If you want to turn your skin around quickly, beauty formulas that contain no preservatives would probably be a start.

Since 1980, Japanese skincare label Fancl has stuck to its preservative-free maxim by churning out smaller bottles of product hermetically sealed for optimum freshness during use. Each box also comes with a clear indication of the production date to prove it.

So if you are a health nut and prefer fresh and preservative-free foods, why wouldn’t you consider preservative-free beauty products for the skin as well?

The brand’s star products include the range of watery lotions and lightweight emulsions (S$36 for 30ml each) for different skin types. The ingredients include collagen, hyaluronic acid, an essence encapsulated in a nano-formula to boost effectiveness, as well as mallow flower and blue sweet pea extract to help repair skin.

The popular anti-aging cocktail BC Essence (S$125 for 18ml) which promises to rev up the skin’s collagen production (silybum marianum fruit extract), glow (pear juice ferment, and hops flower extract) and regeneration capability (blue sweet pea extract); is best complemented by the new BC Night Intensive Cream (S$175 for 20g). Bottled in a twist and pump container, the rich but easily absorbed night cream is made with hydrolysed collagen, grape bud extract, and blue sweet pea extract to repair the skin at night. While hydrolysed soybean extract moisturises the skin.

Clean skin is the first step to clear skin; and the new BC Facial Washing Cream (S$55 for 90ml) which foams up easily and thickly, complements the rest of the range. Infused with Sea Buckthorn Oil, the creamy formula soothes the skin while  deep cleansing it.

To amp up your regular skincare routine, Fancl is also known for its Tense Up Trick-Peptide Collagen Beauty Drink (S$58 for 10 bottles) to make up for those late nights, stress, UV rays and exposure to cigarette smoke. The proprietary made-in-Japan formula boosts skin elasticity, hydration, clarity and firmness.

Complete the entire regime with the Aging Care Mask with a generous 28ml of collagen essence in each sachet (S$74 for 6 pieces). The sheet mask is made from a pulpy material, and is best used while lying down. Contains hydrolysed collagen, micro collagen capsules, hydrolysed yeast, algae extract, sisyphus jujube fruit extract, as well as blue sweet pea extract. It leaves a moisturising film on the face the entire night while you sleep, so you wake up to bouncy skin.

I used only Fancl products for a week, and my skin looks visibly clearer, brighter, firmer, and more supple (skin is more hydrated; and makeup looks fresher for longer).

If you have skin that is easily irritated, the preservative-free Fancl cocktails would be a good bet.