We’re big proponents of incorporating oils in skin care: Like the traditional Chinese proverb exhorting the fighting of poison with poison, “good” oils are the best medium for removing excess “bad” oils.
Case in point: Shu Uemura’s Porefinist Anti-Shine Fresh Cleansing Oil, a light-as-air botanical blend of floral and herbal oils that the Japanese prestige beauty brand says will rejig out-of-control sebum production for a visibly refined visage.
Formulated to address the concerns of oiler skin, Shu Uemura proffers pretty impressive figures to back up their new product: In a study conducted on Asian women, a month of twice-daily use saw a 36 percent reduction in “keratotic plugs”, or blackheads in lay people speak, as well as a 24 percent reduction in sebum secretion.
Here’s how it works. The new cleanser is an ingenious emulsion made up of water molecules suspended in essential fatty acids, which Shu Uemura says have been carefully selected for their ability to ease apart the sticky gruel of dead skin and waterproof makeup resting atop our skin.
Meanwhile, new ingredients like cinnamon bark extract, said to cut through excess grease, and cherry extract, a natural exfoliator that supports the sloughing off of dead skin, have been introduced into the mix for a fresher cleansing experience. Sakura leaf extract, a potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent, calms angry red skin and zeros in on zits before they’re even formed.
Application makes for an incredibly lush and relaxing ritual, with the oil’s silky texture gliding over our face like the finest cashmere. Imbued with a subtle alpine lavender and orange blossom scent, use this as you would any other oil-based cleanser. Gently massage into dry skin using the palm of your hands, splash with warm water to emulsify, then rinse off thoroughly. Time to ditch the dated mentality that all oils are bad for your skin!
Shu Uemura Porefinist Anti-Shine Fresh Cleansing Oil, $50 for 150 ml, is available from March 2014 at all Shu Uemura counters. For more information, visit www.shuuemura.com.sg and follow Shu Uemura Singapore on Facebook.