During my trip to Japan last fall, I tried to keep an eye out for the most popular cosmetics (specifically, I was mainly interested in face masks and sunscreens). Biore UV Aqua Rich Water Essence was definitely one of the most commonly spotted products on many shelves, so it seems like it’s pretty popular.

Gatsby is a Japanese-based brand that makes hair gels, shave gels, and other men’s grooming products. When I heard about this brand in the past, I always wondered it if was indeed an ode to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous novel, The Great Gatsby. It turns out that it really is: read the company’s about page to read the full story, but basically, Gatsby’s founder was inspired by the lifestyle of the novel’s title character.

Traveling to a foreign country exposes you to so many new sights, sounds…and skincare products. Since I started this blog, skincare products have become some of my favorite souvenirs to bring back—especially face masks, since they travel light and they don’t take up space in my TSA-approved quart-size bag of liquids. Today I’m going to introduce you to a skincare product that actually relies on a food that many Asians (including me) already know and love: soy! I picked up this…