It is no secret that I love SK-II skincare products and yet I have tried very little of their “Skin Signature” range. Previously, I have reviewed the SK-II Advanced Eye Treatment Film and loved how effective it was with reducing puffiness to my bags. This time around I am reviewing the SK-II Skin Signature Eye Cream that is richer than the Advanced Eye Treatment Film.
Skin Signature Eye Cream comes in a small jar with a spatula and has a rich cream formula. I only need a really small amount (eg: a grain of rice) and dabbed into my orbital bones around my eye socket. Since eye creams are able to spread an inch higher to where it is applied due to the heat from our human skin melting eye creams, especially richer ones, I made sure to apply them further away from my actual eyes and closer to the orbital bones.
This eye cream promises to deliver like an invisible eye mask to provide all-day nourishment through the day for firmer, smoother and radiant skin around the eye area. Personally, I find this a little rich to use during the day (unless I am feeling extremely dry around the eye area or is flying on a plane), so this is reserved as my night time use only eye cream. I am always guaranteed softer under eye area and visibly reduced fine lines in the morning after using this eye cream.
Additionally I also find that make up applies a lot easier under my eye area since using this and overall my skin looks firmer. Having said that, I didn’t see much difference to my dark circles. So if you’re worried about fine lines/wrinkles/saggy eye area, I will highly recommend this eye cream as it is also great to prevent wrinkles from forming prematurely. If your main concern is with dark circles, I will probably say you will have to look else way to diminish dark circles.
Think I’m calling this my night time HG eye cream because it delivers what it promises or maybe because I am bias with SK-II prodz.
RRP AUD$145
Made in Japan
Available on SK-II counters
I have heard plenty of raving regarding Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate for the longest time. Now that they’ve launched a matching Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eyes; I thought it is high time I trial them both now. To be honest, I have not trial that many Kiehl’s products that made me fell head over heels for. I have the mentality of the more potent it is the better it is; hence I haven’t been much of a fan for organic, natural products.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
RRP AUD$59
My experience with Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate came along very timely. About the time I had to undergo a laser treatment. Needless to say, leading up to the laser I was using this as my serum/moisturiser every night. Since most of the ingredients were derived from natural ingredients (pure essential oils and distilled botanicals) they were great for prepping my skin for the laser and my skin post laser. This replenishing concentrate is lightweight, only required a few drops for full face application. I usually drop 3-5 drops on my palm warm it up a little and gently pat and press all over my face and neck area. Love the dropper packaging as it makes the serum easy for dispensing as well.
It is recommended to use as a serum and finish with a moisturiser but since I have fairly oily skin, I went with the serum step only and did not suffer any signs of tightness or dryness. In the morning, I find my skin soft and smooth with no signs of oiliness around my face at all. As this serum is designed to boost moisture, I’d highly recommend this for all skin types that are suffering from skin dryness. I am happy to report that my oily skin did not break out from this either.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye
RRP AUD$44
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eyes is the new product from Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery product range. Designed as a restorative night treatment for the eyes so that you can wake up to fresher, puffiness and younger looking eyes in the morning. While I can’t vow for the younger looking eyes effect, I did however woke up to softer, less puffy and more supple under eyes.
All you really need is a tiny 1-2 drops of the eye cream and gently pat under eyes and along the orbital bones. I usually incorporate some gentle massage to ensure the eye cream absorb thoroughly and quickly. I am also happy to report that I didn’t get any milia around the eye area while using this.
All products are paraben free, fragrance free and mineral oil free
Available on Kiehl’s counters now
Dear readers,
It’s time for another ponikuta.com giveaway.
This time one lucky reader will win a full sized Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eyes (newly launched) with a Peter Alexander Eye Mask (no picture). Both of which to me are essential for a night’s of beauty sleep. Total prize value is over AUD$55.
How to win it:
Either twitpic or facebook pic me a picture of your eyes concern whether if it’s eye bags, wrinkles, fine lines to show me how bad you need the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eyes.
- If you choose to send through your picture via Twitter be sure to @ponikuta and include #kiehlsgiveaway hash tag. Be creative and feel free to surprise me! Here’s an example: @ponikuta <insert picture link> #kiehlsgiveaway
- If you choose to send through your picture via Facebook you can post it on my Facebook wall. Again, feel free to be creative!
- Competition starts today 16th February 2012 and will run until 22th February 2012, 6pm (Melbourne time)
- Winner will be announced on the 23rd February 2012, be sure to check back to see if you’ve won!
- Competition is only open to Australia residing readers only
- Each user can only send through their entry once.
Why I love it:
- Key ingredients: Marine complex, Ocra, Argan, Ginseng, Kudzu, Aloe Vera, Gingko, Green Tea, Sea Lettuce, Kelp Extract, Olive oil, Rosehip Oil, Peanut Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Sandalwood, Ylang ylang oil
- Suitable for all skin type
- The dripper packaging helps to keep things hygenic but not sure about ingredients potency as any exposure to light and air could reduce the effectiveness of said ingredients
- Designed to brightens and reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eye area
- Texture wise, this eye cream is fluid-creamy, very easy to massage onto the orbital bone area and absorbs fairly quickly
- I did feel that the skin around my eye area were smoother and feels toner in just a few use, leaving skin very comfortable. While I didn’t see a major difference with my dark circles and slightly saggy bags, I was content with the smoother and tighter results.
- TIP: The product consist of Peanut Seed oil so if you’re allergic to peanuts you might have to becareful with this product.
RRP AUD$26.95
Available on counter now
Find stockist here
For glowy healthy skin and make up to last, here are some of the trialled and tested handy tips that has worked for me and helped me overcome skin issues. Hopefully you’ll find it useful during this silly season.
1) Wear a primer
One for the face and one for the eyes. Especially if you have oily eyelids NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base is god sent. Whatever you do, don’t put silicon based primer on your eye lids or else even the toughest long wearing shadows won’t be able to stay in place.
Other primer recommendations include - Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Primer $45, Napoleon Perdis Autopilot Pre Foundation Skin Primer $55, Face of Australia Face Base Primer $11.95, NP Set – Pre Foundation Brightening Primer/Calming Primer $33 each
2) Use mask regularly
5 years ago, I banged on about my obsession with facial masks. 5 years later, I still do and commit time and effort to do at the very least two facial mask sessions a week. Be it cream, gel, facial cloth, clay variation I make sure I do masks according to my skin’s need.
Facial masks that I recommend – Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask (for boosting), Rodial Snake Mask $85 (for tightening), Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Intense Moisture Filling Mask $95 (for moisture), Jan Marini Skin Zyme Mask (for brightening)
3) Use lash strengthening products
With sparse eyelashes like mine and daily abuse (curling, mascara, make up removal), I find my lashes fall out faster than they can replenish that was until I met lash boosting products. These products not only work for lashes so if you have brow sparseness you can use it too. It helps to prevent lash prematurely breakage and to keep lashes healthy, strong and boosts the length.
Highly recommend – Rapid Lash Eyelash Renewal Serum $65, Xtreme Lash Amplif Eye Lash & Brow Fortifier $129, MAC Prep + Prime Future Lash Serum $60
4) Never neglect eye cream
It worked for me and I firmly believe eye cream works. With new technologies, eye cream helps to de-puff, tightens, reduce dark eye circles and plump up the eye area.
Try: Garnier Skin Naturals Caffeine Eye Roll-On $17.95, Estee Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator $95, AUM Anti Age Organics Firming Eye Cream $26.95, StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles $69
5) Arm yourself with make up spray
Think of it as your “hairspray” for your face. Helps to lock in moisture, make up and to help blend everything together. Usually just spray 2-4 pumps all over face after make up is done and gently pat everything in place and viola, long lasting makeup all day!
Love: Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray $29.95, Clarins Fix Make-up Mist $34, Kora Balancing Rose Mist
Why I love it:
- Designed to fight dullness, dehydration & skin sagging
- These cream are designed for 24-hour lifting and restoring skin’s glow
- Star ingredients: Photo-Activated Lift Complex, Nocturnal Lift Complex
- I have been trialling their Eye Cream and Face/Neck Night cream and here are my thoughts:
- Eye Cream: This white creamy textured cream is quite rich when you dig it out of the pot, but once gently pat under the eye, it absorbed quickly and provides an illusion of brighter under eye area. I use this day and night pre and post my laser treatments and have no issues with it. Additionally, the cream did not break me out and concealers stayed put all day long without creasing into fine lines. I did not see a massive different with the Eye Cream and only time will tell by the time I turn 35, will I have youthful eye bags?
- Face/Neck Night Cream: This night use only cream has cooling gel (water) base. It is refreshing to apply especially post laser and it helps to keep my skin well hydrated. Due to its nourishing formula that helps to boost natural collagen production, I find that my lines (around the neck area) looks less visible whenever I use this product at night. It also contains luminising ingredients to help problem area look less visible and a smoother appearance. Overnight, I love waking up to plump and supple skin, fine lines around my neck definitely looked alot less visible (unfortunately they are still there and nothing but fillers will solve this).
- Overall, Face/Neck Night Cream is a winner for me as the refreshing cooling sensation is a bonus for the upcoming warmer months. While I did not see a massive difference in terms of lifting (touch wood, hopefully this means my skin isn’t that affected by gravity as yet), I like the water base formula and well moisturised skin without any breakouts.
Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Eye Creme 15ml RRP $98.00
Resilience Lift Night Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Creme 50ml RRP $150
Available on Estee Lauder counters and online
It is no news that Estee Lauder is definitely a beauty company you should always look out for their skincare and makeup products. I for one purchased my first lipstick (it was such a grown up moment!) from Estee Lauder and til this day I could still remember the very moment when I hand over my cash for that tube of lipstick. It was from their Signature Collection in #Apricot Sun and when the lady put it on my lips, the luxurious packaging and the vibrant colour confirmed that I am a red/coral/pink lips kind of girl.
Fast forward many years later, I am still excited over Estee Lauder’s simple, sleek and clean packaging that never fails to ooze the sense of luxurious and having little girls all around the world craving for their gold caps. Be it a lipstick, an eye palette, a jar of cream or an eye cream - they always seem to tick all the right boxes and almost* always deliver what they promises.
In June, I was sent a sample of the Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator (RRP AUD$105 (30ml), AUD$150 (50ml)), a serum that:
- Targeting issues from different ethnicities experience with uneven skintone, by fighting redness, blotchiness, discolorations, acne marks, sun spots and dark spots
- The gentle formula is oil free, very lightweight to apply all over face and doesn’t irritate skin and doesn’t clog any pores
- Star ingredients: Triple-Optic Technology, CorrectTone Technology, Glucosamine-DP molecule blend, Vitamin C, Botanical Extracts, Rice Bran Extract, Vitamin E, Licorice, Gentian
- The scent of this serum is refreshingly citrusy and has a lingering floral sweetness
- In just 4 weeks, it promises to reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone and injects radiance into skin
- Personally, I find this serum very effective in keeping skin matte, well hydrated, visibly smoother and brighter over the course of 4 weeks of using it. Some of my pigmentation issues still persist and these won’t go away without the help of some clinical intense pulse lightening treatments. Overall skin appearance wise, I find my skin much brighter and smoother without makeup on.
- If you’re a big fan of scientific proofs, head over to Nicki’s blog who gave this serum a 10 out of a 10 in terms of effectiveness of the ingredients in this serum. She also mentioned that using a cream rich in niacinamide can improve the appearance of pigmentation, try it if you’re game!
In addition to the serum there is also another new winning product, the Cooling Eye Illuminator (RRP AUD$95). This one is definitely a market first in terms of the “ceramic tip applicator” which is always cooling to touch. This makes it the perfect applicator for eye creams, gone are the days of storing your eye cream in the fridge.
The Cooling Eye Illuminator works to dramatically reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. After just one use, I could clearly see a brighter under eye area and less puffiness. Over a recommended of 8 weeks, you’ll see massive reduction in puffiness and brightened eye area. I am on my week three of the eye illuminator and can already see a brighter undereye area and is loving my morning and night ritual of “smoothing the ceramic tip” under my eye. The refreshing and cooling sensation is perfect for tired and sleepy eyes.
Star ingredients: Pinoxide, Magnolia Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Botanical Extracts, Sea Algae, Caffeine Sucrose
This is how it is recommended to be used. Key word = gentle.
- Gently squeeze tube to release a dot sized amount
- Gently massage ceramic tip under each eye from inner corner to the outer corner
- It is recommended two or more times of massaging the tip under the eye, knowing me I went for the 10-15 times under each eyes which takes less than 1 minute to do both eyes
- Gently pat the remaining residue into the skin until fully absorbed
- Wipe off ceramic tip with tissue after each use
I don’t have obvious puffy eyes to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Cooling Eye Illuminator, why don’t you see it for yourself in this video that was demonstrated by a Hong Kong actress? Ignore the language and fast forward to 2:49 for before & after shots. Otherwise, you can watch her video in full to see how to use the ceramic applicator to it’s full advantage. Definitely won a spot in the ‘miracle product’ basket doesn’t it?
*To be brutally honest, not every single product available in the market delivers what they promises.
I rarely blog about items that I dislike only items that were hyped up way too much and when you find it disappointing you felt cheated in a way. Just like Too Faced’s Lash injection, Covergirl’s Lash Blast, Clinique’s 3 steps… I felt compelled to voice out my opinion on these products because I believe there are people out there who share the same experience as myself.
Magazines all claim that Kiehl’s products are fantastic, natural and works like magic. Even Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie was spotted with bags full of Kiehl’s products.
I am here to tell you why I dislike them.
The Ultra Facial Moisturizer is light yet greasy on the skin and sits right on the surface of the skin instead of being adsorbent. After initial use, I did not feel my skin being conditioned or soften in anyway just very greasy and uncomfortable.
I also suffered horrendous breakout on my face even though it is meant for combination skin. I then applied it onto my neck and chest and my neck suffered horrendous breakouts of small little red bumps. I resorted to use it as my foot cream.
There was no scent to it and the texture felt rather mild but I am very very disappointed with this moisturizer with the skin reaction it caused.
I also tried the Rare-Earth Oatmeal Milk Facial Cleanser. This cleanser did quite a poor job in cleansing my skin. It does not lather up and it felt like rubbing face with water. My face did not feel cleaner, softer nor smoother.
After using this cleanser, my face still felt heavy and caked with the day’s sunscreen and face makeup. Will never use this again.
The Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado was the worst of the lot. I suffered horrendous breakout around the EYE AREA !!!! That proofs it was definitely the product’s problem not my occasional skin breakout problem. With just one thin layer of this product applied around my eye area, the next day I woke up to fierce red spots around my eye area.
I was so horrified. Tried some on my neck the next day to see if it was that “potent” and God, I had red spots around my necks too. This is now my elbow and knee cream.
I must give it credit though; because after initial dab of this product around my eye area, it brightened up. Perhaps it has something to do with the yellow-greenish color for brightening effect around the eyes. But it wasn’t a permanent result.
I reckon this eye cream is way too creamy and too thick for the eye area. Even during winter it appeared so greasy around the eye area.
I am suspecting the high level of shea butter in this product contributed to the flaming red bumps.
The Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner on the other hand wasn’t half as bad with the rest. However, due to the bad experience with the rest of the products; I decided to discontinue using this product. Used it on my legs after shaving instead.
Even though this product claims that it is alcohol-free; it reeked of alcohol when I used it. It felt nothing special just a regular average toner. I did not suffer any discomfort or tight tingling sensation of this product.
I am put off with Kiehl’s continuous disappointing claims with their products. Or perhaps I am allergic to their products in general. I found out that most of their products contain high level of oils. Apricot Kernel oil, Almond oil, Avocado Oil, Corn Oil, etc. My face cannot tolerate rosehip oil; hence I am guessing these oil are the main culprits.
