best Japanese skin care products: IPSA Time Reset Aqua

IPSA is a Japanese cosmetic brand that thinks of the skin as individual and unique; each skin is different by nature and differs even more through time due to the environment, lifestyle or habits. IPSA analyzes each skin and brings it back to its original beauty thanks to its customized products.

IPSA’s beauty concept

In order to understand each skin and revive its original beauty, IPSA takes a medical approach; its skin care, as well as makeup, are based on an individual consultation, using the machine “ipsalizer”, which helps diagnose the skin. The diagnose leads to the creation of a unique recipe or prescription with specific skin care or makeup products the most adapted to the skin. IPSA’s ME (metabolizer) is the main skincare line which has a total of 17 different lotions and emulsions to fit each skin.

IPSA’s consultation

The ipsalizer allows measuring the skin with a sensor.
The data that can be checked are:

• the amount of sebum secretion
• the moisture level
• the bounciness, how plumpy the skin is
• the translucency or the ability of the skin to reflect the light
• the outer layer softness and texture level

My skin was diagnosed as lacking moisture and bounciness, but with a good level of light reflection and sebum secretion.

A combination of products was advised to me. As I was willing to try the award-winning lotion Time Reset Aqua, it replaced the original ME lotion that was first recommended. The beauty advisor chose the ME emulsion of the sensitive line.

Time Reset Aqua

IPSA’s Time Reset Aqua is an award-winning lotion launched in 2008 for the first time. The current one is the 4th generation. It has won many awards for the best cosmetic product, such as the one from Vogue Japan in 2016.

It’s a medicated moisturizing lotion that keeps hydration within the skin and which also improves the skin texture.

It’s alcohol-free since the latest formulation and it contains 2 active soothing and conditioning ingredients (tranexamic acid and glycyrrhetic acid) to at the same time lighten the skin and prevent inflammation.

What does Time Reset Aqua?

The skin can only absorb a certain amount of water. Time Reset Aqua contains an original ingredient “aqua presenter III”, which uses 3 different functions of water so that it can provide the skin with the necessary and only the requested amount of moisture it needs. The “aqua presenter III”:

• moisturizes deep inside the skin
• links the water and the skin, underneath the surface to protect the moisture inside
• creates a moisturizing layer on the surface

Time Reset Aqua deeply moisturizes the skin for hours.

Time Reset Aqua, review

The packaging is stylish with a shape that makes it easy to grip.

The fragrance is very light and not particular.

The lotion is clear and its texture is almost as light as water. It feels similar to SK-II lotion.
It’s recommended applying with cotton. It’s easily absorbed by the skin, very pleasant, refreshing and feels nice on the skin as it’s not sticky at all.

The skin stayed indeed moisturized throughout the day and I also clearly noticed a brightening effect: not that the skin got whiter/clearer but more like the skin texture got evened and could better reflect the light, therefore gave a brightened impression.

No irritation was felt, it’s very gentle to the skin so it’s suited to sensitive skin. This lotion is particularly favored by people with an unstable and sensitive skin, that is subject to acne and dryness between seasons or under stress.

The lotion comes in a big bottle of 200mL so it’s adapted to a daily and abundant use. I think the pricing is reasonable for the size and the result it brings.

IPSA Time Reset Aqua
200mL
4,000 yen

IPSA samples review

Of course, the beauty advisor gave me samples of the products recommended but that I didn’t buy.

I got ME emulsion samples for 2 days with cottons and the cleansing foam samples. The ME emulsion is also advised to be applied with a cotton.

This was a light emulsion indeed suited to sensitive skin like mine. However, the moisturizing level was not enough for me. During the day, my skin felt tense and dry. I’d like to try a more moisturizing version of ME next time.

On the other hand, I liked the cleansing foam very much. The foam was creamy and didn’t dry the skin at all. But the best part of it was that it deeply cleansed the pores.

At the end of the consultation, the beauty advisor applied the Relax Day Foundation, lately launched. Although light on the skin, it brought enough coverage giving a nice but natural finish…I may also give it a try next time!

In a summary, I think IPSA is a nice brand with a variety of products with trustworthy technology, to fit each skin. It is also reasonably priced, which encourages a long time use. Using the samples motivated me to go back and buy the other products. Regarding the Time Reset Aqua, I understand its popularity which is probably a combination of size, price, and result, as the lotion is one of the essential and most important skincare product in Japanese women’s beauty routine.