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Home » Entertainment » Spotted: Weird and Wonderful Japanese Beauty Inventions

Spotted: Weird and Wonderful Japanese Beauty Inventions

January 13, 2013 Paris B 46 Comments

Every now and again, the Isetan department store has a Japan fair and when they do, I always make sure I stop by to take a look. Other than the food, which always intrigues me and drives me with great ambition to cook more Japanese goodies, the other reason I go is to gawk at the weird and wonderful Japanese inventions on sale. Not just beauty but also for the home. I spyshot a few items I particularly found fascinating this time.

japanese tape for clothes hem

This one from what I can gather, is a stick of glue that you can use to easily hold up dropped hems on skirts or pants. Now I’m many things but one of the things I’m not is a tailor. I can’t sew to save my life. Ok, maybe if I had to sew to save my life, I could. But it would be a botched job. So while I can sew buttons back on (not neatly, mind you, but at least enough so it doesn’t fall off in 5 minutes) I can’t hem. When I have a dropped hem, I take my skirts back to my Mom and beg her to do it. I really should learn, eh? Or maybe buy a stick of glue like this one 😀

Here are more weird and wonderful inventions I snapped at the store. Most of them actually make sense. Well, except one for which I could not justify, but I cannot deny I felt an irresistable urge to actually BUY some of them haha! 😀

feet_balance

This one here is a heel-less slipper that you wear around the home. From what I can gather from the English translation at the back of the packaging, the purpose is to trim your calves because you would be forced to use your calf muscles to hold your heels up, off the floor. How very intriguing. I thought it didn’t make much sense until I remembered that traditional clogs operate on a similar sort of principle of making you balance on the base, so your legs and butt does a lot of work. So, I thought this one quite innovative although not all that practical.

4 way mirror

Here’s one I couldn’t quite fathom – a 4 way mirror. Apparently, it allows you to see the top of your head, and is also especially useful to observe the digging of your ears. Or is that the trimming of ear hairs?! Either way, answers on a postcard please for the many times you’d want to see the top of your head?

uv sleeve

This UV sleeve isn’t very weird to be honest. I’ve been seeing women wear these here for a while especially while driving. Previously, they’d use to keep a shirt in the car that they’d pull on back to front over their arms to protect from the sun. I can see the logic in that. It also reminds me of an episode of Drop Dead Diva where Stacey set up a company to sell her “invention” – any fans of Drop Dead Diva in the house? I can’t wait for Season 4 😀

roller

Here are 2 interesting beauty gadgets. The roller on the left is an icy roller. I think you are supposed to put it in the fridge before use and the roll your face with it. Helps firm up skin, they say.

The one on the right is erm… interesting. A gadget to help exercise your neckline. It appears you hold it and use your chin to push down the pump. Hmm… Prevents a double chin maybe? 😛

feet_spa

This one’s a foot bath. Individual large plastic “shoes” that you can fill with water and wear. The base has these rough bumps which I think is to help you scrub the soles of your feet. All very interesting. There was 2 or 3 different brands of the same thing in the fair so it looks like this is quite popular! I’m not sure if someone with bigger feet will find it useful though since this is one size fits all.

heat_socks

To slim your legs, try heat generating tights and socks. It supports and slims your leg while looking good. Hey, can’t knock it till you’ve tried it eh? 😉

And finally, another item I found very intriguing and perhaps even useful, if it works.

microfibre_slippers

A microfibre slipper that you wear and walk around the house. The base picks up dirt and dust so you essentially are “cleaning” the floor as you walk. Helps with the exercise too right? 😛 Comes in a ladylike pink or a masculine blue, so your man is not allowed to get out of doing SOME housework 😛 I’m thinking I should pick up a couple of these, wait till the baby nephew is able to crawl, then tie them to his knees so he can polish my floor – good idea wot? 😛

Have you ever seen any of these before? Or maybe you own any of them?

I cannot deny that some of them make a lot of sense, and it takes a devious mind to actually think them up and manufacture them for sale! Like that slipper-floor cleaner or the hem glue for instance. Its genius! If it works 😀

Paris B

46 Insightful comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. When not blogging about beauty or life beyond 40 find her talking about feeding dogs real, wholesome food. Connect with us on social media at Instagram.

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46 comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

  1. Sam says

    January 13, 2013 at 9:38 am

    These are awesome. I would love the house cleaning slippers!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 10:17 am

      Me too! Saves vacuuming or sweeping hah!

      Reply
  2. Natasha says

    January 13, 2013 at 9:47 am

    Those heated tights look very appealing. It’s cold out here! Fashion with function. Nice!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 10:18 am

      I couldn’t quite tell what they were really for – slimming the legs I think – there are strange gadgets for slimming parts of the body here in Asia 😛

      Reply
  3. Michelle Beh says

    January 13, 2013 at 10:08 am

    These are such an innovative inventions by Japan! I am a fan for Japan’s beauty or non-beauty items. I’m really interested with the icy roller for face. Need to workout for a slimmer face. Thanks for sharing Paris B!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 10:19 am

      Haha they probably carry these in Daiso too! Another place I can spend hours in just looking at all the gadgets and stuff they have in there.

      Reply
  4. Claire says

    January 13, 2013 at 10:29 am

    I have! I tried that face roller and that ‘it will make your nose beautiful thing, lol. I actually like the tights (I think you can find a lot of interesting pattern in Japan). Well, my face is still … how it was (surprise!) and my nose … as well. You can find a lot of interesting products in Japan, some are really funny though 😀

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 10:20 am

      Hahaha I can’t believe you have tried these, Claire! 😀 Thank you so much for sharing your experience with them – and I’m not very surprised that it doesn’t work 😉 Yet people do buy them don’t they? All those promises hehe…

      Reply
  5. Ting says

    January 13, 2013 at 10:54 am

    Hahahha good finds! I think 4-way mirror will be ideal for those who wants to pluck their own white hairs. But then again, the whole thing might be too heavy to carry around. And the idea of tying the foot mops to your nephew’s knees… Hahaha if only he will not pick dusts off it and put in his mouth… :p

    I like the little gadgets from Japan that make children’s food more interesting. First off there are those rice moulds where you press rice into cute shapes like bear, heart or star. Then there is this mould where you pressed hard boiled egg to form a heart shape or star. Visually enhance ordinary food. 🙂

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 10:21 am

      Oh oh, you’re right about the white hair. Darn! Should have bought one to check on my white hairs 😛 Its not very heavy – just about the regular foldable plastic mirrors that people carry about in their bags. I somehow don’t think my sister will appreciate me using my nephew as a floor duster haha! 😀 As for food moulds, I have them! 😀 I used to make bento boxes for myself and the star shaped egg made me happy 😛

      Reply
  6. Sze Ling says

    January 13, 2013 at 11:15 am

    ROFL! That’s exactly why I love wandering in Daiso. I can spend so much time in there and not buy anything. It’s sort of like an amusement. 😛

    And no, I don’t own any of them. The floor-cleaning-slippers look like they might be a good idea. 😀

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 10:22 am

      You’re right – Daiso is another mind boggling place. I sometimes pick up an item and go “whaa…???”

      Reply
  7. Leesa says

    January 13, 2013 at 11:44 am

    I use the uv gloves regularly when dtiving as i find that only my forearms tans on whole body… Have both short and long version. In australia, could only find in daiso

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Ooh they work! 😀 But I guess they do – I think its a great idea actually for people that drive. You don’t realise how quickly your arms tan until you do a lot of driving!

      Reply
  8. Seline says

    January 13, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    Like others, I would love the cleaning slippers as well 😀 And I am obsessed with Daiso for the same reason. Everything is so interesting!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Haha! Join the club! Daiso is the next most interesting place to hang out

      Reply
  9. Gayathri says

    January 13, 2013 at 3:15 pm

    I’ve seen them before in Isetan @ Mid Valley. Now this rings a bell. Sometimes, you just get attracted to buy & try them. If can I think i’ll get that stick of glue. Haha. Surely helps you when your hems decides to give you trouble at the worst point of time 🙂

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 11:36 am

      That stick of hem glue definitely caught my eye! But it was a bit too pricey to experiment with. I really should learn to hem LOL!

      Reply
  10. Mar says

    January 13, 2013 at 5:47 pm

    Thanks you so much!! Fantastic!! 😉

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 11:36 am

      Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  11. Ashley says

    January 13, 2013 at 6:42 pm

    You’re a Drop Dead Diva fan too? I don’t know why it’s taking them so long to renew season 5 but they better. It’s not the best show out there but I hate cliffhangers and like the end my shows things should not be left unsettled!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 11:37 am

      Oh yes I am! I’m caught up to Season 3 and am waiting to *ahem* watch Season 4 😉 Its not the best out there, you are right, but its fun and entertaining and its also very interesting to see how a person can adapt to situations and play on their strengths when the going gets rough 😀

      Reply
  12. Marla says

    January 13, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    Ha! I love the floor slippers. What a cool idea. Not very sexy looking though!!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 11:37 am

      Oh definitely not sexy looking haha! Looks like you have furry feet!

      Reply
  13. Lily says

    January 13, 2013 at 8:56 pm

    There are 2 pairs of those slippers at home, and they are fun for the kids. They don’t work very well, to be honest. AND it attracts accidents if you walk normally. The trick is to gliiiiiiiiiiide…….

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 11:38 am

      Ah someone who owns them! Thanks for letting me know of the slip hazard. I could just imagine it happening to me 😛

      Reply
  14. Anni says

    January 13, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    I loved that post!! Hope you will let us know about the new finds in the future! 🙂

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 11:38 am

      Glad you enjoyed it Anni 😀 I will try to bring more weird and wonderful finds whenever I see them!

      Reply
  15. BlushandBarbells says

    January 14, 2013 at 1:00 am

    I lived in Japan for a while and I would spend *hours* at Daiso looking at products and trying to figure out what they were! No English translations on the back, I’m afraid! Some seem practical and some…not.

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 11:39 am

      Oh I love Daiso and thankfully the ones here have a sticker on the back telling you just what they are for. Otherwise, it would be quite fascinating trying to figure it out! 😀

      Reply
  16. Catherine says

    January 14, 2013 at 2:01 am

    These are funny 😀 I love these cleaning slippers haha! I can imagine trying to make my boyfriend walk in these 😀

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 12:55 pm

      Oh yes, you should! They even come in blue Haha!

      Reply
  17. Tammy says

    January 14, 2013 at 2:32 am

    You can’t beat Japanese for WEIRD inventions!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 12:57 pm

      Nope, you most certainly can’t but I have to admit they made me think!

      Reply
  18. JacquiA says

    January 14, 2013 at 9:41 am

    Woo hoo! Hands up for me as far as the cleaning slippers and heat generating tights are concerned! Want! The slippers are for my two girls who should be pulling their weight about the house and what better way to do it than with these slippers and the tights for my quite flabby legs…..

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 12:59 pm

      Hahaha! I can just see your girls shuffling their way around the house “Helping Mommy clean the floor” hehe…

      Reply
  19. Applegal says

    January 14, 2013 at 9:42 am

    Hahaha, I was very close to buying the microfibre slippers! But my hubby (again) pretended to faint and dissuaded me from getting them. I thought the 4 mirrors would be useful! For eyebrows and making sure your hairdo’s alright!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 1:00 pm

      I wanted to buy the slippers too! But my friend gave me a look and said “Do you realise how expensive they are?!” So I didn’t. I guess I’ll just go pushing my mop around the house instead hehe

      Reply
  20. Victoria says

    January 14, 2013 at 10:24 am

    Thanks for the post! I love the microfibre slippers and would love the idea of cleaning the floor while walking around the house. But since Lily said that you could slip in it, maybe not a good idea to get it. LOL.

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      January 20, 2013 at 1:03 pm

      Yep, slippery slippers are a big no no! Better to just push a mop around 😉

      Reply
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Welcome to My Women Stuff, a beauty blog based in Malaysia, written by veteran blogger, Paris B. We now write for women of 40 and above because that's how old I am! What you can expect is honesty, critical views & a healthy dose of shared life lessons sprinkled amongst beauty product reviews. Settle in for a read. Read More about us

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