Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief Gel Cream

I have been looking for a good moisturiser (but not too expensive, ie. Lamer) for the longest time. I have scouted for samples from quite a lot of brands hoping to find one that will suit my dehydrated skin but do not feel too oily either. Imagine having a face plastered with oily and sticky moisturiser for the entire day in the office. Not good.

Then, I read a review by ParisB on this particular product - Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief gel cream. According to her, after just 1 application, she felt a "toing toing" feeling of smooth skin. And she also could not stop touching her face.

Luckily for me I have this gel cream sitting in my drawer untouched. I got this as a GWP when I purchased a facial scrub and turnaround concentrate serum a few months back. Imagine having this wonderful product but I did not use it. That's the problem of having so many samples ; )

Immediately, I started using it. First, I cleanse my face with my Paul & Joe creamy facial foam. Smells so good - orangey, citrusy smell.

Paul & Joe creamy facial foam

Then, I applied my Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer (to allow my moisturiser to absorb into my skin - according to the SA), before applying Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief gel cream.

RESULT : VERY, VERY SMOOTH AND HYDRATED SKIN. LOOOOVE IT !!!!!

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer and Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief Gel Cream.

My skin feels so smooth and like ParisB said, I felt like touching my face all the time to feel the softness and smoothness. Normally, my skin still flakes even after applying moisturiser but this did not happen with this gel cream. The texture of this gel cream is very light and not at all sticky. For day, I apply a thinner layer as compared to for night.

Light and Non-oily Texture

I will definitely purchase again after I have finished with this one.

Samples, Samples and More Samples

Have you gotten to a stage where you have obtained so many samples that you do not know which to use ? I have. Also, I do not really fancy squeezing out from the little sachets given, can get kinda messy. But samples are a great way to find out whether you like the particular product before you invest a bomb in them.

This is my little collection with brands from L'occitane, Kiehl's, Anna Sui, Shu Uemura, Bioxil, Paul & Joe, Estee Lauder, Clinique and Biotherm.

Small Collection of Samples

I will start using them once I have finished my full size products and would like to try some other brands. My current night routine is :

Laneige Star White Eye Spot - for the eyes of course

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate  - a serum to be used before moisturiser

Laneige Water Bank Cream - night cream/moisturiser

L'oreal's Revitalift Face, Contours & Neck - for my wattle

I have just started using all the above products for a few days except for Clinique's Turnaround Concentrate. This is a really good serum as my face feels soft the next morning instead of feeling dehydrated and flaky (before using this serum) as I sleep in an air-conditioned room. I bought it at RM190. Hmmm, quite expensive, but if it works - it is worth the money.

Really, Really Dark Eye Circles

I have really, really dark eye circles as well as wrinkles at the side of my eyes. Have you ever gone for a skin analysis where they tell you how hydrated or dehydrated your skin is and also the condition of your skin. Well, generally the comments on my skin from the Lancome, Biotherm and Shiseido SAs are - dry and dehydrated but quite small pores and very dark eye circles. But the latest skin analysis done by a SKII SA was - the result : your skin condition and around your eye area is older than my actual age, which is 41. EEEEKKKK!!!!!

Beware of what you are going to view.......

Dark eye circles and wrinkles

You know how women are - very, very sensitive on how they look. Whenever people in general know of my age, 99.9% of the time, they are quite shocked as I do not look my age at all. They said I look like in my late 20s to early 30s : D. Maybe because we always have a pre-conceived idea how a 40 over year old should look like - "auntie" which I am definitely not.

So, when the SKII SA said my eye area condition look beyond my age, PANIC was my immediate reaction. I had to do something quick. I could not afford SKII which she was trying very hard to sell to me, so I started buying other eye cream products.

The first I started off was Bioxil's Advanced Wrinkle Lifting Eye Cream (15ml), which I bought at a promotional price of just RM99 (NP : RM199). It was supposed to reduce eye wrinkles and lighten my dark eye circles within 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of usage, I did not see any improvement so, I thought with my serious condition I would need a bit longer for it to take effect. After 1 month of usage - still nothing. 2 months - NOTHING. Finished the product - NOTHING AT ALL !!!!

OK, one day I saw my god auntie who is close to 50 but look more 30s. I immediately asked her what skincare she is using. Answer - LAMER's the eye concentrate and LAMER's moisturizing cream. My heart dropped when I heard LAMER. With just the small pot of eye cream costing RM600++, I knew my life was doomed. But being quite persistent, I went to LAMER in Metrojaya, Midvalley to enquire about the eye cream and got myself a free sample (came in a little pot of 3ml) which I used day and night for 1 month plus. Result : NOTHING either. What !!! How many bottles must I use to see the results.

Subsequently, I used Benefit's Eyecon (14g ?), Clinique's All About Eyes (5ml - sample size), Shu Uemura's Smoothing Anti-Wrinkle Emulsion (10ml - travel size). I have finished using all of them. Results the same for all - NOTHING, NO IMPROVEMENT AT ALL !!!

I have yet to use Clinique's Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream (5ml - sample size) and Laneige's Star White Eye Spot (15ml) which I bought recently during the Laniege Beauty Fair at Parkson Pavillion for RM90.

My used and unused eye products

Oops, forgot about the Laniege eye cream

I'm at a loss and cannot decide - should I be patient and stick with one product until I see results (but what if I don't after multiple bottles) or continue my search for THE ONE or resigned to having dark eye circles because of genetic and late nights.