My combination skin with enlarged pores reacts positively to overnight oil treatments. The most important thing is to find the suitable treatment. I learned about Kiehl’s almost a year ago, and my first impressions were positive. Our acquaintance started with their popular under eye cream with avocado, which I still can’t find a replacement for. Then, I added this midnight recovery concentrate to my skincare routine.
I’m not afraid of oil, as I’ve been using the Lotus Oil from Clarins for 5 years, and it works great on my combination skin: the oil soothes, cleans and nourishes it.
When I turned 32, I realized that it was time to add a bit of anti-age treatments. That’s when the Midnight Recovery Concentrate from Kiehl’s appeared on the stage.
Price: $47
Product information:
Which skin type is it good for?✔ Normal✔ Oily✔ Combination✔ Dry✔ SensitiveWhat it is:A nighttime oil that hydrates and visibly restores skin.Solutions for:- Dryness- Dullness and uneven textureIf you want to know more…Midnight Recovery Concentrate restores and replenishes for smoother, healthier-looking skin—all while you sleep. This powerful formula works at night when skin is most receptive to repairing itself from daily aggressors. A blend of essential oils—including naturally-derived lavender, evening primrose, and squalene—deliver essential hydration and promote a softer, smoother, brighter complexion.What it is formulated WITHOUT:- ParabensWhat else you need to know:Layer over Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate for optimal anti-aging and healthier skin benefits.
Design:
The oil comes in a heavy bottle of dark blue, with golden lettering and a similar box.It looks neat and impressive, though I’m not demanding when it comes to packagings.
It’s equipped with a glass dropper
This is easy to measure out any amount of the concentrate with. I need less than a third of the dropper for my whole face and neck.
Consistency, color and aroma
The oil is yellow brown. Smells of dry herbs and wood, it’s such a warm and pleasant fragrance.
It’s a pretty peculiar fragrance, though. Those who had experience with natural cosmetics and essential oils won’t be disgusted by it. The smell lingers on the skin for a few minutes and then fades. It doesn’t stay on the pillow.Anyway, I got used to such scents so don’t hesitate to sniff the samples in the stores. And don’t hesitate to try them out with your skin too.
If you have experience with Lotus oil, you’ll find a lot of things in common with these products.
It’s supposed to work overnight, when the skin is more responsive to nourishing and restoring skin care products.
Ingredients:These are rich...though hardly unique, because so many brands have similar concentrates nowadays. Such ingredients might cause problems if your skin is sensitive or you are allergy-prone. I belong to both categories and haven’t got any negative side reactions from this concentrate, even though I’ve been using the oil for a year now.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil / Evening Primrose Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil / Jojoba Seed Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Oil / Coriander Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil / Lavender Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil / Rosemary Leaf Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Cucumis Sativus Extract / Cucumber Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Extract / Turmeric Root Extract, Limonene, Citral Sclareolide, Rosa Spp / Rose Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Extract / Jasmine Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil / Sunflower Seed Oil
Application and results
-Apply two to three drops of treatment on cleansed skin.-Gently pat cheeks, forehead, and chin to evenly distribute the application before gently massaging it into the skin.-Can wear alone or under moisturizer.
I don’t count drops, but it’s definitely more than 2-3 drops. Usually, it’s like a quarter or a third of the dropper. I warm up the oil between my palms and apply it onto my clean face, moisturized with rose water.
First impressions:
Despite the high concentration of oils, there were no negative side reactions on my skin. But anyway, it’s recommended to start off with a sample, which lasts for 10-12 days and allows to evaluate the skin’s reaction to the formula.
But there was a weird thing...
It was in the summer, when it was hot, I used a bad face cream and stopped taking birth control, and my skin was oily and with occasional pimples.
The samples cleaned out all the problems within a week and made my skin smooth, nourished and fresh. When I ran out of the concentrate, I ordered a full-size bottle immediately...but it didn’t give the same WOW effect anymore. Maybe the oil had already made my skin normal to a certain limit, or they just intentionally put a higher concentration of ingredients into the samples or I don’t know what else.
In use:
- Every night, I apply the oil onto my skin moisturized with rose water.
- The concentrate sinks in slowly and feels like a regular oil.
- After application, my skin shines for an hour or two.
- Leaves no traces on the pillow
- In the morning, my skin is soft, matte, well-nourished and feels good!
The left photo is taken in electric light, right after the application of the concentrate. The right photo is taken in the morning in daylight before washing the oil off.
I’ve been using the concentrate all year round.
- in the summer and early fall - every day
- in the fall - 3-4 times a week
- in the winter - once 7-10 days
- in the spring (since February) - twice a week and against occasional problems.
It works great as a massage oil for the face, with fingers, simple massagers or even ultrasonic massagers.
- The Midnight Concentrate soothes and nourishes my skin
- Effective against pimples
- Evens the skin tone out
- Helps me get rid of unhealthy skin color after illness or lack of sleep
But:I haven’t noticed any anti-age effects like evening out little fine lines or making my skin more smooth. It hasn’t made my face slimmer either.After a break, the concentrate made my skin glow again (but not as gorgeous as the samples did). I ran out of the last drops a few days ago, and I felt sad.
The 1 oz bottle lasted about 10 months.
It should be used within 1,5 years after opening.
Conclusion:
I have mixed impressions.
On the one hand, the concentrate really works!
On the other hand, the Lotus Oil from Clarins provides the same results, and costs half the price. It promises no anti-age effect, though.
Anyway, I can give this concentrate 4 stars because I’ve been using it for a year and I was happy with the result. Still, I cannot recommend this concentrate, because it doesn’t live up to its price, and there are cheaper alternatives.
