WHEN it comes to makeup and skin-care products, I always say that if they’re from Japan, they must be really good. I love Japanese lotions (Hada Labo) and sunscreens (Anessa). My skin care is mostly Shiseido and my favorites from the brand are Ultimune Power Infusing Serum and Essential Energy Hydrating Cream. For the past year, my frequently-used face base is the Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation.
I recently attended the soft opening of Mitsukoshi BGC, which isn’t fully complete yet but already houses some retail and food stores. Once you enter the mall (8th Avenue corner 36th Street, Grand Central Park, North BGC, Taguig City), you’ll see The Matcha Tokyo to your left and Shiseido to your right.
Before I talk about the beauty aspect of the development, here’s some information about it. Mitsukoshi BGC is a tripartite development of Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd., one of the largest department store groups in Japan; Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., a Japanese real-estate giant, and Federal Land.
“It took eight years to get to this dream,” said Federal Land chairman Alfred Ty.
By the 8th Avenue entrance is the Mitsukoshi Lion, an emblematic statue of the king of beasts. The lion is being seen for the first time outside Japan at Mitsukoshi BGC. It is said that those who touch the Mitsukoshi lion will be blessed with good luck. There is also monument called “Joining Hands,” which symbolizes Philippine-Japan ties.
The geometric patterns on the façade and a modern take on the traditional Japanese hemp leaf were designed by interdisciplinary artist Asao Tokolo, whose work includes the victory ceremony podiums and emblem of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The 4-story mall will showcase Japanese design elements in a casual but elegant setting, and feature a selection of shops and highlight the Japanese way of polite service known as “Omotenashi.”
The basement will house Mitsukoshi Fresh and food stores. The sashimi will be flown straight from Japan. Isetan Mitsukoshi The Food, an original brand from Isetan Mitsukoshi Group, will have a selection of ready-to-eat meals such as Japanese-style beef curry, soup, and Japanese mixed rice. There is even a Sake & Shochu section where you can enjoy a glass of liquor with your fresh sushi to round out your authentic Japanese meal. Shochu is a distilled beverage that is similar to brandy and vodka.
Another in-house brand is The Bakery, which will offer more than a hundred types of high-quality bread and pastries such as thick-sliced white bread and deep-fried “curry bread.”
Now for the best part (for me, at least): Mitsukoshi Beauty will house Japanese brands and a beauty salon with bespoke services. This section of the mall has gorgeous displays. Making their debut in the Philippines are Waphyto, E Standard, and La Casta.
La Casta is a line of soaps, hair products, lotions and essential oils, while Waphyto offers personal-care products in the Clean Beauty category. Meanwhile, E Standard is a hair-care brand. I have tried their shampoo and conditioner and I liked them a lot.
I have seen displays of New Summit Colors Distribution, which carries Revlon Professional, Cynos, American Crew, Orofluido, and many others. I’m glad that I can now buy these brands from a physical store because I am a big fan, especially of Revlon Professional and American Crew.
Beauty Box Corp., which distributes Japanese brands like Kracie, K-Palette, Ichikami, Himawari, Kiss Me (I love their hand cream!), momo puri, Cure, and many others, also has a kiosk in Mitsukoshi Beauty.
Mitsukoshi Beauty also has a Laneige counter and I know that Laneige is a Korean brand but it’s nice to see a physical counter with all the shades of their famous Neo Foundation, which was awarded for its design.
Curated salon services will also be available in Mitsukoshi Beauty in collaboration with Kiyosa Japanese Total Beauty. Once open, the salon will offer Japanese-quality treatments such as nail, eyelash, and hair blowout services. Kiyosa, according to many beauty enthusiasts, is the best place to get gel nail art. Their technicians are trained for three months before they’re allowed to do the nails of customers. Kiyosa also uses gel polish brands from Japan so it’s understandable that their prices are more expensive than those of regular salons.
So I’ve been asked if making a trip to Mitsukoshi BGC is worth it and here’s my answer: If you live in Makati and BGC, yes. If you live up North, maybe you should wait until early 2023 when all the stores should already be open.