Friday, July 27, 2018

Top 15 Popular Posts from Best Japanese Beauty Products

     I've sometimes written about popular Japanese products which have many positive reviews and won beauty awards in Japan. Today, I checked one of my blog labels, Best Japanese Beauty Products, which is all about excellent Japanese beauty products. The label has 72 entries now. Today, I'm going to share with you 15 most popular entries from Best Japanese Beauty Products in the past a year. Hopefully, you are able to find Japanese beauty entries that you might have missed. :)





No.1    5 Best Japanese Facial Lotion (Toner), Kesho-sui
Kose Sekkisei Lotion
         Keshosui (化粧水) is the most important skincare product for Japanese women. By the way, my favorite keshosui is Muji Light Toning Water. :)





No.2    The Most Popular Facial Sheet Masks in Japan 
Quality 1st All in One Sheet Mask
       I think that many of my readers are interested in Japanese facial sheet mask. :) By the way, when you use a facial sheet mask, I recommend you to use Daiso Japan Reusable Silicon Mask Cover, which prevents moisture evaporation from the mask. :)






No.3    6 Best Japanese Facial Sheet Masks Loved by Japanese Beauty Experts 
Lululun Face Mask
      I wrote about six excellent Japanese facial sheet masks which were chosen by nine famous Japanese beauty experts.





No.4     Saborino - New Popular Japanese Facial Sheet Mask for Busy Morning
SABORINO Morning Face Mask
       Saborino facial sheet mask, which you can use for busy morning, has been incredibly popular in Japan. When I visited Tokyo this year, I found that more and more stores selling Saborino. As I mentioned in my previous entry, 14 Best Japanese Beauty Products I Purchased in Japan - Drugstore, Discount Store, Daiso and Loft Haul, I also purchased Saborino (Mix Berry one) at Loft in Tokyo and really loved it. Then, I purchased it again at my local Japanese supermarket in the U.S. ;)





No.5     Top 5 Most Popular Japanese Pore Minimizer
Kanebo Suisai Beauty Clear Powder
      I love Kanebo Suisai Beauty Clear Powder, which is enzyme facial cleansing powder. When you foam up Suisai Clear Powder, I recommend you to use a Japanese foaming net. (Japanese cosmetic companies and beauty magazines always recommend to wash your face with plenty of thick foam.)





No.6     3 Best Japanese Facial Sheet Masks Won Beauty Awards in Japan
 MINON Amino Moist Face Mask
       Minon and Saborino facial sheet masks are very affordable. SK II is very expensive, but it improves your skin immediately and perfect for your special day.





No.7     Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products
 Japanese Foaming Net for face washing
       I want you to try these products! I think that most Japanese women using a foaming net, which allow you to create very thick foam very quickly with only tiny amount of a facial cleansing product.





No.8     5 Best Japanese Deep Conditioning Hair Masks
Shiseido Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask
        Japanese deep conditioning hair masks are affordable and truly work! I love Shiseido Fino, Lux and Ichikami.




No.9     Top 3 Best Japanese Double Eyelid Glue/Tape Products
Royal Petit Eyem
      Many of my Japanese friends who have monolids have used Japanese double eyelid glue/tape every day. I always forget my friends have monolids originally. Their double eyelids look perfectly natural to me.





No.10   The Best Japanese Shampoo & Conditioner
Ichikami
       Japanese shampoo works great and is very affordable in Japan. I miss Japanese shampoo!





No.11     Top 5 Most Popular Japanese Charcoal Soap
 Deitanseki Soap
       Charcoal has numerous pores which absorb bad odors and chemical. It is also good for skin and is used as cleansing products. Because charcoal absorbs dirt from pores, you can get very clean skin by using it. As I mentioned in my previous entry, 10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan, I also purchased a Deitanseki Charcoal Soap in Japan and love it. :) 






No.12     4 Best Japanese Anti-Aging Creams And Serums

 POLA Wrinkle shot Medical Serum
        Pola Wrinkle Shot Medical Serum has been very popular and won many beauty awards in Japan.





No.13     3 Best Japanese Eyeliners
 Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
        Kiss Me Heroine Make eyeliners also have so many positive reviews on Amazon US.





No.14      Best Japanese Hair Growth Products from Shiseido
Shiseido Adenovital Vital Scalp Essence V
        In Japan, Shiseido Adenovital series have so many positive reviews. I'm not sure if it really works for you, but some Japanese people have noticed that it reduces hair loss and their hair is stronger and thicker than before.




No.15     Top 5 Japanese Sunscreen Products
Biore Sarasara UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen SPF50+ PA+++
       I think that Japanese sunscreen products are the best! They feel light and works very well. 





     These are also my entries from Best Japanese Beauty Products.
3 Best Japanese Eye Creams Won Beauty Award This Year

3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year

10 Best Affordable Japanese Facial Sheet Masks You Want to Use Every Day

2 Popular Japanese Onsen Bath Salt Products

5 Best Japanese Eyebrow Makeup Products

3 Best Selling Japanese Beauty Products

Top 7 Japanese Facial Sheet Masks That Rescue Your Dry Skin  
 
3 Best New Facial Sheet Masks in Japan 

7 Most Popular Japanese Facial Cleansing Wipes for Removing Makeup 
 

Top 10 Japanese Beauty Products Loved by Foreign Tourists in Japan

3 Best Japanese Nyueki, Japanese Facial Lotion

Top 3 Japanese Powder Sunscreens 
 
3 Best Japanese Sunscreen Products to Try This Summer

3 Best Japanese Beauty Gadgets to Lather Up Your Facial Wash 

Popular Japanese Facial Cleansing Products - What I Want to Buy in Japan

4 Reasons Why I Love Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil

10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan

Top 3 Most Popular Japanese Eyelash Curlers

3 Best Japanese Sunscreens Won Beauty Award This Year

Top 3 Affordable Japanese Eyeshadows

The Best Japanese Blackhead Remover - Meishoku Pore Clear Blackhead Removing Gel

Review : Shiseido Tsubaki Damage Care Hair Water - It's the Best Japanese Hair Care Product!

The Best Japanese Shampoo And Conditioner Won Beauty Awards in Japan - Kao Asience Meguri

Top 3 Best Heroine Make Products - Japanese Makeups 

Top 3 Japanese Facial Cotton Pads 

3 Best Luxury Japanese Facial Tissue

3 Best Japanese Oil Blotting Papers, Aburatorigami

Top 3 Daiso Beauty Products

Top 3 Most Popular Daiso Hair Products

12 Best Affordable Japanese Beauty Products

Top 5 Japanese Eye Drops

Top 5 Most Popular Nail Clippers in Japan

2 Most Popular Kose Sekkisui Products - Popular Beauty Souvenirs from Japan

5 Best Japanese Microwavable Warming Pillows - They Are Reusable Warmers!


     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.
 

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

     My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.









Wednesday, July 25, 2018

5 Best Delicious Souvenirs from Fukuoka - New Year's Japan Travel Day 7

        My husband and I traveled Japan during New Year's holidays. As I mentioned in my previous entry, after we purchased Starbucks You Are Here Collection Japan mug at Starbucks located nearby Fukuoka Airport, we headed toward his parents' home. We took the highway and stopped by the highway service area, the highway rest area. (By the way, Japanese highway is not free, but the road is clean and always well maintained. )

       Japanese highway service areas are not only places to stop or rest, but they also have souvenir stores and food courts, so you can enjoy delicious local foods there. Moreover, some of them have great restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations, laundromats, shower rooms, hot springs and accommodation facilities! When you drive long distance, they are very helpful. :)

       When I was 17, I actually worked at a souvenir store of a highway service area in Fukuoka for weeks during a summer vacation. ;) Today, I'm going to share five best delicious souvenirs of Fukuoka prefecture with you. When you visit Fukuoka, try these ones. You can also find these at souvenir stores in Fukuoka Airport.




No.1 Hakata Torimon by Meigetsudo (明月堂  博多通りもん)
Hakata Torimon
         Hakata Torimon (博多 通りもん) is always very popular. It has gotten the gold award of Monde Selection 18 years in a row. Indeed, it sold very well when I worked at a souvenir store in Fukuoka.

Hakata Torimon
      Hakata Torimon is manju (饅頭), a traditional Japanese confection, with a filling of delicious white bean paste. Even if you don't like traditional Japanese manju, I think that you will like it. I think most people love it regardless of age and race.  :) When I first ate it, I was very surprised at how delicious it was! I hope you will try it!
Hakata Torimon






No. 2 Hiyoko by Yoshinodo (吉野堂  ひよ子)
Hiyoko
      Hiyoko (ひよ子) is a very famous manju of Fukuoka. It was first released in Fukuoka in 1912. You can also find Hiyoko in Tokyo now.
Hiyoko

     Hiyoko (ひよこ) means a chick in Japanese. It is shaped like an adorable baby chicken. It has white kidney bean paste in it. It's so cute and delicious. ;)
Hiyoko





No. 3  Menbei by Fukutaro (福太郎  めんべい)
Menbei
      Menbei (めんべい) is the best selling senbei, Japanese crackers, of Fukutaro (福太郎). They sell 30 billions yen of Menbei a year! There are 20 kinds of Menbei you can choose from.
Menbei
        Fukutaro (福太郎) is one of the most famous manufacture companies of spicy pollack roe, karashi mentaiko (辛子明太子). I also love their high quality fresh karashi mentaiko. Menbei is made from their karashi mentaiko, squid, octopus and so on. Menbei is a little spicy, crunchy and delicious. :)
Menbei





No. 4  Hakata Burabura by Saemon (左衛門  博多ぶらぶら)
Hakata Burabura
      Hakata Burabura (博多ぶらぶら) is a famous mochi dessert of Fukuoka. When I was a child, I watched this unforgettable Hakata Burabura's TV commercial. If you have never lived in Fukuoka, you probably don't know this TV commercial though. I cannot forget its catchy song and funny characters. xD 


      
Hakata Burabura
       Hakata Burabura is a traditional mochi dessert of Fukuoka. The mochi is coated with a plenty of red bean paste. If you love mochi dessert, you should try it. My husband also loves it very much.
Hakata Burabura







 No. 5   Yame Green Tea Gyokuro (八女茶  玉露)

Yame Green Tea Gyokuro
       Yame (八女) is one of the cities of Fukuoka prefecture and is known for its hillside green-tea plantations. Yame Green Tea, Yamecha (八女茶), is a type of green tea produced in Yame city and the surrounding areas. Gyokuro (玉露) is the most expensive green tea.

■Gyokuro (玉露) is shaded green tea and is the most expensive. It's perfect for a special occasion.
■Sencha (せん茶, 煎茶) is more affordable green tea. It's perfect for everyday drink.

       When I lived in Fukuoka, I used to drink Yame green tea every day. My families drink Yame green tea instead of clear water. (When I lived in Fukuoka, drinking just clear water feels very cheap somehow.) My mother served green tea with every meal, so I had Yame green tea more than four times a day. After moving out from Fukuoka, I finally knew that Yame green tea was the high quality green tea brand. Yame green tea has natural umami flavor. You can also find Yame green tea outside Fukuoka. If you want to have the best green tea, choose gyokuro (玉露).  (Sencha is also good, but gyokuro has superior taste. )
Yame Green Tea Farm






Some More Products You Should Check at Souvenir Stores in Fukuoka Are...

    
Hakata Potato by Nikakudo (二鶴堂  博多ぽてと)
Hakata Potato
      If you love roasted sweet potatoes, you should try it. I love Japanese confections made of Japanese sweet potatoes.
Hakata Potato




Ogi Yokan (Traditional Japanese Sweets of Saga Prefecture)
Ogi Yokan
     Ogi Yokan (小城羊羹) was also pretty popular when I worked at a souvenir store. As I mentioned in my previous entry, Ogi Yokan, Traditional Japanese Sweets in Saga Prefecture, yokan (羊羹) is a thick, jellied dessert made of red bean paste, sugar and etc. Ogi (小城) is the most famous city for traditional yokan manufacture in Japan. Outside of traditional Ogi Yokan is dry and hard, and inside of it is moist and soft. :)
Ogi Yokan





Sanrio Hello Kitty Fukuoka Exclusive Products
       These Hello Kitty products are only available in Fukuoka.
Hello Kitty Fukuoka Karashi Mentaiko Socks
        I found these Hello Kitty Karashi Mentaiko Socks! xD



Yame Matcha Ice Cream (八女抹茶アイスクリーム)
Yame Matcha Ice Cream
       I purchased this Yame Matcha Monaka (八女抹茶モナカ) made by Marunaga Seika. This one has Yame Matcha ice cream filling sandwiched between two thin crisp wafers. Marunaga Seika (丸永製菓) is an ice cream manufacture company located in Fukuoka. When I was a child, I used to have their ice cream. :) If you visit Fukuoka, you should have sweets made from Yame matcha, Yame green tea. You can also find Yame matcha ice cream at supermarkets and convenience stores in Fukuoka.



      After that, we went to his parent's home, and I received the package I ordered from Amazon Japan. I will write about it next time. ;)





      These are my entries you might like.
Starbucks Japan Geography Series City Mug - Fukuoka

Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan

What He Got at Haneda Airport, Tokyo International Airport - Japan Haul

Bic Camera at Haneda Airport Tax Free Service

Starbucks Japan Tumbler - Tokyo Haneda Airport Special Edition

What I Ate at Haneda Airport Domestic Terminal

13 Best Japanese Products I Purchased on Amazon Japan! - Beauty, Kitchen and Stationery Items  

13 Muji Products I Purchased in Japan - Muji Haul 

What You Should Take to Japan - Japan Travel Tips
 
3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year

7 Best Japanese Beauty Products Hall of Fame 

Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products  

10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan



     My entries related to Tokyo can be seen here

     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.
 

     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

     My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.





Friday, July 20, 2018

Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan

Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan
         My husband and I have been collecting Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mugs which are only released locally.  As I mentioned in my previous entry, we traveled to Japan during New Year's holiday this year. We really wanted to get You Are Here Collection Japan mug, which was just released in October in 2017. We visited many Starbucks branches in Tokyo but couldn't find one there. A Starbucks staff told us that it was too popular for foreign visitors and was sold out very quickly in October! We almost gave up finding one, but we were finally able to find it in Fukuoka prefecture! If you want to get one in Japan, I recommend you to check Starbucks located in non tourist places like outside Tokyo.

        Anyway, I'm going to share this Starbucks You Are Here Collection Japan mug with you.
Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan

Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan
        As I mentioned in my previous entry, spring is the best season to travel in Japan because it is the season when sakuras, cherry blossoms, start blooming in Japan.


 Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan

       Mount Fuji, which is called Fujisan (富士山) in Japan, is the highest mountain in Japan. It's located in Shizuoka prefecture (静岡県) and Yamanashi prefecture (山梨県), but you can also see it from Tokyo on a clear sunny day. When we lived in Japan, we tried to climb Mt. Fuji in summer. It was not easy for me to go to the top of Mt. Fuji for my first time. I actually had mild altitude sickness, acute mountain sickness, which is caused by acute exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high altitude. We brought a few of canned oxygen, which we had purchased at a convenience store nearby Mt. Fuji. It really helped me, and we were eventually able to get to the top of Mt. Fuji. :) Actually, we climbed Mt. Fuji twice. For our second time, I didn't get altitude sickness because we tried to hike slowly. ;) Anyway, if you are planning on visiting Japan in summer and want to try to climb Mt. Fuji, I think that it will be one of the most memorable ones in your life. :)

 Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan
       In this picture, two Japanese macaques, snow monkeys, which are called nihonzaru (ニホンザル) in Japan, are soaking in an onsen (温泉), a hotspring. If you go to Jigokudani Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑) in Nagano prefecture in winter (November through March), you might see monkeys enjoying an onsen there.

 Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan
       When you visit Japan, you should eat authentic sushi and ramen! The mug has pictures of ikura-gunkan maki (イクラ軍艦巻), shrimp nigirizushi, makizushi roll (maybe) and ramen. You can see nitamago (ramen egg) and chashu (a slice of roast pork) in this ramen.


 Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan
     In Japan, there are many Japanese castles such as Osaka Castle (大阪城) and Nagoya Castle (名古屋城).      A daruma doll (だるま) is a bearded man doll and is a good luck charm. You can select a goal or wish and paint in one of eyes. When you achieved the goal, you can paint in the second eye.


Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan
      Bonsai (盆栽) is a Japanese art and one of traditional Japanese hobbies. Some Japanese people most of whom are elderly men enjoy bonsai. It is planting a small tree in a small container and trimming it that mimic the shape and scale of full size. I heard that more and more foreign people have also enjoyed bonsai nowadays.

Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mug - Japan




      Now, we have 30 Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mugs!
Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mugs

 

These are my entries related to You Are Here Collection Mugs.

Hawaii

Waikiki

Las Vegas

Los Angeles

California

Orange County

San Diego

Chicago

Dallas

San Francisco

Utah

Vancouver

Arizona

Phoenix

Lake Tahoe

Houston

Ohio

Pike Place Market

Seattle

Illinois

Texas

New Mexico

Twin Cities

Washington, D.C.

Virginia

Maryland

Michigan

Detroit

Wisconsin

Japan


      My entries related to Starbucks You Are Here Collection Mugs can be seen here.

      My entries related to Starbucks Japan can be seen here.

      My entries related to Starbucks can be seen here.




Wednesday, July 18, 2018

We Finally Installed Laminate Flooring in Our Master Bedroom!

     It has been a while since I shared my home renovation project with you through my blog last time. My husband and I have worked on our home renovation on weekends since we purchased our home in 2016. I cannot believe that we have been doing it for two years! We almost finished our master bathroom renovation in June this year. (You know, the bathroom renovation takes so long. When we completely finish it, I will share it with you.) This June, we started installing laminate flooring in our master bedroom. 
       Originally, when we purchased our home, it had ugly old wall-to-wall carpets in an entire home except for kitchen and bathrooms. As I mentioned in my previous entry, we removed the wall-to-wall carpet in our master bedroom and were going to install laminate flooring two years ago, but we changed our renovation plan. We decided to work on other rooms first. You can check out what we did for the first year from my previous entry, It's Been A Year! - We've Done 17 Our Home Renovation Projects.

Removing Old Wall-to-Wall Carpets

       Two years ago, we removed the ugly wall-to-wall carpet in this room and got rid of dust. (We eventually used this room as a huge storage room for a lot of renovation materials until last month.)
A lot of dust!




Installing New Underlayment and Laminate Flooring

      Installing new laminate flooring was pretty easy for us because we did it in our second bedroom before. We installed the underlayment, Pergo Gold Premium 3mm Flooring Underlayment. Then, we finally started laying laminate flooring, Camden Oak Laminate Flooring with Pad Attached, which we purchased at our local Costco.
Costco

      



Installing Baseboard Molding     
      We purchased baseboard molding at our local Home Depot.
      Then, he nailed baseboard molding into the place with the nail gun. Then, he used caulk to fill the gaps between the walls and molding.
Hitachi NT50AE2 18-Gauge 5/8-Inch to 2-Inch Brad Nailer


      We also painted white on entire walls and baseboard molding, and this room looks so fresh now.


      This ugly room turned into a brand new room. :)  


      By the way, we decided to use our master bedroom as our home office. :) I'll write about the painting and other updates of this room next time. :)



     These are my entries you might like.
Before and After Home Office - 5 Home Office Updates!

It's Been A Year! - We've Done 17 Our Home Renovation Projects

New Bathroom Sink, Faucet, Toilet, Towel Bar and Paint - Bathroom Renovation 

Before and After Wet Bar Renovation - Install Backsplash Tiles, Replace Outlet, Paint Cabinets and Decor

Before and After Master Bathroom - New Shower Handles, Tub Spout And Shower Heads

Shower Tile and Bathtub Paints 

Before and After Door Hardware - From Door Knob to Door Lever

Before & After Painting All Cabinets

How to Install New Outlet Cover Plate - Hubbell Taymac Revive Decorator Wall Plate Review

How to Install A Spring Door Stop

Before and After Kitchen Flooring - Easy and Affordable Peel-And-Stick Vinyl Flooring! 

Built-in Trash Cans - Before and After


      My entries related to home renovations can be seen here.

      My entries related to flooring renovations can be seen here.