Shave Primer, shaving creams, gels, and oils.

Clinique's grooming products include Hair Maximizing Shampoo and also a hair maximizing styling serum.

Clinique's M-Lotion, M Shave Aloe Gel, Post Shave Healer, and Clinique Happy For Men Cologne Spray, were all included in the FHM Grooming Awards 2005.

It is, however, a fact that Clinique's M-Lotion for men is identical to its Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion for women. The sole difference lies in the packaging. [citation needed]

Trivia

Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion has not changed in its formulation since its early beginnings.

Clinique's advertising has not changed since its inception. Ads feature extreme close-ups of individual products on a white background with no text.

Up until 2005/06 Clinique's packaging had not evolved from the original, but recently Clinique has begun to redesign some of the packaging.