What makes Japanese beauty mags different from Western ones is there are always step-by-step features to show you how to put on cosmetics. Be it from eye shadow to foundation and powder, there are pictures to guide you to a flawless result.

This is where the freebie Lunasol DVD comes in. I enjoyed watching how to apply foundation and concealer with your fingers and then with a sponge before using loose powder.

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As an expat in Japan, I’m always curious to learn more about Japanese culture and trends, so what better way to peep inside this box by way of magazines?

Well, we all know that we shouldn’t believe 100% of what we read but at least you can get an idea of what is touted as the ideal in a certain society. And boy, a Japanese fashion magazine definitely leaves many clues.

I’ve always wanted to read Biteki, 美的 (means beauty is possible), so I bought a copy of their April issue last week. It was February and the April issue is out. Now that’s another indication that this country is restless and competitive where trends are concerned.

The other reason why I chose Biteki was the “surprise” freebie that was stated on the cover. It’s also the Japanese answer to Allure in the US. The difference is there are no Hollywood celebs featured, but I couldn’t spot any celeb interview with a Japanese star either. Biteki focuses on beauty, beauty, and beauty.

I discovered quite some time ago that Japanese fashion and beauty magazines give great freebies and a copy only costs anywhere between 500 to 800JPY (USD5.60 to 8.90). From what I see, branded cloth bags and cosmetic pouches are most often packed neatly inside magazines, but once in a while you get something different. I thought that this freebie would be travel-sized cosmetics, but it was really a make up DVD.

I was disappointed because I wanted to try some Lunasol cosmetics but the DVD was very revealing in what kind of looks Japanese women love, so it turned out to be quite interesting, plus there were a few tips which I found illuminating. From my casual perusal, it seems natural, girlish looks are favoured but they are a lot of work. It just brings to mind this quote from the movie Steel Magnolias, “There is no such thing as natural beauty.”

That may be true but the Japanese try their best to enhance their looks through products, rather than cosmetic surgery. It’s hard not to bring up the Koreans who actually accept cosmetic surgery as a part of life, but a survey also found that the average Korean woman puts 17 products on her face before she leaves for work. Wow.

To be continued…

I’ve heard so much buzz about BB Cream in the last year that I really want to try this wonder foundation from Korea that is taking Asia by storm.

Several of my Japanese gal pals mentioned that they love this product and wish they could fly to Seoul to pick some up at ridiculously cheap prices, because as most things go, the ones in Japan are quite pricey.

Being the ressionista that I am, I will wait till my current stash of foundation is used up (which is one and a half bottles — sadness).

But, this hasn’t stopped me from wanting to find out more and when the time comes, my fingers will be ready to spread this magic paste on my face. Today, I’d like to share with you what I have found out about BB Cream.

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Recently, I stumbled across a Reuters article about Japanese beauty expert, Chizu Saeki, and it was about her philosophies on how to keep skin beautiful. She expounds not spending too much on cosmetics and suggests thinking of attractive men to keep skin glowing. Oh my. I certainly had a chuckle at that one.

I mentioned this to a Japanese friend and she told me that Saeki is very famous in Japan and is quite a personality on TV. She is 66 years old and has snow white, smooth skin — a walking advertisement for what she preaches. Recently, she released a book out in English, The Japanese Skincare Revolution, which shares easy, natural skincare techniques.

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We’ve been talking a lot about food lately, haven’t we? So today I’m going to chat about something unique in the Japanese beauty world — facial paper masks, or they are called “lotion masks”、ローシヨンマスク.

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For those of you who love onsens (hot springs), you can buy packets of onsen salts to tip into your own bathtub. It feels sooo good, especially after a workout or an exhausting day at work.

The Japanese believe that onsens can cure many everyday ills, like acne, boils, flatulence, eczema, rheumetism, sports injuries, exhaustion, constipation, and the list goes on. I’ve had Japanese gal pals telling me some onsens make your skin and hair super smooth. Awesome, isn’t it?

Onsens in different regions do vary in the minerals they contain, and according to Wikipedia, there are several types — sulphur, sodium chloride, hydrogen carbonate, and iron, are a few examples.

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Those of you who watched Oprah’s Japanese Beauty Secrets clip would’ve marveled at how readily available collagen is in Japan. You can watch it here if you haven’t.

In the clip, Japanese beauty expert Miki Okae says she eats collagen-rich beef tendons, and then there were small mentions of collagen drinks available in convenience stores and collagen-infused chicken and vegetable hot pot.

[As an aside, I’ll like to clarify that the, ah, nightingale poop is not common at all. In fact I think it would make your average Japanese girl squeal in disgust like the rest of us.]

Today, I’m going to show you Youtube videos (very short ones, I promise!) on collagen in Japanese life.

Video #1: Pork-based collagen broth with pork slices and cabbage. You can see it looks like a regular Asian dish.

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It’s curious that I can turn a mundane errand of buying dishwashing detergent into a tiny beauty haul.

On my way to the cash register, I spotted these precious items:

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I find it amazing at how beauty brands in Japan spread their brand and product range. Fancl has recently paired up with different food companies and added their own HTC Collagen.

I’ve heard of collagen ramen, collagen candy and slipping collagen into nabe (hot pot) (this was all the rage last year in the Japanese restaurant scene in NewYork).

But Fancl has definitely stepped up the competition by putting their reputable brand on food products — from bread to desserts. All these items cost below 500JPY, which is not bad at all for “fancy” collagen. HTC Collagen is their own collagen formula that has three kinds of amino acids which is more effective than standard collagen.

You can read it in more detail at Trends in Japan.

The latest product on my radar is Mandom Beauty’s Cleansing Express all-in-one make up remover/cleanser/toner.

The tagline, “Ready for bed as soon as possible!” caught my eye on the train and there was a cartoon of an OL (office lady) looking all tired on the couch with limbs entangled in a colourful heap.

Apparently, all you need to do is squirt some of this magic liquid onto a cotton pad, wipe off your war paint, splash your face with water (optional), and then moisturize.

I thought it was in the budget range of cleansing oils and was about to dismiss it, since I have heard nasty reviews of cheap brands like Ponds and Biore. But my itchy fingers did a search on the Internet, and what I found out was, there’s no alcohol in this huge 300ml bottle. At only 950JPY at pharmacies, it’s definitely on my to-buy list.

There are three versions: Sebum, Moist, and Agecare. Here are some rave reviews by other beauty bloggers: Musings of a Muse, Lady L, and La Belle Cose.

I totally went gaga after I read how each and every one of them removed stubborn waterproof eye makeup and didn’t feel any residue on their skin after.

Although I’m a fan of Fancl’s Cleansing Oil and DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil, I’m interested to give this one a go because it feels like water. Wow. It’s available in the US for USD13.99 on webichi and it’s SGD16.90 in Meidi-ya at Liang Court.