I’ve been raving about Clinique’s Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer serum for ages now, to friends and on beauty blogs, only to realise that I’ve actually never done a proper review on it!
When I first bought this almost two years ago, it came in a travel-pack edition which was only available at airports’ duty free shops (it came with the Moisture Surge moisturiser and All About Eyes eye cream). Since I hadn’t any serums to use at that time, I thought I’d simply give this a go.
Description:
A high performance exfoliant that prompts a multilevel renewal process that is time-released. Helps speed fresh, vibrant looking cells to the surface. Continually unveils brighter, more radiant skin through exfoliation. Leaves skin with a velvety feel, perfected look.
Ingredients:
Water (Aqua Purifcata) Purified, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Acetyl Glucosamine, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Salicylic Acid, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copoylmer, Castanea Sativa (Chestnut) Seed Extract, Cholesterol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Yeast Extract (Faex), Caffeine, Adeonsinie Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salvia Scharea (Clary) Extract, Creatine, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Pantethine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocomidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract, Ethylhexylgylcerin, Sodium Citrate, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Isohexadecane, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron oxides
Before I go on with my review, please note that this serum serves as a chemical exfoliant. It contains Salicylic Acid, which is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid). It’s more gentle than AHA, and is able to exfoliate the surface of the skin. It also contains Acetyl Glucosamine, in which the parent company Estee Lauder believes to be an effective non-acid exfoliating agent (although there is still no substantiated research proving this ingredient’s effectiveness as an alternative to AHA and BHA exfoliants).
As with most skincare products I’ve tried, I did not get immediate results with this serum. It was a month later that I woke up one morning, felt my cheeks, and suddenly realised how incredibly smooth they were. Yeah, I know, it’s a weird thing to say, that I only realised that all of a sudden. But somehow, it’s true! Constant use of this serum has given my skin a fantastic exfoliation, and I couldn’t be happier with the condition of my skin. In fact, to be honest, I hadn’t had such great skin since I became a teenager!
Blemishes were reduced, and so were my blackheads and whiteheads. Skin became slightly fairer. This, in fact, has become somewhat of a miracle product for me. *cue epiphany music*
I use this once a day (less than a pea-sized amount), in the evenings, and use a gentle scrub to a maximum of twice a week. This may be too much for those with sensitive skin though. If so, I’d recommend using it on alternate days. Guess my skin’s tough as hide 
Having said that, please bear in mind that this does not work for everyone. I’ve read and heard reviews of this breaking skin out, causing a hell lot of havoc on the skin, etc. So how would I recommend this product? I’d say, give it a try if you have oily skin (the negative reviews were mostly on those with dry skin). As with new skincare products – do not purchase a full-sized bottle yet. Do get a sample of it from Clinique counters to try it out first.
According to Paula Begoun, this serum is very similar to Estee Lauder’s Idealist (and it’s cheaper too), down to its light texture and silky finish. Hmm … makes you wonder why Estee Lauder would sell two similar products at different prices eh?
Clinique’s Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer is available at all Clinique counters (Myer, David Jones and participating pharmacies) at AU$68 for a 30ml bottle, and AU$88 for a 50ml. Not all stores stock the 50ml ones though.
What I like about it: Great exfoliator serum, smoothened skin, reduced blemishes. After almost two years, I’m still in love with it!
What I do not like about it: Nothing.
PS: Kahani’s raved about this serum too. Do check out her review.
Thirty-something. Gemini. Happily married. Loves shopping. Has an unhealthy adoration for bags and chocolate. Uses sunscreen religiously. Hates baked beans with a vengeance. Thinks that the weekdays should be a weekend long, vice versa. Optimistic. Narcissistic. Not the average Jane.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I need to give this a try!!!
hey i just bought this today! i am so glad to find your review and see all your great success with the product. i hope to have the same results!
Oh … this sounds like exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks!
I think I have the sample of this! yay! i am so excited to use it now!!!
Sad that this didn’t work for me. Really wanted to like it.
I’ve got a small sample of this….should try it!
I haven’t tried this serum but I’m quite addicted to the Turnaround mask! It leaves my skin very clean, fresh and purified. I think I will check the serum too, hope I can get a sample
Thanks for the review!
Great review! =) I’m definitely heading to my local Clinique counter to get a sample of this one.
By the way, you’ve been tagged. Check out my blog. =D
is it truly effective? coz some are don’t… most of t hem are very deceiving…
I do have one, i do not know if i can use it after moisturiser.
do you use water with this… wash and rinse? or is it just a cream?
Like others, I really wanted this product to be a miracle worker. Unfortunately, I found that it irritated my skin enough to cause a burning sensation and some acne. I used it after my usual cleanser, and have recently read that you’re supposed to apply it after your moisturizer. The instructions were limited and unclear. Perhaps if I had applied it in a different manner, I would have had better results. Or, perhaps the chemicals are just too harsh for sensitive skin. I would just caution users to test it out on a small area of their face before using it regularly.
Thanks very much for writing this review for us. To every detail, pros and cons all spelt out including personal experience. I’ve not read anything close to yours for a long time now. Thanks again. I was looking for a decent review to help decide on purchasing this product and yours certainly is a great help!
Thank you for your thoughtfulness – it really meant a lot.
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