From The Straits Times    |
Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate thumb

With all the hubbub about face oils lately, it’s only natural that we tried some of them. As a huge fan of Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, testing out the companion oil for daytime wear was a no-brainer.

So here’s the deal. Did you know that your skin ages in appearance over the course of a day? By a few years? If you were to take a photo of yourself at the start of the day and a similar one at the end of the day, chances are you’ll realise just how aged your face looks. This is where The Daily Reviving Concentrate comes in to supposedly nourish your skin while protecting it from daily stresses and fatigue.

First impressions

The packaging is identical to the Midnight Recovery Concentrate – just a different colour – with the same hygienic dropper cap to dispense only what you need (just a few drops). The oil smells great (a revitalising spicy scent, possibly from the ginger root essential oils), which is likely the first thing you’ll notice when trying it out. Texture-wise, the oil was easily absorbed by my skin and didn’t leave a greasy residue. I did find that my skin felt smoother and softer immediately, but wondered if it would truly work throughout the day.

What’s inside it?

Kiehl’s is known for their commitment to the chemistry (and efficacy) of their products, and this one is chock-full of natural origin oils. One of the key ingredients is ginger root, meant to be anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant that stimulates elastin proteins in the skin. Sunflower seed oil is for hydration, and Tamanu oil is said to lock in all of the moisture in your skin. Sounds impressive, no? Now for the real test.

The true test

I used the oil in the morning while getting ready for work. It’s meant to be used as an extra step between your toner/serum applications and your moisturiser. I put a few drops on my fingertips and patted it into my skin. I was slightly wary at this point, because my skin retained a bit of a shine even after the product was absorbed. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the feel of my skin with the oil on, but a greasy-looking complexion is not ideal. However, waiting a few more minutes for it to completely absorb left my skin looking matte. I skipped my moisturiser (because my skin felt hydrated enough from the oil) and went straight for my sunscreen, before I was all set to take on the day.

I’ll be the first to admit that my skin appears to age a lot over the course of a day, with people often telling me I look unwell when I forget my concealer (don’t you hate that?), and more commonly a “you look really tired” at the end of the day. I can sometimes see a difference in my skin even before lunch time.

The day I wore the Daily Reviving Concentrate, I must have checked myself out in a mirror every 10 minutes, impatiently looking for a difference. It wasn’t until about three in the afternoon that I finally decided my skin looked tired.

The final verdict

The product smells great and feels great on, and I’d recommend it if you have naturally dry or combination skin. You’ll need some kind of SPF product on top of it, but choose one that’s not greasy. Don’t expect a miracle! Your skin isn’t going to look perfect all day, but the Daily Reviving concentrate will definitely give you a much-needed boost of hydration and protection.

Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate, $80, available in October.

Want to dabble in face oils for yourself? Find out which one suits you best from our comprehensive list of 19 facial oils for different skin types and how to use them!

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