I’m lucky that my skin is in pretty good shape, which I attribute to a mix of genetics [thanks, Mom!], healthier lifestyle, and just being a skin care fanatic in general. However, none of that saves me from hormonal breakouts that appear no matter what I do, and the only solution is to battle them with products designed for problem skin.
The latest addition to my breakout treatment stash – Shiseido IBUKI Multi Solution Gel – is designed to be a multi-purpose product that addresses several skin concerns, including acne, dryness, enlarged pores, and rough skin.
Here’s what Shiseido says about their creation:
Smooth, ready for anything skin is your new reality. This high-impact gel helps skin make an easy comeback from the effects of stress, erratic schedules and the environment. Its unique skin-conforming texture adheres well to problem areas, under and over makeup, to deliver effective ingredients.
Ingredients – CosDNA: Salicylic Acid 0.5%: Acne treatment. Water, Butylene Glycol, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Dimethicone, Peg/Ppg-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Peg-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Glycyl Glycine, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Silica, Trehalose, Sodium Chloride, Gellan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Serine, Polyquaternium-51, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Sodium Citrate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alcohol, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Bht, Peg-30 Soy Sterol, Trisodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Yellow 5, Blue 1
I usually start with pros first, but today I wanted to mention one con before we move on to the positives. From taking a look at the ingredient list, I noticed that the formula contains Sd Alcohol 40-B, a type of Denaturated Alcohol that is drying and irritating for any skin type. It’s hard to avoid it in products designed for problem skin, but I noticed that I don’t get any major issues when I dab on this gel locally in small amounts. I should also mention another mini-con: jar packaging. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but some skin care experts claim that the product inside can be easily contaminated from constant finger dipping, and antioxodant-heavy formulas may become less potent from exposure to oxygen.
I’ve been using IBUKI Multi Solution Gel as a topical treatment for the past several weeks, and I believe it’s gentler than many of my spot solutions. I assume that’s because the concentration of Salicylic Acid in the formula is only 0.5%, which is enough to be effective, but not too high to potentially irritate or even dry out my already dehydrated skin.
This treatment looks like a semi-opaque green gel that slowly flows like a liquid when you tip the jar. At first it might seem like you aren’t getting much product since the jar contains only 1oz, but it’s actually pretty concentrated. A small dab is all it takes to cover the affected area.
Shiseido IBUKI Multi Solution Gel may not be the best type of treatment for someone with moderate to severe acne, but for my occasional breakouts it’s working pretty well, so I will continue using it for the time being.
WHERE TO BUY: $38 USD for 1oz. Available at Shiseido, Nordstrom, Birchbox, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue.
Have you tried IBUKI Multi Solution Gel? What’s your favorite product for troubled skin? Let me know in the comments below!
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My face hasn’t broken out in years, but just before I received this product it did. I applied the Shiseido Ibuki and the pimples were gone the next day. Miracle worker!
I wish mine broke out once every few years 🙂 Glad to hear IBUKI gel worked well for you, too.
I have terrible skin heheh or at least use to and on the occasion I still get adult acne (don’t be jealous heheh). This stuff has worked great for me, I do hate the dipping into product so I have been using my disposable spatulas I use in my kit 😉
Girl, I get breakouts now and then, too, and I’m in my 30s! Good thing there are products with BHA to take care of that nonsense.
This would definitely dry out my skin. I also don’t like jars.
It’s always important to know your skin’s limits. Good job!
My face has been going CRAZyYyY. I just did a consult with my derm but this sounds like it might work great. I’m trying to move away from jars though.
I would love to move away from jars, but sometimes my favorite products come in them and I end up having to depot or just try to use it up quickly.
Not a fan of the jar packaging, but otherwise it sounds interesting.
Likewise, I wish all skin care came in pumps or some other more sanitary type of packaging.
Luckily I’m past my oily stages and have very few breakouts but this would have been great for me in the past.
Lucky you, indeed! My skin’s all kinds of crazy – it has dry, normal, and oily spots.
I haven’t tried a lot of Shiseido skincare, but what I have tried has been excellent.
Awesome! Good to know a fellow beauty blogger approves of them 🙂
You’d think that a gel would work well in a pump! This actually sounds like it would be good for my oily, blemish-prone skin!
Right? And it’s kind of runny too, not like a pudding.
Ohh I’ve always liked Shiseido! I’ll need to take a look at this!
I like their makeup, but I’m new to the skincare line.
One would think that a pump would be a better delivery system for such a product but I must say, I like Shiseido.
I agree, a pump would be better.
I agree, jar is not my cup of tea too. I like pump dispensers better
Me, too.
I haven’t tried this yet, but it seems like it might be a good option for occasional break outs!
That’s what I’ve been using it for, and my skin has responded well to it so far.
I am constantly amazed by how much you know about skincare and ingredients, it’s seriously impressive! I just need you to tell me what to use, haha. I need more breakout battlers in my collection because I often forget to buy products like that because my skin, like yours, is usually pretty well-behaved.. but there are those times that I NEED something!
Aw, you’re so sweet, Chelsea! I definitely don’t know as much as I wish I did, but then again, I don’t really invest that much time into learning about ingredients in depth on a pro level. However, there are a few basic rules that I tend to stick to, and it worked well for my skin so far. At the very least no one gives me 31 😉
I can’t wait to try this… not a fan of the jar – but I have been hearing some great things about this and I think it would be awesome for that time of the month when my skin freaks out.
It’s a nice treatment! But because of the packaging it will probably need to be kept in the fridge.
An all-in-one wonder!
Yass!
I love Shiseido skin care! This might not be the product for me but it sounds fab!
I am actually very new to Shiseido skin care, but I love their makeup. What are some of your favorite skin care products from them?
Sounds amazing except for the jar packaging though!
Jar packaging is definitely something that needs to be abolished from the beauty world once and for all, but I heard pumps are way more expensive to produce.