Getting into Routine with Shiseido Ibuki
Posted on Monday, March 28, 2016
As I am (ugh) halfway through my swinging 20s, I've been pondering about where to even begin to take my skincare regime to a higher level. Before this, I've been getting away with just washing my face daily with a cheapo drugstore cleanser and exfoliating it once a week.
So, while this is a much overdue post, I've been lucky to receive skin care goodies from Shiseido's Ibuki Range last month, which I have been using ever since!
Ibuki, which means "inner strength" in Japanese, and was first launched in 2013 to include a cleanser, moisturisers, a softener and eye cream. The products are specially targeted to combat the daily stresses that we busy women face to suit our hectic lifestyle (e.g. always being in air-con environments, lack of sleep).
This year, Shiseido has launched two new products to include the the Ibuki line - the Beauty Sleeping Mask and the Quick Fix Mist.
All the Ibuki products have a very clean scent which is oddly reassuring and familiar, like the kind my mother used to put on before she slept. The newly launched Shiseido Ibuki Sleeping Mask ($60.00) is as the name suggests, for overnight use. The product comes with a little spatula to keep things extra hygienic during application and the gel beads which melt overnight do not feel rough or abrasive as I rub it on, in fact, I hardly felt them at all!
I found that my skin looked dewy upon immediate application, and woke up with my skin feeling very refreshed and well-rested. After a month of usage, I find that I prefer to use this product once to twice a week - i t's like a little reward which I pull out of my drawer whenever I have a stressful day to power-up my skin.
Also a new launch, the Shiseido Ibuki Quick Fix Mist (S$45.00) is a refreshing gel mist that helps to visibly correct shine, dehydration and day worn stresses of dry-skin (me!!!) On first look, I love the colour of the bottle as looking at it and feeling it in my hands already makes me feel the freshness that the product promises. The unique design of the bottle which is flat on one side makes it easy to grip during application, in which I recommend holding it an arm's length away while spraying it as the jet is quite strong, haha. Had a few scares, but kinda got used to it.
After trying this product, I find that it serves as a good pick me up to use daily while at work or out and about. After spraying, I usually still have to dab it into my face, but it doesn't mess my make-up up. I love that it has the signature Ibuki scent and that it wakes me up instantly and makes my complexion look dewy! It's light, so I can even use it 2-3 times a day, but I would say that this is more of an add on for short-term boost and you should use it as a supplement to your skincare routine.
The Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser (S$43.00), promises to be extra gentle (of course). Upon using it, the cleanser lathers up into a thick foam, which was a pleasant surprise, and once again, smells super clean and fresh.
The product is said to remove impurities and harmful excess sebum without stripping away skin's essential moisture. Personally when I use it and rinse my face, there will still be flakes of skin left behind which I assume are my dead skin cells / impurities. That said, I prefer to use this cleanser 3-4 times a week makes me happy and pleased that the cleanser is doing its job of stripping away the dirt. I always add on a dollop of moisturiser after as well to replenish my skin!
The Shiseido Ibuki Softening Concentrate (S$50.00) is meant to be worn after the Gentle Cleanser but before Moisturising. This product has moisturising effects as well, it serves more as base to prep for the moisturisers. To me, this is an added luxury for those of you who really want to pamper your skin! I found that my skin felt less tight after application, but it is a little sticky so I prefer to wear it at night rather than in the day time before going out. Hence, for busy days this is one of the first I shamefully skip in my routine, but at night time when it's time to relax, this is a definite go!
The liquid is clear and quite runny, so apply it to your palm or a cotton pad before pressing the pump! (Had the issue of everything running everywhere initially, haha).
The Shiseido Ibuki Protective Moisturizer ($66.00), which is meant for the day time is super light and not sticky as the product absorbs quickly into my skin, almost as if I am not wearing an additional layer of product on my skin. Two pumps are more than enough for me, though personally I do not use this as much since I noticed that the ingredient list mentions that it contains alcohol and I have dry skin, but if you have oily skin I would say this is not an issue.
I still find my skin soft and smooth after application and after a month I would say that it does the moisturising job fine coupled with the other Ibuki products like the Softening Concentrate above, which also has moisturising effects!
For the night time, there is the Shiseido Ibuki Refining Moisturizer ($66.00), their star product. I feel that it is pretty much on par with regard to the texture and easy absorption as the Protective Moisturizer, BUT according to the ingredients list, this one does not contain alcohol - yippee!
Hence, if you have a budget and can really only pick one moisturiser, get this one if you have dry skin like me! I think I use this the most out of all the Ibuki products - after hours of wearing just the moisturiser, my skin still feels smooth and ultra refreshed! But of course, since the Shiseido team has spoilt me with two specialised moisturisers for day and night, I use both types, and since you only have one life, why not spoil yourself? :D
And that's all!
Personally, I love how the whole Shiseido Ibuki experience is extremely carefully thought out, from the clean minimalist lines and light colours of the packaging which make me feel super fresh before I even use it; to the signature scent that is clean and fresh - not a predictable floral.
While the smells and products itself feel luxe, the packaging is down to earth, uncomplicated and understated, which makes me unafraid to use them regularly and work them into my every day routine, which is what skincare is all about - consistency!
The Shiseido Ibuki range has other products which I have not covered in its line as well to add on to your regime, but I am very thankful that the Shiseido team has thoughtfully prepared these 6 products for me as a great starter kit to take my skincare regime to a higher level! So if you were as confused as I was about where to begin, look no further :)
