A review of Kiehls Helsinki experience & samples

(This not a sponsored review, Kiehls/Stockmann has no idea I did this review)

Me and my friend Sini were browsing around in Helsinki's famous department store called Stockmann. Right next to the doors on the cosmetic isle, we noticed a new counter: Helena Rubinstein had moved to other side of the isle, and Kiehls has taken the hot spot.
Sini told me that she read from Stockmann's magazinge, that you could ask for a free skin consultasion and get free samples. Well, being a CIDESCO-, SKY -cosmetologist myself, I said that she could do it, but I wouldn't, since I felt kind of embarrassed. Then greed took over me, and we both sat in the chairs, ready to be "examined".

I think the Kiehl's counter looked very nice, and fits to their ideology

Sini! :D

Now lets just take a minute to notice: L'Oreal owns Kiehls. Knowing that, I was super sceptical about the products, I was quite sure they'd be full of bad ingredients. I also was sure, that I'd feel like I have to buy products, since I'd get this free consultation done.

Never jugde a book by its cover!

The lady who was our salesperson was so sweet! It was an absolute pleasure to be her customer. Sadly, I didn't remember to ask her name though.

The examination itself was super simple: our salesperson took small blotting papers and measured how much seborrhea our skin produced in forehead and cheeck area. So, my testresult was correct: I have combination skin.

Then, the salesperson asked us about our skincare routine. At this point, I just had to admit that I'm a cosmetologist myself. That was a great move actually, because after that she talked to me like a  professional to a professional. Sini also understood everything since she knows pretty much all there is to be known about cosmetics and their ingredients.
So, it was awesome to get to see the ingredients of the products and talk about them with our salesperson.

We both got five samples each, a "Return your empties" -card, and a pamflet that told us about Kiehls' history and principles, which our salesperson had also mentioned.

Yay for being eco-friendly and being rewarded!

Overall my experience with Kiehls was positive! I didn't feel like I had to buy their products at the end of the consultation, rather I felt that I actually can try out their products and if I like them, I'll come back to buy them. This consulation took about fifteen minutes, since we blabbed so much. I would highly recommend you to check out the Kiehls counter in Stockmann and ask for a free consulation.

My samples:

Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner

Ingredients: Aqua / Water / Eau, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Disodium Edta, Arctium Lappa Extract / Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract / Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis / Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Allantoin, Hedera Helix Extract - Ivy Leaf/Stem Extract, Althaea Officinalis / Althaea Officinalis Root Extract. 

Nahh, this was nothing special. The sample lasted me two uses, and it was ok. I just want a toner that smells nice, this toner didn't have any scent. Thumbs up for this toner not containing alcohol.

Activated Sun Protector (ultra light sunscreen for body)

Ingredients: Aqua / Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isohexadecane, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Titanium Dioxide, Nylon-12, Zea Mays Starch / Corn Starch, Alcohol Denat., Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Peg-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Synthetic Wax, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Triticum Monococcum Seed Extract.

Hmm, just another body sunscreen, honestly this is nothing special. It has SPF 50, which is something I actually don't like. I have read quite a bit about the debate wether higher SPFs reflect back the sun's UV-radiation, and I prefer using SPF 20 to 30, just to play it safe.

Ultra Light Daily UV Defense (for face)

Ingredients: Water, Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone, dimethicone, isododecane, styrene/acrylates coplymer, propanediol, silica, isononyl osononanoate, inulin lauryl carbamate, nylon-12, caprylyl methicone, sucrose tristearate, lycium barbarum fruit extract, tocopherol, hydrolyzed triticum monococcum seed extract, phenoxyethanol, stearyl alcohol, PEG-8 laurate, triethanolamine, polymethyl methacrylate, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/steareth-25 methacrylate crosspolymer, dimethiconol, xantham gum, disodium EDTA, glycerin

Did't really fall in love with this sample... It didn't make me break  out, but if I rubbed my face, the sunscreen just rolled off. I won't purchase the full size.

Midnight Recovery Concentrate (elixir)

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil / Evening Primrose Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil / Jojoba Seed Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Oil / Coriander Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil / Lavender Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil / Rosemary Leaf Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Cucumis Sativus Extract / Cucumber Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Extract / Turmeric Root Extract, Limonene, Citral, Sclareolide, Rosa Spp / Rose Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Extract / Jasmine Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil / Sunflower Seed Oil.

This little guy lasted for four days! It was such a lovely elixir, but take a look at the ingredients - it's mostly coconut oil! I feel like it'd be so much cheaper just to use coconut oil itself, so I don't feel like purchasing the full size, not at the moment at least. It's kind of pricy, and now that it's summer I try to stay away from oils. This elixir/oil however was very light and I know it has such a huge fanbase in beauty community. The biggest reason I won't purchase the full size is the fact that it doesn't have any scent to it. That might be a plus if you have sensitive skin, but if I'll pay over 40€ for an oil, I'd like it to smell luxorious.

Midnight Recovery Eye (Cream)

Ingredients: Aqua / Water / Eau, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil / Sunflower Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil / Jojoba Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil / Apricot Kernel Oil, Squalane, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Oenothera Biennis Oil / Evening Primrose Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter / Shea Butter, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Ruscus Aculeatus Extract / Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis / Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil / Lavender Oil, Adenosine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil / Rosemary Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citronellol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Cucumis Sativus Extract / Cucumber Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Extract / Turmeric Root Extract, Sclareolide, Rosa Spp / Rose Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Extract / Jasmine Extract.

I absolutely fell in love with this product! It has no parabens or mineral oils in it, and the ingredients are an awesome concoction of moisturizing agents. My under-eye area is very dry and finally I've found eye cream that is thick enough for it! :) I'm so happy and will definately buy a full size one. 

This small packet sample lasted for three uses! 

Thanks so much for reading!

xoxo Pauliina