As we bid the last days of warm summer air goodbye, I'm finally allowing myself to unbox some of the products I've been reserving to use in the fall and winter. The Shiseido 'Future Solution LX' Replenishing Treatment Oil* which was recently launched for Fall 2015 is one of the products I was most excited to use. On the evenings when I have a few extra minutes to pamper my skin, I love to use a body oil instead of a body lotion and this ultra luxe oil looks and smells like the ultimate treat. This body oil claims to have age-defending properties that protect your skin from environmental stress. At $175 for 2.5 ounces, I had extremely high hopes that this would be the holy grail of body oils.
I've always liked the packaging of Shiseido's Future Solution LX products but the oil comes housed in a much nicer bottle than the even pricier serums from the line. A clear glass bottle contains the oil and the pump is surrounded by a pearly piece of plastic. The cap is plastic but features a beautiful golden emblem. The pump is easy to control and dispenses a generous amount if you plan on using this as a face oil. I usually do about three squirts for enough product for the top half of my body and two squirts each for my legs.
The oil itself is very lightweight and easily absorbed. Compared to the NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil, this actually absorbs much faster and doesn't feel slippery on the skin afterwards like the NUXE one tends to. It's also colorless so you don't have to worry about staining your clothing.
The scent is very floral and it's a scent I like but it's very, very strong. If you're not big on scented beauty products, you can save yourself some money and skip this. I like the scent enough to slather this on my limbs but am wary of using ultra-fragranced products on my face so I don't use this as a face oil.
Sadly, the area this oil disappoints the most is in the most critical area: the ingredients. According to Nordstrom, these are the ingredient in this "powerful treatment with six oils":
Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Peg/Poly(1,2-Butanediol)-52/32 Dimethyl Ether, Isopropyl Myristate, Mineral Oil(Paraffinum Liquidum/Huile Minerale), Diethylhexyl Succinate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Peg-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Water(Aqua/Eau), Isostearic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dipropylene Glycol, Linalool, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Bht, Tocopherol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Alcohol, Red 17 (Ci 26100), Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Beta-Carotene (Ci 75130), Piperidinepropionic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol.
As you can see, dimethicone is the primary ingredient in this oil and mineral oil is not too far behind. I don't avoid mineral oil but I know both of these ingredients are relatively inexpensive to put into beauty products. Fragrance is actually way above the blend of six oils that the product information references as well.
While the look, feel and smell of the Shiseido 'Future Solution LX' Replenishing Treatment Oil makes it seem worth the $175 price tag, a closer examination of the ingredients casts some doubt. I will continue using this as a decadent treat but unfortunately I can't vouch for its age-defending claims and I can't recommend that this is a must have by any means.
Do you use body or face oils? Which are your favorite?
*This product was provided by PR for consideration. All views are my 100% honest opinions.