The Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector blurs imperfections while treating them.

I have some soft spot for Kiehl's products. They have fairly good stuff ranging from facial to haircare and baby products, and the first time they came to Malaysia, I thought they scored top marks in the service of their beauty consultants. I used many of their products before to treat acne and congestion while I super love their shampoos as they work at a fraction of the price compared to those luxury salon brands. So, when the folks at Kiehl's asked me if I was interested to test out their new Micro-Blur Skin Perfector, it was an offer I couldn't resist.

As stated clearly on its packaging, it is supposed to blur out imperfections so that skin looks perfect. At least, that was how I expected it based on its name :)

With Lipo Hydroxy Acid, Bark and Lentil Extracts, the product claims to smooth skin while reducing the appearance of pores over time.

According to Kiehl's, the common global issue of women everywhere is pores. And that, caught my attention because I do have enlarged pores on my cheeks and at times, the pores on my forehead becomes visible like nobody's business.

Regardless of age, a lot of women are unhappy about the appearance of open pores and most likely, these women are either in the mature age or that they have oily skin. In most cases, it's both. 

"Pores and imperfections become more prominent as skin is exposed to daily aggressors throughout the day, resulting in a rough and uneven texture. With these customer needs in mind, Kiehl’s chemists created an innovative new solution that instantly smoothes skin, providing a ‘soft-focus,’ more uniform appearance while delivering lasting skin-perfecting benefits," said the brand in a statement.

Frankly, I've tried many products aimed at blurring imperfections and they are usually meant to be used as a primer, before putting on concealer/foundation. I've not come across one that also acts as skincare. I was intrigued at the claim that with consistent use, the product will improve skin texture and quality, over time. 

I must say I love the packaging. Kiehl's packaging is always minimalistic but with the feel of quality. The Micro-Blur Skin Perfector comes in 30ml plastic squeezable tube which is so cute and small. I especially like the snap on cap which is very convenient to use as the tube is so small, you can just flip it open with your thumb while you squeeze out the product and snap it close. Hence, retaining its freshness and minimising the risk of oxidation as you can snap the product close immediately.

As you can see, the product comes out jelly like with a slight tint. Not to worry though as the tint seem to disappear the moment you apply the product. Notice my wrinkly slightly-aging skin.

And this is a photo without filter. Notice how the lines on the part of my hand which I've applied the product, are totally blurred almost to a perfectly smooth texture? I say, this product is awesome.

Of course, with any products that claim to "blur" out lines or pores, one must wonder if it contains heavy traces of silicone. And lo and behold... the product does. It is packed with all sorts of silicones and Dimethicone appears as the number 1, top of the chart, ingredient. Sigh. I was wary of it but for the love of curiosity of all things beauty and in the name of Kiehl's, I relented. I must try it because this product is applied as the last step of your skincare regime.

As I was cautious of the silicone contents, I first used it only under makeup. Right after application, the skin feels so fresh and cool. The product actually contain some kind of cooling properties and the skin feels revived almost instantly. I quite like that cool feeling.

The product is meant to be applied last which means that if you're using sunblock or BB cream, it is supposed to be applied after those layers. It is formulated to be used during the day but it can also be used at night. For me, since it contains silicones, I preferred not to pack pore-clogging factors before bed so that I can wake up with a fresh looking skin. But, I did try it out for 3 nights because pore-clogging ingredients would usually show me negative reactions within 3 days. I guess I had high hopes for the LHA (Lipo Hydroxy Acid) content that's supposed to give skin gentle exfoliation. Well, let's just say, silicone is not really my best friend.

Their clinical tests show very good results to the consumers, where more than 85% saw improvements in their skin tone, texture and less oiliness. I wouldn't really discount those results because I know a lot of women who can tolerate silicone products. For me, my skin is just selective - I can tolerate silicone in SPF, primers and foundations as they act as a barrier of protection for my skin on top of the many layers of toner, serum and moisturiser. 

The product is light-weight and water-based so you hardly feel anything. In fact, though it contains heavy traces of silicone, I didn't feel like the skin was suffocating. The skin truly appreciate that cool feeling it provides and that feeling lasts quite a bit. I haven't really seen improvements in the appearance of pores (I've been using it for the recommended 4 weeks) but I did notice some improvements in my skin texture. However, I am also using some awesome products currently and this product may have helped contribute to the improvements when combined. I also did notice that immediate "blurring" effect upon application and didn't make my skin dry after removing it at the end of the day.

The Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector retails at RM110 for the 30ml tube. 

Were you aware of this new product from Kiehl's?