Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask

Where I got it

I was visiting the newly refurbished Farmers in Botany Town Centre and getting some more skincare for my husband as he is running low. The lovely Asian lady there speaks the same language and we just really hit it off. Right away I asked her if there are any gift-with-purchases lately and she said she would be able to give me something if I buy at least two items. So I picked up a moisturizer and a hydrating lotion for my husband and she gave my husband a full-sized men’s cleanser (turns out it was part of the Father’s day promo leftovers, but it is still a full-size product!). I also picked up two items – a day emulsion from the White Lucent range and this retinol sheet mask from the Benefiance range. What I will review in this post is the retinol sheet mask and it was $102 for a set of 4 masks. These are available at Farmers and Life Pharmacy ($100 for 4 sets).

What I got

This is the Shiseido Benefiance Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask (4 sets).  Total luxury for the skin. Now, from the world-renowned expert in vitalizing the appearance of the skin, comes the ultimate in privileged care for mature skin. Shiseido Benefiance is a highly indulgent, high-performance skincare line that combines the best of over a century of achievements in dermatological research with luxurious, sensually pleasing formulations. Targeting the causes of skin dehydration and signs of fatigue, this comprehensive collection works in synergy with the skin’s own natural rhythms to help defend against signs of premature aging and provide unprecedented skincare benefits. At once, skin is awakened to its fullest potential and infused with a surge of new beauty.

Ingredients: WATER (AQUA)･BUTYLENE GLYCOL･PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAETHYLHEXANOATE･DIPHENYLSILOXY PHENYL TRIMETHICONE･GLYCERIN･DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL･ALCOHOL DENAT.･BETAINE･PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL･PHENOXYETHANOL･METHYLPARABEN･SODIUM CITRATE･CARBOMER･FRAGRANCE (PARFUM)･BHT･SQUALANE･TOCOPHERYL ACETATE･XANTHAN GUM･POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE･RETINOL･POLYSORBATE 20･CITRIC ACID･ALCOHOL･TRISODIUM EDTA･ARGININE HCl･MAGNESIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE･GLUCOSYL HESPERIDIN･BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL･HEXYL CINNAMAL･ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE･LINALOOL･LIMONENE･CITRONELLOL･PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT･GERANIOL･SODIUM ACETYLATED HYALURONATE･HYDROXYPROLINE･RUBUS SUAVISSIMUS (RASPBERRY) LEAF EXTRACT･CHLORELLA VULGARIS EXTRACT･BETA-CAROTENE (CI 75130)･

How I find it

Initially, this wasn’t what I wanted to get in the first place. I was given a sample of the face mask from the Vital Perfection range which is a single sheet of the mask with a V-shaped mask that goes on top of the face mask and hooks around the ears. I really enjoyed that mask, but turns out they are pretty expensive at $230 for 6 sets of masks (around $38 per treatment). Moreover, the Shiseido lady said the Vital Perfection range is more for ages over 45 and I would be better with the Benefiance range for now. So I decided I will try this one since it is cheaper as well.

Not sure why the mask has come in two packets – one for the top and one for the bottom. Honestly, it is just extra packaging and they could easily fit both masks into the same packet even if they wanted to separate these. Personally, I would always mask my whole face instead of just doing the top half or bottom half. Nevertheless, this mask is designed to be used at nighttime because it is an intensive retinol mask.

Each sheet of mask is a really good quality cloth mask – not too thin and not too thick. The serum in these masks is also just the right amount with a little extra in the packet. The mask serum is white in colour – almost like a light lotion. The mask sheet applies easily without dripping, slipping, and sliding around. I put the lower part first, and then the upper half overlapping some areas. The cutting of the mask is great with no extra bits on my temples or nose area, it was a perfect fit! I used the extra mask serum on my neck and chest area and it was not sticky and absorbed fully within a few minutes. The sheet mask does contain fragrance, but it is not too strong and not offensive.

I left the mask on for 15 minutes and when it comes to removal, the mask was drying out on the outside, but on the inside, it was still quite moist. I rubbed the rest of the mask over my neck and chest area again before disposing of it. My skin looked glowing from the serum and I just left the product to be fully absorbed. It just felt like lotion on my skin waiting to be absorbed, and after about 10 minutes, my skin feels comfortable without the need for moisturiser.

The morning after, my skin feels plump and moisturised, without feeling dehydrated or extra greasy. I wash my face in the morning and there was no film over my skin that I need to wash off. All the product was absorbed into my skin. I have no redness or irritation from the mask and my skincare and makeup went on effortlessly in the morning.

Overall 

I would say after one treatment, but the skin looked and felt great, but I did not see all my pigmentation and fine lines disappear. I don’t think retinol works overnight, but continuous use of retinol would definitely help. An intensive sheet mask is great for a weekly boost. If you are new to retinol, I would say test patch first because it is a potent ingredient. Even though it is not as strong as retinoic acid, it can still cause irritation to sensitive skin or when your skin is new to retinol. You would use this once a week and avoid any other strong acids before and after this mask and make sure you wear minimum SPF30 during the day. If you are pregnant, you should not be using retinol. After going through the ingredients list in a little bit more scrutiny, perfume is higher up in the list than retinol, so I am not that impressed. However, fragrance/perfum should not really be the devil in skincare because it does give you that nice sensorial experience and not everyone is allergic to fragrance. If you are sensitive to fragrance, just beware.