The preferred skincare rotation of my choice changes with the season. During the colder months my rather dry skin, aside from the T-zone, is looking for some extra moisturizing products. So I have been on the hunt lately to give a few new products a try to see if they can meet my current season skincare needs. Aside from looking for a moisturizing hero, I also jumped on the retinol bandwagon to see if I can be convinced too. After a few weeks of using all of these new products, the verdict is here. Let us have a closer look to see which products should find a way to your bathroom cabinet too.
First up is a new winter favorite from Aesop. Most of you know: I am no stranger with the Aesop product range. In terms of skincare products, there are still a lot of products that I haven’t tested yet though. For the harsh and cold winter winds, I don’t mind applying a thick moisturizer that is going to keep my skin hydrated throughout the day. The Camellia Nut Facial Hydrating Cream has been able to fulfil this wish. I got a warning from the Aesop employee when I was testing it out in store: this one is really thick so it might not be the best for all skin types. Knowing my own skin type, I thought it would be okay though. This potent Aesop moisturizer is quite thick from the moment you apply it. But it does sink in your skin rather quickly, so there is no need to worry about having some heavy layer of moisturizer sitting on your face if you apply a modest amount. It feels really nourishing and protective. Naturally, it comes with a great earthy smell as you expect from an Aesop product. I will happily continue to use this moisturizer for the colder months, but will most likely stop using it if we are getting closer to +15 degrees during the day. If you are heading into a colder season, I would recommend giving this moisturizer a try if it fits with your skin type as well.
Next up is the Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum from Kiehl’s. It is the first time that I am using anything from Kiehl’s, so it is an introduction to the brand as well. Retinol has been getting a lot of media attention over the last few years, and I feel that I am currently at a great age to give it a try too. With great reviews online, I was keen on trying it out too. For people new to using retinol, it is recommended to slowly integrate it into your routine. Starting with 2 to 3 times a week and followed by a good amount of SPF the day after when you go outside. I respected this recommendation and have been building up the usage of the retinol cream. I would say that a single pump is not enough for my face, so two pumps give me a royal amount to spread evenly across my face and neck. I did notice a little bit of flakiness around the tip of my nose and my chin after a week, but nothing crazy. Ever since, I have seen minor improvements in terms of the reduction of small lines. Whether it is going to make a major change to your skin, I do not know as of yet. But I will be happy to continue using it and giving it more time to see the effect on my skin. If the packaging is anything to go by, it should be great because the product itself looks pretty and premium!
Lastly, I have been testing the Super Multi-Corrective Cream from Kiehl’s as well. I got a tiny 7ml tester to see whether I want to invest in a full-sized product in the future. For me, this cream is a great follow-up product to the retinol cream in my nighttime routine. Where the retinol cream sinks into the skin immediately, this cream is really rich, creamy and sits on your skin for a bit. It smells like lavender and you can feel your skin tingling a bit after applying. It is a great little treat to your skin before heading to bed. Not just because of the smell, but also because of its moisturizing qualities. I cannot fairly judge what the effect of this particular cream is as I am always using it in combination with the retinol product. But the two together do form a great duo after using my cleanser. I wake up looking fresh and hydrated after using both of these products so they do have some effect. Will I go for the bigger size too? Time will tell if I am truly convinced on its added value. But for now, I am happy to continue using both products. If you are curious whether any of the Kiehl’s anti-aging products work for you, I would recommend getting some trial set with a few of their minis before splurging on the full-size products.