7 in 7: Korean Face Masks

How long has it been since I last posted on my makeup page?! Far, far too long!!!

I apologize for not keeping up with posts on this page as much, I figure as makeup tutorials and such are pretty self explanatory, there is no need for a post, however I will be posting on this page for things such as my 7 in 7 series and future hauls or videos that do need a bit more clarification!

In advance, I also want to apologize for DELETING all of the videos I took of me actually trying on the masks. I know. I was disappointed in myself as well. TT^TT

In this video I talk about 7 masks that I tried on while I was home, and this time the focus was on facial masks from Korea!
Now if you guys have followed my channel thus far, you know I LOVE LOVE LOVE Korean beauty, and facial masks are no exception!

Products:
Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Sheet Mask:
 -clean smell
 -good amount of serum
 -no adjustment cuts
 -cooling effect
 -absorbed quickly

Missha Near Skin Egg Yellow Pack:
 -NO smell
 -foam-like texture
 -very quick
 -very moisturizing
 -shrinks pores
 -helps skin absorb more skin care

Skin Food Black Sesame Hot Mask:
 -gelatinous
 -un-hygenic pot design
 -very strong black sesame smell
 -exfoliates
 -slightly warming
 -very moisturizing
 -shrinks pores
 -brightening
 -helps with swelling

Urban Dollkiss Welcome to Korea Moistfull Mask:
 -stiff material
 -clean smell
 -absorbs well
 -very moisturizing
 -little serum

Esfolio Red Ginseng Essence Mask Sheet:
 -very strong ginseng smell
 -fits well to nose area
 -soft material
 -reduces acne redness

SNP Animal Tiger Wrinkle Mask:
 -unpleasant soapy smell/taste
 -full of serum
 -kind of messy
 -runs on the larger side
 -very, very cute
 -shrinks pores
 -brightening

Mediheal Mask Dress Code Violet:
 -full of serum
 -kind of messy
 -slight soapy scent
 -no adjustment cuts
 -very, very cute
 -lasts a long time
 -absorbs quickly
 -shrinks pores

XOXO,
Meowko

2016 January BB Bag Unboxing!

HELLOOOOOOO!
This is definitely ridiculously late for a January unboxing, but honestly things have just been super hectic and I was finally able to edit a video and get it up for you guys!

This is a pretty self explanatory video so I won't ramble on and on about it, I would say it is easier just to watch the video itself.

Products mentioned:
Tony Moly Pocket Bunny Sleek Mist
Ladykin Affinitic Snail Cream Miniatures
-Blue: Whitening Moisturizer
-Pink: Moisturizer
Eyebrow Clip Tweezers
A'pieu Color Longwear Shadow Stick BE02
Nature Republic By Flower Lip Scrub
Scinic All Day Fine Pore Tone

For 10% off the BB bag and Mask Maven Subscriptions, use the coupon code MIYAKO !!!! This coupon code also applies to everything online at beauteque.com

If you guys have any questions about any of these products or about beauteque.com feel free to leave me a comment down below and I will be happy to answer your questions!

XOXO,
Meowko

7 in 7: Japanese Face Masks

Hey guys!
I thought I would try something new on my channel and start this 7 in 7 series!  This series will be me trying 7 days worth of 7 different products that are part of one category and telling you guys my thoughts on them!
First 7 in 7 is Japanese Face Masks!

A ton of people are super in to these masks because they're cheap and easily accessible at any Donki Hote or online at Japanese skin care stores, so I thought I would buy a few and try them on for you guys!

All of the masks were super cute, but as I was focusing more on the actual skin care benefits, my review might sound a little harsh but definitely said exactly what I thought about each mask.

Masks mentioned in the video:
Pure Smile Geisha Mask Green Tea http://amzn.to/1nRlRtE
Pure Smile Yogrip Strawberry and Mango Mask Pack
Pure Smile Funashi Mask
Pure Smile Samurai Mask Green Tea http://amzn.to/1KHseoi
Pure Smile Snail Essence Mask http://amzn.to/1SlsQX5
Narikiri Doraemon Hello Kitty Face Masks
Pure Smile Choosy Lip Gel Mask http://amzn.to/1nAJWVT

XOXO,
Meowko

My 10 Step Morning Korean Skin Care Routine | Winter

So I finally decided to make a second page on my blog just for my other channel and more information on that!

During the winter, although I have an oily skin type, there are times when it dries out too much from my normal skin care routine to be exposed to the elements outside, so when winter rolls in, I switch up my skin care routine!

Products in this video:
Lush Ocean Salt Scrub: goo.gl/AAVNFp
Etude House Pure Water Baobab Cleansing Foam: goo.gl/s8Vvh5
Etude House Pure Water Boabab Moist Toner: goo.gl/e5t1PJ
Etude House Moistfull White Mela Perfect Serum
Etude House Moistful Collagen Essence: http://goo.gl/1J69zb
Kracie Emulsion
Clinique All About Eyes: http://goo.gl/Cjxc02
Nature Republic Provence Lip Essence: http://goo.gl/C6HXok
Allie SPF50++ Sunscreen
Jung Saem Mool ER Treatment Oil: http://goo.gl/tPCtfJIf you guys want these products definitely check out these stores:


♥ ♥ Buy Korean makeup and skin care at : http://www.wishtrend.com?a_aid=miyako... ♥ ♥ ○December Promo: NEWCOUPON2016 for 10% off all orders over $50! ○Use the code SKQINSISSIMASK2016 for two free face masks!

♥ ♥ Get 10% off EVERYTHING at beateque.com with coupon code MIYAKO !!! They carry a ton of amazing Korean makeup and skin care so make sure to check them out! http://bit.ly/1STYlIe ♥ ♥ ○Also make sure to check out their montly BB Bag and Mask Haven here: http://bit.ly/1J8KdJ6 ○You get 6-8 full sized products/9-11masks in every bag + a super cute makeup bag per month! Its like presents every month

I have bought many of my products there as well as more and they are always super fast with shipping!!!

XOXO,
Meowko

JAMM Ep. 4: Gaining Weight in Japan!?!

So I feel like I didn't explain this well enough in my video, looking back, so wow all these lucky people who actually read my blog get to check out the better explanation ;)

1. In my video, I mention that Japan has many foods that have starches, but didn't go much in depth about it.  Japan is a country known for sushi, ramen, and mochi, all of which, if you notice, are starch based!  No matter where I go to eat in Japan, I always end up eating at least one bowl of rice with my meal.  Even if I try to avoid it, on mornings I run out of time to make my lunch, I rush to school, and end up either having to eat an obento or onigiri from the school convenience store, both of which are filled with mainly rice.  It is nearly impossible to avoid eating rice or some other starch while in Japan, and as my digestive system is not used to processing so many simple sugars, I put on a lot of weight very quickly.

2. JAPANESE CONVENIENCE STORES ARE MECCAS OF SNACKS. There is every snack imaginable in Japanese supermarkets, and not only that, but they switch out the varieties of snacks they carry every week, so you will never get bored of which snacks they have stocked!  While this is very new and interesting, it also makes me want to try EVERY SINGLE SNACK IN THE STORE, and we can all see where that leads to.

3. I am literally the biggest wuss when it comes to weather. This was probably the best explained point in my video, but in shorter terms, I just cannot bring myself to exercise outside in the blazing hot or freezing cold extremes of Japanese weather.

4. There are no nice gyms around my area, and I refuse to pay for a gym that has barely any exercise equipment besides a treadmill.

5. I live in a student dorm where they provide two meals for us per day, and due to these meals not always being the most balanced meals for my personal metabolism (aka it is another criminal offender of putting way too much starch in one meal. *cough spaghetti filled hot dog buns cough*), I gain weight if I eat the meals, but my money is going to waste if I don't eat the meals.  So I basically live in a rice trap.  Another problem with these meals is that in my mind, because meals are constantly provided for me, my laziness kicks into overdrive and I can't bring myself to put in effort to make healthy food options for myself.

6.  Even if I DO decide to make my own food, as I have very limited options (one electric stove so cannot do anything such as broiling/baking chicken, has several steps or else it would take an eternity before I can eat, or needs any other special pots pans or heating devices), I again decide to opt for cheaper and easier to make options such as pasta, meat with rice, etc.

7. I forgot to mention this in the video, however when I was in America and attempting to diet, one of the main things I turned to as meal replacements were smoothies, because although they were still high in sugar, they tasted good and were better than me eating an entire huge meal that was entirely bad for me, PLUS I could add in things such as kale, fiber, or protein powders to give my diet extra boosts.  As fruit is RIDICULOUSLY expensive in Japan, as I mentioned in other videos, I have been unable to make smoothies, therefore adding another full meal on to my already unhealthy diet in Japan.

These were just a few of the things that affected my weight in Japan, and if you guys have any questions I am always free to answer them :)

XOXO,
Meowko

JAMM Ep. 3: 5 Misconceptions About Japan

There are several misconceptions that people have about people in Japan.  These are just a few of the ones that I had before I went to Japan!

The first one is that EVERYBODY dresses in unique fashion. Although it is true that there are very identifiable fashion styles such as Harajuku or lolita fashions, as well as people who just dress in their own unique fashion, I think that could be said for just about every country in the world as well.  In America, for example, we have people who are really into goth and formal fashions.  However, in your country, does EVERYBODY dress in these specialized fashions? This is definitely not true in America, nor is it true in Japan.  Although these are very widely known fashions, Japanese people as a whole do not dress in this fashion, however I would say they are somewhat more accepting of it and less judgemental than most other countries are just because it is so widely known.

Next, in my video I talked about how, as an anime lover, I thought people would speak at least SOMEWHAT like in anime.  While this is TECHNICALLY true to some extent, I feel that this is more because while I was living in America, my only exposure to 'native' Japanese speaking was through anime, and that is how I learned a lot of basic Japanese and slang.  Especially when I first came to Japan, I thought that my preconceived notion was true due to me being exposed to so much more Japanese than I was originally used to.  Despite this, once I came to Japan and learned a lot more of the culture and language, I slowly got more used to hearing the language, and now when I watch anime, I realize how unrealistic the voice-actors can sound in some anime.  I still love anime, but now it is something that I notice.

3rd is a bit inappropriate, but SEVERAL of my friends have at some point or another brought up the subject of whether or not Japanese people are super pure or crazy concerning their sex lives.  FIRST OFF, let me just clarify that I have no first-hand experience regarding this subject, however through my friend's stories, I have come to the opinion that they are no more crazy or innocent than the average human being.  Besides that, if anything I would say that due to anime and the overall culture, Japanese peoples' expectations of love are so high that they just fail to find a relationship that meets their expectations, which in turn leads to them not getting intimate with a partner. Another thing that I have heard is that because Japanese high schools are so intense with studying and cram schools, that students really have no time for relationships, and therefore, once they enter college where they have a bit more free time, they are much more open to exploring their options, and therefore experiment a bit more.  Despite this, due to their culture being very conservative in terms of sexuality and private matters, no matter what the subject, they are very on the down low about what they do.

One of the misconceptions that I had before I came to Japan and even after my first visit ever to Japan which was only for two weeks, is currently the misconception that continually haunts me to this day.  People who come to visit Japan for any period shorter than about a year (sometimes even more than that), will always tell me how amazingly nice Japanese people are.  Although I do agree that Japanese people are more considerate as a whole than most countries, due to that overall consideration as a country, I believe they are more compelled as a people to hide what they truly think and want to say behind that mask of consideration.  This is not to say that they are a bad people by doing this, and this is also not saying that all Japanese people are like this.  However, I have had incidences where I meet people and I find it really hard to gage what their true personality is until about a year later or even longer.  Just like any other population, Japan has a society full of people with different and unique personalities and I recommend you get to know them as a regular friend instead of labeling them as a "Japanese friend" and distinguishing them like that or treating them different than you would any other person.

The last and most interesting misconception that I currently think of is the fact that Japanese people usually cannot tell the difference between good Japanese accents or not.  I have a ton of examples of this, but because my video was already ridiculously long, I cut all of those out.That is besides the point, however.  The point is, if you guys are super worried about whether Japanese people won't understand you or will make fun of you due to your bad accent, 99.9% of the time that will not be true.  So just have fun when you go to Japan and practice Japanese with natives to your heart's content :)

XOXO,
Meowko

8 Things You NEED In Japan

If you guys are planning on coming to japan any time soon, there are some things that you should definitely bring with you!
These are just a few of the things that I didn't realize were really hard to come by in Japan, and I highly suggest that you guys bring them with you!!!

1. Imiwa application : http://apple.co/1df2zrV
    This application not only translates Japanese to English and vice versa, but it also will
    give sample sentences and phrases as examples to help you understand the meaning
    of the word!  This application has saved me so many times in everyday life and in
    studying Japanese, and I suggest you guys download it too!
2. Deodorant
    The thing with deodorant is that you CAN find it in Japan, but it is either super
    expensive for not that much product, or it comes in not very effective formulas.  If you
    are attached to a favorite brand, bring a few sticks with you so you don't have to deal
    with searching for an equivalent in Japan!
3. Above 7 size shoes
    For me, this wasn't a huge problem, but for many of my friends who come to Japan
    and are super psyched about buying Japanese shoes and clothing, it is really hard to
    find shoes above size 7 or clothes larger than an American size medium.  This is
    simply because there is no market for them in Japan due to the overall smaller size
    of the general population there.  Be aware and bring your own size with you if you
    are larger than these sizes.
4. Medicine/Bug spray
    Anything having to do with chemicals or medicines, I would say buy it where you
    fully understand the language so there will be no misunderstandings or mistaken
    dosages, because things can get harmful.  If it is allowed in customs, bring your bug
    spray or allergy medicines with you, because it is hard to find or describe what you are
    looking for if you are not proficient at the language.
5. Hand towel
    Japanese bathrooms rarely have paper towels, and if they have any form of hand-
    drying contraption it is usually a dryer, which people have to wait in line for.  I
    recommend bringing a washable hand towel so you don't have to deal with wet hands
    or long lines.
6. Tampons/Lady products
    I'm not sure why, but Japan is not a huge producer or consumer of tampons, so I have
    heard that these products are not of the best quality if you buy them in Japan, so bring
    your own!
7. Setting spray
    To this day, I have not found any other products that help me keep my makeup on
    in the Japanese humidity besides a really good setting spray.  I know there are a ton
    of brands out there, but the one that I found works the best for me is the Urban Decay
    De-slick Makeup Setting Spray.
8. Pocket Wi-fi
    When I was in South Korea, there was so much free wi-fi everywhere, it was amazing,
    and I was surprised to see that this was not the same in Japan.  Besides 7-eleven and
    Starbucks, there is a lack of wi-fi that you can connect to without having to sign in to
    random websites or paying.  If you are like me and tend to get lost a ton, or are
    planning on visiting some out-of-the-way areas, set up an international data plan with
    your phone company, or buy a pocket wi-fi so that you won't run in to any situations
    where you are stranded and have no idea where to go.

BONUS #1: Respect for the culture
    This is pretty self explanatory, but make sure to respect the people and the culture in
    any country that you go to.  These people are living their lives and do not enjoy having
    random photos or videos shot of them.  If you do want footage or photos with a
    Japanese person, please be sure to ask them for their permission first.  Going along
    with that, remember that this is a different culture, so if you see something that they
    do that is different with your own culture, don't just deem it as 'weird' automatically,
    give it a shot and you might actually learn to love it!

BONUS #2: Have fun!!!!

XOXO,
Meowko