Kiehl's series Nr 14: Midnight recovery concentrate

 

 

Described as a replenishing elixir of pure essential oils and distilled botanicals to visibly restore the appearance of skin in the morning.

 

 

Sometimes you like a product even before you use it; based on the marketing, look and other people raving about it.  I was thus fairly biased when I finally got to try this out.  I bought  the smaller bottle of this remarkable oil and have been using it for some time.

 

I loved this oil.  The instructions were to put only a few drops on your palms, heat this by rubbing your palms together and then pat it on your face.  Pat do not rub. It lasts a very long time since you use only a few drops every day.  I rather just apply it directly to my face, it feels like I get more on my face that way.  The sales lady also gave me fairly strict instructions to never use this during the day.
 

It has a very strong lavender smell. 

 

 

My skin feels soft in the morning after using it the night before.  It is really as if the serum works some magic during the night, because it feels pretty normal when you go to bed.  This is a lovely, hydrating, refreshing serum.  I enjoy using it.  I am not sure that it is any better than Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules.  It is not any worse either.  Both are really great serums that immediately improves your skin.  As someone who has not used serums until about a year ago, I am amazed at how much better a serum makes your skin feel.  What have I been missing.  And so far I like them all.  It does not matter much which brand you use. 

 

It is paraben free, fragrance free (but has a very strong smell) and mineral oil free.

 

 

 

From the packaging:

This lightweight, readily-absorbed elixir effectively restores skin’s healthy appearance overnight, resulting in smoother, more radiant complexion by morning. Enriched with Squalane, a botanical lipid similar in molecular structure to natural skin lipids, Evening Primrose Oil, rich in Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Essential moisture to depleted skin. These naturally derived oils instantly penetrate the skin surface to help replenish it. Our recovery concentrate works at night when skin is most receptive to repairing itself from daily aggressors. With skin hydrated, supple and soft, rest assured you can say goodnight to tired-looking skin.

I thought it would be cute to show you some of the ingredients (Stolen from the Kiehl's website)

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening primrose is a flowering plant originally native to North America that now grows throughout much of Europe and parts of Asia. It blooms every other year and its large, fragrant yellow flowers open at dusk and remain open through the night. Rich in omega-6 and essential fatty acids that the body cannot naturally produce. Also effective on skin-barrier repair.

Lavender Oil

Helps soothe inflamed or irritated skin while helping reduce skin blotchiness for a more even look. Creates a brighter and more radiant look to skin.

Squalane

A healing botanical lipid with a high affinity for skin to instantly restore and replenish.


The ingredient list included a lot of plant oils.

 

There are a thousand reviews of this product online, so I will not attempt to link them.  However, this one was fairly comprehensive.  And one review from South Africa. Plus another one. 

I found this review from Paula's choice very interesting.  This is what she said:  Restoring skin’s healthy appearance overnight isn’t going to happen with this product. Although it contains a few helpful ingredients for dry skin, it is far more loaded with irritating fragrant oils. Coriander, lavender, and rosemary are the biggest offenders; all present problems for your skin, including irritation and collagen breakdown. Please…save your skin and your cosmetics budget and ease your dryness with a well-formulated fragrance-free moisturizer coupled with a non-fragrant plant oil such as olive or evening primrose. You’ll get better results without the irritation Midnight Recovery Concentrate is guaranteed to cause.

 

 Some of the beauty bloggers around South Africa is currently doing a 28 day change your skin challenge with this.  You can read about it here and here.