By far one of the most popular Asian toners (also known as “lotions” when it comes to Asian Beauty. Kikumasamune High Most lotion is a fave due to its excellent value (16 oz of product) and chock full of excellent ingredients including ceramides and sake. It’s a must-have for those with dehydrated skin, those who want a toner without breaking the bank or if you’re just curious to find out what the fuss is about since this product is quite hyped up. It gives skin an instant booster and can be used underneath an essence or as part of the infamous “7-Skin Method” routine. It’s one of the best buys you can get if you want to try out some Asian Beauty products.
PROS
- Contains ceramide 3 and ceramide 6
- Super hydrating and skin plumping
- Amazing value (500ml/16 oz)
- Rice ferment filtrate (sake)
- One of the most popular hydrating Asian lotions/toners
CONS
- Shipping can take long
I am so excited to be reviewing my very first Asian toner/lotion product as it is by far one of the most popular and raved about Asian toners online; the one and only Kikumasamune High Moist Lotion.
This product was so difficult to find online as it’s a Japanese product but I was able to purchase it from a Japanese seller on Amazon. At the time when I placed my order I didn’t know that it was actually going to be shipped from Japan. I assumed it was going to be shipped from the U.S and since I have Prime, my items get shipped fast. It took around 2 weeks for me to receive it but it was so worth it!!
Asian toners are completely different than toners sold by American companies. Most toners made by U.S companies tend to contain alcohol and be quite stripping. Asian toners are completely different; their sole purpose is to offer intense hydration, hydration and more hydration! These toners are often called “lotions” even though they are completely different from what most of us think of as “lotions”.
The reason why I decided to purchase Kikumasamune High Moist Lotion is because I completely destroyed my skin’s natural moisture barrier by using too many acids (vitamin C serums and glycolic acids). When my skin started to peel I thought I needed to exfoliate even more and I did so by using more glycolic acid products which made things even worse. I also loaded up on moisturizer but the flakes did not go away. After reading up on Asian skin care, I finally realized that toners were the key to adding moisture to my skin. That and a good sleeping pack to seal in the moisture!
Use
Asian toners are meant to be used right after you wash your face. If you have super dry skin, you may not even want to dry your face with a towel but keep a bit of the water on your face and pat Kikumasumune on top with your bare hands. You can apply it with a cotton ball but I prefer applying it with my hands. You can follow up with an essence and then add moisturizer. If you have extremely dry skin I highly recommend sealing the final layer of moisture with a sleeping pack like Too Cool For School’s Pumpking Sleeping Pack. This will all the difference in the world and really lock that moisture in.
Ingredients
Kikumasamune contains so many amazing ingredients that are so good for your face at such an affordable price. Ceramides are dry skin’s best friends and this lotion contains bith ceramide 3 and ceramude 6. It also contains placenta extract and arbutin.
Here is the full ingredient list : Water, glycerin, butylene glycol, rice ferment filtrate (sake), glutamate, arginine, leucine, ceramide 3, ceramide 6 II, placenta extract, arbutin, Glycyrrhizic acid, soy protein, maltitol, methyl gluceth-10, peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxyethyl cellulose, alkyl styrene/acrylic acid copolymer, citric acid, sodium citrate, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, fragrance.
Formula
The formula of Kikumasamune is very watery and liquid. One of the main ingredients is Japanese sake; it definitely smells like alcohol and sake when you initially apply it but the smell quickly fades away.
Performance
I absolutely love this toner. My skin felt immediately plumped and hydrated. I applied around 3 layers of this product and my skin did not feel sticky. I’ve read that some people are using Kikumusamune as their toner of choice with the “7-Skin Method” in which 7 layers of toner were applied in order to really hydrate the skin. I wanted to try it out but after 3 layers my skin already felt so hydrated that I didn’t feel like I needed to apply another 4 layers. I’ve had dry skin for so long and I think it’s the combination of Kikamusamune toner, a good essence (I use Cosrx Mucin Power) and sleeping pack that has truly saved my skin.
Packaging
The packaging is to die for and super “kawaii” or cute. It comes in a huge pink plastic bottle with a pump. The writing is all in Japanese so I have no idea what it says to be honest.
Pros & Cons
This Japanese toner is an excellent deal because the bottle is huge; you get 500 ml which is 16 oz. That is a huge amount of product. It’s also very affordable and at the price that it goes for you can also use it on your hands, legs and wherever else you have dry skin. It really works. The only con is how long it takes for shipping (if you live outside of Japan) but it’s worth it.
