KOSÉ SEKKISEI Trial Kit Review x Butterfly Project Malaysia

When I heard that Butterfly Project Malaysia is teaming up with KOSÉ Malaysia to do a review on the KOSÉ SEKKISEI trialkit (worth RM99) I just had to jump on the bandwagon. The reason being, having tried so many skincare in the market, I could still remember the first time I tried the KOSÉ whitening mask and cleanser at a roadshow, I immediately bought the set that time as it was that good.

They even send us the product for review in a bigger than life box, lovingly filled with balloons and a heart shaped helium one. KOSÉ knows how to make a girl happy for sure. I still felt the surprise element even though I had seen this same box on Tammy’s youtube.

Check out the BIG BOX!

I made another video on the simple steps of how to use the 5 items in the trialkit. The trialkit consists of :

• SEKKISEI White Liquid Wash 20ml
• SEKKISEI Lotion 100ml
• SEKKISEI Emulsion 70ml
• SEKKISEI Clear Whitening Mask 10g
• Bihadagoyomi mask 3pcs
• Exclusive Setsuko pouch (kimono style or city chic style) I got the city chic style one.

There’s an instruction card that comes with the set.

It was my first time using the Lotion with Bihadagoyomi mask and since then, I realised that that was the perfect method to use any lotion or toner. More on my thoughts on each of the product below.

SEKKISEI White Liquid Wash 20ml
When I first got this, I thought it was so small, only 20ml. However, when I started using it, I realised I only needed one pump and add some warm water and it can lather up very well and wash the whole face.

The great thing about this cleanser is, it is taurine-based thus it doesn’t strip away the moisture of the skin, instead, it cleans and hydrates really well. It contains Rubus Suavissmums Extract to enhance skin dullness and soothes UV damage. I usually use this after my makeup remover and I sometimes use a facial brush with the cleanser as I have lots of open pores and all the makeup just get stuck inside, so I do spend extra time during cleansing. The texture is white and milky, non sticky. It doesn’t have a strong fragrance so that is a plus point too. After washing, the skin is not tight and dry.

This is the SEKKISEI White Liquid Wash (140ml/RM131.40) full sized product bottle, using a pump which I prefer too.

SEKKISEI Lotion is really their bestseller. It works like a toner or essence. The lotion contains special ingredients selected from over 100 types of oriental plants. I usually just put some on my palms and dab all over my face after cleansing, although the instructions say to use a cotton pad which is fine too. The fine-textured hydrating lotion balances out skin’s moisture levels, prevents dullness, soothes redness and more. The colour is transparent, just like water and really, there aren’t much smell to it too. The special tip is the Bihadagoyomi mask.

The Bihadagoyomi mask is in the form of a pill or tablet, 3 pcs al-together in the trial kit. KOSÉ’s tip: For instant hydration, place a bihadagoyomi mask into the cap and pour SEKKISEI Lotion until the mask tablet puffs up. Place on face for 10 minutes and notice instantly hydrated skin!

The good thing about the sheet mask is it is super thin, maybe something like tissue paper that doesn’t tear easily rather than the usual sheet mask material that is more towards clothe. Due to this, it doesn’t need to soak up that much lotion compared to some others that might empty up your half bottle of precious lotion. The size of the mask is also big enough to cover my face, another plus point. I have a big face, what to do right. Using the lotion this way gives my skin 10x higher moisture than just dabbing it coz that way the lotion evaporates too quickly into the air rather than being absorbed into the skin. This method is recommended to be done day and night after cleansing if first starting out for at least a week. Then maybe it can be done 2-3 times a week. I find that doing this makes the skin smoother and makeup stays on much longer too.

The full sized product SEKKISEI Lotion (200ml/RM180.20, 360ml/RM275.60)

After the lotion, then I use the SEKKISEI EMULSION. This moisturiser has a light texture and absorbs easily and quickly deep into the skin. It is known to prevent freckles which I have a lot on my eye area, dark spots and dryness. It contains ingredients like Inula Britanica Flower, Chinese Pearl Barley, Paeonia Albiflora Root, Melothria Heterophylla and Angelica that can help reveal a more translucent complexion.

To use this, I also just do one full pump onto my palms and swipe it across my face in upwards motion. Amazingl again, a little goes a long way. Did you know there are many good Japanese anti-aging face massage out there, just google them. They are easy to do with this moisturizer as it is creamy yet not sticky and doesn’t dry up so quickly that there is nothing on your face to massage with.

The full size product is double the size of the trial kit SEKKISEI Emulsion (140ml/RM191.80).

Once or twice a week, I used the SEKKISEI Clear Whitening Mask. The first time I used it I was like, hey it’s black in colour but it’s for whitening! Well, it’s due to the nano-sized black powder in the ingredient, together with Chinese Quince Extract that inhibits sebum production and a blend of oriental plant extracts to deliver the whitening benefits.

To use this, I just spread a thin layer all over the face but avoiding the lips and eye brows, after all later I have to peel it right. Imagine the eyebrows being pulled, ouch. After the mask dries, just gently peel it off from outer area of the face to inwards. This mask is able to remove dullness and dead skin cell, brighten and hydrate all at the same time. If there is black heads, I think it can pull it out too. The process doesn’t take too long, and it’s quite a nice feeling when peeling it and feeling like a whole layer of whatever dead skin and blackheads is removed! I would use this mask after cleansing and AFTER the mask, proceed to the Lotion and Emulsion as above.

This trialkit is perfect for those who want to try out KOSE for the first time but not sure if it suits you, then just try this and you’ll find out. I love that the pricing is quite budget with 5 different things inside and the Lotion and Emulsion is not exactly small in size. I had been using this since before CNY and it’s not even half the bottle gone yet. So it definitely can last more than a month.

Fans of can also get their hands on one-of-a-kind SEKKISEI Sakura editions of their favourite products: SEKKISEI Lotion Sakura Design (500ml/RM331.70) and SEKKISEI Kit Sakura Design (Lotion 140ml, Emulsion 70ml, Lotion Mask 1pc/RM150).

The sun protection is another crucial skincare step, just mentioning it here since sunscreen is possibly the most important step when you don’t have time for anything else.

SEKKISEI Sun Protect Essence Gel SPF50+/PA++++ (80g/RM98) and Milk SPF50+/PA++++ (60g/RM105)
It comes in two range, ultra-mild sun protection in the form of a gel or a milk. The improved formula contains double the amount of Coix Seed extract, and is enriched with dullness-combatting ingredients like Peony Root Bark and oriental minerals.

I have sensitive acne prone skin with enlarged pores, this range has helped my skin stay hydrated so that sebum is not produced so much as usual, and also the mildness helped so I didn’t have any breakouts. I also found the no fragrance use kind and gentle for skin type. I am still on the lookout for some product that can really banish acne 100% but I guess that kind of thing takes time! Meanwhile, I really need to drink more water and sleep earlier to see better improvements to my skin, not to mention take more fruits too. Masaaki Hara, Managing Director of KOSÉ Malaysia, commented, “I believe that a good skincare regime not only benefits the complexion, but also improves one’s mood.” That is so true, while taking time to pamper my skin, I will also be in a better mood with the refreshed feeling.

For more information about SEKKISEI and its new special edition trial kit, follow KOSÉ Malaysia on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/kose.malaysia) or visit the KOSÉ Malaysia website at www.kose.com.my.