Shiseido BENEFIANCE Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask Review

A concentrated treatment sheet mask that encourages skin's natural recovery function and provides a rich infusion of moisture to help improve texture. Restores youthful suppleness and radiance with a single application.

• Developed with Shiseido-original Pure Liquid Retinol Delivery System, to penetrate skin rapidly and help combat wrinkles, dryness, and dullness.
• Formulated with aquatic plant extract Chlorella, a skin-vitality enhancer.
• Contains Hydroxyproline, a high-technology amino acid that parallels skin's own natural building blocks of collagen.

Shiseido always make great products, and this one is no exception. The box comes with 4 masks packaged individually. There's the top mask and the bottom mask making it easier to put on and take off than most mask sheets.

I used this after the shower and it gave me a nice "glow". My face looked hydrated and fresh. I think it's always hard to judge a mask, because most of the time you can't really see a difference, especially when it's an anti-aging mask. However, if you're into anti-aging, you know retinol is a good anti-aging ingredient.

I use prescription strength Retin-A (tretinoin) gel everyday and I've always seen retinol as a less effective and weaker version of Retin-A, even though they are distinctly different. Retin-A can only be obtained if your dermatologist write you a perspection and Retinol products can be purchased in stores. Both are used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, but different.

I think this is a decent mask, but I couldn't stand the scent of the mask. Shiseido products usually smell great, but for some reason I felt like I had an old lady's overly perfumed wet blanket on my face the entire time. I almost wanted to take it off immediately, but for the sake of writing an review for it, I stuck it out.

I use Retin-A gel on a nightly basis so I don't feel the need of adding this mask to my regular routine. Also, it is the price of my Retin-A prescription so I'd rather spend the money on that. I do think there are better masks on the market, and because of the dismal scent, I am not going to recommend this. This is solely based on the scent alone and the fact that I already use Rein-A gel on a nightly basis.

If you want to try it, you can. As I mentioned, Shiseido make great products so it's really up to your personal needs.

Also, I want to mention that if you have very sensitive skin, you might want to avoid reintol products. It can irritate some sensitive skin.

Verdict: Skip it/ try it
Shiseido BENEFIANCE Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask is $62.50
Read more on their website- http://www.shiseido.com/benefiance-pure-retinol-intensive-revitalizing-face-mask/0729238191075,default,pd.html

WHITE LUCENT LINE REVIEW

Shiseido is Japanese brand that is now everywhere in the world. They use great clean ingredients and are always great for sensitive skin. One thing that many people don't know is that this is a great line for Asian skin. If you are Asian and are looking for a new line of products to try, I would definitely put this on the list.

I've purchased the entire set one time when they packaged them in a basket. I thought all the products were great and they felt great on the skin. The one product I would like to point out is the Intensive Spot Targeting Serum. I don't have any sun spots on my skin ,but this helped even out my overall complexion. Whitening/Brightening and Anti-aging are two things that will make your face look young, hence why all those Asian women are driving around with those crazy visors that cover the entire face while wearing gloves in the Summer.

I do like the night cream, I think it's a great cream to use if you spend a lot of time in the sun during the day. It prohibits melanin from forming dark spots on your skin and heals your skin overnight from the damage it was exposed to during the day. 

There's a saying in Chinese that basically says a whiter complexion hides 3 flaws, and I do believe this to be true. It is easier to hide wrinkle and lines when you have a whiter complexion. Tans and darker skin tend to make your lines and wrinkles more prominent. 

There are many whitening/brightening lines on the market, but they are not so popular in the US, because people here love to be tanned. La Mer even launched a Brightening line few years ago and eventually pulled it because it wasn't selling here. They are launching it again in the States this year.

So the bottom line is if you are looking for a whitening line, this is a decent start. If you are looking for something a little bit more intense, go for SKII. They are known as THE brand for whitening your face among the Asian community.
 

Here are some of the ingredients in the line-

• M-Tranexamic acid and Yomogi extract targets persistent spots where over-active melanocytes produce excess melanin.
• Shiseido-original whitening ingredient 4MSK helps diminish the activity of the enzyme tyrosinase to reduce melanin production.
• Vitamin C reduces from the precursor of melanin, the colourless DHICA.
• Super Hydro-Synergy Complex replenishes moisture and improves skin texture. Skin also captures light more easily.
• Glucosyl Hesperidine helps support better microcirculation.

Verdict: Try it! (Especially the Serum)

Read more on their website- http://www.shiseido.com/white-lucent/skincare-whitelucent,default,sc.html