You’re going to have to bear with while I try and explain this in a digestible way! Basically, Clinique Even Better Essence Lotion is an extra moisturising step in your beauty routine – after cleansing and before your moisture routine. Containing an NMF complex (which is what had me confused from the get-go), it takes inspiration from Asian beauty routines where an essence is a standard part of skin care. In texture, essence is like a thick water and it’s use is to help skin receive and retain moisture better.
So, NMF. Stands for Natural Moisturising Factor. In Clinique Even Better Essence Lotion, this means botanical ingredients including watermelon, apple, cucumber and lentil extracts helping the skin to activate and process enzymes into skin-friendly amino acids. We’re told to expect soft, supple and hydrated skin. I used Clinique Even Better Essence Lotion on Saturday and yesterday (just pat it into the skin) and both times, I would say my skin did feel more hydrated. It leaves a not-unpleasant, light film that makes skin feel pliable and stronger. I’ve explained NMF in a very basic way, because, to be frank, I only understand it in a very basic way. For all I know, it could be the Marketing Department at it again with another way to make everything sound more high-tech than it really is. BUT, what I do know is that I love skin essences (look at Shiseido and also L’Occitane for excellent essences or ‘skin softening lotions’ ) and I could feel the difference. It’s also got hyaluronic, which is a big help to the overall feeling of hydration.
I think this new ‘essence’ phase is great for people who really enjoy the ritual of a skin care routine – if you’re a swipe and go kind of girl (or guy) then it might be too much faff.
Clinique keep on popping out these surprises – bearing in mind that Clinique is part of the Estee Lauder group, it’s a natural follow that other brands within the group will gradually begin to incorporate essences into the UK beauty routine. When it launches, Clinique Even Better Essence Lotion will cost £30. We should see it in the UK in June.
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13 comments
Would this be in the same family as Indeed Labs Hydraluron?x
No, it’s a different thing really.. Hydraluron is more straightforward in terms of ingredients and isn’t designed to prep the skin specifically for further ingredients. It doesn’t give the filmy feeling that Clinique Essense does, so a different texture entirely.
NMF is a term that is widely used in the cosmetics industry. It usually refers to ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and other types of humectants. So this time, it is not marketing bla. However, I am not sure how botanical extracts can play a part. *shrug*
thanks for that Mary.. when you have press releases designed to give the big sell, it’s really hard to pick out the real facts without hours of research.
LOVE the sound of this, thanks for thorough review, just wondering where it will fit in my routine 🙂
Josie xoxo | Fashion Mumblr
I’d definitely get it!
Estée Lauder have not long released a Micro Essence for the Asia market which I also like the look of. It seems you can get it at Duty Free shops but I never go away abroad these days so that’s not much use to me! http://www.worlddutyfree.com/fresh-and-new/new-skincare.html?p=1003686093-Este-Lauder_-_Micro-Essence-Skin-Activating-Treatment-Lotion
Alex xx
http://www.iheartbeauty.net
interesting! thanks for flagging that up.. x
I have this and really love it. I have been buying so much Clinique lately and it has been all good. I wake up with plumper looking skin when I use this. I imagine I will wear it under my sunscreen in the summer instead of my usual moisturizer, because of the lightness. It is light feeling but is really moisturizing.
I think softening toners/lotions & essences are going to be the next “BB cream”. Lancome already has one that is available via Sephora in the US – LANCÔME
Hi Jane, the Estee Lauder group have most certainly got this “treatment lotion” thing down in almost all their lines (at least here in Asia) So from EL, we get the Micro Essence, Clinique the Even Better Essence, La Mer Treatment Lotion and Bobbi Brown Treatment Lotion. I personally like the La Mer and Bobbi Brown ones a lot as I can feel the difference to my skin using the “sandwich” style of skincare. I use this pretty much like a hydrating toner followed by a serum and moisturiser. Of all that have been released, Clinique is unfortunately my least favourite but it might be because I tried the thicker version for drier skin and I didn’t like that texture at all! x
Without getting technical about ingredients I love the sound of this!! I bet this would be perfect in the winter time when my skins drier x
http://rinicawrites.blogspot.co.uk
NMF’s or natural moisture factors is a dermatology term to describe your skins “natural moisturising factors”‘ I.e. compounds we produce naturally in our skin that keeps it’s hydrated.
Our skin has something called barrier function and despite what the skin care brands will have us believe, our skin is designed to moisturise itself!! (If the barrier function is intact, the stratum corneum should be producing enough NMF’s and be able to hold them in place). However, most people have an impaired barrier function that has been damaged through using incorrect skin care.
So in this example, it’s not a marketing term however it seems the latest buzz word(s) that the marketing teams have jumped on and as usual, will use them to confuse the consumer into buying more products.
*stands down of soapbox*
Andy (aka Pampered Prince)
Unless they mean the products is designed to boost your skins production of NMF’s? If so, then great. (Providing they sell a product to repair barrier function and they realise they’ll sell less moisturiser)
😉
Andy