Kanebo On Skin Essence V Review

Hi guys, today I'll be sharing my review of Kanebo's On Skin Essence V.

Before this, I was already aware of Kanebo and I have seen their products at department store counters, but I never got to try their products before. All I knew was that they had a more premium line of Japanese beauty products including both skincare and makeup.

Kanebo is a brand that believes that enhancing your appearance is not just about beauty and that using cosmetics is an act of empowerment.. Their mission is to offer hope, giving their customers the confidence to rise up and change the world.

Developing products with no animal testing at all, Kaneo is committed to product safety. I also like how they state on their website that they promote gender-inclusive products that go beyond gender boundaries.

Aesthetically they also caught my eye because of their unique and stunning packaging:

I first heard of the products from Kanebo's Unify System range from Yutakis, one of my fave bloggers. He reviewed some of their products and since then, I was always quite interested in this specific range.

Although the packaging is in black, do know that Kanebo's products are unisex and can be used by all!

The Unify System line of products from Kanebo consists of 2 steps, and they aim to transform and minimalize your skincare routine with their "ON. & IN." concept

The ON products are essences inspired by the barrier function of our skin's outermost layer: the stratum corneum. These essences infuse the skin with moisture while making the skin soft and hydrated.

The IN products are creams developed with inspiration from the vernix that gently envelops newborn babies' skin, providing all-day hydration and enhancing beauty with every use.

Kanebo previously sent me a bottle of the On Skin Essence V to try out, and today, I'll be sharing my thoughts about it.

WHAT IS IT?

Kanebo's On Skin Essence V is an essence that instantly forms a veil on the skin's surface, while the ingredients penetrate into the stratum corneum, infusing moisture for soft skin. Recommended for those with skin prone to excessive sebum or roughness on the surface, this product has a light-scattering effect that enhances its overall look of the skin with a hint of glow. 

It is basically an essence that doubles as a serum & emulsion.

WHERE TO BUY

Kanebo is now available officially here in Malaysia on Lazada:

The full-sized 100ml bottle currently retails for RM415.

(Link)

I have to admit, it's a bit on the pricey side, but I do know that it's a more premium brand, so I expected that price range.

PACKAGING

The product comes packaged in this divine matte glass bottle, and you can just tell that it's premium and expensive from the custom design haha. I love the asymmetric cap/nozzle and I love the clean lines on this product.

It comes with a pump for hygienic dispersion:

It came with a similarly minimalist box:

Speaking of the box, Kanevbo actually uses eecycled paper and FSC®︎ certified materials for most of their packaging, working towards a world where we coexist with nature. By doing this, they're taking proactive steps towards a recycling-oriented society by reducing plastic wrapping and utilizing recycled resources!

INGREDIENTS

I did an analysis of the ingredients of this product and found that the ingredients were all clean, mostly with EWG green ratings. This product has minimal ingredients and is paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free and EU allergen-free.

The key ingredient highlighted by Kanebo is Bilberry leaf extract (Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract) & Lupine extract (Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein).

• Bilberry leaf extract
  With anti-oxidant, astringent and anti-ageing benefits, this ingredient is great at locking in moisture while simultaneously helping to balance oiliness (making it perfect for those with oily to combo skin types. Just like its common local relative, the blueberry, Bilberries are the richest natural sources of anthocyanin, which is an antioxidant-loaded with vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. The antioxidants in these powerful berries help stave off free radicals damage and future skin ageing, helping to reduce the look of fine lines with resveratrol
  
  
• Lupine extract
  A firming active, white lupin (lupinus albas) extract, is another high-performance ingredient known for its anti-ageing, remodelling, and firming properties. It restores the elastic properties of the skin and specifically targets skin areas that have become saggy and lost their tone and lustre. This protein-rich ingredient stimulates the synthesis of high-quality collagen which provides elasticity and firmness to the skin. It also aids in renewing the outer layer of the skin, reducing wrinkle formation, and stimulating the production of more elastin and collagen.

It also has Vitamin E which is an anti-ageing ingredient that I think most of us enjoy using, as well as highly moisturizing ingredients like Butylene Glycol and Glycerin.

FRAGRANCE & TEXTURE

With a slightly milky texture, this product has a slightly runny consistency that absorbs fairly quickly into the skin (which is great for humid Asian weather).

It's white in colour and has a fruity floral fragrance that blends lily of the valley, rose and gardenia accented with "Teatopia" tea flower.

Kanebo uses something that they call a "Veil On Skin Formula", and what it does is that it instantly forms a veil that provides moisture and locks it into the skin. I would say I don't really feel much of a thick layer (nothing uncomfortable), but I do feel like my skin is smoother and has a silky feel to it after applying this.

They claim it has a light-scattering effect but it doesn't have any glitter/particles or anything like that. More than anything, I think this just means that it leaves a nice and natural glowy effect on the skin that isn't sticky.

HOW TO USE
In line with the ON & IN concept, Kanebo recommends using the ON essence after cleansing followed by the IN cream. Here's how they recommend applying the ON essence for both day time and night time:

Personally, during the day, I use it as an emulsion. After cleansing and toning, I apply it and follow up with SPF. At night when I have more time, I use it after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer & eye cream. I just pat it in!

MY REVIEW & VERDICT

I've been using this during the day and night and I can say I really enjoy using it. I have not seen any dramatic effects as my skin's condition is already pretty good. However, I have felt some differences in texture, like the softness, plumpness and smoothness.

The texture is really nice and non-sticky, and for someone who has recently fallen in love with emulsions, this fits right into my daily skincare routine.

I would recommend this product to someone who is looking for a product that can help minimalize their routine and infuse some anti-ageing ingredients into their skin. I would also recommend it for someone looking for a good all-in-one product to use during the day, as I really do feel like I have enough on my skin with this product.

WILL I REPURCHASE?

I really like using it and I would definitely consider repurchasing it. I love the packaging, the formulation and the effect. I now have my eyes on their other products, and I'll update you guys if I ever decide to get any of them in the future.

And that's it for this post! I hope you guys found it helpful and informative.

See y'all in my next post!