Yeah, yeah, so I work for Clinique so you think this review will be biased.  Well let me tell you, it’s not, and the fact that I’m mentioning a Clinique product as my fave product of the month is a testament to just how frickin’ awesome it is, because I’m the first person to pick on Clinique as a brand.  Not because I don’ t like it or anything, but because I know it inside and out and ADDITIONALLY know a lot of other brands, so I’m always comparing them.  Kind of like how your Mom might be harder on your than someone else’s kid, because she knows you and expects a lot from you.  And when you kick some major ass, and you deserve it, she’s the first person to say “Hell yeah, that’s my kid!”

Did I get your attention yet? LOL

Anyway, back to the point.  The Turnaround line from Clinique in general is really stellar.  The Turnaround Concentrate is pretty much my holy grail in terms of exfoliating and keeping my skin super smooth and clear.  Every time I stop using it, my skin will break out, and the first thing my Mom (an avid Clinique user since day one) says is “Are you using the blue stuff?” (it’s in a blue jar…just like people come to the counter for the “yellow lotion”).  It really keeps the dead skin from clogging pores, and it does it all without causing any irritation whatsoever.  None.  Nada.  Zip.  And remember, I have eczema, so that’s kind of a big deal.

In keeping with the Concentrate’s kick-ass ability, the Body Smoothing Cream does the exact same thing, but for the body (duh!).  It sloughs off dead skin cells to keep the skin really soft, smooth and glowing.  Again, this does not irritate my eczema one little bit, and it’s much worse on my body than my face.  I got this in a gratis from Clinique last month, and it provided instant results.  Seriously.  Overnight my body was smoother, particularly the rough skin on the sides of my thighs, which seem to have a slight case of keratosis (aka ‘Chicken Skin’ – small bumps that are found on the backs of upper arms and thighs, with a rough texture).  This product got rid of that issue quickfast.  It’s that good.One small issue is that if you apply lotion regularly, this isn’t going to last too long.  At 5 fl. oz, and at $34 a pop, this is not a cost-effective product.  I’ve had it less than two months, and though I only use it every few days, already I’ve got only about a third of the tube left.  What I’ve been doing lately is mixing it with a basic moisturizer, so that I can stretch it a bit longer but still get some of the advantages.  It’s not as effective, but it still keeps my skin fairly bump-free.

Also of note is that if you’re a very dry skin type, this might fall a bit short in the hydration category.  I’m pretty dry due to my skin stuff, and this left my legs looking just a touch parched.  Nothing anyone else would notice, but I prefer the greased-up high sheen look, and while this makes your skin look good overall, it’s not going to give you the same glossy look other lotions can offer.  So just something to keep in mind.  I tend to use this at night when it’s not really a ‘thing’ to have glistening skin (the dark hides all sins!).

The smell of the product is essentially nil, as Clinique is ’100% fragrance-free ,’ but I do notice it does have a bit of an odor, not necessarily unpleasant, but not particularly nice either.  It completely fades away once it’s absorbed into the skin, however, so it shouldn’t be an issue.

I don’t typically spend money on Clinique products because we get a lot of items free from the company, but I confess that I will be purchasing this product again when it runs out.  I’ve tried other exfoliating body moisturizers in the past – and, truth be told, many different exfoliant scrubs – with completely disastrous results, so to find something that works like a charm with no negative impacts is a godsend.  I highly recommend checking it out, I don’t think you will be disappointed!

Has anyone else tried anything from the Turnaround line in Clinique?  Or have you tried a comparable product – that is as gentle?  I’d love to try something more economical!

I have my adventure to Toronto tomorrow!  I’m going to meet Liz from Beauty Reductionista, which is super exciting!  Hopefully we’ll both have a lot to report after our shopping excursion to Holts   I have a LONG list of items to pick up!

Thanks for reading!