Do you watch anime? Do you sing along to the anime openings? >>>
Wednesday, June 17
Review: Snack Crazy With “Freedom Japanese Market”
When watching anime or reading manga, do you ever feel like wanting to jump in and try the food your favourite characters are eating? Or maybe you watch those travel channels on TV or on YouTube and wish you could get your own taste of Japan from home? Well look no further, as MYM Buzz have taken the plunge into reviewing a mammoth Japanese food subscription box just for you.
The Havens family are the ones behind Freedom Japanese Market and they kindly sent us their March box to review. When the box arrived, I was pretty surprised at how full and heavy it was. It was also well secured and full of stickers. Considering the postage was free was an absolute bonus.
I mentioned that the box is curated by a family, and as soon as you open it you are greeted with an image of the family and a comprehensive list of all the items within the box. This allows those of you who are not so literate in Japanese to fully understand what it is you are eating.
Another special and really personal touch is the “Origami Of The Month”, which is handmade by the family themselves. This month’s one is a beautiful origami kimono, as it’s in celebration of graduation month in Japan.
The first item I tried was the Doraemon Umai snacks. In retrospect these are huge singular Wotsits (corn puff crisps – if you’re from the UK, you will understand), but these are extremely Japanese, due to all the different flavourings. In my box I was able to try the Salami and Chicken Yakatori.
Next up is the Chocolate Pen, a very cute item for those who are younger. The top end is filled with singular chocolate drops (like the small Smarties you get on cakes) and the bottom is a usable crayon.
The Punch Cola packet reminds me of Cola flavoured Seltzer, which you place into some water and it creates a flat Cola flavoured drink.
Whistle Ramune Fish Candies are really fun, just pop them between your lips, give a really hard blow and whistle away – they also taste exactly like the Ramune drinks you get from Japan.
We all like something with Kirby on it, and what isn’t better for our little bubble person than bubblegum! Unfortunately, like most Japanese gum, the flavour doesn’t last and it really isn’t one of the best sweets Japan has produced, but on the upside, you do get a cute sticker with each piece.
Lastly in this group photo we have the Doraemon Umai boiled sweets. From what I could gather the pink one was ice cream and the yellow one was sweetcorn flavoured. The flavouring was really strong and something I would look for when I go to Japan next.
Lifeguard is a paste candy which you can squeeze onto chopsticks or onto a spoon, which you can then lick like a lollipop. The flavour reminds me of Mountain Dew, but the texture is like a jelly that is not set properly. It’s very tasty though.
The smartphone candies come in a tray and remind me of jelly beans. They are extremely fruity and come with a little toothpick (stylus?) to eat them with. The packaging is once again totally cute.
One of my favourites has got to be the Neru Neru D.I.Y set to create your own lollipops, but there is a twist. When creating the lollipops the consistency is that of melted marshmallows; very sticky and it gets everywhere. Once it’s placed onto the sticks and covered in sprinkles they then become a true lollipop. I then began to eat the sweets I created and was shocked to find a disappearing sherbet powder.
I was so excited that there was a Crayon Shin Chan item in the box that I savaged the bag before taking a photo (I only realised halfway through that I needed a photo – for that I apologise). As they are grilled beef flavoured rice crackers, they are a nice alternative to your everyday crisps.
The packaging for the strawberry fish shaped wafer is so pretty, but the taste is even better. It reminds me of a strawberry Aero covered in a pink, highly detailed fish wafer.
For those who know me, it’s no secret that matcha (green tea) flavoured items in beauty, food or drink is the perfect gift for me. I was graced with the fact that Freedom Japanese Market actually placed green tea flavoured chocolate in the box (put it this way, these chocolates were not shared!). They were so creamy, with delicate biscuits and full of good matcha flavourings.
The single serve Butamen Curry Ramen is possibly one of my favourite items from the box. It has just the right amount of serving to make it a worthwhile hot snack, yet not enough that you feel so full after you have eaten it. The curry flavour is similar to that from Pot Noodle as well.
The Takoyaki pack is possibly one of the items I was really excited, but slightly let down by. The snack itself is once again a rice cracker. It has the same taste as most of the other savoury rice crackers with a slight fishy fragrance, but when you follow the instructions to put the special Takoyaki sauce over the crackers, I was expecting a sweet additive to the crackers. In reality, it was just a thicker soy sauce substance that created a very salty snack.
Something that Freedom Japanese Market pride themselves on is that they can ship the finest authentic Japanese products straight from Japan without any of the “aimed at the foreign market” nonsense that we are given within Asian supermarkets. The idea that all of these products are authentic really allows the customers to get a genuine taste of Japan, instead of flavours being toned down or falsified.
The box really did feel personal. It was filled with so many items which were all so different from each other and it put a smile on my face, with lots of different flavours, textures, and cute packaging to send you wild. Freedom Japanese Market were kind enough to note that should any of our readers add MYMBuzz to the order notes, you will be able to receive a free bonus candy in your first box – you can subscribe here. In the meantime be sure to pop over to their website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest for latest updates, customer reviews and general Japanese food and culture information.
A huge thank you to the Havens family for sending MYMBuzz a special box of goodness!
Japanese Guitar Samurai MIYAVI Is “Afraid To Be Cool” In New Animated Music Video
Japan’s very own guitar samurai MIYAVI is back with force, showcasing the release of his new song “Afraid To Be Cool” and the announcement that his new album for 2016 will be out on August 31st.
Although we only have the short version of the music video and song available at the moment, just within the 1 minute and 57 seconds preview we get, you can already tell this is gonna be another chart topping song for Miyavi and his endless amounts of talent. For his new release he joined together with the amazing Japanese artist Fantasista Utamaro – of whom has a very extensive list of people he has worked with such as LM.C, YUZU, Aya Hirano, Ko Shibasaki, Shina Pikarin, Amiaya, Pharrell Williams, and Ai Shinozaki to name a few.
On april 12th MIYAVI’s youtube channel teased fans with a trailer for his “Afraid To be Cool” release, but was also giving a glimpse into his B-side of the track “Raise Me up” – an added bonus to the video was the announcement of his new Japanese tour “New Beat, New Future” which starts in Sapporo on the 19th September, and finishes in Nagoya on the October 2nd. Good news is that “Afraid To be Cool/Raise Me up” are both available for purchase on the itunes Store which has already hit the #1 itunes top album charts in Japan and entering the top 10 itunes charts in Hong Kong and Finland.
Make sure you show all the support you can for MIYAVI by visiting his official website, twitter, facebook and youtube channel. Be sure to check out the teaser trailer for his upcoming album and Japanese tour, as well as the new music video below, and stay tuned for more information.
Japanese Band NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST To Tour Europe
Nocturnal Bloodlust will be embarking on their first European tour >>>
Introducing Freedom Japanese Market – A Mammoth Subscription Box
“Bringing real Japanese snacks to the world” >>>
Goodies galore in Japan Crate's latest box
It may be a given, but the MCM Buzz team are pretty partial to some of the weirdest and most wonderful food from around the world. We were recently sent the August edition of Japan Crate and was surprised to see the amount of sweets and geeky products within the adorable and cleverly designed ‘Premium’ box.
This is a Japanese candy subscription box that comes in three different sizes and prices. There is the ‘Mini’ box for $12 (roughly £8), which contains 4-6 items; an ‘Original’ box for $25 (roughly £16), which contains 8-10 items and a DIY candy box; and the ‘Premium’ box for $30 (roughly £20), which contains a whopping 10-12 items, a DIY candy kit and a drink.
What’s unique about this subscription box compared to others of its kind is the community that supports it. Japan Crate have a great connection to their niche market and feature many of their subscribers on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Website.
They also have a special package known as the Sugoi Crate in which one lucky subscriber will be randomly chosen to win a box full of giant candies, Japanese gadgets, toys and gaming systems. For August’s Sugoi Crate the winner recieved a WiiU – Super Mario World 3D Deluxe Set, Giant Pocky, Kaminarimon Nanoblock set, Panda Darake Chopsticks game, Totoro Plushie, Popin’ Cookin’ Sushi and Bento DIY Kits, Kumamon Itazura Bank, Mr. Knocky Drum toy, Wasabi – Rum & Raisin – Strawberry Cheesecake Kit Kats, Giant Bag of Galbee chips, Pocky & Peanuts Snoopy Almond Crush, and lastly Mentaiko Umaibo Sticks.
Because the box is coming from the US I recieved an email that said to allow 4 -6 weeks for delivery, but to my surprise it was delivered a mere eight days after it had been posted. The box is your standard subscription box in style, but bright red with their logo on the top. The inside is really cute with different scenery with each box.
Upon opening the box you will be greeted with their information booklet. A lot of time and effort has gone into the 13-page mini magazines. It includes a small 2-page comic, information on the contents of your Japan Crate box, some in-depth information about their featured candy, details about the Sugoi Crate, and a step-by-step tutorial on how to assemble your DIY candy kit.
Near the back of the magazine (which is read in the manga style from the top right to the bottom left) there is a small section which teaches you something cultural about Japan. In this edition it was about the Obon Festival and included some Japanese words at the bottom of the page for subscribers to learn. Finally there are two pages about the Japan Crate community where images and letters are sent in to be featured.
Shuwa Shuwa Soda Candy
Apparently “Shuwa Shuwa” is the sound of the fizz in soda; you have to wait till you get to the centre of the candy before you find out why it has that name. These hard boiled candies are really sweet, full of sugar and seem like your typical British boiled sweet, until you get to the centre and are greeted with a mouthful of fine powdered sherbet which foams as soon as it touches the wetness of your mouth. They come in three flavours, which I determined as Grape, Cola and Strawberry.
Soy Sauce Pretz
Crunchy biscuit sticks with a tangy soy sauce glaze. These are like your normal Pretz stick, flat, crunchy, but with a subtle sweetness to the biscuit. The soy glaze gives a hint of saltiness, but they are completely addictive and very more-ish. I would say these are both sweet and savoury and work well as a snack for someone who isn’t sure what they fancy.
Mario Kart Gum
Put on your diving gloves, buckle up, and grab a few of these bubble gums. Ten individual gums with a “gotta catch em’ all” vibe of having individual characters and karts on each one. For the Mario Kart gamers out there the packaging is really bright and cute. Though what they showcase on the outside isn’t always what’s on the inside. The gum is tangy at first but turns mushy and tasteless within seconds of getting the hard candy into a chewable state – think of chewing paper, that’s exactly what your getting.
Wow! Such Banana?!
A chocolate cream filled marshmallow banana with a hilarious name. This was one of the top items in the box for me. If you like banana flavoured things (milkshakes, cakes, bread), you will LOVE this sweet. It reminds me of the foam bananas you get in the UK, but softer, as it’s made from marshmallow. Yet it has a creamy chocolate centre and a banana flavoured chocolate around the outside of the marshmallow. After letting others have a try, the decision was unanimous that it was one of the better sweets of the package.
Crayon Shin Chan Candy
Crayon coloured ramune flavoured hard candies. Shin-Chan has his own manga and anime (which has been dubbed in over 23 languages) and follows five year old Shin-Chan as he makes mistakes and creates chaos for his parents, school and friends. These sweets remind me of the cheap sweets you get in the 20p gachapon machines, like a boiled sweet, but with a compressed powdered centre. They are fruity but not to my taste. The packaging on the other hand is hilarious and I really like the fact you can pull Shin-Chan’s shorts off.
Soda Mixing Jelly Beans
Five tasty soda flavours in jellybean form; mix and match flavours to create your own soda flavours. Being a bit of a jellybean fanatic I was really excited to try these. Eating them on their own they were really fruity, but the real fun begins when mixing them together. I was devastated when I realised I had finished the packet just minutes after opening it, but can guarantee they are well worth trying if you get the chance.
Japanese BBQ Scones
Like Cheetos but better; the BBQ flavour that gives American flavourings a run for its money. This was a huge packet of Nik-Nak shaped corn chips, covered in a sticky and sweet BBQ sauce which left me craving more. There was a hint of BBQ ribs in the taste and is definitely one of my favourite items from the box.
Crackling Cotton
Fluffy grape cotton candy with an explosive pop rocks kick, a truly unique candy. Please heed my warning, do not put all of this in your mouth due to its luscious smell. Although the taste is really strong and really delicious, eating the candy as a whole means you will endure deafening cracking and popping with the candy hidden inside. It feels as though Japanese popping candy is a thousand times stranger than the ones you get in the US and the UK. Really tasty and a fun experience, especially if you give it to someone unexpectedly.
Chocolate Pucca
Crispy pretzel biscuit shells filled with creamy chocolate goodness. If you have tried the Hello Panda chocolate then you’ll have an idea as to what you will be experiencing here, though there is a complete difference with the biscuits used. The chocolate is also different here, a little richer in texture and taste.
Pokémon Puzzle Game
Enjoy some gum whilst you piece this puzzle together. For you Pokémon fans out there this product is possibly a treat, though there is the reappearance of some dreadful bubblegum that tastes like you’re chewing soggy paper. This can be excused with the fact that you get a sticker puzzle game inside as well.
Puzzle & Dragons X Bikkuriman Wafer
Fans of P&D or Bikkuriman will recognise the characters on the cover. Inside is a tasty wafer with collectable playing cards and stickers. There is something about Japanese chocolate that keeps me really happy and the kind here is creamy and really high end, which accompanies the wafer extremely well. The packaging is super cute too.
Creamy Melon Soda
Delicious and creamy soda with a nice melon flavour. While I like my fruit I have never been a big fan of melon, nor a fan of melon flavouring. But things have changed and Japan has proved that should a melon find its way to my mouth, it will be through flavoured cream soda. It’s really light on bubbles, extremely creamy, and reminds me of a fizzy version of the melon milk that is available.
DIY Choco-shrooms
A popular snack that has turned into a DIY kit. Choco-shrooms are one of the Japanese sweets that most westerners are given to introduce them slowly into the world of Japanese candies, and rightly so, they are really tasty. But actually making the items by hand makes it just that little bit more special. Directions are given in English in the booklet and on the back of the box, but I feel it’s pretty simple and self explanatory. The outcomes were really pretty and extremely tasty.
It was very surprising seeing the amount of products and goodies received in the box. I thoroughly enjoyed trying each and every item as it opened my eyes to what’s available from Japan. It’s not all just Hi-Chews and Pocky! With the personal touches of the information booklet as well as the inclusion of anime, manga and game characters within the box, there is something there that will capture your attention.
For the price of the box it is definitely worth it. With its fast delivery, high quality products and an exploration of culture within a monthly subscription box, you couldn’t ask for more.
Thank you to Japan Crate for sending MCM Buzz a box to review.
Goodies galore in Japan Crate’s latest box
It may be a given, but the MCM Buzz team are pretty partial to some of the weirdest and most wonderful food from around the world. We were recently sent the August edition of Japan Crate and was surprised to see the amount of sweets and geeky products within the adorable and cleverly designed ‘Premium’ box.
This is a Japanese candy subscription box that comes in three different sizes and prices. There is the ‘Mini’ box for $12 (roughly £8), which contains 4-6 items; an ‘Original’ box for $25 (roughly £16), which contains 8-10 items and a DIY candy box; and the ‘Premium’ box for $30 (roughly £20), which contains a whopping 10-12 items, a DIY candy kit and a drink.
What’s unique about this subscription box compared to others of its kind is the community that supports it. Japan Crate have a great connection to their niche market and feature many of their subscribers on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Website.
They also have a special package known as the Sugoi Crate in which one lucky subscriber will be randomly chosen to win a box full of giant candies, Japanese gadgets, toys and gaming systems. For August’s Sugoi Crate the winner recieved a WiiU – Super Mario World 3D Deluxe Set, Giant Pocky, Kaminarimon Nanoblock set, Panda Darake Chopsticks game, Totoro Plushie, Popin’ Cookin’ Sushi and Bento DIY Kits, Kumamon Itazura Bank, Mr. Knocky Drum toy, Wasabi – Rum & Raisin – Strawberry Cheesecake Kit Kats, Giant Bag of Galbee chips, Pocky & Peanuts Snoopy Almond Crush, and lastly Mentaiko Umaibo Sticks.
Because the box is coming from the US I recieved an email that said to allow 4 -6 weeks for delivery, but to my surprise it was delivered a mere eight days after it had been posted. The box is your standard subscription box in style, but bright red with their logo on the top. The inside is really cute with different scenery with each box.
Upon opening the box you will be greeted with their information booklet. A lot of time and effort has gone into the 13-page mini magazines. It includes a small 2-page comic, information on the contents of your Japan Crate box, some in-depth information about their featured candy, details about the Sugoi Crate, and a step-by-step tutorial on how to assemble your DIY candy kit.
Near the back of the magazine (which is read in the manga style from the top right to the bottom left) there is a small section which teaches you something cultural about Japan. In this edition it was about the Obon Festival and included some Japanese words at the bottom of the page for subscribers to learn. Finally there are two pages about the Japan Crate community where images and letters are sent in to be featured.
Shuwa Shuwa Soda Candy
Apparently “Shuwa Shuwa” is the sound of the fizz in soda; you have to wait till you get to the centre of the candy before you find out why it has that name. These hard boiled candies are really sweet, full of sugar and seem like your typical British boiled sweet, until you get to the centre and are greeted with a mouthful of fine powdered sherbet which foams as soon as it touches the wetness of your mouth. They come in three flavours, which I determined as Grape, Cola and Strawberry.
Soy Sauce Pretz
Crunchy biscuit sticks with a tangy soy sauce glaze. These are like your normal Pretz stick, flat, crunchy, but with a subtle sweetness to the biscuit. The soy glaze gives a hint of saltiness, but they are completely addictive and very more-ish. I would say these are both sweet and savoury and work well as a snack for someone who isn’t sure what they fancy.
Mario Kart Gum
Put on your diving gloves, buckle up, and grab a few of these bubble gums. Ten individual gums with a “gotta catch em’ all” vibe of having individual characters and karts on each one. For the Mario Kart gamers out there the packaging is really bright and cute. Though what they showcase on the outside isn’t always what’s on the inside. The gum is tangy at first but turns mushy and tasteless within seconds of getting the hard candy into a chewable state – think of chewing paper, that’s exactly what your getting.
Wow! Such Banana?!
A chocolate cream filled marshmallow banana with a hilarious name. This was one of the top items in the box for me. If you like banana flavoured things (milkshakes, cakes, bread), you will LOVE this sweet. It reminds me of the foam bananas you get in the UK, but softer, as it’s made from marshmallow. Yet it has a creamy chocolate centre and a banana flavoured chocolate around the outside of the marshmallow. After letting others have a try, the decision was unanimous that it was one of the better sweets of the package.
Crayon Shin Chan Candy
Crayon coloured ramune flavoured hard candies. Shin-Chan has his own manga and anime (which has been dubbed in over 23 languages) and follows five year old Shin-Chan as he makes mistakes and creates chaos for his parents, school and friends. These sweets remind me of the cheap sweets you get in the 20p gachapon machines, like a boiled sweet, but with a compressed powdered centre. They are fruity but not to my taste. The packaging on the other hand is hilarious and I really like the fact you can pull Shin-Chan’s shorts off.
Soda Mixing Jelly Beans
Five tasty soda flavours in jellybean form; mix and match flavours to create your own soda flavours. Being a bit of a jellybean fanatic I was really excited to try these. Eating them on their own they were really fruity, but the real fun begins when mixing them together. I was devastated when I realised I had finished the packet just minutes after opening it, but can guarantee they are well worth trying if you get the chance.
Japanese BBQ Scones
Like Cheetos but better; the BBQ flavour that gives American flavourings a run for its money. This was a huge packet of Nik-Nak shaped corn chips, covered in a sticky and sweet BBQ sauce which left me craving more. There was a hint of BBQ ribs in the taste and is definitely one of my favourite items from the box.
Crackling Cotton
Fluffy grape cotton candy with an explosive pop rocks kick, a truly unique candy. Please heed my warning, do not put all of this in your mouth due to its luscious smell. Although the taste is really strong and really delicious, eating the candy as a whole means you will endure deafening cracking and popping with the candy hidden inside. It feels as though Japanese popping candy is a thousand times stranger than the ones you get in the US and the UK. Really tasty and a fun experience, especially if you give it to someone unexpectedly.
Chocolate Pucca
Crispy pretzel biscuit shells filled with creamy chocolate goodness. If you have tried the Hello Panda chocolate then you’ll have an idea as to what you will be experiencing here, though there is a complete difference with the biscuits used. The chocolate is also different here, a little richer in texture and taste.
Pokémon Puzzle Game
Enjoy some gum whilst you piece this puzzle together. For you Pokémon fans out there this product is possibly a treat, though there is the reappearance of some dreadful bubblegum that tastes like you’re chewing soggy paper. This can be excused with the fact that you get a sticker puzzle game inside as well.
Puzzle & Dragons X Bikkuriman Wafer
Fans of P&D or Bikkuriman will recognise the characters on the cover. Inside is a tasty wafer with collectable playing cards and stickers. There is something about Japanese chocolate that keeps me really happy and the kind here is creamy and really high end, which accompanies the wafer extremely well. The packaging is super cute too.
Creamy Melon Soda
Delicious and creamy soda with a nice melon flavour. While I like my fruit I have never been a big fan of melon, nor a fan of melon flavouring. But things have changed and Japan has proved that should a melon find its way to my mouth, it will be through flavoured cream soda. It’s really light on bubbles, extremely creamy, and reminds me of a fizzy version of the melon milk that is available.
DIY Choco-shrooms
A popular snack that has turned into a DIY kit. Choco-shrooms are one of the Japanese sweets that most westerners are given to introduce them slowly into the world of Japanese candies, and rightly so, they are really tasty. But actually making the items by hand makes it just that little bit more special. Directions are given in English in the booklet and on the back of the box, but I feel it’s pretty simple and self explanatory. The outcomes were really pretty and extremely tasty.
It was very surprising seeing the amount of products and goodies received in the box. I thoroughly enjoyed trying each and every item as it opened my eyes to what’s available from Japan. It’s not all just Hi-Chews and Pocky! With the personal touches of the information booklet as well as the inclusion of anime, manga and game characters within the box, there is something there that will capture your attention.
For the price of the box it is definitely worth it. With its fast delivery, high quality products and an exploration of culture within a monthly subscription box, you couldn’t ask for more.
Thank you to Japan Crate for sending MCM Buzz a box to review.
Opening a Pandora’s Box of Asian beauty with Beautibi
Monthly subscription and curated themed boxes have become a worldwide sensation, ranging from food and drink, toys and beauty products; there are an endless supply of random and unique boxes available. But with Asian music and culture becoming a huge part of a niche market within the western world, it wasn’t long before people took note of the amazing beauty regimes and products from the far east.
Our friends at Beautibi in Los Angeles sent MCM Buzz one of their curated beauty boxes which claims to bring the best skincare and cosmetic products from Taiwan, Japan and Korea. Beautibi only ship to the US at the moment, but they are hoping to start shipping to Europe. To give our readers an insight of what is available I decided to take one for the MCM Buzz team and went completely beauty product crazy.
The first thing I should explain is that there is a difference between a subscription box and a curated themed box. With a subscription box you pay monthly for a box of goodies of which you won’t know what’s inside, and money will be taken from your bank account unless you unsubscribe. With a curated themed box you can choose products of a certain type (in this case make-up, daily beauty creams and face masks), but still receive a surprise of what will come. There are no recurring fees or contracts and you are not limited to just having the one box.
I’m not the most savvy at beauty products, so I asked for a mixture of items. Beautibi graciously delivered a wide variety of goodies for me to try. I was pretty surprised at the delivery time considering it was coming from the US. I was informed of the box being sent out on 4 August and it arrived on my doorstep on 7 August – just a mere three days later! Not to mention my box was very well packed.
My first impressions was mainly that of excitement after seeing the sturdiness and prettiness of the box and packaging within. Everything was very secure and extremely summery. You are greeted by a card which tells you all the information about the products within as well as a breakdown of how to use them and the R.R.P of the products. There are five main items and a small pouch with six sample pouches of different products (possibly future box items?).
After adding the product prices together it worked out that the box I was sent was worth roughly $60 (around £38), which is pretty considerable when you are only paying roughly $30 (around £19). Can’t say no to a 50% discount! So what did I get in the box and how did I feel about the products?
Beyond: Very Berry Cleansing Foam – Gooseberry scented (Korea). R.R.P $16.
A daily cleansing foam that creates a fine, lush lather with natural plant ingredients as a mild facial wash. Being rich in anthocyanin it provides energy and freshness to the skin. After using this on my face I realised how rough my skin actually was and how much make-up and grime gets left on your face even though you scrub it. It was really soft and beautifully scented inside the bottle, but I feel that the product did leave my skin slightly sticky and the beautiful scent was diminished when placed on the skin, which meant it smelt like every other ‘cheap’ soap. The packaging is simple, but instructions are written in Korean on the back of the package – luckily instructions are included on the welcome card.
Beyond: CC Cream – Aqua, Cover, Glow (Korea). R.R.P $16.
Beyond Real Skin CC Cream has a moisturising cream texture which leaves the skin hydrated and protected from the harsh environmental pollutants. With an SPF25, PA++ rating, you can wear this cream as a make-up base and protect your skin from the sun. I have actually been looking for a new base make-up for my face since my favourite brand had discontinued the one I normally use and I had researched Korean BB and CC creams. When I first tested the product I was slightly disappointed because I have ridiculously pale skin and the pigment was too dark, but as I began to rub the cream into my skin I saw that it was adjusting to my skin tone. It left my skin soft, gave full coverage, and had great lasting power.
PeriPera: Ice Jelly Sun SPF30, PA++ (Korean). R.R.P $12.
With an instant cooling sensation, this water based sunscreen gel is guaranteed to leave you feeling protected and cool. Without leaving any residue on the skin, you can go out and have some fun in the sun with confidence. Again the instructions for use on the back are in Korean, but using the information card you are advised to re-apply every 2-3 hours as needed. I haven’t a clue what the scent is, but it smelt good enough to be eaten – it smells super yummy! It also leaves the skin soft, it’s non-sticky, doesn’t leave any residue whatsoever and I was able to apply my make-up over the top with ease.
Cezanne: Duo Eyeshadow – Peach & Brown (Japanese). R.R.P $10.
The eyeshadow palette comes in peach and brown and are great natural colours for everyday use, with the packaging being small enough to carry in a bag or purse. The pigmentation of the product is extremely high and with a simple glide of the applicator there is more than enough to cover the whole eyelid. The blending capability of the product is clearly where I was charmed as it created a perfect “smokey ” eye.
Maskingdon: I Wish Series – “Made A Miracle” Facial Mask (Taiwan). R.R.P $6.
One of Taiwan’s leading companies in the facial mask business and boasted as the “Queen’s Facial Mask”. The “I Wish ” series has a natural water barrier lock and invisible protective film that helps to provide immediate moisturising, smooth lines, and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid and marine moisturising micro-membrane absorbs into the face muscles to activate firm and beautiful skin. Now I might not be a beauty buff, but I do know a good face mask when I see one, and this is one of the best I have used. It re-awakened and vitalised my face, leaving it full, moisturised and fresh looking. It comes in two parts; the mask and the aftercare moisturiser. After wearing the mask for 15-20 minutes I used up the rest of the excess product and dried it in to my face. Once it was dried I then applied the second part which helps to seal all of the goodness into the skin whilst leaving it plump and soft. One thing I must note about this product is its packaging – the lolita-esque Alice in Wonderland inspired package was so cute that I really didn’t want to ruin it.
As an added bonus there was a small pouch of samples which are usually given to customers who purchase items within beauty stores in Asia. Included with my box was Tony Moly: Panda’s Dream – White Magic Cream (Korea), Tony Moly: Tomatox – Magic Massage Pack (Korea), Nature Republic: Super Origin – CC Cream (Korea), Nature Republic: California Aloe – Sun Block SPF50 (Korea), and two unknown brands from Taiwan that have Cleansing Water and Super Moist Gel inside them.
In total the whole box was extremely affordable, completely random, yet contained products of high quality whilst keeping their cute yet professional style within their packaging. Although this box is currently only available within the US, I am hoping that readers will pop along to Beautibi’s website, Facebook and Pinterest and show some support or ask questions about the box. The more interest that is generated, the better the chance that Beautibi will deliver to Europe. Be sure to check out our gallery of images on the MCM Buzz Facebook page for a closer look at the products received in the Beautibi box.
A huge thank you to Jennifer at Beautibi for all of her help.
Opening a Pandora's Box of Asian beauty with Beautibi
Monthly subscription and curated themed boxes have become a worldwide sensation, ranging from food and drink, toys and beauty products; there are an endless supply of random and unique boxes available. But with Asian music and culture becoming a huge part of a niche market within the western world, it wasn’t long before people took note of the amazing beauty regimes and products from the far east.
Our friends at Beautibi in Los Angeles sent MCM Buzz one of their curated beauty boxes which claims to bring the best skincare and cosmetic products from Taiwan, Japan and Korea. Beautibi only ship to the US at the moment, but they are hoping to start shipping to Europe. To give our readers an insight of what is available I decided to take one for the MCM Buzz team and went completely beauty product crazy.
The first thing I should explain is that there is a difference between a subscription box and a curated themed box. With a subscription box you pay monthly for a box of goodies of which you won’t know what’s inside, and money will be taken from your bank account unless you unsubscribe. With a curated themed box you can choose products of a certain type (in this case make-up, daily beauty creams and face masks), but still receive a surprise of what will come. There are no recurring fees or contracts and you are not limited to just having the one box.
I’m not the most savvy at beauty products, so I asked for a mixture of items. Beautibi graciously delivered a wide variety of goodies for me to try. I was pretty surprised at the delivery time considering it was coming from the US. I was informed of the box being sent out on 4 August and it arrived on my doorstep on 7 August – just a mere three days later! Not to mention my box was very well packed.
My first impressions was mainly that of excitement after seeing the sturdiness and prettiness of the box and packaging within. Everything was very secure and extremely summery. You are greeted by a card which tells you all the information about the products within as well as a breakdown of how to use them and the R.R.P of the products. There are five main items and a small pouch with six sample pouches of different products (possibly future box items?).
After adding the product prices together it worked out that the box I was sent was worth roughly $60 (around £38), which is pretty considerable when you are only paying roughly $30 (around £19). Can’t say no to a 50% discount! So what did I get in the box and how did I feel about the products?
Beyond: Very Berry Cleansing Foam – Gooseberry scented (Korea). R.R.P $16.
A daily cleansing foam that creates a fine, lush lather with natural plant ingredients as a mild facial wash. Being rich in anthocyanin it provides energy and freshness to the skin. After using this on my face I realised how rough my skin actually was and how much make-up and grime gets left on your face even though you scrub it. It was really soft and beautifully scented inside the bottle, but I feel that the product did leave my skin slightly sticky and the beautiful scent was diminished when placed on the skin, which meant it smelt like every other ‘cheap’ soap. The packaging is simple, but instructions are written in Korean on the back of the package – luckily instructions are included on the welcome card.
Beyond: CC Cream – Aqua, Cover, Glow (Korea). R.R.P $16.
Beyond Real Skin CC Cream has a moisturising cream texture which leaves the skin hydrated and protected from the harsh environmental pollutants. With an SPF25, PA++ rating, you can wear this cream as a make-up base and protect your skin from the sun. I have actually been looking for a new base make-up for my face since my favourite brand had discontinued the one I normally use and I had researched Korean BB and CC creams. When I first tested the product I was slightly disappointed because I have ridiculously pale skin and the pigment was too dark, but as I began to rub the cream into my skin I saw that it was adjusting to my skin tone. It left my skin soft, gave full coverage, and had great lasting power.
PeriPera: Ice Jelly Sun SPF30, PA++ (Korean). R.R.P $12.
With an instant cooling sensation, this water based sunscreen gel is guaranteed to leave you feeling protected and cool. Without leaving any residue on the skin, you can go out and have some fun in the sun with confidence. Again the instructions for use on the back are in Korean, but using the information card you are advised to re-apply every 2-3 hours as needed. I haven’t a clue what the scent is, but it smelt good enough to be eaten – it smells super yummy! It also leaves the skin soft, it’s non-sticky, doesn’t leave any residue whatsoever and I was able to apply my make-up over the top with ease.
Cezanne: Duo Eyeshadow – Peach & Brown (Japanese). R.R.P $10.
The eyeshadow palette comes in peach and brown and are great natural colours for everyday use, with the packaging being small enough to carry in a bag or purse. The pigmentation of the product is extremely high and with a simple glide of the applicator there is more than enough to cover the whole eyelid. The blending capability of the product is clearly where I was charmed as it created a perfect “smokey ” eye.
Maskingdon: I Wish Series – “Made A Miracle” Facial Mask (Taiwan). R.R.P $6.
One of Taiwan’s leading companies in the facial mask business and boasted as the “Queen’s Facial Mask”. The “I Wish ” series has a natural water barrier lock and invisible protective film that helps to provide immediate moisturising, smooth lines, and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid and marine moisturising micro-membrane absorbs into the face muscles to activate firm and beautiful skin. Now I might not be a beauty buff, but I do know a good face mask when I see one, and this is one of the best I have used. It re-awakened and vitalised my face, leaving it full, moisturised and fresh looking. It comes in two parts; the mask and the aftercare moisturiser. After wearing the mask for 15-20 minutes I used up the rest of the excess product and dried it in to my face. Once it was dried I then applied the second part which helps to seal all of the goodness into the skin whilst leaving it plump and soft. One thing I must note about this product is its packaging – the lolita-esque Alice in Wonderland inspired package was so cute that I really didn’t want to ruin it.
As an added bonus there was a small pouch of samples which are usually given to customers who purchase items within beauty stores in Asia. Included with my box was Tony Moly: Panda’s Dream – White Magic Cream (Korea), Tony Moly: Tomatox – Magic Massage Pack (Korea), Nature Republic: Super Origin – CC Cream (Korea), Nature Republic: California Aloe – Sun Block SPF50 (Korea), and two unknown brands from Taiwan that have Cleansing Water and Super Moist Gel inside them.
In total the whole box was extremely affordable, completely random, yet contained products of high quality whilst keeping their cute yet professional style within their packaging. Although this box is currently only available within the US, I am hoping that readers will pop along to Beautibi’s website, Facebook and Pinterest and show some support or ask questions about the box. The more interest that is generated, the better the chance that Beautibi will deliver to Europe. Be sure to check out our gallery of images on the MCM Buzz Facebook page for a closer look at the products received in the Beautibi box.
A huge thank you to Jennifer at Beautibi for all of her help.
TOPP DOGG’s Hansol shows his dance skills in “Scissorhands”
The Japanese dance scene is one that is forever faithful to traditional genres and movement, but continues to elaborate and evolve its own language of dance. Recently the idea of fashion and dance are joined together as a collaborative in showing your own personality and rebelling against the constraints of the social norm.
Japanese models/dancers Aya and Bambi Sato are possibly the biggest thing to come from Japan’s dance scene in recent years, with their claim to fame being one of their workshops self-titled the “Bump Dub”; the video showcases a style of dance all of its own but akin to that of Madonna’s “Vogue”. Their fame from that singular video on YouTube had sparked a worldwide love for AyaBambi and had allowed the duo to be recognised by entertainers such as Madonna, Snakehips and Boa.
Dance is not the only thing that AyaBambi stand for. They are also recognised for their unique and beautifully composed fashion sense which revolves around the punk rock, goth and red carpet looks. Mixing leather and PVC they create a style not truly seen before: the girls managed to capture the hearts of designers such as Chalayan, NumeroTOKYO x Wacoal x Fashion Tsushin, and Lumine and performed some of their most memorable dance pieces for each brand.
But what does AyaBambi have to do with the Korean boy group TOPP DOGG? Well as fans of TOPP DOGG will know that member Hansol is a very unique and talented performer, known for his dynamic tastes in fashion, music and art. He has revealed a few times through his personal Instagram and through the Official Topp Dogg Twitter that he is a fan of AyaBambi and would like to work with them one day. This has also been something a lot of fans of both parties have wanted to see for a long time as well. But it seems as though Hansol wanted to show his dedication as a fan through his own video.
Showing his skills and dedication to the style we have associated with AyaBambi, Hansol went full out and created his own homage to the pair. He managed to re-create a manly yet perfect representation of the fashion sense accustomed with the Japanese duo, with a full PVC leather suit and baggy knee-length shorts. Showing the artistic side to his personality Hansol created a background story and then performed his own choreography with an onslaught of feelings and precision.
With TOPP DOGG coming to Europe on their tour, there is one question that had arisen since the release of this video: will Hansol be performing this on stage? There is only one way to find out! Check out the breathtaking video below.