Why Shiseido Ultimune is my HG serum + a review of the new Ultimune Defense Refresh Mist

I’ve always believed that prevention is better than the cure. I even started using eye cream way back in college! I’ve made it my goal to delay unnecessary skin aging, so when I first came across the Shiseido Ultimune serum in 2014, I immediately got hooked. I’ve been using this for six years.

I honestly tried not to like the Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate. At P3,900 for 30ml, P5,500 for 50ml, and P6,600 for 75ml, it is not exactly affordable. To be fair though, it’s not the most absurd in pricing for skincare. There are plenty other serums out there with roughly the same price range so it really depends on whether you’re comfortable to splurge on a serum that basically makes your skin more resilient.

The Shiseido Ultimune in its essence is a pre-serum serum. It is like that daily multivitamin tablet you take but for your skin. This new version now features the added benefit of the ImuGeneration Technology™ – a Reishi Mushroom and Iris Root packed combo that “continuously fortify skin’s ability to defend itself.” Plus a couple of other trademarks: the Ultimune Complex™ to “protect and strengthen skin against day to day damage and signs of aging… while maintaining a healthy-looking skin surface” and the ImuCalm Compound™ scent to comfort and pamper. It sounds like a lot but this serum has won over 179 beauty awards globally with 1 Ultimune sold every 7 seconds. Pair that up with the years of research that went into it and that should amount to something right? But of course, let’s see the results.

The prescribed usage is two times per day with two pumps for every application. A 75ml bottle is supposed to last you three months. That’s roughly P74/day if you get the biggest bottle. Before I tried the newer version of Shiseido Ultimune, I was already using the old formula once a day. I liked how my skin looked and felt. It was generally healthy with little to no breakouts save for my issue with congested and visible pores. I was really curious to see the difference with the new one so I standardized my skincare routine so I would know that any changes would most probably come from the new Ultimune.

Left: before the new Shiseido Ultimune, Right: after 7 days of using the new Shiseido Ultimune 2x a day

After a week of using the new formula, I found my skin looking a lot less red. I tend to get flushed easily and the new Ultimune has minimized this effect on my skin. My skin looks clearer and extra glowy too. I also noticed that my skin absorbs the new formula quicker and it still leaves the same moisturized feel after application. I sometimes get tempted to just apply the serum alone especially on hotter days and when I do this, my skin still feels nourished. Nothing beats a good moisturizer after though, so I still tend to follow up most of the time. 

To partner up with the serum, Shiseido recently released the limited edition Ultimune Defense Refresh Mist (on sale for P2,450/30ml with a 30ml refill). This is an “instantly cooling and hydrating micro-mist serum inspired by the Japanese uchimizu tradition” which is literally sprinkling water on the street to lessen the heat. I got to try this mist also and it is perfect for a quick perk-me-up for the skin especially on warm days. There’s a cooling sensation brought about by the peppermint in the ingredients. I actually worried about this because my lips don’t particularly react well to peppermint but it seems that my face is ok with it.

As with any mist, it is a lovely addition to the routine but can be considered as non-essential especially if you’d like to stick to a budget. It can be considered a good splurge though as you get 60ml worth of a variation of the Ultimune serum for a fraction of the price. It also comes in a LE packaging that pays tribute to their Ginza roots.

All in all, I will still be keeping the Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate as one of my HG skincare products. As I am in my mid-thirties already, I like to help out my skin as much as I can. It is good to note though that I still need to follow up the serum with other issue-specific serums as the Ultimune doesn’t really address my open and easily congested pores. But if you’re going for overall skin health and resilience, this is one product that does the job quite well.

Have you tried the Shiseido Ultimune range?

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Power Infusing Concentrate (new is with ImuGeneration Technology)

INGREDIENTS: WATER(AQUA/EAU)·ALCOHOL DENAT.·GLYCERIN·BUTYLENE GLYCOL·PEG/PPG-17/4 DIMETHYL ETHER·TRIETHYLHEXANOIN·CYCLOHEXASILOXANE·DIMETHICONE·PHENOXYETHANOL·TREHALOSE·AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/BEHENETH-25 METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER·PEG-14M·ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER·TOCOPHERYL ACETATE·PEG/PPG-14/7 DIMETHYL ETHER·ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER WATER·FRAGRANCE (PARFUM)·DISODIUM EDTA·POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE·SILICA·ISOCETETH-10·LINALOOL·LAURYL BETAINE·GINKGO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT·GERANIOL·CITRONELLOL·ORIGANUM MAJORANA LEAF EXTRACT·NELUMBO NUCIFERA GERM EXTRACT·ALCOHOL·SODIUM CARBOXYMETHYL BETA-GLUCAN·BHT·THYMUS SERPYLLUM EXTRACT·PERILLA OCYMOIDES LEAF EXTRACT·SODIUM BICARBONATE·IRIS FLORENTINA ROOT EXTRACT·SODIUM BENZOATE·GANODERMA LUCIDUM (MUSHROOM) STEM EXTRACT·

Ultimune Defense Refresh Mist

INGREDIENTS: WATER(AQUA/EAU)·ALCOHOL DENAT.·DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL·GLYCERIN·PEG-8·DIGLYCERIN·PEG/PPG-17/4 DIMETHYL ETHER·PHENOXYETHANOL·HYDROGENATED DIMER DILINOLEYL PEG-44/POLY(1,2-BUTANEDIOL)-15 DIMETHYL ETHER·BUTYLENE GLYCOL·PEG/PPG-14/7 DIMETHYL ETHER·MENTHOL·ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER WATER·SODIUM CITRATE·FRAGRANCE (PARFUM)·DISODIUM EDTA·PEG-6·PEG-32·CITRIC ACID·MENTHYL LACTATE·LINALOOL·SODIUM METABISULFITE·GERANIOL·GINKGO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT·CITRONELLOL·MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) LEAF EXTRACT·ROSA ROXBURGHII FRUIT EXTRACT·ALCOHOL·SODIUM CARBOXYMETHYL BETA-GLUCAN·TOCOPHEROL·IRIS FLORENTINA ROOT EXTRACT·GANODERMA LUCIDUM (MUSHROOM) STEM EXTRACT·