I put Trader Joe's $9 gel-moisturizer dupe to the test. I'm never spending $60 on Clinique again.

Since the 2.5-ounce jar of Clinique's moisturizer was on the pricey side, and I wasn't sure I'd like it, I purchased a smaller 0.05-ounce container for $17.

When I first applied the moisturizer, I was surprised by its sheer texture. It felt surprisingly thin and quickly rubbed smoothly into my skin.

There wasn't any noticeable residue or change in my skin's color, but it left a slight shine for the first 10 minutes after applying. I was worried it would make my skin look oily throughout the day and possibly lead to breakouts.

I'm very sensitive to textures and smells on my face, so I couldn't help noticing a slight perfumey fragrance that reminded me of sunscreen. But the label says the product is fragrance-free and the odor wasn't noticeable after about 30 minutes.

When the moisturizer settled, it was invisible. My skin felt more matte than wet, which is what I'd prefer.

My everyday makeup is quite simple: powder foundation, blush, and mascara.

When I glided my foundation sponge over the moisturizer, I didn't feel any heaviness. But after putting on my blush and mascara, I felt an urge to itch my face a little because I could feel all the products on it.

This went away after I went outside and let some fresh air hit my skin.

In the afternoon, my face looked less dry than usual, and my makeup looked mostly the same as normal. There was a slight shine to my face throughout the day, but it wasn't too noticeable.

When I went to take off my makeup and wash my face at the end of the day, my skin was a bit red.

The next morning, I noticed some fresh zits popping up on my chin and forehead. Many different factors could've led to my morning breakout — especially because I've always had acne-prone skin — but it made me a little hesitant to try the moisturizer again.

After a week of using the moisturizer, my skin felt less dry, but I still had some breakouts. Maybe my sensitive, acne-prone skin didn't like that I was trying a new product.

My first impression of Trader Joe's moisturizer was that a little bit really went a long way. The consistency felt practically identical to Clinique's product, but it seemed a little bit thicker and denser.

After applying the same amount as I did with Clinique's moisturizer, my skin felt like it was dripping wet. I took a towel and blotted my face hoping that at least half of what I applied would come off.

Even after that, my skin still looked dewy, which I didn't love. I prefer more of a bare-faced look. I fanned my face with my hands for a minute or two before applying my makeup.

I didn't love how my skin felt when I put makeup on top of the Trader Joe's moisturizer. My skin felt heavy — like it had thick layers of product on it.

Because I initially put too much moisturizer on and dabbed it off, the foundation I pressed into my skin looked a bit uneven and lumpy.

My makeup wasn't going on as smoothly as usual, and I felt like the thickness of the layers accentuated my acne bumps and scars.

The product application didn't go as seamlessly as I would've liked, but it settled nicely throughout the day. My makeup lasted well into the early evening without touch-ups, and my face didn't feel oily at all.

When I cleaned my face at night, my skin felt soft and hydrated. I didn't notice any signs of redness or irritation.

For the rest of the week, I reduced to using about a penny-sized amount of the product. Because of the way my foundation mixed with the moisturizer, I was also able to use less makeup and still get good coverage.

I noticed an occasional zit, which is typical for me throughout any given week, but there weren't more than usual.

After trying out both moisturizers, I found myself reaching for the Trader Joe's one. Once I figured out how much to apply, it felt light on my skin, and I didn't notice any additional breakouts when wearing it consistently.

Dermatologist Bruce Katz told Business Insider that both moisturizers could be beneficial to anyone with dry or aging skin, but he also had a preference.

"While these two moisturizers have similar ingredients with antioxidants in them, the Trader Joe's product is superior for one major reason," he said. "It has green tea in it."

Katz said that the Clinique moisturizer has antioxidants that are good for the skin like vitamins C and E. But the green tea in the Trader Joe's moisturizer makes those additions much more potent.

"The green tea makes it more effective in neutralizing free radicals that damage the skin," he said.

I was shocked that I ended up really liking the less expensive option, but the ingredients and the texture made my skin look better than it has in a long time.

This story was originally published on October 16, 2023, and most recently updated on September 25, 2024.