KOSÉ Sekkisei Supreme Refining Lotion I

Posted by: beautyknot on: August 8, 2009

• In: Lotion/Toner | Mask | Product Review
• 16 Comments

 

I thought I’d never return to Kose Sekkisei again, an incident happen few months ago had changed my mind. Firstly, I’ve learnt that alcohol is a necessary solvent for some oriental herb ingredients, so completely avoid alcohol is not a good idea if you love oriental herb skincare. Secondly, I had major broke out in early May, either hormonal or caused by cosmetics, everything I’ve couldn’t stop and heal the red bumps in 3 weeks, until I recalled I still have 40ml of Sekkisei lotion nestled inside my drawer. So I saturated the Sekkisei lotion on a cotton pad, tore to 4 layers and placed on acne spots after cleansing. It was unbelievable that the acnes was immediately calm down on the night, at least they didn’t look ‘angry’ anymore. By doing so for 3 nights continuosly, the acnes completely flatten but not healed, only drawback is it made my nose flaky.

 

The incident had explained why I checked out at Kose counter again, find out about their 2009 newly-launched Sekkisei Supreme line. Sekkisei Supreme Refining Lotion has both I and II for different skin type, type I (moist) for oily to combination skin, were type II (very moist) is for normal to dry skin, which contains alcohol as second ingredient also and mineral oil in middle. Due to my skin became oilier in summer, so I got the type I.

 

The consistency of the lotion is watery, semi-opaque, pleasant floral fragranced but very perfumery, has strong alcohol smell like Sekkisei lotion. Essentially, the credit of this lotion is brightening. When I  used the lotion in summer morning, it absorbed quickly, subsequent skincare are also absorbed faster than usual and T-zone also less oily. It didn’t irritate my sensitive skin except caused dehydration when I used it daily.

 

Aqua stretch mask time

 

The sales assistant gave me 2 pieces of Aqua Stretch Mask for working together with the Supreme Refining Lotion. Totally love the cotton sheet mask! It was really soft like baby hair, too bad it was not for sell. The mask is quite mini-sized, but can be fully stretchable to sturdy fit the individual face. Try to  avoid eye area for the very strong alcohol might irritate eye. After 10 mins application, to my amaze, my complexion was so radiant, refresh and dewy! Exactly as Kose claims, refine, hydrate and replenish! I never expected a high alcohol level toner could deliver such wonderful result because some paper mask or cream cannot even achieve that. The bright complexion was  sustainable for entire day but side effect included vivid broken capillaries.

 

Due to my sensitive skin and the alcohol content of lotion, I  preferred using the lotion for weekly mask treatment with Kose lotion mask (though result far far away from the Aqua Stretch Mask), but avoid when my skin is more sensitive. For acne care (although I hardly have one now), saturate a cotton pad with the lotion completely, split the damp cotton pad into 4 pieces, and place on targeted spot for 10-15 minutes. The cotton pads should be still very wet after the application. The refining lotion neither calm down the acne nor heal the acne, may be help to fade the acne scars. Guess Sekkisei lotion is better for acne care but is more drying.

 

Cotton pad mask demo

 

Using Sekkisei Supreme refining lotion as weekly mask is quite expensive by doing so, but that is effective to me and I only do this in summer. I have used whole range of Kose Sekkisei previously, I agree with Kose “Snow Bright Skin” promise as well as the brightening promise from the Sekkisei Supreme Refining Lotion. Bought the Sekkisei Supreme Refining Lotion at special promotional price 1260 baht for 230ml, normal retail price is 1850 baht.

 

Rating: ….)))    Good. Unlikely to buy again.

 

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Alcohol, Glycerin, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Water, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Melothria Heterophylla Root Extract, Polygonum Tinctorium Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, DI-C12-15 Pareth-8 Phosphate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance (Parfum).

 

Kose Aqua Stretch Mask

Before (left) and After (right)

Close view of the mask's texture

Using cotton pad with lotion