After an incredible visit to Japan I wanted to share with you the products that made it back with me for both my kit and personal makeup bag.
It was super fun navigating the multi floor drug stores in Shibuya or the oh so chic department stores and then discovering one off cosmetic shops that specialise in a particular type of product or tool. I think that although I had a million notes and found some poor dear who spoke a bit of English to help in each store it was difficult to navigate at times or understand what a certain product exactly was, did or how to use. I suggest having some picture screen shots that you have saved and can show shop assistants if you know what you want in advance. My amazing assistant Kristina helped me research great products from looking at blogs, sites, pinterest and instagram.
So starting with skin care, I was super fascinated by the trend for liquid collagen products to drink which come in little glass bottles and I bought some from Shiseido even if only for novelty factor. Drinking collagen and appearing magically younger and wrinkle free sounds like a nice idea but the science is very shaky from the research that I have looked in to. I also bought Shiseido Collagen Powder to add to smoothies as that was a fun gift for my beauty addict BFF’s. Just to be clear  it’s antioxidants that are the key to boosting collagen production. Take a look at your diet for collagen friendly foods – eat lots of green leafy vegetables, highly colored fruits and vegetables like red peppers, beets and tomatoes and plenty of Omega 3 through fish and avocados or an Omega 3 supplement. If you wonder whether the smooth unwrinkled skin of many Japanese women is down to the collagen they drink – take a look at what they eat. Raw fish and lightly cooked vegetables are at the heart of Japanese cooking
Anyway back to the beauty I bought tons and tons of fabric face masks that are impregnated with serums and treatments. I love the fun ones that have cool fun graphics on them such as Fashion Face Pack by Kansai Yamamoto that I bought at Tokyu Hands (my favourite department store, like a Japanese version of John Lewis with a super beauty department full on insane tools that looked straight out of a sex shop but were actually things like face slimmers). I also bought Kose hylauronic fabric masks which are just fantastic and this number 1 selling brand in Japan also make masks with vitamin C, anti ageing and moisturising. Handily they come in boxes of 8 individually wrapped packets. I bought One C Hydrogel Eye Patches to place under the eye for anti ageing & moisturising properties and love these for on the plane before landing to help take out any puffiness. These patches can also be used on nasolabial areas around the mouth and nose. I also decided to invest in the premium fabric masks by Shiseido  Elixir Superior which are meant to be the best on the market according to my research. I tried them out and I would say they helped lift and refresh my jet lag skin and felt soothing and comfortable. Everyone told me to buy Wawaza Camellia Oil. This ingredient that has moisturising benefits and is good for face, body and hair. Read some more here. Elemis also carry a whole line with camelia oil as an ingredient.
I bough Shiseido Soft Whip Facial Wash which is the number one face wash of Japan and they love to put a big Number 1 sticker on the best selling products. I also bought Cure Aqua Gel which is the number 1 exfoliator and is a soft gentle gel that really exfoliates brilliantly and is excellent value. I tried out lots of products by Kose Sekkisei which is the Japanese version of Embryolisse and they have an extensive affordable line. I really liked a brand called IPSA  that I thought did some super interesting skin care. There are tons of great Korean bands in Japan that I came across and I really liked Skin Food, also Etude House and  Skingarden of course my long time favourite Koh Gen Do.
Some of the places that I visited were Shibuya 109 a multi floor department store with clothes and beauty and where all the cool kids go and youth trends are born. Well worth a visit and I picked up some cool looking nail polishes and eye shadows too. The quality wasn’t amazing but the colour and texture were. There are also some amazing drugstores including Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Ainz Tulpe and Daiso Harijuko that sold everything you could want and I could spend hours in there. Also be sure to head to Loft Shibuya & Isetan and the mecca that is Shiseido PowerHouse in Ginza that carries all Shiseido lines and my beloved Cle De Peau. I love this article that describes it as a beauty theme park.
I had some cheap and cheerful mad fun with super cool stuff to look at and buy at Don Quijote which is a discount store with everything like a pound store but the most amazing treasure trove of stuff you didn’t think you need and then realise how did I live without that?! Look out for fun gadgets and tools too such as interesting eyelash curlers, tweezers, brushes, tools and then thinks like black Q tips which are a fun novelty and great sponges and makeup bags and accessories. Watch this space for all my favourite makeup from Japan in the next post….