DHC Deep Facial Cleansing Oil, Grands Rich Soap Rosemary Facial Cleanser, Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner

This is supposedly a standard item in most Japanese women's medicine cabinets, and has a ton of positive reviews on the DHC site. Cosme currently has it ranked rather low, although it won top prize in 2000. I got a small bottle for 900 yen at the local drugstore.

It has a similar consistency to the Shisheido cleansing oil, meaning that it is not as "thick" as the Fancl oil. It seems to have done a fine job cleansing, however, I thought the smell of olive oil was too strong. Since I'm using this with the Grands Rich Soap Rosemary facial cleanser, I smell a bit too "savory" in the morning for my taste!

 I'm not so sure that the soap cleaner got all the oil cleaner off, even after an application of my trusty Thayers Witch Hazel Rose Petal Toner.

After this combination, my skin still feels like it has an oil moisturizer on it, which is not a bad thing - I feel all soft and smooth -, it's just different from my former "squeaky clean" feel after the Fancl oil and Shisheido face wash. Perhaps this will be better as the cold weather approaches and starts drying out my skin!

UPDATE: I've thrown out the DHC oil. Being greeted every morning with that bitter olive oil smell was just not worth it. In addition, my skin has been acting up. It could be from any matter of things, but, no matter the cause, I'm not adding oil that doesn't smell good and that I'm not sure actually washes off.

UV protection: Coppertone v. Parasola

I usually head straight for the Western brand UV spray lotion, but decided to test out a Japanese brand on my last summer hurrah.

This Parasola 50+ UV block spray is effective and waterproof! It did a great job and I loved the baby powder smell. Also, it was much cheaper than the Coppertone I usually buy, at about 800 yen.

Laurier F maxi pads

These are rated number one over at cosme.net, so I picked up a pack to see for myself. I have to say, they were pretty basic. The tabs were nice and sticky and didn't have those annoying individual backings. However, since I use these at night, I like a long pad, and feel like these were too short. So far, I prefer the Laurier Speed+.

Tooth Whitening: Smile Cosmetique vs. Oil Pulling

I usually just pick up whatever American brand of toothpaste I recognize, and that's that. But, I have this blog and all, so I thought I might as well refill my toothpaste with the highest ranked one on cosme.net. Which brought me to Smile Cosmetique. A tube is super expensive, at 1300 yen, but it's not so different from high end whitening toothpastes in the States, so...

I've been using it for a week and haven't seen much difference at all. It has a nice "toothpastey" taste, obviously covering up a medicinal taste. I haven't had any sensitivity.

However, I think I will just return to my regular toothpaste once this runs out and continue oil pulling, which has definitely whitened my teeth and given me added benefits, such as better sleep.

Monoi Tiare body oil

This was one of those purchases made after reading an "if you can't get to the tropics, at least you can..." articles. Moni Tiare oil is one of the major tourist purchases in Tahiti. I've always wanted to go to Tahiti. So I can buy the oil, right?

A 400 ml bottle goes for about $10 on amazon and can be found on Amazon Japan as well.

This is my favorite post-bath oil. It's thick. It reminds me of Tropicana tanning oil from my childhood. It has a similar smell, although less coconut and more Tiare. It reminds me of a wonderful vacation I had in Anquilla with my entire extended family. It is a vacation in a bottle.

The smell is strong, but not so strong as to be offensive. It permeates my bathrobe and my bed linens and transports me to a vacation-y place. Love!

It's the little things: hair ties

You know those days when it's just been kinda rotten and you need a little retail therapy pick-me-up, but need to emphasize the "little" because the next payday is quite a way away? Well, I had one of those days and my treat to myself was this little pack of three metallic colored hair bands from MUJI.

Well, bah humbug, they look pretty and work for only about a day! They get all stretched out super quick!

On the other hand, these adorable little hair ties I bought two for 100 yen at the 100 yen store: fabulous! Take a licking and keep on ticking!

On (yet another) less than fantastic day, I picked up this hair tie/ metal ring duo from H&M (currently selling for about 200 yen). I really like this piece and might pick up another one. I don't wear it as often as I like (it is great for a fall "low pony") since the hair tie is connected to the ring, and once it wears out, well, the thing is worthless. But at 200 yen, perhaps I shouldn't care as much?

Pax Naturon Kitchen Sponge

I find myself doing a lot of dishes when living in Japan. With no dishwasher, and a lot of home cooking, I suppose it is a natural result. But I still hate doing dishes.

I usually just pick up kitchen sponges from the dollar store, but they get so dingy so quickly, I decided to check out cosme's highly rated sponge. It costs about 150 yen.

I have to say, it was much much better than the dollar store sponges. The gajillion tiny little holes hold the dish soap allowing the sponge to suds up really well. It made doing the dishes a little better!

Laundry detergent: Utamaro

I have never stumbled upon a Japanese laundry detergent that I like, so I decided to give cosme.net's #1 rated Utamaro a try. I was a bit worried about all the "color fading" warnings, so I gave it a go on some old linens first - no problems!

I'm liking this so far! It has a really clean smell and gets things squeaky clean. A bottle is about 500 yen for 400 ml, but you only need a little for each load of laundry. I got mine on Amazon, since I haven't seen it around, but I'll keep an eye out!

I haven't really been following the use directions (which state to wet the garment, put a drop on the stained area, scrub, then stick in the washing machine). Instead I've been following the looser washing machine directions (a little goes a long way...). Also, I got the liquid form because that was more familiar to me, but there is apparently a "soap" form that is very popular.

Keeping fit: Grocery stores (Yaoichi, Fresco, Misugiya, Kaldi Coffee Farm, Mediya)

I am a sucker for fresh beautiful foods, and, at times, enjoy cooking them for myself. My Japanese neighbor suggested I buy my fruits and vegetables at Yaoichi (八百一), where there is a beautiful selection of produce. The prices are a bit higher than other grocery stores, but the quality is unparalleled. I've often opted for the cheaper Fresco produce, only to get it home and find that there is something so terribly wrong with it, it is inedible (avocados rotten on the inside, unshucked corn hiding shrivelled kernels, etc.)

I also found that the selection of seafood and yogurt at Yaoichi is much better than at other markets. For instance, on a wild hunt for Hokkaido uni for a dinner party, I only found two places that had uni: a fishmonger in Nishiki market and Yaoichi. Yaoichi's uni was cheaper, and to the naked eye, much fresher.

That said, according to my neighbor, it is much more economical to buy your fish and meat from Fresco. I'm not big on animal flesh, so I can't bear out this claim, but it does seem that there is big turnover in the fish department at my local Fresco. This is also where I buy the majority of my dry goods and staples.

However, for the sake of convenience, I often find myself shopping in the underground mall attached to the Kyoto City Hall subway stop: Zest Oike. Here you can find a supermarket (Misugiya) with a small but decent selection of fresh and dry goods, as well as a spirits corner. Across the way is the Kaldi coffee farm, where I buy my coffee and can find good prices on import groceries (as well as WAY overpriced imports), like canned diced Italian tomatoes for 98 yen a can and cava or rose for 1000 yen!!! Kaldi has a coffee point card. Ask for one, as I was not offered one with my first purchase.

Of course there is also Mediya for import groceries and higher end wines and liquors.

By far the best place to buy liquor is Yamaya. The selection is bonkers and the prices are the best I've seen in the city. There is bicycle parking out front!

Mogans Conditioner

My super expensive (2800 yen) highly rated (number 1 on cosme) conditioner arrived today, so I just had to wash my hair and try it out!

It is much better than the Shiseido Tsubaki. It doesn't have a discernible smell, but it smells very clean. It is a lighter formula and doesn't weigh my hair down at all. It gave me a bit of a shine, but not much silky softness. Despite not weighing down my hair, there seems to be a residual feeling of "product."

Overall, I'm much happier with this conditioner than my previous one and will use it until it runs out. However, for the price, I was hoping for more, so I'll keep up the search!

UPDATE: I've started putting this conditioner on post-shampoo, leaving it on for about a half hour, then rinsing. Now, I love it! It still has a "product-y" residue, but I think that is what is giving me the shine, so I'll deal with it! Also, hair is MUCH softer.

MUJI Massage Oil: Citrus Green

I need a good moisturizer for Japanese winters and have found that I like oils better than lotions. I ran out of my standard Neutrogena sesame body oil, and, rather than ordering it here, decided to try some Japanese options. I picked up this MUJI massage oil in Citrus Green because it was marked down to 500 yen.

This oil is currently ranked as number 15 on cosme.net in the body massage section.

The oil itself is fine, nothing truly special, but I found I was not too fond of the smell. I'm glad I only got a small bottle and didn't pay much for it. I'll use it until it runs out, but will be looking for something different for winter.

UPDATE: I've been trying to use up this small bottle to clear out my medicine cabinet. I really dislike this oil. It leaves an oily film on my body for at least 24 hours, it never absorbs into my skin. It makes me feel dirty and oily.

Japanese Straight Perm: Watanabe Hair in Tokyo

When I lived in Yokohama, I would trek into Tokyo to have my hair done by the famous Aki Watanabe! It was always a pleasure (and a relief to know that my stylist really understood me and western hair)!

Aki-san repeatedly begged me to take the plunge and get the Japanese straight perm for a few reasons: 1) I like long straight hair and was damaging mine with all the blow drying and straight ironing, and 2) I otherwise had unprocessed healthy hair, which made me a good candidate.

I had heard horror stories of westerners having their hair fall out or break off due to the treatment, and the perm is not cheap, so I was wary. However, rainy season was approaching, so I decided to take the plunge!

I'm so glad I did! I received a million compliments immediately after the process, and other westerners soon flocked to have the straight perm as well! I've never had such a positive reaction to a beauty treatment. And I loved the sleek look, and the wash and go routine!

The process itself was super time consuming: a wash, setting, another wash, straightening, and a final wash and styling (if I recall correctly). It took more than 5 hours.

It's now been more than 3 months since I had the process done, and not only do I have the curl/frizz in the new growth hair, but some curl and frizz has returned to the processed hair. I'm not sure why this happened, since I thought the straightening was permanent, and not temporary like the "Brazilian blowout". So far I've not found a stylist in Kyoto that I trust to touch up the straight perm, but I'm on the hunt! (Otherwise, I'm booking Aki-san on my next trip to Tokyo!)

UPDATE: I recently went to Tokyo and booked an appointment with Aki san. I got another straight perm, which worked perfectly, but it fried the ends of my hair (which had straight perm from last year). I'm now searching for a good repair treatment, otherwise I'll have to chop off some inches!

The Japanese Standard: Camellia oil

I'm a big fan of oils so I thought I would try out the Japanese standard: Oshima Tsubaki oil. This oil is currently ranked as number 6 on cosme.net in their styling category, however it has won a slew of cosme prizes in the past: 2004 best prize, 2004 best hair care, 2005 hall of fame, and 10th anniversary special best prize. A bottle costs about 1000 yen.

Most people use this on their hair, either straight on as a styling agent, or one drop mixed with shampoo. However, since I did the Japanese straight perm, I don't really need anything weighing my hair down. Therefore, I've been using it on my skin and really like it.

There is no smell, and while it is a rich oil, it quickly absorbs into your skin leaving little to no oily residue. This makes it a great oil to use during the day as it doesn't stain clothes or leave you feeling sticky.

Since I use so much body oil during Japanese winters (space heaters and cold weather really dry out my skin!), I'm excited to see if this can stand the test!

Keeping the pearly whites, pearly white: Makimura Dental Clinic

I wanted a general teeth cleaning but had been putting it off, worried that I would get "sold" on tons of dental work I didn't really need. I have a great dentist back in the States, but I just couldn't wait for a cleaning any longer.

I decided to check out Makimura dental clinic on the recommendation of Deep Kyoto. Based on my own experience, I can whole heartedly suggest going to Makimura!

The entire appointment was done online (although he seems to have a long wait for appointments, I got lucky and scored one that someone had canceled). Note that you have to take your shoes off at the entrance, put on slippers, and then take the elevator or stairs to the second floor to the receptionist.

I had to wait about 45 minutes once I got there, I'm not sure why, but it's no different than my dentist at home, so I decided to just go with it. The receptionist spoke with me in Japanese, but I have a strong suspicion that she could have done it in English just as easily.

My hygienist spoke Japanese exclusively, and I'm not sure she had any English skills. The dentist spoke with me in English, which was a nice touch. After examining my teeth, he concurred with my home dentist that I didn't need any work done, and suggested I come back in six months for another cleaning.

The entire thing cost 2200 yen (with national health insurance), so I will definitely be going back in six months to keep those pearly whites, pearly white!

Yoga at Tamisa

I realized that I needed to stretch more and try to be active even on my "off" running days, so I signed up for a few yoga classes at Tamisa. A set of three courses cost me 4000 yen. An "all you can yoga" one month pass goes for 16000 yen, plus tax.

You can sign up for a class via the web (Japanese only) and you will get an email confirmation. There are so many classes to choose from with a wide range of time slots (you can find the schedule in both Japanese and English on the website). You can rent a mat there, or store your mat there, for a small fee.

I signed up for the "healing hatha" course with Yumiko because it's been more than a year since I've done yoga, and I've never done yoga in Japan, so I wanted something easy to follow. As I expected, despite a lot of English on the website and on the intake form, the instructor spoke no English and the class was conducted solely in Japanese. I was surprised that I was not the only Westerner in the class and that there was such a wide range of ability. (I'm usually always the absolute worst student in every yoga class in the States!)

The Japanese language instructions were easy enough to follow, and, of course, when in doubt, check out the person beside you!

UPDATE: After I try a new class I will post a short description of my experience below!

WARNING: I'm putting this update first because I just walked out of my first yoga class early, and want to make sure that others save themselves the experience. I signed up for "beginner hatha" with Ei and it was a total disaster. First, she began the class with an odd story about manners, consciousness, and her morning commute. Then, all the poses were incredibly simple - for people who have never done yoga. On top of that, she came around to each person and PUSHED us deeper into the pose. She actually hurt me and at least one other student. She continued to do this throughout the entire class. It is the first time I've ever spoken with another student in class - we were both amazed at how poorly this class was going. I reached my limit when she had us all move our mats to the back wall (for no real reason), put the yoga belt around our waists and feet, and then lie flat. SHE REPRIMANDED ME for how I fastened the yoga belt saying (in Japanese) "It's like using western clothes. You don't seem to understand." I gave her death ray eyes. I could not believe the rudeness. Then, she had us prepare in seiza with a more open stance. She asked if there was anyone that was uncomfortable. I, and my fellow student, both said this hurt us. Instead of giving me a different pose, she instead berated me in Japanese to move so my knees were hanging off the blanket, not on it. LADY, that is not the problem. My tight thigh muscles are the problem. She then wanted us all to lay on our backs with our legs in this pose. I directly told her I couldn't do the pose (my fellow student also piped up that neither could she). Ei then started ask why. I explained my thighs were too tight. She told me to sit and wait. Instead, I rolled up my mat and left. My Japanese may not be the best, I may not understand everything all the time, but I have gone through more than a month of classes with no problems. This was not due to me, my language skills, or my yoga skills. This was due to her teaching skills. DO NOT ATTEND THIS CLASS.

beginners Ashtanga

On my second try I took the "beginners Ashtanga" with Shino. At first, the class seemed very recognizable, with traditional sun salutations and the like. But we quickly moved on to more advanced poses that I could not do. Shino-san was a very good teacher, always demonstrating ways to attempt the pose for the "less-able" and moving around to physically teach in front of non-native speakers. While I would say the class was conducted in Japanese, there was more English ("inhale", "exhale", counting, etc.) than in the "healing hatha" class, and Shino san made more of an effort to demonstrate poses in view of non-native speakers who may be depending on sight more than description. Although I was intimidated by the number of poses I could not attempt, I was consoled by the number of people in the class who also struggled, Shino-san's teaching style, and the great feeling of the poses I could attempt. I would take this class again!

Vinyasa 1

Today I tried the "Vinyasa 1" with Kumi. Kumi-san went around to all the participants to check on their level and asked my about my Japanese comprehension. The class was nice and slow, focusing on breathing and deep stretching.  The class was conducted for beginners, and was almost entirely in Japanese. (In the beginning, after lengthy beautiful descriptions and instructions in Japanese, Kumi-san would give a brief one sentence summary in English. Although she stopped doing this after the first two poses - satisfied that I was following the Japanese - I think she could do this for the entire class.) The class Erica leads is basically the same.

Vinyasa 2

"Vinyasa 2" had Shino-san as a sub today (but I love her, so that was a treat!). It was exactly as described on the website: a power yoga class designed for beginners.  This class was more like I am used to in the States: various asanas (A and B, then some floor work) done with increasing speed. Also, like in the States, the Friday evening courses have more people in them, and they tend to be regulars (read also: better than you). However, as with Shino-san's amazing teaching ability, she always had a "beginner" version to share with those of us who couldn't do the full pose. English was the same (a little less: no "inhale" "exhale") as in beginners Ashtanga. I want to try this class with the regular teacher, Ryoko-san, but I'm now sold on anything Shino-san!

I also took "Vinyasa 2" with Sandra to see how the Japanese/English class is handled. I ended up being the only one there and got a private English language lesson! Sandra is great and I'm looking forward to taking her classes more often. When I finally got around to taking her Japanese/English class I really enjoyed it! For the first time, in any arena living here in Japan, the English explanations were longer and better than the Japanese! I also found the class challenging and fun. It's my favorite class there!

I also finally got Ryoko for "Vinyasa 2." This is not a class for beginners or those uncomfortable with their Japanese. Ryoko demonstrates some poses, but mostly walks around the room adjusting poses while calling out what to do - in Japanese. Also, she uses indie-pop music! I liked the more energetic atmosphere of the class, and will be back. My only complaint is that one of the songs in her mix brought back painful memories and I started to cry, so, if you see me bawling silently while attempting to hold a pose - just don't ask...

Kripalu – クリパル

"Kripalu – クリパル" with Chie-san is a nice, slow, relaxing yoga. It's the type of yoga my mom loves, and the yoga I will recommend to her when she comes to visit. I'm trying to improve my running times, and am using yoga to build strength and endurance. I think this class will also help me with my breathing as I run and is a nice slow workout to add to the week in an attempt to stave off injury. Since the class is heavily centered around breathing, it has been the class where it is most essential to understand Japanese. This class is by far the least strenuous of those I've taken, but because you can't rely on watching the instructor or other students, it might not be a good fit for people (very) uncomfortable with their Japanese (because I think we are ALL uncomfortable with our Japanese!). I was quite impressed with the number of "pops" and "cracks" coming from my body and others - without any strain we were all reaching deep stretches and levels of comfort. Chie-san is quite the talker, and her Japanese language descriptions of what you should be thinking or feeling are quite beautiful, but I found it hard to focus on both her (fast) language and on the yoga itself. For me, this was a kikitori + yoga lesson. I'll be in her class again, but probably still making mistakes, so don't look to me!

Hatha Flow

I met my match today with "Hatha Flow," led by Yuka san.  I was expecting a nice slow stretch with a little strength training. What I got was nearly 80 minutes of work on my thighs and hips. Mind you, this was after running a 5K the night before (which is a good long run for me). We held poses for quite a long time, and my thighs were burning. There were also a number of seated, back-bend poses that were either 1) uncomfortable, or 2) impossible. Only one other student (with an admitted back problem) couldn't do these poses. Yuka san kindly helped me by supporting the pose with blocks and bolsters, but when you get right down to it, I just wasn't flexible enough, and probably shouldn't have even done the pose (instead, done something else to prep my body to aspire to that pose). All this made even Shavasana uncomfortable, as I could feel my hips and thighs aching. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. I think this class would be great and really help with my runs, if I was already a bit stronger and more flexible.

***I took this class a second time and have decided that, although it is probably good for me, it just isn't for me. While there wasn't nearly as much focus on the thighs and hips as last time (this time it was more upper arm strength and full leg stretches) I still left sore (and I did a 5K the night before, so my body was in the same position as last time). I think my problem is that the stretches and the work are too deep for my body, which is not able to "warm up" quick enough in this class (no asanas) and, is also not "Japanese" (read: simple sitting poses, like seiza, kill me because I haven't been doing them all my life). I nearly pulled a thigh muscle today doing a pose that everyone else could easily do.***

Hatha

Today I took "Hatha" with Toshi K. I have to admit, I was really wary of signing up for this class: 1) Hatha Flow and I don't get along, 2) I've never had a male yoga instructor, and 3) on average, I find Japanese men harder to understand than women (most of my teachers and friends are female, so I'm not exposed to male voices very often). Oh, I'm so glad I went! I loved this class! It was rather slow, but the stretches were both accomplish-able and deep. Toshi K. was REALLY concerned about my Japanese, asking me repeatedly and directly if I understood. He calmed down when he realized I understood (except mixing up my right and left sides once, but I do that in English too, so...), the direct questioning stopped. Of all the instructors, his Japanese was EASIEST to understand. He also ensured that he was always at the front of the class - even when we turned doing warrior and triangle to down-dog - which I always appreciate. I left the class feeling like my body was tall and strong. I will be going back!

Oops! Tonight I booked "Hatha" thinking it was my favorite Toshi K., but to my surprise, it was Toshi. (I didn't pay close enough attention!) The room was PACKED. 14 students. It shouldn't get like that, it's very hard to practice. But, this is either a popular time slot (7-8:30 pm)  or a popular teacher. The class was definitely more difficult than Toshi K.'s class. Toshi likes weird bendy-wrap-around poses. His descriptions were fine (not as clear as Toshi) and he always demonstrated.

Morning Yoga

"Morning Yoga" with Kozu was like a long relaxing stretch in bed. Nearly all the poses were done while laying on our mats (which made it difficult to see demonstrations). The focus of the class was on rolling-up from poses accurately. This class was a bit too slow for my taste, but is a gentle morning yoga if you are just looking for something to start your day off with.

はじめてMysore 

On a whim I signed up for はじめてMysore, mostly because I wanted to see what it was and I like Shino. This is definitely not a beginner class. Many advanced students take this class. You go through the asanas on your own, at your own pace, and Shino corrects your poses. If you don't know the asanas (I only knew the first 2, and even then Shino still told me I was making mistakes), Shino will teach you what to do, but it is obviously not what the class is for. If I can start remembering the asanas, I will go back!

Acupuncture

I'm a huge fan of acupuncture and wanted to continue it here in Kyoto. I found Amina, at A.O. Oriental Healing, and have been working with her for a few months. Not only have I seen good results concerning my initial problem, but many surprising benefits as well (as is usually the case with acupuncture).

Amina does a type of reiki plus acupuncture system that I find incredibly relaxing, and I am not a person who finds many things relaxing. Her work space is clean, beautiful, and calming (as is her demeanor!). As an extra benefit, there is an AMAZING view of daimonji's大 just behind her building.

Her office is in an apartment building near Senbon Kitaoji. She speaks some English, but is much more comfortable in Japanese (who isn't more comfortable in a native language!).

In order to speed up my results, Amina suggested I do some moxabustion at home. At the end of my visit, she puts some marks on points with a marker. I then moxa these points each day until our next visit. I'm using the above moxa, which I really like because it has a peel off backing that sticks to your skin, that can be purchased at nearly any drugstore for about 1800 yen (for 260 sticks/ applications!).

Keeping fit: running in Kyoto

I find that gym memberships are super expensive in Kyoto, so, to save on some cash, I've started running outside. This is a major step, since I had never run before. Since sixth grade. Ever.

So I started the Couch to 5K program, a free smartphone app, and, following the program, worked from "worried I couldn't run for a full minute" to running a full 5K. Now, I run 2-3 miles every other day.

There are so many runners in Kyoto, most of whom run along the Kamo river or around the Kyoto Imperial Palace. I promise you, there will always be another runner/ jogger out there, and there will be a wide range of ability.

cotton wipes

I love cotton wipes for make-up removal, DIY face masks, and spot applications of essential oils and creams.

I've been using the MUJI cotton wipes pictured above for quite a while, and really like how thick and luxurious they feel. (About 200 yen for 60, available at MUJI stores.) However, all that thickness and luxuriousness means that the pads suck up a lot of product, that just ends up in the garbage can. So, I was persuaded to try something new:

Cosme rates these Silcot cotton wipes as the best, and they can be found at drugstores for about 200 yen for a box of 40. Indeed, they are really thin and become soaked with product quickly, making me realize how much I had been throwing out! However, since they are thin and small, I'm keeping my MUJI cotton wipes for taking off creams, etc.

Shiseido Tsubaki shining shampoo and conditioner, MUJI seven herb shampoo

I have lots and lots of fine hair, which is just a different beast than Japanese hair. Therefore, I've been having a hard time finding shampoo and conditioner that work for me.

First up was the infamous Shiseido Tsubaki shampoo and conditioner. These are available EVERYWHERE for cheap. I found that they really weighed down my hair and left a lot of build-up.

So, I ran out of shampoo first, and moved onto MUJI's Seven herb shampoo, available at MUJI stores for about 1400 yen. The shampoo has a nice smell and left my hair squeaky clean without feeling stripped or dry. It has a cosme score of 5. I would buy it again.

Monday, my delivery of Mogan's conditioner arrives and I am so excited to try it since it cost a fortune (about 2800 yen) and is currently ranked at number 2 on cosme.net. Wish me luck!

kate (rouge luster), media (moist essence rouge), MUJI

This is the Kate lipstick (in Rd-1), which I purchased for about 1400 yen at the local drugstore. The color is a soft berry red, but is rather translucent and a bit oily. It has a respectable cosme.net score (4.8), but I wouldn't buy it again.

This is the Media lipstick (mine is BE02). The color is a nude, the consistency is nice, but again it is rather shiny and translucent. It has a decent cosme.net score (5), but I won't be buying it again either. Under 1000 yen.

This is the Muji lipstick in Rose pink. I really liked the consistency of this lipstick, but the color is too pink on me. I think I will save it for spring, go back and get the Rose brown for fall. At 580 - 750 yen, no problem!

Whisper (slim) and Laurier Speed+ Slimguard maxi pads

The photo above is of the "Whisper" maxi pads, which I found ill fitting and with tabs that don't hold. Won't be buying them again. Also, these are rated really low on cosme.net, so it's not just me.

This photo is of the Laurier Speed+ Slimguard maxi pads, which I got as a free gift from Wacoal, and I like. Nice fit, dry, good tabs. These are rated rather high on cosme.net.

San Ai Hair

I needed a bang trim and some dead ends cut off, so I made an appointment at San Ai hair, mostly because it seemed like they always had clients and took reservations over the internet.

While it didn't go horribly awry, it wasn't my favorite experience and I will be trying another salon for my next touch-up.

From the outside the salon looked chic, all white and glass. Inside, it was dirty. There was SO MUCH HAIR all over the floor. It looked like no one had cleaned all day. The chairs and robes were cheap - barber style.

My (male) stylist only spoke Japanese (which was fine for me, but I'm not sure if he had any English at all) and was my hair washer, head massager, hair cutter, and stylist. He was nice as could be, but definitely had his own ideas about how to cut hair and wasn't too into following my instructions. For example, I lost the "layer" battle (unbeknownst to me, until it was too late). Despite stating that I did not want to keep the current layers in my hair, and ONLY wanted the dead ends cut off, I ended up with more layers thanks to a little misunderstanding of the term "gizagiza" (ギザギザ, jagged). While I thought this meant that he would chop the ends a little so they wouldn't be so blunt, well, I was wrong. This meant taking thinning shears to the bottom half of my head. And he started in the back, so I couldn't see what he was doing until it was already done. At that point, I wouldn't let him touch my bangs again, although he wanted to ギザギザ them too... (and I thought the ends should be jagged a bit, but one fail was enough).

He blew out my hair and flat ironed it to look all nice and pretty.

The entire experience set me back about 5500 yen. They have a loyalty card if you want to make them your constant.

Fancl mild cleansing oil

This is a really rich cleansing oil that takes off makeup residue and doesn't aggravate my skin. It is much thicker than the Shiseido cleansing oil.

This is currently ranked as the best cleansing oil on cosme.net. A bottle will set you back about 1700 yen, but you can get a 500 yen sample mailed to you from their website (Japanese only). At first I didn't know where I could buy this product, as it isn't in any of the drugstores I frequent, but I found a Fancl shop in the Porta mall in Kyoto station that is super pretty and convenient.

UPDATE: I also found the complete Fancl skincare line sold at Lawsons!

Heroine Make mascara

I love this mascara. I have puny little lashes, but this mascara makes them look long and lush. It lasts all day. Actually, I can never quite get it all off. It is magic. No wonder it is ranked as the best on cosme.net. (One will set you back about 1000 yen.)

SK-II Facial Treatment mask

These are supposed to be the holy grail of face masks. Apparently women use these for 90 days leading up to a wedding to have great skin for the big day.

One mask will set you back about 1700 yen, and a pack of 6 goes for about 10000 yen. For that amount of money you will have no problem following the directions and not wiping off the serum after taking off the mask! In fact, I rub the used mask on my arms and hands to make sure I get every drop! I've noticed an improvement after using the masks, which fit really well and feel super luxurious. I only wish they weren't so expensive!

These masks are currently ranked at number 13 on cosme.net, but came in second place in 2011 and third place in 2010.

Puresa sheet mask, rose

I bought a box of these because they were cheap, I like the smell of rose, and the masks won best in prize in 2010 according to cosme.net. A box of 5 masks goes for about 700 yen, and the construction of the masks reflects the cheapness. I found the mask ill-fitting.

Some users have complained that the smell of rose is too strong, although I quite liked it and found the smell to be the only redeeming quality of the mask!

Puresa Hydro Gel Mask

I love gel masks. I had no idea I loved gel masks until I got to Japan and realized I could give myself a facial at home for about 380 yen.

This particular mask was rated quite high on cosme.net, but has recently fallen to number 11. I second the fall in rankings, since I found the mask to be kind of gooey and didn't notice any fabulous results, despite it containing anti-aging hyaluronic acid.

Love Darling Eyeliner

This eyeliner is currently ranked as the best over at cosme.net. It is a liquid liner that applies like a pen. Although it advertises that it lasts all day, I've never had that outcome. It sells for about 1200 yen at drugstores.

Cure Natural Aqua Gel (exfoliant)

This is an amazing exfoliant and is one of the most popular items in Japan (although it is currently ranked only at number 9 on cosme.net). To use it, rub into dry skin. You will then have little balls of dead skin flake off. Then rinse. I personally love this product and use it on my entire body, even my face, since it is mostly water. It costs about 2500 yen at most drug stores.

Suhada shizuku pack gel

This is an extremely popular night cream that sells for about 1500 yen at most drug stores. When you put it on after cleansing your skin, tiny water droplets appear. The effect is nice, but I've found that it prohibits me using it during the day because it makes my skin too moist to hold onto any sort of makeup. I use it as a night cream for anti-aging since it contains Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid. At one point it was highly rated by users of cosme.net.

Shiseido perfect whip facial cleansing foam and perfect oil

This was my first foray into Japanese cleansing routine: a wet face, an oil wash, followed by a foam cleanser and a water rinse.

This is supposed to be the "Cetaphil" of Japan - not too harsh and not too expensive. These products lived up to their billing, cleaning my skin without any irritation or dryness. The oil cleansing step was useful for removing any stubborn makeup. I really enjoyed the foaming of the face wash!

Both are easily found in any drugstore and are under 500 yen if I recall correctly (the oil might be more).

Intro

This blog will detail all the trials and tribulations of being an expat female in Kyoto! From make-up to cleansers, hair cuts to hair removal, all those things you wish someone would JUST TELL YOU.