This ingredient’s super power? It can hold 1,000 times its own weight in water. (That’s sort of like you holding up a whale. Crazy, right?).  Hyaluronic acid is naturally present within your entire body and has the consistency of a viscous gel. It acts as a lubricant to help your joints, muscles, and nerves function smoothly. Think of it like the oil in a car engine.

So what specifically does it do for your skin? This supreme humectant not only draws vital water in to your skin, but also holds on to it and prevents moisture loss. This provides both immediate and long-term hydration benefits, so your skin can maintain a plump, hydrated, radiant, and smooth appearance. “Hyaluronic acid is a dermatologist favorite ingredient because it plumps up your skin with hydration, giving it a youthful, dewy look. It also makes fine dry lines and wrinkles appear less obvious,” explains Clinique Derm Pro Dr. Michelle Henry, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.

Activated aloe water is water infused with aloe barbadensis leaf extract and created to hold both positive and negative ionic charges. This specially charged water increases your skin’s affinity to water. Translation: Not only will your skin absorb more hydration, but it’ll also lock it into your skin for longer. Plus, activated aloe water has all the soothing and calming benefits that you’d expect.

1. 5-Minute Moisturizing Mask. Here’s how easy it is to spa-on-the-go: Apply a generous amount of Moisture Surge to your entire face, then relax. Tissue off. Your skin will look radiant and remain hydrated.

2. Cuticle Treatment. Caught off guard by how ragged your cuticles look? Tidy them up ASAP with a conditioning dose of Moisture Surge. Massage it over each nail bed to soften and soothe any dry, rough cuticles.

3. Frizz Fighter. When your hair suddenly frizzes out and you have no hair serum on hand, rub a dime-sized amount of Moisture Surge onto your palms, and then run hands lightly over unruly areas.

4. Dewy Highlighter. Make your features stand out by strategically dabbing Moisture Surge along your cheekbones and brow bones. The hydration boost will create an alluring luminous effect.

5. Dry Spot Soother. The sheer, gel formula is ideal for targeted hydration. Apply a small amount directly to any dry spots in need of serious hydration. You can even pat it right on top of your makeup.

6. Sheer Bronzer. Mix a liquid bronzer, like Sun-Kissed Face Gelee Complexion Multitasker, with Moisture Surge, and then blend it lightly all over your face. This will instantly give your complexion an all over, sun-kissed glow.

7. Ashy Knees Fix. Don’t avoid wearing your favorite skirt just because your knees aren't ready to be revealed. Nix dryness by applying Moisture Surge, and spend a few minutes massaging it in for maximum absorption. Presto! Knockout knees.

Developed by a dermatologist. Fragrance free. Legendary. Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion has been the foundation of great skin for decades. It was Clinique’s first-ever moisturizer, and it keeps its standing today as one of the best-selling moisturizers in the world. It’s a genius. Here’s why.

Launched: 1968

Beauty breakthrough: So, what was dramatically different about Clinique’s first moisturizer? At the time, beauty counters were filled with rich creams brimming with fragrance—decadent and beautiful, but heavy and not right for every skin type. Clinique’s founding dermatologist, Dr. Norman Orentreich, understood that customized hydration was critical to healthy skin, as was a formula that wouldn’t clog your pores, feel greasy or cause any irritation. After years of research, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion was the first of its kind. It provided just-right hydration for different skin types. It instantly melted into your skin. It gave your skin a healthy glow. It was 100% fragrance free and allergy tested. Yes, it was—and still is—dramatically different.

Meet the Yellow Genius
Here’s why it’s called a genius: Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion duplicates the exact lipids and water balance that naturally occurs in healthy skin, so you receive the perfect amount of both exactly where you need it. It gratifies the thirst of every skin. The key hydrating ingredient: hyaluronic acid acts like a moisture magnet, helping to attract and retain water into your skin.

The Skin Barrier Builder
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion also helps strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier. What’s that? It’s the uppermost layer of skin whose key function is to protect everything underneath it from the daily assaults of sun exposure, pollution, and the elements. “Imagine you had a beautiful house, with gorgeous furniture, but the roof is leaky—everything in your house would get damaged. Your skin barrier offers the same protection that a roof does to a house,” explains Janet Pardo, Senior Vice President Product Development. The stronger your moisture barrier is, the better your skin’s ability to fend off free radicals, helping to prevent collagen breakdown, dryness, and hyperpigmentation. It can also better lock in hydration to maintain a healthy, hydrated glow.

Pioneering Allergy Science
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion was also unique thanks to Clinique’s uncompromising commitment to creating the safest, most effective formulas for all skin types. “In the ‘60s, skin care ingredients weren’t as regulated as they are now, so there were lots of things that were causing women to have reactions. It was very important to us to make sure that our formulas were free of anything even slightly irritating,” says Janet. Everything Clinique, starting with 3-Step and the yellow genius, has to pass our rigorous Allergy Science protocol. This has always entailed avoiding the use of any known allergens and irritants as well rigorous testing at every stage of development, including the Repeated Insult Patch Test (RIPT), in which 1,200 applications of a new formula is tested on real people, and if anyone experiences a reaction, we reformulate. Now, 50 years later, this commitment to uncompromising, rigorous allergy testing has generated a deep knowledge of skin physiology and a unique, expansive allergy test database that is constantly being updated and tapped into while developing new formulas. Also noteworthy: Today, everything from Clinique is free of parabens, phthalates, and fragrance.

Rave review: “I am so amazed with how well this one works! My skin instantly feels great and I don't have to worry about it being too greasy either. Since I have started using this, I have referred it to so many friends who have had the same experience as I have!” - Kristyxv

Must-know application tips: A little goes a long way. Great on its own, but works even better as part of a 3-Step regimen. Apply to cleansed skin, morning and night. FYI, it’ll actually help any anti-aging products you layer on top of it penetrate deeper into your skin. Think of how a wet sponge absorbs water faster than a bone dry sponge.

Cool fact: Every 3.6 seconds, a Dramatically Different product is sold; and there’s another happy skin in the world.

Meet the family.
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion has been reformulated since its launch and now has a “+” at the end of its name. It means increased hydration and moisture barrier strengthening benefits—without a drop of additional oil. Today, oily skin types may prefer Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, which helps to control oil and mattify the skin. The newest addition: Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly, an unbelievably lightweight, oil-free water-jelly that delivers 24-hour hydration repair plus pollution protection.

Want to take your customization to the next level? Now, you can create your own custom-blend Dramatically Different Moisturizer with the revolutionary Clinique iD. Simply choose the base that suits your skin type—Lotion, Gel or Jelly—then insert the Active Cartridge Concentrate that targets your main skin concern—Fatigue, Irritation, Pores & Uneven Texture, Uneven Skin Tone, or Lines & Wrinkles. The packaging is specially designed to give you the precise dose of hydration and treatment in every pump.

Words: Alix Light Perez | Photos from top to bottom: erin & erica, advertising photography courtesy of the Irving Penn Foundation, Matthew Chaves

Living with pollution is a fact of life—and so is protecting your skin from it. “Pollution is all around us, and most of the time, we can’t even see it. Some particles of pollution are so tiny, they’re invisible to the naked eye,” says Dr. Michelle Henry, a New York City-based dermatologist. The amount and types of pollution that bombard the skin have increased over the past decade (in some cities, air quality has gotten worse despite clean air efforts) and include things like smoke, smog, ozone, pesticides, factory and car emissions, even pollen. And don’t think that you’re not at risk when you’re indoors—microscopic particles like dust, pet dander, cooking oil fumes, mold spores, and household cleansers are all types of pollution too. Every time your skin comes in contact with these pollutants (like, every single day), there is the potential for damage. In fact, pollution exposure affects your skin in a way that’s very similar to sun exposure—both produce free radicals, and when they come into contact with your skin, they cause oxidative stress, which can damage all layers of your skin, from superficial irritation to the destruction of skin cells deep in the dermis.

The Dirty Truth
A particle of pollution can be 20 times smaller than the size of your pore. That means it can float right into your skin and wreak havoc. “All that particulate matter can poke tiny, microscopic holes in your skin barrier, allowing all the bad stuff in and the good stuff, like water, out,“ says Dr. Henry. And when pollution gets into your skin, it can cause a host of problems, from dullness and clogged pores to dark spots, hyperpigmentation, inflammation, and collagen damage leading to lines and wrinkles. It can also exacerbate skin conditions like acne and eczema, and cause flare-ups in sensitive skin.

Protect Yourself
Your first line of defense against pollution is your skin’s moisture barrier, which is the top layer of skin designed to block pollution from entering deep into your dermis. Think of your skin barrier as a brick wall. If the wall cracks or breaks down, it allows water to seep out and pollutants to sneak right in. That’s why it’s important to incorporate the right type of skin care into your daily regimen that helps to strengthen your skin barrier.

Clinique’s pollution solution: Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly Anti-Pollution. It’s a clear, lightweight, jelly-like hydrator formulated with Clean-Shield Technology, a skin-restoring blend of sunflower seed cake, barley extract and cucumber fruit extract that helps strengthen your skin barrier so it’s better able to defend itself against pollution. Think of Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly Anti-Pollution as a one-two punch against pollution.

Hello, Clean Glow
Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly Anti-Pollution makes the skin 87%* less vulnerable to pollution. Plus, it provides 24-hour intense hydration with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.  It’s oil-free and fast absorbing, and leaves the skin soft, smooth, supple, and glowing. So no matter what the pollution index says on your local weather report, you can walk out the door knowing your skin is healthy, hydrated, and stronger.

*In vitro testing on skin models.

Photos: Kyle Alexander | Words: Julie Redfern

Today, it’s more important than ever to have antioxidants in your daily skin care routine. Why? “They help protect your skin by neutralizing the effects of oxidative stress, which comes from things you deal with every day,” says London-based board-certified dermatologist and Clinique Derm Pro Dr. Emma Wedgeworth. “That includes pollution, UV rays, pollen, infrared radiation, and blue light.”

In fact, up to 90% of visible aging comes from UV rays alone.

Oxidative stress is when an oxygen molecule splits up into single unpaired electrons called free radicals. “This causes damage like premature aging, hyperpigmentation, inflammation, and uneven skin tone and texture,” explains Dr. Wedgeworth. Also, as we age, our natural energy levels tend to dip, leading to more easily fatigued, damage-prone skin. That’s why it’s important to have antioxidants like vitamins C, E, and ergothioneine in your skin care routine to help prevent all of that damage.

Superdefense SPF25 Fatigue + 1st Signs of Age Multi-Correcting Cream contains broad-spectrum sun protection that helps block UVA and UVB rays, but also protects against infrared radiation, which is when our skin feels heat and blue light. It provides all-day antioxidant protection with a blend of vitamins C, E, and ergothioneine. Plus, this multi-correcting cream contains seven superfoods: carrot, spinach, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, blueberries, and cranberries.

Don’t skip a day without applying SPF.
“No matter what your skin tone is, how much time you spend outdoors, or what time of year it is, everyone needs to protect their skin from UV rays every day. UV rays penetrate clouds and windows, so even 10 or 15 minutes of sun exposure each day can add up to lines and wrinkles over time,” says Clinique Derm Pro, Dr. Pompa, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist.

Do use a moisturizer that protects and repairs.
Look for a day cream that contains broad-spectrum sunscreen as well as antioxidants to help defend your skin from sun damage. Dr. Pompa’s pick: Superdefense SPF25 Fatigue 1st Signs of Age Multi-Correcting Cream, which helps block UVA/UVB rays, as well as infrared and blue lights.  For your body, try SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen. It'll absorb quickly and is virtually invisible on all skin tones.

Don’t apply SPF only once.
When exposed to direct sunlight, you should reapply sunscreen every two hours to achieve maximum protection. Also, make sure you reapply after sweating, swimming, or even toweling off.

Do use at least one teaspoon of sunscreen for your entire face.
“Make sure to apply sunscreen behind your ears and all the way down your neck,” explains Dr. Pompa. If applying to your body, a good rule of thumb is to use 1 oz. (like the size of a shot glass) with each use and apply evenly.

Don’t wait until you’re outside to apply SPF.
A big sun care secret: “Always apply sunscreen before you leave the house,” Dr. Pompa suggests. “It can take up to 15 minutes for the sun shielding ingredients to bond with your skin and become effective.”

Skin Concerns
· Lines & Wrinkles
· Firming

What You’ll See On The Ingredient List
Variations of acetyl hexapeptide, acetyl octapeptide, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide, palmitoyl hexapeptide or others.

Why Your Skin Needs It
Peptides are amino acids that help increase the production of natural collagen and elastin, which are essential building blocks for youthful-looking skin. Strengthening the skin’s dermal matrix helps smooth the look of lines and wrinkles and help skin look and feel firmer, more resilient, and taut.

The Clinique Expertise
Repairing the look of lines and wrinkles isn’t a task for just one miracle ingredient. For more optimal de-aging power, we combine peptides with other wonder workers. On the most-wanted list: Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum combines acetyl-hexapeptide-8 with whey protein, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to help visibly smooth, lift, and brighten skin.

What Our Scientist Says
“We are always researching peptide variations as we continue to innovate. They are vital to helping increase skin’s natural collagen and elastin production, which play a critical role in helping skin look smoother, less lined, and more lifted,” says Dr. Tom Mammone, Vice President, Skin Physiology and Pharmacology.

Remember when your mom said, “If you keep making that face, it’ll get stuck that way”? Well, she wasn’t entirely wrong. Those frowny faces we made as kids—and still do today—along with years of winking, squinting, and inquisitively raising an eyebrow—are all here to stay, in the form of two pesky vertical lines between the eyebrows, often referred to as frown lines or the “11’s.”

Frown lines can show up as early as your 20s and further deepen with age, especially if you’re the expressive type. They’re mostly caused by repeated muscle movements (frowning, squinting and scowling), which gradually break down collagen and elastin (the building blocks of the skin). Other factors like UV rays and pollution can also contribute to the deterioration of collagen and elastin and lead to more visible lines and wrinkles. “If you took a piece of paper and folded it in the same place over and over again, eventually you break down the fibers that make up the paper and you get a permanent crease,” explains Dr. David Orentreich, a New York City-based board certified dermatologist and Clinique guiding dermatologist. It’s the same with the frown lines.

Give me a “C”!
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect skin from free radical damage that causes signs of aging. It also helps lines become less noticeable, and your skin overall look more plump and smooth. It’s most powerful when used fresh, which is why Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10% is packaged in an airtight, light-proof vial to ensure it’s at maximum potency up until the moment you use it.

Power up hydration.
When your skin is dehydrated, wrinkles are exaggerated so they appear deeper than they really are. On the flip side, when your skin is properly hydrated, it looks plump, so wrinkles look less obvious. Opt for a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, which attracts and binds moisture to the skin and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. A smart choice: Smart moisturizers.

The best skin care recipe to help visibly reduce the 11’s.
In a 12 week clinical study, participants mixed Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10%, with Smart Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Custom-Repair Moisturizer (in the morning) and Smart Night Custom-Repair Moisturizer (at night), and there was a visible reduction in frown lines. Now, that’s something to smile about.

And don’t forget to...

Apply sunscreen: “Sunscreen is very important because you want to limit damage to the cells that make collagen and elastin,” notes Dr. Orentreich. Bright sunshine or overcast skies, be sure to take cover; the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays are always shining.

Wear sunglasses: Any time you’re outside, slip on the shades. Sunglasses are the best way to keep you from squinting—a leading cause of the 11's.

Stress less: Stress wreaks havoc on your body—and skin. Chronic stress can elevate cortisol levels, which causes inflammation and, in turn, damages collagen. And let’s face it, when you’re stressed, you scowl.

Stop smoking: Cigarette smoking inhibits the body’s natural repair process, making it more difficult to produce collagen and elastin. Also, all that puffing causes repeated brow furrowing.

Video & Photos: Mosspark | Words: Julie Redfern

Fancy a cup of tea? Then make it Gyokuro, one of the most precious varietals of green tea on the planet. Yes, on the planet. Gyokuro is harvested in such a unique way that its natural antioxidant and anti-irritant properties are maximized to their full potential. The result is a rich and savory healthy tea abundant in the amino acid Umami, which supports inner vitality when drinking it. What’s more, Umami helps soothe, calm, and fight off oxidative damage when infused with a cocktail of brightening skin care ingredients. Fun fact: Samurai would drink Gyokuro tea before battle because of its nerve-calming ingredient, theanine, and invigorating jolt of caffeine. It's a centuries-old beauty elixir whose calming powers have been optimized in modern times.

The art of the harvest.
The family-run Obubu Tea Farm in Kyoto, Japan has perfected the delicate process of growing Gyokuro, also romantically referred to as Jade Dew. The game-changing technique: Just prior to harvest time in late April, the entire Gyokoru crop is covered with an expansive black shade for three weeks. Preventing direct sunlight from touching the green leaves slows down the rate of photosynthesis, changing the chemistry of the tea leaves and generating higher levels of caffeine and theanine, the key components that help energize, soothe, and protect cells from oxidization and irritation. After three weeks in the shade, only the youngest, most vital leaves are handpicked and steamed, then hand-rolled and air dried to allow for the tea’s flavor components to fully be released.

The benefits of green tea, Gyokuro.
Gyokuro tea is steeped in benefits. For instance, its caffeine is a potent anti-irritant that calms the skin and minimizes irritation and damage. As with everything else in life, the calmer your skin is, the less susceptible it will be towards damage. Clinique research has shown that when skin cells are in a state of equilibrium, not only are they less prone to irritation that causes excess melanin production, but they are also more receptive to repair and treatment. Gyokuro is one key ingredient in the new Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector & Optimizer, which quells irritation caused by environmental assaults and reveals a smoother, more radiant complexion.

The Ritual: One tea, three brews.
There’s also an art to enjoying a cup of Jade Dew green tea. According to ancient Japanese tradition, the Gyokuro tea ritual involves drinking a series of three brews in increasingly hot water, which allows for the full complexity of flavors to be savored. For the first infusion, steep the tea in simmering water for 15 seconds. This serving will have a sweet, slightly grassy flavor. Once you’ve savored that cup, brew the leaves a second time in bubbling water. More steep time gives you more intensity of flavor, creating a slightly stronger, bitterer tasting tea. Steep the same tea leaves one more time in boiling water—30 seconds for your last brew—which will be bold with an astringent quality. While it’s a bit of an acquired taste, it’s also the most abundant with natural antioxidants. Like a good skin care regimen, this is one routine worth savoring.

Tip: After brewing, mix the green tea leaves in a bowl of steamed rice. Add a little soy sauce, and sprinkle with sesame seeds for a savory taste of Japanese soul food.

“Treating dark spots can seem like a vicious cycle. As soon as one fades, another pops up,” says board-certified Miami-based dermatologist and Clinique Derm Pro Dr. Adriane Pompa. Sometimes, one that faded is suddenly more prominent, seemingly out of nowhere. If left unaddressed, pronounced hyperpigmentation can stick around for months, even years. But with the right skin care routine and a few simple lifestyle changes, you can successfully reduce the appearance of dark spots on your own. Here's everything you need to know.

What causes hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanin (the pigment that gives skin color) is overproduced, creating dark spots that vary in size, color and quantity. When a skin cell is attacked by an aggressor, it automatically starts to produce an excessive amount of melanin as a means of self-defense, which may lead to the emergence of dark spots. The most common aggressors are hard to avoid: sun exposure and free radical damage from pollution, which cause age spots; hormone fluctuations from birth control or pregnancy, which cause melasma; and skin trauma from acne breakouts (or picking them) as well as cuts, scrapes and rashes, all of which can lead to post-inflammatory scars.

Break the dark spot cycle.
“In the office, I use a variety of treatments like chemical peels and lasers, but there’s a clinically proven way to break the dark spot cycle at home,” says Dr. Pompa.