Kiehl's Supberbly Restorative Dry Oil Is Actually An Oil

I have a real problem with hair/skin treatments that call themselves "oils" when they are really 90%+ silicone. Bulletin: these are 90% of treatment oils on the market, for hair especially. If you like silicones, and find they work for you, well, this is good news for you. Silicones coat the hair with a smooth glassy finish and give the appearance of smooth silky hair. However, I have found, over time, silicones only mask the problem. Unless you regularly use the clarifying shampoos, silicones will also prevent hair conditioners and masks from helping your hair. In the end, silicone abuse ended up making my hair look like flat, dry straw. So- it has it's place, if used properly, and if you use the silicones that are water soluble.

I love Kiehl's, and I love their Midnight Recovery Concentrate, which is a superbly effective cocktail of actual oils that soothe and comfort skin, while adding radiance and moisture. I'd had a sample of Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil at one point, and recall using it on my legs and quite liking it. (Note: Kiehl's is one of the most generous companies when it comes to offering samples. If you try it, you are more likely to buy it. They get it.). I was wondering about the ingredient list the other day as I pondered their dry oil, and mused about it on Twitter. Their social media manager is clearly on the ball, as they replied right away that there were no silicones in the Superbly Restorative Dry Oil. Ding-ding-ding! I ran out and bought it later that day.

I take my shiny hair seriously as you can see. Jeesh.

I shampooed with my new fave ICON India Oil shampoo and conditioner, and after I combed out my hair, I applied a bit of Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil to the ends of my hair, before applying my styling products. It has a slightly herbal scent, perhaps a mixture of lavender with woodsy notes (patchouli?) but it really is soft, and does not linger in the hair (or on skin) at all. My hair has seen a lot of sun this summer and is a bit parched so I was hoping it would help. After styling my hair I can honestly say it feels softer and silkier than it has all summer. Less pouffy and dry, yet still bouncy and shiny. So shiny! I would advise using a tiny bit at at time as it would be easy to apply to much which would likely make ones hair look, well, oily. The photo above is the second day after shampooing and I was trying to get the daylight coming in my skylight to hit my hair so you could see how shiny it is. If you could touch my hair, I guarantee it is as soft as it is shiny. Colour me thrilled, despite my serious expression...

Want shine built in to your  hairspray? Go Gay! Vintage ads rock.

Bonus: I also used some Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil on my skin after the shower, and I loved the way it felt and how it made my skin feel. Again, another product that is perfect to use on bare legs when wearing shorts or skirts, to add a lovely healthy shine and banish dry, scaly or ashy skin. Win!

Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil with Argan is available online or at their stores for around $42 for a 125ml bottle. 

Does It Smell Like Perfume? Or Is It Just Skin?

I love a good musk perfume. They are soft & stay close to the skin, and are perfect when I don't really want to wear an actual perfume, but when I just want to smell good. The beauty of a musk that works with your chemistry is that it is likely no one will even know you are wearing perfume. When I wear musk I often hear comments like "you smell good" or, in a group of people "someone here smells good". The latter comment is usually followed up with "it must be Jane" but that's just because my friends know me too well. But the point is no one ever says "what is that perfume" or "what perfume are you wearing", because when you find a musk you love, it should melt into your skin and become part of you. You- just a bit warmer, sweeter, sexier & yes, muskier. Oh...yes. Muskier. Like the smell of that special someone's shirt that you slip on when they aren't there, or their pillow. This kind of scent appeals to us on a more "primal" level that your average perfume. 

The smell of his clothes....

"Manly, yes, but I like it too...” was what came to mind the first time I tried Kiehl’s Musk. While it is definitely not a strong scent, it kind of has a rich, deep & sexy vibe that most frilly floral women's scents lack. It's manly and tomboyish, which frankly makes it even more sensual when a woman wears it. And, it just goes perfectly with everything. The story behind it says it’s based on a vat labelled “Love Oil” found stashed away in Kiehl’s flagship store- they introduced it in 1963. Love Oil? I'm in.

Manly, yes....ride 'em cowboy.

But it's not just sensual. It's cuddly and cozy. When my youngest daughter was little she said it smelled like hugs. That works. It’s soft, quiet & won’t offend anyone, even in a small space. It smells like warm, kissable skin. Adore the little roller bottle for my purse, perfect at under $30. Even the big 50ml bottle is under $60. The shower gel is one of my fave things and gently scents your whole bathroom, or master suite. The apothecary style aesthetic of Kiehl’s products is modern & simple- I love clean, classic lines. This is the perfect “white t-shirt” perfume & I wouldn’t be without it in my collection. 

Kiehl's Gardenia Perfume Oil is a Rare Beauty

No gardenias here...enjoy the hibiscus...

Its always a bummer when something we love is taken off the shelves. There are countless perfumes that have been discontinued and there is usually only one reason for this- sales. So I suppose the beautiful, soft and lush Kiehls Gardenia Oil was not a big seller for them. Pity, because to my nose it is one of the prettiest gardenia scents I have ever worn. It seems Kiehl's has decided to stick to their signature musk for their perfume- which is a beauty on it's own. I love Kiehl's Musk & wear it often.

Beautiful authentic gardenia perfumes are rare- it takes literally thousands of kilos of gardenias to extract just one kilo of gardenia absolute. There are lots of gardenia "types" and combos that usually feature tuberose as the star scent. But gardenia is more gentle than tuberose and to my nose, more intoxicating. I have a few that I love and wear- Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, is one, and while it is stunning, it is mostly tuberose. Frederic Malle Carnal Flower is another stunner but I feel its more tuberose and green notes but definitely worth trying. Gorgeous. Tuberose tends to add a sweet yummy almost bubble gum note to perfumes- gardenia is more tart. Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia is a soft simple scent with some spices and tea notes with a touch of sweet gardenia that makes it quite pleasant and easy to wear. Another one of my bedtime perfumes.

Kiehls Gardenia was one I tried a few years ago and didn't buy. One of those I tried at the store, then didn't realize I loved it until I was home. By the time I decided to buy it, it was disappearing from the shelves. I finally got a little vial and well, of course I adore it. It is soft and sweet, but without the coconut beach notes that often makes gardenia perfumes too sweet. It has just enough green to be fresh and because it is an oil perfume, it wears very close to the skin. You have to snuggle in pretty closely to smell it...mmm. Although this gardenia is so lovely I wouldn't mind a little more volume - it must be lovely if I'm left wanting more. Gardenia is a feminine beautiful scent and you can't help but feel a little glam when you wear it. I imagine myself heading off to a candlelit dinner by the beach....with bare shoulders, my hair in sultry waves and a lush gardenia tucked behind one ear.

I was talking to my friend Tara last night- she lives in Florida and has these huge gardenia shrubs in her yard. When they are in bloom, she told me she fills every room in her house with vases of gardenia blossoms. Doesn't that sound sublime? I think I could move to Florida just for the flowers. Because I know she also has jasmine in her backyard. I haz jealous

No one wore a gardenia in their hair better than Billie....

So there are some simple gardenias out there to try. Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia for sure, Penhaligon's Gardenia is quite pretty, simple and elegant. Kai perfume is a tart green gardenia, and Floris Gardenia is simple soapy and feminine. I have not tried Isabey Gardenia but it sounds sublime and is on my hit list. For a cheap thrill? Believe or not, Elizabeth Taylor Gardenia. I read somewhere that her Gardenia scent was created as somewhat as an homage to her favourite perfume, Tuvache Jungle Gardenia - you must read this post about this most legendary of gardenia perfumes. I tried Elizabeth Taylor's Gardenia ages ago and kind of forget what it smells like but I plan to grab a bottle next time I see one. I tried Caswell Massey Gardenia and it was too thin and alcohol-y for me. Another one I want to try is Santa Maria Novella Gardenia- I love their perfumes and somehow think they would do gardenia well. So tell me- what are YOUR favourite gardenia scents? I'd love to hear more about my floral scent obsession du jour.

Beautiful & Soft Egyptian Musks: A Musk Love Story

Get me my perfume...and dab it on me...NOW

Musks are funny shape shifting notes in perfume. They don’t smell the same to everyone, and one person’s “Ew that musk is so strong it makes me ill” is another person’s “Musk? What musk? I don’t smell any musk”. There are the 70s musks, that I personally love. Maybe it is the nostalgia for an innocent time with great music & clothes I remember? Whatever it is these are the musks I love. 

I wore Jovan Musk For Women in middle and high school and loved it. I still wear it, and I swear it is a dead ringer for J&J Baby Shampoo. How lovely and innocent is that scent? Clean and simple and so easy to wear. I also wore the sexually charged Jovan Andron too but that was a pheromone perfume. It was very musky, very sexy and I loved it and wish I could find it again.

I wore Coty Wild Musk, in the perfume oil and the eau de toilette. It’s a soft slightly spicy musk scent, and I still own it. It is a warm sexy skin scent yet “Wild” is a bit of a misnomer. If this ad doesn't make you want to try it, then I don't know what will...
                                

I love to wear my musks to bed or on their own when I don’t want more than the softest veil of scent. They project very little and one has to get very close to smell them. I call them cuddly scents and all can be had for under $20 a bottle. What’s not to love? I will add that if someone is close enough to smell them, they always love them.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful Kiehl’s Musk. It is a little more pricey than the drugstore musks, but if you want a simple elegant musk with a little more oomph this is the one. I find it slightly more animalic (only slightly) than my squeaky clean musks, but Kiehl’s Musk has an honoured place in my collection and gets a lot of wear. I have the eau de toilette but will try the oil next, as I have heard such good things about that version, softer and yet longer lasting than the edt.

I’ve tried many musks, looking for the perfect musk scent. I don’t like musk “heavy” scents that use musk to amplify a perfume and make the existing scent more tenacious. I actually hate them, and those are the ones that make me ill. Bath and Body Works is a notorious offender with these, and I would imagine they use them to amp up their perfumes that are full of cheap thin ingredients that would smell like nothing without a chemical blast to make them LOUD. But again, this is personal, and I liken this scent phenomena to what I can smell vs what someone can smell. As you smell a billion perfumes, you learn to pick out certain notes over time. It’s kind of like wine, you can start out with loud sweet wine but as you learn to pick out certain flavours, you crave more complex delicate flavours. Perfume is the same. Once you learn a note, you cannot un-learn it, or un smell it, even though a year before it might have been invisible to you. So essentially it’s a rabbit hole and once you start sniffing things obsessively like me, you are done for.

There are basically, in perfumes, two kinds of musk scents. I won’t get into the chemistry because synthetic musks, vs natural musks and all the science-y stuff is long winded and complex and in reality there are a tons of musks, not just two. If you would like to read more, try this fantastic post on Bois de Jasmine. But for my purposes I will say there are two kinds: clean, floral & slightly sweet and animalic, oily and dirty. Egyptian musks are bright and sparkly clean, perhaps used in soaps for years which is why they seem so clean. You might also call them white musks. J Lo Glow is famously pretty much a direct copy of J Lo’s favourite musk oil, China Rain, a very soapy green floral musk which likely has a base of Egyptian musk. I actually love it and find it soft and pretty.

I first heard about Abdul Kareem Egyptian Musk oil on the fantastic Make Up Alley fragrance board. The people there are a wealth of knowledge and when I was looking for a clean simple musk, this one was recommended. A little research dug up something kind of neat. AK Egyptian Musk was the perfume of the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. I can see this actually, her simple elegant style would suit this simple elegant scent perfectly. Add to this that her favourite designer, Narciso Rodriguez, who also designed her gorgeous wedding dress, used her and her perfume as a muse for his NR For Her perfume. Sadly, whatever musk he used is almost invisible to my nose. I cannot smell it no matter how hard I try, but many love this perfume. I can smell it a little more in NR Essence, but its almost a bit too much in that for me.

So after trying many musk oils, AK is the one I kept coming back to and is now my absolute fave. I adore Abdul Kareem Egyptian Musk, and at $15 for a 15 ml bottle is a great deal for any perfume. I dab it on my pulse points and the nape of my neck and the delicate scent wafts for hours. I have been known to layer it under simpler perfumes to add a soft clean floral note but my favourite way to wear it is alone. If you like musks, you must have this one in your collection. It's the soft preppy perfume for someone who doesn't want to smell perfumey. Perfect! I feel like I'm on my way to the beach in Hyannis Port  already...

Oh, hai John John...

There is only one official seller of this musk online, Charlotte Vale, and anyone else that claims to be selling Abdul Kareem New York musk is selling something else. Don't waste your money. The seller is a lovely person who is quite professional. She sells from her site and at her ebay shop.

Do you enjoy musk scents? What are your faves?

Kiehl's Mineral Mascara is Marvelous & Beautiful

One of my pet peeves with mascara is thick clumpy mascara that looks fake and make-up-y. I am a lover of soft and natural make up, more so as I get older. I like my lashes to look dark, and perhaps a bit longer than they are naturally. Not thick, spidery, uber black and clumpy. Actually, that look is a pet peeve of mine…shall we bring KK and Eva Longoria out as witnesses for the prosecution? UGH.

KK at the 2011 Oscars

Eva at the 2011 Grammys

Thankfully, my lovely, wise and make up obsessed stylist Katarina told me about Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara. She is a natural beauty and has gorgeous lashes that are so pretty you would never even guess she is wearing mascara. My older daughter loves big lush lashes and counts Diorshow as one of her faves so her and I have fairly different criteria for our mascara, but, she wanted to try the Kiehl’s as well. As well, I have to have a waterproof/long wearing mascara as my oily skin turns all eye make up into raccoon eyes. Whereas she likes something easy to remove as she often wears contact lenses and hates the oily remover necessary to take off waterproof eye make up. So, I kind of though one of us would like it, but the chances of both of us loving it were slim. Wrong! We both love it! It is light enough and long wearing enough for me, yet dark enough and easy enough to remove for her. Not sure how that works or is even possible but yay!

It is so natural it almost doesn’t feel like anything is going onto your lashes. But, wait. They are darker and longer, yet not goopy or clumpy. It is gentle, has no scent and does not appear, so far, to irritate either one of us. It has a silky smooth texture, but not watery. I’d almost call it magical, because I feel like I’m putting nothing on my lashes yet they look better after I apply it. We use the black formula and it is a true black without being too dark or matte, but it also doesn’t look wet. Perhaps waxy is a good word? Whatever it is, it is amazing and is officially my new Favourite Mascara. The fact that it is paraben free and full of moisturizing jojoba oil and acai is a bonus. It uses “minerals that are pulverized into a very fine powder to impart a smooth and even application” which I imagine contributes to the delicate texture of the product and the gorgeous subtle colour. All in all, it is a win.

I got my Kiehl’s Marvelous Mineral Mascara at the Kiehl’s counter at Holt Renfrew for $24. It sells for $16 in the US so when I’m on holiday this month I plan to stock up- especially considering the Canadian dollar is stronger than the US dollar right now. 

Beautiful Tips for Soft, Moisturized Skin

This time of year is brutal for our skin. Dry central heating, with freezing temperatures outside can leave us with rough, dry, itchy skin. Moisturizing has long been an obsession of mine- I’ve been known to hold my daughters down and apply lotion if I thought their skin looked dry.  The knees! The hands! The elbows! Ah those poor girls… I moisturize in the morning, and at night, and pretty much  at any time I can. Like the main rule of real estate is Location, Location, Location, the rule for great skin is Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize.  Inspired by the brilliant Janine Falcon at Beautygeeks I’ve decided to share my favourite products to scrub, polish, and saturate our skin til its plump, dewy and glowy.

First of all, we must exfoliate our skin. Applying moisturizing potions to dry flaky skin is painting over chipped peeling paint without scraping and sanding first.  It’s a waste of product and the skin that needs the nourishment won’t get it. There are two ways to exfoliate, manually, with a granular or “scrub” cosmetic product or brush/loofah/mitt product. This is best done is the shower unless you want to vacuum or sweep up the by products of this process…which is dead skin. Ew.

My favourite exfoliants are the scrubs. These usually contain rough granules that help smooth the skin. I like high and low versions of these products, as long as they get the job done.  For low, I’ve used the basic  St Ives Apricot Scrub. I use the original formula is intended for the face but the granules are nice and fine and work miracles when used head to toe in the shower. I also enjoy the scrubs that heat up. St Ives Fresh Skin Warming Scrub is a facial version that I have used head to toe & find it quite cozy and comforting after a day in the cold. The St Ives Mineral Therapy Body Polish is also quite good but I’ve been equally happy with all of these. Extra attention given to knees and feet and especially any area that gets, ahem, sat on all day. Another exfoliating option is via a vitamin A or alpha hydroxy or chemical exfoliant. I have recently been using Derma E Vitamin A Retinyl Palmitate Wrinkle Treatment Gel. It is for the face, but I didn't know that! It comes in a large bottle for under $15 and I have been using it all over my body at bedtime. It is barely scented with a mild cucumber scent and I love its smoothing effect.

My higher end faves include my latest love, Caudalie Merlot Friction Scrub. It comes in a lovely pot, smells divine and makes my skin smooth as silk. I adore the Caudalie line and their Beauty Elixir is an HG product I adore. The Nuxe Tonific Exfoliation is a kinder, gentler scrub that also smells and feels luxurious but is perfect for a more sensitive skin. The Clinique Sparkle Skin Exfoliator is another one I love. Well, except for the name. Are you naming your products for 6 year old girls Clinique? Anyways, I have been known to use the Clinique 7 Day Scrub on my body as well- it smells amazing and sometimes I prefer the smaller size “scrubbers” that come in the facial formulas.

I have never been a big fan of the cloths or brushes that exfoliate as I tend to like products- the scent, the luxurious feel of a body product just appeals to me more. However after reading Beautygeeks raves for the Dermalogica Buffing Cloth I think I might have to get one. I adore Dermalogica and find their products have integrity and purpose so this cloth sounds perfect!

Kiehls makes an oil wash as part of their Argan line- Superbly Restorative Argan Body Cleansing Oil. This stuff is genius and somehow manages to cleanse and lightly resurface at the same time. Again, I have only tried samples of this but plan to get my hot little hands on a bottle. Soon.

Ok. So now that we have scrubbed, buffed and polished ourselves to a shine, its time to moisturize! I am a big fan of body oils, and I especially love to combine them with lotions and creams for extra oomph. I am almost through a bottle of Weleda Wild Rose Body Oil and while I quite liked it, I am keen to try some others before buying another bottle. The Wild Buckthorn Oil Janine mentioned sounds wonderful, as does the latest Weleda Oil, Pomegranate.  The Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse has been a long time favourite of mine- it smells like soft sweet honey and just soaks into the skin. Neutrogena Sesame Body Oil is a classic as well. This is perfect for right after the shower and the scent is soft and lovely, as well as nostalgic as I recall using this as a teenager. Has anyone tried the Kiehls Argan Dry Oil? This stuff is magic and while I have only used samples, a bottle of this stuff is on my hit list.

I also adore Monoi Oil- it smells like gardenias and sunshine. I use the Yves Rocher Monoi Oil but have heard it has mineral oil…I have also used and loved The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Monoi Oil which does not list mineral oil anywhere but The Interwebs is crawling with Accusers saying it has mineral oil as well so if anyone knows of a readily available Monoi that is free of mineral oil let me know!

Lotions and creams are a must have in the fight to stay soft and moisturized. My ultimate high end product is Kiehls Crème de Corps- nothing soaks in like this product and when used regularly it does improve the texture of your skin. It has almost no scent which is great for use in the morning as it won’t interfere with my perfume.  My go-to daily moisturizer is Nivea Q10 which I’ve reviewed here. I used Palmers Cocoa Butter lotion forever but stopped recently as the scent became too overpowering for me. I have seen an unscented version on the web but have yet to stumble upon it in real life. If I do, I will buy a case as this is truly the BEST lotion I have ever used, and at $8 a bottle the value is unprecedented.

What are your faves? How do you stay soft, silky and glowy? Share!

Kiehl's Beautiful Acai Damage Correcting Moisturizer

My Kiehl’s love affair continues. I will be buying a 2^nd bottle of their Açai Moisturizer after using it as a day lotion. Unlike many products I have, I use it daily since purchasing it in June, but I still have a few months to go on my bottle. The key ingredient in this is Açaí – a “super berry” sourced from Brazil with exceptionally high levels of nutrients and known to be one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants. According to the Kiehl's website, açai berries along with some other good stuff allegedly “repair the visible effects of oxidative environmental stress while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and loss of elasticity. Skin is visibly renewed, smoother, and more even-toned”. Sounded good to me so I asked for some samples, and as always, the Sales Associate at Kiehl's gave me some. I must say again how amazing Kiehl's is with their sampling program. Sampling works, as I know I would never have tried many products I now own without having sampled them first.

I’ve used many resurfacing products with a variety of ingredients- not too many were natural, some were prescription strength and almost all of them wreaked havoc with my oily  and acne prone yet sensitive skin. As always, I want smaller pores, less oil, even tone and, ahem, less wrinkles. The Kiehl’s ACDCM delivers on all accounts. I wouldn’t say the wrinkle reduction is dramatic, but the other criteria are met perfectly. This lotion has a matte finish while still soaking into the skin and offering lovely moisture. Nothing I have used has had a similar consistency and finish on the skin, and that alone keeps me using this. It has a lovely lavender scent which you might not like if you don’t like lavender, and a small blob of lotion goes a long way on my face. Small dark spots, ie scars from acne spots, fade nicely and using this in conjunction with the brilliant Midnight Recovery Concentrate has done wonders for my pores. I have noticed a reduction in clogged pores as well, and while I still get the odd spot (hormonal, along the chin and jaw mostly) my skin seems very calm  and happy while using this. I have had samples of the Acai serum and plan to get a bottle of this to use in conjunction with the lotion for day. The two products were a bit much together in hot summer months but a little back up in the winter will be nice. My skin does not like central heating and seems to suffer more ups and downs texture wise in the winter. 

Wake Up Beautiful with Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

From the Kiehl’s website:

“This lightweight, readily absorbed elixir effectively restores skin's healthy appearance overnight, resulting in smoother, more radiant complexion by morning. Enriched with Squalane, a botanical lipid similar in molecular structure to natural skin lipids, Evening Primrose Oil, rich in Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Essential Oils including Lavender, our formula provides a boost of intensive moisture to depleted skin. These natural oils instantly penetrate the skin surface to help replenish it. Our recovery concentrate works at night when skin is most receptive to repairing itself from daily aggressors. With skin hydrated, supple and soft, rest assured you can say goodnight to tired-looking skin.”

This elixir is an oil and is to be applied at bedtime. It contains 99.8% naturally-derived and paraben-free botanical ingredients. I’ve been meaning to review this for awhile because I LOVE IT. I have always been intrigued by the idea of using oils on my skin. Although I have oily skin, in the past I have flirted with facial oils with success. Shu Uemura cleansing oils are amazing- I keep meaning to buy some but perhaps I didn’t love them enough? Not sure why they haven't found a permanent home with me *makes mental note to revisit*. Dr. Haushka Normalizng Day Oil is another product I’ve loved and often use it in the winter with my moisturizer for some extra protection.  The neat thing about a good quality facial oil treatment is that is doesn’t make you skin oilier, and can actually help with oil production. I was very curious about the Midnight Recovery Concentrate and so when I was at Kiehl’s buying some Crème de Corps the sales associate gave me a couple samples. Rant: Attention cosmetic companies- it has been proven that consumers that try samples of products are more likely to purchase them- note the perfume companies have figured this out, as has Sephora. Kiehl’s is unsurpassed for the generous size of their samples and for the sales associate’s willingness to fork them over. End of rant. Back to my inner glow in a bottle...

All it took was a week of using MRC for me to see a visible change in my skin. My pores became less visible, clogged pores were purged and I noticed a dewy glow to my skin in the morning. This became all the more noticeable when I stopped using MRC to try other products I was asked to review. Almost 3 weeks of not using it and my skin broke out, pores became congested and noticeable again- I was not happy. I am back on my routine and happy to be so. My skin is calming down- smooth, slightly plumped and with a glow. I know, sounds gushy and improbable but if there was one skincare product I had to live with Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate would be the one.