L* describes lightness; a* and b* describe color axes. ITA° is calculated from lightness and the yellow–blue axis to group the swatch into a depth band. None of these readings measures coverage, wear or how a formula will look on your skin.
Clinique names an undertone for 314 of these shades. Read off the brand’s own swatch under D65, 178 of them — 57% — land in a different undertone than the name claims. That is not an accusation of bad faith: undertone is a word, and a word is not a measurement. It is why the house publishes the number beside it.
Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup16 shades
Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
NA
neutral · fair
93.78
3.61
12.16
74.48
very_light
warm
NA
neutral · fair
80.98
13.46
23.48
52.84
light
neutral
NA
neutral · fair
79.36
10.04
20.54
55.02
very_light
neutral
NA
neutral · fair
75.48
12.07
22.08
49.09
light
neutral
NA
neutral · fair
73.69
13.47
26.09
42.24
light
neutral
NA
neutral · fair
72.53
12.88
31.47
35.6
intermediate
warm
NA
neutral · fair
71.68
12.92
25.42
40.46
intermediate
neutral
NA
neutral · fair
71.53
13.86
25.25
40.45
intermediate
neutral
NA
neutral · medium
68.09
14.82
28.66
32.26
intermediate
neutral
NA
neutral · medium
67.21
11.34
28.44
31.18
intermediate
warm
NA
neutral · medium
65.11
20.05
39.89
20.75
tan
neutral
NA
neutral · medium
62.08
18.89
38.55
17.4
tan
neutral
NA
neutral · deep
57.7
21.17
40.92
10.66
tan
neutral
NA
neutral · deep
54.47
19.58
39.41
6.47
brown
neutral
NA
neutral · deep
45.32
19.99
38.57
-6.92
brown
neutral
NA
neutral · deep
41.9
21.46
28.35
-15.95
brown
cool
Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup Foundation24 shades
Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup Foundation published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
CN 28 Ivory
— · fair
82.12
4.65
21.15
56.64
very_light
warm
WN 01 Flax
—
81.19
9.95
22.09
54.69
light
neutral
CN 08 Linen
—
80.74
9.59
21.97
54.45
light
warm
CN 52 Neutral
neutral
79.83
4.22
19.99
56.17
very_light
warm
CN 10 Alabaster
— · fair
78.9
6.89
16.57
60.17
very_light
warm
CN 40 Cream Chamois
—
76.93
11.99
21.98
50.78
light
neutral
WN 46 Golden Neutral
neutral
75.72
12.43
29.98
40.63
intermediate
warm
WN 38 Stone
—
75.63
9.26
26.54
44
light
warm
CN 58 Honey
—
73.28
12.72
34.09
34.33
intermediate
warm
CN 74 Beige
—
72.73
14.18
25.31
41.93
light
neutral
WN 56 Cashew
—
72.47
16.92
33.66
33.73
intermediate
neutral
WN 48 Oat
—
71.82
15.93
32.2
34.12
intermediate
neutral
WN 76 Toasted Wheat
—
66.19
18.9
32.18
26.71
tan
neutral
CN 70 Vanilla
—
64.04
12.71
23.51
30.85
intermediate
neutral
CN 78 Nutty
—
63.94
19.21
29.67
25.17
tan
cool
CN 90 Sand
—
63.39
8.42
24.71
28.45
intermediate
warm
WN 100 Deep Honey
— · deep
61.8
19.21
39.78
16.52
tan
neutral
WN 114 Golden
warm
55.75
15.64
38.74
8.44
brown
warm
WN 112 Ginger
—
50.69
13.64
28.83
1.37
brown
neutral
WN 118 Amber
—
49.86
20.09
42.47
-0.19
brown
neutral
WN 115.5 Mocha
—
47.47
24.63
32.9
-4.4
brown
cool
WN 122 Clove
—
42.82
12.7
36.75
-11.05
brown
warm
WN 125 Mahogany
—
38.37
22.47
22.49
-27.34
brown
cool
CN 126 Espresso
—
31.32
12.3
14.9
-51.42
dark
cool
Acne Solutions™ BB Cream SPF 405 shades
Clinique Acne Solutions™ BB Cream SPF 40 published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
NA
— · light
75.49
13.76
20.51
51.18
light
cool
NA
— · light
70.21
10.92
14.46
54.42
light
cool
NA
— · medium
67.94
14.91
20.19
41.62
light
cool
NA
— · medium
50.4
22.45
31.02
0.74
brown
cool
NA
— · deep
46.18
19.28
28.15
-7.73
brown
cool
Age Defense BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 301 shades
Clinique Age Defense BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
03
—
73.62
10.98
16.65
54.82
light
cool
Almost Powder Makeup6 shades
Clinique Almost Powder Makeup published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
05
— · medium
95.89
0.16
0.59
89.26
very_light
warm
06
— · deep
95.89
0.16
0.59
89.26
very_light
warm
01
— · fair
95.87
-0.01
1.07
88.66
very_light
unknown
02
neutral · fair
95.87
-0.01
1.07
88.66
very_light
unknown
04
neutral
95.87
-0.01
1.07
88.66
very_light
unknown
03
— · light
95.77
-0.52
1.43
88.21
very_light
unknown
Almost Powder Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 18 Foundation6 shades
Clinique Almost Powder Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 18 Foundation published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
02 Neutral Fair
neutral · fair
84.94
3.59
12.93
69.69
very_light
warm
01 Fair Almost Powder Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 18 Foundatio
— · fair
83.39
7.5
16.64
63.51
very_light
neutral
03 Light
— · light
75.41
9.73
28.39
41.83
light
warm
04 Neutral Almost Powder Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 18 Founda
neutral
75.23
10.92
23.32
47.25
light
neutral
06 Deep
— · deep
72.97
12.47
21.23
47.25
light
neutral
05 Medium
— · medium
70.19
14.22
28.28
35.52
intermediate
neutral
Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer70 shades
Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
CN 02
neutral · fair
93.78
3.61
12.16
74.48
very_light
warm
CN 0.5
neutral · fair
93.43
2.57
6.9
80.97
very_light
warm
CN 0.75 Custard
neutral · fair
92.82
4.24
10.23
76.56
very_light
warm
WN 01 Flax
neutral · fair
92.81
2.51
10.7
75.97
very_light
warm
CN 0.75
neutral · fair
91.87
3.31
8.28
78.81
very_light
warm
CN 0.5 Shell
neutral
91.48
2.88
10.86
75.33
very_light
warm
WN 01
neutral · fair
90.94
2.57
5.84
81.88
very_light
warm
CN 08
neutral · fair
90.1
4.64
10.44
75.41
very_light
warm
WN 04
neutral · fair
85.29
7.78
18.33
62.55
very_light
warm
WN 30 Biscuit
neutral · light
85.25
7.51
19.33
61.26
very_light
warm
WN 04 Bone
neutral · fair
85.23
6.04
17.13
64.07
very_light
warm
CN 10
neutral · fair
83.72
10.24
18.78
60.88
very_light
neutral
CN 32
neutral · fair
83.71
9.96
21.43
57.56
very_light
neutral
CN 32 Buttermilk
—
83.71
9.96
21.43
57.56
very_light
neutral
CN 20
neutral · fair
80.98
13.46
23.48
52.84
light
neutral
CN 18
neutral · fair
79.53
10.44
24.02
50.87
light
warm
CN 28
neutral · fair
79.36
10.04
20.54
55.02
very_light
neutral
CN 02 Breeze
neutral · fair
77.86
10.44
14.6
62.34
very_light
cool
WN 12 Meringue
—
77.81
10.61
27.49
45.33
light
warm
WN 12
neutral · fair
77.79
10.5
27.99
44.79
light
warm
CN 08 Linen
neutral · fair
76.65
9.66
17.72
56.38
very_light
neutral
CN 20 Fair
neutral · fair
76.5
9.17
16.41
58.23
very_light
neutral
WN 38 Sesame
—
76.41
12.6
25.03
46.54
light
neutral
WN 38
neutral · fair
76.15
13.02
25.21
46.05
light
neutral
5.75 Cork
—
76.02
11.5
19.02
53.83
light
neutral
WN 46
neutral · fair
75.64
12.14
29.32
41.17
light
warm
CN 40
neutral · fair
75.48
12.07
22.08
49.09
light
neutral
CN 10 Alabaster
neutral · fair
75.15
9.2
21.53
49.43
light
warm
CN 52 Neutral
neutral
75.15
9.2
21.53
49.43
light
warm
CN 58 Honey
neutral · medium
75.15
9.2
21.53
49.43
light
warm
WN 22
neutral · fair
74.96
15.13
32.21
37.77
intermediate
neutral
CN 18 Cream Whip
neutral · fair
74.83
11.17
18.94
52.66
light
neutral
WN 30
neutral · fair
74.11
15.17
26.2
42.62
light
neutral
CN 52
neutral · fair
73.69
13.47
26.09
42.24
light
neutral
WN 24 Cork
—
73.66
11.69
28.16
40.04
intermediate
warm
6.75 Sesame
—
73.64
14.12
16.21
55.56
very_light
cool
WN 24
neutral · fair
73.64
11.58
28.67
39.51
intermediate
warm
WN 46 Golden Neutral
neutral · light
73.13
9.47
28.43
39.13
intermediate
warm
CN 28 Ivory
neutral · light
73.08
9.6
24.03
43.84
light
warm
CN 58
neutral · fair
72.53
12.88
31.47
35.6
intermediate
warm
CN 70
neutral · fair
71.68
12.92
25.42
40.46
intermediate
neutral
WN 48
neutral · fair
71.22
16.82
28.17
36.99
intermediate
neutral
WN 48 Oat
—
71.22
16.82
28.17
36.99
intermediate
neutral
WN 54
neutral · fair
71.01
14.25
32.12
33.19
intermediate
warm
CN 70 Vanilla
neutral · light
70.86
11.53
20.39
45.65
light
neutral
WN 54 Honey Wheat
neutral · medium
70.73
13.94
21.37
44.13
light
cool
6.5 Buttermilk
—
70.55
11.21
27.61
36.66
intermediate
warm
CN 40 Cream Chamois
neutral · light
70.04
9.37
24.11
39.73
intermediate
warm
CN 74
neutral · medium
68.09
14.82
28.66
32.26
intermediate
neutral
CN 90
neutral · medium
67.21
11.34
28.44
31.18
intermediate
warm
CN 74 Beige
neutral · light
67.05
15.6
23.38
36.1
intermediate
cool
WN 96
neutral · medium
67.05
18.77
40.27
22.95
tan
neutral
CN 78
neutral · medium
65.97
16.62
32.35
26.27
tan
neutral
CN 78 Nutty
—
65.95
16.53
32.87
25.88
tan
neutral
CN 90 Sand
neutral · tan
64.85
12.83
24.65
31.07
intermediate
neutral
WN 76 Toasted Wheat
neutral · light
64.8
11.85
15.6
43.49
light
cool
WN 76
neutral · fair
62.42
16.24
31.89
21.28
tan
neutral
WN 98
neutral · medium
62.08
18.89
38.55
17.4
tan
neutral
WN 98 Cream Caramel
—
61.8
19.21
39.78
16.52
tan
neutral
WN 112
neutral · medium
57.7
21.17
40.92
10.66
tan
neutral
WN 112 Ginger
—
56.8
22.02
42.92
9
brown
neutral
WN 114 Golden
neutral · tan
55.77
19.26
27.98
11.65
tan
cool
WN 114
neutral · deep
54.47
19.58
39.41
6.47
brown
neutral
WN 118 Amber
neutral · deep
51.17
21.37
25.18
2.66
brown
cool
CN 117
neutral · deep
50.05
14.82
20.51
0.14
brown
cool
WN 118
neutral · deep
45.32
19.99
38.57
-6.92
brown
neutral
WN 122 Clove
neutral · rich
42.9
20.91
24.4
-16.22
brown
cool
WN 122
neutral · deep
41.9
21.46
28.35
-15.95
brown
cool
WN 125
neutral · deep
40.74
15.23
19.44
-25.47
brown
cool
CN 127
neutral · deep
35.19
13.77
15.32
-44.03
dark
cool
Beyond Perfecting Powder Foundation + Concealer23 shades
Clinique Beyond Perfecting Powder Foundation + Concealer published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
0.25
neutral · fair
94.6
0.98
11.73
75.26
very_light
warm
0.25 Dune
—
93.39
1.5
15.19
70.71
very_light
warm
0.5
neutral · fair
84.36
13.02
17.64
62.82
very_light
cool
0.5 Breeze
—
84.36
13.02
17.64
62.82
very_light
cool
04
neutral · fair
79.53
10.44
24.02
50.87
light
warm
06
neutral · fair
79.36
10.04
20.54
55.02
very_light
neutral
04 Cream Whip
—
79.25
10.73
24.69
49.83
light
warm
06 Ivory
— · fair
79.09
10.44
20.71
54.55
light
neutral
02
neutral · fair
76.84
11.19
27.22
44.6
light
warm
02 Alabaster
— · fair
76.75
10.8
27.07
44.66
light
warm
08 Golden Neutral
neutral
75.66
12.25
28.81
41.69
light
warm
08
neutral · fair
75.64
12.14
29.32
41.17
light
warm
07
neutral · fair
75.48
12.07
22.08
49.09
light
neutral
07 Cream Chamois
—
75.48
12.07
22.08
49.09
light
neutral
09
neutral · fair
73.69
13.47
26.09
42.24
light
neutral
09 Neutral
neutral
73.69
13.47
26.09
42.24
light
neutral
11
neutral · fair
72.53
12.88
31.47
35.6
intermediate
warm
11 Honey
—
72.53
12.88
31.47
35.6
intermediate
warm
18
neutral · medium
67.21
11.34
28.44
31.18
intermediate
warm
18 Sand
—
67.21
11.34
28.44
31.18
intermediate
warm
NA
—
57.7
21.17
40.92
10.66
tan
neutral
24
neutral · deep
54.47
19.58
39.41
6.47
brown
neutral
26
neutral · deep
45.32
19.99
38.57
-6.92
brown
neutral
Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick6 shades
Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
NA
—
75.71
14.66
20.3
51.71
light
cool
NA
—
69.56
14.94
25.24
37.77
intermediate
neutral
NA
neutral
68.52
15.21
26.54
34.91
intermediate
neutral
NA
—
68.14
15.4
23.81
37.3
intermediate
cool
NA
—
67.08
15.56
25.64
33.67
intermediate
neutral
NA
—
65.11
16.78
25.13
31.02
intermediate
cool
Daily Calm Makeup Balm Foundation8 shades
Clinique Daily Calm Makeup Balm Foundation published swatch readings
Shade
Brand says
L*
a*
b*
ITA°
Depth band
Swatch reads
Light
— · light
72.73
19.44
31.96
35.42
intermediate
neutral
Light Medium 1
— · light
72.65
14.73
33.3
34.22
intermediate
warm
Light Medium 2
— · light
69.15
15.78
32.33
30.64
intermediate
neutral
Light Medium 3
— · light
67
16.29
31.02
28.72
intermediate
neutral
Medium
— · medium
64.84
18.11
32.5
24.54
tan
neutral
Medium Deep
— · medium
50.16
21.12
41.38
0.22
brown
neutral
Deep 1
— · deep
40.75
18.95
30.19
-17.03
brown
cool
Deep 2
— · deep
36.5
17.51
28.12
-25.64
brown
neutral
Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 2542 shades
Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 25 published swatch readings
Colours are read from each shade’s own swatch image published by the retailer, not from a drawdown measured by the house — a screen swatch and a colorimeter are not the same instrument, and the house does not pretend otherwise. ITA° is the open dermatological standard, computed from the reading; no licensed colour library is used. A shade listed without a reading is one the house holds but has not yet seen.