Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream: Review And Pictures

The problem with BB creams, and now with the next generation CC creams, is that the offerings are just so inconsistent. You buy a foundation and you pretty much know what you’re gonna get. You buy a BB or CC and you could be buying anything from a primer to a tinted moisturiser to a light foundation with some skincare benefits.

That’s why, to avoid being bitterly disappointed, it’s so important to do your research before you buy. But hey, no point preaching to the choir – if you’re here, I’m guessing you have that all under control. And good for you.

What’s prompted this little rant is that the two CC offerings I’ve tried out so far could not be further removed from each other. They’re just not the same type of product at all. The L’Oreal version is a colour correcting primer, and not a base product, whereas the Clinique product is definitely a base – and a pretty damned good one at that.

Clinique say that first and foremost, this is a skincare product. Thanks to everyone’s favourite ingredient, hyaluronic acid, it provides good levels of hydration throughout the day, along with a very decent SPF level of 30. (Keep in mind that my skin is oily and dehydrated - I'm not sure how drier types will fare, but the 'Moisture Surge' moniker sounds promising...)

But it’s also a very lovely makeup product. It provides exactly the right amount of coverage to wear with confidence, with just a little bit of concealer as required.  It gives a healthy, radiant effect – not glowy (for me that conjures up images of shininess, a la the first Garnier BB which I didn’t get on well with at all) but…brighter, and more even toned.

L-R: Bare face; CC cream; CC cream with lip balm, blusher and no other makeup. And yes, I'm in the car, but I am in the passenger seat. Safety first folks!

So what makes this different to a BB? That’ll be the colour correcting bit, Terry (sorry, wee Commitments flashback, there!). This is a one-size-fits-all formula that brightens dullness, reduces sallowness and diminishes redness, all at the same time. And yes,  I find it does work pretty well on all three. As you'll see from the swatches, my bare face is a mish mash of colours these days, what with black circles, red patches and a general Marge Simpson tinge, but this cream can handle it all.

The shade range is pretty good, too. Unlike most BBs, which come in light, medium or dark, this is available in 6 oil-and-fragrance free shades. The one I have is Very Light, which is a little too light for me but should be spot on for lots of you reading.

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream launches at the end of April priced at €35, and I'll definitely be buying my shade. If you like a ‘my skin but better’ effect, and are in the market for an easy to wear, everyday base, I think you’ll like this a lot. But what do you think? Are you tempted?