Though I always have an eye out for budget beauty products (especially short-use makeup where you might want to play with color), I do think it's worth investing in quality daily skin care products. This winter I’ve been testing out Shiseido’s Benefique collection and have been thrilled with the products, which are gentle, quick absorbing (no goopiness!), and have left me with happy -- not chappy -- winter skin! 

Benefique's skin temperature based regimen involves 3 steps (cleanse, moisturize, treat). There are 3 lotions to choose from depending on seasonal and skin temperature, and 2 emulsions to choose from (I is for warm temperature/oilier skin; II is for colder weather/drier skin). Given the frigid temperatures, I’ve been using the cleansing foam (and the hot cleansing cleaner once a week), lotion III, emulsion II, and treatment cream. Going through the regimen doesn’t take long and I'm loving the results; my skin is nourished and happy and even my mom (a huge Shiseido fan who has no problem telling me when my skin looks bad!) told me at lunch this week that my skin looked awesome. SWEET. (I guess one never stops wanting mom's approval!)

These products are definitely spendier than drugstore picks, but they will last because you don't need to use much for full coverage. I've been using Benefique daily since early December (3 months ago) and I'm not even a third of the way into the products! 

Have you tried Shiseido? What are your favorite daily use products? Feel free to share in the comments below!

Disclosure: Shiseido kindly sent me product to test for editorial consideration; opinions are, of course, my own. Image credits: thumbnail via Shiseido; product layout by Christine Koh