A month ago, I previewed you this new pre-serum from Shiseido which is their biggest skincare launch and innovation this year. You can read about it there, so I don’t repeat myself 🙂 In gist, the technology of this pre-serum is said to be able to boost skin immunity, to make it stronger and therefore more receptive to the serums and creams that follow. It’s supposed to also combat the signs of aging and look younger and smoother.
Well, I hadn’t been using a pre-serum product for a while since I finished up the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum so I put this into my routine to see how I’d like it.
Comments on the bottle first. I love the interesting curved shape of the bottle. We’re visual creatures and the bright red bottle with its gradational shading and interesting shape is the first thing that catches the eye. The bottle is glass with a rather incongrous plastic feeling cap.
The pump is also rather lightweight plastic which again, feels a little incongruous in view of the more solid feel of the rest of the bottle. Packaging aside, what did I think of this serum? It’s been available since early this month, so if you’ve tried it, please share your thoughts.
As for myself, hmm… I’m conflicted.
The product itself is a light textured serum, with a strong yet gentle floral fragrance that actually feels quite soothing. That said, there’s that word – fragrance – that I know will send up the hackles of those who are concerned about it being a possible irritant to sensitive skin. It is quite a lightweight essence, that spreads quite easily and absorbs easily into the skin.
This being a pre-serum, that’s supposed to form the base for the rest of your skincare, you are supposed to use this after cleansing and toning, but BEFORE serums or moisturiser. The idea is for the ingredients in Ultimune to boost your skin’s immunity and therefore help the other serums and creams absorb better and more efficiently.
However, I didn’t quite see any great improvement to my skin after a months use. I was using this diligently day and night for all of the last month but I’m not seeing any, or significant results.
Yes, this serum does make my skin feel a little hydrated, but not so much more that I’d be able to comment on it. Sure, I wasn’t using it with another Shiseido product or products (I only use and swear by Shiseido sunscreen but my skin doesn’t take quite as well to the rest of their skincare ranges) and perhaps that was my mistake, but I was hoping that it would actually do something on its own or when used with other products. Not all of us have the luxury nor the inclination to use all products from one brand or one range. I’m a prime example of someone who doesn’t and I mix and match my skincare to my preferences and needs.
I did experience a bit of breakouts after about a week around the jawline but I persisted and while they didn’t get worse, they didn’t quite go away either. I’ve since stopped using this product and they’re going away so that’s one more comment from me.
All in all, I’m afraid I’m not quite sold on this Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate. I don’t mind using pre-serums. I’ve used them before and while I haven’t for a while, I’m open to the idea and I like the idea of a product that can boost the efficacy of other products. I’m not averse to layering my skincare products either. But this one didn’t quite cut it for me. I don’t think my skin is at its optimum – I’ve been battling insomnia and stress for a few weeks and that takes a toll on the skin – and while Ultimune didn’t make it worse, it didn’t make it much better either.
IN A NUTSHELL
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate is a pre-serum that you use after cleansing and toning and before serum and moisturiser. Its function is to boost skin’s immunity and to make it stronger so it looks smoother and more refined. There is a lovely gentle floral scent that is quite soothing and the texture of the product is light, absorbs quickly and my skin does feel comfortable with it on. However, despite using it for a little over a month, I didn’t see significant results of smoother skin. It broke me out a little but it wasn’t severe so I’m a little ambivalent about this product.
PROS: Lightweight texture, Absorbs quickly into skin, Gentle floral fragrance is soothing, Gorgeous packaging
CONS: I experienced minor breakouts, No significant noticeable results for me
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone already familiar with the concept of a pre-serum, Anyone willing to layer products or who are already using Shiseido skincare
Here is the ingredient list for your reference.
This has actually been out here since the beginning of this month and I think Shiseido will be embarking on a promotional blitz soon so if you’re interested to try it, try to snag yourself some samples from the counter to see how you like it. We will all react differently to skincare so my experience serves only as a guide. Read around for more reviews or experiences or pick up a sample and see how YOU like it 🙂
Have you already sampled this new Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate? If not, are you interested in giving it a go?
Sheila over at Maddy Loves had a similar experience to me – we’re both a little ho-hum about it. But who knows, if it works for you, you might be singing about this from the rooftops! 😀
Paris B
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate Price: RM255/30ml, RM355/50ml Availability: Shiseido counters
I think I have lost interest in pre-serum. I’m still using La Mer Treatment Lotion. This one, tried it but not loving it. Maybe some would like it.
I actually expected the pre-serum thing to take off more quickly than it has but it hasn’t. I do think the Sulwhasoo one is quite nice and I used to like Dior’s One Essential but their new formula breaks me out so I’m off all that now. There were so many raves for this one pre-launch and worldwide I had high hopes for it. Didn’t work for me unfortunately.
Don’t totally get the idea od pre-serum (still in my twenties so don’t know, can’t say) but the bottle is really pretty and eye-catching!
Yes, the bottle is stunning! But you’re right, perhaps you’re still a little young to use a pre-serum LOL 😀 Enjoy it while you can!
For me, the skin immunity is just their marketing tool. As long as your body overall immune system is strong n good. The skin will look good too. Such as our lymphatic system which is one of the immune system that helps to detoxifying can make our skin healthier.
That’s how I feel too Ryann. I didn’t quite buy into the whole skin having a different immunity from the rest of the body or being able to separately boost it. It just sounds a little out there doesn’t it?
I am using this since 5 days and I think that something is changing in my skin. I do not agree with saying that skin has not a differnt immune system than our body. I mean, of course if your health is good your skin will also be good, but not always. I think this product will be very good for those who have problem skin, even Shiseido has decided non to say it: it contains perilla and thymus, two ingredients that have antibacterial properties and Paris as weel experienced less breakout during last month. Hey that’s a result, how can you say it does nothing?
A foreign or unknown substance can set of a reaction in cells called hypersensitivity and then in turn a chemical reaction in the body starts to take place to isolate and fight the unknown substance – however after a short period of time your skin can usually become accustomed to the majority of substances we expose our skin to (or if not, then people take anti-histamines because histamine is one of these chemicals that the body releases when skin is irritated and ‘under attack). Something which is ‘anti-bacterial’ works in a different way – so do those two ingredients fight bacteria or do they stimulate the skin to start releasing specific chemicals in some way? This isn’t made clear by Shiseido.
Everyones skin reacts different to particular products and ingredients – so just because this product works for you doesn’t mean it will work for everyone.
Hey Lucia, it’s good to know that you’re liking this serum and that it’s working for your skin. The thing is, I don’t have problematic skin nor acneprone skin so this product actually broke me out, not the other way around. There may have been a little misunderstanding there. For me therefore, I didn’t see any significant results after a month’s use except for some mild breakouts but I will not discount that it could work for someone else, as you’ve shared 🙂
I just don’t get how a product full of silicons can be used as a PRE-serum.
I received a bottle of Lancome’s Vsionnaire serum and it also contains silicone and mica – so I actually use it a makeup primer if I am staying indoors (as opposed to a sunscreen). No wonder that after your first application of the serum people comment that their skin feels ‘smooth’ (silicone) and looks brighter (thanks to the mica)! Such trickery 😛 This doesn’t mean that other ingredients can’t then penetrate the skin (if they are found in the same serum/formula) but I wish companies made this clear!
I did think of that too Sasha, when I saw the ingredient list! 😛
I personally don’t buy into their ‘helps to strengthen your langerhans cells’ blah blah BS. I find that so many brands are making these ‘false promises’ these days when they release products ( *cough* genifique got sued *cough*)<– hint. Anyways, when I first looked at it's ingredient list when I was at their counter, I was taken aback by the high content of alcohol, but I still got a few samples to try anyways.
It truly makes the skin feel more 'hydrated' and anything that layers on top of it feel more 'go into skin', if you know what I mean. But after a few breakouts later, my theory was that your skin feels more 'hydrated' etc due to the alcohol content sucking your skin dry beforehand, hence causing you to feel more 'oomph' in your serums/moisturizers that you layer after it.
Oh, and I would like to add a comment to Lucia's comment above: that thymus and perilla extracts does have anti-inflammatory properties, but being that it's not listed high on the ingredient list (which means it's content is not high), it's antioxidant/ anti-inflammatory benefit is not as potent (high). [Journal of Agricultural food Chemistry, March 2002, pg.1845]. note: half of it's ingredient list from the top to the middle are made out of thickeners and fillers+ water.
I know, most of us don’t have any idea what they’re on about and the regular woman on the street would quite easily buy into the hype. I experienced the same thing you did. That it seems to make the skin feel nicer initially but oh dear, breakouts thereafter like me too and I’m not even sensitive to alcohol 😛 Thanks for the scientific info and for looking at the ingredient list as well, Robert!
A foreign or unknown substance can set of a reaction in cells called hypersensitivity and then in turn a chemical reaction in the body starts to take place to isolate and fight the unknown substance – however after a short period of time your skin can usually become accustomed to the majority of substances we expose our skin to (or if not, then people take anti-histamines because histamine is one of these chemicals that the body releases when skin is irritated and ‘under attack). Something which is ‘anti-bacterial’ works in a different way – so do those two ingredients fight bacteria or do they stimulate the skin to start releasing specific chemicals in some way? This isn’t made clear by Shiseido.
Everyones skin reacts different to particular products and ingredients – so just because this product works for you doesn’t mean it will work for everyone.
Ooops – this was in reply to a comment above 🙂
Thanks for the scientific breakdown Beauty Bee 😀
I got some samples to try from the counter. I will let you know how I like it x
Do! I’d love to know how you like/dislike this 🙂
I think i rather indulge on a face oil like the Melvita one or the Neal’s Yard Remedies Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil. Right now, I’m really enjoying these two. Makes me look forward to my skincare routine every evening.
I love my facial oils too! Seems to keep my skin looking and feeling more balanced which is ultimately what we need
A pre-serum… I flip flop from being really diligent with my skincare routine, to being really lazy. Adding another product into my routine may be too much.
I really do like Shiseido products, but I have pretty sensitive skin. I’d definitely want to test this out first, before I take the plunge and purchase this.
I think their counters worldwide should have samples so if you already like using Shiseido products then it’ll be good to give this a go. Doesn’t add that much more time in terms of skincare steps, so if you work out that you like then I’m sure you’ll be able to incorporate it one way or another 😉
Well I had used up quite a few bottles together with the ultimune eye serum and also combined together with the Bio Performance Serum the results are good for my sensitive skin and I also used it together with th Future SolutionRegenerating serum at night. The results are superb