Kiehl’s Energizing Radiance & Pollutant Defending Masques

If you use Kiehl’s products you won’t need an introduction here. Kiehl’s just seem to keep bringing out consistently good products, one of my current favourites being the Daily Reviving Concentrate. I’ve been testing out their latest mask products, one of which is pollutant defending and the other an energizing radiance mask. I’ve been testing these out for the last month and they have easily became my favourite masks to use. I normally like a simple hydrating mask and these couldn’t be more different from what I’ve used before in a mask product.

First up Kiehls’s Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque £28. This one is designed with dull skin in mind and they say this product works as an “instant facial”. It helps improve the overall look of skin and the cranberry seeds gently exfoliate for a brighter complexion, as well as having high levels of fatty acids and antioxidants. Turmeric extract originates from the ginger family and is often used in Chinese medicine, additionally it’s also been used for centuries as a natural cleanser to detox the skin from impurities and is known to have antioxidant, anti-septic and sebum balancing properties. As well as improve skin’s radiance.

I absolutely loved this mask. I normally use an exfoliator and then a mask, but the cranberry seeds lightly exfoliate so there’s no need to worry about exfoliating too much if say you have the day before. It has a pleasant smell and feels really nice on the skin. You apply this to your face in a visible layer and then leave it for 5-10 minutes, I always seem to leave it for 10 minutes for optimum benefit and also because I end up doing a million others things whilst I leave it on. You then wash it off with warm water and in circular motion to exfoliate. I really noticed a difference after using this even for the first time, my skin looked brighter and the next day it just looked radiant.

The next one is the Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Masque £28. There are quite a lot of pollution products emerging and Kiehl’s masque is definitely one I’d recommend investing in. Dr. Jean Krutmann, Director of the Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine states that, “More recently….studies suggest that pollution is also affecting skin integrity”. Pollution can cause visible skin damage, dark spots and wrinkles and reduced barrier function as well as premature ageing. I must admit pollution is not something I have considered when looking for skin care, but now I am more aware of it, I definitely will.

Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque has 3 levels of protection and treatment against the damaging effects of pollution. It protects the skin from UV-induced peroxidation and oxidative stress and also has demonstrated ability to strengthen the skin’s barrier from smoke-induced sebum oxidation and in technical terms stimulates the skin’s natural production of essential skin barrier proteins such as filaggrin and transglutaminase. This mask is recommended for night use, 2-3 times a week, leave for 5 minutes and tissue off, pat in excess and leave to work overnight.

Unlike the Turmeric & Cranberry Masque it’s hard to tell results of this one right away but the clinical studies behind it really support the claims, so I’m looking forward to using this one more and I am going to add it into my skincare routine as I don’t have a product like this at all. Living in London pollution is a major concern and so I definitely want to continue using this.