GIVE | The only Japan relief fashion item I'd ever buy

THE DAILY MAIL, in a bit of accidentally lucid writing, published a piece on all the new products being brough to market at break-neck speed to support Japan post-tsunami and earthquake. The accidentally lucid part? Revealing just how much PROFIT is being made in the effort. Shame on you Rebecca Minkoff. You and Rodarte are clearly drinking the same kool-aid.

Some are donating all proceeds from the bumpf they're selling, like Stephanie Giamatti. Good on her. Some of the commentators complain that places like Haiti are still in dire straights and why aren't there more things being brought to market for them. Um... earth to the hermits. 24-hour news cycle, sadly, means that if it's not absolutely novel it's not worth talking about because it doesn't make money. Tis the way it is. Japan is new although it's shocking how quickly it's fading from the headlines. However, Haiti, with regards to this post, is neither here nor there.

You can donate money directly to the relief effort as well: "Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation and support our disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific." It shows up on your next phone bill.

Here are my requirements to buy any of the bumpf in support the relief effort. It HAS to give 100% of the PROCEEDS (and we really mean it... no creative interpretation of the word 'proceeds' and skimming a bunch off for 'overhead' costs before sending a miniscule amount as your 'proceeds') to help Japan. It has to be something useful or that I'll wear (why buy junk that'll just clutter and pollute the earth). And it has to go to a charity I don't think wastes too much money on admin (a shocking 80%, on average, of the money donated to a charity goes to running it rather than being used for the purpose you think you're donating to).

So I love and will order Opening Ceremony's Red Cross Japan Tee. They say "100% of the profits made from the sale of this t-shirt go to the American Red Cross". Did you read that, Minkoff? They even link right to the Red Cross site in case you'd rather make a direct donation. 

Opening Ceremony Red Cross Japan Tee

TRIED & TESTED | Suqqu Gankin Massage

 

Do you get a stiff jaw from holding tension in your face? I know that’s where a lot of my stress goes but it only occurs to me on the odd occasion I have a face massage (usually as part of a facial) how springy, relaxed and plumped my face looks afterwards 9and how tense it was before). So why I never thought to isolate the massage bit and implement a bit of DIY, we’ll never know. There's no need now because luxury Japanese beauty brand Suqqu (make-up artist Mary Greenwell says their “cream foundation is still the best foundation out there.”) has done it for us and created a three-minute facial massage technique which, when used every day at home, is said to banish muscle tension, drain lymph nodes and enhance blood circulation all with the long-term goal in mind of preventing sagging and wrinkles.

The Suqqu counter, currently exclusive to Oxford Street’s Selfridges, is in the store’s Living Beauty section (just past Clarins turn right). On arrival the pretty assistant manageress Nagi Kawakata explains the Gankin facial massage was developed by ex-Suqqu beautician Yukuko Tanaka (who now runs Y Method) to animate and enliven actors’ features on camera. Integral to the massage is a thick, creamy oil-based Musculate Massage Cream (this year’s limited edition is a potent jasmine scent) to protect the skin from the intense pressure of the massage. I assume any good face massage oil will do, but Nagi assures me this is not the case. 

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Muji skincare launching in the UK... still waiting in the US!

Muji, the makers of my favourite travel radio alarm clock, the purveyors of the minimalist, hyper-organised aesthetic to which I am a slave (as the perpetual wish list I am now keeping on Posterous has made painfully clear), are bringing their simple, lovely skincare to the UK. Japan has been privy to Muji's skincare secrets for, well, as long as they've existed.

So what do we have to look forward to? A capsule collection of the popular Muji skincare products and ranges, which is based on the water of Japan's Iwate region, apparently renowned for it's softness and tiny particle size (all the better for absorption). The sensitive skin range, high moisture range and three cleansers (an oil, a milk and a gel) will kick off Muji's entry into the UK beauty market.

The two ranges are free from alcohol, parabens, artificial colouring, mineral oils, synthetic perfume (and perfume full stop in the sensitive skin range). 

The sensitive skin range includes star ingredients grapefruit seed extract, which is naturally moisturising, and Portulaca Oleracea (Common Purslane) extract, which protects the skin. Not sure what their concentration is, but worth noting. Same with the peach extract, Hyaluronic Acid and Lipidure ® (Polyquaternium -51) in the high moisture range. 

When can you buy the goods? At the end of March, both in store and at www.muji.co.uk. With prices ranging from £7.95 to £16.95, I foresee them being an instant hit.