In the era of DTC, viral beauty products, it’s nice to see a resurgence of the beloved brand, Clinique. Whether it was at the mall back in the day, where you snagged a sample of Moisture Surge Hydrator after buying mom a perfume set, or seeing it keep up with the times and taking up space on the shelves at the local CVS, Clinique just holds a special place in our hearts. And now, Gen-Z is learning about its greatness—and it’s about damn time.
After the internet discovered the iconic Black Honey Almost Lipstick a couple years ago, Clinique jumped from millennial nostalgia brand to the French-girl must-have. It even made an appearance at the 2024 Met Gala on Iris Law and has become a celeb fave, including Reese Witherspoon and Cynthia Eviro.
The 57-year-old brand is also a hit for PureWow editors. When I asked my colleagues about the OG brand, they didn’t hesitate to let me know how they really feel. “My mom has always used a Clinique moisturizer, and I have the fondest memories of going with her to Lord & Taylor (RIP) to restock and subsequently fighting with my sisters over the free gifts with purchase,” said Sarah Stiefvater, Wellness Director. For Alexia Dellner, Executive Editor, Clinique holds a very special place in her life for a makeup milestone: “Clinique was one of my first forays into beauty, and I remember ripping out Clinique ads from magazines and putting them on my bedroom wall. Very nostalgic!” Executive Editor, Dara Katz, agrees: “Clinique embodies all my early teen memories—the sheen of the silver ridged lipstick holder. The smell of Happy. The excitement from my very first makeup counter purchase: the toner, which I bought with babysitting money, not because I had any idea what it did but because my really cool camp counselor used it.”
So if you, like us, want to cozy back up to the proverbial Clinique counter and stock up on some classics, here are seven I think you should snag right now from Ulta, Sephora or Amazon. Or, for old time’s sake, you can always visit the mall.
