The History of Clinique (2024)

I am so lucky to have the opportunity of being a Clinique Campus Ambassador this year. I have always had an interest in makeup and skincare and now I get a complete behind the scene look at everything that goes into this amazing company. This timeless company has been around for 53 years and is still a fan favorite! Let’s dive into what makes this company special.

Timeline

A Vogue editor asked a dermatologist the question, “can great skin be created?” and thus Clinique was born. Estée Lauder was introduced to this article and a year later, Clinique opened on Saks Fifth Avenue in 1968. The name Clinique came from Evelyn Lauder, who had seen stores to buy skincare products in France called Clinique Esthétiques. The name felt right for everything that Clinique would stand for; fresh, chic, timeless, glamorous, and scientific. Fast forward to 2021 and Clinique is one of the most popular and well-known brands in the United States, and for good reason. Over 50 years later and Clinique is just as reliable and elegant as it always has been.

Timeless

Clinique has strong roots and a strong brand identity. Even though it started decades ago, Clinique has stayed the same, as it has always been timeless. The iconic Clinique green started when Clinique was launched and you will still see the green on their packaging and advertisem*nts. Their advertisem*nts from the start have been simple and clean, and they didn’t use models very often. So, this ad from the early days of Clinique looks like something that could run today.Image Source

The floral packaging you can see on many of Clinique’s makeup products is also from the beginning of Clinique. Estée Lauder wanted the packing to be fun and fashion-forward. She was wearing a scarf with a very small floral pattern on it and decided she liked it so much that it would be on the makeup packaging. She had the design team blow up the design so much that each product actually had a slightly different pattern on it. Image Source

Why Clinique

Besides Clinique being an aesthetically pleasing company, their products have unmatched quality and the company takes on social issues. Clinique has always been focused on health and sensitive skin. They come up with their formulas scientifically and don’t just compile some random ingredients. Clinique also prides itself on being 100% fragrance-free and allergy-tested from the beginning, which was not done before. The company also wants to ensure that everyone can have their great skin by using the right products. Leonard Lauder came up with the idea of “Clinique Computer” which was a quick consultation system to help customers determine their skin type and the products that would work best for them.Image Source

Clinique has also taken initiative with a recycling program and informed the public since the ’70s. When Clinique first started, many of its products were in glass containers and bottles, thus Clinique started a recycling program. Customers could bring back their old containers to stores and Clinique employees would pick them up on specific recycling days. Additionally, the company would send out funnels with mini versions of the products so that customers could reuse the trial-size bottles. Clinique also had an info-series where they would send out information to consumers on topics, sometimes taboo, and how it can affect your skin. One topic that really surprised people was their info series on the birth control pill and how it can affect your skin. They also did topics like sun care and stress and how to help the issues it causes your skin.

Iconic 3 Step System

Clinique is known for its iconic 3 step system for different skin types. There are different systems depending on skin type; dry and oily. Each one consists of a cleanser, clarifying lotion, and a moisturizer. It is designed to be used for three minutes, twice a day. Everyone can get radiant great skin using the 3 step system! Image Source

Clinique continues to stand by its goals of being fragrance-free, paraben-free, and phthalates-free. Their products are dermatologist tested and they strive to be sustainable. Clinique has become a staple company for many people and it’s easy to see why.

Source

Clinique. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.clinique.com/.