Kanebo Blanchir Brightening line – an overall review

The Kanebo Blanchir skincare line is marketed as a medicated whitening line. The medicated part of it is, I would assume, related to its skin whitening properties. However, Kanebo is quite careful not to highlight it as a “whitening” line but more of a “brightening” line of skincare. They don’t profess to whiten the skin, but instead, aim to make the skin more even toned and translucent. In my view, that is far better than walking around with a white face.

According to the little bit of English on the site, this is the write up about Blanchir:

The Medicated Whitening Skincare Brand, BLANCHIR is compounded with oriental plants “Firethorn”.
It protects skin from intensity of the sun and ultraviolet rays that can cause spots and freckles, and it keeps the skin healthy.

The packaging is red, in line with the key ingredient used in this line of skincare, called the kakyoku berry or Firethorn berry, which is said to be favoured by the legendary Chinese beauty Yang Kwei-Fei. I got curious about this miracle berry, so I checked it out online.

The Kakyoku or Firethorn berries are little bright red berries that grow on a thorny bush. These berries are edible when cooked, although supposed to be very bitter. Some sites say that the Chinese have been taking this for centuries as a herb, but more for beauty purposes than medicinal. I’m not quite sure how true that is.

I have been using the products from this line quite exclusively for about a month now, to test it out. An overall review gives this line a rating of 4.5 out of 5. I’ve found that my skin responds well to this brand and is smoother and more even toned. Some of my acne scars have lightened somewhat and some recent dark marks caused by acne too have lightened. My skin feels more moisturised and overall, looks better than it was before. I have freckles on my cheeks that are quite dark. I don’t think anything can fade those, but they haven’t been as noticable.

I cannot vouch for its whitening properties because as I said, it isn’t meant to whiten so much as brighten. In any event, I am naturally quite fair so any whiter and I would be a ghost. Hehe… But in all seriousness, I can’t see myself getting any “whiter” than I already am. However, there is a discernable brightening effect, in that my skin does not appear to be as dull as it was previously.

From the Japanese Blanchir site, I extracted a picture of what I think are some of the ingredients used in this line of skincare.

I can’t recognise anything except the kakyoku berry and erm… a carrot? I’m not quite sure what a carrot is doing in there, but I guess something works.

On a previous occasion, Tine of Beautyholics Anonymous wrote about her experience with this line of skincare. She also mentioned that in Japan, this line is sold in drugstores! I’ve never been to Japan but she has, so I’ll take her word for it. 🙂 All that said, a quick calculation from the Yen price to RM tells me the pricing is approximately the same and might even be cheaper here in Malaysia. The girls at the Kanebo salon tell me the Japanese ladies here in Malaysia buy many of their products here even though they go back to Japan often, because it sometimes works out cheaper for them here.In Malaysia, Kanebo Blanchir products are available from all Kanebo counters in department stores. Price wise, I’d say they are in the mid-high price range as prices of the products range from RM125 upwards.

In the coming week, I will be writing a series of reviews on the different products I use and have used from the Kanebo Blanchir line, so if you are interested in trying this line out, do look out for the reviews soon.