Shiseido Benefique: Overview

Hello everyone!



As I get older, I have realized my skincare regimen needs to be adjusted accordingly.   I have been using Shiseido's Pureness line since I was 18 years old.  Now 30, I was told that I need to change my skincare to a more anti-aging line. 

Enter Shiseido Benefique.

This system is NOT available at major department stores like the other Shiseido lines.  This one is mainly sold in Japan, and is available at select Shisedo locations. The premise is to prevent aging and work with your skin temperature to get your best skin possible.

The complete set has five components, but all of them do not need to be used twice a day.  There is a foam cleanser, a hot cleanser, lotion, emulsion, and cream.

Foam Cleanser

This is the cleanser that is used twice a day.  You only need a VERY small amount, if your hands and skin are wet it will foam up nicely.  It smells very nice, and it's a very light scent that does not linger.

 

Hot Cleanser

This is the cleanser used at night, before you cleanse with the foam.  It is more oily feeling, it dissolves the makeup and sun cream off of your skin and has a nice heated feeling to it.  I think the premise of the heat is to not only melt the makeup off but also open the pores at night for cleaning.  

Lotions

These lotions (known in America as toner) vary in strength according to your needs, with levels 1-3.  1 being the lightest and 3 being heaviest.  I personally have the level 1 lotion because I have combination skin and I get oily on my T-zone and chin. These smell really nice too and they do not have alcohol (that I am aware of.) It feels refreshing on, but not in an astringent alcohol kind of way. These are used morning and night.

 

 

 

Emulsions

 

 

These are a light moisturizer, liquid in texture, I put this on with a cotton pad. (They make cotton pads for this line as well. I bought a package of them and they're quite nice.)  These come in levels 1-2, 1 being light and 2 being heavier, and I again use level 1.  I put this on my face and neck.

 

 

 

Cotton Pads

These are the "special" cotton pads for this Benefique line.  Are they necessary? I don't know, but I do like them.  The have 2 layers, a pink and a white layer that can split the pad in two.  You can use them as little treatment masks (soaked in emulsion) but what I do is use one side for the lotion and the other for emulsion. They are also very soft. 

Cream

This is the final step of the collection and is done at night. You only need a VERY small amount.  When I use it, I wake up and my face is baby soft.  The website claims "Powerful botanicals, brighteners and new Cellular Solution Technology work in concert to visibly lift facial contours, minimize the appearance of wrinkles, reveal firmer looking skin and impart lustrous luminosity."  My Shiseido lady told me that since I have some dry skin under my eyes (slight fine lines) I could add a tiny bit more of this around there like an eye cream.

I have been using this skincare for a couple of weeks now and I do feel some improvement in my skin.  However, it is NOT cheap (when IS Shiseido cheap?)


I will update again on how my skin is doing, for more information and where to buy this, visit  http://bq.shiseidobenefique.com/index.html

Shiseido Benefique Initial Impression

Hello everyone!

I was shopping at my local Asian marketplace and they have a small Shiseido shop inside.  As you may have noticed, I am a huge, diehard fan of the brand and their products, especially the skincare.  Outside the store, they had a small display with some skincare bottles I had never seen before.  They had a little stand with some brochures in it and I took one.

I read it, and it is a skincare line by Shiseido called Benefique, and the reason that I had never seen it before is that I usually get my Shiseido at big department stores.  This line is primarily Asia-only, and can only be bought at certain shops in the US.

I went back to the store to see if they had any samples, and sure enough, the lady was more than happy to give me some.

Left- Brochure, right- samples

What comes inside the sample booklet

I will be doing an initial review next time after I use the samples.  If I like the samples, I will get the full sized products, use them for a while and do a review.

Have a great day!

3J Aloe Snail Wrinkle Cream

Hello everyone!


It's been a while since I posted, but lately I have tried some new products and had to blog about it!


First on the list- 3J Aloe Snail Wrinkle Cream

This cream is made mainly of aloe and snail slime. Yes. Snail slime.  


Snail slime has actually been used before in cosmetics, it actually has great moisturizing properties, it has hyaluronic acid (a known moisturizer) and it is safe and 100% natural. 


The cream itself is thick, white and slightly sticky in texture. However, when applied to the skin it seems to melt right in.  


The cream takes a while to dry, but once it does, my skin feels baby soft.  Even better (this is also mentioned in the instructions), is when I have put the cream on at bedtime.  In the morning, baby soft skin. 


It says wrinkle cream, but I think even us younger women in our twenties can use it, especially in the winter or when the air is dry. 


It can be purchased at www.nuaveworld.com for $30 USD. 

Photos from Shop MAC Unveiling

As promised- here are some photos I took-

Cocktails were served at the event.

Some of the new products (some were being used on someone at the time)

More new products and some cocktail glasses

She was standing in front of the store greeting people and looking pretty!

Sponges- one of the things they were giving away as freebies.

Photo Advertisement for the new collection

Outside the store- past the first little counter, it was packed!

Shop MAC Unveiling!

Hello everyone!




It's been a while since I last posted, life has been pretty busy with school and stuff.  However, I got invited last week to attend the unveiling of the new Shop MAC collection at my local MAC store. 


The event was very crowded, I took some pictures to show you guys! Having some issues with my camera but I will post pictures from the event ASAP!


Shop MAC is going to be the main 2012 spring collection I believe.  The collection is not up on www.maccosmetics.com just yet. 


I didn't get the chance to buy anything at the event because it was so crowded and insane. However, I have another chance to get some- another MAC counter by me is having a mini event for the same collection and I will be going there on February 12.  This time I actually have an appointment to get some of the new stuff demonstrated on my own face. If I can, I will have the person who does it take my picture when they're finished. 




That's it for now but in the meantime I am working on making videos now that I have a new webcam!

Summer's coming. Is your face ready?

Hello everyone!

It's nearing the end of May, for those of us in the northern half of the planet, this means summer. And summer means being out in the sun!

But we all know that sun damage is one of the leading causes of premature aging and skin cancer.  What a killjoy.  But with developments in science, this can be prevented or lessened, with our good buddy sunblock!

Sunblock (especially on the face) is actually something we should be wearing all year, even on cloudy days. The UVA/UVB rays are still getting in through the clouds.  I have also read that even if you are predominantly indoors, wear your sunscreen on your face especially if you work near windows. Yep, those pesky harmful rays can penetrate glass.

I recently bought my facial sunblock for the summer, switching brands this time.  I normally wear Shiseido suncare on my face, but I wanted to go a little less expensive and a little higher SPF.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock Lotion in SPF 110.

This product can be found at most drug stores for about 14$, and on www.drugstore.com for $9.99. I paid almost 40$ for my Shiseido sunblock in the past.

This product contains helioplex, which is a proprietary blend that screens out the burning UVB rays and helps stop the UVA rays (the rays that age skin) from penetrating.  It also claims to be non-comedogenic (not pore clogging), PABA free, oil-free and non greasy.

So, how did I like it? I do not like it. I love it.   It felt as luxurious as my more expensive sunblocks in my past.  It goes on very smooth, a little goes a long way. It feels like a nice facial moisturizer and in about a  minute, it dries to a soft, velvety, near-invisible matte finish.  I also love how it comes in 110 SPF (I am fair skinned so I need all the help I can get) and for those who don't want or need so much I believe it also comes in 55 SPF.   Here's the part where it gets tricky- the smell. It smells like sunblock, and the smell is a little strong. I don't mind it because it DOES go away for the most part, and the smell is still pleasant.  Also, be careful applying this product around the eye area. If you sweat before the sunblock has dried and you have lotion applied near the skin, it may run and it DOES sting.  The best way to protect the skin around the delicate eye area is to wear sunglasses when you are outdoors during the day /or wear a wide-brimmed hat.

Pros: Feels great on, non greasy, high SPF, not very expensive, good as an everyday sunscreen

Cons: stings eyes, strong smell for some, not very sweatproof

OXY Clinical Acne Treatments

Hello everyone-

I got a sample in the mail the other day of Oxy Clinical, Oxy's latest skin care system.

It came with a small sample of the cleanser and acne treatments, and it looks interesting to me. 

The information provided with it claims that in most cleansers that contain salycilic acid (main ingredient in a lot of acne washes and treatments), the medication washes off when you rinse your face.  Their product, however, claims that at least 80% of the medication stays on the skin after rinsing. Sounds pretty good.  

The treatment's active ingredient is Benzoyl Peroxide, which this product also claims theirs is more long lasting and deeper penetrating than the average benzoyl peroxide treatment.

Does it work? I have yet to test it myself.  Depending on how the samples make my skin feel, I may buy an actual kit and give it a run for its money.  I usually use Shiseido Pureness (which is the only thing to really consistently keep my skin clear, lately I have had the tendency to be blackhead city) so I wonder how the Oxy Clinical, a drugstore brand, compares.

Have any of you guys used this or tried it yet? Comment below if you have!

Have a great Friday and have a great weekend!