I have had this Pola Sakura Veil Tokutoku skincare set for a while now. I can’t seem to get my head around it, hence the delay telling you about it. Pola is a range of skincare from Japan that we do not hear much about. One of those brands that fly under the radar, and which are available to those in the know, it would seem.
Interestingly, the reason I agreed to give the brand a go when approached by a local online store, Luscious.com.my, is because a reader, Jayne, had written in a few months ago, asking me if I’d tried Pola skincare and what I thought about it. Not long after that, I had an offer so I thought it was a good chance to try the brand out since I didn’t know where to obtain it before. Jayne, if you’re reading this, here is your answer 😉
I received the Pola Sakura Veil Tokutoku Set I which comes in a well packaged box, containing full sizes of the Wash, Lotion I and Emulsion I and samples sizes of the Hydrating Essence and Massage & Mask. The products are made in Japan, and Pola is a Japanese brand. With that sort of knowledge, what I expected was therefore, a face wash that tends to be a bit drying (I find it happens with most Japanese face washes personally), a lotion that serves to soften and hydrate skin, and a liquid emulsion to moisturize skin. That is really what you do end up getting 😉
The Pola Sakura Veil range contains extract of sakura flower as the name implies, green tea extract (antioxidant protection) and rice bran extract (hydrating). Here are my quick thoughts on the range and the products I tried.
I’ve used Japanese skincare quite a lot, and I have noted that the Japanese are very exact. Within the same range of products, they will provide an option for their Lotion and Emulsion for normal-dry skin and normal-oily skin. However, it usually works as I – normal-oily and II – normal-dry. Since this was the Tokutoku Set I I thought it was meant for normal-oily skin, which explains the very light textures. But when I researched it, I realised that Pola does it backwards, so I – normal-dry skin.
And that is why I found is a little surprising, because I found that although the Sakura Veil range of products were very comfortable on my skin, they did not feel sufficiently hydrating. I have normal skin tending to dry, and although I used each product from beginning to end, my skin did not feel as comfortable as it does with my regular skincare.
I personally found the Sakura Veil Wash a little drying, but I find that is true of many Japanese brands of face wash. The Lotion is liquid and feels quite lovely patted on my skin, and then I follow up with the Hydrating Essence which feels a bit sticky, and the Milk Emulsion which too, feels a little sticky. It all absorbs after a spell, but as I have noted, I still find it too light for my skin in the evenings.
In the day however, it does feel a bit more comfortable and the light texture is very nice against the skin. For those who have normal-oily skin, then you should go for the Lotion and Milk labelled II. I would imagine it feels even lighter.
On an overall basis, I am glad to have given the brand a go. The products seem good, very typical of many brands of Japanese department store brand skincare, but perhaps this specific range just didn’t do it for my skin.
In a nutshell
Pola is a range of Japanese skincare and Sakura Veil is one of their popular ranges. Items are sold separately, or as a set. The Lotion and Milk emulsion can be tailored to your skintype as it comes in 2 varieties: I – normal-dry and II – normal-oily. I found the face wash a little drying but then I find that is true for many brands I have tried. The Lotion and Milk went well together and sinks into skin, without feeling too sticky or uncomfortable. I found the Hydrating Essence a little sticky but if you lightly pat it in, it sinks in after a spell. I don’t have much thought about the Massage + Mask. Overall, I found that although the products felt comfortable on my skin (my skin takes well to Japanese skincare) I did not find them sufficiently hydrating for my skin for overnight use. It was alright in the day.
Pros: Feels comfortable without being too sticky, Light textured Lotion and Milk absorbs easily into skin
Cons: Not easily available locally, Wasn’t sufficiently hydrating for my slightly dry skin
Who will like this: Anyone who is familiar with Japanese style skincare and want something hydrating
Here are the ingredient lists for the Pola Sakura Veil products in this Tokutoku set. You may have to squint a little 😛
This Sakura Veil Tokutoku set retails at RM378 and each individual Sakura Veil item starts from RM99 – 148. It might seem pricey, but I think for a Japanese brand, its actually averagely priced, and more affordable than a brand like Kanebo or Shiseido, so I make no mention of the price as a con. I think it reasonable.
Have you tried any Pola skincare?
I can’t say I’d never try anything from the brand again. I have a soft spot for Japanese skincare and colour cosmetics but after many years of experimentation, I’ve found that I prefer to use their Lotions and maybe treatment serums. Their Emulsion moisturisers don’t usually do much for me (I prefer creams or oils now) and their face washes tend to be a bit drying to me. But for Lotions and some Treatment products, they are stellar.
Paris B
Pola Sakura Veil Tokutoku Set Price: RM378 Availability: Online at Luscious.com.my (Malaysia)
I’ve heard a lot of things about Pola, but never tried it myself. However, I kind of believe in this stereotype that Japanese skincare should be perfection! 🙂
I haven’t heard of this brand, but the products sound nice. I’ll be honest–I don’t know much about products like “emulsions” and “essences”, but I’m quite curious! I especially like the sound of that face Milk Emulsion–partially because I’m weird and really like it when beauty products reference food items in their names. For example, “lid smoothie” or “facial soufflé” or “body butter”. 😛 hahha. No really though, when I hear “Milk Emulsion”, I think of a lotion with a really thin, light consistency and that sounds just lovely to me!
I sometimes forget that Japanese skincare isn’t as well known outside of Asia. Most Asian skincare are very light and watery, not the creamy textures of Western skincare. I think its out weater 🙂 And your description of Milk Emulsion is exactly right! A milky looking light slightly viscous emulsion to hydrate skin – I think it’d be lovely in your weather actually 😉
I have a feeling this Sakura Veil line is for international market only because we don’t have it in Japan. I’m using Pola B.A. The Eye Cream (creative name, right?) that’s quite nice. Pola is generally heavily targeted for more mature audience with strong emphasis on anti-aging. Not that it matters which age range they target.. 😀
Btw, remember how we talked about how Za by Shiseido is/was also international only? It recently landed in Japan. So funny/strange! 😀
I did read about ZA being now available in the Japan market and I was like “What? How strange!” But I do quite like the brand. I think its got some good stuff and the new ZA Whitening foundation is pretty good for something so cheap! I hear the BB Cream is very good too. And cheap 😀 Have you managed to try anything yet?
I didn’t know Pola was targeted at more mature women. It might explain why I don’t hear of it so much. Mature women don’t tend to blog very much LOL! I hope to change that landscape the more I mature 😉 You got me interested in the BA range. I’ll go look for it!
I haven’t tried anything from Za yet, but I did check out their line and it seems we don’t have the Whitening Foundation nor a BB cream. Maybe we have an entirely different range of products? It doesn’t seem very extensive right now. So strange. But I agree, very low prices!
Definitely check out the Pola B.A. range. And wow, jk’s comment below about her 55 year-old flawless complexioned friend is convincing!
I don’t understand these global brands *shakes head* Why can’t they standardize things a little so we can all get it anywhere in the world?! 😛
Thanks for the review, PB. I’ve dabbled a little into the Pola range after seeing a friend I know who although turned 55 last year, has a flawless/wrinkle free completion/face. She’s been using the Pola range for more than 20 years. She swears by Pola’s skin care.
For us more mature users, Pola has a B.A. Black (costs an arm, a leg and another limb) and a B.A Red (slightly less expensive) range. B.A.
Black The Cream [yes, very creative name Peach :-)] reminds me of Le Mer’s Cream. Super expensive and so used very sparingly on nights when I know I can sleep in the next day to max out the time the cream stays on my face. Feels luxurious and face is smoother in the morning.
They also have a cleansing cream – very much like the old fashioned (?) cold cream – slap on and wipe off to clean but I definitely need to double cleanse.
Overall – nice but still a bit expensive for my pocket.
The BA line sounds much better than the Sakura Veil range that I tried. Maybe I’ll look into getting some samples and giving it a go 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I loge pola products, i’ve been using them for 2 years now i am 23 mixed skin, and i look like. 15 year girl, i combine lines i like estina alvita, signs solution eye cream and i use the lotion, milk and wash. I am not very fond of the creams its just too much on my skin type. But the eye cream its a must! I have irtually no wrinkles and inted to keep on that way! My next brand to try when i turn 15 would be BA red and wrinkle shot eye creram, it has done wonder with my 55 mom perfect skin, she is currently using BA black, quite expensive but you definetley see the change,
I love pola i just dont know why is not so famous elsewhere in japan.