Shiseido Pureness

After finishing up my product review for the Shiseido Benefiance Concentrated Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream, I'm actually quite surprised that I do not have any Shiseido products on my HG list.  Actually, I'm quite surprised that I don't feel a great sense of loyalty to the brand given how many product lines and products I've owned and used.  And now that I recall, in 2004 and 2005 the only skin care products I used were Shiseido products.  

In 2004 I bought the Shiseido Pureness product line under the recommendation of an acquaintance who was suffering from oily and acne-prone skin, although he seemed to have his acne under control at the time.  I can't really recall exactly how much everything cost, but for a set of cleanser, toner, moisturizer, spot treatment, and blotting sheets, I don't think I went over $200.00 (I can't remember and don't take my word on this).  The Pureness line is targeted toward adolescents and young adults, so I think their pricing is targeted toward those who haven't embarked on their career path yet.  

I'm not about to go out and repurchase everything that I have used for the sake of doing a product review, but I will do a brief overview of the products I have used from the Pureness line and include any comments about the product, if I remember.

Cleansers

  

Foaming Cleansing Fluid, 150 ml

For oily, combination and normal skin types

Liquid cleanser transforms into airy lather, gently removing pore-clogging impurities, makeup and oil that can lead to imperfections. Leaves skin silky smooth and comfortable.

This is actually a very gentle and refreshing cleanser.  But after I got 1/2 way through the bottle, I felt a little dissatisfied because it doesn't have any exfoliants in it.  My skin felt as though it needed a top layer to be sloughed off.  So I went and purchased:

  

Deep Cleansing Foam, 100 ml

For oily and blemish-prone skin types

An ultra-fresh foam with blue purifying granules, this rich lathering foam lifts away the pore-clogging impurities, makeup and oil that can lead to imperfections. Feels gentle and cool.

This felt much better for my skin, even on an everyday morning and night routine.  I ended up going through 2 of these.

Softeners (Shiseido does not call these "toners")

Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free, 150 ml

A refreshing alcohol-free lotion that brings new radiance, softness, and balance to blemish-prone skin. Lightly rehydrates and leaves skin smooth and comfortable.

･Formulated with a botanical extract, Palo Azul.

･NON-COMEDOGENIC.

I never used this with a cotton pad because I always felt that for the price I paid I shouldn't be wasting most of the softener on a piece of cotton.

Moisturizers

Mattifying Moisturizer Oil-Free, 50 ml

A lightweight moisturizer, with oil-absorbing powder, that helps reduce surface shine as it provides exceptional hydration to skin. Feels refreshing and ultra-sheer.

･Protects the skin's natural moisture balance with Shiseido-exclusive ingredient Hydro-Balancing Complex*, containing botanical extract Palo Azul.

･NON-COMEDOGENIC.

This really did mattify my skin for the mornings, but by the afternoon my skin had started to look dewey-bordering-on-shiny.  One of the things I didn't like about this product was that if I didn't wash my hands after applying this to my face, I would get a grimey sensation on my hands similar to when you move a lot of things around and your hands get dirty.  I think that sensation was caused by the mattifying powder in the moisturizer collecting themselves in the groove of my fingerprint.

Moisturizing Gel-Cream, 40 ml

A lightweight creamy gel that moisturizes, soften, and refines skin as it promotes a healthy-looking radiance. Leaves skin feeling dewy fresh.

･Protects the skin's natural moisture balance with Shiseido-exclusive ingredients Hydro-Balancing Complex, containing botanical Extract Palo Azul.

･NON-COMEDOGENIC.

I really liked this moisturizer a lot.  I just wished then as I do now that this came in a squeeze tube or pump bottle.

Targeted Treatments

Oil Control Blotting Paper, 100 sheets

Handy sheets freshen skin and erase shine on contact. A powerful oil-absorbing ingredient, Hydroxyapatite, provides the power to absorb sebum, as well as lipid peroxide.

Knowing what I know now about oil blotting papers (see this post), I would say I overpaid for these.  Granted, Shiseido's oil blotting papers are bigger than your average blotters.  However, I distinctly remember not liking these because they had powder on the sheets to help blot and mattify your skin.  But the powder would get clogged up in the grooves of my finger prints, which would leave me with a grimey feeling.

Blemish Clearing Gel, 15 ml

A clear quick-absorbing gel that minimizes the appearance of blemishes as it purifies and refreshes skin.

･Formulated with salicylic acid to calm and soothe skin.

･Helps prevent the appearance of blemishes.

･NON-COMEDOGENIC.

I actually liked this a great deal.  This worked great on soothing those hot, painful, under-the-skin cystic acne.  I don't know if it really helped them come up to the surface or go away, but for those hot and painful acne, this gel really worked to cool them down and soothe that area.  The only thing I didn't like about this gel was the cap and the type of bottle it was.  It should have been in a squeeze tube or a pump, or even a jar, but not this type of semi-hard plastic bottle where squeezing the gel out would be difficult.  

LOL, walking down memory lane really has me itching to retry some of these products.  ^_^