Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion

(sorry for the shabby looking bottle, I've had it for a while)

Packaging/Pricing:

Very affordable product at 13$ for 200ml (6.7fl.oz). The bottle is made of clear plastic. Definitely keep this product away from the sun (in the bathroom cabinet for example) to keep formulation safe.

Ingredients:

Water, Butylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Salicylic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Arginine, PEG-10 Soy Sterol, Ceteth-20, Panicum Miliaceum (Millet) Seed Extract, Dimethicone, Ceteth-2, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Green 5, Yellow 10.

Excellent (only beneficial ingredients, proven research)

Good (mostly beneficial, not extensive research or just not quite outstanding properties)

OK (mostly thickeners, emulsifiers, mild preservatives, pH adjusters, all that is necessary, but not a skincare per se) 
Bad (irritants and anything bad that shouldn't be in a skincare, usually fragrance)

Ingredients discussion:

This is the only clarifying lotion from Clinique worth considering. Others (the numbered ones) are loaded with alcohol and are quite harmful for the skin. This version however is alcohol free and all in all is rather good choice.

The main ingredient here is salicylic acid, which helps to exfoliate skin and reduce redness. The good news: the product is formulated at the correct pH (which is necessary to make acid work). However, the concentration of salicylic acid is less than 1% (probably around 0,5%). It will definitely affect the skin in a good way, but will not be that effective for someone with severe acne.

Formulation features very few other beneficial ingredients. Biosaccharide gum and aloe vera have some water binding properties. Arginine works as antioxidant. Millet extract has mild skin conditioning properties. I wish Clinique added more antioxidants and other anti-aging or calming ingredients here.

There are no irritants in this formula and it is fragrance free, which makes it a good choice for sensitive skin. There dyes present here, which is an odd choice for product for sensitive skin, but I don't think they would pose any problem.

Overall, formulation is good, but not excellent or outstanding. Nevertheless, it is one of the best inexpensive toners on the market.

Consumer Thoughts:

Though this product is labeled as lotion, it is actually a toner (due to its liquid consistency). However the texture of this toner is not watery, but rather viscous, which makes it quite moisturizing. It feels very nice on the skin and does not leave sticky residue. Mild clarifying lotion would probably work for all skin types except very oily. Even though the product is fragrance free, it actually has very light scent  (which reminds me a little bit of black tea). 

I've noticed this toner being effective at controlling mild breakouts and redness. However for more severe breakouts, 2% salicylic acid product would work better.

Verdict:

I can recommend this product, if you are looking for moisturizing toner with light acne controlling/exfoliating benefits. Since it is not loaded with many anti-aging ingredients, it is better suited for younger skin. I personally went through 4 or 5 bottles of this toner in my early twenties. I think it is a great product for the price.

4,5 out of 5