Few beauty brands have a legacy quite like Clinique.
In its over 50 years on the market, many of the company’s hero products (think: Black Honey) have become household names. So when Clinique launched its Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup this spring, we knew we had to try it.
In addition to SF 45 and five forms of vitamin C, the fresh foundation features ingredients like vitamin B3 and vitamin E. What’s more, Clinique claims the formula is non-streaking and non-settling.
Three of our staffers put the dewy base to the test to see how it stacks up — and whether it truly is even better than other foundations we’ve tried. Read on for our honest thoughts.
Our review
Clinique Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup
Pros:
- Lightweight, buildable coverage
- Offers broad-spectrum SPF 45
- Comes in 28 sheer shades, each designed to work on a variety of skin tones
- Easy to apply with fingers or a brush
Cons:
- Leaves a dewy, radiant finish, so not the best choice for those who prefer a matte look
Given Page Six Style & Shopping Director Elana Fishman and Commerce Writer Hannah Southwick both grew up Clinique devotees, this foundation felt like a return to form in the best possible way — for both us and the brand.
“I was really excited to try this product — and I wasn’t disappointed,” says Fishman. “I typically look for a foundation with lighter, buildable coverage, and that’s precisely what this one delivered.”
Since the foundation is also fairly sheer and blends beautifully, don’t stress if you can’t figure out the perfect color match; because of the light coverage, each shade can flex across different skin tones. (Plus, the online shade match tool worked wonders for our testers).
Aesthetics aside, Fishman found that the glycerin, sodium hyaluronate (aka hyaluronic acid) and vitamin E mix worked well for her typically dry skin and left a “dewy, radiant finish that lasts all day.”
And while you could apply it with a brush, both she and Southwick found it worked just as well when applied by hand.
“While some foundations require the right brush (or primer) to sit properly on your skin, Clinique’s new foundation blends beautifully with no bells and whistles,” the latter says. “Truly an on-the-go makeup staple.”
Page Six Anchor Astra similarly compared the SPF-packed formula to tinted moisturizer, calling it “perfect” for a “no makeup” makeup look.
“I felt like I had an instant subtle tan,” she says. “It made my skin look so smooth, as if I had the beauty filter on.”
The bottom line
All three testers were impressed by the product, with Astra going as far as calling it her “new favorite foundation.”
“It’s not sticky at all and doesn’t leave any crease marks under my eyes like many foundations do,” she raves of the “very moisturizing” formula.
“I appreciated the lightweight, radiant finish and could see this working particularly well for folks whose skin is on the drier side, like mine,” Fishman echoes, noting that for that reason, the hydrating formula “may not be the best choice for those with oilier skin types.”
As someone with combination skin, Southwick found the foundation to be a great beauty staple for light makeup days.
“I love that the liquid formula evens out my skin tone and covers slight redness, without looking cakey or overpowering,” she says.
How we tested
To find out whether Clinique’s new Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup is worth spending your shopping dollars on, three of our staffers tested the formula in three different shades. Throughout our testing, we evaluated the product for staying power, ease of application, shade range, finish and more.
Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping
This article was written by Hannah Southwick, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Page Six Style. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable celebrity-worn styles, puts Hollywood’s favorite labels to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carpet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.