Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review

3.4/5 - (10 votes)

Hello People! I have had enough of the sun, heat and pollution playing havoc on my skin! It is rather exasperating to stand in front of the mirror and wonder what to do about the blackheads, sun spots and dullness. So when I was handed a sample of the freshly-launched Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque by the salesperson at the Kiehl’s store, I was excited enough to put it to test the same night. Two consecutive nights on use had convinced me enough to want to try a full sized packaging of the product. What did it do to me? Well, new-looking skin, for starters! Here is the detailed report card..Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review.

Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review

Claims for Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque

Kiehl’s is known for infusing the power of the finest ingredients into their formulations to create effective skincare products with proven benefits to skin that often go on to become best-selling favourites. The brand is also built on a culture of results with a strong R&D team focused on developing clinically safe efficacious products that protect and nourish skin. In fact, Kiehl’s is so committed, satisfaction is guaranteed.

So, the Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque is a protective facial masque that defends and replenishes skin to help reduce the visible effects of pollution.

Formulated with Cilantro and Orange Extract, this treatment masque helps skin feel strengthened against environmental aggressors while helping to prevent impurities from adhering to skin. With continued use, dull, unhealthy looking skin is renewed, radiant and protected.

Benefits

The Cilantro & Orange Extract mask is a protective and replenishing wipe-off and leave on mask, that is targeted to protect skin from pollutants and external aggressions and to leave you with radiant skin. The texture of this mask is of a smooth, thick cream, and it leaves a visible green cast on the skin when applied. It defends against impurities and environmental aggressors. It reduces the visible effects of pollution such as dullness, to leave the skin radiant and renewed.

Ingredients

The main ingredients are Aqua/Water, Propanediol, Butyrospemum Parkii Butter/Shea Butter, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arginine, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil/Apricot Kernel Oil, Lauroyl Lysine, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Oil/ Olive Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Squalane, Neohesperidin Dihydrochalcone, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Oil/Coriander Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract/Sugar Cane Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water/Orange Fruit Water, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract/Lemon Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil/Lavender Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil/Peppermint Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil/Rice Bran Oil, Acer Saccharum Extract/Sugar Maple Extract, CI 77288/Chromium Oxide Greens, Linalool, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil/Sunflower Seed Oil, Phytic Acid, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol, Citric Acid. Fmla 685699 F.I.L. Code D178150/1. Orange Extract (Neohesperidin DC) is derived from the dried young fruit of the Citrus Aurantium, also known as the Bitter Orange. These are sourced from the Mediterranean, South and Central America. Chosen because it’s a strong anti-oxidant, ability to stimulate the production of essential skin barrier proteins and ability to disrupt the oxidation process. Sourced from Eastern Europe, the cilantro seed oil is rich in petroselinic acid which encourages the regeneration and repair of skin after pollution damage. The mask is rich in kaolin clay. China clay — also known as kaolin — is a very effective oil absorber made up of a hydrated silicate of aluminium. And while it’s well known for its dirt-pulling properties, it’s considered gentle enough for sensitive skin, and has been shown in studies to be non-irritating. Most masks made for oily skin will include only ingredients like kaolin clay. While that’s great for absorbing oil, it can also leave skin parched, and hence trigger more oil production. That’s where this-generation masks beat out the masks of yore: Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque also contains hydrators in the form of xanthan gum, to keep skin from triggering reflexive oil production. The Vitamin C in the mask is good for brightening the skin.

Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review ingredients

How to Use

Apply a thin but visibly green layer on the skin after all your skincare at night, wait 10 minutes, wipe off excess and go to sleep without washing off – this is how use is recommended.

Price

Rs. 1350/- for 28ml.

In Detail Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review and My Experience

The Cilantro & Orange Extract mask is a leave on mask – just like a sleeping mask and it is strongly recommended to wear a good sunscreen when using this product as it has AHA that acts as a chemical exfoliant.

Texture wise, it is a smooth and creamy pistachio-coloured paste with the consistency of a face gel-cum-cream. Since this is a hydrating masque, I am very happy with the consistency. I do experience a very cooling sensation on my skin when the mask is on. It feels so very refreshing ladies! There is no tingling effect, just the cooling effect which soothes the skin. The masque is decently priced, smells good and most importantly, leaves my skin feeling and looking good. It adheres to skin very well, making it easy to go about doing my chores, work or just lazing around. No worries there about mess.

Admittedly, the Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque is a great multi-tasking masque because there’s just so many ways you can use it. Whether it’s as a substitute for night cream as a sleeping masque or as an instant facial that will have your skin protected and set for the rest of the day. If you want to stretch your dollar, this is the masque to get. I didn’t experience any tightness or dryness after applying it. It does tingle a bit on your face – but this is not a discomfort. The mask is more of a creamy mask with excellent moisturizing properties, with a variety of both emollients and humectants. This would be pretty great for someone with dry skin. And, for those who love plant-derived ingredients, this product contains tons of them at very high percentages – the third ingredient of the mask is Shea Butter, and there are a variety of other plant oils and extracts. This has worked very well for my sensitive skin that prone to breakouts, as it helps to calm skin. The very emollient properties of this product would help to form a barrier against transepidermal water loss (or, just water being lost through the skin), which means that for those in dry climates, or those with dry skins, would see an improvement with this product. The AHA in the product is especially beneficial in tackling breakouts – but this also makes the skin sensitive to the sun. So it is extremely important to use extra sunscreen when you are using this product. In the day, when you’re more likely to be exposed to the sun and UV rays, it won’t be advisable to have this on your skin.

Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review MBF

How I Use it

I put a thin layer of this mask on after waiting a good 5 minutes for the night serum to get in my skin. I then waited 7 minutes to tissue off residue, and left a thin layer on the skin to work overnight as instructed. The mask felt cool and soothing when I applied it, and tingled a bit, but in a good way! It felt like the product was getting into my skin and uplifting dirt. I also use two other ways to apply this mask at least thrice a week. I apply a thin but visibly green layer to the skin after all your skincare routine, but just before moisturiser so this replaces the moisturiser step, and go to sleep. Alternately, I sometimes apply a slightly thicker layer of mask to the skin after cleansing, wait about 30 minutes, then rinse off.

Effects

The Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque tingles slightly when you first apply it, but it absorbs quickly and I sometimes just leave it on without wiping it off with a tissue – especially in the night.

When I woke up in the morning, my skin looked clear, fresh, and tight. I even noticed that the very fine lines are nearly gone. My skin tone is even and glowing. I woke up feeling like my face was plump and hydrated, yet also firm! It looked lovely and bright as well, reducing my ‘here and there’ pimples. I sprayed my face with toner water, let it sink in for about 30 seconds, and took a cotton ball over my face as I do every morning.. and to my surprise, a TON of dirt came off! After washing it off, I felt the pores were getting clearer and refreshing! After using it for a fortnight consecutively, three times per week, I can see my skin is brighter and acne marks are much lighter! The masque does do a good job of brightening and intensely hydrating your skin in just 5 minutes. My face was super soft, deeply hydrated and noticeably brighter.

More Photos and Swatches

Kiehl's Cilantro Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Mask Review

Kiehl's Cilantro Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review

Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque

Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review on face

Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Mask Review

Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review swatch

Pros of Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque

• Effective in the long run
• Ease of application
• Multitasks as a night cream

Cons of Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque

• I don’t mind the texture, but sometimes I feel like it is too heavy with all my other skincare products applied.
• Strong-ish scent of cilantro (dhania or coriander)

MBF Advises

We were told by the sales staff at the Kiehl’s store that if you like an extra cooling sensation, you can stick your jar in the fridge before using it. And yes, you MUST use a sunscreen!

MBF Rating

5/5

10 thoughts on “Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque Review”

    • Thank you Jhanvi 🙂 I don’t think it is that pricey – a little goes a long way – the 25ml tub will last you nearly 2-3 months. After the first fortnight, you will probably want to use it just once a week…do try it out – I am sure Kiehl’s representatives will let you have a sample before you spend money on a full-sized jar. And trust me, the sample lasted for two used and I was hooked enough to buy the full-size 😉

      Reply
    • Thank you Sangeeta G 🙂 Don’t mean to hard-sell it, but Rs.1,350​/-​ for 28ml and Rs.2,950​/-​ for 75ml is not bad at all…Bearing in mind various other luxury brands. This one at least packs in the biggest bang for the buck

      Reply
  1. Thanks a lot for this review.That was such a detailed and lovely review.I am gonna try this product for sure.As per your review I am more than excited to try it out.It is decently priced too.Thanks for sharing dear.

    Reply

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