I’ve been raving about Clinique’s Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer serum for ages now, to friends and on beauty blogs, only to realise that I’ve actually never done a proper review on it!
When I first bought this almost two years ago, it came in a travel-pack edition which was only available at airports’ duty free shops (it came with the Moisture Surge moisturiser and All About Eyes eye cream). Since I hadn’t any serums to use at that time, I thought I’d simply give this a go.
Description:
A high performance exfoliant that prompts a multilevel renewal process that is time-released. Helps speed fresh, vibrant looking cells to the surface. Continually unveils brighter, more radiant skin through exfoliation. Leaves skin with a velvety feel, perfected look.
Ingredients:
Water (Aqua Purifcata) Purified, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Acetyl Glucosamine, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Salicylic Acid, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copoylmer, Castanea Sativa (Chestnut) Seed Extract, Cholesterol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Yeast Extract (Faex), Caffeine, Adeonsinie Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salvia Scharea (Clary) Extract, Creatine, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Pantethine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocomidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract, Ethylhexylgylcerin, Sodium Citrate, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Isohexadecane, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron oxides
Before I go on with my review, please note that this serum serves as a chemical exfoliant. It contains Salicylic Acid, which is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid). It’s more gentle than AHA, and is able to exfoliate the surface of the skin. It also contains Acetyl Glucosamine, in which the parent company Estee Lauder believes to be an effective non-acid exfoliating agent (although there is still no substantiated research proving this ingredient’s effectiveness as an alternative to AHA and BHA exfoliants).
As with most skincare products I’ve tried, I did not get immediate results with this serum. It was a month later that I woke up one morning, felt my cheeks, and suddenly realised how incredibly smooth they were. Yeah, I know, it’s a weird thing to say, that I only realised that all of a sudden. But somehow, it’s true! Constant use of this serum has given my skin a fantastic exfoliation, and I couldn’t be happier with the condition of my skin. In fact, to be honest, I hadn’t had such great skin since I became a teenager!
Blemishes were reduced, and so were my blackheads and whiteheads. Skin became slightly fairer. This, in fact, has become somewhat of a miracle product for me. *cue epiphany music*
I use this once a day (less than a pea-sized amount), in the evenings, and use a gentle scrub to a maximum of twice a week. This may be too much for those with sensitive skin though. If so, I’d recommend using it on alternate days. Guess my skin’s tough as hide 😛
Having said that, please bear in mind that this does not work for everyone. I’ve read and heard reviews of this breaking skin out, causing a hell lot of havoc on the skin, etc. So how would I recommend this product? I’d say, give it a try if you have oily skin (the negative reviews were mostly on those with dry skin). As with new skincare products – do not purchase a full-sized bottle yet. Do get a sample of it from Clinique counters to try it out first.
According to Paula Begoun, this serum is very similar to Estee Lauder’s Idealist (and it’s cheaper too), down to its light texture and silky finish. Hmm … makes you wonder why Estee Lauder would sell two similar products at different prices eh?
Clinique’s Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer is available at all Clinique counters (Myer, David Jones and participating pharmacies) at AU$68 for a 30ml bottle, and AU$88 for a 50ml. Not all stores stock the 50ml ones though.
What I like about it: Great exfoliator serum, smoothened skin, reduced blemishes. After almost two years, I’m still in love with it!
What I do not like about it: Nothing.
PS: Kahani’s raved about this serum too. Do check out her review.
I need to give this a try!!!
hey i just bought this today! i am so glad to find your review and see all your great success with the product. i hope to have the same results!
Oh … this sounds like exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks! 😀
I think I have the sample of this! yay! i am so excited to use it now!!!
Sad that this didn’t work for me. Really wanted to like it.
I’ve got a small sample of this….should try it!
I haven’t tried this serum but I’m quite addicted to the Turnaround mask! It leaves my skin very clean, fresh and purified. I think I will check the serum too, hope I can get a sample 😀
Thanks for the review!
Great review! =) I’m definitely heading to my local Clinique counter to get a sample of this one.
By the way, you’ve been tagged. Check out my blog. =D
is it truly effective? coz some are don’t… most of t hem are very deceiving…
I do have one, i do not know if i can use it after moisturiser.
do you use water with this… wash and rinse? or is it just a cream?
Like others, I really wanted this product to be a miracle worker. Unfortunately, I found that it irritated my skin enough to cause a burning sensation and some acne. I used it after my usual cleanser, and have recently read that you’re supposed to apply it after your moisturizer. The instructions were limited and unclear. Perhaps if I had applied it in a different manner, I would have had better results. Or, perhaps the chemicals are just too harsh for sensitive skin. I would just caution users to test it out on a small area of their face before using it regularly.
Thanks very much for writing this review for us. To every detail, pros and cons all spelt out including personal experience. I’ve not read anything close to yours for a long time now. Thanks again. I was looking for a decent review to help decide on purchasing this product and yours certainly is a great help!
Thank you for your thoughtfulness – it really meant a lot.
They gave me several deluxe sized samples of this at the clinique counter in macys a few years ago in blue tubes I thought since they gave me soo many it musta been a dud product they wanted rid of I know I’m cynical so I got home I use a Claris sonic skin brush since 2008 great product as well but going to try and stay on topic here I applied it to clean damp skin not much and I went to bed nothing else on my skin when I try new products I keep it simple to gage how effective they are morning comes hop in the shower was applying cleanser to my skin and noticed how smooth my skin was and soft finished my shower looked in the mirror you know that kinda soft glow people in soap operas have what ever way they film it that’s what I was witnessing I had stumbled upon skin care nirvana and the lady from the Clinique counter was so kind to basically give a little over two months worth of product for nothing I hadn’t even bought anything from Clinique I had purchased collaser 5x serum from Lancôme counter the only thing I found compares is tretinoin 0.5% cream prescribed by my dermatologist costs me $27 so you do the math $27 vs $45ish and I do believe the Clarisonic skin brush cleans so well that you skin can suck in the ingredients of your skin care treatments and put it to work more efficiently the end.
Hello…Loved reading this review… and so many others really… 🙂
Have been searching for a product to sustitute the most loved Clinique’s Turnaround Concentrate Serum… Any suggestions…?
I read somewhere that Estee Lauder’s Idealist serum (the green bottle) is very similar to the Clinique Turnaround Visible Skin Renewer, if that helps 🙂