Clinique Skin Supplies for Men Face Scrub

...the dead cells. However, the Clinique face scrub looks, feels, and works, like the high quality product that it is, being dry to the touch, extremely controllable and very, very effective.

The Scrub

Who is it for?
The scrub is designed for all skin types, so it is fairly well balanced, being neither too greasy nor too dry, and is fragrance free, so is not overpowering when you open the lid or use it. I can imagine ...
...other pre shave scrubs, the Clinique version is very thick in consistency and feels almost like wet sand when rubbed between the fingertips. It is not slippery at all, in fact it is very dry to the touch, allowing excellent control both in terms of dispensing from the tube and when applying it to the face. The cream is "gritty" in nature and is full of the tiny "scrubbers" that are needed to exfoliate the skin, they are not hap-hazardly ... more

I'm lucky!! I've always been blessed with a clear complexion (yes, with the firm chin, dazzling eyes and muscular shoulders it's always been a winning combination!!!), never really struggling with oiliness or dryness, although my skin has always been slightly sensitive (like my soul!). However, as I've now hit my mid-thirties I am increasingly using men's grooming products in an attempt to halt the ravages of time. Thankfully, these products are very widely available now, and I have finally found a pre-shave scrub that works for me!!

These exfoliators and pre-shave scrubs are becoming more and more common, and are available in almost every men's cosmetic range that you can imagine. However, I have found many such scrubs to be too liquid and greasy, often forming a gel-like "gloop" that is merely freckled with the "scrubbers" that are designed to flake off the dead cells. However, the Clinique face scrub looks, feels, and works, like the high quality product that it is, being dry to the touch, extremely controllable and very, very effective.

The Scrub

Who is it for?
The scrub is designed for all skin types, so it is fairly well balanced, being neither too greasy nor too dry, and is fragrance free, so is not overpowering when you open the lid or use it. I can imagine that it is most effective for men who wet shave, obviously, as it will work well with the moisturising effect of gel or foam, and with the controlled action of a blade, but it could prepare the skin very well for a powered shave also.

What is it meant to do?
The scrub is designed to freshen the skin by gently removing dead cells, by using a scrubbing action (as you would to apply soap to your face). The skin should feel smoother and tighter and be well prepared for a closer, smooth shave, as the scrub removes rough areas from the chin and face.

What does it look like?
The face scrub is a thick, matte, cream that is "putty" in colour, but is light enough to be squeezed from the tube in which it is packaged. Although it is meant to be fragrance free, I detected a hint of mintyness, although that could be just me!! The "scrubbers" themselves are not visible, but actually make up the whole texture of the scrub.

What does it feel like?
Unlike other pre shave scrubs, the Clinique version is very thick in consistency and feels almost like wet sand when rubbed between the fingertips. It is not slippery at all, in fact it is very dry to the touch, allowing excellent control both in terms of dispensing from the tube and when applying it to the face. The cream is "gritty" in nature and is full of the tiny "scrubbers" that are needed to exfoliate the skin, they are not hap-hazardly dotted around the scrub, as is the case with other products.

When and how should it be used?
This scrub should be used pre-shave, on wet skin. A thumb nail sized "ball" should be enough to cover the shave area, and it should be gently rubbed into the skin with the hands. Please be careful not to be too vigorous as, whilst this is quite a gentle scrub, it could irritate if the skin is rubbed too hard!!

Once applied, the scrub should be left on the skin for about a minute, and then rinsed off. Another word of warning, be careful around your eyes!! There is a warning on this on the tube, but I can only imagine how uncomfortable this would be if it got into the eyes!

Packaging and Price

This scrub is available in one size - a 100ml tube, priced at around £13. This may seem expensive compared to other products available, but it really is worth it for the quality of the results.

The tube itself is dark silver in colour, and around 6 inches long by 2 inches wide. The tube has a slightly textured, rubberized, feel to it, which helps with comfort when you are holding it, but can become quite slippery when wet and can lead to a loss of control when squeezing the scrub out. Overall, the tube is very sexy and sleek and is emblazoned with the "Clinique skin supplies for Men" logo, in white letters, making it easy to spot and instantly recognizable.

The tube tapers slightly to a click lid, which is easily operated with a flick of the thumb, so this scrub can easily be used one-handed (if desired!!!). However, the lid itself is hollow and this space can become filled with erratically squeezed cream, which dries quite quickly, so the click mechanism can become clogged. The scrub is dispensed through a hole that is around 1 centimetre in diameter, which is designed to dispense the product slowly and in the quantity required. Whilst this is great in terms of reducing wastage (fairly essential at this price), the small aperture can become clogged with, again, drying cream, so may need to be cleared out before it can be used. Overall, a sexy and good looking exterior, but it can be fairly high maintenance (aren't they always!!).

The Results

Once rinsed off, the effects of this scrub were noticed immediately. My face felt smoother and tighter, but without any dryness or irritation. This feeling of comfort continued even after shaving, with no noticeable dryness.

The shave that followed was exceptionally smooth!! My skin felt smoother and the blades seemed to glide over my skin with very little disruption. Due to the tightness and smoothness of my skin, the shave was extremely close and the feeling of smoothness lasted much longer than normal throughout the day - my 5 o'clock shadow not appearing until after teatime!!

The appearance of my skin was much better, too. My skin looked fresher and brighter (highlighting my dazzling eyes!), but had none of the shininess that can appear after using some of the other, gel-like scrubs.

I would thoroughly recommend this scrub to anyone looking to freshen and smoothen the appearance of their skin, and obtain a more effective, closer shave. It is more expensive than other alternatives that are available (Nivea Exfoliating Face Scrub is available in 100ml tubes for £5-£6), but you get none of the residual greasiness that can occur with these gels, and the quality is definitely worth it.

Who knows? It could even scrub away the excesses of the Christmas season, and allow you to enter the New Year looking fresh and toned - even if you don't feel it!!

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Clinique Skin Supplies for Men Face Scrub is widely available, at Clinique concession counters, department stores and larger High Street chemists. It is also available online, with prices varying from £13 to £17 for the 100ml tube.
 

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