I was clearing out my skincare products over last weekend, tossing out expired products and rearranging the ones I am using most regularly. Have you done so? If you haven’t, it’s a good idea to take stock once in a while, especially if you have a few opened products. Sometimes, products may expire before you realize it as I learnt to my detriment. A nice cream looked like curdled milk so even though it smelt ok, I wasn’t putting it anywhere near my face 😛
It was then that I realized that I’m about halfway through bottle #2 of my Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate! The dark bottle makes it hard to notice the dropping levels. It’s been about 2 years now since its been out ans as you can tell, it lasts and lasts… Have you used it? Here’s a few ways I like to use the MRC – one of the very few staples in my skincare routine 🙂
There are a couple of ways I use the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate serum I thought I’d share:-
- Mixed with Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum to give skin a glow. This is a recipe I discovered one day (I shared it here) and I use it daily or weekly depending on feel dull I feel my skin looks. If you’ve tried this, I’d love to hear what you think 🙂
- Mixed with moisturizer. I sometimes add 2-3 drops into moisturizer. It helps thin out thick creams and my skin handles it better then. Or even if it does nothing, it smells soothing and good!
- Used together with the Kiehl’s Line Reducing Concentrate. I never did review the Line Reducing Concentrate and I have just a tiny bit left. It really is quite a good product. My skin looks and feels smoother and firmer and although I don’t have prominent lines, I can tell its smoother. Used with the MRC, I find the effects even better, because the MRC helps me with the moisture and acts as a booster serum.
- On its own. When I first used it back in 2010, I thought it was great for a glow and all that. I don’t see as miraculous results anymore. Maybe it’s already at the optimum, or maybe my skin isn’t as bad as it was back then 😉 but I love how it smells and I like using it, so I just do whenever I feel like it. Just 2-3 drops in your palm, inhale the relaxing scent and then pat on your skin. Maybe it helps, but even if it doesn’t, I’m enjoying it anyway.
So that’s how I’ve been using the MRC these 2 years. You can read my original review 2 years back here. Can’t believe I’ve used up almost 2 bottles since! I still love the scent because I find it soothing and it isn’t bad for my skin so I keep at it as a sort of booster type thing. I don’t see as significant a result anymore but it might just be that my skin isn’t as bad as it was before. Works well so far 🙂
I’m less enamoured about the Midnight Recovery Eye Cream. I said so before and I say so again now. I still maintain I don’t see improvements. Its not bad or anything, but I just can’t see the WOW! factor that I see with the face serum. I’m just not good with using eye creams and this is, for me, just another eye cream 😛
Have you jumped on the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery bandwagon yet? I’d love to know what you think of it. I’ve had people tell me they love it and I’ve had people say they break out or that it does nothing for them. Naturally, it works differently for everyone so share your MRC stories or if you have a special way of using it, I’d love to know too 😀
Paris B
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate Price: RM220/30ml Midnight Recovery Eye Price: RM150/15ml Availability: Kiehl’s counters
I have been using this MRC mixed with Kiehl’s Acai Damage-Repairing Serum for 2-3 times a week for the past 2 months and I am really loving the effect. I do not know if this is the reason but my skin tone looks much more even and calming. Personally, I like this better than the ANR mixture.
Hmm… I wasn’t too thrilled with the Acai range when I tested it, but it sounds amazing now that you mentioned you paired it with MRC! I do think MRC just makes everything a bit better 😀
I’m 3/4 through my first bottle but I’ve recently been using it during the day time (gasp!) as a moisturiser instead of a serum at night and I’m really liking the effect. I find that for whatever reason if used at night for more than 3-4 times a week, I’ll get bumps along my cheeks but using this almost everyday during the day has caused no problems.
I love this – I pair it with the clearly corrective dark spot serum (the clear one) and sometimes use the oil free gel over the top.
I’m sure your face won’t fall off Boogie LOL! The explanation I got for using it at night is to help skin repair as we rest but I don’t see a problem using it in the day too (just make sure a good sunscreen is used all the time!) Its funny how it gives you bumps at night though. But glad you found a use for it nonetheless. I’m going to try the Clearly Corrective serum too. I hear its really good stuff 😀
After reading your tip on combining MRC with ANR, I promptly went out and picked up a bottle of MRC – since I was already using ANR. The combination seems to lead to a really nice feel to the skin. The girl at Kiehl’s said to pat on MRC and not spread it on. Patting on is a bit of a pain. However, with the ANR/MRC combination, I use that as an excuse to take the faster (ahem – lazy) way to apply i.e by spreading. :-). The finale to the face concoction is Clinique’s White Spot Corrector on the dark spots. (Yes – went out and bought that after you reviewed it too!). I also alternate with Pola’s Night Cream. Day time is another smorgasbord of alternating serum/creams from Dior/EL/Sothys. Not sure which item(s) can claim credit but I find my skin’s feeling better now than say 3 years ago.
Hi JK, I’m terribly pleased to know the MRC-ANR combo worked well for you 😀 As for the patting thing, I find it works best when you rub your palms together which warms it up and releases the aroma, then just press your whole palm to your face a few times. No need to do the whole patting like Hada Labo lotion thing 🙂 I like it this way because it is so relaxing! 😀 I too find that my skin is better now that I take better care of it than it was a few years ago. It can only get better from now! 😀
I have a deluxe sample of both, and I’m with you all the way! The eye cream doesn’t really work wonders (I haven’t had any that does, but the name is misleading!), but the oil is lovely! I tend to use it on its own after my toner at night. Streamlines the process and my skin is always soft and radiant the next morning!
Yay High 5! I’m not sold on the eye cream to be honest. It smells nice but is otherwise just too pricey for a product that does nothing 😛 The serum however is really quite something. I’m so hooked on it and its not all that pricey considering it lasts pretty well forever for me! 😀
I’ve tried several night face oils and moisturisers (One of my other favourites being Melvita Sweet Almond Oil) but always come back to this one. I use it as my very last step in my nightly skincare routine (Pre-cleansing, cleansing, toner, serum, serum, face oil, MRC) and I need about 3-4 drops for my dry skin. Any more than that and I might get a clogged pore or two (White ones you can pop in the morning). It’s definitely not as “wow” as when I first used it like you but I find that it maintains my skin the way it is and smells so good and relaxing so am going to continue using it unless something else catches my eye but I doubt for now haha!
I want to try the MRC eye cream but am on the fence about it 😛
Honestly I’m not sold on the MRC eye cream so I’d say its a safe item to pass on. The only thing I took away was that it smells nice because of the lavender scent but that’s about it! The serum/oil is still the key item for me. Less of a Wow now, but at least still looking good 🙂
I’ve been using MRC for about 1.5 years and I’m very happy with the results. Glowy, healthy skin the next day. I can feel the difference between not using MRC and using MRC. Using MRC calms me down and prepare me for the night routine and I drift off to sleep easier because I tend to take deep breaths while using it. I can’t seem to finish a bottle within the 12 months and the remaining stuff turned slightly yellow. With a new bottle now, I use two drops on my face, two on my neck and décolleté, followed by my moisturizer and acne treatment. Although the price tag is high in sg, I buy it from Nordstrom which is about 2/3 the price and it can last for the entire year. Which boils down to 5SGD per month.
I’m going to try using clarins treatment oil next when I’m done with my brand new MRC.
Thanks for sharing your experience Kay 🙂 I have to agree with you on the calming qualities. Its a great way to get ready for bed. I didn’t notice any change in colour in mine but I might follow you and start using it all over. No harm after all (plus we use it up before it goes off! 😉 ) I tried the Clarins Lotus oil too but it wasn’t as wow. I do like the smell though – its more lemongrass and herby spa like 🙂
Wow, this got me really interested in MRC! It costs a fortune here in the Philippines so I’m really thinking hard if I should buy it.
Its quite expensive for an initial investment but it will last a long long while. Do try to see if the store can give samples. Kiehl’s are usually very generous with their samples 🙂
Hiya Paris 🙂 After reading your previous reviews on MRC, I got the sample and tried using on its own as well as mixing with ANR. While the smell of MRC is quite soothing in the beginning, after a while, it seemed to smell stale on me 🙁 I did not have enough supply from the sample to see any signficant effect but I do think that my skin feels softer the next morning. I was toggling with the idea of getting it at KLIA during my last trip. Kiehl’s at KLIA is slightly cheaper compared to downtown. I got the Rare Earth masque instead.
Perhaps I’ll revisit MRC another time as I do think it’s a good elixir to my face when combined with the legendary ANR 🙂
Ooh I love the Rare Earth masque. It gives such a nice tingling feel to the skin and cleans out pores a treat! 😀 Sorry to hear the MRC didn’t suit you. That’s the thing about skincare – can’t suit everyone 😉 But at least you have ANR! 😀
I’m a new user of MRC…just a week plus, pair it with ANR as suggested by Paris. I like the scent so much…. Also use my Crabtree & Evelyn lavender shower gel & body lotion at the same time…whole body smell lavender 😛 calm & relax. I find that MRC do help my moisturizer absorbed better. Love it at the moment.
Oh nice! It must be so calming in your bedroom with all the smell of lavender in the air 😀 Glad to know its been working well for you Jesz!
Got a sample of this last month, and started using it last week. I use it as the last step in my skincare routine, replacing my moisturizer. Love how glowy and plump my face is the next morning. However, I also developed a couple of white bumps on my face. I only use 2 drops. So sad…really wanted to love this. 🙁
Aww sorry to hear it didn’t work for you Sze Ling 🙁 But I read of another reader having similar experiences too. Onwards in our search for the holy grail! 😉
I tried out the MRC recently in may after reading your post.
I love the smell as it helps in my sleep. For my face, def more hydrated and fresh the next day and no dry flaks on my cheeks which I used to had on/off for bad skin days.
Thank you for sharing your experience Jennelle! 🙂 Happy it works well for you and I think part of the thrill is in the lovely smell 😀
Me! I am in! I have been using it every night since I got it in my June Bellabox some 4 weeks ago. And my little sample size bottle is only 1/3 down! It really lasts a very, very long time.
I already saw significant improvements after my first night, and from then on, I was just hooked.
In fact, yesterday, I forgot to use it, and I got a fright when I saw myself in the mirror this morning! Really scary. I feel like my face just looks less plump and glowing. I looked sagged, wrinkled, dry… maybe it’s the air-con. But MRC really helps me look healthier and less tired in the morning until I can actually run out the house with just toner when I am sooo in a rush on some days.
Going for the full size, and I don’t think I will ever look back now.
Ooh lovely! I remember seeing pictures of the Bellabox that had the Kiehl’s MRC sample and it was very generous. Glad you are liking it 😀
This was only released in Australia a few months ago – got a sample of both in Melbourne. It’s very nice, but I want to use up some Clinique stuff first. (My cupboards are already full…oops).
Hey Sam, your cupboards are better than poor Mother Hubbard’s! 😉 I couldn’t resist it sorry 😛
I LOVE my Midnight Recovery Concentrate serum! I wrote my very first post about it 🙂 this is also the one product, that I keep going back to when my skin needs loving!
Ah that MRC merits your first blog post is quite something! Look how far you’ve come! 😀
i actually use is as part of my mask ritual. i put a few drops of this + haba labo+clarins essential oil + dermalogica toner. mix them all up. then pop in a paper mask to absorb it up. and plop in on my face….:)
What a great tip! I’m going to try it one day 😀