nullEstablished Japanese brands such as Shiseido, Kose and Menard have premium lines aimed at the well-heeled. However, before you max out your credit card, do be aware that pricier does not always mean better. Of greater importance is the compatibility of the products to your skin - which means that while a middle-aged woman may rave over the latest It cream, a younger woman may find it unsuitable.

Japanese products have at least one advantage over their European/American cousins - many are specially formulated for Asian skin types and often include whitening properties, a prime concern for most Asian women. A study published in the Journal of Dermatological Science suggested that Asian women tend to suffer from more age spots than European women who experience facial wrinkling earlier. Unsurprisingly, many "western" skincare lines focus on fine lines and wrinkles while Japanese brands take pigmentation concerns into account.

AsiaOne Just Woman takes a look at three premium Japanese beauty lines. Our two testers, a 54-year-old and a 27-year-old were given samples of the products to test. Each range was used for about a week, but products were discontinued if negative reactions were experienced by the testers. Our younger tester also discontinued the use of some products because their rich texture were incompatible for her oily-combination skin type.

Cle de Peau BEAUTE
The name of this luxury range by Shiseido literally means "Key to beautiful skin". It is based on Signal and Total Enzyme Management Theory and contains a unique ingredient, Cellular IC Normalizer, which is said to calm and stabilise skin cells. This in turn helps to delay the damage caused by external stressors such as UV radiation, pollution and dryness. Instead of relying on active ingredients that only work externally on the skin, and which may lose effectiveness over time, Cle de Peau BEAUTE is supposed to help your skin function optimally and naturally on its own. This reduces reliance on the products over the long term so that users can go without it if they choose to.

The much-talked-about La Creme was a hit with our 54-year-old tester. A little goes a long way, and the result was smooth, glowing skin that was noticeably more radiant after two days. She also had positive comments on the texture of the products, which she found light and pleasant.

However, our 27-year-old tester felt that the majority of the products, including La Creme, was far too rich for her oily-combination skin. Mixing the cream with a little Balancing Lotion helped to make the cream more easily absorbed, but this was deemed to be too much of a hassle.

Both testers agree that the Facial Foam cleans well and leaves the skin feeling smooth and supple. They felt that among the three ranges, Cle de Peau BEAUTE's facial wash was the best value for money.

Tested: Facial Foam ($89), Balancing Lotion ($180), Protective Emulsion ($180), Nourishing Emulsion ($212) and La Creme ($878 for 30ml, $1325 for 50ml)
Verdict: Best for mature, ageing skin. The anti-ageing, radiance-boosting results of the products are easily observed in such skin types. Of the three ranges reviewed, this had the most noticeable, positive results.