Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate

Have you ever heard of people complaining about how they need a holiday to get over their last holiday?  I am starting to feel that way!  Jet lag would be my most convenient excuse, but now I’m down with a cold as well, so all in all, I’m just not feeling very productive.  So please forgive me if I’ve not caught up with replying your lovely comments – all of which I’ve definitely read the moment they came in!  I just am slightly overwhelmed at the moment, there’s a considerable backlog awaiting my processing yet there’s this prevailing mood of just hang it all up and chill.  Have you ever felt this way?

In any case, I finally had the chance to test out the latest Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate during my 2-week jet-about in Italy, and would like to share my experiences with you!

Ever since Kiehl’s released the Midnight Recovery Concentrate [reviewed here], the facial oil designed for night time use had grown into one of Kiehl’s top sellers.  To complement it, Kiehl’s has recently introduced a new Daily Reviving Concentrate, for day-time use.  

Throughout the day, the skin is exposed to environmental aggressors, and the latest in skincare technology aim to boost skin’s natural defence mechanisms, and thereby prevent pre-mature aging.  With its latest Daily Reviving Concentrate, Kiehl’s has created a multi-purpose skincare product that supports the skin’s barrier function and improve the visible appearance of the skin from within.

As with all things Kiehl’s, the formulation is entirely nonsense-free.  The basic carrier here is Squalane, which is naturally found in our skin, and has the ability to penetrate completely and rapidly.  It is an antioxidant, prevents UV damage and the formation of age spots, promotes cell growth and is antibacterial.  The Sunflower Seed Oil used here has undergone extra distillation to further concentrate the extract, and has the ability to support skin’s barrier function to prevent water loss.  Tamanu Oil / Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil is excellent at locking in moisture, and is anti-inflammatory and soothing.  Ginger Root Oil protects the skin from spot formation, and is also helpful in maintaining skin’s firmness and density.

Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate comes in a simple yellow-tinged glass bottle with a dropper cap.  The dropper is not self-loading, but it works well and the overall packaging is nifty and light enough to travel with.  And so, that’s exactly what I did – I brought this bottle with me on my trip to Italy, and used it daily for 2 weeks!

This is an incredibly fast-absorbing oil that does not leave any oily-residue in its wake.  For the attempted swatch photo above, I had dropped 4-5 drops (2 more than I would normally use on my face) in the center of my palm, and in the time it took for me to replace the dropper back in the bottle, it had mostly been absorbed into my skin!  I apply this immediately after cleanser and toner, and then layer on serums, moisturizer and sunscreen afterwards.  It never felt oily nor heavy when worn under my makeup, and my makeup stayed in place perfectly well without straying or oxidizing.

Spending the day in Portofino, the famed Italian Riviera, with Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate!

It was the onset of winter when I arrived in Italy and the air was dry.  I wished I could say that I escaped the stressful haze here in Singapore and enjoyed fresh air in Italy, but for some reason Italians seem to live on a constant diet of espresso and cigarettes.  Everywhere I went, I was shrouded in cigarette smoke, even inside the Vatican!  Add on 2 long-haul flights and numerous cross-country train rides, I would consider my skin to be stressed to the max.  As a precaution, I had packed in all of my heavy-duty skincare, but in reality, all I needed was Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate!  I applied this daily, both day and night (only because I forgot to pack a separate night-time facial oil!), even on my neck and hair!  It never caused breakouts, even when I decided to load on a bit more than the prescribed 2-3 drops.  Instead, it kept my skin hydrated and plumped throughout my 16-hour flight, and allowed me to return with skin that was as lovely as when I left!

The only thing I would caution though is that this is a fast absorbing and lightweight oil, but not a dry oil per se.  The distinction is that whereas a dry oil like the La Mer Renewal Oil [reviewed here] worked better when applied over slightly damp skin, the Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate is best applied over dry skin.  I usually spritz on some water-based essence after toner, and if I don’t wait for the essence to be completely absorbed before slapping on the Daily Reviving Concentrate, it can end up looking and feeling rather oily.  I’m not entirely sure of the science behind that, and I’m curious to know if anybody else had the same experience.

At SGD80 for 30ml, the Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate is a more affordable facial oil for most people, although it is strictly-speaking designed for daytime use only and you will need another one for the night.  On the plus side, it smells amazing and is bound to help perk up your lazy mornings!

_{This post featured a product that was kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}