Kiehl’s expands its popular Calendula skincare line

AMERICAN PREMIUM skin care and cosmetics retailer, Kiehl’s, has added a new item to its popular Calendula line — a five-minute gel mask said to soothe and refresh the skin, making it the perfect pick-me-up product, according to a company representative.

“Our customers have been asking us for the Calendula extension — for a Caledula cream or moisturizer — and [since] we have a very good line of moisturizers, we looked into how we can enhance the power of the Calendula petal,” Patrick Liew, Asia Pacific retail and education director of Kiehl’s told during the product’s launch in late June in Bonifacio Global City Taguig.

He added that the Calendula flower, a part of the Marigold family characterized by yelloworange leaves, is usually used in the West to soothe the skin with the petals which have “anti-inflammatory, soothing and, anti-bacterial properties.”

The Calendula line — introduced in the 1960s — until recently was made up of just the facial wash and the toner, with the toner being one of the company’s best-selling products. As many customers have asked for an additional skin care product, Kiehl’s decided to create a gel mask.

“We wanted to make a product that would be far more effective than a moisturizer,” said Mr. Liew of the decision.

Kiehl’s sources its Calendula flowers from Egypt and India as the flowers need a lot of sun. Due to their delicate nature, each petal is hand-picked and the flowers are harvested only once every June.

While a press statement states that the mask can be used three times a week, Mr. Liew suggested that one may actually use it every day to pamper one’s skin after a hard day’s work.

It is suggested that the product be applied after using the Calendula facial wash. After applying a thin layer of the mask on the skin, leave it on for five minutes then wash it off. Then use the toner.

“But it’s so gentle you can opt not to wash it off and go straight to toning,” said Mr. Liew.

Despite its moisturizing properties ( the flower petals are encased in an aloe vera base), Mr. Liew suggested one should still use a moisturizer to seal the nutrients in.

The Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask comes in two sizes: a 28 ml (P1,150) bottle which is perfect for traveling, and a 100 ml bottle (P2,950) which can last the user up to three months if used daily according to Mr. Liew.

Aside from Calendula, the mask also contains chamomile and lemon essential oils to add a “soothing, fresh aroma,” said the press statement.

The Calendula mask is available at all Kiehl’s branches (Greenbelt 5, Mall of Asia, Alabang Town Center, TriNoma, Powerplant Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, SM Aura, Ayala Center Cebu, SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall, and SM Makati). For more information, visit facebook.com/

KiehlsPhilippines. — Z.B. Chua