Written By: Danyelle V
When you find out someone is using Clinique for skincare, you know they have their life together. They’ve mastered adulting: they have a well-balanced diet, pay their bills before the due date, regularly brunch, makeup brushes are always perfectly pristine, steady income. I mean even if they don’t, they give off an aura of maturity. Clinique is famous for their skincare lines with all the steps because they believe that “great skin can be created.” And, they’re right! Recently, they’ve launched a new line called Pep-Start to help simplify skincare for those in a rush. I’ve been using the 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser for a while now and I’m ready to share my thoughts!
I have high standards when it comes to skincare. I can be so picky! I’m sure you’ve learned that by now. But I have to say, I really liked this cleanser! The formula is an orange gel full of little granules that feel like soft, powdery sand as you wash your face and neck. I work up a lather between my hands then gently wash it over my skin. When I rinse my skin, it feels smooth, clean, and balanced. My skin didn’t feel hydrated but it didn’t feel like all the moisture had been snatched from my face. I really hate that in a cleanser. What I liked most about this cleanser is the exfoliation removes any dryness and dullness to my face. I tend to get some dry texture along my jaw line. You can’t see it, but I can feel it. And I can’t stand it. AND! Surely I’ve told you about the pores on my nose being big enough to house a family of 4, right? Well they can. This Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser has made them shrink! I was in shock! It is rare that a simple cleanser could do that for my nose. I usually need a treatment to see the kind of results I like.
Now, the product information on Sephora’s website claims the Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser is gentle enough to be used twice a day. … I don’t buy that nonsense. It can be so addicting to have a fresh new face every day. Exfoliating the dead skin cells to reveal a brighter, smarter you is so tempting. But it is so unnecessary. And all it does is thin out your skin which leads to redness and wrinkles. We’re all gonna get em, but we all want to delay the inevitable. Normally, I exfoliate 1-2 times a week. Three if my skin is just a mess (usually in the depth of January when the heating system in my house has pulled the moisture from me and skin feels like scales.) But any more than that and I am going to be looking at dry patches and red blotches regardless of how gentle the exfoliator claims to be. I used this every day for a week and it was a huge mistake. But when I used it according to my skin needs rather than the recommended amount of use, my skin went back to normal. I just used my normal cream cleanser on days I didn’t need to exfoliate.
Usually, I used the Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse Off as an exfoliator. It essentially gives my skin the same effect of the Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser but with the addition of hydration. TBH, I prefer the 7 Day Scrub Cream. Not that the Pep-Start was bad in any sense, but it does have kind of a chemically smell to it. If your skin leans dry, I would go for the 7 Day Scrub Cream. If not, check out Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser. They’re just about the same price.
Leave a comment telling us how you simplify your skin care routine?
Available at Sephora; $19.50
Product Photo from Sephora.com