Sep
01
It’s been a weird week for patterns. The universe is colliding all around me and I have to say it’s been pretty cool.
I’ve gotten several emails from friends and readers this week asking about my favorite eye products. Specifically, any products that conceal, deflate, yell at, or otherwise eliminate dark circles.
Here’s a quick roundup of my favorites, but I have to say, no matter what you decide to try, you have to use it at least 1-2 times daily for a couple of weeks before you’ll notice any difference. If you use it once and nothing happens… it’s because you’ve only used it once. Good skin is like exercise- it requires consistency.
Okay enough nagging– here are my recommendations!
Etude House Collagen Eye Patches
I know topical collagen doesn’t do much for anti-aging, but these patches definitely help me with any puffiness due to weird sleep, lack of sleep, or too much shoyu. I use a daily serum, then use these before shoots as back up. They’re really inexpensive and available all over Tokyo at Etude House (there’s one in Ginza Station) or online here.
Boots Time Delay De-Puffing Roller
This is the daily serum. It’s a title cheat but it’s too good not to put down. I bought this in Bangkok and use it every single day and it has made a huge difference. The first few days, honestly, I didn’t really notice, but after about a week I just plain looked better. We can’t buy it in Japan so I’m hoping to do a beauty swap with someone who can ship me a supply. Addicted.
HANSKIN Premium Magic BB Cream
I got a luxe sample of this in a Glossybox. Most BB creams are WAY too light for my complexion but wow it makes a great concealer prep! I take my flat concealer brush and verrrry lightly pat a triangle under each eye. I layer a bit of Missha Style Perfect concealer on top and blend it with feather-light strokes. I don’t like powder under my eyes so I usually just use a blotting paper to tap in it. I think the key to concealer is very light building. If you smear it on and blend it with a sponge like you do with your foundation it’s going to basically just get wiped off. Don’t use a lot of product and blend it super lightly… it works for me anyway.
Other wellness tips to reduce puffiness and darkness:
- Stay hydrated. (It’s a duh, but it makes a huge difference).
- Acupressure massage. A lot of Asian beauty routines focus on facial massage. It feels great and really does make a difference in how your skin looks and feels. There are loads of gadgets and compression masks you can buy in Tokyo for this purpose too, but I think just making a little extra time to work out any stress in your facial muscles is a good call. I use NuFace almost every night and my face loves it.
- Sleep right. Elevate your head a bit so you’re not super flat when you sleep. This definitely helps with puffiness, especially if you like soy sauce or salty stuff like I do.
Hope this helps you guys. Thanks for the notes and let me know if you find any other cool stuff to try!
Aug
23
Tokyo is the undisputed beauty champion of the world. Every week I see game-changing products at the counters and in the speciality shops, and especially, and somewhat surprisingly, at the drugstore. There’s a reason SO many beauty blogs are dedicated to Japanese drugstore loot– it’s inexpensive and generally pretty awesome. Because the market is so saturated here (seriously you can buy BB cream at the convenience store) the big beauty companies know they have to give up the goods.
Anyway– that’s a long intro just to say here are a few new finds I’m playing with, from fancy shops to the corner Matsumoto.
Shiseido Pore Smoothing Corrector
Shiseido is one of my favorite brands even before I moved to Japan. I picked this up at the amazing Shiseido the Ginza store a couple weeks ago. LOVE. I’m a primer and BB cream fanatic– I’ve tried at least 20 types in the past 12 months. This primer is matte, goes on silky, and doesn’t do that weird cakey thing when you apply foundation afterward. PS? Shiseido the Ginza is amazing– it’s been described as a “Beauty Theme Park” and I totally agree. If you’re in Tokyo you have to check it out. The displays are so cute and they have every product under the Shiseido sun at every price point… I could spend hours there. If you’re in the States, you can get the primer here.
Tuberose on the rock please….The perfume bar at Shiseido the Ginza.
Now. Onto to some of the drugstore finds:
The Konjac Sponge
I was chatting with a reader the other day about the konjac– it’s been a big buzz product in the US market for a while now, and after picking one up at Tokyu Hands the other day, I think I see why, but the jury is still out. Konjac sponges have been around in Japan forever– it’s a 100% natural, super gentle exfoliator and facial sponge. Surprisingly, they come moist in the package, and have a really interesting texture. Soft and spongy like you’d expect, but also kind of like foam rubber? I just started using it and can definitely say it leaves my skin squeaky clean without stripping or being too abrasive, which is nice since I’m microderming like a nut after all the sun I got in Vietnam last week. It’s more gentle than my Clarisonic and more effective than a wash cloth, so my guess it that it’s great for sensitive skin or for anyone doing a peel series or any kind of med-spa treatments. At 700 yen (15 bucks at Sephora), I say give it a try and tell me what you think.
Smile Cosmetique
Cheap, effective, available at any drugstore in Tokyo… these kind of blew me away. I’m kind of addicted to tooth whiteners and wanted to try a Japanese brand, and let me tell you, these seriously work. Totally gentle, they’re kind of like Crest Whitestrips but they’re padded so they stay in place really well and the formula foams up nicely. These are really only available in Japan as far as I know, so for my expat peoples, these are worth checking out.
You don’t have to leave them on too long– the online translation says a few minutes, but I left them on for like an hour? My teeth are flipping WHITE. Maybe too white? I’ll back off for a while… in this shot they’re whiter than my pearls… whoops.
Wishing you smooth skin and pearly (but not TOO pearly) whites. 
Aug
15
Hello Summer. You sexy thing you. I’m still a bit drunk from all of the beach and sea love from Vietnam. Seriously the people and the beaches were so lovely it makes me want to pack a bag and wander Southeast Asia for a few weeks. That said, when I got back to Tokyo, I did a full beauty inventory and realized that even slathered in sunscreen and limiting my exposure I got quite a bit of sun. Yikes!
In Japan, tan skin is a big no-no, especially for modeling and commercial work (read: my agent is gonna kill me). No one wants to shoots dry hair or peeling skin. So right now I’m in full-on replenish mode to keep my skin glowing and hair shiny. Here’s the plan for the next week or so:
1) Take it off. This means getting my ends trimmed and exfoliating EVERYTHING. My hair is ombre and my afternoons at the beach have turned the tips of my hair white blond. Kind of cool looking, but also a bit fried. I’m getting a half inch chopped off across the board for a fresh edge.
I’m also using Shiseido’s Tsubaki Treatment Mask on the lower half of my head every other night for a next few days. I alternate with a purple conditioner so my blonde doesn’t turn brassy. Tsubaki gets mixed reviews on some of the JP beauty blogs but I have to say for my texture (fine hair, color-treated, and and lots of it) it totally works. And at less than 1000 yen, it’s a steal.
I’m also using my home-grown coffee and brown sugar scrub every day in the shower to slough off dead skin, and moisturizing heavily with coconut oil both in the morning and at night.
Here’s my recipe for the scrub- it’s super easy and always in my shower:
- Day old coffee grounds (about a cup)
- Brown sugar (about half a cup)
- Lemon juice: it’s a natural toner and skin brightener (about 2 TBSP)
- Almond Oil: Enough to bind the mixture
2) Shed a layer. As far as my complexion– I’m going hard core. Sun is a major ager, and while I didn’t burn, I could tell right away it was a bit too much sun love. I’ve been dermaplaning (the Japanese technique of facial fuzz and skin removal– LOVE– and wrote about it and the coffee scrub here.) and will microderm tomorrow night. I’m also breaking out the big guns and slathering Cle De Peau’s Le Creme all over my face at night. It makes a major difference and as cleared up the dry weirdness around my nose. This stuff is insanely expensive (525.00 USD an ounce!!), but after using my sample size from Shiseido the Ginza, it’s no question the best moisturizer I’ve ever used– and that’s saying something. Another luxe cream I adore is La Prairie’s Anti-Stress Cream. At 142.00USD for 1.7 ounces, it’s still super expensive, but at least attainably so. And it’s a major transformer as well.
So help is on the way. And even though tan isn’t popular in Tokyo, I personally love having a little glow. I feel like it looks healthier and I’m a bit more body confident.
You can take the girl out of California… 
Aug
07
Just another day in the life of an expat in Japan.
Another benefit of living in Japan is the proximity to other awesome countries. This week I’m in Hoi An, Vietnam, writing a story for SavvyTokyo and getting in a bit of rest. It’s only been a couple of days but it’s really hard to miss how beautiful everything is in this town. One of my personal hopes is to improve my photography skills. Hoi An is the perfect workshop.
Hoi An is a small town on the central coast of Vietnam, about 30 minutes from DaNang. Less popular than frenetic Ho Chi Minh and more commercial than rural Hanoi, Hoi An has deep history in craft culture.
Everyone is making something. Everyone is selling something. Silver, ceramics, silks, lanterns. Yes it’s touristy. And oh my yes it is lovely. I’m going to get back to vacation, but here are a few snaps I’ve taken thus far.
Lanterns aglow, Hoi An Night Market
17th century door, Old House Quan Thang
Artist Duong Tramuu (first name pronounced Yung). Simple ink on rice vellum. I caught an instant art crush on him and bought two. I’ll mount and frame them once I’m back in San Francisco. He’s showing at the An Phuc Gallery in Ancient Town. Worth a look.
Beauty is everywhere in this charming little place. It’s hard to get anywhere because I stop every 2 meters to take photos. And there’s still so much to see!
There is always more to see, isn’t there?
Jul
30
For aspiring models and actors, getting a handle on the basics takes a bit of time. You want to be professional and ask for clarity, but you also don’t want to ask questions that make you look like a total newbie either. If you’re new to the biz, you’ll learn quickly that bookers and agents are busy people (sometimes borderline frantic when dealing with emergency castings or client firebombs), and won’t have a ton of time to explain some of the finer points of the process.
Here are some terms that get thrown about quite a bit in go-sees and auditions. I’m working on a ginormous glossary right now, so this is just a sneak peek at a few audition terms you need ASAP.
Slate: Slating is your on-camera introduction to the client or casting agent. You usually just say your name and height, but sometimes you’ll be asked other questions to see how you look on camera and to give a sense of your overall energy. Slates in Japan are slightly different than in the States– here’s a little video on how it’s done.
Post by Cynthia Popper.
Mark(s): A mark is where you are placed on set, usually indicated by a t-shaped piece of tape on the floor. Multiple marks are used for moving shots, and are known numerically. “Here’s your 1… and here’s your 2.” Usually for commercials, you’ll be asked to hit certain lines at certain marks, and if it’s a multiple camera shoot, look at different cameras at different marks and different times. Working with multiple cameras is a different story— it gets super tricky. The Colbert Report’s Stephen Colbert is always at his desk, but he does multiple camera work beautifully.
Cheating and eye line aren’t realism, but help create the overall tone in a shot.
Cheat: This means you appear to be facing or looking at a particular person, point or object, but to make the shot more visually appealing, you’re asked to angle your face, body, or eye line in a way that might not be realistic. This happens a lot with product shooting. Let’s say you’re holding a bottle of shampoo for a shampoo ad. You’ll be asked to “cheat toward camera” which means to angle both your face and the product toward the camera for a clear, straight, shot, rather than holding something and looking at it like you would in real life.
Eye Line: Plainly– the direction you’re looking. Often when you’re asked to cheat towards whatever, you might be given a visual mark (or even a crew member will stand in a spot) to indicate your eye line.
The actor’s life: sides and coffee.
Sides: A side is a portion of a script (usually involving two characters) selected for you to read during an audition. Occasionally sides have nothing to do with the project you’re auditioning for but this isn’t common (but it does happen– not sure why?). Online castings usually have downloadable sides, or your agent will email them to you.
I’m putting the finishing touches on a comprehensive guidebook to getting work for both the American and Japanese markets. If you’re interested in getting a sneak peek– message me and I’ll put you on the list!
Break a leg!
Jul
26
Every day, I get email from friends and strangers asking about expat life in Japan. “Is it hard?” “Is it lonely?” “Scary?” “Beyond amazing?”
Yes to all of them.
Some things don’t change… just the location. Case in point: my genkan (玄関). A genkan is the entry way into a Japanese apartment and it’s where your shoes are kept. There’s usually a shoe box or closet (mine is full of shoes and other stuff) so on any given day– this is what entering my apartment looks like.
(it’s not messy, it’s agile…)
But I’m embracing a few Japanese customs, actually some just stick to you after a while. I bow a lot, and make a weird grunting noise when I agree with you, and have developed a fondness for kimono, especially the vintage ones!
But figuring things out is a daily chore. Whether it’s a storyboard for work,
Or just trying to eat a bowl of noodles. I love the push-button ramen shops. You pay, pick your dish and your toppings and just push a button for a ticket. Hand the ticket to the ramen master and you’re done! I just wish I knew all of the buttons!
(This is tsukemen– ramen with a dipping sauce.)
So there are times when life feels pretty alienating. But just when i start to feel sorry for myself, there’s always a little reminder of home. Something that says it’s not so different here after all.
And it’s a small community– the expats in Tokyo. I write for a few foreigner sites and I get recognized in the weirdest places. Like my meditation app?
But you adapt. You adjust. You figure it out. Discover new things you like to do,
New places you like to go,
Play with new looks (it’s a wig for an audition). They might want me blonde. Why not?
And hopefully, make new friends.
Living in Japan has been one giant life experiment. It’s easy for expats to get frustrated and feel down when it gets tough, and it gets tough often. Even though Japan is not home forever, I have to say I’ve learned a lot since being here, and will go home a better person having been here. So hard, so scary, so lonely, so amazing.
So far, so good.
Jul
15
If you’ve read any of my stuff about getting into modeling, you know having range is super key. Being able to show a variety of looks grows your chances of booking work exponentially, and this makes your agency super happy, because they can submit you for a ton of jobs. Here’s the math:
Looks/Jobs=Range= Happy Agent
Anyway– I’ve used extensions in shoots, pretty much from the beginning. In L.A., actresses always bring a “big bag of hair” to set for the stylist to play with, if they need them. They’re just a good thing to have in your set bag arsenal.
Mine were BEAT UP– I’ve washed, dyed, and torn through my old set for years, and was due for replacements, when Irresistible Me approached me and asked if I’d like to test theirs out. I am so lucky to get review samples, but if I’m seriously going to write about a product, I always have a few questions.
Q: Are they human hair?
Because synthetic extensions are no bueno. You can’t dye, curl, or flat iron them, which, for a model, means they’re not really helpful.
A: Yep! 100% Remy human hair.
Q: Can I see the weft clips?
Weft clips are super important. If you’re investing a couple bucks in good extensions, the clips have to be heavy duty– you’re going to be putting them in and taking them out a lot, so details like weight, stitching, and hardware all add up to quality and durability. IM’s clips are the good ones… like the ones MUAS get at the cosme supply.
Here’s my real head, no editing or retouching. No idea what I’m looking at.
I’m wearing #4 Royal Medium Brown, 200 grams weight. These are no joke– a serious luxe set of wefts, and the color matched my hair perfectly! The cool part for me is my hair is ombre right now, so when I put these in, my actual hair just blended into natural highlights.
Overall, I’m really impressed with these extensions— I’m going to wear them out this week to a couple of events and see how they hold up. As of now… I’m so ready to shoot!
Jul
09
Balance, flexibility, strength. Yoga has been my friend for about ten years now, but more of a passing, casual friend-of-a-friend kind of relationship. Since the beginning of the year I’ve been doing Ashtanga yoga almost every single day. No classes, no sexy gear, just me and my cheapo mat, in my micro-palace, focusing on the primary series and inversion work. Yoga is now my one true companion. Daily, I learn something new from it, and daily, it pushes me to my limits.
The Ashtanga primary series is a group of moves that are considered the standard sequence for any basic Ashtanga class. There are variations for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so you can adjust your practice as you improve, and challenge yourself to try new poses. I’m an intermediate practitioner, so I tend to focus on the core moves and increasingly add more challenging inversions and flexibility work into my mix.
What I love about practicing at home is that is requires zero prep. I get up, brush my teeth and wash my face, turn on the zen sounds, and do my thing. I only practice about 20-30 minutes a day, but I do it every day… yeah standing on my head has become a minimum requirement for me. I have to get massages every so often because a lot of the inversion and back work requires muscles that have gone largely unused, so I’m sore a lot, but it’s that “hell yeah, I feel great” sore, not the “owow-something’s-wrong” sore.
I’ve noticed physical changes for sure. My arm strength has increased dramatically and my legs are more defined. But any instructor will tell you, yoga is not fitness. It’s a discipline of the mind. There is something wonderfully peaceful about transmuting your energy and thought direction into a single, pointed, physical act. When I’m done for the morning, I’m never tired (maybe a little sore?). Usually, I feel revived. Not happy exactly, but content and level, ready for the day.
Meditation and yoga have worked for me in oh so many ways. Yes, peace of mind and a tighter physical form, but more importantly, they’ve given me insight into who I am and what matters most. The people who love me (and how to recognize and accept that!), my creative enterprises, and the notion that my identity in the external world is merely a veneer I apply to get on with it all. And the people in my world? Their veneers aren’t who they are either. Being still and focused and connecting: to me, those inner worlds are where life is really at. Vast, unfathomable, and so so lovely.
Being in Tokyo has given me the time and space to discover so many things about America, Asia, and the magicland that is Japan, but most importantly, it’s helping me learn that I don’t need to “find myself,” or figure anything out. I’ve been here all along, and for the most part, life reveals itself as it should. And it’s beautiful.
Jul
01
My little palace in Tokyo is oh so wonderful… but it when it comes to tiny living decorating, it comes with a few challenges:
- It’s super modern and brand new, but at under 300 square feet, it’s quite small.
- As a renter, I can’t use any kind of nail in the walls. One wall does have a picture rail, however… hmmm.
- I know that it’s not a space I’m going to live in for years and years. For temporary expats here, getting rid of stuff is a bit of a hassle, and discarding large items is very costly in Japan.
My barren walls need some true love, but really, I know there’s only so much I can do. So I’ve been searching for realistic inspiration.
This wire grid is an awesome idea for hanging little photos or jewelry.
Ooh, a patterned wall. This is totally doable with washi tape. This is a goodie…
I love the idea of leaning a board against the wall for bags and scarves… a great afternoon project.
And this smartie just took a huge corkboard and went to town… I don’t own that much jewelry but this could make for a super fun inspiration board wall… constantly changing? Oooh.
Okay I’m now totally inspired. I need to go measure! If you know of any other amazing tiny living or apartment therapy-esque blogs I should check out, by all means, link away!
Jun
23
June brings a fifth season to Japan (and a many parts of Asia actually…)– rainy season. It’s pretty warm out most days but the rain cools things off and makes this time of year really pleasant. There’s something kind of romantic about warm, wet weather… a messy, sundresses and rainboots kind of thing. I like warm weather so summer in Japan doesn’t really bother me (I can hear the groans from my fellow expats now…).
Anyway– I’ve been out and about and picked up a few summer beauty finds for glowy skin and a chill vibe.
Missha Super Aqua Snail Hydro-gel Mask
You know how much I love Missha, and their snail line is really the gem of this brand. I put my sheet masks in the fridge and slide one on at night… soft, bright skin and a nice way to chill at the end of a hot day. Snail slime extract is known for its regenerative effects on the skin, and the Baobab and green tea extracts fight free radicals– key for any anti-aging products. Plus it just feels good.
Obagi Vitamin C Serum (Japan Line)
Obagi is different in Japan than in the US and they sell it everywhere. This might be one of my favorite things about the country. I loved the line in SF, but had to buy it through a med spa and it was super expensive. I’ve already written about the benefits of topical vitamin C, and this stuff delivers in a big way. Darkness under my eyes is fading, and my overall skintone is tight and smooth. I bought the 5% to test it and use it nightly after toner and before moisturizer. Seriously– this is a product that delivers real results in just a few days. Obagi does have a pro-line available in the States… you can try it here.
Kobako Finishing Puff and Multi-use Sponge
My Laura Mercier puff was toast and it was time to upgrade. I went to Isetan in Oimachi and found this little cosme tool line out of Gifu called Kobako. I’m not a huge fan of powdering during the summer and I try to wear as little face makeup as possible– I apply foundation only wear I need it (chin, nose, anything red) and blend lightly with the sponge. Then I take the tiniest amount of pressed transparent powder (right now I’m using Chanel, but I need to find a good mineral alternative!) and buff it down with the puff. The result is a polished but slightly unfinished look. I try to avoid looking to “done” in hot weather… feels weird!
The Body Shop Smells Like Summer
I was in Ginza getting my computer fixed (it EXPLODED) and I found a Body Shop! I picked up their Body, Linen, and room spray in Sandalwood and Ginger, and a Green Tea and Lemon essential oil for my diffuser. Right now I’m obsessed with my apartment smelling like a spa at all times, and usually this stuff is pretty expensive… but the prices at BS are super reasonable.
And again– being a bit anti-lipstick for summer, this Born Lippy tinted lip balm is beeswax based, makes your lips super soft, and tastes like strawberries. And the color is subtle and sheer, but adds enough oomph so I’m not washed out. LOVE.
If you have any summer beauty finds (especially mineral powders!) let me know– I’m doing a major cosme edit and looking to pick up some new, preferably natural go-toos!
