I will update again for the rest of the makeup later, but right now I’m going to write about which products and tools I use and how to apply  foundation flawlessly that would last the entire night.

I started off by using the Laura Mercier Undercover Pot (orange side) to cancel out my blue areas using the amazing Sigma P86 concealer brush. What I love about this brush is that it’s tapered, meaning it can reach into very small areas such as the corners of the nose and lower lashline. It makes a huge difference from applying with fingers, because your fingers can get oily and it’s hard to cover those spots. For any spots, use the other yellow-toned concealer.

Then, I blend everything out with the P80 Blending Brush to conceal flawlessly. The P86 and P80 brush is my favorite combo because it makes you look as if you don’t have any concealer on at all. ;)

Set the foundation with powder using the F30 Large Powder Brush to make sure your foundation won’t slip and slide. I used the Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder I recently bought at Sephora.com. Since I have dry skin, I actually only apply on the T-zone where I tend to get shiny the most. It’s also so that my face won’t get cakey. I leave the rest powder-free for a natural, dewy glow- which is why I used a separate small brush to powder beneath my eyes. If you have oily skin though, I would recommend to *lightly* powder the entire face and bring the compact with you.

See how this angled brush allows me to get right under the lower lashline? Most people tend to forget to apply powder here, which results in panda eyes or smudgy makeup >< Especially when you’re going to be dancing for hours at prom, you want to avoid any creasing. My secret to non-smudgy makeup is the P84 Brush . It’s a must-have for me because it’s such a versatile brush.

Just by having this, you can use it for powdering, highlighting, & contouring! You can even use this to really dab the concealer into your skin. If you want to try out a face brush but don’t know which one, I highly recommend this. The bristles are very soft, dense, and feels good on the skin. :)

Sorry I didn’t Originally, I was going to do facial massages in this video as well, but I wanted to be very specific and detailed, so that’s why I decided to break it up for my next video.

I will blog the rest another time because I stayed up all last night to finish this video, and I am exhausted from dance today… It was funny—I was doing voiceovers at 4am yesterday morning. Right after I was going to say, “Now, let’s get ready for Prom Night!”, the birds chirped. I decided to eat breakfast first as a little break, and then a huuuuge thunderstorm came. -_-; lol

Anyways, I hope you have a safe and amazing time at prom (or any special event or party you have coming up)! Stay tuned for my next upcoming video for Skincare Part 2 that will include tons of super quick and awesome DIY massages.<3 Don’t forget to Subscribe to my blog from the sidebar on the top right. Thanks for watching!

After you have gently and properly cleansed your face, you need to apply moisturizing products to make sure you keep your skin youthful and glowing. The #1 important thing to keeping your skin looking young is
Eye Cream. Lots of people neglect the step of applying eye cream because they think they don’t need it yet. However, it is so much easier to prevent rather than trying to cure it years later. The skin right below your eyes is the thinnest layer, so it’s the place where you should give the most attention. On top of that, the first signs of aging can be seen in your eye area, neck, and hands.

The eye creams I used in my Skincare Routine video (and what I currently do use) are the Kuma Tool Whitening Eye Cream or the Vitamin E stick. “Kuma” means dark circles in Japanese, and that eye cream caught my eye because it had the phrase: “brighten up the undereye area and moisturize for soft, baby-like skin” on the packaging. I am not sure if it is a famous brand or not since it was the first time I saw it, but I got it at Tokyu Hands. I like to use this for daytime because it works well with the concealer I use, and it’s very light yet moisturizing. Use your ring finger to roll and penetrate the product into your skin, and gently tap some on the outer corners of your eyes to prevent crows feet.

On the other hand, the Vitamin E stick is a bit greasy, so it’s better for overnight treatment. As I explained in the video, Vitamin E is your best friend for protecting your skin from free radicals (sun’s UV rays, harsh wind, etc.) and I’m in love with this all-natural product. Other eye creams I’ve tried before over the years are OLAY Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream, KIEHL’s Avocado Eye Cream, and Shiseido White Lucent Anti-Dark Circles Eye Cream. OLAY is famous for anti-aging products and you can basically find it anywhere (Target, CVS, Duane Reade, etc.). It’s very inexpensive (around $15), lasts for a long time, and is soothing on the skin. It’s light and a nude color so you can use it at day and night. KIEHL’s Avocado is rich and greasy, so it’s definitely for night time use only. I love the formula, and the creaminess makes my undereyes feel very moisturized for a looong time. I’ve used the Shisedo one only because I got a sample, and although I love the White Lucent line, I would not buy the full sized eye cream. It’s moisturizing, has a nice scent, isn’t heavy, etc. but I could get the same effects with a less expensive brand. For example, Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream is a little bit more expensive than OLAY’s, but if you can spend that ten extra dollars, it’s totally worth it.  Otherwise, the Vitamin E stick is only about $4 at Whole Food’s Health & Nutrition section, and I highly recommend it. You do not need to apply a huge amount, so typically eye creams last for a really long time, and I still have several to finish… It’s best to apply eye creams in the morning and at night.

For moisturizing my entire face, I’m currently loving the Isofurabon Series. I change up my skincare every now and then, but this is what I’ve been using since last June when I came across it in Japan. The Haritsuya Cream is what got me falling for this brand because it claimed it would work as an “overnight facial mask”, and it really did!

I immediately knew that this was the IT product for me because I used it the night I got back from my 12-hour flight from Japan to New York. My skin isn’t acne-prone, but sensitive, so whenever I go on a long plane ride, it gets extremely dry and tired. After I got home, unpacked, ate a bit, showered and all of that, I spread this cream all over my face and collapsed into bed. The next morning… Voila! I was so impressed by how plump my skin looked and felt— it like, came back to life lol. Until then, I was using the Sekkisei Excellent Cream (~$100 a small jar ><) which my brother got me (I don’t know why, guess he was in a fabulous mood), and that one was of course wonderful… but being able to get the same qualities and same amount of product for 1/10 of the price… I had to share this product with you in the video! It’s better to splurge on a skincare product than a foundation because curing is more important than covering up, but, if you do find a product that works well for your skin, price does not matter. Another great drugstore facial moisturizer I’ve been loving for years is the Nivea Cream. I use it mostly in the winter time since it’s a bit heavy, but that is another fave of mine if you would like to try out a more reasonably priced skincare product.

I have dry to combination skin, so I use the Isofurabon Milky Emulsion or Nano Mist Lotion in the summer months. The emulsion is much lighter and milkier than the cream, but it still hydrates the skin nicely. It can be applied beneath the Isofurabon Haritsuya Cream, but I only use one or the other. You can find these products at Japanese Supermarkets like Mitsuwa.

The Nano Mist Lotion is rated the #1 lotion in Japan (it’s only $12 a bottle). I find this a tintsy bit too light/dry for overnight use, so I use this when I want an extra spritz of lotion throughout the day. It feels very cool and fresh on the skin without any stickiness. I like to apply some on my face down to the neck area. This works as a great makeup base, setting spray, and hair lotion. A great all-in-one for traveling in the summer! :) I got this at Don Quixote in Japan.

As for acne creams, I have had some reactions to certain products/ingredients, so I do not use anything other than DHC. If you have sensitive skin, do NOT try the Clean and Clear Persa Gel 10. At first, it worked like a charm. I applied a dot on my little red spot after my shower and it disappeared even before I went to sleep. But around my third time using it, I woke up to redness and itchiness. It has benzoyl peroxide which is known for a top acne treatment to reduce and eliminate breakouts, but it can also destroy good bacteria which can be damaging to the skin. I immediately stopped using it and the irritation went away. I had a similar reaction with a Japanese product (can’t remember the brand’s name right now ><), but the itchiness was so bad that I even woke up from my sleep. I actually have the product saved in my “extras” box (a box where I keep back-up products) to show you in a future video, but it was a yellow and silver packaging. I bought it because that same brand’s tiger balm is very famous, and I use it for healing my pain from dance… but the acne gel was definitely a no-go. DHC’s acne gel I showed in the video was finally a product I found that actually worked!

I was on the hunt for an effective redness relief product for a long time, because any kind of redness is very noticeable on my fair skintone, and none of the products I’ve tried actually made a significant difference… DHC was the only one that took the redness away,  and helped to minimize pimples. I recommend it for all skin types because it is light, liquid-y, and gentle. I bought this at a drugstore in Japan, but I’ve seen DHC products sold overseas, too.

At the end of the video, I briefly talked about what kinds of food you should include in your diet  to create a healthy body and skin, rather than depending on just skincare products. It is best to take your time to find your 1~3 skincare products that work best with your skin, and the rest should be up to your diet and exercise. I received tons of Skincare Part 2 video requests (way more than I expected ><) , so I will definitely make time to film that this week! :)

I hope this blog post was helpful to you, and if you have any questions, Tweet me because I can respond the fastest there. Make sure you are a follower, and your Twitter isn’t privated so I can see it. Otherwise, feel free to comment on my Facebook Page linked to this blog post! Please subscribe to this blog from the sidebar on the top right or through Bloglovin’ if you’d like to read my life blogs, Japanese Teaching, Product Rave Reviews, Currently Loving Items, Outfit of the Days, etc. :) Thanks for coming by, and have a wonderful rest of the week!<3

The video covers how to properly exfoliate and cleanse thoroughly, lighten up dark circles, and brighten up the your skin tone with a fresh, dewy glow. It will also include diet tips for beautiful skin you can start using today! If you follow the video’s routine, you will start to notice changes in your skin within a week.

To me, the most important thing is to take care of the skin from the inside of the body, because what you eat and drink is what creates your skin. If a person is using numbers of expensive skincare products but eating only junk food, do you think she/he will still be able to maintain healthy skin? I don’t think so. >< If you rely on too many skincare products, it can get extremely expensive. It is important to find the right products that work for your skin, and you may want to splurge on a specific product (ex: acne scar healing), but you don’t want your skin to become completely dependent on it. What you consume shows on your skin, so it is important to aim for a well-balanced diet. The healthier the skin, the less makeup you need.

新しい「スキンケア デモンストレーション＆健康な体作りの食事方法」ビデオです！今日から早速使えるテクニックをたくさん教えます☆お肌は、自分の口から入るものによって作られます。スキンケアグッズだけでなく、体内から健康な肌を作るための食事方法もご紹介します。このスキンケアをやると一週間で効果が現れます。
是非チェックして、トライしてみてくださいね :)

CLEANSING

My Current Favorite Facewash: Tonyu Isofurabon Facewashing Foam with a Foaming Net Isofurabon 700 yen/$9~$15 (depending if you get it in Japan or at a Japanese Supermarket outside of Japan), Foaming Net $3.75 at Mitsuwa

I’ve raved about this brand in my Must-Have Japanese Beauty Products Video. You can find and purchase the entire Tonyu Isofrabon series as well as the foaming net here. Click the link for all the details! In Japan, you can find it at places like Matsumoto Kiyoshi (sells drugstore everyday products & makeup). This brand makes their products from soybean extracts and Coenzyme Q (works wonderfully for women’s skin) and are extremely gentle. If you are a person who is really picky about scented products, this brand is awesome because it has no  artificial odor or color.

洗顔は、以前何度か動画でご紹介したイソフラボンが今の一番のお気に入りです！しかもプチプラです。大豆とイソフラボンからできているので、優しくて女性の強い味方です☆ つるんとした、うるおいのある肌にしてくれます。豆乳のクレンジング洗顔を、ネットで細かい泡を作って毛穴の一番奥まで届くようにころがして洗います。お風呂に入っている時が毛穴が開いている状態なので、一番おすすめです。鼻の両側と目の下などは真ん中指で優しく半円で洗ってあげてください。泡を全てぬるま湯で洗い落としたら、冷たい水を優しく顔にかけます。こうすることによって毛穴が引き締まって、ツヤツヤとしたお肌になります！ 全然違いますよ♪

After creating the marshmallow-like foam, gentle roll it all over your face. No scrubbing whatsoever, since it will leave to redness and irritated skin. Creating this fluffy foam will minimize stress on the skin since you will be cleansing with bubbles that are even smaller than pores. For areas that need special attention such as on the sides of your nose and underneath your eyes, use your middle or fourth finger to gently do a window –wiper motion. I recommend doing this in the shower for best results because the heat and moisture will help to open up the pores, making it easier for the tiny bubbles to reach in and clean them out.

After you have rinsed well and made sure all the cleansing products you used are gone (unless you are going to continue with a mask or peeler), gently apply cold water onto your entire face to finish cleansing. Pores don’t completely close up, but doing this will tighten them to prevent dirt from getting in. Do a couple sets for each area, and you will see a huge difference over time (when I have extra time, I do 5 for the chin, 5 for the nose, 5 for the cheeks, and 5 for the forehead.) Your skin should feel super squeaky clean, refreshed, and plump from the soybean extracts. :)

On a side note, this is another favorite of mine that I’ve used up by another brand:

NAIVE Fashwash + Makeup Remover (Clear Pores Type)

 

It is a facial cleanser as well as makeup remover, and this one is specifically for blackheads and pores. I love it because it’s paraben-free, alcohol-free, and uses natural products like green tea extract and amino acids. I highly recommend it, too! I’ve seen this sold at Mitsuwa and Korean Supermarkets in America, so you can get a hold of it even if you don’t live in Japan. I can’t find the exact price (and it would range), but Naive products are all very inexpensive. I LOVE  everything Naive that I’ve tried before. :)

EXFOLIATING

Natural Aqua Gel CURE  2625 yen / $32

Hands down, the BEST massaging peeler ever. What I love is that it is extremely gentle (90% made up of water), and is not too overwhelmingly expensive. (Especially for how much product there is, and you really barely need a pump.) I bought mine in a place called Ito Yokado in Japan. Unfortunately, they don’t sell the same exact product at Mitsuwa (the Japanese Supermarket I toured in a previous video), but there were other brand peelers. If I find a website link where you can purchase it, I will update this blog post.

As you exfoliate, you will start to notice white things, which are keratin, peeling off of your outer dead skin layer. Isn’t it amazing that this much unnecessary stuff is still on your face even after you cleansed very well?? It’s kinda yucky, but I love using this because you can really see how well it works.

I would only recommend using this for 2~3 times a week, on areas that bother you such as your T-zone where it tends to get the most oily (forehead, nose, chin). Don’t overuse it or over scrub because you don’t want to harsly peel off your skin. Do NOT use pore strips! They are evil. >< They are the worst things you can use for your skin because you think that it helped get a lot of your junk out, but then it leaves behind damaged, opened up pores that will never tighten again. Use a gentle peeler like this instead because they work much better and leaves no negative effect behind.

この商品は、ほんっとうにおすすめです！たまたまIto Yokadoで見つけて、良さそうで買ったのですが大ヒットでした☆ 成分の90%がお水からできているので、優しくお肌の古い角質を 取りのぞいてくれます。一週間に２〜３回行ってください。でも、ゴシゴシしたり使い過ぎには注意してください。特にテカりやすいTゾーンに使うといいと思います。 絶対に絶対に、毛穴パックは使わないでください！ 毛穴がボロボロになって、もう引き締められなくなってしまいます。このようなピーラーのほうがよぽど肌に優しくて、 つるんとした、ハリと透明感のある肌にしてくれます。

Phew, that was long. I will write about the other parts of my Skincare Routine on another day when I find time the time! Please SUBSCRIBE to this blog to stay tuned from the Sidebar (top right) or on Bloglovin’ to stay tuned! I hope you find this video helpful.

Happy Skincare! :)

*Note: This blog post is going to be very long because I wanted to make sure I covered questions that were asked multiple times on my video page. With that being said, let’s get started. :)

The bag is by  Samantha Thavasa  , and their website’s front page features the same bag! This is from their newest Spring Collection 2012, modeled by Yuri Ebihara, Tomomi Itano, etc. I believe there were 3 brown colors, but I chose this medium brown because I thought that it would work best with any kind of outfit (girly, casual, monotone, etc.).  I love the details of this bag, and how much it can fit my belongings! I recommend using this as a handbag though if are going to walk around a lot. The bag isn’t very light on it’s own, so using it as a shoulder bag might hurt your shoulder by the end of the day. The good thing is, the shoulder strap is removable, so you can keep it inside the bag and then take it out and use it as a shoulder bag for the second half of the day if you can’t carry it in your hand anymore after shopping or something. Anyways, it has tons of pockets and I love it!! You can also keep small things like memo pads, business cards, pen, keys, etc. in the front pouch so you can take it out quickly and easily.

This bag holder is SO adorable, light, and useful! Even though this bag has the four round stones at the bottom (if you know what I’m talking about) so that it won’t directly touch the floor, I still don’t like to put it directly on the floor. This bag holder would be cute to have on the edge of your table while eating at a restaurant, and you can reach your bag easier. I also have a Hello Kitty one that is just gold, so it’s less girly.

I use the card holder above to hold my Metro Card, and I usually keep an extra one in the back pocket. In the video, I showed you Japan’s Suica card instead to compare and contrast. I wish NYC subways would be more like Japanese transportation systems… it’s so cool that they have a scanner so you can just quickly place your wallet or bag with Suica in it to get through! I did hear some of the NYC subways (around the Chelsea area?) are starting to do that though… is that true??

Here are two of the iPhone 4 cases. I love how Hello Kitty and Chopper traded hats, lol. The glitzy iPhone case on the right was around $15, and I got it at a Japanese electronics store called Midori Denki in Osaka. Don Quixote has a TON as well (sparkly, hard-shelled, simple, & character ones)! In America, there are brands that sell glitzy cases for $50. That’s insane, guys! >< I’ve had this Hello Kitty one for over a year, and all the rhinestones are still there. Japanese phone cases are very stylish and strong. If you have a friend in Japan or someone visiting there, see if they can get one for you! You can also find some in Harajuku for around $6.00. In America, you can find iPhone cases at Mitsuwa in their accessories store, or MARS located outside of the supermarket in NY. If you have a Kinokuniya nearby, they have some cases as well. If you ever need to find your girl friend, mom, aunt, etc. a present but don’t know what to get, find out what character or design she likes and give it to her as a present with a charger! It doesn’t hurt to have several iPhone cases, and it’s fun to change it around a lot, too.  

The cutest Minnie Mouse strap ever!! I bought this at the Disney Store in Shibuya, Tokyo. I went in there for the first time and it was so so cute, much more than the one in Times Square. I wanted to bring everything back home with me. (;_;) If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw the picture of me in there with the giant sleeping pooh bear.

The left one is the charger I showed by a brand called E-charge. My friend told me about it and gave this to me last summer. I didn’t show the one on the right, but it’s my extra one by another brand called Eco Talk Slim. Just like it’s name, it is very slim and tiny. Good thing about the left one is that it tells you how much charge is left in the battery charger. (In the photo above, it means it can charge for 25% more.)
The right one is nice because the cover is directly connected so it won’t get damaged. Chargers I’ve seen in America online (and the odd phone cover charger) are very huge and heavy… I gave my ballet master the most high-tech one that I found in Japan from last month’s trip, and he was so surprised and excited. :D No one wants to worry about their phone dying outside, right? I mean, what if something tragic happens, you can’t go home, and there’s no access to electricity? If you were running late and had to rush out of the house with your 5% battery iPhone, you can use this to charge and it’ll be 100% in a few minutes. It can make you less worried in so many ways. :) You can find these for around $10~30 in electronic stores in Japan, but they even had it at regular convenience stores! If you are not an iPhone user, there are also chargers and phone cases for Android, Blackberry, etc.

Here is Charge Eco’s amazing Solar Charger! It works for all iPod and iPhone series (the chargers above do, too). I love how Japan comes up with items you’d wished existed, and makes it into an extremely cute and fashionable product!

Moving along, here is my new Travel Makeup Bag! I really love it, and you can see where I bought this in my previous blog as well. It has sequences all over, and you can’t see in the photo but it also has gorgeous shimmering gold detail that is the perfect combination with the pink roses. I was in between this one and a more pink one, but I’m glad I chose this one because it was more feminine. It reminds me a lot of Liz Lisa, but a bit more sophisticated.

When I’m going on vacation, I obviously use a bigger Travel Makeup Bag, and this one’s just for bringing it with me to dance or hanging out. Like I mentioned in the video, I apply sweat-proof, water-proof, long-lasting makeup in the morning, so that is why I barely carry any products on-the-go. If you discover the products that work for you so you don’t get runny makeup, you will no longer have to carry a bunch of products with you. A lot of the time, the only makeup product I carry is lipstick/lipgloss.

These are the only things I carry! I used the eyeliner and Maybelline Diamond lipstick in my
AKB48 GIVE ME FIVE! DANCE x MAKEUP video, and they are my current favorites.

The hair stick is by Liese, and the amazing portable powder foundation applicator is by a brand called Chasty! I also carry a hairband, eyedrops (My eyes are very sensitive so it gets red easily. ”Redness Relief” is the best and it works like a charm in no time!  You can find it at Duane Reade, Target, CVS, etc.), contact lens case + solution, and tiny eyelash glue for just-in-case fixes.

Here’s the “Chasty Powder Case with Brush!”  
I was looking around PLAZA in Shibuya 109, and came across this and immediately picked it up because it was the most unique thing ever! There was a pink and white type. The brush is rounded and very soft & dense. As you can see in the photo above, it comes with a spoon so you can transfer your favorite loose or mineral foundation into the bottle. I will use this in a future tutorial! :) The powder foundation I currently use and have in here is by Bare Minerals.

Five Reasons to Buy This:
1. You don’t have to bring a compact + brush/sponge. Just this thing = lighter + more space in your bag.
2. No worries of your foundation in your compact cracking or powder spilling all over the place.
3. You can control exactly how much powder you want to use by pressing the pump.
4. The bristles won’t get messed up because the cover pulls up and you cover it with the lid on top.
5. It is extremely small, light, and the design is lovely. You can keep refilling. :D

Next, by far, the CUTEST pouch I’ve ever had!! Out of Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Daisy, Stitch, and a few others, Pooh was definitely the cutest one sleeping. I wish I bought more versions while I was there.

1. Red Bag (All Girl Products): You should have it with you at all times, just to be safe.
2. Purell Hand Sanitizer: I wash my hands frequently, but keep this in my bag since I ride the NYC subways daily. This one is #1 Doctor Recommended, includes aloe for soft and moisturized skin, and it smells very nice.
3. Band-Aids: I need this especially for summer because I will be wearing more heels and sandals.
Not to mention, I have bijillions of band-aids in my dance bag…
4. My Own “Advil & Tylenol Pack”:  This is a must-have for me. If you get a really bad cramp while you’re outdoors and can’t get home for a while, having this with you will save your life and money. It helped me when I got a major cramp, and also another time when my friend got a really bad headache before an important event. It’s super light and small, so I advise you to always carry some with you!
5. Sewing Kit: This probably was unexpected, but yes, I do carry it with me. ALWAYS in my dance bag (totally separate from my everyday bag). We ballet dancers have to sew our own pointe shoe ribbons and elastic (so the shoe doesn’t come off). It doesn’t come sewn on because you need to do it yourself to feel comfortable while dancing for your own feet. I carry my sewing kit in case I need to quickly fix something in or outside of dance. It also has mini scissors and a safety pin which comes in handy. :)

I also had my Winnie the Pooh handkerchief this day, my tissues, and umbrella. Look how thin it is! It fits perfectly in the corner of my bag. This is the same one I gave away for my 11 Japan & NYC Products Giveaway.

I got many questions for this Thermos as well, and it’s from Tokyu Hands!
I blogged about it twice so you can check them out if you’d like. I filmed inside there because it was a  really fun place, and wanted to take you guys in there with me. It was extremely awkward though to film in public in a store in Japan, lol. I hope to edit and get that video up after my performances are over, if you are all interested. Let me know. :) This thermos was inexpensive ($20 at max), and can keep both hot and cold drinks. I love the pink and that it has a lock so I don’t have to worry about spilling. I also don’t have to twist the lid to drink it. Just unlock and pop it open!

Lastly, my pointe shoes! We have a love and hate relationship. It tortures me sometimes. (TωT)

My nails for this video! I matched it to my Black Ribbon shirt by one of my favorite Japanese clothing brands.
I usually use pastel pink or purple for nails, but I went for a Black x Gold. 

I hope you were able to learn about some new products and what-to-carry tips from me! My best advice for keeping your bag organized is to make sure you decide what type of stuff to put in each compartment, so you (A) Don’t forget where you put something away, or (B) Don’t have candy wrappers and random stuff where it shouldn’t belong. If other people see it, it can make you look very disorganized. Throw any trash (such as gum or food wrappers) as soon as you can to avoid junk in your bag. Just like keeping your room clean is important, you must keep your bag clean to have good fortune. :)

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, feel free to follow and tweet me. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog from the sidebar for blog posts on my Japan Trip, product raves & reviews, and more! Have a great rest of the week!  

Shinkansen (bullet train) ticket area, waiting for my friend to arrive from Tokyo.
Japanese transportation areas are all so clean and organized. I wish NYC would become more like this…

My friend and I first came to NAMBA, the most famous part of Osaka.
This is the very well-known crab restaurant, now 50 years old!

Osaka = Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki!
There’s also “AKASHIYAKI” which is similar to takoyaki, but you dip it into a white/clear sauce instead of putting regular Japanese sauce on it. I love both, but prefer the original takoyakis :D Looking at this picture makes me crave for them… I actually make them at home sometimes!

Osaka people are American-like because they are very outgoing and friendly. Osaka is a very lively place, and the people there love everything bright and bold. For example, it’s well-known since a long time ago that women in Osaka like to wear leopard-printed clothing because it stands out a lot.

Here is Don Quixote, one of the biggest stores you can find anywhere in Japan.
This DQ in Namba was especially cool because there was a real ferris wheel around the entire building! There are so many floors in Don Quixote, I could spend hours in there because there’s so much to see! Everything is extremely low priced here, which is what they are known for.

Me with the famous “Glico” guy in the back.
Now off to my favorite shopping mall!

This is TOKYU HANDS which I talked about in my last blog !
I was in Japan early February, so literally EVERY place was full of Valentine’s Day items. In Japan, the girls give the guys chocolate. Even convenience stores like 711 had the cutest Valentine’s Day chocolates and gifts.

I did a lot of shopping in Osaka because Shibuya109 in Tokyo (where I shop mostly) is always so loud and full of people. I can’t stay in there for more than an hour or so because of jetlag and exhaustion. >< Japanese store clerks come up to you, follow you, talk to you, and nicely persuade you to try on some clothes, lol. They are extremely polite and kind though! They carry your shopping bags from the register to the outside of their store, wrap all your shopping bags with waterproof bags if it’s raining outside, bow to you 90 degrees, etc. Japan’s customer service is definitely the best.

I will feature the clothes I bought in Japan in OOTD photos/videos, but this time around I mostly got blouses and spring/summer skirts. Since I rarely buy clothes in America, I save up so I can get clothes that match my taste in Japan.

This place had the cutest accessories and ladylike, feminine clothing. Love the tutu! For those who asked me where I bought my floral makeup pouch shown from my previous blog, I got it at this store, and you can actually see it in the photo above.

I also went to a crafts store in the same huge mall because I sew to make costumes, arrange my clothing, etc. :)

I really wanted to buy this as a room decor back at home, but I was afraid it would break and you can’t really hang stuff on it, so I ended up not buying it. It was so pretty, though!

Aren’t these just the cutest?! The Chopper x Hello Kitty one is so adorable.<3
I ended up getting a few so I can make tote bags, and bought some other items to decorate my simple jackets.

Yummy lunch time! Loved the ten-don.<3

Fashion of the Day. I bought these boots from a store called J-Crew.
This pair can make any outfit look stylish, and it’s also extremely comfy to walk in. ;)

Now onto my first Onsen Trip!

As you can tell, it was snowing HARD this day. It was the first time I’ve ever seen snow so much in Japan!

After talking and karaoke-ing in the car for 3 hours, we finally found and arrived at the inn.
It was very nice, quiet and peaceful.<3 :)

Our private onsen bath getting filled up. I think it’s because I grew up in America, but I cannot understand how Japanese people can go into a public bath without having anything on… ^^;

Kani (crab) Nabe for dinner! I usually eat meat for nabe, so I enjoyed this very Japanese-like meal at the inn.
Since it was also Setsubun Day, we ate Futomaki. It was so much food for two people. ><

Yum…

Our other private outdoor onsen bath.

After I got out of the bath, wearing my onsen yukata♪
My lips are naturally very pink, and I do not have any lip product on here.

There was a lot more but most of it work-related (which I would like to keep private), so this is it for Osaka! My last blog post of my Japan Trip will be in Tokyo. :) Lots and lots of photos to come! Be prepared for some animal cuteness overload, too!

I just finished filming a new video (I filmed last week but re-filmed it entirely because of lighting issues ><), and it’s now importing. Now it’s going to take forever to cut down and edit… but I’ll do my best to get it up soon. Till then, have a nice week! :)

フェイスブックやツイッターで書いていたように、先月2週間ほど大阪と東京に行きました
写真やビデオがたくさんあるので、今日は東京で過ごした一日を書きます★
大阪の旅、初めての温泉、東京ディズニーシー、あとはメイクやショッピングに関しての詳しいことは
また別の記事とビデオで紹介しますね 

At JFK International Airport. Here I come Japan~! 

Tada~! This is SBY, a famous Gyaru store in Japan. Makeup/Clothing/Shopping related info and photos will be in my upcoming blog posts and videos, but here’s one shot! I secretly vlogged in here to show you what it’s like inside, because it’s not like any other typical makeup/hair/accessory store. I can’t wait to show you. 

Paradise!    I can’t express how much I love Japanese makeup. There are so many high quality drugstore brands I recommend. Remember, it’s not necessary to use all high-end products to create a nice look. やっぱり日本のコスメはすごく可愛いー！

Some of the products I bought on Day 1. The D.U.P. Mascara on the top left is a just-released product, produced by CanCam model Aiku Maikawa. The stippling brush below is from a brand called “Melliesh” created by a popular Popteen model. I don’t regret buying any of these products.

I also went to this huge store called Tokyu Hands, which had everything you can think of. Super high-tech electronic devices to any kind of makeup, hair, nail, skincare products, mens’ products, interior designing, bags and suitcases, bento boxes, crafts, cooking utensils… and the list goes on! It was kinda embarrassing/awkward to vlog inside a store in Japan, but I wanted to show you around as if you were there with me… so more pics and clips of Tokyu Hands and other stores will be uploaded!

Shown above is a waterproof portable player for watching TV, DVDs, etc. with a LED backpanel. Since it’s common for Japanese people (especially women) to stay in the bath tub for over an hour, there were a lot of cool portable video/music devices sold.

Anyways… fast forward to Tokyo Guru Meetup Day!★

 Here I am, getting ready to go to the meetup in the late afternoon. This was my first time meeting other YouTubers, so I was pretty nervous… I kept my Look of the Day very natural and simple.

東京でYouTube仲間と会う日！  初の女子会だったので緊張しました…
PLAZAさんとコラボさせて頂きました

With one of the wonderful staff members before the meetup! PLAZA is probably the most popular makeup store in Japan carrying various Japanese and International brands, like Sephora in the U.S. Visit if you ever go to Japan! During the meeting, we talked about makeup, Spring Collection 2012 Japanese Makeup, filming, and collaborating with PLAZA.

Here is the incredibly talented and gorgeous Asahi from sasakiasahi on YouTube! You must visit her channel if you haven’t before. Just by watching one of her videos, you will fall in love with her artistic makeup and charming personality. FYI, if you are subscribed to manwomanfilm, her new channel is “sasakiasahi” so be sure to subscribe there, too!

あのYouTubeメイク動画のカリスマ、佐々木あさひさんです！
動画でももちろんですが、本当に綺麗で、オーラのある素敵な方でした
私は彼女のクリエイティブなアートメイクとユーモアあふれる動画が大好きで、
実際にお会いすることができて感激でした。

Me, Asahi, and Kim! It was amazing because Kim (my YT friend) was visiting Japan from Australia at the same time I was visiting from New York… so we all got to meet in person. :D

With the other staff members :)

MUTVとPLAZAのスタッフの皆様、楽しいお時間を本当にどうもありがとうございました   

Everyone!

Afterwards, Kim and I hung out in Shibuya. We vlogged together and took purikuras.
We had similar tastes in fashion, etc. and had fun chatting. It was great meeting you, Kim! :)

I didn’t think I would have an opportunity to meet with other YouTube Gurus from Japan, so this day was very special. I hope I’ll get to see everyone again when I visit next time.

皆さんと今回、お会いすることができてとても楽しかったです
このような機会を作ってくださったスタッフの皆様に感謝です！
また日本に行く時に会えるといいなぁ…★
そしてあさひさん、色々なアドバイスやインスピレーションをありがとうございました。
これからもチャンネルとブログを自分らしく頑張ります 

That’s it for today! I will blog again about the rest of my Japan Trip, but will also do short posts on things like Current Favorites, Makeup Haul from Japan, American & Japanese Makeup Product Comparisons, Favorite Music of the Week, etc.
Please subscribe by e-mail from the Sidebar or with  bloglovin’ to read more. :)

I have a performance tomorrow, so I should get going now. Have an awesome weekend! xo
それでは、明日はパフォーマンスなので今日はこの辺で… 良い週末を