You Can Now Create Your Own Custom Facial Serum With Kiehl's

By Adele Chan

At a time when consumers are more savvy, educated, and finnicky, the beauty brands have to continually innovate to stay relevant. I had the chance to experience one historical brand take its award-winning formulas to another level — personalisation. 

At this year’s Kiehl’s World Day in New York, I was introduced to the brand’s Apothecary Preparations. It’s not a particularly new product because Google tells me it has been available in the US for a year — but it’s new to Asia and is finally making its way to Singapore. It is basically a customised serum; it starts off with a consulation with a trained Kiehl’s advisor who will identify the customer’s skin type, and skin concerns.
 

 
This is followed by a prescription of two potent “complexes” that are mixed into a bottled concentrate; with a label printed out, pasted on, and the final bottle packaged into a box. It almost looks like medicine, but that’s actually the appeal of this product. It pays homage to Kiehl’s origins as a pharmacy, where prescriptions were the norm, and it was all about addressing health needs and concerns. Today, Kiehl’s focus isn’t too far off; it’s about the health of our skin.

There are five “targeted complexes” to choose from, and they each address the following concerns: wrinkles, texture, clarity, enlarged pores or redness. I chose to focus on clarity (for my sun spots) and pores (they can never appear too small). The “skin strengthening concentrate” that forms the base of the serum has an oil texture that actually feels silky rather than oily on the skin, and more importantly, it spreads well and absorbs quickly into the skin.
I’ve been using my prescription once a day since I received it at the end of March; it’s now been just over two months and I truly do like my personalised serum. Nothing bad has happened to my skin; there have been no unfavourable reactions, and in fact, I actually find that the skincare I use after this serum also absorbs better into the skin. So far, all good things.

Kiehl’s does claim that this potion is suitable for sensitive skin as well, but like any new skincare that we try, I’d recommend a patch test. Do note though, the individual complexes are said to be extremely potent on their own without the base concentrate, so the brand warns us not to apply them directly to the skin. Want to find out more? Check out their US website at kiehls.com/apothecary-preparations.

Photos from my trip to the Kiehl’s flagship in New York; and meeting with the lovely Cammie Cannella, VP of Education and Customer Experience Worldwide, Kiehl’s.

DID YOU KNOW that Kiehl’s is also known for their generous sampling? They encourage customers to try before they buy!

Kiehl’s Apothecary Preparations Set, $155. Available only at Kiehl’s at TANGS at Tang Plaza (Tangs Orchard Level 1) and Kiehl’s Takashimaya (Ngee Ann City #B1-33) from September 2017. kiehls.com.sg.