What: A two-step system with an oil & ‘activating mist’.
For: Mature or prematurely aging skin, dry skin, or just skin in need of a dose of goodness!
Review: Describing itself as ‘exquisite’ and ‘rejuvenating’, my expectations of the Kimia Facial System were very high before I even opened the box. Thankfully, Kimia seems to be one of those rare brands that actually delivers on its promises.
The Kimia System is a two step process: the first is the Kimia Exquisite All Natural Face Oil, which is a lovely rich serum, and the second step is the Hydra-Activator, which is a fancy way of saying spray. The people at Kimia tell me that “…the facial system is a two stage process because the activator acts to accelerate and increase the uptake of the highly active facial oil. This is to allow a number of things - firstly an increase in the beneficial effects of the product, secondly to allow the application of make up straight after application which in turn allows today’s modern woman to treat, nourish and repair the skin while fitting in with fast pace of modern life.” The instructions say to spray the activator onto your hands and then to rub it into the face, but I find it much easier to just spray the product directly onto my face and massage it in with the oil. The recommended ‘dosage’ is six drops of oil & six sprays, but this is customisable depending on whether your skin is feeling particularly oily or dry.
After using my skin feels incredibly hydrated and has an instant glow. The products are quickly absorbed into skin and leave a silky, smooth finish - not greasy in the slightest, and makeup sits very nicely on top. I tend to use it mainly at night (sunscreen is really the only product I use during the day), and I wake up with fine lines plumped up and generally healthy & younger looking skin. I am especially nuts about the oil as it has this fabulous retro floral scent that reminds me of my grandma - I’m not sure what the fragrance is exactly, but it’s just lovely. Whenever I use this my boyfriend says I smell like a hotel (which is a good thing, FYI). This is definitely my product of choice when I’ve been burning the candle at both ends and need to look fresh, and the great thing is that the results are almost instantaneous as I can see a marked difference after just one use.
I am generally a big fan of facial oils, and if you’re in the market for a luxurious & pampering treat then this is definitely the product for you. It is expensive, but I think it would last a very long time given that you only need to use a few drops/sprays per application. I’ve been using mine quite religiously and the bottles still look completely full.
Clean creds: All natural ingredients, paraben free.
Verdict: I’ve had quite a few requests for product recommendations for aging skin, and so far Kimia is the recommendation I’m prepared to highlight, bold and underline. If it’s out of your price range then Rosehip Oil is a good alternative - but if you can afford to splash out, or have a birthday coming up, Kimia is an excellent investment for your skin.
Buy it here
*This product was sent to me as a PR sample.
What: Decadent, luxurious, divine smelling face oil.
For: All skin types - particularly skin that needs some love & attention.
Review: Okay, first of all, let’s talk about the price. This is a pretty expensive little bottle of oil, not the kind of thing you pick up on a whim during your lunch break along with a felafel wrap. But with the festive season sneaking up on us, it might be something to pop on to your wish list (highlighted and underlined). Because, true to its name, it really is a luxury face oil - from the moment you open the bottle and get the heady hit of jasmine fragrance, to the first drop of oil melting into your skin, every second with this bottle feels special.
Olio Lusso is made from a blend of 11 essential oils derived from flowers and botanicals - if you don’t like floral scents then you should probably stop reading now, because it smells like someone has punched you in the face with a florist shop. Personally, I absolutely love the fragrance - it smells deliciously summery and sexy thanks to the big hit of jasmine oil.
I only need to use 2 or 3 drops to cover my entire face comfortably, and it imparts instant velvetiness to the skin (my spell check is telling me that ‘velvetiness’ is not a word, but I think it definitely should be). As I’ve mentioned before, my skin can be very reactive and acne prone but this oil has left it balanced with no breakouts in sight. Skin looks luminous and plump upon application, and the overall condition of skin seems to improve with repeated use. As Linda Rodin, the creator, describes it: “When you put it on, in French it’s called ‘bien-être’ which means a sense of well-being. It feels good, it smells good and you feel kind of dewy. Not greasy, not shiny, just kind of alive.” I couldn’t agree more with Ms Rodin, and think she has created a truly beautiful product.
Clean creds: Made from a blend of chemical-free essential oils.
Verdict: Beg, borrow or steal (or just ask Santa really really nicely) to get your hands on this bottle of goodness. Highly recommended.
Buy it here
This product was sent to me as a PR sample
What: Deliciously scented cream for hands.
For: Non-greasy moisture.
Review: WARNING: You WILL want to eat your hands after using this hand cream. It is the most delectably scented product I have ever used and I am tempted to have a nibble of my palm every time I put it on. It has the freshness of a punchy citrus scent with the sweetness & warmth of vanilla… and yes, I am drooling as I write this!
I find that this is the perfect hand cream to keep on my desk at work, as it provides a good level of hydration - sinks in quickly, leaves no greasy residue (no slopping over keyboards here!) and the fragrance is a wonderful mid-afternoon pick-me-up. I wouldn’t recommend it for super dry hands, but it’s very nice for medium-level hydration and for keeping hands soft & smooth. Along with the scent, I’m also a little bit in love with the packaging, which has a very cool vintage apothecary style. I’ve been using the tube but it is also available in a pump dispenser, and I think this would look beautiful in a bathroom or on your bedside table (all products also come in lovely boxes, so it would make a gorgeous gift!).
Verdict: My new favourite hand cream. But don’t blame me when you find yourself licking your fingers after use…
Buy it here (Australians, the full Grown range is also available at Priceline)
*This product was sent to me as a PR sample.
What: Darphin Organic Chamomile Aromatic Care for sensitive skin
For: All skin types, but it works very well on my wintery dry skin that has been breaking out recently.
How: Five ‘dabs’ applied at night. I find this is more than enough to hydrate skin, and generally don’t use any moisturiser on top of the serum.
Result: Skin feels hydrated, nourished & glowy, and hasn’t caused any break outs (in fact, seems to speed healing of blemishes).
The Verdict: 9.5/10 (half a point taken off for the price [$98 for 15ml]- otherwise this is pretty much perfect!)
