Everyone loves a multi-tasking product, because as Singaporeans, I’ll go ahead and make a sweeping statement that it’s somehow within our nature to be a little impatient when it comes to skincare. Most of us are are diligent, no doubt, but do we really have the time for 12 entire steps or want to spend an hour massaging skincare essences, serums and masks onto our faces? Nah, not even while on that Netflix binge. Which is why any skincare product that claims to do it all — that is, tackle all our skincare concerns in one go — is always welcome.
So, why not this little red bottle? The Shiseido ULTIMUNE Power Infusing Concentrate — now a flagship product in the Japanese brand’s already stellar line of skincare items — is already an award-winner, and a bestseller too, with one bottle being sold every 15 seconds. Last we heard, it’s also been upgraded with an even better formula.
And a whole new attitude too, we might add, based on the dynamic campaign led by Japanese dancer Koharu Sugawara.
We didn’t wanna just talk about it, we wanted to give it a real go. So, here’s how it fared:
What Is It?
When I first heard about the Ultimune in 2014, one word stood out to me: immunity. The skincare product aims to boost our skin’s natural immunity against daily damage and the environment — so it would be more able to defend itself against the harmful effects of pollutants and UV rays, for instance. It’s kind of like “prevention is better than cure” ; you’ll want to start as early as possible before signs of ageing occur.
Now, in its all-new and improved form, the serum gets better. Here’s the gist of it. On top of the original proprietary Ultimune Complex™, there’s now ImuGeneration Technology™ as well — this includes the antioxidant-rich Reishi Mushroom and Iris Root, that, not only help fortify our skin’s defensive ability, but also hydrate and visibly reduce signs of ageing. Our skin’s stronger and healthier — while looking smoother and firmer too.
First Impressions
One pump easily dispenses a lightweight liquid, that, though not as watery as an essence, sinks effortlessly into the skin and is quickly spread out when I gently massage it all over my face. The new formula’s said to feel smoother than before, and while I didn’t do a direct comparison (I don’t really know how detectable that can be too), I can certainly vouch for its velvety texture. The texture’s great! And reliable — I know my skin’s getting the hydration and nutrients it needs. It also leaves a pleasing dewy sheen on the high points of my face after.
What I did like was also the scent. It’s nothing too overpowering or cloyingly sweet for a skincare product, but still distinctive. That’s probably because Shiseido literally had it down to a science; there’s an ImuCalm Compound™ of a floral rose and lotus blend that relieves stress when inhaled. You know how you can feel your body immediately relax when you enter a spa? This has a bit of the same effect, albeit smaller in scale. Doing my skincare always puts me in a good mood anyway — I feel like I’m actually doing something good for myself — and this makes it more encouraging than ever. Overall, I’d say, pretty impressive, though nothing immediately groundbreaking yet.
How To Use
We’re recommended to dispense two pumps onto the palm of the hand before smoothening it out evenly, which was exactly what I did both morning and night. You can also consider this a pre-serum if you happen to be using other serums in your skincare regime — basically, use this before your other serums, since it does boost the efficacy of the skincare products that come after it.
The Verdict
Now I’m usually quite skeptical about skincare reviews sometimes because it’s quite hard to tell whether something works in a week. Makeup’s fine, or say, cleansers, but serums? They’re a little tricky. But okay, disclaimer out of the way, would I recommend this? Yes!
I tried it for about three weeks, beginning with rather dehydrated and unbalanced skin from my beach holiday. It wasn’t totally wrecked of course, just not the usual, more healthy, skin condition that I was used to. My sun spots were definitely more obvious too. But I persevered on with the Ultimune, morning and night, hardly changing anything else in my routine.
What happened was that my skin really did become better — it felt a lot more balanced and well-hydrated, plus none of that dreaded oily t-zone yet dry skin everywhere else situation, and that alone made me feel more pleased about my complexion. The pockets of pigmentation I had were slightly less obvious as well. I also got unsolicited compliments, even unexpectedly from a male who unfortunately couldn’t quite pinpoint why except that I look “healthier” and less pale. I took it to mean that my skin looked more radiant, with that healthy flush, and I did notice a more natural, dewy glow too.
Granted, I don’t think it should be labelled as a quick fix, and I feel that it’s a little on the pricey side. Then again, we should be willing to invest a little more in our skincare, right? One bottle does last a reasonable amount of time though; I’m not even halfway through my bottle yet at this point.
If you’re looking for an all-purpose serum / pre-serum that deals across a spectrum of skin problems such as dullness, dryness, and less supple skin, spring for this one since it does improve your skin’s health and its natural ability to bounce back. Even if you do have a targeted problem, you can always apply another serum after.
Shiseido ULTIMUNE Power Infusing Concentrate, $110 for 30ml, $150 for 50ml, and $185 for 75ml. Available at Lazada and Shiseido counters.
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