♥ Beauty Diary

American Apparel Japan

2014-03-05T01:43:00.001-08:00

Skincare Additions

2014-03-05T01:42:00.001-08:00

Origins Make a Difference Cleansing Milk

Amazon ¥2600

Shiseido Aqualabel AC Control Emulsion

Drug Store ¥1200 - excellent cream, no breakouts whatsoever! And it's cheap!

Bioderma Micellaire Water 500ml

Amazon ¥2000 (bargain!)

Muji Spring Selection 2014

2014-02-23T03:10:00.001-08:00

Coat. Boat tshirt. Denim dress. Boyfriend jeans. Want.

Mori Girl Brand Watch: SM2

2014-02-21T01:36:00.001-08:00

A mori girl inspired brand called SM2, these are everywhere- especially in inaka malls! Here's a selection from their spring 2014 recommended and their staff shots.

I love store sites where they feature what the staff is wearing.

Dat beret.

Hair Dye Diary (Japan)

2014-02-21T00:38:00.001-08:00

I've tried a LOT of hair dyes here in Japan. My ultimate goal is to achieve a natural darkish blonde, I've preferred it for a couple of years now and plus I didn't have the money to get a really nice highlight job. Also, now that I have the money, I don't trust japanese salons to give me good highlights- for two reasons.

1) highlights I had before had zero natural tone, pure yellow!

2) being accidentally made a brunette

After trying a whole scope of colours- ones that made my hair yellow, ones that made me ginger and one that even made my hair grey! I wasn't even upset about having grey hair for two days, it looked sort of, cool? Anyway, back to the point, cookie beige is the only one that works for me at the moment.

I knew it's not the best dye around but I'm scared to try anything else.

As soon as I dye my hair again I'll update this post with a fresh photo!

This. But imagine no filter. Lighter!

Hair Care Diary

2014-02-21T00:20:00.001-08:00

Things I have been using and approve of!

Leave in conditioner given to me! It's so good, I love it.

Hate the packaging, love the shampoo!

Shiseido tsubaki conditioner, not a fan of the fragrance but it does the job.

This is cool but after long term use, my hair gets a bit gross and heavy.

So good! Lasts forever!

This is my all time favourite shampoo! I've only ever seen it in one drug store though. (Create, with the hippo?) the herbal scent sickened me over time so I stopped using it for a while. Does an awesome job though.

Skin care Diary

2014-02-19T23:54:00.001-08:00

Detclear Bright and Peel Enyzme Powder Wash (¥880). Mornings.

Origins Make a Difference Cleansing Milk (around ¥3000 on amazon, they stopped selling this in Japan ;-;) I use with a flannel to take off my grimey make up.

Maihada Rice Power lotion by Kose, too expensive! I get samples packs from drug stores. Morning and night.

Sent to me from home. Love it. Smells amazing!

Make Up Bag

2014-02-19T23:30:00.001-08:00

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, around ¥2000 (shocking!). Did not love this during the summer, I swiftly abandoned it but I decided to give it a go around December and having been using it everyday ever since! It's nowhere as good as the original healthy mix but it lasts all day (winter) and gives skin a lovely tone. Especially under the eyes.

Avon Marimekko blush is something I found digging around on eBay, what a find! Love it. Tried switching it for several different blushes but I love this one too much ;-;

Esprique foundation (¥2600) and brush (¥1300): I use this on top of my bourjois foundation, just around the t zone. I'm quite red and scarred from some bad breakouts.

Love me Darling mascara (¥1300): bought this purely because of the packaging! Ha! Love it lots, easy to take off and lasts all day. It's similar to Cliniques green mascara (sorry I can't find the name of it!) as it doesn't do anything too dramatic but makes the lashes look very pretty.

Heavy Rotation Eyebrow Mascara (¥800): this is cosme.net's number one, anyone living in Japan will know what this means! (Heh) I'm not totally versed in the art of eyebrow colouring but using this I can get away with it. You know, I don't use it everyday- but when I do, my face does have a somewhat better(?) appearance... Probably because my eyebrows are a closer colour to my hair.

In October, I decided to get my hair dyed at a salon, you know, get a longer lasting and better colour? I wanted my usual darkish blonde but of course things didn't turn out that way. I walked in with 'yellow' hair and walked out the darkest of all brunettes. The next day a japanese co-worker said to me 'You hair colour matches your eyebrows now!' What a compliment.

It's been nearly two years and I've finally been to an English speaking hairdresser. That's non inaka living for you!

Luvocracy: Listing my purchases.

2013-12-11T02:58:00.000-08:00

Alright, here's a condensed list of things I luuuuurve for all you expats in Japan, or those who are interested in Japanese products! There are lots of things that are available all over the world as well included.

I've only posted things that I truly like and that work for my skin. Skin care and make up.

Brands included: Avene, Bioderma, Esprique, Maybelline, Tony Moly, Lancome, Chant a Charm, Weleda

Hope you find some use from this! As soon as I heard about this site I was on board because personally I find that Pinterest seriously overwhelms me... am I the only one?

Its USA only, so I'm not making any money out of this. I genuinely think this is a great partner to any blog.

DO IT.

My Luvocracy Page

久しぶり : Trending in Japan Update: Tear Bag Highlighter

2013-12-05T02:02:00.000-08:00

Long time no see.

I spend a vomit inducing amount of time in drug stores. Yes I know, I'm British and I'm saying drug store, it's the worst. I also say cell phone! Thanks Japan. (...what do you call them when you're going to Boots/Superdrug... but you don't call them Boots or Superdrug? I'm asking sincerely. Please message me.)

So yes, I spend so much time in these places- I don't really get that taken aback by much, until I saw THESE!

Real Lasting Tears Tank from K-Palette.

I don't really know what to call these things. Its a highlighter for under your eyes, nothing new I know but as you can deduct from the images presented, its to emphasize the plumpness of your eye bag? Obviously this product is well, just dumb, however it is a perfect partner to terrifying circle lenses.

Canmake Liquid Lightning Eyes

Apparently having a plump looking under eye is cute! It gives charm and appeal! Demonstration!

Weird.

Mirei Kiritani: New Obsession

2012-08-31T01:14:00.002-07:00

Shiseido Integrate Mineral Watery Foundation

2012-08-30T23:58:00.002-07:00

I've had my hands on this lovely foundation for a couple of months now, I first started using it because of how horrible and oily my skin has become over the Summer, (it's hot as $%^@ here in Saitama) and I needed something mattefy my skin. It definitely helped and it even cleared up my skin a little.

Point proven as I have stopped using this, as I am seriously tanned now and I've broken out again ;_; Boo. It doesn't help that I've been plying on Pore Putty every couple of hours to hide my gross spotty chin.

Though its not a long lasting one, saying that it was only 1000yen in Matsumoto Kiyoshi so its not going to last very long, especially in this heat. Good news is though its got factor 23 in the formula (random number?!). To be honest I don't know if I would buy this again, I'll have to see how it fairs when it gets cooler and when my skin is fairer again.

Anyone have any recommendations for powders or foundations that can last in this heat? (30+ every day) or will I have to just get over the fact that my face melts everyday?

Shiseido Integrate: Make Up Tutorials!

2012-08-21T02:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Just browsing through Sheseido's Integrate website and saw these cute make up looks complete with a tutorial (when you click on the individual look). Thought I'd share!

Oh Dearism/Scrunchies

2012-08-20T05:57:00.002-07:00

I've done some contributing to Oh Dearism about my adventures with scrunchies here in Japan land. Take a look over and see, its a great website, not just for Style but for some ruddy good articles by my good friend Nadia and the other amazing contributers on there!

Nails in Japan Land

2012-08-07T00:04:00.001-07:00

Hehe nail varnishes in a gum ball machine! And here's a manicure I did with the colours!

Muji Blush B22

2012-07-24T05:23:00.001-07:00

Picked up this blush for ¥600, bargain! Well not really but for Japan... Yes! I love the colour, dolly pink and very cute. Been wearing it for over a month now and sadly not loving it as much. Still love the colour but it just doesn't have much staying power 😓I find myself reapplying it all the time! Such a shame because the colour is so good! Boo.

Anyways here's some pics!

Mori Girl Brand Watch: Earth, Music & Ecology Natural Collection

2012-07-23T02:14:00.002-07:00

One of my new favourite brands in Japan, discovered them while walking around Sapporo's Parco and have been stalking them every since! ^.^ Not to mention my free tote bag and make up case... On with the show! All of these can be found at http://www.earth1999.jp/index.html and for these specifically they are under "item" and then "Natural Collection" ^.^

Sana's Morning Kiss

2012-07-23T00:27:00.001-07:00

Sana's "Morning Kiss" is advertised as a make up base, the benefits of course were first unbeknowst to me as I couldn't read the packaging! -.- Sasa.com has a nice spiffy summary, however the English is a little to be desired so I'll paraphrase. Morning Kiss contains an abundant of essence (Japanese for serum, I believe) which is said to moisturise, smooth and lift. It also contains Vitamin B12, making the skins appearance more radiant and of course it wouldn't be complete without SPF 30. So all the good shiz in there.

I bought this cutie last month, though I'm not as much as an impulse buyer as I used to be, I felt the urge, its just too cute! I gave it a little pat on top of my make up in my local KiddyLand and was very pleased with the result!

I did go onto Musings of a Muse to get her verdict before buying, (my new favourite beauty blogger after moving to Japan) and that sealed the deal for me. So 1000 yen later I had it in my grips and proudly displayed it on my bathroom shelf. CUTE.

I do use this everyday on top of my make up instead of under, as I prefer using it for its highlighting qualities. It comes as a pink pearly liquid and as instrusted I gently pat it on my cheeks and upwards for about ten seconds, making sure I sneakily get it under my eyes a little. It certainly works and gives that finished and radiant touch to my look.

I have to disagree with the Muse on one thing, it smells so cheap and bad! It smells like toilet freshener! Its a massive blow to an otherwise amazing product.

Juju Aquamoist Vitamin C Toner ~ Look at this toner, this toners AMAZING

2012-07-21T00:55:00.001-07:00

After my Mum has been naging me to get a toner, this is of course because of my moaning about my greasy skin over skype... however I consider her skincare queen so I scoured the internet in search of a toner that's worth my hard earned Yen and that I could actually buy in my local drug store (a giant less awesome version of Boots) and I settled on Bubzbeauty's choice of toner.
So far I like it! It has no fragrance, so stinging my skin (ahem Clinique) and no residue on my skin but its way too early too tell. I also picked up Juju's Essence, which I believe is the equivalent to a serum. Trial size mind you, so I will be returning to this page for an update soon!

Maybelline Hello Kitty Mascara

2012-07-20T01:19:00.001-07:00

Saw this in the drugstore today, so tempting! So cute! But I ain't paying 1500yen for a mascara!

I love...

2012-07-18T23:04:00.001-07:00

Freebies in magazines!

I love...

2012-07-18T22:58:00.001-07:00

Keeping My Hair in Check!

2012-07-17T03:53:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Kose's Loverus styling gel, my hair does not expand with heat, keeps it tame and gives it cute waves without any effort! Also, it smells like peaches 😁 however the packaging is pretty horrendous! Bit tacky but it does the job.

I put a pumps worth through the ends of wet hair, (after brushing) and boo yah! I tend to only dry the very top of my hair these days, otherwise I'm sweating again from this crazy heat!

It was pretty cheap (¥400) however not sure it'll be that cheap online if you fancy getting some and you don't live in Japan. I couldn't find it in sasa.com boo!

Beating Acne in Japan (trying)

2012-07-16T03:25:00.001-07:00

Please excuse my rusty writing, its been a long ass time since I've been inspired by any product to share!

However, since I landed in Kanto, I've been one spotty lady. After spending hours and hours in drug stores and searching the Internet I finally settled on these guys.

Sasa.com said they were both great for acne, I couldn't decide which one so I bought one for day and one for night!

I present Rosette! I use the pink one (with the cutest box ever) in the morning and the green (Sea Mud) at night.

It's definitely cleared up my skin, it doesn't dry it out either. Though the pink one stinks of sulphur and makes me sneeze @.@ definitely recommend these awesome facial washes!

And no whitening! :D I think.

Mori Girl Magazine Scan!

2011-09-11T08:49:00.000-07:00