Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum Review

As any beauty aficionado will know, when it comes to Japan, taking care of one’s skin is an art form deeply ingrained in everyday life. Hailed for its fusion of modern technology and time-honoured beauty traditions, the beauty philosophies of Japan are rooted in prevention over quick fixes. It’s this mindful approach, coupled with revolutionary exploration, that defines Ultimune Power Infusing Serum, Shiseido’s most iconic formula, now reborn.

The fourth iteration of Ultimune is a triumph of plant science and immunology—a serum that doesn’t aim to fix skin, but actively fortify it from within, with the groundwork behind set to change what we know about skincare altogether. Powered by 30 years of cutting-edge research, Shiseido’s latest breakthrough lies in the activation of Memory T-Cells—those brilliant little defenders of our immune system that, now mobilised, can be used to slow the signs of aging at a cellular level. The result? A new frontier in beauty, one that offers not a cure for aging, but a powerful rebellion against its inevitability.

Recently, GRAZIA joined MECCA in Tokyo, the birthplace of Shiseido, to chat with some of the masterminds behind this game-changing technology.

At the heart of the serum is also Power Fermented Camellia+, a potent botanical extract cultivated in Gotoh Island and enhanced using a patented bio-fermentation process inspired by traditional ki-koji techniques. In this process, the entire flower—oil, seeds, leaves, stems, and all—is utilised, resulting in a concentration of antioxidants and amino acids that is 3.4 times more potent than pre-fermentation. Not only does it strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, but it supports its natural defences, and—most radically—helps kickstart the skin’s own regeneration process. In short, it empowers the skin to reclaim its power.

The science is truly revolutionary, not just in skincare, but in immunology and medicine as a whole. While we’re not exactly experts in the field, Dr Shawn Demehri and Dr Tetsuya Hasagawa, who have pioneered Shiseido’s recent skin immunity research, certainly are. 

“The mechanism we are proposing is completely novel,” explains Dr Demehri. “There’s no product that has been developed with this science, because this science, which employs T-cells to eradicate age cells, specifically, is entirely new.”

“It’s not just skin-deep; you can take this research to various fields of preventative treatment.”

“In skincare, there is a noticeable shift from the traditional anti-aging mindset, which focuses on correcting signs of aging after they appear, to a more positive perspective of slowing the skin aging, which emphasises gracefully and healthily embracing age,” Shiseido tells GRAZIA. “The new Ultimune serum is positioned as a leader in this trend, based on the groundbreaking discovery of its ability to target the source of skin aging.”

“What truly excites us is the potential to shift the perception of aging fundamentally,” they continue. “With the introduction of the concept of “#SlowAging,” we aim to convey that there is no need to fight against the years we have earned; instead, we can embrace the idea that skin aging can be slowed down at any age.”

This philosophy mirrors Japan’s preventive medical system, which focuses on maintaining balance and vitality over waiting to initiate damage control. What Shiseido has achieved is translated this breakthrough into skincare with resounding success.

In a world where ‘anti-aging’ often implies fighting against time, Ultimune offers something entirely different: freedom from age. Not in the literal sense, of course, as growing old is a true privilege, but in the liberation of our approach to time and skin. This isn’t about chasing youth, but maintaining skin’s strength for the future.

Boasting a featherlight texture, the finish of Shiseido’s Ultimune serum is luminous, leaving you with a lit-from-within finish that can be used on its own or as a silky base for makeup. But the true magic lies in the deeper layers, where science does what it was always meant to do: support the body, not override it. Designed for all ages and skin types, including the most sensitive, it promises a seamless fit into anyone’s routine.

In an era of lasers, peels, tweakments, and gatekeeping, Shiseido brings us in on the action, developing a serum that harnesses the most sophisticated and cutting-edge research and delivers it directly to the masses. Where Ultimune 4.0 differs from traditional anti-aging is in its mindful approach to skincare—not as an intervention, but as a ritual rooted in science, culture, and driven by the desire to honour every stage of life.

After road-testing the new formula, along with some of the brand’s other bestsellers—the nourishing Essential Energy Hydrating Cream and Eudermine Activating Essence—we can’t overstate the magic of its effortless prevention.

If plump, luminous, resilient skin is the goal—now, and in the years to come—then consider the latest iteration of this cult-favourite serum a new essential. 

Shop the full Shiseido range below from MECCA