In a world of 12-step skin care trends, this OG 3-step lineup seems to do pretty much everything — for the price of one fancy serum.

I was first introduced to Clinique as a teenager in the 1980s. At the time, the brand was about a decade old and its 3-product ritual felt luxurious, sophisticated, and grown-up — especially for someone who had been using bar soap and cold cream.

This was before the dawn of online shopping, so most of us discovered Clinique at the local department store. I have vivid memories of the Clinique counter with its beautiful mint packaging.

My mother used their products, and she had great skin, so it didn’t take much to convert me. Around the age of 15, I adopted Clinique as my first-ever beauty regimen, which lasted me through high school and college.

Since then, my skin has seen many stages, including pregnancies, postpartum changes, menopause, and the inevitable impacts of aging.

If my skin has changed a lot since I was 15, so has the world of skin care. We’re living in a time of overload filled with sophisticated serums, high-tech creams, mineral sunscreens, face taping, slugging, microneedling, morning shreds, and too many trends to track.

My Instagram feed is filled with influencers waxing poetic about the “game changers” and “holy grail” products that gave them glass skin. My bathroom counter is filled with options, but lately I’ve found that none of them are really doing anything amazing.

So, I decided on a whim that it would be interesting to turn back to my first love, Clinique. My skin had changed… had their products changed as well? Were they as good as I remember?

While Clinique may have seemed revolutionary back in 1968 when it first appeared on the beauty scene, it seems revolutionary for different reasons over 55 years later.

Among the things that help the brand stand out:

  • Science-based. Clinique has a long-standing dedication to science-backed research and results. The 3-step routine was developed in conjunction with a dermatologist, going back to its very roots.
  • Allergy tested. All Clinique products are allergy tested, ensuring safety and suitability for many skin types. In a world of scented face creams, the iconic Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is unique in that it has no fragrance and no fillers.
  • Simple yet effective. Clinique’s customized approach to skin care is simple, yet allows for a personalized approach to suit your skin type. There’s a 3-step combo designed for each skin type.
  • Exfoliation, but make it gentle. Clinique was ahead of its time with regard to daily gentle exfoliation. Its Clarifying Lotion is a chemical, liquid exfoliant used to break up dead skin cells sans abrasive ingredients. This is not a toner. Twice a day, every day is recommended with Clinique.

I’m a minimalist and wear little to no makeup, so my skin care routine doesn’t involve a ton of products. That said, I like to try different brands for the products I use (especially serums) rather than using the same thing on repeat.

My typical morning is: peptide serum, moisturizer, sunscreen, and sometimes eye cream. My typical evening is: cleanser (often, a balm), serum, moisturizer, and a prescription retinoid three times a week.

After using the 3-step routine solely (no other products except sunscreen) for several weeks, I was surprised by how these products felt on my skin. Even though I had used them years ago, I somehow envisioned that a simple routine wouldn’t be terribly noticeable. I was wrong.

I immediately noticed my skin felt and looked soft and perfectly moisturized. None of the products were too drying or too oily, something that happens often with other products. My immediate thought was, “Wow, my skin is really happy.”

I was left wondering why I stopped using Clinique years ago. Was it the lure of so many other products, all offering big results? The impact of social media? Or the belief that changes in my skin over time meant that I needed different products?

At this point in my life, I am looking for simple things that work — period. I feel like I rediscovered that in the Clinique 3-step process.

My co-worker, Heather, also grew up with Clinique and never stopped using it. “I’ve been using Clinique skin care products and makeup since my mom introduced me to them in high school. Like her, I only use allergy-free products developed for sensitive skin. Clinique doesn’t irritate my skin or clog my pores. It’s what has worked best for my skin for many years.”

Heather is a devotee of the brand’s All About Clean Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser Mousse (also available in liquid form, which I tried). “This is the only facial cleanser I use. Ever.”

But like many, it is Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion that ranks above all. “This is the gold standard of face moisturizer. ‘The yellow lotion’—as we call it in my family–moisturizes my skin without making it feel oily, and more importantly, keeps my skin moisturized throughout the day.”

“One of the things I love most about Clinique is that the products feel good when I put them on. My dry skin feels instant relief, but it never feels too oily or sticky.”

The Clinique 3-step routine was created with one mission in mind: to create simple, science-backed products that were free of any fragrances or fillers that might irritate skin.

The routine provides the essential steps to care for skin gently yet effectively: cleanser, exfoliating toner, and moisturizer.

What made Clinique unique in the 1960s when it was first released is still what makes it compelling today in the crowded world of skin care.