Meet 2 new Kiehl’s Challengers and see how the girls are coming along using their Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Serum.
Jodi:
As an over stressed, over tired advertising student I’m continually looking for the thing to trick my skin into thinking it’s fresher, plumper and more vibrant than it actually is. Over the last couple of years in the midst of travelling to and from a completely different climates, my skin reacts very easily to it’s surrounds. If I use something that doesn’t suit it on a particular day, it sends me nasty signs in the form of dry patches as well as some pigmentation. As I’m now on the cusp of mid-20’s I’ve also noticed laugh lines where there never was any before. Like most freckled ladies, I’d like them to not be so obvious, more of a whisper than an out right holler. Nice.
I was very excited to find out Kiehl’s was coming to South Africa last year but being in Cape Town means it’s hard to get my hands on any of the lovely products until a family member goes up to Joburg. I was first introduced to Kiehl’s while living in Toronto, Canada with my chef cousin who constantly battled the driest of hands. The Hand Salve saved her hands and when I was allowed to borrow a wee bit now and then, it was sheer heaven.
Being one of the lucky ladies to be selected for Kiehl’s 28 day challenge, it’s safe to say my skin is more than ready for Recovery. The essential oils jam packed into the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate smells like a warm hug- gentle but not over powering. My nightly routine is very simple since I’ve cut out the nonsense which has been the safest so far: Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil to cleanse and slough off my make up then removed with a warm soft face cloth, Clarin’s Toning Lotion with Camomile, Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal moisturizer and Clinique All About Eyes. On lazier nights I use Reversa Cleansing Micellar Solution and the Yves Rocher. I’ve used several night time serums but none have really been given repurchase status let alone: Must Have.
Since trying the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate I’ve woken up with my nasty dry patches looking a tad better but this might only be me since it’s very early days still. I’ll keep reporting back on that though. A huge plus for me, it could be the ritual of applying something to your skin right before bed, is that it seemed to help me fall asleep from the soft lavender scent. I’ll be as brutally honest as possible over the next month since I really am hoping this lives up to my very long check list and fingers crossed, a must have.
Alex:
I was very excited to find out Kiehl’s was coming to South Africa last year but being in Cape Town means it’s hard to get my hands on any of the lovely products until a family member goes up to Joburg. I was first introduced to Kiehl’s while living in Toronto, Canada with my chef cousin who constantly battled the driest of hands. The Hand Salve saved her hands and when I was allowed to borrow a wee bit now and then, it was sheer heaven.
Being one of the lucky ladies to be selected for Kiehl’s 28 day challenge, it’s safe to say my skin is more than ready for Recovery. The essential oils jam packed into the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate smells like a warm hug- gentle but not over powering. My nightly routine is very simple since I’ve cut out the nonsense which has been the safest so far: Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil to cleanse and slough off my make up then removed with a warm soft face cloth, Clarin’s Toning Lotion with Camomile, Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal moisturizer and Clinique All About Eyes. On lazier nights I use Reversa Cleansing Micellar Solution and the Yves Rocher. I’ve used several night time serums but none have really been given repurchase status let alone: Must Have.
Since trying the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate I’ve woken up with my nasty dry patches looking a tad better but this might only be me since it’s very early days still. I’ll keep reporting back on that though. A huge plus for me, it could be the ritual of applying something to your skin right before bed, is that it seemed to help me fall asleep from the soft lavender scent. I’ll be as brutally honest as possible over the next month since I really am hoping this lives up to my very long check list and fingers crossed, a must have.
I am familiar with the Kiehls products and have been a fan since I first discovered them on a trip to New York and subsequently was able to purchase the products in London while I was living there. So I am thrilled that Kiehls is in SA and now also easily obtainable in Cape Town. Having said that – testing the KMRC is the first time that I am using a Kiels product again!
I use only natural and organic products on my skin and steer clear of anything containing parabens or any other chemical additives. So morning and night I cleanse with a natural lavender infused cleansing cream by Simply Bee followed by the Nimue skin conditioner to tone and remove any cleanser left behind. My skin tends to be very dehydrated with some redness and dry patches in the winter so I follow this with the Nimue Super Hydrating Serum and finish off with an anti aging cream by Simply Bee. In the mornings I use the Stila Illuminating BB cream which is a fantastic all-in-one product.
Dehydration, pigmentation and (not so!) fine lines are my biggest concerns when it comes to my skin and I have definitely noticed a change from an oily t-zone and dehydrated cheeks to more dehydrated all over. I agree with the other ‘change your skin challenge’ participants – taking these up close and personal photos AND what’s more sharing them with the Kim Gray blog community is a bit daunting/challenging/downright scary! But oh well, here I go!
(Clean face)
My skin always feels slightly tight after cleansing no matter what cleanser I use but improves slightly after the conditioner. At night I then apply the Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate as directed (by the way I love the ‘ceremony’ of patting my hands together to spread the product evenly and inhaling the delicious lavender infused scent!) after which I have to admit to feeling a slight (but not at all unpleasant)tingling sensation. My skin immediately loses any hint of that dry, tight feeling and takes on a lovely healthy glow which lasts until the morning. Upon waking my skin has this amazing velvety smooth feel to it too.
(On applying KMRC)
I have been using the concentrate for about 1 week now and I am definitely seeing an improvement in the overall condition of my skin and that aforementioned glow seems to last all day now which is amazing!
So far, so great – I am loving this product!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to test this great treatment,
Alex
Bianca – 1 Week Check In
Before – day 1
Hello everyone! So after 1 week of using the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate there are definitely noticeable changes, both in my appearance and to the touch. I must admit I have been ‘indulging’ with the MRC, using about 5 drops instead of the recommended 3 drops as I felt my skin needed an extra boost. For the next week I will stick to the 3 drops in the evening. But too much of a good thing is a good thing right?
Let’s start with the touchy feely stuff first. The first morning after using my liquid gold I immediately noticed how much plumper my skin felt. It feels like the moisture my skin was craving was injected into my skin overnight without making it feel heavy, if that makes sense. I’ve tried using thick night creams and all they really did was make my skin feel weighted and oily the next morning. With Kiehl’s MRC my skin feels wonderfully hydrated without all the oiliness. While I’m on the topic of oiliness – girls if you have oily skin do not be afraid of this product. I have oily skin and this is a dream. It is a misconception that putting oil on your face makes your skin more oily – quite the opposite really! I love oils for my face (for nighttime not day obviously) and have found that my oil production has calmed down over the years of trying facial oils at night. So if you have oily skin like me I am sure you are going to love this product as well – don’t be scared that it is an oil. As mentioned my skin is plumper to the touch, and along with that it is super smooth. I seriously want to touch my face all the time it feels so great.
1 wk in
On to the appearance. I’ll let you judge for yourself but I can definitely see a difference in what my skin looks like. The most noticeable for me is if you look at the before photo where I’m looking to your right, you will see that the indentations on my skin (left by old acne) have plumped up and are hardly visible anymore – bonus! I still have some redness, but I don’t expect that to disappear immediately, especially with it being winter. My hyperpigmentation is still there, but again, those little marks are stubborn and I’m confident that over time I will see a difference – it’s only week 1 after all! I am really happy with the overall appearance of my skin. It looks healthier, smoother and more radiant. I’m well on my way to being comfortable with wearing a tinted moisturizer – go Kiehl’s!
Pippa – 1 Wk Check in
I introduced you to the Kiehl’s Change Your Skin challenge last week, and Kim Gray featured it on her blog here.
So this is my face after applying the KMRC Midnight concentrate last night, a week after having used the product…What u think?
Day 1
1 wk in
I have to be honest and say I can’t notice a HUGE difference just yet. However, I haven’t exactly given the product much of a chance as have been having a pretty bad time in terms of my own little life since I started using it.
A violent tummy bug, a sore throat and cough = not much sleep in the last week. So I’m not sure that any product could have remedied my lack of sleep and tired looking face over the past week 
Regardless, I love applying it. The scent and the texture are too beautiful and it makes me feel good each time I use it, so I look forward to giving it more of a chance now that I’m not feeling so crap!
Catch up next week then…
Delphine – 1 wk check in
This week , as tweeted my bf’s little girl said to me “Your face looks different but in a good way “ From the mouth of babes ?? Dehydration is a constant battle which escalates in the winter months and I really feel that if nothing else MRC is definitely keeping things hydrated. I also have not had a breakout which is very often the case when using a new product J
Further to my hydration issue my skin went through some tough environmental changes in a space of 4 days. I drove from PE with the car heater/ AC on to the Boland which is much less humid than the coast and far colder. Spent time in front of the heater and the hearth with friends and family and went up Table Mountain in an icy wind and not once did my skin feel chapped, dry and tight. I can only credit this level of skin comfort to the use of the MRC because on other occasions when making this trip I have had dry tight angry skin. So I can safely say even though I don’t see a change and others do I am certainly feeling it!
Do pop back to see their and my progress with Kielh’s Midnight Recovery. And remember you can WIN!
TO WIN:
Now 3 lucky Kim Gray Readers stand the chance to WIN a bottle of Kiehl’s Mightnight Recovery Concentrate Magic for themselves to trial. Simply follow our journey. Leave a comment on our Kiehl’s posts, tweet about it, share the posts etc. 3 of the most interactive readers by the end of the 28 days challenge will win a bottle of their own gold.
NB to help you along the way:
Tweet @kimgray @KiehlsSA,
https://www.facebook.com/KiehlsSouthAfrica
https://www.facebook.com/kimgrayza
#changeyourskin
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Elle Lombard Haasbroek
June 25, 2013 at 18:13 (2 years ago)I'm impressed by the results so far.. And super envious, of course. Will keep following the progress! All you ladies look gorgeous.
Thinus And-Kristi Fraser
June 26, 2013 at 03:03 (2 years ago)wow their skins really look so much smoother and even its amazing.
Jo Ryan
July 5, 2013 at 11:03 (2 years ago)I love reading about other ladies' skincare routines, such a great way to pick up tips!