Sensai Make Up Review Total Finish Compact / Lasting Plump Lipstick

 

It’s not often that I get sent such luxury make up as the Japanese brand Sensai however, having reviewed their self-tan recently, I have been kindly sent some of the make up products to review. 

Now before I start, I know that we are in a cost-of-living crisis and, I also know that many of my readers will say the cost is out of their price range. However, we all have choice and there are many people who choose luxury makeup as their ‘treat’. Every year, as a single mother I treat myself on my birthday to a luxury branded product, and having used the likes of Charlotte Tilbury, Victoria Beckham etc, this brand goes above and beyond those brands. It cannot even be classed in the same category, as quite simply it’s because the products are a hybrid of anti-aging ingredients and colour.

Compact Case for Total Finish £22

The Sensai Compact Case for the Total Finish Foundation, is five star quality. It has that wonderful snap shut click, that is sturdy and yet incredibly sleek in design. Inside the compact you will find it’s been split into 3 components. Firstly, a mirror that has been cleverly designed so that it magnifies and gives a very clear reflection. Secondly the foundation refill (see below) and lastly, a dense sponge that gives excellent application. 

It is ideal to take with you travelling whether for work or holiday. It’s also ideal to apply your makeup at home given the excellent quality of the mirror. Since testing this, I’ve used it to apply my makeup rather than my magnifying mirror. 

Total Finish Refill SPF10 11g £42

The Compact Case houses a Total Finish Foundation Refill, available in 9 different shades. On the actual website you have a ‘try it on’ camera feature so you can choose your perfect match. The foundation comes in a powder formula that is designed to feel like a ‘second skin’. It also contains ingredients that help protect your skin including:-

• Zinc Oxide - protects the skin from UV rays, 
• Magnesium Myristate - a natural fatty acid found in coconut oil that helps moisturise the skin.
• Serica Powder - finely pulverised silk that is skin conditioning. 
• Dioscorea Panthaica Root Extract - otherwise known as Yam Extract that helps act as an emollient and keeps skin feeling supple. 

The ultra fine formula glides onto the skin with just one sweep, giving a light coverage and leaves skin looking radiant. It is not a full coverage, but almost a light blurring filter so your skin just looks better naturally. It contains no fragrance and is suitable for all skin types including sensitive. 

Lasting Plump Lipstick Holder £12

This innovative idea, means you can swap and change your lipsticks into a lipstick holder that again, is sleek in design and gives that wonderful ‘click’ snap shut. It comes with a velvet pouch, making sure that your lipstick is protected. The black lacquered design matches the rest of the brand’s compacts and gives a timeless, elegant addition to your make-up collection.

Lasting Plump Lipstick Refill 3.8g £32

This lip conditioning colour marriages beautiful colour with a host of moisturising and nourishing properties. Such ingredients include:-

• Sodium Hyaluronate - a humectant that draws moisture to the lips, preventing chapping and dry, flaky lips.
• Hydrolyzed Silk - anti-bacterial so helps prevent lip conditions such as cold sores, also helps smooth lips and keep them looking plumper and firmer. 
• Hydrogenated Polyisobutene - an emollient that makes lips feel softer and more nourished. 
• Squalane - gives a barrier on the lips to prevent moisture loss and dehydration. 

Here I have tested the Shimmer Nude, a suit all shade for every skin tone. I have taken a picture in the shade and the sunlight and whilst I don’t have ‘model’ lips (I am 52…), you can see it gives a beautiful, shimmer that plumps up the lips.

This suit all shade is ideal for events such as weddings (especially if you are the bride), as it’s incredibly long-lasting. Even after the lipstick had come off, I was left with a satin finish stain that lasted throughout eating and drinking for the afternoon. 

So whilst the brand is expensive, it is not without its reasons. The ingredients that are used to formulate the products are anti-aging and protective. The brand is a huge advocate for sustainability, and as such, use chemically recycled PET, recycled glass and bio-based plastic in much of their packaging. 

The Japanese also commit to

‘To consider a product’s life cycle from creation to dissolution, is a proactive deeply embedded in the tradition of Japanese craftsmanship. This encompasses a deep appreciation of resources and their values, while also reducing waste by repurposing and reimagining their vocation.  From selecting more responsibly sourced materials to innovating thoughtful design, this considerate approach is the silver lining in our efforts to continue being more respectful to the environment. 

The products themselves are far superior to most deluxe brands, and so as you would expect are stocked in high end stores such as Harrods. You can also buy and try (with the interactive camera) by clicking the link to their website HERE