Kikuya’s Beauty Advisors, at Your Service
Published: May 9, 2019
Skincare SOS!
In Japan, the beauty-conscious are constantly lamenting “the changing seasons.” The reasoning goes that a change in the seasons brings on differences in temperature, humidity, UV exposure and more, which can quickly lead to cries of help from the human body’s largest organ—the skin.
But the catch of course is that the season is always changing, so Japan is full of skincare ideas and products to keep your skin healthy and happy all year long; but variation is not always a blessing, and many people struggle to navigate the tortuous aisles of products to find what works for them.
That’s where Kikuya Cosmetics comes in. This specialty store located in the Toyo 3-chome neighbourhood of Koto City is a powerful little shop, equipped as it is to handle all the beauty conundrums presented by their clientele!
Check-in with Your Skin
Let’s head right in. One service offered at Kikuya to walk-in customers is a free “skin check” using a unique device from Shiseido, which measures the skin’s tone, moisture level and damage, if any. This is the first step to knowing what kind of care your skin needs at the moment.
If you’ve been taking good care of your skin and everything is in good condition, all you might ask for from Kikuya’s trusted beauty advisors is a quick 15-minute facial routine, done in-store. Kikuya offers them for 1000 yen per session, and uses trusted products from “Benefique” to get the job done.
There are 3 different courses to choose from for the mini-facial: “firming and toning”, “pore-cleansing” and “facial mask”. Many customers combine 2 or more courses into a single session lasting 30 or even 45 minutes to address all of their concerns.
But if a more intensive care is what you seek, perhaps a trip to the back room is better?
Surprise!—past the back door and through a short hallway is a small, cozy spa room, where you can lie down and really get pampered!
Here, customers can choose from one of the more intensive facial menus, starting with a 40-minute session at 3500 yen. One of Kikuya’s lovely beauty advisors gave me a taste of the services offered, which I greatly appreciated!
Using the same exquisite products from Benefique, she quickly cleansed, toned, firmed and lifted my skin.
“You’ll notice some of the products make the skin feel warm and some make the skin feel cool,” she said to me as she expertly worked her fingers and went through the routine. “That’s to help open your pores, stimulate blood flow, and then to help the skin tighten up. Think of it as exercise for the skin!” Some of the tools used were also really interesting, and included a ReFa (a roll-y machine that helps to lift facial muscles upward) and an ultrasound tool that vibrates at 3 million times a second to help stimulate the peripheral nerves and capillaries.
The result was quite dramatic!
They also have a steamer available for more hydrating care, if dry skin is the bane of your existence. (And again, I am reminded every season that because of the sun/wind/dry air etc., my skin is constantly dehydrated. Though how sensitive to these factors an individual is varies, a little extra moisture feels really nice either way!)
The treatment also includes a skin mask (you’ll be left alone during this time and it was excruciatingly hard not to fall asleep from how relaxing everything was!) and some massages. I felt really refreshed afterwards, and my skin was definitely brighter and softer for days afterwards!
“We recommend getting this done once a week if possible,” the staff said. “You’ll really start to see a difference that way!”
Your Personal Beauty Arsenal:
Of course, going to a spa every month or even every week is ineffective in helping to maintain healthy skin if no work is done at home. To help promote a regular skincare and beauty routine, Kikuya offers several trusted brands to shop from.
There’s Cosme Decorté,
Clé de peau beauté,
The aforementioned Benefique,
And Albion, to name a few! Enthusiasts of Asian cosmetics will no doubt recognize these names as being at the forefronts of the beauty industry, with revolutionary products. At Kikuya, it’s possible to shop these brands and more within its cozy and familiar space, and without getting overwhelmed by the endless options.
At the end of the day, Kikuya’s staff have just one goal in mind: “We want to help you feel more beautiful!” So feel free to drop in, ask for advice or recommendations, confide your skincare woes or simply enjoy getting enthusiastic about the latest cosmetics! The spa room in the back does require a reservation, but everything else is very accessible to the casual customer.
And if you’re travelling, don’t forget your passport! Kikuya supports tax free shopping, and that alone is a pretty sweet incentive to visit this glamorous little shop!
Story by Xianru Shen（Koto City Office Coordinator for International Relations）
