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. It's suitably efficacious at removing makeup, leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft, and smells divine—the scent perks you up in the mornings, and relaxes you at night.

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. But don't take our word for it—pop into the Three facial cabin on the fourth floor of Tangs, and try the products out for yourself. Every product that Three releases should be both efficacious, and a pleasure to use, says Ishibashi. And what a pleasure it is indeed.

(Related: 5 Beauty Products That Bring The Glow)