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Genki Desu Ka? It's More Guess the Japanese Beauty Invention!

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:00:23 -0800

It's been a while, but since our last Japanese beauty invention quiz, Nippon definitely hasn't ceased to produce beauty inventions of a scope and creativity that boggles the mind. Can you guess what each of these inventions does, or do you need a visit to Tokyo to get up to speed? Take my quiz and find out!

Question 1 of 5

What does this invention do that makes this lady so surprised and happy?

Orlando Blooms in This Japanese Hair Commercial

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:00:28 -0700

If you visit Japan, you might be surprised by how many Hollywood movie stars are used to hawk everyday products that they never do back in the US. Jodie Foster has made coffee commercials for the Japanese market, Winona Ryder has driven around in a Subaru, and Madonna has donned a kimono to promote a distilled rice drink. And then there's Charlize Theron, Jennifer Connelly, Anne Hathaway, Demi Moore, Harrison Ford, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt... and now, Orlando Bloom is dancing around for Uno hair products. Have a look and let me know whether you find it corny or hot. (I say both.)

To check out Angelina's Japanese lipstick commercial (plus, heck, why not, a hilarious one from Brad) read more

Here's Angelina hawking Shiseido Integrate, a makeup line that's available only in Asia.

Finally, I'm not sure how Brad Pitt manages to make the hobo-on-a-Segway look work, but he does:

Product Review: Kose Seikisho Mask White

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:00:07 -0700

While visiting Japan last year, I found a lot of exclusive and hard-to-find cosmetic brands. (For instance, did you know that the designer Jill Stuart has a complete beauty line?) One unusual discovery is Kose Seikisho Mask White ($28).

Naturally, I had to buy a tube (as a souvenir, of course). The mask itself comes out of the tube as a black goo. (It made me think of The X-Files, which led me into a dreamy David Duchovny reverie.) For more of my review, read more

The black mask has a soothing, cool feel that tightens a little when it dries. It smells good, too-it's hard to describe, but it just has a fresh, clean scent. If you try this mask, don't skimp with it; I found that applying a thick layer makes peeling the mask off much easier. Stay far away from the eye area, since you'll have to pull your skin a little to remove the mask. Doing so is easy: All you have to do is flick up a tiny bit, then use that to peel the whole thing off.

Whenever I use this, I find that it removes a fair amount of dead skin, and if I'm really lucky, it'll pull out a visible blackhead or two. My complexion generally looks better, but more in a "Well, that's nice" way than in a "Holy moly, who is that beautiful creature?!" way. While I like this product, I think that any peel-off mask is going to pull off dead skin, so I may as well hunt for a drugstore version for comparison. Queen Helene makes a grape seed mask that sounds similar, and it's only $3. I'm thinking of trying it to see if I can get the same result for $25 less. I know Kose products are available in the States now, at C.O. Bigelow stores, so If you've tried either of these masks, let me know!

Get Even More Kawaii With...Guess the Japanese Beauty Invention!

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:00:43 -0700

There's plenty of adorable beauty here stateside, but the Japanese market continues to roll out charming, quirky products that are as useful as they are funny. Can you guess what these Japanese beauty innovations do? Take my quiz and see how Honshu-happy you are.

Question 1 of 5

What does this pacifier-like mouth insert actually do?

Bella Book: The Japanese Skincare Revolution

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:00:24 -0800

When it comes to beauty, I'll admit that I can always learn more about having a healthy complexion. So when I heard of a book that Japanese women consider to be their go-to guide to skin care, I took notice. Esthetician Chizu Saeki's The Japanese Skincare Revolution ($14) has recently been translated to English, and it draws upon her 45 years of beauty industry experience.

Focusing on a simple, cost-effective approach, the majority of this short read centers on positive thinking (quit zeroing in on those spots and fine lines) and ideas for tweaking products you already have. The most important tool for beauty? Your hands, says Saeki.

What separates this book from others is her fun ideas: a DIY lotion mask made with cotton pads, a honey lip treatment, a shower cap steam pack (scary looking, but effective), and a water bottle face massage that I'm dying to try. Interactive and engaging, Saeki also includes surveys to help you determine what type of skin you have and tests to determine elasticity, moisture levels, and symmetry of the face (my right side is the "slacker" side). We all know we don't need to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks, and I'm all for Saeki's feel-good message. It's like having an older, sage relative dishing advice. "Take in beauty with all your senses," she says. And now I'm off to practice my facial exercise routine by reciting the five Japanese vowels: ah-ay-ee-oh-oo.

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BellaSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:03:34 -0800

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The Return of Guess the Japanese Beauty Invention!

BellaSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0700

I had so much fun putting together the last Japenese beauty invention quiz that I decided to do it again. I've even made it a little harder for those of you familiar with Japanese this time around, so it should be fun for everyone. Do you think you can determine the function of these unfamiliar-looking contraptions? Take my quiz and find out your kawaii quotient.

Question 1 of 5

What is this Japanese beauty item?

Guess the Japanese Beauty Invention!

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:00:42 -0700

In the United States, we have plenty of off-the-wall beauty gadgets - hello, Lipstamp! - and the same goes for Japan. Some are a little kookier than others, so I've rounded up eight of the most unusual for this quiz. Can you guess what these items are? (Obviously, if you know Japanese, you'll have an advantage.) Good luck!

Question 1 of 8

What is this Japanese beauty item?

Beauty Byte: Japanese Clinic Offers IV Drips For Better Skin

BellaSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:06:34 -0700

In Tokyo, beauty creams and supplements are so passe. At Tenteki10, a walk-in IV drip center in the luxe Ebisu district, you can roll up your sleeves to receive an IV filled with skin-supporting ingredients. For about $20 to $35, physicians will hook you up - literally - with a solution designed to combat complexion woes. Different packs address issues such as aging, hyperpigmentation, acne, and dull hair. (The "placenta" pack uses cell growth factor, and it's not clear whether this indeed comes from human placenta.)

All of this might sound like a scam at first, but Tenteki10 is a subsidiary of a medical clinic. The IV drips are given by trained physicians, but the service isn't covered by the Japanese healthcare system. Still, a Tenteki10 doctor insists that it the treatment isn't just cosmetic. He said:

It’s "preventive medicine." Also, we don’t publicize this service like a business, nor do we suggest it to anyone. We just leave leaflets at the clinic. We think of it as an option for people to raise their awareness of daily health management on their own.

Hmm. I couldn't help but notice that more than half of the treatment options address beauty concerns. Even if they did provide great results, you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to jab a needle in my arm. Is this treatment something you'd be willing to try, or are you needlephobic like me?

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BellaSugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

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