I left for Japan with high expectations. I was fully prepared to come home with additional suitcases packed full of hidden gem beauty products. While I managed to come back to NYC with lots of goodies (my shopping guide is coming soon!), some of the best beauty discoveries I made were in the form of beauty tips and secrets from real, trend-setting women.

During my two-weeks in the country, I explored many different Japanese beauty traditions and experienced many out-of-this-world treatments that lead to these discoveries. I spent a total of 4 nights in Tokyo at two different hotels — the Aman and the Mandarin Oriental. I treated myself to spa treatments at both hotels.  I also experienced a private tour (one of the last…ever!) at the Tsukiji Fish Market, watched the Sumo tournament finals and had dinner at Narisawa. Afterwards, I headed to the countryside to Hakone where I visited Gora Kadan (one of Japan?s best Onsens) and received an acupuncture facelift ? painful but worth it! I also visited the art island of Naoshima and experienced a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I went on to spend three days in Kyoto at the Ritz and did lots of beauty research through my guide and some locals, even experience a special kaiseki dinner at Arashiyama Kitcho. Somewhere in there I traveled to Kobe, to the P&G headquarters for an interview with an SK-II scientist and a trip to a sake brewery where I learned about the fascinating skin benefits of sake and fermentation...