Beauty Exclusive

What is your skincare Mood

By Beauty Expert Ciona Johnson-King @cionajk

When it comes to skincare everyone is different.

Some people like to spend hours on their beauty routine, seeing it as precious 'me time'. Others might just choose whatever’s quickest and easiest. Or perhaps you’re a mix of both - sometimes maximalist, sometimes minimalist, depending on your mood? (I think that’s probably most of us). Japanese brand Sensai (exclusive to Harrods) have taken the ‘maximalist’ approach to their skincare range, seeing it as a part of a bigger whole: an entire way of life. The key word with Sensai is ‘Saho’ - loosely meaning ‘to bloom beautifully’. In terms of skincare, this means a ritual that’s not a million miles from a Japanese tea ceremony, that incorporates double cleansing, double moisturising and double application. Serious stuff! Sensai’s signature ingredient is Koishimaru Silk. Why? Their researchers discovered that this precious silk has the ability to promote the production of hyaluronic acid - a natural substance within the skin that nurtures and builds skin.

Maximalist Mood

And now comes the fun part - Sensai’s seven step day-or-nighttime routine using their Ultimate range, all enriched with that wonderful koishimaru silk as well as sakura (cherry blossom). Get ready for silky skin (obviously!) that is firm, smooth and resilient. The steps are made up of: Ultimate The Cleansing Oil, Ultimate Creamy Soap, Ultimate The Micro Lotion, Ultimate The Emulsion, Ultimate The Eye Cream. After you've double cleansed and double moisturised, move on to their new wonder products: the Biomimesis Veil Potion. When using, apply the Veil’s companion Effector first to set the skin then follow manufacturer’s instructions by spraying the Potion slowly on the cheek until the area turns white (approximately 30 seconds per cheek). Then spray the entire forehead in the same manner. This locks in moisture and enhances your night time skincare by forming an ultra thin membrane called the micro-fiber veil (using a specialised polymer solution). The result is a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss. To set the Veil, press the sprayed areas lightly with your hands until it turns transparent. Wear overnight. In the morning gently remove (it's like wiping away a fine layer of skin). Then continue with your usual morning skincare routine.

Ultimate The Cleansing Oil £110

Sensai Ultimate Creamy Soap £130

Sensai Ultimate The Micro Lotion £215

Sensai Ultimate The Emulsion £180 (60 ml)

Sensai Ultimate The Eye Cream £285

Sensai Biomimesis Veil Diffuser £530

Biomimesis Potion £85

Sensai Biomimesis Veil Effector £130

Minimilist Mood

The first-ever micro-fiber veil* to unlock the rejuvenating power of skin. Much like Koishimaru Silk, the silky fiber of Fine Fiber Technology spins into an ethereal veil to help seal in moisture and the potent technologies of your skincare like a cocoon. Wear overnight to tap into skin’s hidden beauty reservoir and wake up to renewed beauty. Experience SILK SKIN like never before. BIOMIMESIS VEIL. Unveiling the next chapter of your beauty journey.

Now onto a rather more minimalist approach! Swiss brand Elixseri (net-a-porter, and www.elixseri.com) want us to cleanse how we like and use just one serum. No creams, masks or sprays. Elixseri have been researching into the growing field of prebiotics and developed a range which combines patented Light Water, Prebiotic Fruit Ferments and Natural Biotech Plant Stem Cells to develop effective, potent formulas. Prebiotic Fruit Ferments help maintain the skin’s natural balance of bacterial flora since prebiotics nourish good bacteria and encourage more growth - thus minimizing redness and preserving the skin’s lipid barrier. By optimising the skin’s microbiome (its collection of bacteria), Elixseri serums have numerous benefits. They reinforce the skin’s natural immune system, help to balance lipid production, strengthen its hydro-lipid barrier and boost regeneration and control inflammation. They’re also seriously quick to use!

Prebiotic Fruit Ferments help maintain the skin’s natural balance of bacterial flora since prebiotics nourish good bacteria and encourage more growth.

Ménage à Trois £75 PERFECT STARTER SET As well as being the perfect travel sizes - and to pop in your make up bag for daily touch ups - the 10ml set is a great way to try out Elixseri’s serums.

Opening Act £76 (not pictured) This is the overnight Resurfacing Skin Renewal Treatment to give skin a youthful, smooth and silky glow. Use 3 nights per week and while you sleep it will remove dead cells, cellular debris and product build-up. With Lactic Acid, Natural AHAs and Prebiotic Papaya Ferment.

Rescue Diver £85 Multi-Level Hydration Cell Plumping Infusion. This silky gel serum provides skin with an instant shot of freshness, vitality and comfort by giving multi level hydration and reducing transepidermal water loss. With Hyaluronic Acid, Indian Fig and Marine Collagen (the most bio-identical collagen).

Firm Conviction £95 Lifting, Contouring and Shaping Serum. For skins in need of a little lift, this serum infuses your skin with innovative firming ingredients. Improving elasticity and (it's claimed) providing instant firmness for up to 5 hours. Long-term shaping and contouring actions, meanwhile, build up over 28 days.

Smooth Player £95 Line Smoothing Skin Radiance Serum. Smooth Player is targeted to eliminate dryness, erase fine lines and diminish the appearance of more persistent wrinkles and furrows. It provides a double dose of hydration and nourishment. The ultimate anti wrinkle treatment! With Swiss Alpine crystallised light water, cone snail peptides (line smoothing peptide which mimics the muscle relaxing venom of the marine cone) and hyaluronic acid.

Skin Meditation £100 Stress Neutralizing Cellular Energy Complex. Designed to counteract the signs of skin stress, pollution, hormonal changes, sun exposure or toxic lifestyle choices. Skin Meditation is ideal to soothe, detox and re-balance skin. With Arabian cotton meristem concentrate, Magnolia bark, argon oil.

Total Minimalist Mood

Frances Prescott TRI-BALM £46 - A luxurious facial balm which cleanses, exfoliates and moisturises in one simple step. Formulated by leading make-up artist, Frances Prescott, using the purest premium ingredients, Tri-Balm nourishes and nurtures skin to give an instantly glowing complexion.

Inspired by the healing powers of nature, Tri-Balm contains no harmful chemicals, parabens, silicones or synthetics. Easy to use, non-spill and suitable for all skin types, Tri-Balm is the ultimate multi-purpose product.

3-in-1 Facial Balm does the following:

• Cleanse with a blend of botanical oils, starflower, and oats to remove impurities and make-up.