Quickie Review: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye

Hi, everyone! Happy weekend! So, I'm not one to typically construct posts in the "one large artsy photo followed by lots of text" sort of format, as I'm usually all about tons of demonstrative shots and really breaking things down. But some products aren't so amenable to an onslaught of photos and are better featured via a brief, yet love-filled little ode. Such is the case with this wonderful little eye cream, so here we go!

I was perusing the Kiehl's counter in Holt Renfrew a few weeks back, pondering what possible gaps existed in my current skin care routine. I realized that an eye cream staple was seriously lacking in my lineup, so I focused my unmoisturized peepers on their rather extensive selection of eye treatments. I considered my specific needs, recalling that for the past few months my 30+ years on this earth has begun to materialize via some fine lines around my eyes that look rather like the ridges on a dehydrated piece of fruit. Not cute! Now I'm not delusional. I know I'm not contending with any profound signs of aging, but I figured that tackling nature's earliest artifacts of the fact that I was born the year Thriller ruled the charts would be a wise move. I explained my plight to the sales associate and she briskly directed me to this little navy tube of goodness.
 
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye aims to restore the eye area via diminishing the look of fine lines, reducing puffiness, and targeting dark circles. Much like its wildly popular line-mate Midnight Recovery Concentrate, it features several essential oils and botanical ingredients like evening primrose and lavender to hydrate and revive skin. It also includes Butcher's Broom, an evergreen that is supposed to target circulation and inflammation. It is a thick, custard-coloured cream with an incredibly rich but completely non-greasy sort of texture.
 
Let's just say this eye cream was not love at first swipe. Unlike other eye treatments I've used, this does very little, if almost nothing, to immediately improve the look and feel of your eye area. No reflective light particles, no cooling sensation, no tightening, brightening, or highlighting. The finish is rather velvety and matte, which can actually leave things looking a bit flat initially. Despite my anticlimactic first use, the lovely lavender scent and my overall love of Kiehl's drove me to persist. Plus, I've always been skeptical of eye creams that give a lot of instant dazzle-- I usually judge such products to be all style and no substance, and I was hoping that Midnight Recovery Eye would not fall into this camp.

And boy, was I right! What this eye cream lacks in flash is totally made up for in results. I've been using it regularly for two weeks now and I can genuinely say that the fine lines around my eyes are much less visible. Things are generally looking smoother, brighter, plumper, and less like I've entered the fourth decade of my life (geez). Despite the notable scent and concoction of plant oils, this has not irritated my eyes in the slightest and has not led to any breakouts or clogging. Truly, no complaints!

Overall, I'm right smitten with this eye cream. While it doesn't provide instant gratification, it has led to some quite visible results in only a couple weeks' time. At $40 CAD, it's neither a bargain nor an incredible splurge, and has been completely worth the price tag in my books so far. This is the first time that an eye cream has edged its way into my daily routine, so that's saying a lot!

Have you tried any Kiehl's eye products? What's your go-to eye cream?

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend! xo