I got back from Tokyo the day before yesterday – I’m just starting to feel vaguely back to normal after some terrible jet lag both on the way and on the way back, so I’m keeping things light for this week. However, I couldn’t wait to show you my beauty buys. I didn’t go overboard but ably helped by Nic (@nicintokyo) who was kind enough to spend the day with me to show me the beauty sights of Tokyo, I’m absolutely thrilled with what I got.

Japan Beauty

This was the most brilliant recommendation by Nic – Rafra Balm Orange, a make up remover, cleanser, exfoliant and massage balm in one. It’s ‘extra’ cleansing so you don’t need a double cleanse – I’m already completely hooked on it with it’s freshly cut orange scent.

Japan Beauty

When you open the pot the shine on the solid balm is like a mirror – it’s so glossy. The texture is like honey-jelly if you can imagine such a thing and it literally glides over the complexion. The fragrance seems to get more and more as you work it around your skin. The ingredients include honey, hyaluronic acid and collagen. It’s an absolute joy of a cleanser – I’ve found it on Ebay (£40+ HERE) but obviously that’s at your own risk. More reliable is Imomoko who only stock the black version (infused with charcoal) but they do ship to the UK and I’ve used their service which I cannot fault. Hiding behind the balm are two Ayura bath products – you shake them up to get an oil infusion and they smell kind of clean herbal. The green is ‘Meditation’ and the orange is ‘Balance’ and has citrussy notes. Beautiful. You can get both on YesStyle (free shipping) but they only have the large bottles at about £31 HERE.

Japan Beauty

I tried to focus on product that I knew aren’t available in the UK. No matter how you say it, there is a certain ‘Japanese’ make up look – it’s pretty, for want of a better word, in pastel colours and very sheer textures. I noticed women wearing lots of lash extensions and coloured contact lenses as well as liquid liners. As well as laying down a perfect base, blush, in coral or pink, goes on the high points of the cheeks rather than apples. The blush is Canmake Cream Cheek in shade 14 – it’s a very ‘Japanese’ makeup colour. The L’Oreal Paris L’Huile Caresse Oil Lip Tint Stain in Red comes in lots of colours (including yellow and blue) and is exactly like Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in texture (or YSL Tint in Oil – I think they’re more or less the same thing, different packaging but possibly lighter in shades). It’s extremely sheer and the stain is very light, but the effect is highly glossy. I think they’re Asia only because even on Ebay they’re very expensive (£15+) HERE. The final lip product in the picture is Opera Lipstick – the label is so tiny I can’t read the colour but the texture is balmy and super comfortable. Opera is a ‘high street’ brand – I wish I’d looked at it more carefully to be honest but I got blinded by cuteness of what’s coming below!

Japan Beauty

Mini Vaseline. These are teeny weeny little 7g pots and I loaded up on these (great stocking fillers) mainly in the rose tint.

Japan Beauty

I’ve put a standard Dior Lipstick just behind so you can get a perspective on the size. I’ve no idea why we don’t have these in the UK – they’d sell millions I’m sure. I’ve found them on Ebay for about £2.50 HERE but again, can’t vouch for site authenticity.

Japan Beauty

And these are the other things I loaded up on! I started using Smoky Rose Nivea Rich Care & Color while I was in Japan and it became obvious that I couldn’t leave without a big supply to keep me going. I’m fussy about balms but I loved this – it was protective and softening – and the light wash of colour meant that I just topped it up all day and never even thought about applying lipstick or gloss. I bought several Smoky Rose, one Bordeaux and one red (which I can’t find!). They’re very, very buttery and therefore disappear quite quickly – you could power through one in a month I would think. Yes Style has these – Smoky Rose was a sell out for a while which is why it’s more expensive but the other shades (including the red which I’d highly recommend) are £7.92 HERE. I am certain they weren’t so pricy in Japan but I can’t truly say.

Japan Beauty

In the swatch, first is L’Oreal lip Oil, then Opera, followed by the Canmake Blush and ending on Nivea Smoky Rose Care & Color. You can see the theme is sheer, dewy lip but this is such an easy wear look. I think I have at least another one if not two more Japan beauty posts to come but I’m not even fully unpacked yet!

 

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