Sofina Jenne Two Weeks Trial Kit II (Moist)

Sofina is part of the giant corporation Kao, which carries many brands under its belt. Among Sofina's comprehensive lineup covering a woman's entire lifetime, Jenne is a two-year-old (to date) drugstore brand focusing on 20's skin care. I intended to purchase the Sofina Jenne Trial Set I (Fresh [for oily skin]), but alas, after placing my order, adambeauty went out of stock and so opted for the Sofina Jenne Trial Set II (Moist [for dry skin]) instead. 

It came in a clear bag containing a sunscreen (8g), lotion (30ml), and a jar of its star product, a moisturizer in jelly form (10g).

The Sofina Jenne Day Protector II SPF24 PA+++ comes in a squeeze tube with a lovely lace pattern signature of the Jenne line. Like the Sofina Jenne UV Day Protector SPF50+ PA+++, it is highly fragranced (floral).

The 8g surprisingly lasted me over a month. I brought this tiny tube with me on a trip to England, when the winter weather was just about to wane. I thought this richer sunscreen can help with the dryness of the cold weather for my oilier skin type.

The soft, light cream texture of this is a lot easier to handle compared to the liquid consistency of its counterpart, the UV Day Protector SPF50+. Although it contains alcohol, I didn't experience noticeable irritation from using this. It has a soft, light feel and finish. It's one of those rare formulations that you know just won't clog your pores. It also did an adequate job in protecting my face from the winter/spring sun, which can be hiding behind the clouds one moment and shining brightly overhead the next.

It's easy to spread and dries to a dewy finish. However, even in the cold weather, my skin still found this sunscreen too rich, as it started oiling up in retaliation. Another lesson learned is that sunscreen does not replace moisturizer, even if it is intended for drier skin types applied on oily skin types. When it comes to sunscreen, it is still best to stick to your skin type's character no matter the weather.

The Sofina Jenne Lotion II is a skin conditioner that is applied after washing the face and before moisturizer or sunscreen. Again, this is highly fragranced, but the redeeming factor is it is alcohol-free, which is short of a miracle when it comes to Japanese lotion formulations.

Japanese lotions are different from Western brands' toners in that they are meant to soften the skin, not remove excess dirt, which should have already been done with the Japanese method of double cleansing (cleansing oil + face wash). Softening the skin makes it more receptive to the effects of the subsequent application of serum/moisturizer. Some also use lotions as a mask. One way is to soak cotton pads with lotion and laying the pads thinly all over the face.

I didn't experience any stinging feeling with this lotion, but I developed several red patches after application. The patches disappeared in the morning, however I would be wary of this lotion as the patches usually indicate sensitivity to some ingredient in this product. Also, I find no joy in using toners or lotions as I do not see any visible results from using them, not to mention the added cost and step in the routine. For sensitive skin, less is more. 

Above is the Sofina Jenne Jelly Moisturizer -- the reason why I bought this trial set in the first place. It contains ceramides which make up the heart of the ingredients. Another plus is that it has no alcohol.

One thing to note is the Jenne line is fragranced, and the Jelly Moisturizer is not exempt.

It is clear type and jelly-like indeed, not like the creamy consistency of most moisturizers. There seems to be a "jelly/gelly" trend in the cosmetics market, as other brands have featured the same type of product in their lineups. This moisturizer is not so easy to apply because of its jelly texture. The amount of product required for application seems to be much more than conventional creams. It also didn't hydrate my skin effectively; many parts of it were left feeling rough. The finish is filmy and sticky and not very comfortable at all. Overall, this would be a basic moisturizer for people with normal skin-types, but I cannot recommend the Jenne line to sensitive skin-types.

The description at the rear.

The pictogram is a nice touch.

Ingredients for Sofina Jenne Lotion II.

Ingredients for Sofina Jenne Jelly Moisturizer.

Ingredients for Sofina Jenne Day Protector II. Ratzillacosme has a list of the ingredients in English here. 

Sofina Jenne UV Day Protector SPF50+ PA+++

The Sofina brand falls under Kao's conglomerate, one of the oldest and largest cosmetic companies in Japan. My earliest memories of Sofina consist of my sister's Holy Grail facial wash in our elementary school days. She is a fuss-free beauty product gal, but surprisingly she always asked for this particular Sofina wash (perhaps replaced by the current Sofina Cleanse line) when our mother visited Hong Kong. It came in a tiny, simple white tube, but it was a really superb face wash. I can still remember the lovely scent, which I've never been able to find in other products.

From that experience, I gathered a very good impression of the brand. Sofina is famous for its Perfect UV sunscreen, which I can attest is really a great sun protection product. The brand is also known for base makeup (the discontinued popular Raycious is now replaced by Primavista) and gentle skincare that caters even to those with sensitive skin. The Very Very UV Cut sunscreen, from Sofina's Very Very line, used to be a grand favorite of mine. In 2010, Sofina released the Jenne line to replace Very Very. A short introduction taken from its website states:

"Sofina Jenne is a new skin care series developed specifically for women in their 20s. It retains ceramide, which tends to be insufficient in the inner skin, and promotes its functionality, leading to a fresh skin that retains moisture. 
Sofina Jenne proposes skin care most appropriate for skin properties in the 20s with the concept "Beautifying your skin in the 20s more than ever before.""

The lineup consists of eight products ranging from cleanser, lotions, sunscreens, and moisturizer. There are three types of sunscreens available and I opted for the UV Day Protector offering smooth finish and highest sun protection. I was discouraged by my dermatologist to use sunscreens other than Vanicream SPF 60 or Avene Mineral Cream SPF 50, but both are so greasy that I had to put powder on every day to prevent either products from sliding off my face. I really did not want to be putting on makeup on a daily basis, so even when this Jenne sunscreen contained alcohol, I forged ahead and took the plunge.

From what I gathered in its website, here are some details of the product:

"Moisturizer for daytime use to protect skin from UV rays and dryness for application after lotion in the morning
Retains hydration during daytime and helps maintain foundation longer
"ADVAN" UV-barrier technology*3 to protect a deeper layer of the skin from damage
ADVAN: anti-damaging uv-A network
• Formulated with ceramide care ingredient (moisturizer)*4
• Formulated with rosemary extract (moisturizer)
• Blends into the skin transparently
- Available for use as a makeup base
- Oil free
- Non-acnegenic formula
- Delicate floral-fruit scent
- Color free
[Type Comfortable application]
SPF24 Ⅰ. Non-greasy, light finish  Ⅱ. Non-greasy, moisturized finish
SPF50+ Non-greasy, smooth finish"

It comes in a simple white tube that is typical Sofina style. The lace imprint is a very nice touch in my opinion. I love every bit of it. 

The 30ml bottle is rationed to be good for three months. 

The dropper brings to mind a baby's milk bottle. Most Sofina milky sunscreens feature this design -- Sofina Very Very UV Cut, Sofina Rise UV Cut Milk, Sofina Beaute, and Sofina Perfect UV come to mind. The cap is designed as a frosted cover. This bottle is so handy it fits in my palm. There are also small metal balls inside the container to facilitate mixing better. Since this is a milky type sunscreen, shake, shake, and shaking it more is the method.

It comes out as a very liquid white fluid (this is commonplace for most Japanese milky sunscreens). Only about 2cm wide of product is necessary for the entire face. There is a nice flowery smell that accompanies this sunscreen. It spreads easily over skin and dries to a matte, invisible finish. There are no oily residues or white cast. Granted, I use a serum (as a veil of protection) underneath before applying any sunscreen. So far (fingers crossed), it gave me no problems at all, so I guess my doctor's warnings were just a bit over-cautious. I guess if your skin is not in any raw condition, this sunscreen is great to try, especially as it also doubles as moisturizer and makeup base. It kept my face shine-free throughout the day. I only have to blot my nose area once and that's it. I don't even use any kind of makeup over this sunscreen. I haven't tanned at all since using this which means it is also very effective in blocking off UV rays. In the morning, it's just serum + Jenne UV Day Protector and my face is good to go for the entire day.

Keep in mind also that Sofina introduces a range of products for different age groups, and the Jenne line is especially made to address concerns of women in their 20s; so for other age groups there are better options such as the Sofina Beaute line (30s), Grace Sofina line (40s), Sofina Whitening and Alblanc (whitening), etc.

Some more info.

Above is the ingredients list. The English translation can also be found in RatzillaCosme.