If there is one country that I have no qualms about taking complexion counseling from, it’s Japan — you will never find an enlarged pore on actress Rinko Kikuchi from Babel, or a blackhead on newly crowned Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori.
The Japanese are known not only for their luminous complexions but their skincare products as well. Just like Kosé’s Sekkisei: this series of skincare products is designed to brighten the complexion by minimizing the appearance of age spots and sun damage as well as preventing future melanin formation.
Inspired by the beauty, brightness and purity that snow represents, Sekkisei, made its debut in 1985 with the Medicated Lotion. This decision is, in fact, perfectly in tune with the company’s mantra that the first step to a gorgeous face is skin white as snow.
My Japanese friend, Reiko Ishizawa, former brand manager of Sekkisei introduced me to the brand a few years ago. At first, there were only a few steps to getting rid of skin imperfections. But every year, they keep adding more products because the brand believes that skin brightening is a ritual.
I have been using Sekkisei for three years now and I must say that my skin has never looked brighter. It is not about transforming your skin into a white J-pop princess. It is more of removing dullness, preventing freckles caused by sunburn and maintaining a healthy skin condition in a gentle manner.
Perhaps the secret to bright and beautiful skin lies in the ingredients. Sekkisei uses ancient recipes derived from Japanese and Chinese herbs to aid you in the bright fight. All the products are infused with the following herbs: Japanese Plectranthus extract (removes active oxygen), Bracket Fungus extract (fights aging), Coix Seed extract (prevents skin roughness), Angelica extract (moisturizes skin), Melothria extract (brightens skin), Citrus Tachibana Peel extract (suppresses melanin production) and Poria extract (hydrates and detoxifies skin).
The great thing about Sekkisei is that the brand has made skin brightening into an art form. With the Excellent Series, you get double the concentration of oriental herbs that combines both brightening and anti-aging benefits for a better complexion.
So, here are four key products from the Sekkisei Excellent series for snowy white and bright skin.
An enriched whitening lotion, the Sekkisei Lotion Excellent is an intensive toner that provides moisturizing, anti-aging and brightening benefits. Packed with Oriental herbal extracts and antioxidants, I liked that it easily absorbed on my skin leaving it deeply moisturized and firm.
To hydrate the skin even more, use Sekkisei Emulsion Excellent. With just two pumps, this creamy lotion-like moisturizer targets dark spots, freckles and damaged-skin problems caused by sun exposure. When I used this product, I said goodbye to roughness because my skin texture became smoother.
Prevention is also needed in skin whitening. Sekkisei Recovery Essence Excellent is a whitening essence that helps the skin recover from accumulated sun damage while preventing the dark spots and wrinkles associated with aging. I love that the pink essence not only smelled good but it also replenished the essential moisture that my skin needed to stay nourished and hydrated.
My favorite product from the line is the Sekkisei Cream Excellent. As an enchanting cream that nourishes and fights the signs of time, it also intensively moisturizes the skin in a flash. This rich yet lightweight cream easily absorbs into the skin and gives a luminous complexion. Apply a pearl-size amount over the face and notice that it forms a protective shield on the skin to prevent roughness and dryness for hours.
Sekkisei’s collection of creamy cohorts will help you demolish the very suggestion of a dark spot. Using an arsenal of melanin zappers and the ancient knowledge of Oriental herbs, their exclusive technology helps keep things on the bright side.
The skin will definitely shine like snowflakes.
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Sekkisei products are available at Rustan’s Essenses.