Beauty writer: Angeline Tan
I’m always on the lookout for a great facial mask. I think masks are a great addition to a skincare routine as I often find that they improve the condition of my skin. They get your skin looking from zero to a hundred real quick, they’re easy to use, and they’re hassle free. It’s definitely a confident booster and a great pampering session too!
Masks are amazing. Masks are God’s gift to beauty junkies. I love masks. :P
I recently tried out two of Kiehl’s new masks: the Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Masque and the Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energising Radiance Masque. I also got around to trying their Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, said to be a star product from Kiehl’s. Here’s my take on them.
Calendula & Aloe
I like this mask. It has a lightweight gel texture which creates a cooling sensation when you apply it to your skin, and that makes me feel soothed and relaxed. The cooling sensation most likely comes from the Aloe Vera in the mask. It brings me back to when I was younger and had really bad acne; I was always advised to apply Aloe Vera on my skin. I remember that it did help soothe my crazy breakouts so I definitely like that I know this mask has ingredients that I can trust. I’ve also been a long fan of their popular Calendula facial wash and toner, so I knew quite quickly that this Aloe and Calendula combination would work well for me.
This mask is meant for hydration and its lightweight texture means that it’s a mask you can use daily. I think my favourite part about this mask is that you only need to put it on for about 5 to 10 minutes, whereas most masks are advised to be left on for 20 minutes. That means you could easily use it in the mornings while you’re having your cup of coffee! No such excuse as ‘ain’t nobody got time for that’ anymore (I say this but I’m totally guilty of being team snooze-5-more-minutes. I could never be THAT dedicated to my skincare routine in the morning!)
With all this being said, yes I do like this mask. It’s quick and easy to use, and it relaxes me. It isn’t the best mask I’ve tried so it doesn’t quite make the cut as my holy grails, but it is a good everyday mask and I do enjoy using it.
Turmeric & Cranberry Seed
I have mixed feelings about this one. I don’t quite reach for it but I don’t really want to say that I don’t like it. Beauty is all about personal preference, and I guess this mask just really isn’t my cup of tea.
The texture of this mask is more creamy, as you can see in the photo, and it has crushed cranberry seeds that acts as a gentle exfoliant. For me, it’s too gentle of an exfoliant. This is a mask that you use maybe twice a week, and I would rather use an exfoliant that would really clean my pores over this. But since it’s gentle, I do think it gives the skin a nice massage.
Because it’s more of a creamy paste, I don’t like the way it washes off my face. I feel it takes more effort because the paste dries and you really need to properly wash it off. And then there are the little bits of crushed cranberry seeds that may cling onto your skin. Maybe it’s just me, but if I don’t use a sponge to clean it off it tends to get quite messy. It just feels like too much effort for me. I look for something easy and effortless to use, and this is not it.
This mask is meant to reinvigorate your skin and I find that it does do that. After putting it on for about 10 minutes, I noticed my skin looking brighter. But if you asked me, my personal preference is dewy glowing skin, not necessarily one that’s brighter.
Again, this isn’t a bad mask. I think the fact that it lives up to what it claims is a good thing. Just that personally, I don’t like the texture and it’s just not what I’m looking for. If you don’t mind creamy paste masks and you are looking to brighten your complexion, this is a mask that you can consider.
Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil
It’s important to apply your masks to a clean base. Scratch that – it’s important to have a clean face generally and that’s why I take my cleansers very seriously. This cleansing oil works both as a makeup remover and a facial cleanser, which means you don’t have to double cleanse! In fact, it’s advised that you don’t double cleanse with this product to avoid over-drying your skin.
I was very surprised to see how effective this product is at removing my makeup, all the while feeling so gentle on my skin! I don’t think my words alone can do this product justice, so I decided to load my face with relatively heavy makeup and take it off with this Kiehl’s cleansing oil on video. *Shudders at the thought of my bare face on the internet*
I think it did a really good job at quickly removing my makeup, especially considering I was wearing a very stubborn eyeliner and mascara. You can tell from the makeup remover test that my face was very clean and barely picked up any residue. Of course, there was a little bit left on my eyes and lips, but come on, my lipstick was so dark and I think you should always thoroughly clean your eyes anyway. Usually I have to go in at least twice to clean my eye makeup off the way this Kiehl’s cleansing oil did in less than a minute. I truly think this cleanser did a brilliant job.
I’m impressed by how comfortably I’m able to wash off my lipstick and eye makeup with this cleanser. I generally hate removing lipstick, because makeup removers and cleansing oils always taste so chemical-y, and whenever I use cleansing oils to remove eye makeup it always blurs my vision for a minute or two. It’s just an annoying process. But I find that the Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil doesn’t have a taste and it doesn’t blur my vision. It makes taking off my makeup a very comfortable experience.
The best part about this product is how gentle it is. When you massage it into your skin, the smell of the lavender essential oil feels very therapeutic. I’m the kind of person who loves my makeup on, so I dread taking it off at the end of the day. But this cleanser actually makes me look forward to it, because taking off your makeup has never felt more soothing! It feels like a mini spa experience every night.
I’m not sure if I would say that this is a must have item because it is on the pricier side, but I can definitely say that the Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil is worth the splurge. I’m quite in love with it!
Shop Kiehl’s online here.
Angeline Tan is a university student, beauty enthusiast and part-time professional bathroom singer. She enjoys travelling, overspending on theatre shows and snuggling her overweight golden retriever. Her talents include having way too many opinions and mastering the art of telling dramatic stories.
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