It’s been a long time since I’ve used anything from Kiehl’s, so it was a nice surprise when they invited me to give their new Ferulic Brew Rejuvenating Face Essence a try. I always remember Kiehl’s putting out nice products, and my husband was really into them at one point when we were dating. There was a soothing eye balm that we both used (this one here) , but today I’m excited to share details on this Essence treatment.
If you’re not familiar with what an essence is, it’s pretty similar to what we’d call a toner, but can be more watery feeling, offer deeper hydration, and can boost the effects of other skincare ingredients. Toners are also used to cleanse the face while an essence is used to leave behind the good stuff on the skin.
Kiehl’s Ferulic Brew Rejuvenating Face Essence claims to boost glow and offer smoother skin in just seven days of use with its potent antioxidant treatment. Ferulic Acid is a key ingredient of this essence and is derived from brassica seeds that have been enriched through a 120-hour brewing process to bring out maximum antioxidant protection power to fight free radical damage. Ferulic acid is a team player when it comes to skincare because it can boost the effects of other antioxidants within the formula. It works to fight signs of premature aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, and unevenness of the skin.
It also includes an AHA in the form of Lactic acid for its hydrating and texture-smoothing abilities. Lactic acid can gently exfoliate the skin imparting a natural glow when revealing newer “fresher” skin from underneath. Lactic acid can kill acne-causing bacteria and is a good choice for those with sensitive skin. Compared to other acids, lactic acid does more of a surface treatment versus a deep peel. As with any acid, you should access your own personal tolerance levels as mine varies from product to product.
They also added plant-based squalane to replenish the skin barrier while offering moisturization. Squalane is an emollient that can soften and smooth the skin. It can also help calm inflammation (like redness) and is recommended for all skin types.
Directions on the bottle say to shake it up a good five times and then splash 5 drops into your hands. Pat into your face five times after cleansing and before any other skincare steps. Five shakes of this bottle does put a lot of liquid into your hand, and the shaking is necessary since you can see there is a bi-phase in the amber bottle.
I do like how my skin instantly feels more hydrated and smooth right after applying. Squalane imparts a unique feel that makes me think of how a dry oil feels, but better. There is a silkiness to it while it feels like your skin took its first drink of water for the day. It’s very reminiscent of Fresh’s Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum but with a dry oil instead.
Because this includes an acid, I made some changes since I was using glycolic pads and a retinol serum. I’ve since stopped the glycolic ( think the two together can cause pH problems) and used Ferulic Brew Rejuvenating Face Essence in its place instead. I noticed I got a little irritation on my right upper cheekbone after a week of straight use so I’ll have to take off a day or to here and there if I plan to continue.
I do enjoy using this product, but my biggest dilemma will be if I like how my skin is versus using a glycolic product. I think I get great results with a combination of glycolics and retinol but time will tell how this will compare. It’s only been a few weeks but I do feel like my skin has a nice glow to it. My skin is healing from a hormonal outbreak so I’m hoping things will begin to really clear this week to give me a better idea of how it will do.
I hope to update you guys in the future!
You can find Kiehls Ferulic Brew Rejuvenating Face Essence only at kiehls.com
This sounds like a wonderful product! Kiehl’s makes so many first rate products!
That bi-phase formula looks so neat!