From The Straits Times    |
This Korean brightening range is my personal secret to instantly firmer and fairer skin

First things first: Your standard brightening regime this is not. What sets Sulwhasoo’s reformulated Snowise range apart from the piddling products peddled on the market? For starters, it hones in on a most startling constituent of your complexion – “skin shadowing”.

Wait, what? Yes, you heard me right. If you’re lusting after the gorgeous glowy skin that’s all the rage in the K-Beauty world, the solution may very well lie in rectifying the shadows on your skin.

Okay, but how in Gaga’s name does all of this work? Now, there’s a fair bit of sciencey jargon to break down, but essentially, Sulwhasoo’s contention is that slathering on all the whitening potions and poultices in the world will count for naught if you don’t address the “shadowing” that stems from skin slackening and volume loss.

Enter what may be this year’s biggest beauty buzzword: “Volume brightening.” Sulwhasoo’s Snowise suite of serums and salves promises to crank up collagen production for pleasantly plump complexion – like “the bouncy shiny surface of a boiled egg”, as Kate Kwon, Sulwhasoo’s brand science manager for the Brand Science Research Team so strikingly puts it at the press preview in sunny Koh Samui.

The superstar of the show? An incredibly intriguing and highly hydrating white ginseng derivative (now two-and-a-half times more potent than its predecessor, FWIW) that, per Kate Kwon, “helps your skin to achieve a ‘volume brightening’ effect by forming a reflective layer on the surface to increase light transmission.” An in-built illuminator for my skin? Talk about the perfect sales pitch!

What to try, what to buy

Choose from a carefully composed symphony of skin-savers – there’s the Snowise Brightening Serum, $268; Snowise Brightening Cream, $168; Snowise Brightening Mask, $162 for 10 sheets; Snowise Brightening Exfoliating Gel, $68; and Snowise Brightening Spot Treatment, $158 – all of which are well worth checking out, although my money’s placed squarely on the spectacular serum and masks. (Discreet disclaimer: Snowise works spectacularly on my skin, but results will vary from individual to individual.)

First, the serum. Maximum marks possible for packaging, for starters. The stuff is ensconced in a pretty porcelain phial that’s extremely ergonomic and hygienic to boot: Twist off the top to reveal a nifty dropper dispenser that divvies up just the right dose each time. (Press thrice if you’re “kiasu” like me, although one pump should be plenty for the entire face and neck.)

No complaints on the fragrance front, either. This serum is signature Sulwhasoo through and through, with the incredibly invigorating and almost addictive herbal scent being just evanescent enough not to overwhelm.

As for the product proper, this superbly silky salve is suffused with a subtle sheen that’s very fetching indeed. Results-wise, I’m pleased as punch to report that I’ve scrutinised my naked face post-cleansing and can confirm that two weeks’ use of this serum has begotten a beautiful milkiness in my mien. Love it!

Okay, so you want to look brighter and you want it like, now. Well, if you’re all about instant gratification, then the Snowise Brightening Mask may be your new beauty bestie.

A perfect pampering pep-me-up before a Very Important Event, this biocellulose mask provides that skin-saving spark you’ll need to ignite your way to a brighter, better complexion. And yes, you’ll rack up results in a blink of a mascaraed eye – five minutes or less, by my count at least.

This mini miracle of a mask boasts all of the porous properties that make biocellulose masks such a must-have in my beauty books. The Spider Man-worthy stretchiness of the sheets clings to my facial contours, sans mess or mayhem – there’s none of the excess essence that would otherwise go to waste by pooling in the packet of conventional cotton masks.

To use, simply wrap it around your mien, twiddle your thumbs for five minutes, then whip off to reveal a visibly lifted and luminescent visage. One more thing: Slapping on this sumptuous skin treat results in a really refreshing tingle that should soothe sensitive skin, especially useful if you suffer from heat-induced blotchiness.

So yes, I’m an enthusiastic endorser of the revamped Snowise range. Scurry on down to your nearest Sulwhasoo cabin to suss out the swag for yourself, and “gun-bae” to skin that’s bouncy and buoyant like a freshly boiled egg!