An online research prior to my visit to Japan led me to some of the ‘must-buy’ beauty products in Japan. Shiseido’s Senka Perfect Whip foaming Cleanser is one of them.
The selling point of Senka Perfect Whip is how much it can foam up. Watch the video below for a demo.
Is it really worth all the hype, other than it being able to whip up into a big marshmallow?
How to Apply Senka Perfect Whip?
If you think it’s easy to generate the foam shown in the video, it’s not. At least not with bare hands. The way to do it is to ‘lather, add water, lather, massage, add water’ and do it repeatedly until the foam is formed.
I have to admit that I prefer efficiency and simplicity in life. So if I need to spend 2 minutes to beat up the foam, or to get another aiding device (such as a beauty net), then most likely I’ll end up using it like a normal cleanser (i.e. without generating the thick marshmallow-like foam).
This means that it’s main selling point is lost on me.
The Price
If you’d thought that this is a premium product just because it bears the brand name of Shiseido, it’s not. Perfect Whip Cleanser is sold at drug-store and reasonably priced at around ¥300 in Japan. In Don Quijote, this thing was sold right out from its carton box (view latest online price HERE).
Senka Perfect Whip Cleanser used to retail at a super premium in Singapore, at triple the price (back in 2014). I’m glad to see that the price has adjusted to a more reasonable S$7.90 today.
Testing the Foaming Ability of Perfect Whip Cleanser
I tested Senka Perfect Whip against a random cleanser. Each product was given 2 minutes to foam up, using the ‘lather, add water, lather, add water’ technique.
Senka Perfect whip generated a creamier and thicker foam than what ‘Random cleanser’ generated. However, that doesn’t mean it works better.
Let’s put it to another test!
Can Senka Perfect Whip Cleanser remove makeup?
Having used beauty products for a long time, I’ve learned that I couldn’t depend on foaming cleanser as a makeup remover. Will this change my expectation? Does this cleanser clean better than other foaming cleansers? Can this replace specialized makeup remover?
For this experiment, I’ll be testing it against another randomly-chosen cleanser – a cleanser from Faceshop that costs about S$10.
Experiment on Senka Perfect Whip (Shiseido)
I applied two types of makeup to my arm – 1) normal liquid foundation, 2) Smudge-proof Eyeliner.
Step 1: Beat up lather – I spent a few minutes to beat up the lather with bare hands. Only for this test! Life is too short to spend a few minutes a day beating up a lather.
Step 2: Place foam on makeup – See photo 2 below
Step 3: Rub for 1 minute – I’ve given it one whole minute. I don’t normally lather my face for that long, probably just 10 seconds or less.
Step 4: Result: See photo 4 below
From the image above, we can see that the Perfect Whip failed to remove the smudge-proof eyeliner. I did another test by wiping my arm with a makeup remover. Traces of my foundation was also picked up. See photo below.
Experiment on a Random Cleanser
Let’s repeat the test with the other cleanser.
Once again, the cleanser did not manage to remove my smudge-proof eyeliner. Let’s see if there are any traces of foundation left.
There were no traces of the liquid foundation. Random cleanser had removed the foundation, but not the eyeliner.
The Final Result
Based on the above test, it doesn’t seem like Perfect Whip is a more superior product than other foaming cleansers.
- Both cleansers were not able to remove the smudge-proof eyeliner.
- Perfect Whip was not able to remove the liquid foundation, but random cleanser could.
This test also reinforces my belief that foaming cleanser can never be a good substitute for specialized makeup remover.
To be fair, Senka Perfect Whip is not marketed as a makeup remover. Hence, it shouldn’t be penalized for its inability to remove makeup. I’ll gladly continue using Perfect Whip Cleanser when my face is free of makeup, such as in the morning or in the evening after using a makeup cleanser.
Post-Update (Mar 2016):
I have a special request from mom. She’d asked me to get her Senka Perfect Whip because the one I gave her in 2014 lasted her for two whole years.
“This is so worth it!”, she’d told me.
I have the same sentiment. I am still using the one bought from Japan. Although I might have started using it slightly later than my mom, I’m sure I have used it for at least a year. And there’s still about a quarter of it left. A tiny amount of the product can produce enough foam for a good wash. This foam cleanser is going into my Japan Must-Buy list.
If you are in Japan or Taiwan, grab as many as you can, ok? Don’t forget to thank me for my tips when you are back. Heh. =) Rating upgraded to 4.5/5.
To find out the latest price on Amazon, click HERE
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(This post was first published in Oct 2014)
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Thank you for this fantastic, thorough review. Hope you come back to Japan again soon!
I sure will. :) It’s a great place!
I’m using senka cleanser perfect clay and after that i apply aloevera gel as moisturizer at my face. I also apply senka essence in pink bottle after that i did notice that my face burn.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope you are able to find a routine that suits your skin type, coz “face burn” does sound like the product combination may be too strong for you.
is it senka brand is for combination skin? i’ve oily skin. if you don’t mind, can you share the holy grail product or cleanser for oily skin and clogged pore? tqvm in advance :)
I’m not sure if it’s for combi skin. My skin is sometimes combi and sometimes dry, and I’ve been fine using this foaming cleanser. You can try MUAC Gly-Luronic Acid serum or Cure Natural Aqua Gel for the clogged pores issue. Perfect Whip and Biore Mild Cleansing Liquid are two cleansers I’ve often repurchased. You may also be interested in other Holygrail products of mine here: mybeautycravings.com/category/buy-or-skip/holy-grail/
Thanks for reading.
Thank you so much for helping :)
Thank you for this review. I saw the perfect whip on offer for $99 in Taipei and picked up a tube not realising what a great price it was! Oh well, it’ll just have to go onto my list for next time.
Glad you got it! =) This tube will last you for a long time. Use a tiny bit each time will do – it will generate lots of foam for a good wash.
Senka Perfect Whip is not meant to remove makeup. You use a specialist makeup remover first, an oil or micellar water. You use the Perfect Whip after, to cleanse. Not to remove makeup. Then serums, moisturiser etc after.
Yes, you’re right. :) I shared the same thing under Final Result, that it shouldn’t be penalized for its inability to remove makeup. That explains why I’ve been repurchasing this for years. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.