World's most expensive shampoo? Beauty Pride's APPS+E(TPNa)

I feel like my hair is aging fast, so I went in search of something I might be able to do about it. Cosme just put out new rankings for shampoo, and Beauty Pride's APPS+E(TPNa) took top prize. The comments are positively glowing. Apparently, this stuff is the real deal and can actually reverse damage. Also, as the real deal, it is ridiculously expensive. A bottle of shampoo costs 8600 yen. Conditioner: 8600 yen. You can get samples online for about 2100 yen. This is a review of the sample sized product.

I have to admit, this is nice stuff. It feels good in your hands when you pump it out. It lathers nicely in your hair. The conditioner is thick, but doesn't weigh hair down. I used all the product in the individual use packets, but I think I could get away with using only half on my mid-length hair. In the end, I got soft, silky, bouncy hair. I got "just-stepped-out-of-the-salon" hair.

I usually wash my hair every 2-3 days, depending on my running schedule. On day 2, my hair continued to be soft and manageable. No noticeable traces of oil/grease. After pulling my hair into a low ponytail for an 80 minute yoga class, there are no traces of the "band."

Some of the comments on cosme say that after an initial great impression, the product fails to "wow" the second time. So, I washed my hair with Beauty Pride's APPS+E(TPNa) shampoo and conditioner a second time, using only half the product in the individual packets, on day 3 (no other product used in between). I also did not style my hair after washing, so this was all the work of the product. I have to say, it was lovely. It still had that light-bouncy-soft feeling.

I am torn. I LOVE these products, but the cost is SO high!

So, I tried a little experiment. First, I shampooed with my normal MUJI seven herb. I followed up with the APPS+E(TPNa) conditioner. Result: Nice hair. Not quite as bouncy as when I used both products together, but it had the same look on day one, day two, not so much. Also, it felt like there was product in my hair, but nothing like the after-product feel of the Mogans conditioner.

Then, I shampooed and conditioned with the MUJI and Mogans. Same results that I normally get. Ok, but not great.

Finally, I shampooed with the APPS+E(TPNa) and followed up with the Mogan's conditioner. Result: almost the same results as with the regular MUJI and Mogans.

So, if I can stomach the price, I will first buy the conditioner. When my MUJI shampoo runs out, then I'll spring for the conditioner. I'm trying to remind myself that I spring for facial beauty products, why not some for my hair?

Evangelist Lady Bright Up BB Cream

I ran out of the CoverGirl BB cream I had been using all summer and switched over to the liquid foundation I usually use for fall. But I noticed such a dramatic difference in my skin tone. It looked duller and like the foundation was caking around my pores.

After doing a bit of research I learned that the Evangelist Bright Up BB cream (which only comes in one color) is the apparent "godsend" of Japanese BB creams. I ordered a small tube for about 2800 yen (which is a lot in my world of makeup!).

At first I was really worried about the color, which is a bit light for my skin tone, but as I rubbed it in it seemed to blend with my natural color. It definitely has more coverage than my CoverGirl CG Smoothers BB cream and really brightened up my skin (I'm not sure how, but it did! Some sort of illumination powder must be included.). There was more caking around my pores than with my CoverGirl BB cream, but I suspect that this is because of the increased coverage.

In addition, it boasts 50+UV protection.

I'll continue to use it, but, for the price I was hoping for more. It will soon run out, since the tube is so small. I'm going to look into the Laura Mercier illuminating tinted moisturizer the next time I visit the States (since more colors are available there!).

Moist Diane Tiare Body Milk

I picked this up at the drugstore for 950 yen for two reasons: 1) it's Tiare scented and I am almost out of my beloved Tahitian tiare oil, and 2) it had a big #1 on cosme sticker slapped on the front.

When I came home and looked it up on cosme, I couldn't find it ranked at all! Suspicious!

This is a good day lotion, it absorbs quick enough (although not instantly) to quickly get dressed after use. The consistency is nice enough, actually rather easy to apply, but the smell is so disappointing! It doesn't really smell like Tiare at all. It just smells like - lotion...

Salon Nail nail polish (#19 大人ベージュ)

While performing the luxurious task of picking up garbage bags at the 100 yen store, I treated myself to a bottle of salon nail nail polish. This brand is rated very high on cosme (the art series), but I never saw a color I liked, so I never bought a bottle (108 yen).

However, I came across this sparkly beige and thought it might be nice for an event I have coming up later this week. While it is definitely lighter in color than the bottle (this is 2 coats), I like it. It is very unassuming, but, when you notice it, the shine and color look like well-cared-for nails. I'll be sporting it out and about this week!

Pretty Little Underthings

The first time I needed new undergarments in Japan, I went to the Wacoal store in the local Yokohama mall. (There is a Wacoal section in Shijo Daimaru as well.) As you can expect, I spent a fortune on a basic bra and panty set. However, there are changing rooms and it was good to be able to try on the bras in order to find the right Japanese sizing. The bra ran about 6000 yen, the underwear around 4800 yen. A size conversion chart can be found here.

After moving to Kyoto I found myself in need of a basic black slip. After looking around a bit, I found something suitable, for around 2500 yen, at Amo's style (locations on both Shijo and in the underground mall at Kyoto station). They also have fitting rooms, which was a plus because slip sizing was also different from sizing in the States. I noted that, in addition to the bountiful "girly" and "doll-like" lingerie, they also had a few affordable more basic sets.

When I popped into Uniqlo yesterday I strolled down the underwear aisle and was surprised to find a set that was INCREDIBLY SIMILAR to the seamless set I paid so much for at Wacoal. I picked up a set of bra and underwear (conveniently sized S, M, L) for under 2500 yen. You can even order online in English! This will be my new go-to place for basic undergarments!

Towels: Nitori, 7-11, Imabari (Goldilocks and the three towels...)

When I moved here, I ordered a few towel sets from Nitori. I went for cheap (about 400 yen a towel) since I knew I would be throwing them out when I move back to the States.

I quickly realized I hated these scratchy stiff towels. While they dry relatively easy, which is a plus in the rainy season, they are just so unpleasant on the skin.

So, I picked up a towel from 7-11. If I recall, it was about 1000 yen. Ah, much better. Soft. Dries quickly. But, after a few washings, seems to be falling apart. And, it collects all manner of lint. I will be washing it in a laundry net bag from now on.

But, I only had one. That is not feasible when it is still on the line drying and you need a towel. So, I splurged on one of the famous Imabari towels. A set of a bath towel and a face towel cost me 5000 yen. Ouch.

OMG. I love this towel. It makes my dinky bathroom feel like a spa. I will be buying more of these, and taking them home. These will also feature as holiday gifts for friends and family back home!

Youmeisen bath salts

My neighbor gave me a 60 gram packet of youmeisen the other day in order to help stave off the coming cold. As many people know, Japanese women are very sensitive to the cold and do all sorts of things to heat up the inner core.

My neighbor said that in addition to being a good cure for chilliness (because, so is a bath, no?), it also helps with her husband's eczema. When I looked this up on the web, indeed, it is said to cure a host of ailments, including skin and chill.

Since I dislike that particular cold of a Japanese winter in Kyoto (so damp and so cold, yet my skin is still so dry), I gave it a whirl in my bath tonight.

First: it is yellow. Really yellow. Like a "tub full of pee" yellow. You have to laugh.

It did give my skin a nice silky feeling while in the bath, and, after drying off, seems to have left a subtle residue that is trapping in moisture. I think I'm going to like this!

You can buy this on Amazon Japan, about 2050 yen for 900 grams, or 1300 yen for an 8-pack of 60 gram packets.