{"id":1485,"date":"2020-01-09T13:09:15","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T04:09:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/?p=1485"},"modified":"2020-01-09T13:09:27","modified_gmt":"2020-01-09T04:09:27","slug":"%e7%be%8e%e5%ae%b9%e3%81%8b%e3%82%89%e8%87%aa%e5%88%86%e3%82%89%e3%81%97%e3%81%8f%e3%81%a3%e3%81%a6%e6%95%99%e3%82%8f%e3%81%a3%e3%81%9f-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/en\/archives\/1485","title":{"rendered":"Embracing, Not Erasing: How Kinaka Sato Discovered Self-Love Through Her Make-up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding Power in Products<\/h3>\n

Yoshikawa Yasuo(YY)\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>We met when you were buying for Isetan and I was working for Chicca. We had a long conversation about the changing states of Japanese cosmetic brands. What are you up to now?<\/p>\n

Kinaka Sato(KS)\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>My job is to introduce buyers to the world of cosmetics. I\u2019m constantly hunting for that new, groundbreaking product to present to my customers. At the moment, I\u2019m focused on marketing in Asia, with my most recent project concentrating on the Philippines. The people there are so eager to try Japanese brands. I want our global customers to appreciate both Isetan\u2019s traditional values and its uniqueness in design and product lines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>I understand that, but doesn\u2019t every department store carry quite similar brands?<\/p>\n

KS\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Beauty, health, and gourmet foods are all very popular categories. For instance, many people are interested in Japanese food. As a consumer, food is much easier to understand, because in most cases, you know right away whether you like it or not. But cosmetics and skincare can be a challenge because they often take time to show results. So, I try to come up with clever and clear ways to show what specific products can do. I demonstrate the individual brand philosophies of products by coming up with finished looks and results for people to review when deciding on their purchases.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>You mean you want to highlight the value of a product.<\/p>\n

KS\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Yes, we try to figure out what makes specific products so alluring.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

What Make-up Has Taught Me<\/h3>\n

YY\u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0What\u2019s your philosophy on beauty and cosmetics?\u00a0<\/p>\n

KS\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>My views toward makeup have changed over the years. I was very insecure when I was young and frequently compared myself to others. In my 20\u2019s I used lots of heavy makeup, and now when I look back on photographs from that time period, I recognize how clueless I was.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was not <\/em>a good look for me. I now gravitate to much more genuine and natural makeup looks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

My need to fit in also affected my personal relationships\u2014I was such a people pleaser. I believed that love was self-sacrificing, and that it was best to suppress my own needs and fully give myself to others, no matter the personal costs that it came with.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>I think codependent is the word for that.<\/p>\n

KS\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>I know. I now realize that a relationship must be made up of two equals. Interdependence is key.<\/p>\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Changing old patterns can be hard. How did you finally learn to express your needs?<\/p>\n

KS<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Well, I couldn\u2019t keep suppressing them. There was a period where I began reading self-help books for guidance. It was during that time that I learned your philosophy of using makeup as an enhancer of natural beauty and not as a concealer. It was completely different than anything I had ever heard of before, and it shocked me. It totally clashed against my ideas that makeup should be used to change and hide myself.<\/p>\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>You wanted to discover your true self.\u00a0<\/p>\n

KS<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Exactly. It really had a tremendous impact on me.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>That\u2019s because at that point in your life, you were ready for change and self-acceptance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

KS\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>How you present yourself and how you live your life are absolutely connected. Staying true to yourself allows you to be more present in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why Japanese Brands?<\/h3>\n

KS\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Many Japanese brands are not internationally known, and I want the world to become more familiar with their uniqueness.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>A lot of international beauty companies promote such products with things like clich\u00e9 images of Geisha girls. I frequently have to explain to people that those notions are quite old and not representative whatsoever of contemporary Japan.<\/p>\n

KS<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0I agree that those depictions are so dated. There are so many great Japanese brands with such original ingredients and style that so many international people don\u2019t ever hear about.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Figuring out how to introduce and sell them online can be challenging. For a larger retailer, people might buy a trending product online without ever having physically seen it, but makeup and skincare is a different story because people wonder how it will work with their skin tone, eye color, the list goes on.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Yes, it\u2019s true that people often want to see and feel physical products. But it\u2019s amazing how the Internet is kind of shaking things up when it comes to testing beforehand.\u00a0<\/p>\n

KS\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>People do buy a lot of things online now, but they still want to go shopping and receive in person validation for their style, even if it\u2019s something they bought online. I think the need for physical retail stores still exists because of the ways that people want to be publicly noticed.<\/p>\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>As a buyer, I\u2019m sure you\u2019re constantly thinking about what others need or want. How do you focus on your needs?\u00a0 What do you do for self-care?<\/p>\n

KS\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>I love taking long baths with scented bath salts. My current favorite are the Rose Dive scent <\/a>from SHIGETA Paris<\/a>.\u00a0 I\u2019ll even read or take notes while I\u2019m relaxing in it!<\/p>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

YY<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Saltwater is so good for the skin because of its softening and revitalizing properties.<\/p>\n

KS<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019ve always been interested in fragrances, and really like this Japanese brand TOBALI<\/a> in particular. Their fragrances contain traces of traditional Japanese smells, and they\u2019re so subtle and well designed. My top three are Iron Wind<\/a>, White Storage<\/a>, and Cypress Mask<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

YY\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>I agree. The bottles also have such beautiful packaging, they feel like a piece of art.<\/p>\n

KS<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0The scents are so modern and beautiful\u2014I really feel as though they embody Japanese minimalism.<\/p>\n

Lastly, I love CHICCA\u2019s Flawless Glow Solid Foundation<\/a>.\u00a0 It completely altered my perception of makeup. I\u2019m sad it won\u2019t be available anymore, especially after how much the brand has transformed my personal journey!\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Photos :\u00a0 Yasuo Yoshikawa<\/p>\n

Interview \/ Text: Yasuo Yoshikawa<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Finding Power in Products Yoshikawa Yasuo(YY)\u00a0 \u00a0We met when you were buying for Isetan and I was working for Chicca. We had a long conversation about the changing states of Japanese cosmetic brands. What are you up to now? Kinaka Sato(KS)\u00a0 \u00a0My job is to introduce buyers to the world of cosmetics. I\u2019m constantly hunting for that new, groundbreaking product to present to my customers. At the moment, I\u2019m focused on marketing in Asia, with my most recent project concentrating on the Philippines. The people there are so eager to try Japanese brands. I want our global customers to appreciate both Isetan\u2019s traditional values and its uniqueness in design and product lines.\u00a0 YY\u00a0 \u00a0I understand that, but doesn\u2019t every department store carry quite similar brands? KS\u00a0 \u00a0Beauty, health, and gourmet foods are all very popular categories. For instance, many people are interested in Japanese food. As a consumer, food is much easier to understand, because in most cases, you know right away whether you like it or not. But cosmetics and skincare can be a challenge because they often take time to show results. So, I try to come up with clever and clear ways to show what specific products can do. I demonstrate the individual brand philosophies of products by coming up with finished looks and results for people to review when deciding on their purchases.\u00a0\u00a0 YY\u00a0 \u00a0You mean you want to highlight the value of a product. KS\u00a0 \u00a0Yes, we try to figure out what makes specific products so alluring. \u00a0 What Make-up Has Taught Me YY\u00a0 \u00a0What\u2019s your philosophy on beauty and cosmetics?\u00a0 KS\u00a0 \u00a0My views toward makeup have changed over the years. I was very insecure when I was young and frequently compared myself to others. In my 20\u2019s I used lots of heavy makeup, and now when I look back on photographs from that time period, I recognize how clueless I was.\u00a0 It was not a good look for me. I now gravitate to much more genuine and natural makeup looks.\u00a0 My need to fit in also affected my personal relationships\u2014I was such a people pleaser. I believed that love was self-sacrificing, and that it was best to suppress my own needs and fully give myself to others, no matter the personal costs that it came with.\u00a0 YY\u00a0 \u00a0I think codependent is the word for that. KS\u00a0 \u00a0I know. I now realize that a relationship must be made up of two equals. Interdependence is key. YY\u00a0 \u00a0Changing old patterns can be hard. How did you finally learn to express your needs? KS\u00a0 \u00a0Well, I couldn\u2019t keep suppressing them. There was a period where I began reading self-help books for guidance. It was during that time that I learned your philosophy of using makeup as an enhancer of natural beauty and not as a concealer. It was completely different than anything I had ever heard of before, and it shocked me. It totally clashed against my ideas that makeup should be used to change and hide myself. YY\u00a0 \u00a0You wanted to discover your true self.\u00a0 KS\u00a0 \u00a0Exactly. It really had a tremendous impact on me.\u00a0\u00a0 YY\u00a0 \u00a0That\u2019s because at that point in your life, you were ready for change and self-acceptance.\u00a0 KS\u00a0 \u00a0How you present yourself and how you live your life are absolutely connected. Staying true to yourself allows you to be more present in the world.\u00a0 \u00a0 Why Japanese Brands? KS\u00a0 \u00a0Many Japanese brands are not internationally known, and I want the world to become more familiar with their uniqueness. YY\u00a0 \u00a0A lot of international beauty companies promote such products with things like clich\u00e9 images of Geisha girls. I frequently have to explain to people that those notions are quite old and not representative whatsoever of contemporary Japan. KS\u00a0 \u00a0I agree that those depictions are so dated. There are so many great Japanese brands with such original ingredients and style that so many international people don\u2019t ever hear about.\u00a0 Figuring out how to introduce and sell them online can be challenging. For a larger retailer, people might buy a trending product online without ever having physically seen it, but makeup and skincare is a different story because people wonder how it will work with their skin tone, eye color, the list goes on.\u00a0\u00a0 YY\u00a0 \u00a0Yes, it\u2019s true that people often want to see and feel physical products. But it\u2019s amazing how the Internet is kind of shaking things up when it comes to testing beforehand.\u00a0 KS\u00a0 \u00a0People do buy a lot of things online now, but they still want to go shopping and receive in person validation for their style, even if it\u2019s something they bought online. I think the need for physical retail stores still exists because of the ways that people want to be publicly noticed. YY\u00a0 \u00a0As a buyer, I\u2019m sure you\u2019re constantly thinking about what others need or want. How do you focus on your needs?\u00a0 What do you do for self-care? KS\u00a0 \u00a0I love taking long baths with scented bath salts. My current favorite are the Rose Dive scent from SHIGETA Paris.\u00a0 I\u2019ll even read or take notes while I\u2019m relaxing in it! YY\u00a0 \u00a0Saltwater is so good for the skin because of its softening and revitalizing properties. KS\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019ve always been interested in fragrances, and really like this Japanese brand TOBALI in particular. Their fragrances contain traces of traditional Japanese smells, and they\u2019re so subtle and well designed. My top three are Iron Wind, White Storage, and Cypress Mask.\u00a0 YY\u00a0 \u00a0I agree. The bottles also have such beautiful packaging, they feel like a piece of art. KS\u00a0 \u00a0The scents are so modern and beautiful\u2014I really feel as though they embody Japanese minimalism. Lastly, I love CHICCA\u2019s Flawless Glow Solid Foundation.\u00a0 It completely altered my perception of makeup. I\u2019m sad it won\u2019t be available anymore, especially after how much the brand has transformed my personal journey!\u00a0 \u00a0 Photos :\u00a0 Yasuo Yoshikawa Interview \/ Text: Yasuo Yoshikawa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"1408"},"categories":[5,8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1485"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1485"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1498,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1485\/revisions\/1498"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}