There are a few things that were best in the original version:  the Rocky series, the unedited Star Wars, Coca-Cola Classic (who ever even tried New Coke?).  However, in skin care, improvements are just as likely to be amazing as they are to kill a product.  With the new Clinique Moisture Surge Intense ($54.00, Amazon.com), Clinique attempts to improve over the old cult favorite Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief ($39.99, Amazon.com).  Here’s what you need to know:
1.) Â The original is less sticky.
The new Clinique Moisture Surge Intense has far more hydrators in high concentration than the original, with two types of silicones (cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone) and moisture-ridden oil squalane added in the first seven ingredients alone.  Unfortunately, the plethora of hydrators in Clinique Moisture Surge Intense leads it to dry a bit tacky and sticky on the skin, making it necessary to wait 2-3 minutes before applying your makeup.  Still, that’s part of the purpose, leading me to point #2:
2.) Â As Clinique advises, only those with dry to very dry skin should switch to the new version.
3.) Â The original has more antioxidant green tea.
Although the new Clinique Moisture Surge Intense and the original Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief are quite similar, the major difference is that the original contains a lot more green tea.  As one of my favorite ingredients, green tea has been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and photoprotective properties when applied topically to human skin.
For those truly avid about skin care, note that the green tea extract in Clinique Moisture Surge may not be the most potent out there.  Green tea extract contains only 50% of the most active compound, epigallocatechin gallate. Certain brands, like Topix Replenix, extract the active polyphenols from green tea in order to have maximal soothing and antioxidant effects. I’m honestly surprised that sensitive skin-friendly Clinique has not done the same as of yet!
Bottom Line
Sometimes the original really is the best.  Although the new Clinique Moisture Surge Intense is a godsend for those with dry to very dry skin, Clinique hasn’t improved over the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief for everyone else, as the new product leaves a tackier finish with less antioxidant green tea.  I also really wish they would have included more green tea in the new version, but c’est la vie – you win some, you lose some.  At any rate, I think Clinique Moisture Surge Intense and Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief are sensational for use over retinol/peptide serums in the hot summer months, with the near-perfect blend of hydration, soothing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Ingredients in Clinique Moisture Surge Intense
WATERAQUAEAU, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DIMETHICONE, CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, SQUALANE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE, LAURYL PEG-9 POLYDIMETHYLSILOXYETHYL DIMETHICONE, TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT BRAN) EXTRACT, AHNFELTIA CONCINNA EXTRACT, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CAFFEINE, WHEY PROTEINLACTIS PROTEINPROTEINE DU PETIT-LAIT, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF POWDER, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA), CHOLESTEROL, PALMITOYL OLIGOPEPTIDE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, PETROLATUM, PEG-150, SUCROSE, PYRIDOXINE DIPALMITATE, LINOLEIC ACID, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CITRIC ACID, POLYSILICONE-11, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, GLYCERYL POLYMETHACRYLATE, PEG-8, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, CHLORPHENESIN, PHENOXYETHANOL
Ingredients in Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief (Original; first 13 ingredients)
WATER, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERINE, BETULA ALBA (BIRCH) BARK EXTRACT, SILBUM MARIANUM, CAMELLIA SINESIS (GREEN TEA) LEAF EXTRACT, SACCHAROMYCES LYSATE EXTRACT, SUCROSE, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAFE WATER, THEALOS, HYDROXYETHYL, UREA
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