[Review] Laneige Water Bank Essence_EX [Empties]

LANEIGE WATER BANK ESSENCE_EX

[Credits: Laneige Malaysia Official Website]

This is actually my second bottle but this one is a redeemed gift from Laneige after collecting up to a certain points. (Yeah, you need to spend in order to gain points!) LOL XD

I emptied 2 bottles in a year which certainly isn’t my usual empties speed if it was my Holy Grail status. But I do have to admit that I was trying out some other serums at about the same time. But do I hate the product? Definitely NO! Also, on the side note, Laneige actually released two essences in the water bank series, Hydro Essence and Moisture Essence in 2018 which are more personalize to certain skin types. Both which I have yet to try. 

It has been out in the market for years and has been in so many people’s Holy Grail list. It’s one of the bestseller from Laneige, loved by Asians. Always out of stock in Korea and so is in Malaysia. But why is it NOT my Holy Grail skincare? Find out below. 

The name of the product “Essence” is somehow contradicting because essence usually:

                   1)      is more like water,

                   2)      in a bigger bottle,

But this product is the opposite of the above. I would prefer this as a SERUM instead. XD

I always use this after toner and before moisturizer which is also the recommended way.

Claims:

    

       1) Awakens natural moisturizing agents in skin for 24-hour moisturized skin (NOT really!)

       2) Smoother skin texture (YES)

       3) Hydrate dry skin (YES)

       4) Repairing skin damage (NOT visible)

       5) Maintains optimum moisture balance in skin (50/50)

       6) Reduced dead skin cells (50/50)

Ingredients Dissect:

“Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Dimethicone, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Tribehenin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Tillandsia Usneoides Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Fruit Extract, Dimethiconol, Betaine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Carrageenan, Phenyl Trimethicone, Propylene Glycol, PCA Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance”

“Water Bank’s Secret Moisturizing Recipe:

     1) Hydro Ion Mineral Water: Infused with 6 ionized moisturizing minerals that play a role in regulating skin moisture, it swiftly penetrates the skin to activate natural moisturizing genes in the skin.

     2) Quinoa extracts: Quinoa has been a food source for mankind for the past seven thousand years. It is also known to  protect the skin from dryness and damage.

     3) Natural olive oil: Micro-sized botanical oil particles absorb quickly into the skin to reinforce the lipid barrier in the epidermis to help retain moisture and smoothen the skin texture.

     4) Tillandsia extract: Rich in betaine, a natural moisturizing factor (NMF) that plays an important role in hyaluronic acid synthesis in the dermis.”

-From Laneige Main Website

From the list above, I can only identify a few possible comedogenic ingredients. Isopropyl Palmitate is a very widely used emollient/texture enhancer in cosmetic products BUT some studies do show that it’s not suitable for oily skin if high amount is added due to possible pore-clogging properties. (Since, it’s quite down the ingredient list, I kindly believe the amount used is low) Another texture enhancer/thickener used is Carrageenan extracted from seaweed also believed to be highly comedogenic according to some studies. BUT according to Paula’s Choice Skincare, both ingredients above are GOOD and SAFE to be used.

I’m very impressed with the addition of micro-sized natural olive oil which is very important to retain moisture level for dry skin BUT might not be suitable for oily skin. Another downside is that this product is not fragrance-free. 

Texture:

It is a colourless slightly thick gel and spreads very easily on the skin. Once spread with fingers, the slightly thick gel will quickly turns into a very lightweight watery gel which your skin will immediately feel a burst of water. The absorption is not immediate, it requires some light massage. But give it a minute and your skin will feels supple and smooth. It does leave a thin layer on the skin after absorption but neither feels sticky nor tacky.

 

Review:

Hydration is above average and I’m truly satisfied but the marketing claim of 24 hours moisturized skin is definitely an overstatement. After 6 hours, I can already tell my skin is feeling dry/tight or so my makeup that SOMETIMES started to look cakey is good enough to be the determining criteria of dryness. XD Well… I’m still very impressed! 6 hours is already more than I expected. It does smooth the skin temporarily and that’s because a few silicone ingredients is added so that’s sort of cheating but I would say it’s a beautifully-manufactured product. LOL To be honest, I’ve not much to complain about it. Overall, above average product and worth trying at least once in life.

Comedogenic: Sometimes depending on weather. (When used during hotter humid weather tends to cause small non-inflamed bumps) BUT not the big ones with pus.

Repurchase: 

NO (Malaysia is always hot and humid so I wouldn’t risk myself for those unwanted closed comedones)

Recommendation: Normal – Combination Dry skin (Don’t recommend to oily/acne-prone skin type)

Overall Rating: 3/5 (Above average) 

Makeup for Beginners (Part 2: Choosing The Right Base)

We've talked through the part of preparing the skin (skincare) for makeup in my "Makeup for Beginners (Part I)" blog. And now it's the real deal - MAKEUP! I'm here to share the knowledge of the very basics of makeup for those who are the real beginners. This blog post is to focus on knowing yourself and what basic makeup to start with that will suit you instead of the techniques of applying it. (You'll probably need to know what to get first before knowing how to put it on your face, hope that makes sense to you 😉 LOL) Without further ado, let's begin!

4) Choose the Right Base

The most important makeup item that one should really start with is "FOUNDATION". It's that IT-item that can change your life completely. It acts as a base (or rather our second skin) right after skincare for the following makeup (eg. blusher, bronzer, eyeliner, eyeshadow etc) to sit on and is in charge of how well the latter perform and last. Imagine proper skincare as a building's ground floor (assumed you did it the right way) and now foundation as the first floor, then the following makeup as second floor and above. If the first floor (foundation) is not done properly, the others will eventually collapse as well. Hence, making it the most important step in makeup. But it is never an easy job to get through this part even though I've been learning makeup for years. And why is it so? 😨 Because there are so many types of them and to find the 'love of your life' (a.k.a the right foundation 😉) is never a hands down task. Fret not! We shall go through the task one by one!

A) Choose the FINISHING look that you like (or you should!)

They are many types of finishing a foundation can provide for your skin. It might as well be your own choice or you don't have a choice (eg. ME!) LOL 😢
To my own experience, it's best if you choose according to your skin types.

i) Normal: Choose any as long as it's comfortable on you
ii) Dry/Aging: Dewy finish (a more moist and shiny-looking finish) Often associated with K-beauty
iii) Combination/Oily: Matte/Semi-matte/Satin finish (powdery/non-shiny, non-tacky finish)

[Left: Jun Ji Hyun (Korean actress); Right: Nikkiajoy (Australian Makeup Artist/Youtuber)]  

On Jun Ji Hyun's skin, the foundation shows a DEWY finish. It's as if the skin is packed with water and full of nutrients. That's the look most Asians (natural-looking/skin-like) would go for ever since the beauty trend of Korean Cushions. It's also describe as "chok chok" (in Korean) which means moist-full. Most western brands such as Estee Lauder, Dior, Ysl has also hop on the bandwagon of producing foundation with this types of look. However, in order to provide this sheen on the skin, this type of foundation usually contain oil and might not be suitable for combination/oily (breakout can be of concern, but the biggest concern is the foundation usually don't last long). Hence, this type of foundation goes best with those who needs constant moisture to the skin such as dry and aging skin.

Recommendations of DEWY foundation (High-end and Drugstore Option):

[Left: Lancome Miracle Cushion; Right: Loreal Nude Magique Cushion]

Dewy foundation are best found in cushion compact form especially Korean brands for example, Innisfree Ampoule Intense Cushion, Hera UV Mist Cushion, IOPE Air Cushion etc which are now easily available in Malaysia through Hermo. One down side of Korean cushions or foundation is that the color selection are often limited & not wide enough to cater for most people but if you're fairly fair, korean brands' cushions are among the best dewy foundations in the market.

On Nikkia Joy's skin, you will probably realize a more heavy-looking, powdery finish which is what MATTE foundation usually portrays to others. Nikkia Joy has oily skin and hence making it very suitable for people like me to take into account of her recommendations. The matte foundations are usually formulated to settle to a dry/powdery finish for the sebum-controlling purposes. These type of foundation are also oil-free which makes it more suitable for those who have oily/acne-prone skin. However, for those who have dry skin, this type of foundation are more likely to settle into fine lines and dry patches/flaky areas.

Some cushion foundations have came up with matte OR semi-matte (non-sticky on touch but visibly glowy good skin kind of finish) finishes which I think is absolutely great! Diorskin Forever Perfect Cushion SPF35 PA+++ is a great example! (I've also did a detailed review on this product)

Recommendation of MATTE foundations (High-end and Drugstore Option)

[Left to Right: Estee Lauder Double Wear; Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation;
Loreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte; Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation]

TIPS: And skin types do often change with environment and weather (especially seasonal countries). So for those who are living in places which are seasonal, you might need to consider preparing different finishing of foundations catering for the season itself due to probable skin changes.   

B) Choose the COVERAGE that you need

Generally there are 3 types of coverage:
i) Low/ Sheer (often regard as "natural")
ii) Medium
iii) High/ Full

Brands always put up the claim of "low/sheer-to-medium" or "medium-to-full/high" coverage. This literally means you can either build/pile up more foundation to achieve maximal results of either to a medium or full coverage.

This is very personal as different people has different skin conditions and preferences. But there's always a misconception that full coverage foundation tends to look very fake/obvious/mask-like on the face. It is often because of the high amount of foundation used and application method that affect the final outcome. Technologies in the beauty industry has been evolving so much that full coverage foundations are no longer heavy but can be very lightweight on the skin, makes you feel as if nothing is on the skin.

C) Choose the right SHADE that suits you perfectly

Well, this is toughest job ever! I can never say I'm always perfect with foundation shade selection but I'm a foundation hoarder which I can proudly say that I'm well-trained and experienced in it. XD

The general rule I've quickly learnt from experience is to FIRST observe yourself from head to toe especially those sun-exposed area. (face, neck, arms, hands, below-knee-area, ankle) This is because our face is usually slightly fairer compared to our other sun-exposed areas, at least in my case! So when you match the foundation just according to your face, you'll definitely look like you're wearing a mask because your face's color doesn't match the other part of the body and also people will NEVER just look at your face! Some would say that they wanted their face to look slightly brighter which is perfectly fine. But I did honestly say BRIGHTER and FAIRER is two different thing. So, be wise!

SECOND,  learn about your UNDERTONE. This is the KEY to buying the perfect foundation match. Friends often asked me what does undertone really mean. It's simply too complicated to define it without some illustrations and examples. I'll try my best to convey the message in the simplest and most understandable way.
No matter which skin color spectrum you are in, either very fair or very tan, there's always an undertone or a base color to your skin. For easier understanding, there's 3 categories:

i) Cool/Rosy: Bluish, Pink, or Rosy hint
ii) Warm/Golden: Yellow, pasty, peachy or golden hint
iii) Neutral: Neither pink/yellow, but rather skin's natural color (Beige)

[Cool undertone VS Warm undertone]

It's generally the color that come through your skin from underneath the surface which may affect its overall hue. The common wrong perception about undertone =  how light or dark your skin is!

My personal way of determining ones skin undertone is to answer a few questions below:

i) Does your skin tan easily?
    Yes = likely Warm/Neutral
     No = likely Cool
ii) Look at the color of the veins on your hands
    Greenish  = Warm
    Blusih/Deep purple = Cool
    Neither the above = Neutral
iii) Do I look better with silver or gold?
    Gold = Warm
    Silver = Cool
    Both = Neutral

I must admit that the world of foundation has gamed up so much because of this one particular brand, MAC Cosmetics. Their foundation shade selection has been the most specific I would say. They have came up with "Neutral Cool",often known as NC and "Neutral Warm". My all-time cult favourite, Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation shade selections are just as amazing! Another new brand that blew up the makeup industry last month was Fenty Beauty by Rihanna which came out with a total of 40 shades in different undertones. Also, many drugstore brands have also been trying to produce more shades to suit all walks of life.

[An Example of MAC Cosmetics Shade Selection]

THIRDLY, try the foundation over the counter/get a tester, then have it on your face for at least an hour before buying! If the shade is still OK, then proceed with purchasing. This is because foundation color does oxidizes/darken in shade traditionally. Which is why most salesperson would advise us on getting a foundation at least 1 shade lighter than our face. However, with the improvement in technology, foundation these days seldom/hardly oxidize at all. So just be extremely aware!

LASTLY, never trust the lighting in the makeup store or counter! Always leave the store after applying foundation on your face. Try to go to an area with different lighting! For example, SUNLIGHT, Fluorescent (white) light, Orange light. Foundation color may present differently with different lighting. My suggestion is to take SUNLIGHT as the determining color!

💓TAKE HOME MESSAGES💓:
If you're still confuse with the skin undertone, I suggest you head to the makeup brand counter and start off with "I would like to find a foundation with a dewy/matte finish, low/medium/full coverage that matches the color of my face/neck/arms/legs/all the above and what undertone am I?" With the assistance of the salesperson, apply on the whole face. Then, leave the counter and observe throughout the day if the foundation color changes. If everything is fine, you shall happily proceed with the purchase.

I guess that's a wrap for Part 2 of "Makeup for Beginners" series. Now, head over to the nearest drugstore or shopping mall to find that perfect canvas for your skin and I shall move on with Part 3: How To Apply Foundation.

JUST REMEMBER: NO rushing! Everyone is different! Explore MORE!

  

Pimple/Blemish Toner Pads Showdown

Pimple/Blemish Toner Pads Showdown

(Feat. Peter Thomas Roth vs FirstAid Beauty vs Cosrx)

Pre-moistened Toner Pads have been an uprising trend ever since the Cosrx One Step Pimple Clear Pad took over the whole beauty industry by surprise in 2017 with its overall great performance and at the same time reasonably priced. Also considering that K-beauty has recently hit the global/international beauty industry, hence gaining this product more recognition worldwide.

But little does the world know that these pre-moistened toner pads has been around us yearssssss ago. I would say at least 5 years or even more! And in this blog, I’m only focusing on those toner pads mainly targeting for blemish-prone skin/containing BHA or more known as salicylic acid. Peter Thomas Roth (PTR) Max Complexion Correction Pads is one of the first few I’ve came across 3 years ago and it wasn’t even a new release when I discovered it. So I’m pretty sure this type of product have been longer in the beauty industry. XD However, this PTR products hasn’t been getting much attention and I totally understand why after trying it out which I’ll go through it in-depth later.

Next discovery was First Aid Beauty (F.A.B) Blemish Patrol Pads also 3 years ago. I was more attracted to the brand’s vision of producing products safe for those with even the most sensitive skin. So, I decided to give it a try but does it stays true to the brand’s claim? We shall see!

Let the SHOWDOWN begin!  (For a brief/quick reviews, please kindly refer “Overall Review” and "Repurchase" section)

Claims:

Peter Thomas Roth	First Aid Beauty	Cosrx
1) Cleanse skin 2) Clear up active acne and blackheads 3) Pore-minimizing visually 4) Reduce appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (anti-aging benefits) 5) Calm the look of skin 6) Anti-oxidant benefits 7) Suitable for normal, oily, combination skin type	1) Prevent breakouts 2)Tighten appearance of pores 3) Mattify skin 4) Soothe redness 5) Gentle and non-irritating daily alternative to medicated acne treatment 6) Suitable for ALL skin types	1) Clear up existing pimples 2) Prevent further skin trouble 3) Helps eliminate blackheads 4) Unclogs pores 5) Dissolves deep down oil 6) Sebum control care 7) Mild exfoliator 8) Face makeup remover 9) Suitable for oily, acne-prone

Table 1. These claims are gathered from the above brand's official website respectively/Sephora/Hermo shopping website (Not my personal opinion/made up)

Generally they’re all both physical (embossed/textured-sided pad) and chemical (AHA and BHA) exfoliative toners which claimed to help with existing acne/acne-prone skin.

*Those highlighted in RED are the ones I’m either unsure of/completely disagree.

Packaging:

To be honest, I’ve nothing to complain about either of the packaging since they’re all made up of plastic (travel-friendly) and I’m not expecting them to be fancy/attractive. The ONLY complaint is the AMOUNT of pads provided. Cosrx (70 pads) has 10 pads more in the jar compared to Peter Thomas Roth and First Aid Beauty which provide only 60 pads each. I know 10 pads more doesn’t seems like a big deal but the latter two cost at least twice the price of Cosrx. So, it is a BIG DEAL! XD

Pad’s texture:

To no doubt, all three brands came out with I would say almost very identical double-sided sheet pads as seen in picture. One embossed/textured side (almost like honeycomb-shaped) used as step 1 for exfoliation/unclogging pores. The other side is a smooth surface used as step 2 to toned and moisturized the skin.

The very slight difference I can notice is that Peter Thomas Roth cotton pads are not so densely packed and tend to wear off slightly easier which may cause over-exfoliation/irritation to the skin. First Aid Beauty and Cosrx seems quite similar in terms of the quality of the cotton pads.

Another slight difference would be “Are the cotton pads fully-soaked with toners?” My answer would be Cosrx > First Aid Beauty > Peter Thomas Roth. But has it become a concern? NOT at all.

Do all the pads get the job (as in Exfoliation & Toner) done? I would say YES to ALL.

Ingredients Dissect:

Peter Thomas Roth	First Aid Beauty	Cosrx
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Salicylic Acid 2% INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Alcohol Denat., Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Amyl Cinnamal, Arginine, Benzoic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Fragrance/Parfum, Geraniol, Glycolic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Isobutylparaben, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Triethanolamine, Water/Aqua/Eau	Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water , Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Salicylic Acid, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Benzoic Acid	Salix Alba(Willow) Bark Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine Salicylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Arginine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate,Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil,Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil , Ethyl Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide

First of all, I’m very thankful to all three brands for formulating these products without parabens, sulfates and phthalates. But there are few things I’d like to bring to your concern individually on each product, listed below:

Peter Thomas Roth potent ingredients such as maximum strength 2% salicylic acid (highest concentration among all three) and 10% glycolic acid seems very promising in terms of keeping up with its claims. BUT…. disappointment due to the high content of alcohol which I personally think might not be suitable for those with severe active on-going acne. This is because high level of alcohols is likely to disrupt the skin barrier, followed by weaken skin and hence promoting a more acne-prone situation. According to Paula’s Choice Skincare’s Ingredient Dictionary, denatured alcohol listed as fifth ingredient or higher is considerable risk for sensitising skin which in this product is the first ingredient. I appreciate that PTR tried adding in ingredients such as Arginine, Allantoin, Aloe Vera and Chamomile Extract to calm/soothe the skin and also combat the high concentration of acids BUT acids are not the main cause for skin irritation here! ALCOHOL is! Also it’s formulated with fragrance and a very strong peach scent is present upon/after application which is completely unnecessary.

First Aid Beauty is indeed the smartest to play safe so that it stays true to its brand’s motto of “safe for even the most sensitive skin”. Why do I say so? Because salicylic acid is so much lower in the list which I truly believe is in a very low concentration, reducing risk of skin irritation. In the Sephora’s website, the brand stated “A set of non-medicated pads formulated for oily and acne-prone skin types to help prevent breakouts and control excess oil.” which is a very safe way of marketing unlike Peter Thomas Roth. Ingredients are mainly focusing on natural ways of targeting skin troubles such as Witch Hazel (natural astringent), Tea Tree Oil (reduce irritation) and Licorice Roots (Antioxidant). It really caught me speechless! XD

Cosrx right off the bat with the simplest, shortest ingredient list. The main active ingredient is 1% Betaine salicylate derived from plants, similar to cholesterol which occurs naturally in skin, making it a good moisturizing, skin soothing ingredient but at the same time mildly exfoliates skin. pH level is also desirably at 4.0-5.0 which suits our slightly acidic skin. Using Willow Bark water as the main medium in replacement of just pure water is simply impressive for the price you pay for.  

Irritability:

Peter Thomas Roth always leave my skin irritated, obvious redness which lasted quite awhile after application. And I would blame it solely on alcohol because I’m simply allergic to it.Refer to the ingredients section for details.

First Aid Beauty seems to cause me slightly more skin irritation to my skin, probably due to lack of moisturizing ingredients but seriously cause no harm.

Cosrx simply amazing! I’m loss for words! It gets the exfoliation work done and at the same time moisturized and hydrates my skin which doesn’t always coalesce in an acne-marketed product.

Overall review:

Reviewing Properties	P. Thomas Roth	First Aid Beauty	Cosrx
1) Exfoliation	STRONG *Over-exfoliation is never a good thing though	ABOVE MILD *Suitable for daily use without use of other acids	MILD *Suitable for daily use and all skin types
2) Purifying	SAME	SAME	SAME
3) Pore-minimizing	Visually Temporarily	Visually Temporarily	Visually Temporarily
4) Breakout Prevention	NO *Ingredients cause skin irritation leading to more skin troubles	YES	YES
5) Oil-controlling	NONE	NONE	SLIGHTLY *Most likely due to higher moisturizing/ hydrating properties
6) Toning/Moisturizing	LITTLE	SLIGHTLY MORE	MOST

Repurchase:

Peter Thomas Roth (RM167)	First Aid Beauty (RM144)	Cosrx (RM74.20)
NEVER Sadly allergic to alcohol and I do believe it’s in a very high concentration. Also NOT recommending to anyone!	MAYBE/UNLIKELY An overall decent product but not necessarily worth the price point. Recommend only to acne-prone without severe on-going acne.	DEFINITELY Very mild and gentle product for daily use. Very reasonably priced too! Recommend to EVERYONE!

Please excuse me for the lack of pictures as I was busy moving house and those were empties so I had to throw them away already. XD

Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation Review

This bitch is right off the bat AMAZING! (I can’t wait till the end of this review!) XD It’s that AWESOME!! LOL

To be honest, I was really late with this product and I regretted a lot. I’ve been eyeing on this product even before it was launch but didn’t have enough to buy it. (It’s quite the higher end price: USD45) But when I decided to buy it, Shiseido decided to launch their first cushion, Synchro Skin Glow Cushion Compact from the same ‘Synchro Skin’ series and of course I’m a sucker for cushion foundation. So I went for the cushion first which is a slightly dewy version and instantly felt in love with it. And that’s when I went back and got the Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation which is a matte version. Later on, Shiseido launched Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Fluid Foundation which I’ve tried using sample pack but didn’t really liked it.

To be honest, I'm very impressed with the amount of shades this brand has come out with despite being marketed as a Japanese brand which is almost always only catering for fair to medium skin tone. Also, it's very smart in categorizing the shades in Rose (Pink undertone), Neutral (Yellow undertone), Golden (Peachy undertone) for the consumer's convenience in selecting their perfect shade. However, I'm also disappointed by the fact that Malaysia only carries shades up to number 3 in each categories. Not all Malaysians are fair to medium skin tone! We do have people with tan skin too!

   

Packaging:

First impression: Heavy and ‘expensive-looking’ packaging! XD

It comes with a black gradient cap and a transparent frosted matte glass bottle which you can easily view the colour of your foundation. It also has a pump which is a PLUS point for hygiene purpose. Also, the pump outlet almost never caught on to any leftover product! (You know what I mean! Sometimes pump foundation dispenses pieces of “foundation clots” before the truly usable liquid foundation) but NEVER with this pump!   

My only complaint is the cap which seems impossible to adhere tightly to the bottle! That’s why I never travel with this foundation because I’m so worried if the cap loosen and cause a foundation mess in my suitcase.

Claims:

It stays to the claim quite perfectly EXCEPT a few in RED

        1)      Coverage: Medium / Buildable (YES)

        2)      Finish: Semi-matte, Natural (YES)

        3)      Skin Type: All skin types (Might be slightly drying for DRY skin)

        4)      Maintains clarity and prevents creasing, fading, and shine all day (YES)

        5)      Ultra-smooth, weightless sensation (YES)

        6)      Mother of Thyme Extract helps prevent skin damage caused by oxidation, and Hypericum      Perforatum Extract helps prevent skin roughness (YES for BOTH!)

        7)      Non-comedogenic (YES at least on my skin)

Overall, SUPER-DUPER satisfied with the performance based on the claims.

Ingredients:

I’m generally quite satisfied with the ingredients list. It’s oil-free and paraben-free.

Active ingredients are Octinoxate 2.9% (chemical sunscreen which is NOT recommended for sensitive skin type) and Titanium Dioxide 2.4%. (Physical sunscreen)

Key ingredients from this Synchro series includes:  Mother of Thyme Extract (helps prevent skin damage caused by oxidation), and St John’s Wart Extract (helps prevent skin roughness).

Possible Irritants:

SD Alcohol 40B, Tocopherol, Fragrance*

Comedogenic:

Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Talc*

*This foundation contains fragrance (very light floral scent) and talc (known to settle in pores/fine lines)! Seriously not a fan of these.

Are the ingredients skin-friendly? I would say yes since I didn’t experience any break out or skin irritation/rashes. But if you have sensitive skin then think twice since it contains chemical sunscreen, Octinoxate.

Texture:

Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation in Shade: Neutral 3

As claimed, very fresh, oil-free, fluid-like formula. Runs very watery! Not sticky at all and sets reasonably fast on the skin! Glides on smoothly with the puff and never appear streaky despite being a matte finish. You can still dot it all over the face before blending it because it doesn’t sink into the skin immediately. I’ve tried applying it with a Flat Kabuki brush but not the best way to apply though because it appears slightly streaky and took away a bit of the coverage.

Coverage

Overall coverage is medium and buildable up to medium-to-full coverage.

Is it possible to build up to full flawless finish? I’ve tried putting on 2 full layers and it still looks kind of slightly-above-medium but not full coverage. Also, it sets quite a matte finish so I wouldn’t recommend layering too much as it might look slightly cakey.

I’ve break down a few concerns below where coverage is needed and how much can this foundation cover:

1)      Acne: 65%

2)      Redness: 70%

3)      Hyperpigmentation: 80% (Darker acne scars)

4)      Texture skin: Refine by 80%

5)      Pores: 85%

Overall coverage is very satisfying despite being super lightweight! My only complaint is that it doesn’t quite cover up the redness at the corner of my nose. But still I’m amazed.

Finishing:

The finishing is as claimed to be Semi-Matte (Not satin though) finish. However, it’s still very skin-like as it gives out a tint of glow as if you just finish your skincare routine. I’m extremely impressed with the formula to be honest. It sets down to a powdery finish and does not transfer easily. Your skin will feel as if a newborn’s butt upon touch!

*With that being said, I personally think this foundation might not suit DRY skin.

Longevity (Day Diary)

Day Tested: 30 August 2017 (Wednesday)

Weather: Extremely hot and sunny (Highest at 36°C) + No Air-conditioner   

Activity: Doing household chores indoor & Exercise outdoor (Full-on sweat mode)

Overall, very satisfied with its longevity considering I’m testing on harsh weather and also vigorous activities. Beside the timeline, I’ve also included a few concerns regarding the longevity below (I’ve Oily Acne-prone skin):

1)      Oil control	Fresh &matte for 7 hours First blot needed at 9 hours (I blotted because I was sweating. Not because of the greasiness) 10-12 hours: Blotting needed depending on weather/activity
2)      Caking Up	Slightest on chin area (after 10 hours)
3)      Dry Patches	NONE (But likely for DRY skin)
4)      Settling into pores/fine lines	YES (after 9 hours) Smile lines slightly (Not obvious) Pores too (As shown in picture) *Most likely because it contains Talc
5)      Colour Change/Oxidised	NONE at all
6)      Dryness/skin feel tight	Skin feels dry after 9 hours

*I must admit that I push this foundation to its limits hence the results. Otherwise, as an office/indoor/inactive person, this foundation works perfectly!

Recommendation:

Only for combination to oily skin type since this formula is oil-free and drying matte finish. Highly recommended for those searching for natural-looking finish but still wants MATTE-ness for oil-control. But you might want to think twice if you have large pores like me. I personally don’t mind the foundation settling into my pores after a good 9 hours and I only had it on for 12 hours because of the wear test.

In Conclusion:

My oily skin LOVES this bitch to bits! <3 <3

Is this for dry skin?
NEVER! But there’s always Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Fluid Foundation which is in the same line! 

Is it good for a daily wear? 
Definitely YES! Wear time definitely exceeds 9/10 hours without fail.

Pros:

a) Great mattifying/oil-control foundation (Up to almost 9 hours)

b) Natural, skin-like finish for daily wear 

c) Oil-free

d) Non-comedogenic

e) Satisfying medium coverage

Cons:

a) Settling into lines and pores

b) Contains alcohol and fragrance

c) Not for sensitive skin (Octinoxate and alcohol) and dry skin

d) Skin feeling dry/tight after 9 hours wear
e) Very limited shades available in Malaysia (Not catered for dark skintone)