(Before/after make-up)

Yuki: Age wise I am an adult; however, I think I am still like a child and need daily effort to become more mature. I think reading is an important part of this process and growing up. Do you have any books you recommend for me to read to become a world-class mature woman?

Ines: I do not not know what to recommend for you about books or novels as you must be reading in Japanese and I cannot… I suggest you read fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, Domani, Bi-Story and Classy. You will get lot of visual ideas to dress like a world class woman. Also they always have interesting interviews of women from around the wold. Most importantly, you should read newspapers every day in order to develop your own opinion about social issues and world events. It is the most important to go through the process of becoming mature in an intelligent way.

Azusa: This is a question regarding winter fashion. I usually like to wear clothes that showoff my neckline, but in the winter I often wear turtlenecks. If you have any fashion items you recommend for the winter, please let me know.

Ines: I love wearing a Gap white-t-shirt with a fur coat in winter and jeans. I hate to cover up with turtlenecks, I feel like a turtle myself. The most seductive part of a woman in winter to show of is actually her neck. I suggest to wear a V neck or low cut and to have a scarf to wear around the neck if cold. I found amazing woolen scarfs at H&M stores. I bought a black and a grey one.

Also at the kids section in H&M Harajuku, they sell colorful scarf for children that I wear as well even though I bought them for my sons in lime-green and in blue-indigo. The most beautiful are: ETRO!

I love fun hats for the winter as well and high leather boots with leggings. I also found lots of them in H&M or Zara. Or more expensive but of a really nice quality at Gucci and Celine.

You can find cool gloves in stores around Harajuku on the weekends.

Yumiko: I have this problem where my body gets really cold easily. I always wear socks and make sure to dress warm, but still my hands and feet get ice cold. They say that letting your body get cold will cause other illnesses (in Japan) so I want to fix this condition. Do you know of any fundamental ways to fix my condition? Please give me some advice.

Ines: Go see your doctor and check your thyroid, you must have an hypo-thyroidal problem. Ask your doctor to check T3 & T4.

Saeka: I have always been short, and I have the tendency to gain weight easily and I was fat up until I was in my second year of high school. When I was in my 3rd year of high school, I became determined to loose weight and lost 10 Kg by not eating. However, I developed an eating disorder and struggled until the age of 24. Now I have mostly overcome my eating disorder and can eat normally, but I am gaining weight again and feel like I am returning to my former self. For a person like me, how do you think I can diet and keep my figure? Please give me some advice.

Ines: An eating disorder is tied up with stress and mood swings. I strongly recommend those 3 steps…

1. Go buy Omega-3 and multi-vitamins in a natural food shop, or order via Amazon.com and have it delivered to you home.
Add some extra magnesium each morning it will calm you down, it will re-balance your mood and levels of happiness. It will help you to go to the toilet each day.( look for one bottle of magnesium and calcium together in one, it is much better).

2. Register to a yoga or Pilate class close to where you live or work, whatever is more convenient for you. Go at lest twice a week and buy running shoes and walk with a friend about a kilometer twice a week in the morning. (evening the pollution is too dangerous, after 5 p.m. do not exercise inside).

3. Start eating smaller portions but more time a day. Always make sure you eat healthy. It is better to eat spinach, fruits, veggies, than breads, cookies or pizzas
Drink green tea all day until 3 p.m., then switch to water until you sleep. It will make you feel full and will help you with weight loss. I drink 2 liters minimum per day.

What you need my dear is to get control of your life again. Try to listen to music as much as possible.
Be happy, have a boyfriend, it is a good exercise!! And a good thing to loose wight everyone does when in love!

Moeko: I have so much acne on my face and neck. I can’t get it to clear up no matter what. Can you tell me how I can clear up my skin?

Ines: First of all, go to your doctor and check your hormone balance.
The more effective is to buy Proactiv and use it everyday for at least 3 months on the area where you have acne. You might want to combine with the Dr Leung Protocol with Pantothenic Acid (B5 vitamin)

Be careful to be eating healthy always and make sure you drink a lot of water.

Check this site at:

http://www.zimbio.com/Acne+vulgaris/articles/1691/Pantothenic+Acid+Vitamin+B5+Acne+Dr+Jeffrey
If you decide to order this Pantothenic Acid treatment as per Dr Leung, you will see a significant result after 2 weeks only. The pore size becomes noticeably smaller within one to two weeks, very often much sooner. Like sebum excretion, the pores will continue to shrink until the skin becomes much finer, giving you a much more beautiful skin.

Also, I recommend you shower with Nizoral body shampoo, your face and body. Nizoral shampoo contains the active ingredient ketoconazole, which is a type of medicine called an antifungal. It is used to treat infections with fungi and yeasts. It is sold in pharmacy or buy it on line.

Sayaka: Hello Ines. How do you think is best to deal with criticism, bullying, or teasing? Is it best to just smile, ignore it, or retaliate?

I want to meet these people with you and to scare them a bit!!! Do not let yourself being bullied. Just shut their mouth, politely but with confidence and they will stop. People bullies or tease people when they feel they are superior to them, it is a way for them to feel powerful. You must be more tough than them. Show that you are not impressed by them and tell them to simply shut up!