Sizing Up Samples : Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist 24

Some time in January, Shiseido revamped its Benefiance skincare range. Out with the old and in with WrinkleResist 24. Benefiance skincare is formulated for more mature skins which need more care to delay the formation of wrinkles.

The WrinkleResist 24 range contains three key ingredients-Mukurossi Extract, Chlorella Extract and Gambit Extract to inhibit damage caused by the wrinkle-triggering enzyme. The Benefiance, Revital and Bio-Performance skincare ranges address anti-aging concerns.

Although I’d been primarily using Shiseido’s whitening skincare range for a number of years, I’d tried Benefiance products in sample sizes occasionally. There were a few Benefiance products I really liked, in particular its Firming Massage Mask because of the special treatment granules which melt as you massage into the skin, thereby exfoliating skin without the need for a scrub.

As a Camellia Card member, I obtained 3 samples from the new WrinkleResist 24 range:-

(1) Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam

Anyone who loves foaming cleansers like I do will fall in love with this product on first contact. If you thought White Lucent’s Brightening Cleansing Foam was good, the Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam is twice, on second thoughts, make that thrice as good.

It certainly lives up to its name, it’s creamy and lathers up beautifully. It feels luxurious against my face and makes cleansing such a pleasure. The soft sensation I get from this foam is beyond compare.

There’s nothing not to love about this cleansing foam, even the scent is lovely and relaxing. I think “softness” is probably an understatement to describe the state of my skin after it has been washed off.

This is one of the richest (in texture) foaming cleansers I’ve ever used. It’s also effective in taking off all traces of makeup. I don’t feel the need to double cleanse with this product even though I am well aware that it’s recommended.

It’s 125ml/RM145.

(2) Balancing Softener Enriched

As with most Japanese skincare brands, the step after cleansing is termed “softening” rather than “toning” because a softener prepares the skin for better absorption of subsequent skincare.

It’s described as a “comprehensive age-defying lotion that contains the effective ingredients to challenge signs of skin aging”. Shiseido recommends that you saturate 2 cotton pads with softener and pat gently on the face.

There’s another way to benefit from this softener and that’s to soak a compressed facial sheet mask in approximately 7ml of the softener. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes for a relaxing and extremely moisturising experience. Of course, that’s a costly way of using the softener.

It’s 150ml/RM189 and there’s a non-enriched version for oilier skins presumably.

(3) Day Emulsion SPF15

This is an age-defense daytime moisturizer that’s formulated to dramatically reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. The day emulsion is lighter than the other richer version, the day cream which is for drier skins.

If your skin doesn’t already feel soft enough after using the cleansing foam and the softener, the emulsion will definitely make it softer than butter that’s been left out at room temperature for more than an hour.

Too bad the SPF is quite low, I still have to use a higher SPF sunscreen before applying the emulsion but otherwise it’s a superior moisturizer. However, I can’t comment on the long term effects since I’ve only got a 7ml sample which is good for a week’s usage.

The Day Emulsion 75ml/Day Cream 50ml are  both RM189.