Love it: Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer

I am loving what the Shiseido brand is doing lately – it is taking a super fresh and modern approach to beauty that is so unlike many of its big brand peers, and it is seriously paying off for them. 

After disrupting the cosmetic category in 2018 with the relaunch of SHISEIDO Makeup, the brand has turned its attention to complexion, and unsurprisingly – they have done that very well. Renowned for its pioneering innovations and distinctly Japanese vision that seamlessly fuses art with science, the higher ups at the brand turned to the company’s extensive skincare heritage in order to break new ground in the foundation category. “Formulating products that help create a flawless face is at the heart of everything we do at Shiseido,” said Yoshiaki Okabe, Chief Brand Officer. “Our latest launches effectively bridge the gap between skincare and makeup.”

Consisting of seven products, two brushes, and 73 shades, the Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing collection features weightless formulas that automatically adapt, react, and self-refresh so that users can achieve that elusive fresh finish from morning to night. The absolutely heavenly tools made to accompany the new range were also influenced by ancient Japanese beauty rituals refined over centuries for a truly effortless application, and have to be used to be believed.

The core products in the lineup - Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation and Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer – both work brilliantly thanks to what Shiseido calls ActiveForce Technology. Developed in their own laboratories, ActiveForce Technology allows these second-skin formulas to resist humidity, respond to heat, rebound from facial movement, absorb oil, and diffuse light for a just-applied look that lasts all day. There is seriously no creasing, no flaking and no pilling with either formula, and they last and last. “Always a pioneer in the beauty space, the latest launches are a true expression of the brand’s cutting-edge Japanese science,” said Gail Boye, Senior Vice President of Global Product Development for Shiseido Makeup, and they look heavenly too.

Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer is the beauty that I’ve been playing with first after receiving some samples, and despite the one I have not being a perfect colour match for my skin tone, I adore it. The ultimate multitasker, this very clever concealer camouflages dark circles, blemishes, and other imperfections without adding weight, as well as so much more. The curved doe-foot applicator holds the perfect amount of product and hugs the contours of the face for an ultra-smooth application, and it seriously hangs around all day. Smudge-proof, humidity-resistant, sweat-resistant, and crease-resistant, it doesn’t settle into fine lines and is so lightweight that it feels like wearing nothing at all. In addition to creating a protective veil that prevents pollution from adhering to skin, it also contains wild thyme extract to combat free radicals and what Shiseido calls ‘Smart Correcting Powder’ to enhance the skin’s texture and tone. With my delivery I got a few great J-Beauty tips for using the products, and with the concealer came this: “To colour correct and counteract dark circles on fairer complexions, reach for a peachier shade. Use a red-toned shade on deeper skin tones for a similar effect”. They also said that you can use the new concealer formula to highlight or contour, by using a shade a step or two lighter or darker than your complexion. And thanks to its crease-proof properties, this concealer also doubles as an eye shadow base. Magic!

I’ve been using the Shiseido TSUTSU FUDE Concealer Brush with the concealer to target small areas of the face and hide blemishes, and it is just a joy to wield. It comes with Hidden Core Technology that allows the cylinder-shaped brush to build flawless coverage using only a small amount of product. The small, tapered tip fits perfectly into tight areas around the eyes and nose for precise application, and it can also be used to blend eye shadow or apply highlighter to the Cupid’s bow, bridge of the nose, and inner corners of eyes for a lit-from-within glow.

Both of these beauties are on counter now and come highly recommended.