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I’ve found my saviour in the nourishing goodness of nature’s Olive oil

By on December 11, 2019

As I grow older, I’m starting to notice that the most dreadful signs of aging is happening to me. And it’s happening fast.

My skin has become dryer, rougher, less elastic and more susceptible to irritation. Since turning 40, I have become a skincare freak focusing less on trying to cover up the aging that has already occurred, and more on slowing it down. I have turned to an arsenal of products, occasionally searching for better skincare options as they become available.

But staying consistent with a routine is a bit of a challenge as some products in Japan don’t come cheap and overrated at best. I’m here to tell you that after a long search, I’ve finally found my beauty staple in 4-step Olive Sube-Sube* skincare line based on the tenets of a good method using olive oil’s cleaning and regenerative properties. With 220 million sold over 26 years**, the Olive Sube-Sube series has reached cult status since its release, making it DHC’s best selling skincare product line.

The 4-step routine consists of DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, DHC Mild Soap, DHC Mild Lotion and DHC Olive Virgin Oil. They all contain high quality organic ingredients that are effective and nurturing for the skin. The results I’ve had since starting this skincare regimen have been little short of amazing! My skin is now super clean and smoother than it has ever been!  Regardless of age and skin type, these fragrance-free products can do wonders for your skin too if you keep to DHC’s 4-step routine.

When it comes to skin science, DHC is one of the trusted Japanese brands here and abroad. DHC products are manufactured in Japan, and thus, suited to the country’s seasonal and environmental conditions making it a good skincare option for those who live in Japan.

*Sube-Sube: ‘smooth’ pronounced sue-beh-sue-beh. **Total sales of the series product from Feb. 1993 through Aug. 2019.

 

STEP 1    ALL THE DIRT AND MAKE-UP GONE IN A JIFFY

I have a dry-oily combination skin so I was not sure at first whether an oil cleansing method was right for me. But this DHC Deep Cleansing Oil* exceeded my expectations. Everyday, I wear layers of sunscreen and make-up to work. What takes me 15 minutes to remove (using my previous method) is cut short by this miracle make-up remover. I love that it dissolves all make-up, dirt and grime in no time. And here’s the best part. Because the no-fuss formula is miscible in water, rinsing the dirt is such a breeze! It isn’t drying and gives my skin the suppleness and smoothness it needs. In two weeks using this cleanser, my blackheads and blemishes fade and skin begins to clear up. This is possibly one of the best make-up removers I have ever tried. I give a big thumbs up to its star ingredient – Flor de Aceite (lit. flower of the oil), the first-run juice before the first press of carefully handpicked olives from sun-drenched organic (olive) groves in the Baena town of Andalucia, Spain. This ingredient in its most potent form packs powerful antioxidants with regenerative properties that help retain moisture. The deeply penetrating power of lipophilic oil (from Flor de Aceite) instantly wipes away all dirt beneath the surface. One bottle of this top-performing paraben-free formula is sold every 10 seconds making it a cult favorite around the world.

*Medicated cosmetic
M 120 ml L 200 ml
1,486 yen (1,634 yen with tax) 2,477 yen (2,724 yen with tax) → NOW 2,160 yen (2,376 yen with tax)

STEP 2 SKIN IS LOVELIER THE SECOND TIME AROUND
Another wash? Yes, and for two good reasons. DHC’s double cleansing method using fragrance-free DHC Mild Soap cleans out deep-seated dirt and dead skin cells building up in the pores, without stripping the skin of its natural oil. The other reason is to condition the skin to allow optimum absorption of moisturizer in the following step. Soap suds attract dirt. Creating a rich lather that deeply penetrates the pores is key to wiping out all the stubborn dirt and surface impurities remaining on the skin. My skin feels soft
and immaculately clean after rinsing off in lukewarm water.

1 piece 90g 1,477 yen (1,624 yen with tax)  →　　NOW 1,290 yen (1,419 yen with tax)
Set of 2 90g 2,954 yen (3,248 yen with tax)  →　NOW 2,363 yen (2,599 yen with tax)

STEP 3 SKIN NOURISHED

What I’ve learned over the years is that you can slather all the moisturizers you want on your face but if you skip applying a
toner, you are missing the point. Toning is an essential step of a proper skin care regimen. According to the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, the pH level of our acidic mantle, a fine skin layer that acts as defense from contaminants and bacteria, has to be kept at an optimal
5.5 in order to keep its natural moisture and do its job. When you use cosmetic products with ingredients that are harsh to the skin and disturb your pH balance, you expose your skin to acne, infections and dermatitis. All the good stuff you want a toner to do to your skin is in this bottle of DHC Mild Lotion*. This non-alcohol toner hydrates, keeps your skin’s pH balance in check, and does not irritate even the most sensitive skin like mine. I was not sure how my skin would react so I initially applied the product onto my skin once a day in the first week. Luckily, no breakouts happened – just skin looking hydrated. It was not until the second week when I started using it day and night that I began to notice my pores were actually starting to appear visibly smaller, skin tighter and dewier than before I started the routine. This is a great product especially for those with sensitive skin looking for a gentle formula. It is easy to apply too. Although DHC recommends about the size of three 500 yen coins per use, I figured 2-3 tsp. of the product (applied with bare hands) was what my face needed. I did just that. Then, I proceeded with my anti-wrinkle staples immediately before going on to Step 4.

*Medicated cosmetic
M 100 ml L 180 ml 2,381 yen (2,619 yen with tax) 3,334 yen (3,667 yen with tax)  →　NOW 2,930 yen (3,223 yen with tax)

STEP 4  THE FINAL GLOW

DHC Olive Virgin Oil is a 100% natural beauty oil, made from Flor de Aceite. It contains a high concentration of oleic acid known for its ability to penetrate easily and deeply into the skin to hydrate, plump and protect the skin’s moisture barrier from drying out. I dispensed a small drop of DHC Olive Virgin Oil, rubbed it with my palms before patting the moisturizing serum gently onto my face. Although this purified oil feels somewhat thick, it blends easily when applied on toner-moistened skin. After two weeks, my skin feels richly hydrated, plumped with an unmistakable glow! A hit product by DHC since its release, it has been loved by many people for 39 years. A drop of this oil can be used in so many skin-pampering ways.

1 bottle 30 ml 3,620 yen (3,982 yen with tax) → NOW 3,180 yen (3,498 yen with tax) Set of 2 30 ml 7,240 yen (7,964 yen with tax) → NOW 5,780 yen (6,358 yen with tax)
*Medicated cosmetics use active ingredients certified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to be effective for skin problems or in preventing skin damage.

About Gwyneth Stone

Gwyneth is a freelance writer and a new mother who has spent the last 5 years exploring Japan.