LED light facial treatment: Emily Stone One

I really wanted a red light facial, or a red and blue light facial since I've been dealing with acne lately (STRESS!), but I have no time and they are so expensive. So I bought the Emily Stone One LED light treatment on amazon (flash deal for 7000 yen!). It has red, blue, and green LED options, plus a massage button.

I did some research on the LED light facials. For blue light, which kills the bacteria that cause acne, the frequency has to be 405 nm to 420 nm. In some clinical trials with the Tanda, participants saw a marked improvement in skin tone and acne by day 7, and an amazing improvement by day 28.

For anti-aging benefits, the red light should be between 620 nm and 700 nm. All the stars are doing it, so why not me too? Red light led therapy is supposed to reduce inflammation, even out skin tone, and boost collagen production.

So, on day 1 I did 10 minutes on the blue light setting. I noticed that my acne seemed to get WORSE. Maybe from the massage of the treatment? I then did 10 minutes of red light, which definitely brightened my face, but didn't take down the inflammation of my acne. No miracles on day one. Let's see how the rest of the week goes?

Day 3: I've worked my way up to the second setting on both the blue and the red leds. I really think the first day of the blue light made my acne worse, as the newly emerged zits have stuck around. I did some research on this, and, while it's not common to break out, it is reported in some cases. The red light is definitely brightening my skin and reducing redness. So far, I can tell that the general redness I get after washing my face, etc. is drastically reduced. I'm pretty sure this means that those "under the skin" zits are gone. I'm also noticing the very beginning of some diminishing acne scars (it doesn't matter if I pick or not, I ALWAYS get a red spot after any acne). The improvement is on the smaller and lighter scarring, no improvement yet on the big ones.

Hair removal at Azabu Clinic

I tried out Azabu clinic in Tokyo because they have a wide range of cosmetic dermatology services and an English speaking staff. I started out with the laser hair removal for two reasons: 1) I was due for a treatment and couldn't use my American spa (which is still my favorite), and 2) I wanted to try a service I was familiar with before jumping into new territory (Thermage!)

So, staff speaks English well and there are a lot of foreign clients. Staff prefer to speak Japanese, so we did. There is a doctor who checks your skin and hair before treatment to recommend intensity of the laser. She spoke perfect English and was having none of my still-learning Japanese.

I selected two areas (face and hygiene) and did the trial price (came to a total of 4 man) for one treatment (due to my travel schedule). I found out later a groupon would have been MUCH cheaper, so you should do that.

I bared the areas to be worked on. The staff drew lines and confirmed hair patterns. Then she applied a cool gel and started with the laser. The laser was MUCH stronger than the one used at Datsumo Labo but I don't think it was as strong as the one I get in the US. There was some stinging, but I bore out the high intensity laser the entire time with discomfort only in the sensitive nether regions.

All in all, I would go back, especially if I just needed a dermatologist (she can write prescriptions for acne medication and anything else you need). The prices are a bit high, so the groupon is perfect. However, for the price you are also getting doctor supervision, so it's not so bad.

Sephora LED make up mirror

I am a superfan of the tweezerman LED magnifying mirror but was persuaded to switch it up when I noticed this (cheaper) version from Sephora. I'm a convert. It's bigger and more sturdy.

I'll still keep my tweezerman for travel, but in my bathroom I'll have the Sephora!

Fillers: Tokiko Clinic

I decided to do something about my laugh lines, and that something was fillers.

I made an appointment (in English) through the Tokiko clinic website. The doctor emailed me in English (sometimes obviously through Google translate - it made no sense.) She was to have someone at my appointment to either speak or translate English.

I got to the clinic for my appointment and the intake form was in both Japanese and English. That was the last English I would hear or see.

The doctor gave me a nice consultation in Japanese and we agreed on our plan of attack.

Then, a staff member came in to explain the price structure and get me to sign some forms that I had things explained to me and I understood (again, all in Japanese).

Next, a staff member led me to a private room with a "massage table." My picture was taken (for before and after purposes). I laid down, the staff removed my makeup and applied a topical analgesic that stayed on for 30 minutes.

Finally, the doctor came in, removed the analgesic, gave me some medicine and ice to suck on, and did the injections. I was allowed to reapply my makeup, paid, and left.

Easy! I'll be back again to do some more fillers under my eyes and in my neck!

Gel nails: Gelish starter kit

I love the long lasting indestructible-ness of gel nails, but I hate the price of a gel manicure and don't want to ruin my nails and hands with the gel-off process. So, I took a little plunge into the world of at-home gel nails.

I got a basic starter kit (different than the one above) at Tokyu Hands for 4500 yen. A bottle of color gel polish was about 1000 yen.

The first try was a bit of a disaster. I found I'm not a very good manicurist, and it is EXTREMELY important to not get any polish on your skin, as it really just turns into superglue. In addition, I got some weird bubbles on a few nails. I had to take it off immediately since it looked pretty bad. I soaked off in acetone for about 30 minutes total. Not optimal.

For my second try I decided to do a gel nail top-coat over regular polish. According to this article in Allure, this method is possible if you allow your regular polish to dry for 24 hours. This is perfect for me, since I love my Jin Soon nostalgia color, and have 24 hours to clean up any polish that is on my cuticles or skin. After drying the topcoat and wiping with the cleanser, I got that great gel nail shine!

I usually get about 5-6 days of chip free nails with a regular manicure. I get 2 weeks with a good gel manicure (and could even go longer if I could stand that "grow-out" portion at the base of the nail.) I will update on how long the gel topcoat over regular manicure lasts!

UPDATE: the experiment failed. the regular polish chipped and peeled off within a day of the gel top coat. : (

Eyelash extensions: ProCare Eyelash in Osaka

I love my Japanese mascara, but getting it all off is tough. And, I wanted to try extensions.

After a bit of research I decided to try out ProCare. I'm in LOVE. I will be doing this from now on. I got 80 lashes in American Doll design. The result looks like I have long lashes with a bit of mascara. It really makes my eyes pop.

The process wasn't bad at all, about an hour. No bad reactions to the glue.

I'll be going back!

UPDATE: The follow-up was really great. I decided I wanted 60 lashes per eye instead of 40, and went I went back they counted the remaining lashes all up, removed any damaged lashes, and made sure I left with 60 per eye.

Traveling with Japanese luxuries: prepping to conclude an 18 hour flight looking fabulous

I always leave my flight looking oily and gross. So, I put together a little carry-on love to attempt to remedy that situation.

First up are the Bifesta facial cleansing sheets (550 yen). These oil and fragrance free sheets are supposed to give you a deep clean. I use these facial cleansing whenever I start feeling oily during a flight, and also in the bathroom of the airport when I arrive at my destination. Result: absolutely fabulous. Love these. They take off all my makeup and leave me feeling squeaky clean, and they give me a clean canvas for a fresh make-up application at my destination airport bathroom without having to get water all over the place and risk messing up my bangs.

I've been using the SK-II stempower as my morning and evening moisturizer, and am loving the mochi-like feeling it gives my skin. Japanese flight attendants use this instead of a facial mask on planes and swear that it helps them remain looking so positively fantastic throughout a long-haul flight. I can attest that it lives up to this claim!

Before settling in for a sleep, I slip on my Dr. Scholl compression leggings. My hope is to stave off bloating and uncomfortableness! I use these around my house, and love how they massage my legs. I've also found that they really do reduce leg and ankle bloating.

Then, before I pop on my noise-reduction headphones hooked up to my ambient noise app, I put on my Kao Megurythm heated eye mask, in lavender. These always put me right to sleep here at home, and really help when I'm wedged in an economy airplane seat! Note: I've been trying out the different aromas (rose, yuzu, and unscented), and so far I much prefer the lavender.

Other items in my beauty carry-on: travel toothpaste and brush, hand sanitizer, pepto bismol (um, airplane food?!?), a sleeping pill, deodorant, perfume, and make-up.

And, make my hair look great upon final exit of the airplane, I use this fantastic dry shampoo from drybar.

I have to say, I looked really marvelous for coming off an 18 hour flight. Paparazzi ready!

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?

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.