Clinique: the honest verdict.
The department-store skincare brand that defined 'fragrance-free, allergy-tested' before it was marketing language. Tested across Almost Lipstick, Take The Day Off cleansers, and Moisture Surge.
- Position
- Mid-market · Department store
- Founded
- New York, US · 1968
- Available at
- Myer + David Jones + Mecca
The Glow read.
Clinique was a category-defining brand in 1968 — fragrance-free skincare developed alongside dermatologists, sold at department-store counters by trained consultants. In 2026, the brand is treading water. The product formulations remain genuinely safe and well-tolerated, but the actives lag the rest of the market by five years and the pricing has drifted upward without justification.
The standouts are the heritage products. Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is the best balm cleanser at the price point — it removes SPF and waterproof mascara without leaving residue. Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is the cult product that should be cult: a sheer berry-balm hybrid that's universally flattering. Moisture Surge is a competent gel-cream moisturiser, but you can buy the equivalent at La Roche-Posay for less.
Clinique is fine. 'Fine' isn't enough at the 2026 Australian price point.
What works
- Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm — best-in-class for SPF removal at the price
- Almost Lipstick in Black Honey — cult product that earns its cult status
- Genuinely fragrance-free across the range — safe choice for reactive skin
- In-store consultant network is well-trained — useful for skincare-anxious buyers
What doesn't
- Actives (vitamin C, retinol, exfoliants) lag the market by 5+ years
- Pricing has drifted upward without formulation upgrades to justify it
- Moisture Surge is competent, not exceptional — La Roche-Posay Effaclar H wins at lower price
- Brand identity feels 2008 — hasn't moved with the editorial conversation
The buy.
Affiliate disclosure: Glow earns commission from qualifying purchases. Read more.
What's actually in it.
- Actives
- Take The Day Off Balm based on cetyl ethylhexanoate (mild emollient). Moisture Surge built on hyaluronic acid + caffeine. Conservative actives across the range.
- Preservation
- Phenoxyethanol-based across most SKUs. Within EU/TGA safe limits.
- Allergens
- Genuinely fragrance-free — verified across the skincare range. Almost Lipstick contains fragrance.
- Editorial concerns
- None at use concentration. Conservative formulation philosophy remains a brand strength.
Index grade is editorial, not paid. The grade reflects what's in the product against Glow's v1.0 watch list — it sits beside the Glow score, not instead of it. Clinique earns a B because formulation safety is excellent but actives lag market. The brand's claim of 'allergy-tested' holds up — these are among the safest department-store skincare formulas. They're also among the most conservative.