I Bought Clinique CN10 Foundation and the Shade Was Far Too Dark for My Skin

I purchased two Clinique products—“Even Better Foundation SPF 15 – CN10 Alabaster” and “Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer”—after confirming they were listed as the lightest shades available. However, both turned out to be far too dark for my skin. I had previously purchased the same foundation, and the shade was noticeably lighter back then.

To clearly illustrate the difference, I attached a photo comparing the Clinique CN10 to MAC Studio Radiance NC11. What’s surprising is that MAC NC11 isn’t even their lightest shade, yet it appears significantly lighter than CN10. The contrast is obvious.

Because the products didn’t match my skin tone at all, I contacted Clinique customer service to request a return. Unfortunately, my request was denied simply because the items had been opened—even though they were only lightly tested. I find this policy unreasonable and not in line with basic consumer rights or Clinique’s supposed commitment to customer satisfaction.

It's deeply disappointing that such a well-known brand offers no support for customers who are misled by inaccurate shade descriptions. I believe that refusing returns based on this technicality—especially when the color difference is so blatant—is unfair. I kindly ask Clinique to review my case and allow a return or exchange to resolve this issue.