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22 September 2016

A Mini Kiehl's Haul

I love Kiehl's products but I won't lie, they are quite expensive. That's why I wait for their annual (I hope it'll stay annual!) 20% off promotion. You can buy any Kiehl's product and get 20% off - no minimum spend, no weird conditions. I also received a ton of samples.



Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash




When I heard that this was a "foaming" cleanser, I was a bit apprehensive. Luckily it doesn't actually foam up into big bubbles like foaming cleansers usually do, it just kind of creates a dense foam-like substance. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean, but I'm not really blown away by it. Granted, I've only used it a couple of times and I haven't used it solely for a few days straight, but the way the Kiehl's consultant hyped it up, I was expecting a bit more. (I don't know *what* I was expecting, after all, it's only a face wash!) I've used samples of the Calendula toner before and that blew me out of the water, so I'll stick with this and report back at a later stage.

The texture of the cleanser is quite syrupy and on damp skin it has a nice slip to it. When adding a drop or two of water it emulsifies and creates the foam-like substance. When washing it off you can use your hands to splash warm water onto your face, or you can use a sponge, hot cloth, or face cleansing brush. It doesn't have an offensive smell, it's very gentle and the pump bottle is a big plus.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer





My day cream is finished and I'm quite frankly tired of paying upwards of R500 for a good day cream (the other option being buying one for R150 and not seeing any results, or ending up with dry flaky patches on my face). This moisturiser from Kiehl's is an absolute no-nonsense-it-does-what-it-says-on-the-tin product, which is exactly what I was looking for. It doesn't reduce my wrinkles or give me a J.Lo glow, but it moisturises my skin beautifully and that's all I need it to do. It can be used both day and night, and was developed to be used on all skin types. It contains squalene and glycerine which are a fantastic hydration combo.

There is also a creamier version of this product (I would assume for drier or more mature skin) that comes in a tub (and is a little more expensive).

Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque




This was the product I was most excited to get my hands on (as well as the orange mask, but that was sold out). Brands are realising more and more that pollution is a big contributor to tired, dull, and wrinkled skin. This mask is said to help defend the skin against these pollutants and to replenish the skin's vibrance. The cilantro (coriander) and orange extract strengthens the skin and with continued use, skin is said to be renewed, radiant, and protected.

Kiehl's recommend that you use this mask three times a week at night. You apply it to clean, dry skin, and pat the excess off after five minutes so that a very thin layer remains. You can then go to bed with this thin layer and wash everything off the next morning. The texture of this mask is not what I was expecting. I was expecting a gel cream, but instead it's more of a cream. It didn't feel extremely rich or greasy when I applied it to the back of my hand, so I don't think we should be worried about ruining our pillow cases! It's a very pale green and the scent is also extremely surprising: it smells like a spicy toothpaste. Yes, I do realise how insane this sounds. But it smells kind of like a cross between Lush's Wiccy Magic Muscles massage bar and minty toothpaste. Don't fear, however, as it smells incredible.

Samples

Kiehl's has a great "try before you buy" system where you can ask for samples and then try it out at home before committing to spending your hard-earned cash on something that might not work for you. Usually when I go to Kiehl's they're out of whatever I want to sample, but on my recent trip there the guy showered me with sample packets! I received samples of the Skin Rescuer, Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate, Ultra Facial Cream, and the Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque. The Skin Rescuer is a "stress-minimizing daily hydrator" that contains botanical extracts and chamomile. It helps reduces the visible signs of stress and flare-ups, skin fatigue, and redness. The Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate really piqued my interest as it contains quinoa husk extract. What next! It's said to help accelerate the cell turnover of your skin cells, revealing brighter and fresher-looking skin. I received samples of the Ultra Facial Cream so that I can compare it's texture and feel to that of the Ultra Facial Moisturizer that I purchased. I was bummed that the Turmeric & Cranberry seed mask was out of stock, so I received a little sample packet to try.

Have you tried any of these products? Which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments section.

Until next time!

Hildegarde
xoxo

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