Want to WAKE UP looking PRETTIER?

I always, always take my make-up off before going to bed, following a disciplined cleanse, tone, moisturise ritual. My smugness about how much care I'm taking of my skin, usually disappears however, when I wake up the next morning and look at myself in the mirror. I still always look so damn dull and dehydrated and just...blah.

Research has made me realise that it's just simply not enough. Our faces are exposed to so much sh*t even if you don't wear make-up, so they deserve extra tlc. Even if you don't have any problems right now, it's much better to prevent future forseeable problems (ageing, wrinkles, thin skin, sagging, under-eye darkness, etc), rather than dealing with them when they come.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE A NIGHT CREAM/SERUM/TREATMENT?
* During the day our skin and bodies use their energy towards protecting itself against environmental and
   psychological stress.
   During the night, our cells focus on repairing themselves from the damage sustained during the day.
- It's thus v.important to have a different product for overnight use as our bodies differing natural functions require specific care.

There's a huge market out there for night serums and creams and treatments, it's so easy to get overwhelmed. I certainly have been - I've been on the hunt for the perfect night treatment for my face for the last year or so and haven't bought anything despite researching options because there's just too much choice.
Recently, I have been steering towards natural beauty products - I have switched to an SLS/paraben/silicone free shampoo (review to come soon), using natural oils on my hair, loving Liz Earle naturally active face products, and so I decided to look into a company that is geared towards this 'natural' consciousness.

MY SKIN TYPE:
* Dry, sensitive, dull
* Dark under-eye circles - not bags
* Pigmentation around my mouth (slightly darker there)

WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR IN A NIGHT TREATMENT?
* You should always pick a treatment that is tailored towards your skin type. All skin needs moisture
   and hydration (yes, even oily skin types), but my dry skin needs more, so my number one priority is to
   choose a product that hydrates and moisturises my skin overnight
* Replenishes what my skin loses during the day from exposure to sunlight/wind/pollution etc

After doing much research, I decided to buy Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. 30ml. £36.00.

VITAL INGREDIENTS:

* Jojoba Seed Oil

* Evening Primrose Oil

* Coriander Seed Oil

* Lavender Oil (smells like this)

* Rosemary Leaf Oil

* Cucumber Fruit Extract

* Rose Flower Oil

* Jasmine Extract

* Sunflower Seed Oil

* Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

* PARABEN FREE. 

Clearly, the whole product is made up of a bunch of oils that have varying properties, all of which are soo good for our skin. 

I can't speak for people with oily skin types, I don't know if this would work for you, BUT despite the fact it has so many oils - this product does not leave the skin feeling oily or greasy at all. 

Gorgeous, luxurious packaging. A glass bottle with a glass stopper that looks pretty sitting on the dressing table. It's not travel friendly though at all - it would shatter in an instant if dropped!

  

WHAT DOES IT CLAIM TO DO? (according to the Kiehl's website - link)

* One night. A few drops. Younger-looking skin by morning.

* Replenishes skin with moisture

* Helps to recover radiance by morning

* This readily absorbed elixir helps the skin to recover radiance by morning, with skin feeling smoother and softer

* The formula instantly penetrates the skin surface to help replenish it with moisture. Our concentrate is designed to work at night; with skin hydrated, supple and soft, rest assured you can say goodnight to a tired-looking complexion. 

WHAT DO I THINK? HAS IT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO MY SKIN?
* Yes, yes and YES! Oh my goodness, my skin drinks this stuff up like it's been dying of thirst for years (which it probably has)!
* How I use it: Cleanse and tone using Liz Earle, on a dry face take a couple of drops of this and lightly press onto my skin focusing on cheeks with this oil. Do not rub it in. Wait about 30mins and then I apply my usual moisturiser although this step is optional. 
* Okay, so the first few nights I used this, I woke up in the morning and felt a little disappointed - I couldn't see any difference.
* Obviously, with any skin treatment, you have to be patient and disciplined, and so I continued using it every night.
* It was about a week into using this every night that I noticed a difference when I woke up. My skin looked very calm and balanced out if that makes any sense. I also didn't look like Darth Vader - my skin had a natural sort of radiance like I'd drunk a gazillion mls of water.
* Continued use over the last month has meant that I wake up with soft, smooth, even skin. And more importantly, my skin does not look parched. It definitely looks hydrated and moisturised and overall much healthier.
* I highly, highly, highly recommend this to people with dry, dull, dehydrated skin!
* One more thing to mention, yes it costs a little bit of money, but, you only use about 2 drops each night and so far it looks like I haven't touched it - a little goes a long way, this will last you forever, such a great investment. 

OTHER PEOPLE WHO USE IT AND LOVE IT
* Ruth aka A Model Recommends - link and link and link
* Ingrid aka Miss Glamorazzi (she has oily skin and loves it) - link
* MakeupAlley rating of 4.1 out of 5 - link


Woah, well that was quite a moutful. Overall, I am LOVING it, and I highly recommend you go to your nearest Kiehls counter and see if you can get yourself a sample to try if not the whole thing!
Have you tried this product or do you recommend any other by Kiehl's? What are your favourite night treatments?

Love, Emma xo
Currently Listening To: Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's