Health & Swellness

Wake up prettier

March 4, 2010 at 7:00 AM 3 comments

I get to test out a ton of health and beauty products. 

The temezcal at Ceiba del Mar resort

And I’m generally down for whatever – obviously, there’s fun gigs (trying out luxe serums from La Mer, for example, well, if I’d dare to anyhow) but there’s also the stranger, less appealing tasks. I’ve worn butt-enhancing underwear to see how well it supersized my derriere, and I even took part in a temazcal ritual (think rustic Mayan steam room/sauna) in Mexico. Now, I only lasted three seconds in the temezcal before the heat and pitch black darkness scared the crap out of me and I asked the shaman to let me out…but I did give it a shot in the name of ‘getting the story’.

One thing I have long resisted, though, is testing out oils on my face and beauty companies sure love launching facial oils and serums. My T-zone is oily enough on its own, thank you very much.

But the folks from Kiehl’s were so enthusiastic about their latest product, Midnight Recovery Concentrate, that I decided to give it a try. They’d also caught me at a vulnerable time –  my skin’s been a dry, flaky mess for months.

All you need is a couple of drops. Thankfully, i was pleasantly surprised: the Concentrate’s texture is way less oily than I’d anticipated, plus it didn’t leave a big ol’ grease spot on my pillowcase, either.

The formula consists of oils such as squalane, evening primrose, rose hip seed oil, and lavender and it’s said to work on rejuvenating your skin when your skin is naturally programmed to absorb active ingredients. And while I did notice my skin was less parched after using the product, I think it’s the essential oils that have convinced me to add Midnight Recovery Concentrate to my nightly beauty ritual. The aromatherapy benefits of the blend of lavender, rosemary, geranium have  me hooked. Just a whiff of it now helps me decompress, leading me straight into bed for some zzz’s. (Hmm, come to think of it, it’s a little Pavlov’s doggish).

Ready to become a Sleeping Beauty yourself? Midnight Recovery Concentrate, $48, is now on counters in Kiehl’s stores in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver and at select Holt Renfrew locations.

Entry filed under: Beauty, Health. Tags: aromatherapy, Beauty, botanical oils, doze, essential oils, moisturize, nap, oil, serum, sleep, stress.