Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Challenge Results and Full Review

Finally, the judgement day is here! After religiously applying Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye for 28 days (For those who wasn’t able to follow my updates, check them out here: Day 1, Day 2-7, and Day 8-17), here’s my final verdict. I’ve summed up my review here and I’m sharing some before and after photos.

 

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Product Information

• Lightweight, overnight treatment.
• Regenerates, repairs, and replenishes skin for a smoother, healthier skin.
• Works with the skin’s natural nocturnal activity when skin is most receptive to repairing itself from daily aggressors to dramatically restore skin.
• 99.8% naturally-derived and paraben-free.

I love it because…

• the dropper helps avoid product wastage- just 2-3 drops for the entire face.
• it feels very light. No greasy feel once the concentrate is absorbed by my skin.
• it has very relaxing scent.
• it’s for all skin types- dry, combination, or oily.
• my skin feels so soft and moisturized in the morning- not oily at all!
• it’s priced lower compared to serums of other luxury brands.
• it didn’t cause me any allergic reactions, irritations, and break outs.
• the dryness around my nose area is gone.
• my skin looks brighter after continuous use!
• the 30ml bottle will last me forever. I only use 2-3 drops every night.

I wish…

•  there’s no discomfort during the first few uses. It takes a while to get used to the oily-feel during application.

Tips

• Place 2 to 3 drops on your palm, lightly rub, then pat on face and neck.
• Gently massage face until the concentrate is fully absorbed.
• Layer with moisturizer, especially if you have dry skin.

Overall

I was honestly surprised when I learned it was oil-based. I was a bit hesitant because I usually break out with oil-based products. But since I was already part of the challenge, I tried it. At first, it felt like I was applying oil on my face, which made me uneasy. Thankfully, the greasy-feel goes away once the concentrate is absorbed by my skin. As mentioned in my first two updates, HERE and HERE, it takes a while for the concentrate to be fully absorbed. After day 4, my skin got used to it and absorption became faster. I really appreciate that my face doesn’t look like a frying pan when I wake up in the morning- something I didn’t expect from an oil-based concentrate! But the most noticeable difference from my continuous use of Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate for 28 days is its brightening effect. It really did brightened my face- and not in an oily way! There’s that healthy glow from within. 🙂 The dryness around my nose area is also gone. 🙂

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye

Product Information

The ideal companion to the highly successful Midnight Recovery Concentrate, this restorative concentrate of essential oils and botanicals improves the youthful appearance around the eye. Infused with the same natural ingredients as Midnight Recovery Concentrate, as well as Butcher’s Broom, this night treatment leaves under-eye skin feeling strengthened and replenished. Midnight Recovery Eye’s non-migrating cream texture is specifically formulated for the delicate eye area.

• Diminishes the appearance of fine lines
• Reduces puffiness
• Reduces dark under-eye circles
• No parabens, fragrance, mineral oil or silicones.

I love it because…

• it’s packaged in a tube, which is more sanitized.
• it has very relaxing scent.
• you don’t need much for the entire eye area.
• it’s easily absorbed by my skin.
• I didn’t get any irritation.
• my dark circles are now reduced!
• it’s paraben-free and silicone-free.

I wish…

• it works for those with very dry eye area. Although my under eye area feels hydrated, the moisture the cream gives may not be enough for those with very dry under eyes.

Tips

• Squeeze a pea size amount of product from the tube.
• Use your ring finger to pat and massage the eye area.
• For those with very dry skin, layer with a more hydrating eye cream.

Overall

I honestly thought the eye cream is not doing anything for me until I noticed that during the latter part of the challenge, I don’t really use much concealer (sometimes, none at all) on my under eye area. I can’t vouch that it can actually diminish fine lines as I didn’t see any difference in my case, but my dark circles were definitely reduced. My under eye area is more moisturized as well. I usually have dry patches under the eyes and now they’re gone. The texture may not be too creamy or hydrating for those with really dry under eye area though, so I still suggest layering it with a creamier eye cream.

Photos

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate 

when absorbed

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye

when absorbed

left: before using Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Eye;
right: after 28 days of using Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Eye

Bare face. My skin is brighter and my dark circles are reduced.