Three’s Company
Japanese beauty brand Three’s botanical-based products have captured Nicolette Wong’s heart
ne plus one equals three!” so declares Yasushi Ishibashi, a lean, elderly Japanese gentleman who is surprisingly not joking. But Ishibashi isn’t bad at maths; he is just referring to the reason why he named his botanicalbased beauty brand, Three. “When natural ingredients combine with modern technology, you get Three.” The beauty veteran founded the brand in 2009, after spending decades at other famous cosmetics houses. Three is the culmination of all of his years of experience. However unique the nomenclature of the brand, what we cannot deny is the incredible efficacy of its products. Most Three products are between 80 and 99 per cent naturally-derived (you can see a comprehensive ingredient breakdown of each product on its website), with the remaining percentage points largely owed to the use of modern preservatives. Without these preservatives, Ishibashi reasons, the products would begin to spoil the moment they leave the factory. With them, however, the consumer is free to reap the powerful benefits of the essential oils and plant-based ingredients that make up the active formula in Three’s skincare and make-up products. But wait, some may say, aren’t essential oils potentially irritating to sensitive skin? According to Ishibashi, all essential oils with the slightest potential for irritation (such as cedarwood oil) have been left out. Instead, Three uses oils from botanicals such as frankincense, neroli and tea seed. Its star product, the Balancing Cleansing Oil, has already replaced every other cleanser in my skincare routine. Given the attention that Three gives to its skin-loving ingredients, you wouldn’t think that its make-up would be up to snuff. After all, few beauty brands do both equally well. But Three’s make-up line is excellent. The Flawless Ethereal Fluid Foundation makes my skin look naturally blemish-free, and the Mesmerizing Performance Eyeliner Pencil glides over the skin like butter. The formulation of the products is impeccable, and in typical Japanese fashion, the make-up colours are subtle but contain complex shimmers and nuanced hues that make even the simplest daily make-up routine a genuine pleasure. The experience of using the Three products is lovely and multisensorial, thanks to the in-house aromatherapy specialist. Every product that Three releases should be both efficacious, and a pleasure to use, says Ishibashi. And I can attest to what a pleasure it is to use them.