Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate

This was actually the first Kiehl’s product I bought (over a year ago!) and the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is an excellent all-rounder serum, for all skin types and skin concerns.

But what exactly is the Midnight Recovery Concentrate, well it’s an oil based serum formulated with 99.8% natural Derived ingredients including Squalane, Evening Primrose Oil, Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Essential Oils including Lavender. And is paraben-free and the glass bottle and dropper is made from recycled glass, and all housed in a 100% recycled board carton.

Don’t panic that this is an oil. I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive to try it out, being an oily combination skin type. But after summoning the courage, I was so glad that I did. The Midnight Recovery Concentrate was an absolute dream to use. This easily absorbed elixir helps the skin to recover radiance by morning, with skin feeling smoother and softer and the formula provides a boost of intensive moisture to dehydrated skin. The light-weight oil formula instantly penetrates the skin surface to help replenish it with moisture. I find that the effective combination of essential oils and the accompanying ingredients calm, soften, rehydrated, and brighten the skin by the morning by kick starting your skin’s natural, overnight recovery processes. I find that it also works wonders on active breakouts, I even used it on a cystic spot and it greatly help relieve it – both in size and redness.

I place 3-4 drops directly onto my face and massage it into my cleansed face. It sinks in straightaway and didn’t leave me greasy or shiny in the slightest. I don’t apply a moisturiser over the Midnight Recovery Concentrate. But if you feel you need to just place your regular moisturiser over it to seal in the hydration. After using the Midnight Recovery Concentrate for nearly a year (mostly every second night), my skin looks incredible, fresher and more supple with a natural radiant glow.

Oh! and the Midnight Recovery Concentrate smells insanely good and the aroma of lavender will definitely send you off to a well-earned beauty sleep.

I have the Midnight Recovery Concentrate for over a year and it looks like I have barely made a dent in it, definitely worth the initial investment.

If you are on the hunt for an excellent all-rounder serum then the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is definitely worth a try. I actually find this to be my forget-me product - in the best way; you keep reaching for it without even thinking and when you need something to repair and sooth, it tops the list.

The Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate is available online at Kiehl's and Arnotts or by phoning their store in Wicklow St, Dublin (01 670 6667)

*I would actually again recommend phoning the Kiehl’s store, as they give out free samples! with free shipping*

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REN Vita Mineral Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil

I’m becoming more and more adventurous with my face oils, trying all sorts of different textures and blends. I know this may seem ludicrous when I have an oily combination skin but there are so many out there to choose from – balancing oils for blemish-prone skin, regenerating oils for damaged skin and oils with aromatherapy blends – and to be honest I haven’t yet found any that my skin didn’t agree with. I don’t think this is something for the day but at night-time; I have found that gently massaging oil into my face, just before bed, leaves me with really plump, glowing and revitalised skin by morning.

REN Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil is a great choice if you’re looking for an oil that’s gives you all of the nourishment and hydration that an oil gives but with a slightly lighter texture. The Omega 3 Serum Oil is extraordinarily rich in essential fatty acids, aiding cell renewal and restoring moisture levels so that the skin looks and feels younger and more hydrated. Because it’s heavy in Omegas, this will help to strengthen the lipid barrier and replenish the moisture levels, meaning it would work in hot or cold climates and on dry or oily skins. There is nothing here that will block pores on acne sufferers (hooray!). Rosehip Oil helps with this whole regenerative process (great for tackling those pesky dark spots and acne scars) and Vitamin E, from Rice Germ Oil, is a brilliant antioxidant and works to protect against damage from the environment.

This is wonderful serum/oil and, as I said, a great option if you want something really nourishing, but light in texture. This is incredibly lightweight, super-fast absorbing oil that won’t leave you like an oil slick. It smells insanely good – light & citrusy - not at all overpowering but extremely soothing and relaxing. I apply this at night with nothing on over the top and OMFG! It soothes and heals my skin like nothing else. When I first got this, I had a few irksome surface blemishes due to excess sweating in the summer heat; next morning – gone. Enough said … if you have no problem with dryness; you may find that you can skip the moisturiser altogether. But if you are of a drier persuasion add a moisturiser on top. Just see how you go!

This will be invaluable to banish “winter skin”; that extra support and hydration so badly needed for when the central heating cycle kicks in and transforms your face into something that resembles the Sahara Desert. If you find yourself getting all flaky and chapped, or if your skin starts to feel dull and weather-beaten, this is an excellent booster-upper.

Now I know that it comes in a convenient pump-action bottle but I actually don’t like the packaging (sorry REN). I find that the oil goes down the front of the pump and the whole lot get messy and sticky. But I can get over this pet peeve due to it great results.

The REN Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil is €28 and is available here online and Sam McCauley and other pharmacies nationwide.

Kiehl’s Powerful Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

The Kiehl’s concentrates are potent set of serums that target specific skin concerns. The Kiehl's Powerful Strength Line-Reducer helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines... Put simply, a lightweight serum containing stabilised 10.5% pure Vitamin C, that gives skin a real zing!

Most damage to skin is caused by oxidative damage.  You can protect your skin from this oxidative damage with antioxidants. Vitamin C, when correctly stabilised, is one of the most powerful antioxidants. And the whooping 10.5% Vitamin C in this concentrate is as powerful as retinol.

The Powerful Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate is potent concoction that contains:

• Glycerin ~ is a by-product of soap manufacturing and is a clear, syrupy liquid, usually derived from vegetable oil and obtained by adding alkalies to fats and fixed oils. It is a solvent humectant and emollient in many skin care products, as it absorbs moisture from the air and thereby helps products retain their moisture. It improves the spreadability of products and has definite skin moisturizing benefits.
• Propylene Glycol ~ is a common moisture carrying ingredient in skin care. It acts as a humectant by absorbing water from the air.
• Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) ~ is known for its affinity with skin and its powerful ability to improve the appearance of skin aging. 10.5% of Pure Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) is the key ingredient in the Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate. 

Bottom line does it work? I’m in my early twenties, so I can’t really give an accurate review on its line reducing properties. The main reason I got this was for the secondary effects of Vitamin C, its extraordinary skin brightening properties, breaking down surface pigmentation. I have seen a huge improvement in acne scarring in just a week’s use of the Line Reducing Concentrate. Furthermore, I have absolutely noticed that my complexion is more even! And let’s not forget to mention, that it feels amazing on the skin. It has a strange texture, kind of a gloopy white serum with grains in it which heats up when applied to the skin. Whatever its texture, the Line Reducing Concentrate sinks in and disappears into my skin without a trace. But you get over its unusual texture when you see it astounding results.

I think this a perfect serum if you are looking to tackle early signs of ageing or to finally banish pigmentation and acne scarring then the Kiehls Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate is definitely worth checking out.  You can find Kiehl’s Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate for €56.00 at Arnotts or by phoning their store in Wicklow St, Dublin (01 670 6667)

*I would actually recommend phoning the Kiehl’s store, as they give out free samples – I received 2 deluxe samples (1 was actually a sample of the Line Reducing Concentrate, saving for holidays!) and 5 small sachet samples. Plus they offer free postage*

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