For nearly a year I have been diligently saving up empty bottles from my Kiehl’s stash. For those of you who are not aware, Kiehl’s, much like MAC and Lush have a program which requires you to return empty Kiehl’s product bottles in exchange for sample sized products from the range. I think its a great way to make me buy more and also encourage hoarding trash!
I jest. I love Kiehl’s and over the years have tried quite a few bits from them which I can happily crown as holy-grails or must-haves for me. This last weekend, as I was preparing to head over to Kiehl’s to return these, a familiar thought hit me and suddenly this bag of trash posed a potential blog-post opportunity! So here we are; I am going to quickly summarize the goods and the bads about all six of them (which by the way earned me a Kiehl’s lip balm and a tiny bottle of the original Creme de corps body lotion in return. yay!)
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate – 30ml, Rs 3550 (INR), $46 USD
Previously raved about here and here, this is holy-grail material. Combined with my beloved Oskia Renaissance Clenaser, this resurrected my complexion last fall and I have been converted into its die-hard devotee since. As Kiehl’s puts it, it is 99.8% naturally derived and paraben-free, while the ingredient list reads like a complex mix of essential oils, which not just make it an excellent night time treatment, but also make it smell AMAZING without any artificial fragrance. Its very light-weight which I find very charming and easy to apply any time of the year without having to sleep with an oil-slicked face.
If you are looking for a one stop product for all of your skin concerns or want a well rounded night-time routine without having to fuss around with ten products, then you need this (and of course a good cleanser).
Repurchase – YES, albeit later.
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado – 15ml, $28.5 USD
This tub has been lurking around for years. I constantly found myself falling in and out of love with this and that was all thanks to its texture which is not just hard to put in words but also difficult to digest by the eye area. Its thick but sticky and takes a very long time to get absorbed, although when I first started using my tub it was easier to work with. What puts me off is that it stings if I accidentally apply it too close to my lashline and then proceed to watch TV. Eyes water like crazy and the eye area ends up sore and puffy by morning. Not really the effect I was looking for!
Repurchase – NEVER
Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Light-weight Body Lotion – 250 ml Rs 1990, $25
This is NOT just an expensive body lotion, its also a really good one! I bought this in desperation when nothing else was working for my chronically dry limbs and this turned out to be really soothing and hydrating without being greasy in the least. It reminds me a lot of the Lush Dream Cream body lotion in texture which I used to love but can no longer buy in India. This bottle didn’t last me too long which for the price really disappoints. I really enjoyed using it though, through dry weather and humidity alike. I am sure there is something out there as good and much cheaper out there waiting to be discovered.
Repurchase – YES, unless I find something better
Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Skin Brightening Exfoliator – 125ml, $29
My mum actually helped my finish this up. I bought this a long long time ago and I was told that I could use it alternate nights to purge blackheads. How wrong! I did just that and ended up with the worst kind of sore skin I have ever had, and that in just two uses. This is very strong, not so much in texture (which is gritty and abrasive but very fine still) as it is in composition. Sensitive/delicate skin people are advised to stay away from this, at best, use it once a week or two weeks because its quite an industrial strength product!
Repurchase – NOPE!
Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Shampoo – 250ml, $19
Kiehl’s make some really good hair products which they could be proud of had they been thoughtful enough to not include SLS. This otherwise excellent formulation unfortunately has SLS as the second ingredient which meant I couldn’t use it completely and had to pass it on to the family. I bought this a few years ago when I had no clue my scalp was allergic to SLS, and while it did work for a few washes, it eventually started breaking out my scalp and I had to quit. Its a hydrating shampoo and manages to keep the frizz somewhat in check. Not exceptional I’d say.
Repurchase – NO
Kiehl’s Rice and Wheat Volumizing Conditioning Rinse – 250ml, $19
Finally, something I loved! This conditioner does what it says on the bottle; it adds body and thickness to my fine hair without adding unnecessary frizz to it. I have had this empty bottle for a long time and although I had made a mental note to repurchase I got lured into trying other stuff. I have since found a lot of good conditioners and my quest for something new and better in hair care never really ends so I doubt it’ll ever be its turn again! That said, if you haven’t tried any Kiehl’s hair product and have fine delicate hair which needs help in the volume department, might I suggest giving this a go? The good thing about Kiehl’s hair-care is that they do good quality products in a price range that sits comfortably between drugstore.
Repurchase – YES, sometime in the distant future!
Have you tried these? What are your Kiehl’s favorites?
Filed under: Reviews
