ZOÉ of Switzerland Apple products

Skincare is one of my favorite topics of discussion, and I will occasionally try a new product or two to improve my skincare routine. My friend Amy, who is half Swiss and half Japanese, recommended these ZOÉ of Switzerland apple products, which are gaining popularity in Japan. 

ZOÉ of Switzerland is part of the Migros Group, established by Gottlieb Duttweiler in 1925. Being one of the biggest distribution companies in Switzerland, it produces products including foodstuffs and cosmetics. And this is where ZOÉ comes in. ZOÉ of Switzerland is a high quality skincare brand that targets women who experience signs of aging on there skin. The Apple series are a must to achieve supple, younger looking skin.

The day cream, serum, eye cream and the extra rich cream all include the key ingredient, Phytocelltec Malus Domestica, also know as apple stem cell component. It helps moisturize and brighten your skin, as well as smoothing out the surface of your skin. The extra rich cream includes argan oil for added moisture, and the day cream has UVA / UVB properties, which protects your face from freckles and other kinds of sun spots. I've used all 4 for about a week, and my skin has improved immensely! My face hasn't felt this smooth in a while. Even though the website is in Japanese, check out more of ZOÉ of Switzerland products.

スキンケアに関しては、すごく気になるトピックで、たまに新しい商品を使ってみたくなります。先日、友達のエイミーがZOÉ of Switzerlandのアップルプロダクツを進めてくれたので、早速使ってみました。

１９２５年に、ゴットリープ・ドゥットヴァイラーという人がMigrosという流通会社を設立し、主に食品と化粧品を生産していた中、ZOÉ of Switzerlandが誕生しました。日本初上陸を果たしたZOÉは高品質のスキンケアブランドで、大人の女性たちが感じるさまざまなエイジングサインにアプローチしています。若々しい、ハリのある肌を手に入れるためにはマストハブなスキンケアラインです。

今回は、ZOÉ of Switzerlandのアップルシリーズを使ってみたところ、肌の調子がぐーんと良くなった気がします。肌触りも良くなったし、透明感が増した感じがします。大人の女性には是非お勧めしたいです！


デイクリーム（朝用）
成分のフィットセルテックマルスドメスティカ（リンゴ果実培養細胞エキス）によって透明感のある肌に整えます。特性としてはUVA / UVB対応で、日焼けによるシミ・そばかすを防ぎます。球形パウダーが肌のキメを細かくし滑らかにします。肌荒れを防ぎ、肌をすべすべにします。肌に速やかに浸透しメイクアップの下地を整えます。
〈効果〉　シワを目立たなくカバーし、肌のしなやかさが増します。肌のキメを整えなめらかにします。

エキストラリッチクリーム（夜用）
リンゴ果実培養細胞エキスフィットセルテックマルスドメスティカによって透明感のある肌に整えます。保温効果を持つミロタムヌスフラベリフォリアの抽出エキス整肌成分。そして、シアパウダー、ワサビノキ種子油モリンガオイルのエモリエント成分配合により、肌の保温と年齢肌へのアプローチのスペシャルケアで潤い肌へ導きます。
〈効果〉　肌の透明感としなやかさが増します。乾燥から肌を守り、肌のキメを整え滑らかにします。

セラム
スイスの変種のリンゴウトワイラースパトラウアーから取られた植物エキスがすこやかな肌を保ちます。特性としては、優れた効果成分を配合したスイス化粧品です。アルガンオイルが肌のカサツキを防ぎ肌の滑らかさをまします。肌をしっかりと細やかにひきしめ、滑らかにします。はだを乾燥から守ります。
〈効果〉　本品は肌の美しさを保ち、エイジングケア効果を持つセラムです。肌にツヤ、ハリ、潤いを与えます。肌を柔らかくしなやかに保ちます。

アイクリーム
成分のフィットセルテック　マルスドメスティカ（リンゴ果実培養細胞エキス）によってはだに潤いを与え、透明感のある肌へと導きます。特性としては、ヒアルロン酸が目と唇の回りの肌の乾燥を防ぎます。カサツキを防ぎ、肌を滑らかにします。目と唇の繊細な肌にしっかりと働きかけます。
〈効果〉　目もとと唇もとのキメを整え、ハリを与えます。肌荒れ、乾燥を防ぎ、健やかな皮膚へと導きます。肌がしなやかに柔らかく保たれます。

Kiehl's Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate

 This is the serum of your dreams. I don't know how else to say it, but it will change your life. I've been using Kiehl's skincare products faithfully for at least a year now, and this Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate is by far my favorite product. I've been using it for about 2 weeks, and my complexion has improved considerably. I haven't gotten a single pimple or the annoying small bumps around my chin that I usually get since I've started using it. I have a sprinkle of acne scars and hyperpigmentation, so my bare skin is a reddish-pink. After a few days, I already noticed a brighter complexion that I haven't seen on myself in years. I applied a few drops every night after my toner (Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence), and sealed it with the Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream. The cool thing about this concentrate is the active ingredient is quinoa husk. You can purchase it online here at Kiehl's. 

これは夢のセラムです。他にどう言えばいいか分からない、でも、大げさに言うと人生を変えます。キールズのスキンケア商品を１年以上使っていますが、このマイクロピールコンセントレートは一番気に入っています。2週間ぐらい使ってから、肌のコンディションがすごく良くなりました！ニキビもできなくなったし、あごに普段できてしまう小さいぶつぶつが全然できなくなりました。ニキビ跡があるせいか、スッピンだと肌が結構赤くなりがちです。数日経ったら、肌がだいぶ明るくなり、赤みも減っていました！キールズのエッセンスローションのあと、コンセントレートを２〜３滴肌になじませて、最後にキールズクリームSPを使っています。このコンセントレートには、キヌアの殻を使用しているんですよ！日本では来月発売なので、皆さんも是非お試しください♪

CLARINS Tokyo Press Conference

Last night, a Clarins press conference was held in the Roppongi office in Tokyo, and I had the pleasure of attending with several bloggers. In all honesty, I've never used a Clarins product in my life, but this event made me very intrigued and interested in their products and the history behind this brand.

Clarins is a French brand that goes back 60 years, created by the Clarins brothers. They are famous for creating their products with ingredients based on 100% plants. Clarins believes strongly in continuous innovation, putting their energy into creating quality product. This year marks their 20th anniversary since releasing their whitening series, and also marks the debut of their newest product, the White Plus Tri-Intensive Brightening Serum. The active ingredient, acerola fruit, is full of Vitamin C, and has been proved to decrease melanin production in the skin by 60%, which is what causes dark spots. Along with other natural ingredients such as sanspurry, lady's mantle and Vitamin C derivative, this serum is proved to achieve whiter and brighter skin within a few weeks. Also, with the help of acerola seeds and hyrolonic acid complex, the serum will help achieve a translucency to the skin. 

The White-Plus Serum isn't available until March, but I've already started using it to see how effective it will be with my skin. I'll be updating later with my results. Thank you Clarins for a lovely presentation and gifts! If any of you have used Clarins products, let me know how you liked them in the comments!

昨夜は、クラランス六本木オフィスで行われた、ブロガー向けの新商品発表会に出席しました。人生で一度もクラランスの商品を使ったことがないのですが、この発表会でアンバサダーのお話を聞いたら、とても興味を持ちました。

クラランスはフランス発のブランドで、６０年前にクラランス兄弟が創立しました。彼らは、植物を１００％使った美容製品にこだわって、６０年間世界各国の女性に寄り添う精神を大切にし、望まれる製品をつくり続けています。今年がちょうど、ホワイトニング商品がデビューしてから２０年。そして、今年の春、ホワイトプラスインテンシヴブライトセラムが新しく発売されます。クラランスは、２０年に及ぶ研究から、メラニン生成を促してシミの原因となる伝達システム、エクソソームに着目しました。新たな可能性を見出された２種類のアセロラが、このセラムに使われていることでさらなる美しさへの扉を開きます。アセロラでシミのない肌、ハゴロモ草、ウスベニツメ草とビタミンC誘導体でどこまでも澄み渡る透明感、そして、アセロラ種子とヒアルロン酸で光に満ちた健やかな輝きを。この新しいセラムは、この植物由来成分を配合し、このような働きを示しています。

ホワイトプラスセラムは３月まで発売ではないのですが、私は早速頂いたものを使い始めました。数週間でどれだけ肌が変わるか楽しみです。クラランス、素敵なプレゼンテーションと商品、ありがとうございました！皆さんはクラランスの商品、使ったことありますか？

Enzyme masks and face oils from Sephora

I wanted to amp up my skincare routine (yet again), and these are my most recent purchases from Sephora.

Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

Tatcha Polished Deep Rice Enzyme Powder

Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil Light 

The argan oil has been a favorite of mine recently, so I stocked up again - great for combating the dry, cold weather. And I've been reading good things about enzyme masks, so I thought I'd give these a whirl. Something to look forward to for the coming year! 

NARS favorites

If you didn't know already, I am a huge NARS fan, especially skin makeup. Ever since I participated as a model at NARS Tokyo artist summit, I was immediately hooked - their foundation and concealer worked really well with my acne-prone skin and stayed put all day, which is like a miracle for me.

私はNARSのコスメが大好きです。去年、NARSのアーティストサミットでモデルとして参加した以来、大ファンになりました。私の肌はとても敏感ですが、NARSのベースメイクとは相性がいいんです。

Recently I'm using / 最近使っているもの:

All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation - has a matte finish to it, and a little goes a long way

Radiant Creamy Concealer - the best concealer I have ever used, period. 

Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder - sets your foundation beautifully, I use it with a powder puff

Christopher Kane x NARS Blush - such a pretty and subtle color for your cheeks

The Multiple stick blush in Orgasm - I use a little bit of this on the apples of my cheeks for a touch of color

Do you use NARS? What are you favorite makeup products?

daily beauty essentials

Eos Travel Size Everyday Hand Lotion, Maybelline The Nudes Eye Shadow Palette,

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Blur, 

zero UV Round Circle Cat Eye Sunglasses

Over the past few years, I've gotten into a guilty habit of trying new beauty products and not finishing them because a) it didn't work for me or b) I found something better. I think I'm getting better about it especially when it comes to skincare products, since I want to make the most of the money I spent on it (good skincare ain't cheap!). But I did pick up a few drugstore products that I've been wanting to try, and they're proving to be good enough to stay in my makeup bag, at least for a while. A heavenly-scented hand lotion in a cute, round bottle that's perfect for traveling; a $10 eye shadow palette with all nude and brown shades imaginable with easy application; and the most amazing BB cream/ foundation that will glide across your skin and cover most blemishes and imperfections. The Shu Uemura is undoubtedly a staple in my makeup bag, since I stopped using mascara but need a little oomph in my lashes. And because we always need a cute pair of cat-eye sunglasses :) 

私は、常に新しい美容グッズを集めて使ってみるのが大好きです。でも、結構最後まで使わないことが多いので、少し控えるようには心がけているのですが。。最近、ドラッグストアのブランドで、興味があった商品をいくつか購入して、今のところとても使いやすく、気に入っています。ピンクの丸いボトルのハンドクリームはお出かけ用にぴったりで、とても使いやすいです。メイベリンのアイシャドーパレットはヌード系の色が全部そろっていて、アプリケーションもスムーズ。ラロッシュポゼのBBクリームファンデーションはびっくりするくらい塗り心地が良く、カバー力もいい感じ！忙しい朝には持ってこいのベースメークです。Shu Uemuraのビューラーは欠かさず使っていて、キャットアイのサングラスは可愛いから♪

Deep-cleansing with Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore cleansing series

As a model, one of my daily priorities is taking care of my skin. When I was still living in southern California, I didn't have any major problems with my face (I did have the occasional breakout though). But after moving to Japan, my skin did a 180 on me, and at first I had no idea how to fix the problem. It took me a while to figure out what was good or bad for my skin, and I still experiment with different skincare products. Recently, I've realized cleansing is one of the most important steps in skincare - if you don't completely cleanse all the makeup, dirt and toxins of the day, the rest of your skincare routine is meaningless. Living and working in a crowded city really requires me to make sure everything is off at the end of the day. So, here are two of my current favorites that get the job done.

Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser & Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque

Both of these are made with Amazonian white clay, with exfoliating and detoxifying properties.
I actually started using the masque first, because I was looking for something that would remove all the dirt and debris from my face after a long day. It's very easy to use - just apply a thin layer on damp skin, and leave it on for about 10 minutes or until it is almost completely dry. My skin feels so smooth and clean after I wash it off, and my blemishes look significantly smaller after use (not kidding!).

I recently read an article on Into the Gloss about the benefits of clay, which explains that "because clay is formed in the river and is left out in the sunlight, wind, and rain for thousands of years, it absorbs all of those properties of nature. It takes on the energy, so when you look at it as a substance, you can say that it's the sum of the pull of nature's energy." Clay truly absorbs all the dirt and toxins from deep within, and using both the masque and the cleanser has seriously improved the texture of my skin. Since I don't want to use the masque everyday, I use the cleanser the other days as a cleanser/ exfoliator.

I'm experimenting with other Kiehl's products so I might post about those later. Hope this helped!

Lanolin-Agg-Tval Egg White Soap

Ever since I moved to Japan, I've become increasingly more curious and knowledgable about the skincare do's and don'ts. My skin condition actually became worse when I moved from California to Tokyo (maybe the change in environment, the water, the stress... who knows) and I've been trying different products to see if anything would help. My skin has finally started to settle down, so now I'm in the process of trying to get 

rid of my acne scars. I have really pale skin, so the little red marks on my face can really stand out. 

Anyways, I came across this egg white soap when shopping around for skincare products. I've heard that egg whites are very effective for getting rid of acne scars and preventing acne, but the only problem is, it's quite messy (yes, I've tried it before). So I thought I'd give this soap a try. At first, I was using it normally, just to wash my face. But what I recently found out was, it's much more effective to foam it up and leave it on for 5-10 minutes as a mask. After trying that for one week, boy, what a difference that has made! My skin looks brighter, cleaner and smoother. And it's not expensive at all.

Here's an article I found on Into the Gloss, and according to the article, you can purchase this soap here. Have you ever tried this soap? Any kind of feedback is welcome!


 最近、スウェーデン製の洗顔を毎日欠かさず使っています。アインズトルペで偶然この洗顔が目に入り、お試しサイズを使ってみることにしました。この洗顔は、卵の白身でできていて、美白効果もあり、ニキビ対策にも抜群です。しっかり泡立たして、５−１０分ほどマスクみたいに置いといたら、肌が明るくなった気がします。ニキビも出来にくくなったと思います。このような洗顔を使ったことがありますか？

Medical Esthetic Salon Viage

This weekend, I was invited to try out a new esthetic salon in Kitaurawa called Viage, which is conveniently near my home. It was actually my first time to ever visit a beauty salon in Japan, so I was very excited for this opportunity. The owner, Ms. Sasaki, did an amazing 60-min facial for me, and I could tell my skin looked much brighter than it did when I first walked into the salon. I took these photos after my facial - can you tell my skin looks better than before? I decided not to wear any makeup the rest of the day :) 

今週末、北浦和にオープンしたViage というエステサロンへ行ってきました。エステをするのは生まれて初めてだったので、わくわくしながらフェイシャルをやってもらいました。オーナーの佐々木さんはとても素敵な方で、気持ちいいフェイシャルをしてくれました♪ ６０分があっという間に過ぎ、肌も生まれ変わったように引き締まっていて、明るくなっていました！！本当におすすめです。またお世話になると思います♪

ヴィアージのホームページはこちらです。

ご予約はメール、または電話にて可能です！

E-mail: viagekitauwara@gmail.com

phone: 048-762-9020

Love,

Samantha

BEAUTY | a NARS holiday

I mentioned in a previous post that I received some NARS cosmetics after modeling for their artist summit in Tokyo. What I didn't mention was they sent me more beautiful shades of lip colors, blush and eyeliner. I am truly in (NARS) makeup heaven right now. Even the packaging was perfect for the holiday season.

I've been using NARS blush for over a year now, and I really recommend those - the colors look beautiful on the skin and they are so easy to blend. I'm not huge fan of lipgloss, but adding a bit of gloss over a lipstick adds the right amount of shine (or that's what Mr. Nars himself told some of the artists at the summit). So that's what I've been trying :)

最近、NARSのコスメにすごくハマってます。東京のNARSアーティストサミットでモデルをやらせてもらった以来、メイクにも以前より興味を持ちました。そして嬉しいことに、NARSジャパンからリップやチークをもっと頂きました！本当にありがとうございます！使うのがとても楽しみです♪



I'm currently looking for a new makeup bag to fit my newest additions. I'm really liking this Ezra small striped cosmetic pouch by Kate Spade, the medium dome cosmetic pouch in gold by Lesportsac, and the Marc by Marc Jacobs preppy nylon small cosmetic pouch in black. I don't really like noisy prints when it comes to small accessories like a makeup bag. So hard to decide! Shopbop has a big selection of cosmetic pouches here.




Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway with The Golden Heart Store here, and PLEASE check out my new song on Youtube here!! I would really appreciate it <3


是非、新曲も聴いて下さいね！




Love,

Samantha

Monthly Favorites #4 | facial masks

Here is my Monthly Favorites for September - facial masks. Since the season is changing from summer to autumn, I think it's important to amp up the skincare routine with some hydrating and clearing masks. 

A few that I've been using lately:

1. fresh Rose Face Mask: This mask smells just like real roses because it is infused with real rose petals which hydrate and tone the skin. It consistency is kind of like jelly, my skin feels luxurious after using this. Since it's a bit pricey, I use it only once in a while.

2. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores: This one doesn't feel as luxurious on the skin as the fresh mask, but my skin does feel cleaner after use. After opening the pores with a hot towel, you spread this mask on your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes while it hardens and works its magic. Seriously recommend this one.

3. Skin Food Black Sugar Mask Wash Off: Black sugar is apparently a great exfoliator, which is why I picked this up at Skin Food in Harajuku. My skin feels so smooth after using this scrub! You can probably make your own DIY black sugar mask but... I'm a bit on the lazy side (oops).

What kind of face masks do you use or recommend?? Let me know in the comments!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

modern-day cleopatra

photos by Jason Mordeno

Hair & makeup by Azusa

Sorry for not posting in a week! The office move I mentioned in my last post and getting used to the new location kind of took up my energy... but I have been working on updating my blog and start-up for my Youtube channel. I appreciate you all for being so patient and supportive!!

I received some more photos from a photo shoot I did with Jason Mordeno back in March (other photos here). He submitted these to a magazine, but unfortunately the magazine didn't accept them so I am now able to post them here for public view. We were going for the modern-day Cleopatra look, especially with my hair. Jason and Azusa did a fantastic job :)

Thanks for all the wonderful comments on my last post! Have an amazing weekend guys!

Much love,

Samantha Mariko

my monthly favorites #1 - Korean skincare

Whenever I look through blogs on Bloglovin', I always love reading about monthly or weekly beauty product favorites on beauty blogs. I've written posts about my favorite skincare or makeup products, but I thought, maybe I should do it in a more consistent manner. So, here is my monthly favorite series #1! 

My favorite Korean skincare products this month: I recently read an article about the steps taken for the ultimate Korean skincare routine on Into the Gloss, and I went to the Korea town , Shinokubo, in Tokyo a few days later to pick up some of the mentioned products. Although not exactly the same brands, I think they are just as good.

I'm still on the lookout for the perfect makeup remover + cleanser, and I think I am getting close. Nature Republic's Magic Remover does a decent job of removing even waterproof makeup (I always use waterproof mascara, and it removes 90% of it). The sales clerk also recommended the Green Tea Cleansing Oil, which is gentle enough for sensitive skin like mine, and removes all traces of makeup. After using this the first time, I used witchhazel to see if it really removed all of my makeup, and I am happy to say it did. If you have ever used the Oil Cleansers by Shu Uemura, they are very similar.

I added 2 more steps to my post-cleansing skincare routine - once a week or every two weeks, I use the Skin Food Rice Mask Wash Off to exfoliate my skin. I decided to get the rice one instead of the sugar mask introduced in the article because I hear good things about using rice products on skin. I apply the Etude House collagen moistfull first essence after my toner (I use one from Muji), which leaves my skin really dewy and, well.... moist. My last step is a night cream from Origin.

You can never have too much body lotion! I was immediately hooked with the Holika Holika Pure Natural Honey Oatmeal Moisture Body Lotion because it smells sooo good - the perfect amount of sweetness. It really does leave my skin soft and moisturized.


Do you use any Korean skincare products or cosmetics? If I find any good recommendations on Korean Cosmetics, I might want to try some next time!



Also, don't forget to enter the Eden the Collection Giveaway, which ends TOMORROW!!! Hurry hurry :) You don't want to miss it!


Thanks for reading!






Love,

Samantha Mariko