Clinique

Clinique is the French word for a clinic or medical facility, used in French to designate medical clinics, hospitals, or outpatient centers. In English, Clinique is best known as a cosmetics brand owned by Estée Lauder Companies, developed to emphasize dermatological science and skincare first.

The brand Clinique was launched in 1968 and built around the idea of a dermatologist’s approach to beauty. It presents products as being tested for skin compatibility and designed to minimize adverse reactions. A hallmark of the early identity was the three-step skincare system: cleanse, exfoliate or clarify, and moisturize, which remained a central framework for many product lines.

Clinique offers a range of skincare, makeup, and fragrance products. The line is marketed with a focus on sensitive-skin needs, with many items positioned as fragrance-free or allergy-tested, and it emphasizes clinical concepts such as dermatological testing and customization. Over time, Clinique has expanded from department-store counters to standalone boutiques and online channels, with a global presence in many countries and regions.

See also the general use of the term clinque in French-speaking areas, where it denotes a medical clinic or health facility. In corporate branding, Clinique remains a prominent name within the Estée Lauder portfolio, recognized for its emphasis on skincare science and a consumer orientation toward simple, routine-based regimens.