My Kiehl's Skincare Consultation

If you follow me on Twitter then you probably know I like to complain. A LOT.

I am bit of a stickler for customer service considering I worked in it for so many years, and while I do think it's important to complain about bad service, I also think it's important to applaud good customer service too.

The other day whilst out with the lovely Sophia from Tattooed Tea Lady I received such exceptional service I had to share my experience.

We was in Liberty and I mentioned how much I wanted the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, so Sophia encouraged me to have one of the Kiehl's free skincare consultations that comes with samples.

The Kiehl's consultant asked me what I was currently using and if I had any areas of concern or anything in my routine that I would like to change.

After the initial discussion she then placed some pads on my face that showed the oil levels of my skin. That part was very interesting because although I suspected my skin was dry it's always nice to have someone else confirm your beliefs.

After the talk through my skin care routine the consultant then went on to tell me about products that she thought would enhance my skin care routine, and this was more about adding certain products to my routine that would benefit me, rather than completely changing all my current skin care items for Kiehl's products. 

This is something that I found very encouraging, there is nothing worse then a pushy sales assistant who will try to get you to completely over haul your skincare products using only their brand.

The consultant clearly knew the Kiehl's products very well, and she also knew quite a lot about other brands including some of the ones that I use which is great as she clearly knows the skincare market well. She never bashed any other brand either or said that Kiehl's would be better, which I have seen some other assistants do and it's really off putting. 

The products she recommended for me was the Midnight Recovery Concentrate (great because I wanted to try this anyway) and the Midnight Recovery Eye because I currently use the same skincare products in the morning as I do in the evening and these products will be good additions to help with my dry skin.

She also recommended the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado because I told her I wasn't satisfied with my current eye cream. 

I also received a couple of samples of the new Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque, which I am excited to try as I have been thinking of picking up the Origins masque.  The other samples I received where of the Cucumber Herbal Alchol Free Toner and the Ultra Facial Cleanser.

I left feeling confident in the knowledge of the products recommended to me and excited to try them out, I also left feeling incredibly confident in the consultants skin care knowledge.

The whole consultation experience was lovely because it gave me a one to one chance to find out about Kiehl's as a brand and the products, and believe me, I asked a lot of questions, most of them probably really stupid. Not once did I feel pressured to buy anything. 

If you are near a Kiehl's stand or store definitely go for one of these consultations, they are so informative and interesting, and most importantly free! 

I know I will definitely be picking up the two eye creams and Midnight Recovery Concentrate with my next pay check. And probably the masque too...

I will also be emailing Kiehl's about the amazing customer service I received as I have the name of the women who served me, customer service this good deserves to be rewarded, so if you receive great customer service in the future, be sure to tell the company!

Have you used Kiehl's before? I'm new to the brand and so excited to try it!

Skin Care Superstar - Aesop Parsley Seed Masque

My second entry into my Skin Care Superstar series is the Aesop Parsley Seed Masque, which has quickly become one of my favourite masks.

This is what Aesop say about it:

A clay-based masque to deeply cleanse and refresh most skin types.

This blend of premium clays and botanicals lifts deep-seated impurities, imparting wholly clarified and refreshed skin. Parsley Seed extracts deliver potent anti-oxidants while other botanical elements cleanse and revive skin.

It is definitely a great cleansing mask and my skin feels very clean and purified after use.

I have tried other clay masks before, and they often leave my skin feeling rather tight and dry afterwards, but I experience none of that discomfort with the Aesop mask so I think this mask would be fine to use even if you have more dry skin.

Even after the first use I noticed that my pores where smaller, and my skin just looked so much clearer and even in tone, and since using it regularly I haven't been getting the odd spot like I used to.

I have been using this at least once a week for the past 3 months and still have a fair bit left in the tube, which is good because it's not the cheapest of masks! 

I think this works really well in conjunction with my Alpha H Liquid Gold at making my pores smaller and having less black heads, something that I think most people like to see from their skin care.

Definitely check this mask out if you are after a good cleansing mask.

Haul!

OK I admit, I have a shopping addiction, but as long as I share what I have got in a post that makes it OK right? Anyway, here are some bits I have picked up in the last few weeks.

First up is the Antipodes H2O Intensive Skin - Plumping Serum.

I have been obsessed with skin care recently, and my current moisturiser isn't cutting it in the cold, harsh weather we seem to be having recently.

Originally I was looking for a night cream, but I saw this when browsing in Zest Pharmacy (amazing pharmacy with lots of great beauty brands in Soho), I thought it looked interesting and I have never tried anything from Antipodes and I've never tried a serum either so I thought this would be a good way to try out both those things at once.

I'll still keep my eye out for a nice night cream, but hopefully this will keep me going until then.

Next up is my Diptyque candle.

I got the scent Opopanax after spending ages sniffing it in Liberty.

I know it seems ridiculous spending that much on a candle, but it is a luxury and I totally believe in the aromatherapy benefits. I got a Ambre Diptyque candle a couple of weeks ago and it really does uplift and relax me after a hard day at work, and personally I don't think you can put a price on something that can affect your mood so positively. 

Unfortunately I now have a cold so I can't describe the scent, but it is in the woodsy family, which is the same family as Ambre so I have high hopes for this candle too. 

Finally we have a few bits from Pixi.

I went in there looking for the Glow Tonic after Caroline Hirons from Beauty Mouth raved about it, but due to her praises the Glow Tonic had run out.

Not wanting to leave empty handed I decided to check out the rest of the skin care range.

I am currently using a Alpha H moisturiser that I'm not crazy, but it is nearly run out so I decided to get a moisturiser to replace it.

The sales assistant tried some of the Face Shield on my hand, and I fell in love. It felt lovely and soft, is unscented and has SPF in it so I decided to go for it.

I was then told that the skin care was buy one get one free, bargain!

After a bit of debating I decided to go for the Quick Fix Face Mask, a mask to perk up your skin and only needs to be left on for 3 minute, I thought it would be great for mornings when I'm not looking my best (or I'm hungover).

I also picked up a nail polish that isn't pictured as it was a gift for someone, but for getting 3 products I got a free eyeshadow palette.

They had 3 palettes but I went for the Pretty Punk palette because it has some nice smokey colours.

So I got, a face mask, face moisturiser, nail polish and eyeshadow palette for £32, not bad! 

I promise not to buy anymore skin care before Christmas....

Sunday Pampering

On Sundays the only time I leave my house is to go to a family members house for a traditional Sunday Roast at lunch time.

To stop me from feeling so lazy and disgusting I treat myself to some pampering, it also gets me prepared for the dreaded monday morning! 

I start with the triple threat face mask. This is largely inspired by Vivianna Does Make Up.

I start off with the Aesop Parsley seed mask to cleanse and purify my skin, followed by the REN Glycolatic mask to exfoliate my skin, and finish with the Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask, I only apply a thin layer of this and leave it on for the rest of the day.

Next up is the hair pampering.

I start with Lush Fair Trade Honey shampoo. This shampoo gives me incredible shine, however it is very light weight and not moisturising enough, so I only use it when I am going out, or on Sundays when I use it with a hair mask, which will give me the moisture I need.

The hair mask I use is Kérastase Nutritive Masquintense Cheveux Epais Treatment for Dry Hair, as the ends of my hair still have a bit of bleaching from being dip dyed. I also have long hair that has been dyed and I use heat styling so this is the perfect hair mask for me. 

And lastly, we have the body products.

In the shower I like to use Philosophy shower gels as they do lots of gorgeous bakery scents and they don't dry out my skin. I am currently using Vanilla Birthday Cake which smells delicious.

I exfoliate my skin using Soap & Glory Sugar Crush. This is actually now discontinued, but my mum loved it so much she bought loads of back ups when she heard it was going. It smells like old school lemon soap and is just a great gritty exfoliater, I hate scrubs where its just tiny beads suspended in liquid!

I finish off by moisturising my skin. I normally prefer the thicker body butter type moisturisers, but I got this Burt's Bees body lotion in a grab bag. It is Milk & Honey so smells gorgeous, a bit like Lush Mange Too if anyone has ever tried that. It's also very light and runny, but actually sinks into my skin quickly without leaving me feeling sticky.

So there you have what I do on a Sunday! I feel like a million bucks, well maybe not that good, but pretty good afterwards.