JAPAN - PART 1: FACE LIKE A GEISHA

I'm back at home catching up on sleep after a busy week in China & Japan full of cultural sightseeing, delicious authentic food, and a beauty haul.
I'd been told by my Japanese friends that I would find everything I was after at Tokyu Hands in Takashimaya department stores. They had aisle upon aisle of every product you could imagine.. it was like a Priceline/CVS/Superdrug on steroids. 

Tokyu Hands. HAI!

I could have spent hours in here admiring all the cute packaging.  Actually I did.


One thing I noticed about Japan is the number of skin care products they have which are dedicated to UV protection. Any smart person knows that the two most damaging things we can do to our skin are smoking and exposure to the sun.

UV Face Mists - genius!

I purchased Ettusais - Aqua Splash UV SPF 25 PA ++  - 40ml (US$29) a light moisturising sunscreen mist that can be used over or under your makeup for added sun protection. I always start my morning skin care routine by cleansing then I apply a sunscreen based moisturiser before the cosmetic routine begins.
Even though I know I'm doing the right thing in applying sunscreen on first, I worry about how long this will protect me during the day - enter Aqua Splash for a quick touch up that doesn't mess with your makeup. I'll be sunning it up in Mexico in a couple of weeks and this mist (along with a strawberry daiquiri) will be right by my side.

Ettusais - Aqua Splash UV SPF 25 PA ++ - Made in Japan.

Aqua Splash UV SPF 25 PA++ contains moisturising ingredients, minerals (magnesium & potassium to prevent damage from UV rays), chamomile & rosemary extracts and is derma logically tested and colourant free.
My friends normally laugh at me when I slop 50++ sunscreen on my face and neck and don't rub it in properly when we're tanning - to be fair we live in the middle east, so a 40 degree day is quite normal. And I'm not about to let any sun damage my skin!

Now look who's laughing!

Another product that I came across was IKEMES - Face Magic Cover with Pearl Extract. - 30ml (US$18). A make up setting spray which is used to set your makeup in place for up to 8 hours. I dread that 3am look in the bathroom when you can literally see your foundation breaking up with your skin. It's painful to watch and sometimes no matter how much you've prepped, primed and set - your makeup still won't hold in harsh or humid conditions.

The instructions are quite cute, (as all things in Japan are) and show the occasions when Magic Cover can be used. Even in the gym they say! I'm not one to wear makeup to the gym but for all you lunch break gym freaks, this could be quite a helpful time saver in the dash back to the office before you're sitting at your desk eating last nights broccoli, brown rice and chicken combo. We've all been there.

Sport! Waterproof! Important Scene! and the most important - Turtleneck!

I might be the only one who was excited by this product - has anyone else come across effective make up setting sprays? 

I'm ashamed to admit I've done a quick blast of hairspray across my face as I've 'heard' that this helps keep your makeup in place but I just feel sticky afterwards.

Would love to hear any other recommendations!

I didn't want to bore you with an indepth review of each product - rather just bring you interesting beauty finds and show you what is BIG IN JAPAN! (see below).

I wasn't sure what these were either. However I bought one and I'll be posting about it later

I'll be posting more of my product finds along with the important cultural aspects of Japan shortly, for now here's a few interesting items I came across in Tokyu Hands. 






GBI x

Eye Tape? Whaaaaaaaat?!

Beauty for Baby section. Not really. These products are meant to give you 'baby soft' puckered lips. 

At last! The beauty smile trainer I've been looking for. Now I never have to do duckface again. Win.

SOUTH KOREA - SEOUL SKIN HEAVEN

Seoul is one of my favourite destinations - and not only for the Korean BBQ and cute street cafes. As well as being the capital city of South Korea, it is also widely known to be one of the biggest beauty and plastic surgery hubs of the world. 

After speaking to some of the local girls, I quickly gained an understanding of the general attitudes towards beauty in South Korea. No price is too high and they will undergo any procedure in search of 'perfection'. This is reflected in the large number of advertisements for cosmetic surgery surrounding the streets and metro stations.

On the recommendation of my Korean friends, as soon as I arrived I descended down the hill of the gorgeous Grand Hyatt  and hot footed it to Myeong dong, the shopping mecca of Seoul City.

On every street corner you will find a colourful shopfront booming with the latest Korean pop song and doll like girls luring you in to try the products. 

Some of the stores I visited and stocked up at were The Skin Food, The FaceShop and Nature Republic. 

Seoul really is a shoppers heaven - the prices are more than reasonable and there is a huge range of fabulous products to choose from, so it's no surprise the beauty industry in Korea is exponential. 

I'd heard a lot of positive reviews from friends on the brands I've chosen to review, specifically about the collagen face masks. Most all of the product details on the back are in Korean so I'll try and be as specific about the ingredients as possible.

1. SKIN FOOD - Gold Caviar Collagen Mask Sheet, 35 gm $4 USD.

I'm not going to lie. I'm a sucker for a good face mask, ESPECIALLY one that contains collagen (just felt my face tighten as I typed that). 
I always like to apply masks the day before an event to give my skin a much anticipated glow. I left the mask on overnight, to soak in the collagen benefits, and wake up in the morning to find my face is moisturised and firmer. This is one product that delivered on it's promise of a "firmer, tighter complexion".
Easy to apply and flexible enough to suit any face shape. I'll spare you the pics of this one in action.


The mask contains Russian Caviar Extract and Pure Gold Particles and is truly the bentley of face masks. 
There is little to no hint of fragrance which is why this mask is perfect for over-night application.
Another thing to add is the efficiency of a face mask sheet - compared to a 'peel off' mask which I find can be harsh and damaging to our face when removing this off our precious skin.
I now know what all the hype from my Korean friends surrounding this mask was about!


FLY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR IT? Actually, yes! I'm planning to head back to Seoul in the coming months and this gem is on the top of my list. Going to stock up big time. SKIN FOOD - GET READY.

2. NATURE REPUBLIC - Aloe Vera 90% Soothing Gel, 300ml $3 USD

The healing qualities in Aloe Vera based products are wonderful. Whenever I can I always stock up on Aloe Vera juice which is said to aid weight loss, boost your immune system and generally detox you from the inside out. The taste is pretty delicious too.


I first tried this gel straight after a day at the pool to help soothe my bronzed limbs and it worked a treat. The cooling sensation was everything I wanted in an after sun gel and it literally smells good enough to eat. Luckily, I had some watermelon within reach at the time or this could have made for a pretty interesting review.


FLY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR IT?

I'd highly recommend this product, not only is it incredibly affordable, it's lightweight and delivers on it's promises to soothe. I would however say there are other products on the market that will give you the same result. This one just feels and smells so natural and fresh. Will definitely be purchasing this one again.

3.THEFACESHOP - Night Flower Firming Body Essence, 300ml $10 USD

Aside from the gorgeous packaging, the first thing that caught my nose eye about this product was the fragrance. Although normally not a big fan of heavily scented products, it was everything I'd imagine 'Night Flower' to smell like. Luxurious and sensual with amber undertones. Yes please. 
The lotion glides on like a silky dream and leaves you smelling like a pretty flower. Aw. Great for everyday use however I can't as yet comment on the 'firming' qualities that the product suggests.
A girl can dream right?

FLY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR IT? Not just for this one. I've tried plenty of pretty smelling lotions and this is just another one of them. My skin did feel a little greasy about 30 minutes post application which isn't convincing.

I adore the range of cosmetics that South Korea has to offer. Most of these brands pride themselves on being 'from earth and nature' and will generally deliver on what they promise. And with good reason - there's no fooling the Korean beauties who know and appreciate a good product. Seoul is really an amazing place to visit, not only for the excellent shopping, and fresh tasty cuisine, there are so many different landmarks and sights to see. I'd recommend the DMZ tour first hand - this really opened my eyes to the history of North & South Korea.

GBI x 

JORDAN - DEAD SEA DELIGHTS.

4 Days off saw me book a ticket to Amman, Jordan to discover what this little gem has to offer.

After a full day of roughing it  and experiencing the cultural history in Petra, we checked in to the Marriot Dead Sea Spa and Resort for some R&R.

The beauty of the Dead Sea is deep -   377 m deep to be exact and is made up of a 33.7% salinity level. 
The density of the sea means you float freely in the salt water while the glorious sun soaks in to your skin and you prepare for the tan of your lifetime.

There's a lot to be said about the healing and beautifying effects of the Dead Sea. The high mineral content of the water has been said to have magical effects on your skin and inner health. Many tourists travel here to experience the benefits of the Dead Sea minerals and natural mud scrub. I spent a full day doing this, then checked in to the spa for a massage and the best facial I've ever had. I know this because I feel asleep 2 minutes in. It was THAT relaxing.


I knew the trip wouldn't be complete without taking some of these products back home and sharing them with friends, so on the way to the airport I stopped to have a chat to one of the largest wholesale retailers of Dead Sea products. I purchased the products I've reviewed based on their recommendation and consumer feedback. There are many different brands of Dead Sea derived products to choose from so I chose 3 different brands and products to make sure I give an accurate review.


Apart from the attractive natural make up of Dead Sea products, I was happy to find that none of these had been tested on animals - otherwise you would not find them on this blog.

1. RIVAGE - Nourishing Body Mud Mask 500 gm - $32 USD

I chose this product in the hope that when I tried it at home it would take me back to the lush day I spent exfoliating with the natural mud, letting it dry and then jumping in to the Dead Sea to let it soak off. And repeat. 

Also, the gorgeous packaging and french connection of the brand really stood out among some of the plainer packaged products. Hey, I'm a marketers dream!

The mask comes in a foil pouch, which makes it incredibly easy to apply. The daunting thing when applying a MUD product is just that - it's Mud. Which is generally dark and messy and should only be applied in the shower.
 The mask boasts Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil and Papaya extracts and the scent of the product confirms this.
 After showering, I applied the mud mask to my body and let it dry for 25 minutes. 
The mask was surprisingly lightweight and started drying a lot faster than anticipated. I tried not to touch anything/sit of my white linen sheets and felt thankful for my en-suite.

Instructions are to wash the body mask off using warm water and a "circular motion in order to exfoliate dead skin cells".  I did this and truly felt exfoliated and fresh.
 Afterwards, my skin felt soft and dewy but not unlike the result of a typical sugar scrub which is neither as messy or time consuming. 
The product recommends a weekly application. I'll leave this in my shower to remind me to do this, if time permits. Soon after my skin felt a bit dry from the exfoliating so I moisturised and enjoyed my 'new-skin' feeling.


FLY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR IT? If I was comparing this to the Dead Sea experience itself, probably not. But as far as home treatments go, this is a product I would definitely enjoy using on a regular basis to give me a clean refreshed 'spa experience' feel. Also, there is no mention of number of applications per pouch though I'd expect to get at least 5 which makes this a worthwhile purchase when you consider cost per use.

2. JOON - Dead Sea - Dead Cell Remover Cream (Refining & Regeneration) 120 ml - $35 USD

This cream for the face and neck promises to 'target dead cell buildup' and 'rebuild a youthful appearance instantly'. I'm sorry, however any non-surgical cosmetic product that claims to 'instantly' improve your appearance is about as useful as a hole in a bucket. That aside, the product has a gluely feel to it, and I would describe it more as serum based rather than a cream. 
Upon application, I failed to see what the product actually did for me. Maybe the over promising description on the plain packaging let me down as I was expecting to see 5 years shaved off instantly. My face and neck did feel slightly sticky which made me want to wash the cream off after 15 minutes.
The product contains Aloe which I like and is always beneficial for after-sun care.


FLY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR IT? No. However, I'll keep using the cream on a bi-weekly basis, especially post sun to see if I notice any positive changes, or INSTANT youthfulness.. I'll be sure to let you know if I do.

3. DEAD SEA TREASURES - Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salts 240gm - $6 USD

I haven't purchased many varieties of bath salts however DEAD SEA bath salts contain 26 minerals and trace elements, naturally from the dead sea so I felt like this would be an ideal purchase. The product comes in 7 different fragrances and I chose the Lemon for my review. As per the instructions I ran a hot bath and dissolved roughly a third of the product and soaked for 20 minutes. I didn't expect the bath salts to rock my world, but they did calm me while I thought about all the healing properties the minerals of the Dead Sea have. After a quick shower to rinse the salt off I felt relaxed and content.


FLY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR IT? No. Although I wish I purchased much more of this product! I'd take a relaxing hot bath on the regular if I did. Will add candles next time to complete the experience. Bliss.




For anyone thinking about travelling to the Dead Sea I am more than happy to offer any recommendations and advice. One thing I will say is JUST GO. It is one of my most memorable experiences and I can't wait to go back.