Hi everyone, thanks for coming by Tokyo Powder Room. With the new year upon us, there have also been changes on the blogging front.

I've decided to streamline my online business, Beauty Box, by shutting down the Singapore store and focusing on the North American market. My store still remains the same at http://store.beauty-box-online.com, and this blog will move to http://www.beauty-box-online.com.

In terms of topics, not much will be different — I'll still talk about Japanese beauty products and trends, and how beauty and health and wellness are all strongly tied together.

See you over on the other side! More posts coming soon...

You know, I love my products, but there is an unwavering truth about beauty starting from within.

I had a fun week of going out and entertaining friends over the Chinese New Year period but my body reached a point where it protested, “Enough is enough.” My skin was breaking out and I felt extremely heavy in a water-retentive way.

So I’ve been obsessed with the Raw Food Diet. I began reading about it late last year but only with an intellectual interest — I viewed as an extreme way of living, but I gradually changed my mind the deeper I got into it, particularly after my recent binge on rich food and alcohol.

I also wrote a freelance article about the importance of enzymes in raw fruit and vegetables, and cooking them for more than two minutes kills off about 70 to 80 per cent of their nutrients. So your food is almost dead.

This bothered me a little, so I introduced more raw vegetables to my diet. For example, I used to cook everything when I threw together a pesto pasta dish, but after writing that piece, I left the capsicum and mushrooms raw.

Anyway, the raw diet not only helps you lose weight but it detoxes your body inside out. If you look at raw foodists, they look ageless and have skin of fairies and other non-existent nubile creatures. I was completely intrigued.

I experimented with raw recipes by Karen Knowler, aka The Raw Food Coach, this past week and I was hesitant to try the green smoothie because of the way it looks.

Chunky, green slush — ew. But trust me, it tasted divine. She used a large mango and spinach in her demo video, but I switched to mandarin oranges because I have so many. It’s easy to make and you’ve got to try it to believe it.

You can use any leafy greens combined with a sweet, citrus fruit and I’ve got all these awesome ideas in my head right now. Celery is also fantastic for your skin. I saw an ex-colleague, whom I worked with at an online music company, transform her skin from pimple-ridden to being clear within a month of drinking pineapple and celery juice with her lunch daily.



I never knew green smoothies could taste so yum and I’m going to have one everyday. Spinach is a good place to start because it’s naturally sweet so your smoothie won’t be bitter.

Right now, my philosophy is not to spend exorbitant amounts of cash on expensive creams to achieve supple, clear skin, and I believe that if you treat your body well, it will reflect that on the outside. Wish me luck on my raw journey!


Photo: Westcoast Weezie

I’ve to tell ya, I never paid attention to hand cream before this cold, dry winter in Tokyo. The super dry air actually makes me feel a little ill, and what’s also mortifying, the skin on my hands feel tight and my cuticles are peeling — ouch.

If I did buy hand cream in the past, it was because it was an excuse to have one more sweet-smelling product for myself.

I indulged in a bottle of L’Occitane Lavender Hand Lotion a couple of years ago (I still have loads left so you can tell how often I use it). It smells absolutely gorgeous and I smear it on before bed just to feel relaxed and ready to drift off into slumberland.



It’s a light hand cream that doesn’t feel sticky but it doesn’t hold up well in Tokyo’s current dry conditions. I had to re-apply it after a short while and my skin still peeled.



For a small travel-sized hand cream, I got Neutrogena’s fragrance-free Norwegian formula just before my Nepal trip in late 2007. I thought it could double up as a spare moisturizer if I ran out, but I hardly used it. OMG, the air in Tokyo is drier than Kathmandu’s. Ugh.

Anyway, it’s “functional”, as in it does the job but has a sticky feel to it which fades only after a long while but I can tell that there’s something on my skin. Also, a big blob takes a long while for it to be absorbed and I had to keep rubbing what felt like a paste on my hands.



After dropping off Beauty Box packages at the post office, I swung by the kusuriya with a mission to save my hands from further discomfort — BB Hanskin. I got the Moisture Natural Rich Hand Cream (814JPY) and not Water Drop because I need all the hydration I can get!

I read quite a few rave reviews about this Korean brand’s Super Magic BB Cream and I guess it makes sense to have some of that special touch on my parched hands. The label reads, “The cream contains glycerin and sodium hyaluronate…” so I thought, “That sounds pretty moisturizing to me!”

Verdict: There is still a very thin film of lotion I can feel, but it’s not unpleasant and it doesn’t get in the way of typing on my Mac. The scent is wonderfully light and reminds me of Crabtree & Evelyn’s Goat’s Milk range. The fragrance fades fairly quickly so it never overwhelms my nose while I'm going about my day. It’s more affordable than Avene’s famed Cold Cream Hand Cream at 1,250JPY and feels more luxurious to the touch than cheaper, less absorbent moisturizers.

Japanese service is awesome. The cashier at the Kokumin pharmacy near my apartment made an error by overcharging my credit card for my purchase. After correcting the transaction and many apologies later, they also gave me two samples as a token gift.

The boyfriend’s mum actually loves Shiseido Elixir beauty products and asks me to help her stock up whenever I visit Sydney or if she is in Tokyo. Their skin care products smell lovely and the kangaroo’s mum swears they are perfect for dry skin.

This shade suited me very well and it gave moderate to heavy coverage. I was going out to dinner that night and was in the mood to dress up a little bit more, so this foundation helped me achieve a more finished look, as opposed to the sheer Clinique Super Balanced liquid foundation I usually use.

I do understand that this Shiseido range is targeted at mature women but I’m not so concerned about brand image as long as it caters to my needs. My skin is probably classified as oily/combination but this foundation didn’t feel too cakey and had good staying power.

It’s priced over 3,500JPY for a compact, which is reasonable. Would I buy this again? Yes, if I’m not traveling through any duty-free shops in airports.

And how was the Pond’s cleansing oil? Not good, as it doesn’t take off all traces of makeup. After I swiped my face with a cotton pad soaked with toner, the cotton pad removed quite a bit of foundation left on my skin.

The excellent thing about the world of Aussie beauty products is you’ll find lots of natural ingredients that smell divine.

I wasn’t going to go crazy and haul back a bunch to Tokyo — limited luggage space. So I allowed myself one treat: The Body Collection Australia Mango & Shea Butter Body Exfoliating Polish.



It’s a creamy, fluid scrub with real bits of apricot shells that is not as gentle as plastic beads but not overly harsh.



The overall experience is a comforting shower regime that leaves skin a little smoother.

I think if you want something that has a more dramatic effect, you would need to reach for something like The Body Shop’s African Spa Salt Scrub.

I probably may not buy this tube again but it’s not because I don’t like it but I won’t be able to find it in Tokyo.

And there are way too many brands Down Under to try! Seriously, the huge chemists (or pharmacies) stock an incredible range of domestic brands that all look and sound like they could be good beauty companions for a beach holiday.

PS: I couldn’t spot any of the products in my Allure write-up. I think Australia probably gets new products quite a while after they are launched in the US. Boo. Oh and Sydney has rainy weather now so no beaching in bikinis till the sun comes out.

I find it amazing at how beauty brands in Japan spread their brand and product range. Fancl has recently paired up with different food companies and added their own HTC Collagen.

I’ve heard of collagen ramen, collagen candy and slipping collagen into nabe (hot pot) (this was all the rage last year in the Japanese restaurant scene in NewYork).

But Fancl has definitely stepped up the competition by putting their reputable brand on food products — from bread to desserts. All these items cost below 500JPY, which is not bad at all for “fancy” collagen. HTC Collagen is their own collagen formula that has three kinds of amino acids which is more effective than standard collagen.

You can read it in more detail at Trends in Japan.

Allure is to beauty, like Vogue is to fashion, so each issue of Allure is like a fantastic buffet of beauty products to gobble up.

While I was browsing its online site recently, I spotted a few lovely affordable beauty buys I might want to get when I fly to Sydney for Christmas — and that’s just next week!

Some of these brands are available in Japan but I’m keen to check out these four Allure picks because they are either not sold here or they are more expensive.

Revlon ColorStay Soft & Smooth Lipcolor, $9.99.



L'Oréal Paris Liquid Liner Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner ($7.99)



St. Ives Elements Microdermabrasion ($6.99)



Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Time Renewal Replenishing Mask



Actually I’m one who likes to travel with products that are familiar to me. I would squeeze all kinds of shampoo, conditioner, moisturizers into mini containers or if it’s a long trip, I’ll just take along the full size product. In this way, I wouldn’t have to go without the stuff I know that works.

But the boyfriend bought us Jetstar tickets and we are only allowed one large check-in suitcase (20kg) between us. EEP! What is a beauty junkie to do? Plus my shoes and bags?! I didn’t panic for long because Australia is chock full of awesome beauty products, so look out for incoming posts about what I find Down Under.

When I spotted Sekkisuiat Seven Eleven, I wondered if it was worth trying because some sub-brands here are a bit touch and go. I have no idea if Sekkisei or Sekkisui truly whitens skin, but I found the basic set to feel and smell great.



The White Washing Cream is pretty foamy, which is something I love in a facial wash, and it smells divinely comforting — the sort of feeling you should have before you climb under the sheets.

The Pure Whitening Lotion is refreshing on the skin so it has that wake-up effect and perfect for sleepy mornings.

The only complaint I have is there is ethanol in these two products, which explains the squeaky clean feeling you get. I think alcohol is sort of unavoidable in budget products in Japan so I would only recommend this for summer. My skin felt a bit tight as it’s winter now, but there was nothing a rich night cream couldn’t fix. The most important thing was I didn’t break out despite the ethanol.

Lastly, the Cleansing Oil totally rocks. It’s not very oily (feels more like a thick toner) and exudes a powdery fragrance, and the best part is, it takes off all my makeup, including waterproof mascara, with only four or five shakes from the bottle. After swiping my skin with the Pure Whitening Lotion, I didn’t see much residue at all.

A 100ml bottle costs only 940JPY (and comes with a pump), so it’s very affordable for such a good product. My skin is sensitive but it seems to behave with fragrance so I would give this one top marks for sensory and utility factors. Would I buy this again? YES. And I’m taking this set with me to Sydney, ‘cos it’s SUMMER TIME!

The latest product on my radar is Mandom Beauty’s Cleansing Express all-in-one make up remover/cleanser/toner.

The tagline, "Ready for bed as soon as possible!" caught my eye on the train and there was a cartoon of an OL (office lady) looking all tired on the couch with limbs entangled in a colourful heap.



Apparently, all you need to do is squirt some of this magic liquid onto a cotton pad, wipe off your war paint, splash your face with water (optional), and then moisturize.

I thought it was in the budget range of cleansing oils and was about to dismiss it, since I have heard nasty reviews of cheap brands like Ponds and Biore. But my itchy fingers did a search on the Internet, and what I found out was, there’s no alcohol in this huge 300ml bottle. At only 950JPY at pharmacies, it’s definitely on my to-buy list.

There are three versions: Sebum, Moist, and Agecare. Here are some rave reviews by other beauty bloggers: Musings of a Muse, Lady L, and La Belle Cose.

I totally went gaga after I read how each and every one of them removed stubborn waterproof eye makeup and didn’t feel any residue on their skin after.

Although I’m a fan of Fancl's Cleansing Oil and DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil, I’m interested to give this one a go because it feels like water. Wow. It’s available in the US for USD13.99 on webichi and it’s SGD16.90 in Meidi-ya at Liang Court.

I think the word tsubaki, or the camellia flower, is more well known to people outside of Japan because of Shiseido’s lovely Tsubaki range (I would definitely choose Tsubaki White over Red as it’s less rich). It’s definitely affordable and looks really chic.

But from what I understand, there’s an “original” Tasubaki oil…



It’s something mothers and grandmothers use to protect their locks from the dry Japanese air. Or that's what I think from the packaging (that's my only complaint). Apparently it's the number one Tsubaki product in Japan, according to top beauty review site cosme.

I actually tried it once when I stayed overnight at a Japanese ex-colleague’s home for a snowboarding trip. His wife fussed over me after my shower and offered some of her Oshima Tsubaki oil, which is 100 per cent pure oil.

I thought it made my hair glossy and soft to the touch — though I did come away thinking though it smelled very good, you would have to be careful not to put on too much. At the time, I had no idea where to purchase it.

One of the things I love about knowing how to read Japanese is I can sort of figure out which products are for what and I kind of understand what beauty product ads say.

I’m a big fan of Asience’s Beauty Mist, which is a conditioning spray that made my slightly wavy hair straight. With so many beauty products to try, I’m giving this the Beauty Mist a break.



Instead of the oil, I chose to try the Tsubaki tsuya tsuya water and I was surprised to find that it makes my hair so soft after blow-drying it. It also gave my hair a bit of bounce. Highly recommended and very affordable at 1050JPY for 150ml.

Update: After using this for a few weeks, I suddenly experienced acne and rash break outs on my neck. I juggled around my hair products and came to the conclusion that this spray has been the cause of my skin irritation. I've got sensitive skin but can take a little fragrance in my products, so I think my threshold is a little lower than your average gal.

ヒアルロン酸

If you see the Japanese words above in a beauty product, you might wonder what good it would do for your skin.

Honestly, I've never seen this chemical used to sell Western products but apparently hyaluronic acid is used in many toiletries and skincare products all over the world. The cool thing is, it's also found throughout your body.

Simply put, hyaluronic acid is a gel-like substance that fills the spaces between cells, and keeps them hydrated them by absorbing moisture. It basically serves as a protective buffer or a “cushion” between cells.

Skin loses elasticity and becomes dry because moisture is lost and that's because hyaluronic acid in between your cells have decreased. To keep skin hydrated, it’s important to have hyaluronic acid at optimal levels.

So, if you see the katana words above in masks (especially Kose masks), collagen supplements, or moisturizers, you know what it's for.

I made my way to Matsumoto Kiyoshi for one of my research trips (I was looking at the Kose Sekkisei range) and remembered that one of my customers suggested that I look into Ma Cherie products.

A budget hair care line by Shiseido, Ma Cherie is available at prices below 1,000JPY for most of their products.

I chose Ma Cherie’s Gloss Charge Essence, shampoo and conditioner for dry hair. I made a mistake (as usual) between moisturizing (shittori) and shiny (sara sara). I’m not sure what is the exact difference but I gather that sara sara is probably for normal hair. Like for facial wash, those labeled with “fresh” (sappari) are geared to those with normal skin, while shittori is for dry skin.



Well, I think Ma Cherie’s shampoo and conditioner smell pretty with a fresh, citrus scent, but it was too rich for my oily scalp. My hair gets a bit oily towards the end of the day but I think that’s fine if I’m at home and would wash my hair the next morning.

I always remembered what my beauty colleague always asked me when I tested products for her, “Is it nice to use?” — which meant, did it feel good on you?

Texture and fragrance are very important components in a beauty product. I think if you had some magical formula, but it stank and felt slimy, you won’t be able to get it off the ground with women. I had a chuckle when I read Viva Woman’s post about using eggs as an anti-aging mask.

So in all my reviews, I would definitely consider these factors on rating products. Ma Cherie is utilitarian with a pleasant fragrance but don’t expect the works.



I was quite disappointed with the Gloss Charge Essence because I think it contains alcohol as it has a cooling sensation when you pump some into your palm. I gave it go three nights in a row but stopped because it made my hair look dry and tangled. Why would they put alcohol in a hair product? I have no idea. Maybe it’s not alcohol, but some other chemical, but whatever it is, it sure doesn’t do anything good for my hair.

I’ve never used whitening cult fave Sekkisei by Kose but my interest has been piqued by a few inquiries made at Beauty Box. This range can be found in kusuriyas (pharmacies) so they are a cheaper alternative to the goddess of all whitening products — SKII.

Lately, Kose came up with an even cheaper range, called Sekkisui.



At 7 Eleven, you can buy a Sekkisui paper mask for only 315JPY (USD3.30), as compared to 735JPY for a Sekkisei paper mask (but you would have to buy a box of six because that’s how it’s packaged).

I’m not into whitening products at all, but the hype is getting under my skin and I feel like getting a starter kit.



I found a blog entry by a Tokyo gyaru who writes in English and she mentions the difference between Sekkisui and Junkisui. Sekkisui is for whitening and brightening (bihaku) properties, while Junkisui has coenzyme Q10 as an anti-aging ingredient.

But, on the fun scale, Junkisui doesn’t grab my attention as much because of its beige packaging and lacks a mini set.

I wonder if I will start obsessing about “snow-white skin” (that’s the meaning of Sekkisei by the way)? I’ve to admit I’ve always been hesitant about using Japanese products on my face because I can’t understand all the ingredients, but do I comprehend all the chemicals in products with English labels? Nope… haha…. Mostly, I just look for "alcohol" because I refuse to put that on my skin.

Actually I used SKII for a year and my skin did improve in terms of texture. I don’t think I became fairer but was pleased that it was smoother. There was a time in my life that I would sun myself (with only coconut oil) for three hours at Yio Chu Kang swimming pool on Saturdays. Goodness, the damage I did to myself!

I can’t afford SKII now, so Sekkisui will be my next skin experiment. Stay tuned.

Kawaii, deshoooooo?



I’m not sure if this would get MAC junkies excited because MAC has always been sexy and edgy. Their red Christmas collection is a little OTT for me but glamazons will definitely rush to buy these hot palettes.

Anyway, if you are interested in these landmark collectibles, Hello Kitty Mac will be released in February 2008 ‘(in time for Valentine’s Day?). It’s rumoured to be an extensive selection that has two categories: the Hello Kitty Colour Collection and the more high-end Hello Kitty Kouture. Lipsticks are USD14; lipglass, USD14; eyeshadow palette, USD38 — all affordable if you ask me.

I think what will make collectors sit up would be the Hello Kitty Kouture Dazzleglass, USD28, which is a reusable silver chain pendant with Hello Kitty outlined in white Swarovski crystals on black with a pink crystal bow.

I kinda drooled when I read that the Sheer Mystery Powder, USD90 (available in three hues), comes in a silver powder compact with Hello Kitty outlined in white Swarovski crystals with a pink crystal bow on a black background.

It’s because I’m a closet Kitty Chan fan…



There’s a bit of her in my bathroom. I don’t think I would buy any since it’s the recession but I would love to poke around at the MAC store in Omotesando Hills.

We’re making a shipment in December 2008, so we are holding a pre-order spree for the following products:

Meiji Amino Collagen Tin
Meiji Amino Collagen Refill Pack
Meiji Amino Collagen 2-in-1 Refill Pack
Fancl HTC Collagen Powder Sticks
DHC Lash Tonic
DHC Q10 Milk
Kose Clear Turn White Coenzyme Q10 Mask 22 pcs
Kose Clear Turn White Marine Collagen Mask 22 pcs
Kose Clear Turn White Whitening Essence Mask 22 pcs
Sekkisei Day Essence SPF25/PA+ 50ml SGD70 (approx 15% off retail price SGD80)
Sekkisei Cream 40g SGD70 (approx 15% off retail price SGD80)
Sekkisei Cream Excellence 50g SGD100 (approx 15% off retail price SGD114)

*All Xmas Sale prices apply.
*If you are interested in products other than the ones stated above, please email us anyway to see if it can be a possible transaction.

If you are interested in taking part in our December pre-order spree, submit the following:

Name:
Email Address:
Name of Product(s) and quantity:
Home Address:

Submit your application to luiyuming [at] gmail.com

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: 11 December 2008, THURSDAY, 9PM

We will post these products to you on 20 December 2008, Thursday, so the deadline for payment is 19 December 2008, Wednesday, 9PM. (Please inform me via email when you make payment, especially via ATM transfer.)

Please do not submit your order if you are not sure of your purchase.

This seems like an advertorial for Beauty Box since I sell this product. A little shameless? Okay, just a mite, but hear me out.

I actually think this is a fabulous serum/moisturizer. When I was working at a certain magazine back in the day, I was given a bottle of this because the beauty department was clearing out its storeroom. I was told it was a serum and since I’ve got oily skin, I was grateful for the light moisturizer.

The fragrance was lovely and I felt pampered when I spread it all over my skin. I sometimes have a bit of flakiness around my chin area if I don’t take heed to put more moisturizer but with this I had no such problem.

My skin did look smoother and softer after the bottle finished (most likely due to their original HTC Collagen being part of its blend), so I wanted to get one to replace it. At the Fancl store in Singapore, I took a look at the price and went, “Yikes!” Since I was a struggling journalist, I went back to my trusty Olay Total Effects Serum (which is a good option for those with oily skin in humid weather. The moisturizer can be too rich.) that is 10 times cheaper.

The other plus point about this Fancl serum is it’s great for sensitive skin with their no preservatives and no artificial colouring ethos. It’s cheaper than expensive creams like La Mer, and works better than more affordable brands like Clinique and Clarins.

Now that I’m in Japan, I have been tempted to get it because it is way cheaper here, but alas, I need to count my pennies for the next little while so when the good times are rolling, I’ll be back.

Is everything super expensive in the Land of the Rising Sun? Sort of. Shopping here is different, too, because Japan has so many unique products that you would fork out more for something of great quality.

But there are good deals to be had beauty-wise in Tokyo and if you are determined to have a retail binge, here are four excellent places to check out:



Don Quijote

If you’re Singaporean, this “everything” store would remind you of Mustafa (a shopping mall that is 24 hours and stocks everything from electrical appliances to perfume to dietary supplements). Their products are stacked from floor to ceiling without any logical layout.

I’ve heard a lot about how revolutionary this idea is — the shopping style here has that “grab it while you can” sentiment because everything is in a mess and you might not find it again. Looking at the chaos under harsh fluorescent lighting does make everything look cheap and the countless for-sale signs are very tempting.

I think you could get some very good deals here for toiletries and cosmetics, and even if some items aren’t marked down, they will probably be at market price. The best thing is you can shop for beauty stuff at midnight!



Matsumoto Kiyoshi

This is the most ubiquitous pharmacy chain in Tokyo — the bright yellow signs are unmistakable and two to three storey mega store layout make for comfortable browsing. The shelves of supplements, makeup, and toiletries make this a beauty haven.



Kokumin

This pharmacy is not as cheap as the two mentioned above but you could score some on-sale products and some stores even put a bargain bin outside.



Tomod’s

I think this chain is quite expensive but I frequent this one a lot because it’s the nearest one to my apartment. But they do have a sales shelf where you can get excellent three-in-one hair product sets. Their loyalty card makes me a repeat customer because it’s a stamp system, as opposed to a points one, where you get 500JPY off your purchase once it is full, and they still give you stamps for the purchase that was discounted. I suppose it all levels out at the end of the day.

I'm soooo excited that my fledgling online biz is featured in Singapore's leading entertainment weekly, 8DAYS, today.

The article is about online retail shops that use Facebook as marketing tool. Go social media! I heart Facebook.

Be a part of Beauty Box's FB group right here.

Thanks to a couple of friends visiting Tokyo from Singapore, I can stock up on some products for the month of November.

Calling out to Japanese beauty junkies out there — check out BB’s new Kose, DHC, and Fancl products here. Happy shopping!

When it comes to cosmetics, I tend to be drawn to those with pretty packaging, like Paul & Joe, Anna Sui, Stila, and Jill Stuart. But the sad thing is that these gorgeous gems are too expensive to indulge in on a regular basis, so I was thrilled to discover Majolica Majorca (MM).

Other affordable brands like Maybelline and Revlon don’t excite me because their colour palettes don’t really offer a wide range of shades and the textures do feel a bit rough as you glide on their products.

But MM is pretty smooth for a pharmacy brand — obviously it is not in the same league as Chanel in terms of silkiness — and I sampled almost everything except their eye pencils and foundation products. The lip gloss was pretty okay, not too sticky, while mascaras are better than L’Oreal in terms of lengthening but it still clumps, so you would have to clean the little comb applicator they provide everytime you use it. I never had to do this with Lancome or Clinique.



1,400JPY

What really caught my attention were their eye shadow compacts. The hues were subtle and wearable, which you might assume otherwise due to the goth packaging. The texture was very smooth and the colour fairly long-lasting. I could go for a lighter look, or choose to have a smokier blue-grey effect — what’s not to like?



500JPY

These lil’ babies are awesome for gals like me who love MANY different shades of eyeshadows. They have a wide range of colours to choose from and they're so affordable.

I did consider selling MM in Beauty Box but the margins are just too low. When MM was launched in Oct, I got a friend to nose around the counter at Takashimaya’s Watson’s — she took down the prices and they are so cheap in Singapore. I won’t have a competitive edge at all and the Japanese yen climbed yet again this week. Bleah.

Anyway, I’m glad I have a cheap option for cute makeup during these hard economic times. A girl’s still gotta look good no matter what.