The "Minus 10 Years" Beauty Aging Plan!

The reason I started going there was for a feature in "Kateigaho" (Sekai Bunka Publishing), where I've had a series since the February issue this year. The title of this series is, grandly, "Michiko Fujiwara Experiences the 'Minus 10 Years' Beauty Aging Plan'" (laughs). That's how I came to visit "Studio Body Design" for the experiential reporting. The reason I chose this studio is that recently, I'd been thinking, "I do stretching and yoga, and I've been going for regular chiropractic adjustments, but somehow my body's fundamental imbalances aren't being corrected. There must be a problem with how I use my muscles in daily life." When I mentioned this to my editor during a series meeting, we decided to consult with Ms. Yasuko Kato, who runs "Studio Body Design." Apparently, many celebrities come here to align their bodies. "Maybe I can achieve a beautiful body like Ms. XX too!" thought the simple me, and I've been diligently attending training sessions even after the reporting was finished. In the May issue (on sale April 1, 2013), I plan to introduce stretching methods using a stretch pole, and in the following June issue, machine-based Pilates, so if you're interested, please check out the "Kateigaho" series.

That Famous Beauty Enthusiast's Tweet

Now, let's get back to the body cream.──During practice one day, perhaps Ms. Kato had read an article of mine, she said, "Ms. Fujiwara, you do castor oil fomentation, don't you? You're the first person I've met who does that. We actually have a body cream that uses castor oil." That's right, I've been a castor oil enthusiast for about 10 years. "Castor oil fomentation" is a warm compress where you wrap your abdomen with a cotton cloth soaked in castor oil and warm it with a special heater. I also use it topically for blemishes and cuts, and even as eye drops for styes; castor oil is like a household medicine for me. As such a user, my interest radar spiked when I heard, "Oh, a castor oil body cream!?" but practice was ongoing, so we left it at that.

Then, after practice, as I was changing in the locker room, I noticed a notice on the wall and looked at it. It was a printout of a tweet from an artist. What does it say? Ah, it's about the castor oil body cream Ms. Kato mentioned. It read, "If you apply this and take a bath, you'll sweat surprisingly much!" If this famously beauty-conscious person is this surprised, it must be amazing! After changing, I asked Ms. Kato, and she told me, "Yes. Not only on the body, but if you apply it to your face and jawline and take a bath, it reduces puffiness and makes your face look really sharp. For you, Ms. Fujiwara, it might be good to apply it to areas like your groin or stiff lower back muscles."

Applying this cream all over my body has become a daily ritual.

"I have to try this!" I thought, and decided to test it that very evening. Before getting in the bath, I applied it to my face, neck, groin, and lower back. Then, as I soaked in the tub as usual, here it came! Sweat poured down from my scalp, dripping so much it stung my eyes. I've tried various bath additives with sweat-inducing effects, but nothing has ever been like this. When I got out of the bath and looked in the mirror, the puffiness in my face was gone, and it looked sharp. After two or three days of continuing, the flesh between my chin and neck clearly became more defined. Unfortunately, however, the cheek area went beyond just being defined and developed a few fine vertical wrinkles. In my case, my skin looks better with a little puffiness in the cheeks, so I stopped applying it to my face and now only use it from the neck down. And the skin where I apply it feels wonderfully smooth to the touch. Amazing, this cream...!

Some of you might be thinking, "Really? Is that true?" upon hearing this, but this isn't just my personal result or impression. When I emailed the "Kateigaho" editor in charge about this effect, I received a reply saying, "I'll try it right away." And when we met for a meeting a few days later, I was astonished! The puffiness had disappeared from her face, which had been somewhat full, and her jawline had become sharp and pointed! She herself said she was truly surprised by this effect. Seeing her, I became even more motivated by the cream's power, and since then, applying this cream to areas of concern (meaning my entire body) like my neck, upper arms, waist, and legs before my evening bath has become a daily ritual. Moreover, I love salty soups, but when I use this, the puffiness doesn't carry over to the next day, so I can enjoy them without reservation, which makes me happy. ...Oh dear, that defeats the purpose and is actually bad for my health, isn't it! (I thought to myself). I'm trying to cut back on salt for my health and aim for a toned body by summer these days.

* I also plan to report on the effects of Pilates in this series. I'll do my best to achieve results!