The Edit: This is an honest first impressions unboxing of the Clinique Moisture Surge line from Amanda, a retired Air Force veteran who has traveled full time with her family since 2018. Clinique gifted two products: the Moisture Surge 100H Auto Replenishing Hydrator, an oil free gel cream with aloe bioferment and hyaluronic acid, and the Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum, made with 5% lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C. Clinique says the 100H gives 100 hours of stabilizing hydration after one use, and both formulas are fragrance free and allergy tested. Clinique has been making dermatologist guided skincare since 1968, and it’s owned by The Estée Lauder Companies. You can buy both at clinique.com, Sephora, and Ulta. Join Clinique Smart Rewards for free and you get 15% off your first clinique.com order, plus points toward full size products. So far, both products are a yes, and a full review comes once the jar is empty. Written for anyone with skin that stays dry no matter the climate, especially travelers dealing with airplane air.

Clinique gifted these through ShopMy. All thoughts and first impressions are my own.

At a Glance

Detail	Information
Best deal	15% off your first order at clinique.com when you join Smart Rewards for free
What I got	Moisture Surge 100H Auto Replenishing Hydrator (1.7 fl oz) and Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum (1 fl oz)
Price	100H: $17 to $89 depending on size. Active Glow Serum: $49 to $65 depending on size
Sizes	100H: 0.5 oz, 1 oz, 1.7 fl oz, 2.5 oz, 4.2 oz. Serum: 1 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz
Key ingredients	100H: aloe bioferment, hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E. Serum: 5% lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C
Free from	Fragrance and oil (both)
What I love so far	The 100H gel goes on softer than the blue jar gel I know, and the serum gives a subtle glow
My concern	Whether anything can actually keep my dry skin hydrated, even in a tropical climate
Where to buy	clinique.com, Sephora, Ulta
Gift with purchase	Clinique.com: Fall Gift adds itself on eligible $65 orders, no code needed. Ulta runs its own Clinique gift too. Offers change often
Exchange	15% off Clinique and no sales tax at the Exchange. Smart Rewards perks only work on clinique.com, not at Sephora, Ulta, or department store counters

Best deal: 15% off your first order at clinique.com when you join Smart Rewards for free, and the Fall Gift drops into eligible $65 orders automatically. Verified active as of October 2026.

Why Clinique Feels Full Circle for Me

My very first makeup was Clinique. My stepmom took me to Dillard’s when I was in sixth grade. We sat down at the Clinique counter, the kind where they look at your skin and build you a routine. I walked out with my first makeup and my first skincare.

That memory has stuck with me ever since. So when Clinique reached out with a gifting, I honestly felt so special. It was a full circle moment, and I’m really thankful for it.

What Came in the Box

Clinique sent two pieces from their Moisture Surge line. The first is the Moisture Surge 100H Auto Replenishing Hydrator. The second is the Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum. The packaging is beautiful, which is exactly what I expect from Clinique.

Why I Picked the Moisture Surge Line for Life on the Road

We’ve traveled full time as a family since 2018, and right now we’re based on Oahu. You’d think island humidity would fix dry skin. It doesn’t for me. Even in tropical climates, my skin stays very dry.

I’ve been trying everything to get my skin to hold onto moisture. That’s why a product promising 100 plus hours caught my attention. Plus, Clinique lists air travel and dry air among the everyday dehydrators the 100H is made for. For a family that flies as much as we do, that matters.

Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto Replenishing Hydrator: First Impressions

I’ve used the Clinique Moisture Surge 100H a few times now, always at night. So far, so good. The gel reminds me of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel in the blue jar. This one is pink, though, and it feels a little softer going on.

What Clinique Says About the 100H

According to Clinique, the formula pairs aloe bioferment with hyaluronic acid in two molecular weights. It also has a blend of vitamins C and E. The brand calls it an oil free gel cream that absorbs in about 3 seconds. Clinique also says it’s non acnegenic and safe for sensitive skin.

How to Use Clinique Moisture Surge 100H

Clinique’s directions say to use it morning and night on clean skin. You can also smooth it over makeup as a dewy highlighter. Another option is a 5 minute mask: apply a generous layer, then tissue off the extra.

Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum: First Impressions

The Active Glow Serum is nice too. It’s my morning step, and it gives a subtle glow. I’m not sure yet if it’ll become my favorite. Right now I still love my Sahajan serum. But I just got this one, so I’m giving it time.

Curious about the serum it’s up against? Read my full Sahajan skincare review.

What’s in the Active Glow Serum

Clinique calls this the first ever serum in the Moisture Surge collection. It has 5% lactic acid to exfoliate, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and vitamin C to brighten the look of skin. The texture is described as lightweight and milky.

How to Use Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum

Clinique says to use it morning and night on clean skin. Start with 3 drops, then add more if you like. The label also says to use sunscreen and limit sun exposure while using it and for the week after.

Right now, my face sunscreen is the RANAVAT Brightening Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+. If you’re headed somewhere sunny too, here are our reef safe sunscreens to pack for Hawaii.

How I’m Using Clinique Moisture Surge Right Now

Here’s how I’m working them in. The Active Glow Serum is my morning step. The 100H is my night step. I’m still using my other products too. I just added these two to see if they help my skin hold onto moisture.

Serum Before or After Moisturizer?

The serum goes before your moisturizer. Clinique’s own Moisture Surge routine lists the serum first and the 100H after. So if you use both at the same time, that’s the order to follow.

Exchange vs Clinique.com: Where I’d Buy

This part is for my military family. The Exchange runs 15% off Clinique with no sales tax, and if you shop the Clinique counter there, you can pay with your STAR card and earn points. Every 2,000 points turns into a $20 rewards card automatically. But that rewards card expires 3 months after it’s emailed to you.

That’s why I’d rather stack Sephora or Ulta points for bigger beauty buys. Still, for Clinique specifically, I’d buy direct. For more ways to stretch your budget, here are the military travel discounts we use year round.

Why Clinique.com Still Wins for a Restock

Clinique Smart Rewards is free to join and gives you 15% off your first order, plus points toward full size products and a birthday gift. The catch is that it only works on clinique.com. It doesn’t work at Sephora, Ulta, or department store counters. Gifts with purchase are worth comparing too, because Clinique and Ulta both run them, and Sephora has its own rewards perks. When I stopped at Ulta in October 2026, their Clinique gift was 3 pieces when you spend $50. Right now, Clinique’s own Fall Gift drops into your cart automatically on eligible $65 orders, no code needed. It comes with 8 pieces, and spending more unlocks even more. So for about $15 more on clinique.com, you get more of the line plus your 15% off. These deals change all the time, so check before you buy.

We keep more offers like this in our military discounts and Veterans Day deals list.

How to Get the Clinique.com Deal

First, join Smart Rewards on clinique.com. It’s free. Next, add your products to your cart. The Fall Gift drops in automatically on eligible $65 orders. Finally, apply your 15% welcome offer in the discount box at checkout.

Keep in mind the welcome offer can’t be combined with other promo codes, and it doesn’t apply to value sets, gift sets, or travel sizes. Verified active as of October 2026. For every brand code we have, check our discount codes page.

What I’m Watching For

My big question is simple. Will the 100H actually keep my skin hydrated? My skin stays dry even here in Hawaii, so that’s the real test.

I’m also watching whether the Active Glow Serum can win me over from Sahajan. Also, since we’re outside so much, I’m paying attention to that sunscreen note on the serum label.

I like to finish a product before I write a full review. So I’ll keep using both and update this post once the jar is empty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clinique Moisture Surge Good? My Take So Far

So far, yes. As a full time traveling mom with skin that stays dry even on Oahu, I’m hopeful about the 100H. The Active Glow Serum is a nice morning step, even if Sahajan still holds my top spot for now.

I’ll keep using both until the jar is empty, then come back with the full review. Until then, join Smart Rewards for the 15% off at clinique.com. It’s the best way to try the line, especially with the Fall Gift in your cart.

Want to see everything brands have sent us? Here’s every PR unboxing in one place.