[Jan/Feb 2023 Edition] Things I'm Glad I Bought [Commuter Bag and Eyebrow Makeup]

I managed to keep up with my bimonthly best-buy articles last year somehow... and I'll be continuing them this year too!
I bought quite a variety of things over these past two months. What's more, there were very few things that made me think, 'Oh, that was a failure!', so I'm feeling quite warm and fuzzy about having made such satisfying purchases.

By the way, regarding the header image, for my best-buy articles, I use photos of places I visited or things that are memorable from that period.
This time, it's a photo from my trip to Akita in mid-February. The snow was incredible (a comment typical of someone living in a region with little snowfall). It was so much fun. The kiritanpo was delicious.

: Workman Waterproof Day Bag

Purchased for commuting.
This is a replacement for my water-repellent backpack from Muji. The Muji backpack was light and nice, but its lack of water-repellent performance had always been a bottleneck.
It was my first time buying a bag at Workman, but honestly, I had no worries at all. The sturdiness that allows it to stand on its own even when empty, the fine weave of the nylon, the water-resistant zippers, the size of the front pocket, the back pocket, the cushioning on the shoulder straps, etc... it's a spec sheet with no room for complaints.
Naturally, the waterproof performance is also perfect. The way raindrops bead up and fly off is exactly what you'd expect from Workman. Since the front pocket doesn't have a gusset, water doesn't pool there either (my Muji backpack often used to soak through from the front pocket...).
And this is 2,900 yen? Are you sure that's okay?

What I especially liked were the removable sleeve case (it's quite stiff, so documents don't bend even without a file) and the chest belt that can secure the shoulder straps.
This was the first backpack I've bought with a chest belt, and it's incredibly good... I took it as my travel bag on my Akita trip, and it was very easy to carry because the shoulder straps didn't slip off.
I also felt less shoulder pain from the weight of the luggage.

The downside was that the shoulder strap adjustment belts move easily, but I succeeded in fixing them completely by tying them, so it's safe.
I wonder if the side pockets being a bit shallow is a concern? I'm a little worried about whether a large water bottle will be stable when I put it in during the summer. But such drawbacks are trivial. I'm really glad I bought it. I didn't realize that just clearing away the anxiety about rainy days would make commuting so much more comfortable.

: KATE Designing Eyebrow 3D EX-6

The eyebrow makeup product that reigned supreme as the #1 best buy of last year... broke right at the beginning of the year!
When things break, it really is sudden. The powder shattered into pieces, and the brush head popped off into the handle. It wouldn't come out. Is there such a way to break?
However, it was funny that they broke at almost the same time. Are you two one in body and soul even in that regard?

Having learned the comfort of an eyebrow kit and a larger brush, I upgraded a bit and bought the KATE powder. It's that classic item that everyone who wears makeup supposedly owns.
The classic was... wonderful! I feel like I was wasting my time being satisfied with Daiso! The difference is that big (though the Daiso one is good because it's worth it just for the fact that you can buy it for 100 yen). No wonder it's popular. No wonder everyone has it.
I was first surprised by the moist feel of the powder and the lack of fallout. Also, what should I call it, a wax-like quality? It adheres perfectly to the skin and doesn't budge.
The pigmentation is also quite good, so at first, I was confused because it became too dark. Once you get used to it, you can draw firm eyebrows with a very small amount of powder... isn't this incredibly cost-effective?
The color is also a perfect reddish-brown. It goes perfectly with my favorite Visee Eyebrow Mascara.

: Rosy Rosa Double-Ended Eyebrow Brush Smudge Type

I was torn between this and the Whomee brush, but I went with Rosy Rosa because I was attracted to the firmer bristles and the double-ended design.
The length of the handle is just right. It's very easy to draw with.
Although the firmness was as described in the reviews, it is quite firm. Maybe even firmer than the U R Glam brush.
It's very good because it provides firm, clear color for my eyebrows, which have become a hairless zone at the tails. Actually, it's so solid that it's hard to adjust the powder.
Recently, I've been creating the perfect eyebrows by lightly applying color all over with the KATE付属 brush, shaping the edges with the large brush, and adding to the sparse areas with the small brush.

By the way, the small brush is also useful when drawing a line with a dark eyeshadow.

: Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Medicated Penetrating Whitening Lotion

My favorite whitening lotion from Hakutsuru was discontinued, so I bought this because the ingredients are similar.

Kazunosuke recommended the non-premium version, but I chose the premium one because the anti-inflammatory effect was also attractive.

I had a bit of a bias against the Hada Labo series... I really dislike thick lotions with a lot of glycerin, and I had a strong image of the Hada Labo series having a thick texture.
But this Shirojyun had almost no thickness. Yet it moisturizes well! If you layer it 2-3 times, your skin becomes quite supple.
Perhaps thanks to the dipotassium glycyrrhizate, the redness and inflammation of my skin have also decreased. The Hada Labo series... it's actually good...! (A complete change of heart)

I'm using the regular type, and since it's so comfortable to use, I'm getting greedy wondering how much more moisturizing the rich type would be, but I should probably stay away from it...
When I want to keep my skincare simple, Shirojyun Lotion + CareCera Emulsion has become my go-to. Thank you, Rohto Pharmaceutical.

: Nigari (Magnesium Chloride)

Since my morning bowel movements were feeling a bit irregular, I decided to incorporate this as a magnesium supplement.
I add 5 or 6 drops of nigari to a glass of water and drink it about twice a day.
I actually laughed because by the second day of taking it, things were moving smoothly from the morning. Just how magnesium-deficient was I?
I think magnesium oxide is the standard for constipation, but I wonder what the difference is compared to magnesium chloride? For now, things are going well, so I plan to continue taking nigari.
I should probably study up a bit on the benefits of oral magnesium intake (my inner health geek is getting excited).

: Cos De BAHA G Serum Glycolic Acid Serum

It's Cos De BAHA again! This is my third bottle of serum. I'm truly hooked.
I've been struggling with rough skin on my cheeks for a long time, so I've been curious about this as an easy-to-use peeling agent.

The immediate effects of Cos De BAHA serums are irresistible, and this one is also wonderfully effective... When I started using it, I mixed about 3 drops into my CareCera and applied it before bed, and the next morning my skin was super smooth. It felt like a peeled egg...
The change in skin texture from peeling products is so fun and addictive, isn't it?! I want to use it every day!!
...but I'm holding back to about once a week so I don't end up with 'vinyl skin.' Since I'm also using retinol, even once a week might be too much. But the immediate effect is enough to make me happy. This is a serum that requires me to fight my own self-control (?).

However, among Cos De BAHA serums, only this glycolic acid one can only be bought through personal import. Many of their other serums are available for next-day delivery.
I wonder if it's difficult to sell peeling products in Japan? They are much easier to use than soap or gommage types, so I'd be happy if there were more options... I suppose there are safety issues involved.

Looking back, I bought a lot of cosmetics this month too... My inner geek is in top form.
As for skincare, I'm usually the type to stick with products I like, so this toner was a bit of an adventure. Especially since my skin condition had been so good lately... You can't beat a product being discontinued...
I've been taken care of by Rohto Pharmaceutical for a long time, so I strongly feel I can trust them. Having a manufacturer I can trust like this makes it very helpful when I need to make a choice in a pinch. Thank you, Rohto Pharmaceutical.
I'm relieved that I was able to properly update my eyebrow makeup routine. The perfection of my eyebrows has a huge impact on my motivation for the day...!

But more than anything, the thing I'm most glad I bought this month is the backpack.
The Muji backpack was good, too. There are many aspects where the Muji backpack wins, such as its lightness, softness, and the depth of the side pockets, so I don't plan on getting rid of it and will use it for other purposes. Maybe I'll turn it into an emergency bag.
That said, I admire the waterproof nature of the Workman backpack. I have no worries about rain or snow. It's as robust as you'd expect. Even though I thought it might be a bit bulky due to the chest belt, the sense of security is different when something you use every day is this sturdy.
By the way, after using it for two months, the durability is impeccable so far.
I'm looking forward to the rainy season...! I hope it shows its full potential then!

Now, spring is coming, and I'm sure things will get warmer and more active.
Actually, I just made a rather large purchase...!
I hope this turns out to be a good decision. I'm just praying I'll be able to include it in my best-buy article two months from now.