| Review | Kevyn Aucoin The Neo-Elixir Weightless Beauty Oil
As someone with dry skin, I am a oil advocate! I just drench myself in oils but during the day, that isn't exactly realistic. Oils breakdown makeup and even a dry-skinned gal like myself doesn't want that to happen. Finding an oil that work well with or under makeup can be a challenge, which is why I am so thankful to Kevyn Aucoin and Octoly for sending me this oil for review purposes.
The Kevyn Aucoin Neo-Elixir Weightless Beauty Oil retails for $52.00 USD and is available at Sephora and other retailers. This tri-phase oil is elegantly packaged in a simple glass bottle with a soft pink label. The oil comes with a dropper applicator to achieve control distribution of the product.
Kevyn Aucoin claims that this is the first ever tri-phase liquid oil, intended to primer, highlight, and hydrate. It certainly is a very intriguing oil and I have yet to find another one that is tri-phase and you can see the three layers when the product is settled. Of course prior to using the product, you should shake very well to infuse the layers into one product. The product does separate quite quickly, so if you want to go back in for more, you need to shake the product again. When you mix all the ingredients together it creates a very unusual looking oil that seems almost gel-like in the bottle but actually has a light oil consistency.
What are the three layers?
I can only surmise based on the full ingredients list what may be in each layer of the product. Let's take a look at the full ingredients list here:
INGREDIENTS: RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, WATER / AQUA / EAU, SQUALANE, CAPRYLYL METHICONE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) EXTRACT, SODIUM CHLORIDE, TETRASODIUM EDTA, HONOKIOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, MICA, DENDROBIUM PHALAENOPSIS FLOWER EXTRACT, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, TOCOPHEROL, ALNUS FIRMIFOLIA FRUIT EXTRACT, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TIN OXIDE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), RED 40 (CI 16035), VIOLET 2 (CI 60925)
TOP
Since oil is typically the lightest and least dense, it is safe to assume the top most layer is the oil. Also, you can see the oil bubbles floating near the surface. Through my research, I believe this top most layer contains Squalane oil because it is very lightweight and has a low density, making it float to the top. I can see why this oil is so weightless and non-greasy because of the fusion of lightweight oils, like Squalane keep it from becoming too rich.
MIDDLE
The middle portion seems to be some sort of mica and glycerin mixture that can suspend itself in the middle of the other layers. Glycerin is a kind of viscous gel-like texture and the seemed to mix it with very fine shimmering mica to add a bit of glow to the product. The Glycerin is a great addition to help retain moisture, working with the oil to make the skin soft and supple, and enhancing penetration of the oils.
The middle portion seems to be some sort of mica and glycerin mixture that can suspend itself in the middle of the other layers. Glycerin is a kind of viscous gel-like texture and the seemed to mix it with very fine shimmering mica to add a bit of glow to the product. The Glycerin is a great addition to help retain moisture, working with the oil to make the skin soft and supple, and enhancing penetration of the oils.
BOTTOM
The bottom portion seems to be more oil but a heavier and richer oil, which is why it sits at the bottom of the bottle. I believe this oil is Castor oil because it is an extremely rich and heavy oil. Although it is incredibly rich, Castor oil actually absorbs into the skin without clogging pores! So while it provides a ton of moisture, it is still light enough to penetrate the skin and not just sit on top of it.
The bottom portion seems to be more oil but a heavier and richer oil, which is why it sits at the bottom of the bottle. I believe this oil is Castor oil because it is an extremely rich and heavy oil. Although it is incredibly rich, Castor oil actually absorbs into the skin without clogging pores! So while it provides a ton of moisture, it is still light enough to penetrate the skin and not just sit on top of it.
Let's take a look at the product's intended functions. This product is meant to:
PRIME
I think this product makes a beautiful primer for normal to dry skin types! It really helps hydrate and maintain hydration throughout the day. It also provides a really beautiful glow underneath your makeup. You really don't need much 3- 5 drops will suffice for the entire face. I usually drop some into the palm of my hands, rub them together, and press the product into my face. The fine shimmers offer a very beautiful and subtle glow, in addition to the oil's glow!
What I actually like doing with this oil is creating a "no-makeup makeup look". If I have the time, I like to use a sheet mask first to get my skin in really great condition, since I won't be putting much of a base on at all. Placing this product lightly all over as my hydrating and glowing base, and focusing a bit more on my cheekbones for a highlight. Then I take something light, like my Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid (check out my review here), I spot conceal and cover redness or little imperfections. I used my Armani Neo Nude products for a touch of blush, highlight, and contour (full reviews here), it creates the ultimate super-natural glossy and hydrated skin look!
HIGHLIGHT
This product can be used on it's own as a highlighter, as it has very fine bits of shimmer throughout it but it will be quite subtle and most of the glow will come from the oil itself, making it more of a glossy glow. I have always wanted to try the popular Asian trend of "glass skin" but was never really sure how to truly achieve that naturally glossy texture and finish. This product is PERFECT for this trend! It creates a very naturally subtle glow of naturally healthy and super-hydrated skin, which is what this trend is all about! I was skeptical about using an oil for a highlighter but with minimal base on, it makes the most incredible looking "glass-skin" effect! Try it out!
For those looking for a little more bling, it can also be mixed with Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting, which I don't own but I do own the Marc Jacobs Dew Drops (reviews for the shade Dew You here and the shade Coconut Fantasy here) which is a similar gel-based liquid illuminator. The oil doesn't mix very well with the gel-based highlighter, it seems to create globs of product, the oil and gel aren't really compatible in formula, so they just kind of move around each other. I was able to apply them both "mixed" with a beauty sponge and it actually created a beautifully glossy highlight!
This product can be used on it's own as a highlighter, as it has very fine bits of shimmer throughout it but it will be quite subtle and most of the glow will come from the oil itself, making it more of a glossy glow. I have always wanted to try the popular Asian trend of "glass skin" but was never really sure how to truly achieve that naturally glossy texture and finish. This product is PERFECT for this trend! It creates a very naturally subtle glow of naturally healthy and super-hydrated skin, which is what this trend is all about! I was skeptical about using an oil for a highlighter but with minimal base on, it makes the most incredible looking "glass-skin" effect! Try it out!
For those looking for a little more bling, it can also be mixed with Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting, which I don't own but I do own the Marc Jacobs Dew Drops (reviews for the shade Dew You here and the shade Coconut Fantasy here) which is a similar gel-based liquid illuminator. The oil doesn't mix very well with the gel-based highlighter, it seems to create globs of product, the oil and gel aren't really compatible in formula, so they just kind of move around each other. I was able to apply them both "mixed" with a beauty sponge and it actually created a beautifully glossy highlight!
HYDRATE
This one is a given, of course it's going to hydrate, the formula is two-thirds oil. I find this tri-phase oil to be very cool because it is unlike any oil I have ever used before! It provides a lot of moisture, I recommend using only about 3-5 drops for the entire face, depending on your skin type. It really provides long term moisture because of all the oils and ingredients that help retain moisture. I find that my skin feels very hydrated, soft, and supple while and after I use this product. I think this product is ideal for normal to dry skin types, I think oily skin types may find this product a bit too heavy. However, I think all skin types can benefit from mixing it in with their bases.
Below, I used the Beauty Oil as a Primer and as a Highlight. I also used NO FOUNDATION, I just spot covered with a very light coverage concealer.
MIXER
This is probably the most common use of a beauty oil is to mix it into foundations for hydration and a glow. It also helps make thicker and heavier foundations easier to apply and makes them look much more natural. This product is intended to be paired with Kevyn Aucoin's famous Sensual Skin Enhancer Concealer Foundation, which is a super thick and pigmented cream that can be used as concealer or foundation. Because it is so thick and pigmented, you are supposed to dilute the product with some kind or oil, moisturizer, or primer to make it into a workable foundation. I don't own the Sensual Skin Enhancer so I took my most full coverage and thick foundation, the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer (which is very similar) and mixed it with the Neo-Elixir Weightless Beauty Oil. It really helped this foundation move on the skin and sit very nicely on the skin. It also offered a very healthy and naturally glow, like a dewy foundation, even though typically the finish is more of a satin/matte. It didn't make my foundation feel greasy or overly emollient, it just gave my foundation a really nice texture.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Beauty oils have been all the rage in the past couple years with Instagram blowing up with videos of people dripping them all over their face, prior to makeup application. This one isn't highly spoken about and it's a shame because it is an AMAZING product! Now, I do think it is limited to those with normal to dry skin types but it really is versatile and looks beautiful on the skin. Also, of course it provides skincare benefits and hydration! I think the tri-phase formula is something truly unique, instead of something gimmicky or something they created for looks, however it does look beautiful! I think the best use of this product is as a highlighter or a primer for a really natural and very light coverage base because when the oil shines through, it creates this amazing "glass skin" effect that I have not been able to achieve with any other product before! It really makes my skin look naturally healthy, glowing, and fresh! It offers this glow and plumpness to my skin but doesn't feel too heavy or greasy for daytime wear!
Beauty oils have been all the rage in the past couple years with Instagram blowing up with videos of people dripping them all over their face, prior to makeup application. This one isn't highly spoken about and it's a shame because it is an AMAZING product! Now, I do think it is limited to those with normal to dry skin types but it really is versatile and looks beautiful on the skin. Also, of course it provides skincare benefits and hydration! I think the tri-phase formula is something truly unique, instead of something gimmicky or something they created for looks, however it does look beautiful! I think the best use of this product is as a highlighter or a primer for a really natural and very light coverage base because when the oil shines through, it creates this amazing "glass skin" effect that I have not been able to achieve with any other product before! It really makes my skin look naturally healthy, glowing, and fresh! It offers this glow and plumpness to my skin but doesn't feel too heavy or greasy for daytime wear!
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