Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Makeup You Want But Cannot Have: Yojiya Red

We interrupt the long hiatus with a short bout of Makeup You Want But Cannot Have, a series made of the unabashedly gleeful smirks of the few within the beauty community who managed to get their hands on coveted-but-impossible-to-get products and lived to snap pictures and tell the tale to yearning readers who cannot but bemoan the existence of such discontinued magnificence (Pink Sith, I'm looking at you). And since that last sentence was far too long I think it's time to quit the words and show you said rare item.


On my family trip to Japan last year, we stopped by Kyoto for a couple of days and my ambivalent-towards-makeup sister insisted on bringing me to this shop called Yojiya that apparently makes oil-blotting papers! and cute mirrors! and did she mention their makeup was what the geishas of yore used when preparing their elaborately painted faces? 

I didn't really need persuading in the first place, but that last morsel of information was the tipping point from excitement to feverish frenzy. When we spotted the modest little shop I insisted on staying in it for over an hour. I wasn't about to leave till I played with everything.

My mother was with me at the time so I forced restraint when it came time to purchase. I only managed to procure a blush brush, some blotting papers, and a brick red lipstick, the latter of which is featured here. 


One glide was all it took to achieve opacity. It's smooth but not slippery, moisturizing, and (dare I claim?) universally flattering. This lipstick flew off shelves when I was at the store. It astounds me that even my mother (who frowns at me on the regular for wearing "so much" makeup) and my sister (remember the ambivalence?) snatched one each for themselves.




In its defense, the lipstick is not a discontinued product so it is possible to still obtain it. However, Yojiya is only available in Kyoto and select airports in Japan. Needless to say, I am devastated that I let rationality and my mother's pleasure limit me in my purchase. Next time I'll leave them both at a (comfortable) teahouse so I can fulfill my beauty junkie duties to the fullest extent.

13 comments:

  1. I've had similar experiences with my mother - your plan to leave your and your sister at a comfortable tea house is a good one! Fingers crossed either you or someone you know will go to Kyoto.

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  2. Oh I am making that mine. It's too pretty, and yes universally flattering.

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  3. That's gorgeous! Next time I'm in Japan, I'll be getting my hands on this, yes.

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  4. Nooooo! How could you do this to me? I have to have to have to have that colour now (or if not that one, a very similar one)... any dupe ideas, anyone???
    Seriously, this will haunt me for aaages. The last time I HAD TO HAVE a colour I searched EVERYWHERE for it - and it wasn't even a real, proper colour... it was the lip colour on Du Juan and Fei Fei Sun in the H&M ads last Christmas. It was probably all warped by the lighting. If anyone else fell in love with it (doubtful - I am a bit weird about this sort of thing) then FYI a really really similar colour is Estee Lauder's Bitten Fig! Obviously it's not matte like it is in the ads but some experimental blotting with tissue solves that pretty fast.

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  5. Hi xiao! I'm from Japan and am aware of this brand (more of a "gift shop" sort of brand,) but I never knew they have lipsticks. It's stunning on you...so understated, yet makes a statement and really suits your complexion.

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  6. Wow. That is the beautiful red lipstick I have seen I'm a while. It truly suits your skin tone as well....and b/c it's a Japanese brand, it makes it all the more desirable to me. I'm glad it's not discontinued. Maybe one day I'll figure out a way to get my hands on this, but until then at least I can enjoy your beautiful pictures.

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  7. Hi!! I've been reading your blog since the 3rd article, this is now my favourite beauty blog~
    This red is gorgeous, so nice on you. Why did I not notice this when visiting Yojiya in Kyoto? Couple of years ago I only managed to grab a mini loose powder (the container is very handy for carrying around)...
    Oh please show the Yojiya brush here!! I've done some homework ages ago on Hakuhodo/Chikuhodo brushes, when I saw Yojiya's range of brushes and their price tag, basically they seem to be exactly the same thing as Hakuhodo's Kokutan series, which I got 2 and they are beyond gorgeous. I believe Hakuhodo make their brushes...

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  8. Absolutely beautiful color. I think you're right - universally flattering. Love your blog, the writing is great and makes me laugh :) P.S. You don't wear too much makeup! Keep up the great work.

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  9. That. Lipstick. Is. Stunning. Wow...absolutely gorgeous.

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  10. My god, that looks stunning on you!

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