Kiehls

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate review: Just buy sunscreen instead

Is this high-end serum all it's cracked up to be? My dad doesn't think it's worth the splurge.

Last fall, I attended the grand opening of the first Nordstrom in NYC, and snagged a bunch of Kiehl’s goodies for free. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate was the smallest sample of the bunch. It came in a miniscule, 0.14-oz. glass vial with a dropper. When I went home and looked it up, I understood why the bottle was so tiny. This stuff is expensive. Are you curious to see if it lives up to its price tag? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and ask my dad if…

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser review

This fragrance-free face wash has a pretty basic formula, so probably not worth the premium price point.

When my skin is flipping out, I pare down my routine to just the basics: face wash, sunscreen (during the daytime), and moisturizer. Absolutely no fragrances or acids—just the plainest possible versions of everything I can find. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser was my face wash of choice last time I overdid it on a clay mask and my skin protested with dry, red, blotchy patches.

The best NYC skincare shopping destinations

Whether you're living in NYC or just visiting, here are some of my favorite places to shop for skincare products.

Whenever I travel, I love getting a glimpse of local life by visiting a neighborhood grocery store or pharmacy. Everything looks exotic—even regular things like crackers, bar soap, and cough drops. The other day, I realized that I’m living in a city that hosts tons of brick-and-mortar shopping destinations that should interest locals and tourists alike. In fact, SoHo has become a hotbed for many online-first companies like Casper, Warby Parker, Everlane, and Cuyana—all of these companies…