Cold Weather Necessities to Get Your Skin Winter-Ready
Published: November 19, 2018
Are you ready for winter?
More specifically, is your skin ready for winter?
Japan’s winters are as dry as their summers are humid, and with every indoor establishment from underground metros to department stores blasting their air conditioners on full, many people find that they need to upgrade their skincare routines around this time of year. So, today we are at Your Shiseido – Fujiya in Morishita, Koto City to get some advice on how to do just that from Ms. Kitamura (on the right) and Ms. Nemoto (on the left), the mother-daughter pair who runs the store.
Your Shiseido – Fujiya is a cosmetics store that specializes in Shiseido products. The shop is located on Noraku-Road alongside many other long-established small businesses, and has been around for 70 years!
“We take care to stock items that aren’t available at regular drug stores,” Ms. Kitamura said, pointing out to a celebrated lineup of products she particularly recommends. There are toners that cleanse, refresh and help prevent breakouts…
Moisturizing essences that keep your skin from drying out…
And a new rejuvenating cream, which Ms. Kitamura was particularly excited about. The cream is hydrating, but also helps firm up skin that is feeling tired. Ms. Kitamura, of course, uses the products she sells, and I feel like her own youthfulness speaks for their effectiveness (I dare you to guess her age)!
They also sell a powder that works during the day and night for extra care. If you’re using it at night, simply powder yourself off at the end of your skincare routine, and it will help trap moisture and make the skin really soft in the morning. I love the design on the compact, too!
If doing all of that sounds like too much, try an all-in-one essence that you can apply straight onto your skin after cleansing, for those days when you just can’t deal with a 12-step routine.
“Don’t forget about your hands!” Ms. Kitamura said, pointing to a cute display of moisturizing creams for the hands and body. The jars are designed to so you can pop them open with only one hand—how convenient!
And of course, your skin should also be taken care of from the inside out. If you’re the type of person who tends to skip breakfast, the recommendation is to stock up on these green smoothies.
They contain vitamin-packed fruits and vegetables, and the mixture is designed to get your metabolism going in the mornings so your body warms up more quickly—very important on cold winter days.
Aside from taking special care though, make sure to bundle up and drink lots of warm liquids in the months ahead. Need some cute kitchenware to get you motivated? I was particularly amused by this teapot, with the bunny on the handle 🙂
If you’re passing by the Morishita area at some point, feel free to drop into Fujiya for a quick visit. “We offer free skin tests, too, so you can see how your skin is faring,” explained Ms. Nemoto. The machine tests for colour, firmness and hydration so you can see where you need the most care.
You can also get mini facials in the back of the store, if you’ve a bit more time. The 15-minute courses cost only 1000 yen each, and you can combine courses to tackle multiple problems. So, will you go for the face mask course, or the skin pore cleansing course? Why not both?
The facial area, as well as the store as a whole, has a lovely, bright vibe. Ms. Kitamura says she makes sure to fill the store up with greenery, to help refresh the minds of her customers as well.
As for receiving foreign guests? “We don’t speak much English, but if you’ve got a photo of what you’re looking for, we can help you find what you need!” Ms. Nemoto said with a smile.
P.S. If you live in the vicinity and plan on becoming a regular at Fujiya for your cosmetics needs, don’t forget to make a stamp card! Points rack up pretty quickly, and it feels great to trade them in for some store credit when the time is right to treat yourself.
Story and Photos by Xianru Shen（Koto City Office Coordinator for International Relations）
