Clinique
When I was about 14, I developed acne. For a teenager, that is devastating (Heck, so many aspects of a person are changing at that age; it is hard not to be devastated.). My mom, who only took us to the doctor if we really needed to be seen, took me to a Dermatologist.
The Dermatologist said I had developmental acne and it likely would get better in my adult years. In the meantime, he suggested minimizing pizza, chocolate and other greasy foods. He also said to wash my face twice a day, use an astringent and keep my hands off my pimples. As for the soap he recommended for my twice-daily face washing, it was the Clinique brand facial bar soap.
He was right; my acne diminished by adulthood and I’ve long since stopped using the astringent. Although I now only wash my face once a day when I shower, I have continued to use the Clinique soap for almost 50 years. I’ve changed my body soap and shampoo at least a few times since I was 14, but my facial soap has remained the same. When I think about consistent product usage, Clinique soap ranks up there with Crest regular toothpaste and Heinz 57 Ketchup (or is it catsup) as the only three products I’ve used for 50 years (or more).
Since I only use Clinique soap to wash my face, a bar lasts me four to six months. Imagine my surprise a year or so ago when I tried to get another Clinique for Men face bar and found out they stopped making it. At the time, I was disappointed, but I knew the women’s facial bar was the same soap (shaped with a curved top instead of the more manly block shape). I ordered three bars.
Just last week, I grabbed my next-to-last bar and decided to order a couple to store in my cabinet. That’s when I found out Clinique had stopped making those, as well. Logically, I’m not surprised. We seem to be moving away from soap bars and toward liquid soap for almost everything, and I’d bet the squeeze bottles are much more profitable to Clinique.
“I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” - Ecclesiastes 1:14-18 ESV
I have no real idea whether Clinique’s decision to stop making its bar soap will negatively impact me. For all I know, I’ve been wasting money for the last 40 years or so. I could have been using my body soap on my face this whole time with no acne outbreaks. At my current age, I sincerely doubt the loss of a facial soap will affect me. I think the lesson I’m supposed to learn is that the regimen I thought would improve me overall, in my wisdom, was “chasing after the wind”. What other secular wisdom have I thought I gained but is really insignificant?
