Dealing With Winter In Japan; Face Care

I'm pretty sure it happens to everyone. When the temperature starts dropping, the winds start howling and the days get shorter, our skin starts acting up. I don't think you have to call it being vain. It's just annoying when the skin gets itchy and the need to scratch it builds up like crazy. It's also painful when the skin is so dry that it starts to crack.

My skin type : During the colder seasons, I go from being oily-combination to dry-combination. My T-zone is still a bit oily but I can feel that the skin there is a bit rough. The rest of my face gets dry patches and I tend to even flake at the sides of my temples, no idea why specifically there though.

Face Care
I wash my face using Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap in Mild. This cleanser is not drying and it doesn't leave my skin feeling taut after a wash. I'd suggest avoiding harsh, drying cleansers even  if you have oily skin because the cleanser is just going to make your skin oilier. Go for something that is mild and gentle.
Price : ￥3675

I use toners occasionally but when I do use one, I use Clinique's Clarifying Lotion 2. I find toners to be too drying for my skin sometimes but I'll use it if I've been wearing heavier than usual makeup or have been exercising on that day.
Price : 100ml ¥2500, 200ml ¥3400, 400ml ¥5600 

The next step is 化粧水(keshosui). Translated it means face lotion but I wouldn't call it a lotion because it looks like water. Like the SKII facial Treatment Essence, that looks like water and not like lotion, right? Anyways, I use HadaLabo's Whitening Keshosui. I haven't noticed it making my skin any fairer but it is moisturising. I prefer this over their milky keshosui. This is probably the secret to Japanese women's exquisite skin. Look at any Japanese beauty brands and they will definitely have a keshosui in the regime. Seriously, you should really consider wearing keshosui, if you haven't already. I think it costs RM30ish in Malaysia.
Price : ￥1080

Finally, I finish off with a moisturiser.
Day : Cosmoderm Vitamin E Cream 1,000 I.U. with Rosehip Oil. Started using this a year and a half ago. Helped tremendously during the winter especially. Besides providing moisturisation, it doesn't do much else but that's all that I wanted from it so I'm happy. If worn at night, I'll get slightly oily when I wake up the next morning  but nothing serious. Wouldn't recommend this for oily-skin types.
Price : RM20+-

Night : Clarins Multi Active Night Youth Recovery Cream. I've been using this for about 2 weeks now. It hasn't broken me out. I don't wake up feeling like I have grease slabbed all over my face and it smells awesome. It has a lavender/aromatherapy type of scent. Personally, I enjoy the scent especially since I wear it before I go to bed. Leaves me feeling relaxed and calm. Those of you who are sensitive to strong scents may want to steer clear of this product.
Price : ￥6500+- (depends on where you get them)

Additionally : Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF50++ Sunblock whenever I go out. Applying this has become a habit. The sun damages your skin in so many ways and doing this one tiny thing helps out loads. I've been using this for more than 2 years now. It's not thick, oily and pore-clogging. Also a great base for makeup(powder and liquid foundations).
Price : RM25++

It might seem like a long list but applying all this doesn't take me more than 5 minutes every day. Better the 5 minutes spent on this regime than hours of dry, flaky and annoying skin if I don't do it.

Hope this helps.

Spring Trends of 2013 in Japan

1. Coloured Trench Coats

After attending a friend's solemnization at Tokyo Camii Mosque, Yoyogi, Tokyo we all headed to Ginza for the wedding reception. After that was done, I took a stroll down Ginza looking at all the shops. I noticed quite a few stores, both Japanese and European high-end brands, carrying coloured trench coats. Open most magazines this month and you'll probably see this trend too. I like it. The colours add a playful touch to the structured jackets.

The collection at Honey's. Retails at￥3990.

The link for the coats above : here

2. Denim & Chambray Tops

Also adorning many a mannequins this season are the versatile Chambray and Denim tops. The denim tops are a bit thicker than the chambray but would be totally appropriate for the early Spring weeks seeing as how it's still pretty chilly at that time.

I got the above top at The GAP today. They were having a sale. It was originally ￥4400 but I got it for ￥2900. It's light but opaque enough that my inner wear won't be peeking through. I got this in L even though I'm usually a S/M because I wanted it to have a very casual and airy look to it.

Check out celebrities rocking this trend below. Gives you an idea of how to style them yourself.

3. Army Green Anorak Jackets

Popped into Forever21's Ginza outlet and this caught my eye. I'm big on embellishments and I have a soft spot for studs and spikes specifically. Again, I saw a lot of mannequins with this on.

This particular top is from Forever 21. Retails at ￥4580. Click here.