Recently, I was blessed to have the opportunity to travel to New York City to meet the Kiehl’s team, hear more about what they’re working on, and get a facial from their new brand ambassador, celebrity esthetician Shamara Bondaroff of SB Skin (www.sbskin-nyc.com). I was delighted to try new products, learn about Kiehl’s, and reaffirm my love for microcurrent treatments!
In case you’re unfamiliar (and haven’t seen my posts on instagram about NuFace), microcurrent is a practice that goes back about 100 years, with roots in medicine. It’s frequently used in physical therapy, as well as to treat Bell’s palsy. Basically, two pieces of metal are placed on the skin, and a conducting gel is used to pass low-voltage electricity through the skin and deep into the muscle tissues. This tones facial muscles and re-trains them to work in a way that gives a more youthful appearance, diminishing the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s like fitness for your face.
Microcurrents tone facial muscles and re-train them to work in a way that gives a more youthful appearance, diminishing the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles.
The process also not only increases the production of collagen and elastin, which are two things our bodies produce that help our skin look and feel taut, but it also creates a higher-quality collagen and elastin than we produce without microcurrent. I have been loving my at-home microcurrent device, the NuFace, so it was an even more special treat to get a professional microcurrent treatment from someone who’s well-known for it. The clinical versions are much more powerful, even though both are absolutely painless, and actually quite relaxing, and you see the results within minutes.
In addition to the fabulous treatment, Shamara educated me on ways I can elevate my skincare regimen for even better results, which is where some of my favorite new Kiehl’s products come in, and I am so excited to share them with you!
One of my favorites (which I’ve been using every day since getting back) is the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. It has avocado oil, beta carotene, and shea butter, so it is packed with emollient qualities and vitamins to moisturize the under-eye area, and is specially formulated so that it doesn’t migrate into your eyes. I’ve been loving using it as the conductor with my NuFace ELE attachment, in place of their gel, because another benefit of microcurrent is that it facilitates better and deeper absorption of your skincare products.
When I arrived from my flight at midnight, I was so exhausted, I could barely see straight. As you know, flying can often lead to dry skin. The Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask was waiting for me when I arrived, and was an absolute lifesaver. I put it on before I went to bed, and the Fountain Plant, Glacial Glycoprotein Extract, and Desert Plant Extract all went to work while I slept, and I woke up with moisturized skin that felt amazing!
The next day, the Ultra Facial Cream was fantastic. It’s a perfect moisturizer for everyday, especially in the Winter season. It’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores, and it also doesn’t leave a film on the surface of your skin. It’s clean, simple, and incredibly effective.
The Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask is an old cult favorite, and for good reason. It is perfect for deep-cleaning areas that are congested and prone to breakouts, like the T-Zone (nose, forehead, and chin) and also is very helpful as a spot treatment on acne breakout areas.
Before my trip, I was intrigued by CBD oil, but a little intimidated and afraid to try it. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to learn more about this powerhouse ingredient and its benefits, because I now believe that everyone should be incorporating it into their skincare routines! Kiehl’s Cannabis Sativa Oil Herbal Concentrate is a wonderful tool to decrease inflammation from allergies and air pollution and mitigate their ability to cause random breakouts, especially for people with sensitive skin like me. It’s great for calming flaky, red skin as well, thanks to the cannabis sativa seed oil that is from cold-pressed hemp seeds. Even though it’s an oil, it’s also non-comedogenic, so great for anyone with problem skin.
Kiehl’s Cannabis Sativa Oil Herbal Concentrate is a wonderful tool to decrease inflammation from allergies and air pollution and mitigate their ability to cause random breakouts, especially for people with sensitive skin like me.
Another highlight of my trip was having breakfast with the Kiehl’s team, and learning more about the company in general, especially their stance and actions on a cause that is dear to my heart – environmental sustainability.
Not only are they making a strong effort to use more sustainable packaging in their products and PR packages for influencers, but they are also scheduling days where instead of working, their employees will all go out and engage in activities that have a positive impact on our environment, like planting trees together. It is so encouraging to learn about a brand that is willing to allocate precious resources, both their staff’s time as well as the funding to purchase trees or use more environmentally-friendly materials and packaging to be in line with their priorities.
I hope that you found this information on microcurrent and Kiehl’s products helpful, and that you’re able to find a way to incorporate either or both into your personal beauty routine. I look forward to sharing more of what I learn on this journey to help other feel great in their skin, and make skincare as self-care a priority.
