Michiko Fujiwara | Series | December 2010 Essay: This Year's Favorites, Crowned for Their "Smooth, Radiant" Finish!

My Favorites of the Year: "Smooth & Radiant" Takes the Grand Prize!

For us hair and makeup artists, and indeed for everyone in the beauty industry, the year-end tradition is the selection of cosmetic awards by various magazines. In this column last December, I introduced several products as "Special Mention Best Cosmetics" to resolve my personal dissatisfaction: 'I like these, but they don't fit into any category!'

By Michiko Fujiwara

May the coming year be as radiant and luminous as "smooth and radiant" skin for society as a whole!

This year, I've narrowed it down further to introduce a grand prize-winning product that helps achieve the "smooth and radiant skin" theme I've been focused on all year.

Radiance is an essential element of beautiful skin, but this year, the addition of "smoothness" has been key. After all, smooth-looking skin conveys a youthful and energetic impression. It also sharpens the appearance of the nose, C-zone, and T-zone. In other words, it accentuates bone structure, creating a sophisticated and sharp look. So, the skin texture that makes me look energetic, natural, yet sophisticated and sharp has been my favorite. And the cosmetics that help achieve these hopes and ambitions are as follows.

First, I'd like to mention the sunscreen emulsion, which I often used as a primer, "Lancôme UV Expert GN-Shield 50 BB". This offers high sun protection with SPF 50 PA+++, but what I liked even more was how it creates a smooth, radiant skin that seems to glow from within. Most BB types are beige, but this one is a grayish white when applied to the skin. The color might make you pause for a moment, thinking 'Huh?', but as you spread it, it transforms into a luminous finish. I also loved its excellent skin-perfecting effects. I look forward to cleansing at night after wearing it, because my skin looks noticeably more beautiful after makeup removal than it did in the morning.

And the powder foundation I often used in combination with this sunscreen emulsion was "DiorSkin Nude Sculpting Compact". This also became an essential foundation for achieving a smooth, luminous, and sophisticated look. One morning during a trip, after applying the Lancôme sunscreen and this powder foundation, I went to the hotel breakfast area to meet everyone. I was complimented so much, with people saying, 'Wow, Michiko's bare skin is so radiant and youthful!', that I almost ended up not telling them the truth. To everyone there that day, I apologize. I was wearing just these two products to achieve that 'smooth, radiant skin that looks like my own!' look.

Since autumn, when I'm less concerned about UV rays, I often use just this powder foundation, and of course, the finish is still smooth and radiant. By the way, this foundation comes with a sponge with two different textured sides and a brush, allowing for subtly different finishes. My favorite finish is achieved with the regular textured side (?) of the sponge, as I find it creates the smoothest, most radiant skin.

And when I apply the blush "JILL STUART Blush Blossom", my smooth, radiant skin is perfectly completed with a cute touch. This is a powder blush that combines two types: a radiant finish and a delicate pearl finish. This allows for various application methods, but I like to take both types with a brush, tap it on a tissue to blend them evenly, and then apply. This creates a natural, yet smooth and radiant look across the entire cheek. While the packaging and color might seem lovely and aimed at younger women, this is a blush I'd recommend for adults. After all, when you smile, the raised part of your cheeks gets a bright ring of radiance, giving an impression of being energetic and happy! Yes, the key here is to apply it generously and softly on the inner part of the cheeks.

Now, looking back, my awakening to smooth, radiant skin began with this skincare product released in the first half of this year: "Helena Rubinstein Prodigy P.C. Serum". I still remember the shock the morning after I first used it. I was amazed, thinking, 'My skin feels so alive!' My pores looked incredibly refined, my skin felt smooth and radiant, and it gave the impression that my skin had truly revived. It was then that I realized that having 'energetic skin' leads to youthfulness, cuteness, and a sense of happiness. Since then, my focus has shifted not just to radiance, but to achieving a smooth-looking complexion.

Looking back, this year was filled with gloomy news due to the economic downturn. Perhaps that's why I was particularly drawn to the image of a woman who is energetic, with an inner radiance, and a sense of happiness. This may have been condensed into the concept of "smooth and radiant skin." However, this ideal of womanhood isn't limited to this year; it's a beauty that women have always sought. Perhaps this year can be considered a return to the fundamentals of beauty. I hope that the coming year will be as radiant as this "smooth and radiant" glow for society as a whole. And for myself, of course!