The number of “cosmetics geeks” who love cosmetics is increasing. Among them, Twitter's "cosmetic dirt" is a hot topic as a place to disseminate deeper information. In this series, writer Hirarisa interviews Twitter cosmetics dirt that she is currently interested in. Take a peek at their recommended items, beauty love, and even life.
Interview/Text: Hirarisa Editing: Chisato Takahashi/My Navi Woman Editorial Department
This time, we interviewed Michika Iizuka ( @mmmiiz ), an SNS marketer and writer who is familiar with Korean youth culture and disseminates information on Korean and Chinese cosmetics on Twitter .
"Buying packages" rather than quality. Cosmetic selection criteria
-- Ms. Michika Iizuka, who is familiar with Korean and Chinese cosmetics. When did you start your current Twitter account?
I've had an account since 2015, and it was just around the time I started writing for the company I belonged to.
At first, it was mainly articles I wrote and announcements about work. However, soon after that, I started blogging about my hobbies, focusing on Korean idols. While I was doing that blog, the number of posts about my hobbies on Twitter and Instagram also increased.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2RxlkxjpeL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
――You wrote on your Twitter profile that you like things that are cute and suspicious. Maybe the reason why I fell in love with cosmetics is because they are “glitter and cute”.
That's right! Even before I can remember, I've always admired fancy things, and I'm still the type of otaku who collects toys for girls .
It was around the time I finished my university entrance exams. It was a time when the generation older than us was excited about Korean cosmetics, and my mother suggested that my friend go to Korea, so why don't you buy some cosmetics for her?
It was the first time I asked for it after researching it on the internet and finding out that the ETUDE HOUSE package was so cute!
――Omerasu, who loves Korean cosmetics and was interviewed for this series in the past, also mentioned ETUDE HOUSE as the reason why she became addicted to Korean cosmetics.
At the time, there were a lot of cosmetics that looked like something out of a shoujo manga. "There is such a thing!" Tension rose. Since then, when I buy cosmetics, I often buy packages. Even if the contents don't suit me anymore, as long as the package is good, it's okay (laughs).
Nonetheless, there are many things that somehow suit me. My personal color diagnosis is blue base winter. There are more variations now, but in the past Japan's petit plas and drakos were mostly yellow-based. There have been many accidents when I bought it thinking, "Is it okay?", and my face turned yellow (laughs).
In that respect, Korean cosmetics had a lot of colors for brevet, so that was helpful. As a result of falling in love with Korean idols, I began to visit South Korea quite often, so I bought new cosmetics there each season.
What is the price range and quality? Reality of "Chinese cosmetics"
――There seems to be a lot of tweets about Chinese cosmetics these days. When did you become addicted to Chinese cosmetics?
About two years ago. Since 2016, I started using “Taobao”, a famous e-commerce app from China. At first, there was still an air of ``Does Chinese cosmetics have good quality ? I'm interested.
However, cosmetics are easy to get caught in customs. When shopping at Taobao, it is not possible to have it delivered directly to Japan, so it is necessary to use a "forwarding service" to have it sent to Japan via an overseas warehouse, but we do not accept forwarding of cosmetics. There are many vendors who won't give it to me.
At the beginning of 2019, I finally found a company that seemed to be able to transfer cosmetics properly, and when I tried the challenge, I got hooked.
――Is it sometimes not delivered?
It usually arrives fine. However, there are times when the store will give you candy as an extra out of goodwill... If there is food in the package, it will not be forwarded, so sometimes the entire package, including cosmetics, is thrown away by the forwarder.
--painful……. Taobao is all Chinese, isn't it? How do you choose the products you buy?
Since last year, there has been an increase in the number of people around me who import Chinese cosmetics and tweet about them. I search for Chinese words that correspond to "cosmetics" and "lipstick" and buy packages.
The price is surprisingly cheap, so I'm buying it like an idiot thinking that I might make a mistake (laughs). Details on how to buy are written in my note , so if you are interested, please check it out.
By the way, I've put together a list of things that failed to arrive at 4px, trouble details, etc. in a paid note, so if you want to import them cheaply at 4px, if you don't mind, go ahead...
-` ̗✩Michika Iizuka✩ ̖´- (@mmmiiz) December 23, 2019
Tips on buying things at taobao & failure stories ② For transfer at 4px 6 failed stories & points to note about importing cosmetics | Michika Iizuka @mmmiiz #note https://t.co/BnCGKxJ1jN
――Why is it so cheap?
I think that it is cheaply produced with Chinese manufacturing know-how, but there are quite a few "cosmetics without living". They seem to come from a company that used to manufacture cosmetics as an OEM, but sometimes I see cosmetics with elaborate outer boxes and packages that seem to have been made for a high-end brand.
However, such products are not complete copies, but are individually branded, and the concept and contents are completely different. It's strange, but there are a lot of edgy designs that you can't buy in Japan or South Korea, and I'm a gambler, so it's really fun to be able to look for good cosmetics at low prices at your own risk. is.
――Are there any Chinese cosmetics that you recently “buy packages”?
It was buzzing on Twitter, but it's an ancient Egyptian cosmetics collection in collaboration with ZEESEA and the British Museum. The hieroglyphs (ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs) engraved on the lip were also nice, and the aurora foil in the highlight package was terrifying...
After I finished buying everything, I found the ZEESEA×British Museum items that I was in a hurry to order, so everyone looked at them………………🤦The
-` ̗✩Michika Iizuka✩ ̖´- (@mmmiiz) August 29, 2019
hieroglyphs are engraved on the lip, it's too hot, and the whole world is packed with powder I want to fix my makeup while boasting about it, and the highlight of the angel is that the whole package feels like an aurora foil ... it shines ... pic.twitter.com/BAHbUNxs5b
Also, this has been a hot topic, but a new item from Flower Knows x Pretty Rock Baby arrived the other day. Even though it has such an elaborate design, you can buy an eyeshadow palette for around 1,400 yen on Taobao's official online store.
--too cheap!There was also confusion in distribution due to the spread of the new coronavirus, and I couldn't use the transfer company I always use, so I asked another company, so I was worried if it would arrive safely, but it arrived safely in about two weeks. relieved!
――How much money do you spend on cosmetics in a month?
I also spend money on other hobbies, so even if I buy a lot, it's around 10,000 yen. But Chinese cosmetics are really cheap, so you can still buy a lot.
――How is the quality of Chinese cosmetics?
As far as I've used it, I'm really satisfied with the color development and lame of the eyeshadow. I haven't had any breakouts so far.
However, the lip is really sharp. There is no such thing as a matte lip that dries very much (laughs). There are many glosses with cute colors, but they still give the impression of being dry, so Korean cosmetics are easier to use.
――You have to use it to find out. Do you incorporate trends from each country, such as “Ulzzang makeup” or “Chinese beauty makeup”?
When I was a university student, I used to do a lot of Korean-style makeup, but now I'm not so conscious of it. When I received my bone structure diagnosis, I was also taught how to apply makeup, so while incorporating that, I basically enjoy using individual items.
Recently, I've been doing a lot of rotation with the eyeshadow from "PERFECT DIARY". I'm still using it today, but the lame is so big that if it gets in my eyes, I might die (laughs). I thought I would never get on my eyelids like this, but when I use it, it's pretty good and it's the best product. It looks like an aurora fragment!
I want “offensive” cosmetics rather than “defensive”
--At this point, can I see your make-up pouch?
yes. I like small bags, so I carry very little with me. Actually, even this is quite a lot, and it's not uncommon to go out with only perfume and lipstick... (laughs).
From the top left
・dejavu Lash Up Mascara
・UZU EYE OPENING LINER GRAY
・CANMAKE Mix Eyebrow 04 Grayish Brown
・I'M MEME I'm Multi Cube 001 All About Candy Pink
・Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia
・COLOR POP SUPER SHOCK CHEEK PARALLEL
Lower left
・DEAR DAHLIA Skin Paradise Blooming Cushion Foundation Peach Ivory
・Dior Addict LIP MAXIMIZER 009 Holo Purple
・rom＆nd JUICY LASTING TINT 06 FIGFIG・
the SAEM Cover Perfection IDEAL CONCEALER DUO 01 Clear Beige
-- Really minimal ~.
Once I go out, I hardly ever need to touch up my makeup again. In the summer, I think I'll have some powder in addition to this. In winter, just apply Innisfree No Sebum Powder at home and go out. I often buy a package, but I often leave it at home because the one with a cute package is bulky.
――COLOR POP is an American cosmetics brand.
Yes Yes. It's a color called PARALLEL of the item called SUPER SHOCK CHEEK, but it looks like coral but actually has a strong bluish tone.
I'M MEME's multi-cube is recommended for those who want a smaller pouch! Color makeup is completed with this one.
DEAR DAHLIA's cushion foundation looks beautiful even when it's lightly applied, so I think it's useful for people who want to look smooth. Well, if it's really troublesome, I'll just cover the dark circles with the SAEM concealer stick (laughs).
――the SAEM is versatile! Looking at it this way, I usually use a lot of Korean cosmetics.
I agree. Base makeup is mostly Korean cosmetics. However, I think it's because I've been buying it for a long time, but I have the impression that Korean cosmetics today, especially color items, have shifted too much to the "minimal" route, and in a sense they're on the "defensive" route.
Colors and packaging are becoming similar, and that's cute, but I'm looking for more weird-shaped packaging and gimmicky cosmetics that don't make sense. In the past, there were a lot of cosmetics like Premium Bandai...
――The analogy is otaku (laughs).
I like aggressive cosmetics, so I think I'll buy mainly Chinese cosmetics for a while.
――Finally, do you think that encountering cosmetics changed your life?
I like to put on makeup, but I also really like wearing cute cosmetics around me. It may be said that meeting cute Korean cosmetics changed my life.
In fact, I've just launched a brand called "menmeiz" with a friend that collects "kawaii" from around the world, mainly from Asia .
My hobbies are to create original items in collaboration with creators, and to select and sell items purchased from Taobao, etc. ) experience is fun to live.
--very! Will you sell cosmetics in the future?
I want to do it, but I need a special permit to purchase and sell cosmetics from overseas. I'm also interested in asking a specialized company to make an original, but it costs a lot of money (laughs). I'm trying to figure out how to clear it.
--looking forward to it. thank you very much!