Kiss From A Rose — New Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream
When Kiehl’s first released its Rosa Artica Youth Regenerating Cream, a number of customers and beauty critics (myself included) commented that, while the cream did wonders to hydrate the skin, it also felt a bit thick, making it less practical for use on steamy summer days or in climates that are warm or humid year-long. I personally decided to restrict my use of the moisturizer to the fall and winter seasons since, in the summer, it left me feeling balmy, as if my skin were being stifled. When the winter chill sets in and my skin is so dry it practically aches, the Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Cream gives me the surge of hydration I so desire. But, until then, I was forced to rely on other moisturizer alternatives — that is, until mid-September, when the Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream ($60 for 1.7 oz. at Kiehls.com and Nordstrom.com) was launched.
Like its predecessor, the Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream relies on the hydrating and vitality-boosting properties of the Haberlea Rhodopensis, also known as the “resurrection plant”or “Orpheus flower,” a member of the violet family that was discovered in Bulgaria’s Rhodopes Mountains and which some believe to be 10,000 years old. What makes this plant so special is its ability to survive in even the harshest climates thanks to an innate system that allows it to minimize water loss while maintaining its cellular structure, thereby withstanding long periods of drought. In fact, this plant has been known to survive up to 31 months during a dry-out cycle. What Kiehl’s researchers discovered was that, as the plant entered the anabiosis period (coming back to life, in essence, after a long near-herniation), it can be applied to skin and trigger some similar reactions therein, essentially giving the skin a hydration boost, strengthening its barrier function so as to prevent moisture loss, and stimulating cellular turnover, leading to more vibrant-looking skin.
Other ingredients in the Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream include :a vitamin E derivitive that works to fend off free radicals; glycerin, which functions as am emollient and makes skin appear smoother; adenosine, a nucleoside that occurs when a molecule of the purine derivative adenine is attached to a ribose sugar molecule, which plays a role in cellular energy transfer and is believed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; and white birch, which can help the water retain hyaluronic acid and thereby retain proper moisture levels.
Though it was developed specifically for normal to oily skin types that felt the original Rosa Arctica cream was a bit too heavy, I have typically dry skin and I still much prefer the Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream. Whereas the original cream left me feeling like I was wearing a mask of sorts, this one is more readily absorbed by my skin so that, after moisturizing, my complexion feels weightless but is still so well hydrated that I can go all day without feeling dry, itchy, achy, or anything of the sort. Also, this lighter formulation lets my skin breathe better, so that there’s less probability of clogged pores, breakouts, and any other unfortunate side effects of a too-heavy cream.
