Kanebo cosmetics, Inc is a large Japanese beauty company with a long history. They have operations throughout the world. One impressive feature of their international operations is that they have different brands designed for each region. At their official web site, they have a 44 page PDF file introducing their corporate profile. Their Japanese operation offers the company’s domestic prestige skin care and/or make up brand — impress, lunasol, twany, lissage, t’estimo, revue, blanchir, evita, doltier.
Kanebo’s European and North America operation offer brand Sensai. Its operation in China markets three brands — impress, lunasol, and Aqua. Aqua is a locally manufactured cosmetic brand developed based on the scientific research of Chinese skin and the needs of cosmetic users in the region. Its operations in Asia also markets a number of Kanebo brands.
Kanebo’s global official site has a list of its many brands — SENSAI, AQUA SPRINA, Impress, DEW SUPERIOR, BLANCHIR SUPERIOR, FAIR CREA, RAPHAIE, freeplus, Fr shel, LUNASOL, COFFRET D’OR, KATE, media, ALLIE, SALA, TIFFA. Each brand is provided with a short description and a link leading to the official web site devoted to each individual brand. These individual brand web site is written in different language based on the region the brand is mainly marketed. Some brand official site is written only in Japanese or Chinese. The official web site of Brands sold in Europe and North America is provided with multiple languages.
In this review, we will only review Sensai brand anti-aging products for Europe and North America markets. Sensai is a Japanese word implying a world of fineness, delicacy, grace and calm. Sensai is a brand for skin care, sun care, body care, make up, and hair care. The items in the extensive SENSAI collection are developed to fit the needs of women from their late 20s to 50-60s. SENSAI skin care has 4 lines — Sensai Silky Purifying line (cleansing line), Sensai Premier, Sensai Cellular Performance, and Sensai Silk.
Sensai formulations feature the finest silk and natural ingredients. SENSAI uses a special silk ingredient called Koishinoru silk. This is a rare silk variety native to Japan. This Japanese rare silk is found to have the exclusive ability to aid the production of skin’s natural moisturizing factor hyaluronic acid. Combining this precious silk with the advanced technology such as “DNA repair support”, SENSAI is created. The company discovered a seaweed extract that is capable to support cellular DNA repair process.
At the peak of the range is SENSAI premier. SENSAI premier is formulated in the form of lotion, emulsion, cream and eye cream and body cream. The most expensive form is SENSAI premier cream ($650 | 1.36 oz).
Sensai Cellular Performance line uses a holistic approach to counter all signs of ageing and photoageing at the cellular level. This line is broken down into a number of series — standard, hydrating, wrinkle repair, lifting, intensive care series and body care series. Wrinkle repair series has wrinkle repair cream ($170 | 0.52 oz), wrinkle repair essence ($200 | 1.36 oz), and wrinkle repair eye cream. Lifting series has lifting cream ($280 | 1.4 oz), lifting essence ($200 | 1.3 oz), lifting eye cream, and lifting mask. Intensive care series include recovery concentrate ($220 | 1.36 oz), recovery concentrate cream ($320 | 1.4 oz), recovery concentrate for eye, and recovery concentrate ampoule treatment ($450 | 0.07*14 oz).
Sensai Silk is the first skincare line dedicated to the prevention of early ageing symptoms, which can appear even in one’s 20s. This line has 10 products including softening, soothing, brightening cream, emulsion, essence, eye treatment, masks. This line of products are much less expensive in general. But, 2 weeks night firming essence is still very expensive at a daunting $80 for 0.2 oz.
The Kanebo website is clearly professionally done buy may be a bit overdone. The website is all flash based which means there is a lot of movement and embedded videos. The web site does detail the general technology and exclusive ingredients throughout its product lines, but there was no full ingredient list to make distinction between individual products. No other key ingredients are explained associated with each individual products and the product description is too short with no significant information presented. There is no clinical evidence the products work. Kanebo products have one link taking the visitor to the Skincare Saho. This is a skin care routine based on a Japanese Tea Ceremony that includes double facial washing, double moisturizing and double application. Kanebo Sensai products are quite expensive and may not be affordable for the average consumer.
