Tokyo Weekender April 2017

BEAUTY
DESIGN FACE PACK
BY ISSHINDO HONPO
Probably most famed for being a
confectionery company, Isshindo
Honpo launched their Kabuki Face
Mask in 2013, and it quickly took off
in popularity. To ensure the design
properly represented the stage make-up
(kumadori) worn by Kabuki actors, the
company consulted with Kabuki actor
Somegoro Ichikawa. And they didn’t
skimp on beauty ingredients either – the
mask includes hyaluronic acid, collagen,
and extracts from Japanese tea leaves,
satozakura flowers, and camellia seeds.
We also love their quirky animal face
masks – the panda, in particular.
Design Face Pack by Isshindo Honpo,
¥900, japaneseface.jp/en
FACE MASK MAGIC
SPRING CALLS FOR A FRESH START, AND WE’VE FOUND FOUR DEEP-
CLEANSING MASKS FOR SKIN THAT’S NEVER LOOKED FRESHER
Compiled by Annemarie Luck and Lisa Wallin
DON’T LOOK AT ME
BY LUSH
We have to admit, we first reached for
this face mask purely because of its
beautifully vivid color – slathering the
thick turquoise scrub all over your face
is bound to make you feel better just
because it looks so pretty! But its beauty
is more than skin deep: it contains
ground rice and kaolin (China clay) to
gently exfoliate; fresh organic lemon
juice for cleansing; and organic silken
tofu to make your skin as soft as, well,
silk. Smooth the mask all over your skin
(body too, if you want), and leave it on
for 15 minutes before rinsing off.
Don’t Look At Me fresh face mask,
¥1,050, jn.lush.com
SMOOTH GOLD BY
LULULUN
Treat your skin to 10 minutes of bliss
with Smooth Gold, a once-a-week deep
moisturizing mask infused with nature’s
finest ingredients: amino acids from Thai
golden silk contain high levels of serine,
which keeps your skin soft and supple;
the sake lees (fermented grounds left over
from sake production) from Kyoto Fushimi
sake contain high levels of ceramide,
which helps protect the skin and retain
moisture; and the polyphenols in organic
brown rice have an antioxidant effect to
give you a youthful glow.
Smooth Gold mask by Lululun, ¥810,
lululun.com/plus/smoothgold
BLACK PAINT BY MYYUKI
If you’re looking for a deep cleanse
with a difference, this handmade
soap brimming with rich, organic
oils helps improve skin immunity
and minimizes irritation. High grade
Kishu Bichotan charcoal made from
Ubame oak absorbs impurities and
feeds minerals to the skin. Even
though this is more a soap than a
mask, the way you apply it along
with its powerful cleansing results
give us a little leeway in terms of
categorization. To achieve a smooth,
fresh face without stripping the
skin of its natural oils, simply apply
a layer of Black Paint to your face
and massage for five minutes before
rinsing off. It’s free from alcohol,
artificial fragrances or colors, and
is even Halal certified.
Black Paint Soap Bar by Myyuki,
¥2,700, www.blackpaint.jp