Hi everyone, I’m sorry I have not been blogging at all these past three weeks. Many many many apologies but there was quite a lot of drama going on in Tokyo ever since the Mar 11 earthquake and tsunami in the Tohoku region, which is northeastern Japan. Tokyo was 250km (155 miles) from the epicenter of the 9.0 earthquake and we definitely felt it even as far away as we were.

First off, I would like to say a big ARIGATOU and send big hugs to all who have sent me emails, Facebook and Twitter messages right after the earthquake. I may not have replied to every single one of you or said every much if I did reply, but please know that it meant a lot to me and I was in shock for several days after.

I’m also sorry for all the delays in delivering your orders to you but it was difficult to continue operations in the light of what happened — disruptions in the supply chain and work flow, and I also took refuge in south Japan, Kyushu for several days, until I had a handle on what was really going on.

There have been many conflicting reports in local and international media so some of you may be extremely alarmed by what is happening in Tokyo. Yes, Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate prefectures have been devastated, but Tokyo is fine. Though we were affected in terms of gas, electricity, food shortages for a very short while, life is back to normal. In fact, it has been so a week after Mar 11.

I would also like to address radiation fears in our products. Please be assured that radiation levels are back to normal in Tokyo and although they were elevated a couple of weeks ago, even those levels were not harmful to human health. Some countries have banned some products from Japan but they are from affected zones close to the nuclear reactors — Fukushima, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Gunma. Furthermore only vegetables, fresh seafood, and milk have been stopped as exports to other parts of Japan and overseas. Please click here for more details.

If it is also any comfort, your government is likely to be scanning any imports from Japan to assuage public concerns and would not allow anything deemed as “dodgy” to pass their borders. For those of you who want to read more about Japanese food imports, here is a good article on exercising common sense to judge what you buy.

We believe our products are safe and there have been many inquiries particularly about Meiji Amino Collagen. The product is not manufactured in the affected zones nor is the raw material procured from those zones either. All we can say is that we think it’s safe and you should only buy from us if you are completely assured. If you are in any way worried, then we would understand if you don’t buy from us.

Many thanks for your support during this difficult time, because without it, our store would not exist.

Please don’t be afraid to buy Japanese goods. Help our economy flourish again!

Just a quick announcement that we have NEW products at the store. We have been expanding our range very quickly recently so we can give you an even better shopping experience during this period of holiday shopping.

I was so taken by the Mandom Barrier Repair Concentrate Serum that I had to include some of their best-sellers…

Mandom Barrier Repair Baby Moist Lotion (Super Moist) (USD15.99) is on the left and Mandom Barrier Repair Baby Moist Lotion (Moist) (USD15.99) is on the right. These lotions hydrate your skin and keep it baby soft. There are no fragrance, coloring, or preservatives.

Mandom Barrier Repair Baby Moist Facial Wash (USD13.99) is a gentle foam cleanser that cleans without stripping your skin of its natural oils. There are no fragrance, coloring, or parabens in this product.

To follow up washing your face and putting on a toner or lotion, these two moisturizers will help seal in moisture and keep your skin soft and smooth. Both products are free of fragrance, coloring, and parabens.

On the left is the Mandom Barrier Repair Baby Moist Essence (USD18.90) that is a lighter moisturizer than the Mandom Barrier Repair Baby Moist Cream (USD20.90) which is more suitable for those with dry complexion.

And lastly, some lovely Japanese bath salts to soothe away fatigue and the chills this winter. Remember my Great Japanese Bath Experiment post? Well, I was so won over by Kikiyu that I had to put it in the store.

From left to right, Kikiyu Japanese Spa Mineral Clay Bath Salts are for those with dry skin and eczema; Kikiyu Japanese Spa Mineral Care Magnesium and Hydrocarbonate Bath Salts are for back and shoulder aches;
Kikiyu Japanese Spa Mineral Care Sodium and Hydrocarbonate Bath Salts are great for chasing away the chills and fatigue; all are USD12.99.

Happy shopping!

PS: Our Christmas Sale is still going strong — spend USD200 and get 10% off your total bill!

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The Beauty Box Store is expanding her range of products very quickly for the holiday season. Today, let me introduce Nanoce BB Cream. It is Japan’s first BB cream by Ishizawa Lab in response to all the Korean BB creams that have been storming the cosmetics scene in recent years. It’s No.1 at Ranking Ranqueen (ranking system based on sales revenue on commercial products in Japan), right now!

Nanoce BB Cream is said to be a little lighter and less thick than her Korean counterparts and would appeal to those who prefer medium coverage as opposed to full coverage.

The end result is a very natural finish that can take you from work to play smoothly. I actually had the Nanoce BB Cream in No.2 (Healthy Ocre) and the BB Mineral Powder on while I worked out to Tracy Anderson’s Method. I was quite sweaty but I still had a non-greasy glow to my face after.

This is a very generous blob I squeezed onto my hand (was taken for photographic purposes!) and you actually need very much less than this to spread enough over your face. As with most BB creams, there is no need for makeup base, sunscreen (SPF 30, baby!), or moisturizer as this is quite the all-in-one product.

I spread a little bit onto my skin and it blended in very well, indeed!

The other thing I love about Nanoce is their Mineral BB Powder. This translucent loose powder has SPF 50 and it gives a chic, matte finish over the BB cream. I like the overall look it gives — smooth, made up, but not cakey. I had some healing acne on my face plus a couple of scars which were made lighter and less obvious. This combo actually hid the redness round my nostrils completely and I did not have annoying fine lines on my cheeks when I smiled. However, I think you would need a concealer if you want to completely hide glaring facial flaws, along with these products.

Our store is selling….

Nanoce BB Cream No.1 Natural Ocre (Fair Skin) USD28.90
Nanoce BB Cream No.2 Healthy Ocre (Slightly Tanned Skin) USD28.90
Nanoce BB Mineral Powder USD30.90

Don’t forget our Christmas Sale is still going on — spend USD200 and get 10% discount off your final bill and is applicable to products store-wide.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Get your Beauty Elixirs E-Book right here: Click here to download

Tip: Click on File and then Download Original and you can save a copy onto your desktop immediately.

Here it is finally — my very first e-book, Beauty Elixirs: 20 Juice & Smoothie Recipes To Beautify Your Skin. This is my gift to you. It’s free and anyone can download it.

I’ve been working on this for the past few months and I’m so glad it’s come to fruition — it’s like I’ve given birth to something that I really love. I had this on my mind for a long time and wanted to share with my readers my “beauty secrets” that are not quite secrets, really. I totally believe that you are what you eat (and drink!) and your skin is the blueprint of what goes on inside your body. I’m not charging any money for this e-book because I just want to spread this message about caring and loving your body in the best way possible.

It’s a compilation of the beauty elixirs that I make in my kitchen. In addition to my recipes that I have blogged about, I have included four brand new ones that have not been published on Beauty Box before: a post-workout juice, a powerful detox juice, a fusion low-fat warm soup, and a delicious nutritious cold soup.

What you can expect from this FREE e-book:
+ What are beauty elixirs?
+ Why bother making healthy drinks?
+ 20 quick-and-easy recipes for drinks, smoothies, and soups
+ Tips & tricks on how to take these beauty elixirs to the next level
+ Easy-to-follow, easy-to-use recipe book that will help to transform your skin

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Thank you so much for taking part in our Autumn Giveaway! I really appreciate your comments and feedback and this is our way to say a big THANK YOU to all you Beauty Box supporters.

That’s my “analog” lucky draw pot. It just stopped raining so I ventured outside to take these photos…Brrr…..cold!

So I’m sure you’re dying to know who won?

Erikka Lynne – you’re the winner!!

Your package is ready to be sent off so gimme your details…

Hello my lovelies, it’s that time of the year again to think about what to buy for friends and family — CHRISTMAS SALE!

Spend USD200 and above and get 10% off your total bill and is applicable to ALL our products at the Beauty Box Store.

I’ve also got more Yuskin goodies for you. I’m really loving these moisturizers because my skin gets all dry and chapped from the cold, dry air in Tokyo.

Check it out…

On the right is Yuskin S-series body cream (35g), USD9.90, that is perfect for travelling and for sensitive skin. I like it that this has virtually no greasy residue. It takes a little while for it to sink in, but after it does, you don’t feel a thing.

On the left is Yuskin Lip Cream Miffy edition, USD7.90. I absolutely adore this lip cream because it’s packaged in a stick like a balm, but it’s way creamier than a balm. Here’s what the tube looks like…Kawaii (cute)!

Next up is a god-send for those who suffer from dry hands…

Yuskin A-series Nightcare Set (70g), USD19.90, includes a tube of the classic Yuskin A-series moisturizer and a set of light-weight cotten gloves.

What you do is, squeeze a small blob onto your palm and spread the cream all over your hands. This product does have some fragrance, unlike the S-series, but it dies down pretty quickly.

Then put on the gloves over your hands and sleep with them overnight.

In the morning, your hands will feel softer and smoother! I sometimes do this when I’m out jogging too since the weather is getting chilly and my hands get cold — I figure it’s a way to get my hands moisturized more intensively. I do a lot with my hands — cook, wash dishes, scrub dirty house things like toilets, sinks, and bathtubs, and I pack many boxes…many many boxes for the store, so my poor hands go through a lot.

Happy shopping, my babelicious ones. ‘Tis the time to go crazy and make your loved ones happy.

Thanks for your lovely comments on my small haul and for supporting our biggest-ever giveway this autumn. Keep spreading the word because there is still more than a week left till the deadline!

I’m so excited today to present to you some of our new products at the store. I personally tried them all and I would definitely use these in my daily regime. I’ve pretty sensitive skin, so what I’ve chosen are products that do not contain your usual irritants.

Mandom Beauty’s Barrier Repair Concentrate Serum (click here to buy) won me over because it has no fragrance, no coloring, or preservatives, and it was voted as number one in its category on Cosme, a Japanese cosmetics ranking website based on reviews from ordinary women.

It has a milky consistency and sinks into the skin fairly quickly so you can put on your moisturizer soon after. I use this in the morning and it sits very well under my foundation and keeps me looking fresh even after long hours. I probably only would blot once after wearing it for eight to nine hours.

Next…an absolute classic, Oshima Tsubaki Oil (click here to buy) that I’ve been kicking myself for not putting it in the store earlier.

My usual hair care serums have been causing breakouts on my neck and surrounding areas (I’ve got long hair), so I’ve reverted back to natural oils as post-shampoo treatments.

I absolutely adore this Japanese beauty staple that has been a top winner over at Cosme for four years running. It’s non-greasy, no fragrance, and only a few drops get the job done. I prefer to run my fingers with the oil through my tresses before blow-drying but it’s fine if you prefer to put it on after.

Finally, I’ve got the Yuskin S-series at the Beauty Box store, too (click here to buy). Yuskin moisturizers are well-known for their effectiveness to soothe dry, itchy, sensitive skin. I tried the I-series and A-series, but found the S-series to suit me best because it’s for sensitive skin.

My chest and back broke out when I used other body lotions so I decided to switch to something that is guaranteed to be gentle and non-fragranced. Also, it contains shiso, or perilla leaf, a Japanese variety of basil that has anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, you would be glad to know that there are also no coloring or steroids in their ingredients list.

Our store also sells the body lotion (click here to buy) which is a lighter version of the cream.

It looks light and slight fluffy but it can moisturize well without leaving a greasy residue.

I’m a scent fanatic but sometimes I have to overlook fragrance to take care of myself. I might mix some Burt’s Bees body lotion with this Yuskin S Cream if I’m really dying to smell good before bed.

Hope this introduction to my new favorite products will pique your interest further.

Click here to go to our store.

Direct links to our new products:

Mandom Barrier Repair Concentrate Serum
Oshima Tsubaki Oil 40ml
Oshima Tsubaki Oil 60ml
Yuskin S Cream 70g
Yuskin S Body Lotion 150ml
Yuskin A Cream 70g

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As a big thank you for all your support, I’m holding yet another giveaway this fall — a big one with lots of goodies. If you hadn’t had a chance to win at one of our lucky draws, please don’t worry because I’ll have these coming up regularly.

What’s in the box of luscious beauty products that could come your way….?

A tin of Meiji Amino Collagen worth USD37.

A pack of Kose Clearturn Royal Jelly Essence Mask (5 pieces), USD10.50.

A pot of Hanayuki Gel Cream (has collagen essence!), USD48.50.

A pack of Cleansing Express Moist wipes (6 pieces — good for three cleanses), USD10

Jill Stuart e-mook cosmetics case, USD15.

The e-mook is in Japanese so if the winner doesn’t want to read it, I can replace it with something else.

Isn’t this line-up FABULOUS?!

What you need to do:
+ You must be a follower on our Twitter or Facebook and comment on this post that you have done so.
+ Retweet this on your Twitter or Facebook account — I will check!
+ Submit your comment by Monday November 15, 2010, midnight Tokyo time.
+ The winner will be picked lucky draw style from my lime-green bowl.

That’s it, my lovelies. Super easy, eh? Please help spread the word about this giveaway. Arigatou!

A big THANK YOU and shout out to our supporters of the Kose Royal Jelly Essence Mask mini-giveaway.

As usual, I got out my lime-green mixing bowl (I only ever use it for this) to fill it with the names of the giveaway participants…

And the lucky winner is Blair.

Your package is ready to be sent off so gimme your details!

I’m really appreciative that you guys are part of the Beauty Box community and I’ll definitely have something very yummy for you to take part in soon.

Hope you’re not tired of giveaways??? (-_^)

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Hello my lovelies, I’ve got a new product that just came in…

Kose Clearturn White Royal Jelly Essence Mask (5 sheets), USD10.50, at the Beauty Box store. Click here to buy.

Why is royal jelly such a great ingredient to have in skincare? It is packed with nutrients like amino acids, B vitamins, and vitamins A, C, D, and K. Royal jelly promotes youthful radiance in your skin because it has cell-rejuvenating powers. Sounds pretty wow, if you ask me.

These Kose Clearturn White masks are a cult fave with Japanese women and they often fly off the shelves very quickly, especially the Whitening Essence, Marine Collagen, Coenzyme Q10 ones. They are popular because they have no fragrance or artificial coloring and can act as a quickie facial for busy women on the go — only 10 to 15 min is necessary.

Soooo, to celebrate this new addition to the Beauty Box store, I’ll give one lucky reader a box of Kose Clearturn White Royal Kelly Essence Mask.

Conditions:
+ You must be a follower on our Twitter or Facebook.
+ Tell me why you would love to try this product.
+ Submit your answer by Thursday September 30, 2010, midnight Tokyo time.
+ The winner will be picked lucky draw style from my trusty lime-green bowl.

Ta!