Review: Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser, Softening Concentrate & Refining Moisturizer

*Disclosure* These products were sent to me thanks to Shiseido. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always! Some links below are affiliate links.

Hello everyone! A little while ago, I was very kindly sent a little kit of Shiseido products that included a cleanser, concentrate and moisturizer. I got the chance to also try out their Ibuki Multi Solution Gel, which I reviewed here, and loved so much. Now that I've tried this out for a bit, I'm ready to share my thoughts. 

Here is some info on the Gentle Cleanser from Sephora:

What it is:
An ultragentle cleanser to remove impurities without stripping the skin’s essential moisture.

What it is formulated to do:
This extra gentle, highly effective cleanser removes impurities and harmful excess sebum without stripping away skin’s essential moisture. It quickly lathers into a rich foam, and leaves skin feeling refreshed and silky-smooth to the touch.  

This cleanser is freaking fantastic, to put it bluntly. It definitely lathers up into a thick, rich foam, and the tiniest bit goes a very long way. It leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean, without feeling parched. I don't know what they put in this that makes it clean so well, but this has to be one of the best cleansers I've tried. Shiseido is known for having strong scents to their products, which I'm not a huge fan of, but this works incredibly well at cleaning, that I can get past it. The full 4.5 ounce size costs $30.

Here is some info on the Softening Concentrate: 

What it is:
A deep-infusion formula that delivers powerful ingredients into the skin for a softer, smoother feel.
What it is formulated to do:
By supplying skin with generous moisture, this deep-infusion formula helps deliver the most effective ingredients into the skin for an immediate soft, smooth feel. It also enhances the benefits of other skin care products while creating an even palette for cosmetics. 

When I first went to use this, I had no idea if it was a toner or a serum. I realized after I applied it to a cotton pad that it was too thick to be a toner, so I put some on my hands, and applied it as a serum. That worked much better, and sunk into my skin nicely. I feel like it helps my skin feel more hydrated, and it's great when paired with the following moisturizer and under makeup. Again, this also has a very strong, almost floral-y scent. There are two different sized bottles you can buy. The 2.5 ounce is $24, and the 5 ounce it $38

Here is some info on the Refining Moisturizer:

What it is:
A multiaction formula that instantly corrects the appearance of unevenness from visible pores, breakouts, blemish marks, and skin roughness.

What it is formulated to do:
This refining moisturizer renews the appearance of the skin’s surface, creating an incredibly smooth, uniform texture, while keeping skin hydrated all day long. Red and gold soft reflecting powder particles give the complexion an instant luminosity for a healthy glow.  

This moisturizer feels very lightweight at first, but packs a punch in hydration. I don't really notice a difference with my pores, but I feel like using this trio together, it helps to smooth out my skin, making it look more even. The scent is strong as usual, but it dissipates quickly. The full 2.5 ounce size is $45. 

While I'm enjoying using this trio, I can't help but notice on the ingredient lists that there is some form of drying alcohol in each of these products. I haven't had any adverse reactions to using these products at all, but I've been trying to steer clear of the alcohols that are really drying, and just bad for your skin in general. With that being said, I know I wouldn't repurchase the Softening Concentrate or the Refining Moisturizer, but the Gentle Cleanser is pretty fantastic, so I might consider splurging. It just cleans so well, yet doesn't make my skin feel tight. 

What do you think of these Shiseido products?