Clinique clarifying lotion 1.0 dupe?

[TashaCookie]

I've been using the Clinique 3-step (4 for me) skincare regime for over a year now and noticed it hasn't been doing anything for a while now. I'm really not wanting to re-purchase as too expensive o.O

I'm fine with face washes, as long as they are gentle so not bothered with that. I love the 1.0 lotion as makes my face feel fresher and cleaner after but can't justify over £35! I then use the moisture surge concentrate which is so nice and leaves my skin soft before the cream but again...£45 odd for one tube of it! I have found though that if i skip both lotion and serum, my face becomes tight and dry feeling so after cheaper dupes of those two.

I'm a 30 year old female with a very oily forehead, acne and acne scars on my chin and dry cheeks/nose/inner corners of eyes. Open to suggestions as i'm on my last dribbles of the clarifying lotion..thank you :-D

Aren't the Clinique toners just acid toners? You can get loads cheaper than Clinique nowadays.

Have your cheeks always been dry? I have quite dry skin and I don't get on with any kind of acid toner-though your oiler T zone might benefit from it.
You might find a hydrating hylaluronic serum better than your current one.

I've had drier cheeks and undereyes since hitting my late 20's, the oily forehead has been forever it feels.

The lady at the Clinique stand originally gave me lotion 1 but the alcohol in it made my skin burn so she swapped it for 1.0 alcohol free and it has been so much better with no burning.

Would the hydrating hylaluronic serum be used instead of the clarifying lotion or the moisture surge concentrate would you say? I googled it and CeraVe popped up, have you ever used them? Reviews seem a bit hit and miss...thanks for replying!

I've had drier cheeks and undereyes since hitting my late 20's, the oily forehead has been forever it feels.

The lady at the Clinique stand originally gave me lotion 1 but the alcohol in it made my skin burn so she swapped it for 1.0 alcohol free and it has been so much better with no burning.

Would the hydrating hylaluronic serum be used instead of the clarifying lotion or the moisture surge concentrate would you say? I googled it and CeraVe popped up, have you ever used them? Reviews seem a bit hit and miss...thanks for replying!

I think the main ingredient in Clinique clarifying lotiona is BHA, so you can get one of those instead.

Paula's Choice make the best BHA but they're probably on par price wise with Clinique, maybe a little cheaper? I don't know which of the cheaper brands like The Ordinary, Inkey List, Revolution, etc. does the best BHA but they'll all have one.

CosRx is a Korean brand that also has a good BHA toner that is gentle on the skin but it kind of depends where you buy it from with how affordable it is. If you order it from Asia through Yessttyle or Stylevana it'll be a lot cheaper but will take two weeks or more to get to you.