If you’ve been searching for a lightweight, cooling moisturizer that will do the work of keeping your skin hydrated without leaving it feeling heavy, then Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly might be your new skincare BFF.
Clinique is a brand we all know and trust when it comes to our skin, and the Dramatically Different range has been a firm favourite for all of us that just love how it keeps us hydrated. This variant of Hydrating Jelly puts a new twist on moisturizing by replacing the traditional cream base for a watery jelly one. The result? A lightweight feeling product that gives your skin long-lasting moisture and defence against environmental aggressors.
In this post, we’re going to go deep into what makes the Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly special – the formula, the ingredients, the packaging, who’s it’s good for. No matter your skin type (oily, combination, dry, sensitive), you’ll have a pretty good sense by the end of this article if the Clinique cult favorite should make a home on your vanity shelf.
Did You Know?
The Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly utilizes Clinique’s proprietary “molecular filter” technology to shield your skin from pollution and other environmental irritants, while also sealing in moisture. This is pretty unique in the realm of moisturizers, so a good pick for urban living.
At a Glance: What You Need to Know
Feature | Details |
---|---|
Product Type | Lightweight Hydrating Jelly Moisturizer |
Best For | All skin types, especially oily and combination |
Key Benefits | Hydration without heaviness, pollution protection, non-greasy finish |
Texture | Clear, gel-like jelly |
Price Range | Mid-range |
Fragrance | Fragrance-free |
Packaging | Clear plastic pump bottle |
Dermatologist Tested | Yes |
A Closer Look: Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly

The lightweight, oil-free moisturizer locks in 24-hour hydration, and combines pollution protection, with the all-day hydration of new Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly. Here’s an explanation of what it is:
- A unique water-jelly texture that feels fresh on skin and provides an immediate cool burst, leaving it non-greasy and non-sticky.
- It is moisturizing without being greasy and absorbing extra oil, it is suitable for most skin types, especially oily and combination skin.
- Contains Clean Shield Technology (CST) that locks in the moisturizer and helps prevent loss of moisture due to exposure to pollution.
- The gentle cleanser is made without fragrance, parabens, phthalates, oil, drying alcohol, synthetic colors, SLS, and SLES.
Want to add this lightweight daily moisturizer and fragrance-free moisturizer to your regimen? Get it online here.
Key Ingredients and Their Functions
Here’s a deep dive into a few of the key ingredients that this hydrating jelly contains, and the magic they work in combination:
- Aqua (Water): The foundation of the formula used for hydration.
- Glycerin: A potent humectant that helps transport water to the skin and retain moisture.
- Cucumber Fruit Extract: Recognized for soothing and calming skin, it minimizes skin’s irritation.
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Known as hyaluronic acid, which ensures deep penetration to moisturize and fill in wrinkles.
- Molecular Filter: An exclusive blend of ingredients formulated to protect skin from urban pollution and environmental damage.
- Butylene Glycol: Gives a silky feel while aiding in the absorption of other ingredients.
- Fragrance-Free & Oil-Free: If you’re sensitive or breakout-prone, less is more.
First Look: My Thoughts on the Packaging
The Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly is neatly packed in a trendy and modern packaging. It’s in a transparent, BPA-free plastic pump bottle, and you can see the clear jelly through the bottle — and it actually looks refreshing and cool. Thanks to the pump, the product is very hygienic and manageable, not to mention cost-effective.
The bottle is small and light weight and convenient for travel. It has a minimalist design with Clinique’s characteristic soft green and white branding, and will sit looking neat and professional on your dressing table. All up, the packaging is great – it’s functional, robust and easy to use, and definitely in keeping with Clinique’s branding that’s clinical yet approachable.
Who Should Try this Moisturizer?
The Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly is a multipurpose product, but it’s especially ideal for:
- Oily or Combination skin
- People who want a light daytime moisturizer
- Anyone looking for a fragrance-free moisturizer
- People who want a product that sinks in and leaves no oily residue
- Skincare lovers on the hunt for a hydrating product that won’t clog pores
How I Use It for Best Results

It’s easy to apply the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly. After washing and toning face, take an appropriate amount, apply to your face or neck. Gently smoothen a small amount over your face and neck in upward circular motions until absorbed. It goes on nice and cool and gets absorbed pretty quick, so no waiting!
It is applicable day and night as part of your skincare regimen. And because it’s so lightweight, it layers beautifully under makeup without pilling or clogging pores.
Pair It With
For optimal results use this jelly with Liquid Facial Soap-Mild, Clarifying Lotion 2 or 3, and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+. Used in combination, these products work concurrently to promote healthy, youthful skin.
User Reviews: What People Are Saying
This moisturiser has weightless texture and long-lasting-moisture that many users cannot stop raving about. It can provide oily and combination skin with moisture and it won’t leave them with any greasy trace or blemishes. The pollution protection is also a draw for city dwellers.
A few with extremely dry or mature skin comment that while the jelly is very hydrating on its own, they occasionally top it with a richer cream in colder weather if they feel they need something more moisturizing.
Altogether, the reviews note its ability to be gentle enough for sensitive skin (with no fragrance) and that is comes through under makeup without messing with the finish.
Editor’s Note: My Skin Type & Experience
I have combination skin that is only, at random times, sensitive. I found this jelly delightfully light and refreshing. It sunk in quickly and didn’t make my T-zone oily, but it felt nicely hydrating. it is great for spring and the summer when I just wanted hydration without feeling weighed down.
How It Stacks Up Against Other Moisturizers
The lamp is a moisturizer, but one that a lot of people also think about it next to lightweight hydrating gels or lotions that are being sold. Here is a mini cleanser face-off between other popular hydrating moisturizers that people like to compare with Clinique’s Hydrating Jelly:
Product | Texture | Best For | Key Benefit |
---|---|---|---|
Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly | Light, water-jelly | Oily, combo, sensitive skin | Pollution protection, non-greasy hydration |
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel | Gel, lightweight | Oily, dehydrated skin | Hyaluronic acid intense hydration |
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb | Gel-cream, cool sensation | All skin types | Refreshing hydration with botanical extracts |
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer | Creamy lotion | Dry to sensitive skin | Barrier repair and soothing |
Mini Moisturizer Face-Off
The Clinique Hydrating Jelly’s mix of hydration, protection, and easy wearability edges it out in many reviews. The right choice for you will ultimately be based on your skin concern and preference, but the Clinique product is a great candidate for a lightweight daily moisturizer.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue
- Delivers deep hydration without feeling greasy
- Great for sensitive skin or those who like fragrance-free moisturizer
- Will not clog your pores; great for acne-prone skin
- Lightweight daily moisturizer
Cons
- it could be termed expensive for some.
- It may not provide enough moisture alone for very dry skin, which may need to layer it with a thicker cream.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Adding to Your Routine?
As I conclude this review, I would like to underscore that skincare is extremely individual. What works wonders for another may not work for you. The Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly has indeed earned a new spot in my skincare routine, but I suggest you also look through consideration of your unique skin type and skin concerns when searching for a moisturizer.
But if you have oily skin like I do, this gel moisturizer for oily skin will be a revolutionary treat. Its lightweight formula and hydrating properties can help you find that ever-elusive balance the hydrated skin, sans the shine. And, as a fragrance-free moisturizer, it reduces the chance of irritability, so it works well with sensitive skin types.
So have you been using the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly? What are your thoughts? Would you add it to your skincare routine? Let us know in the comments! If you found this review useful you can share it on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Your support means the world!
FAQs
Is Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly good for all skin types?
Yes, cornflower extract in this jelly moisturizer is for all skin types, including oily skin, dry skin, combination skin and sensitive skin. It’s oil-free, non-comedogenic, and lightweight, so if you’re interested in hydration without the feeling of being coated, this is a good option.
Can you wear Clinique Hydrating Jelly under makeup?
Absolutely. And with its quickly absorbing, nonsticky texture, it’s ready for makeup! It moisturizes, and preps the skin, allowing makeup to both go on more smoothly and to last longer.
How is it different from other moisturizers?
It’s Clean Shield Technology™ locks in the good—like moisture—and filters out the bad, such as pollution and other environmental irritants. It is fragrance-free and paraben-free and has a refreshing, jelly texture that doesn’t clog pores.