Japaralia July Vol. 22

English translation by Perplexity beolow

No. 22 The Power to Discern the Truth = The Path to Beautiful Skin

This month is the month of Tanabata, a festival I loved as a child. July 7th is the romantic day when Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet just once a year. As I write this, it’s been raining every day, and I keep receiving warning emails from the Japanese Consulate about heavy rains in northern NSW. Still, I hope the skies clear on Tanabata so the two can meet ⭐️. No matter how old I get, Japanese culture never fails to excite me with its elegance and charm.

Now, in this age of information, an overwhelming amount of information is flying around, and I feel more and more people are believing it without question. Unlike the industrial era of the past, as we move further into the information age, it’s more important than ever to equip ourselves with accurate knowledge and develop the ability to process information with our own minds.

It’s natural for things to have multiple sides, but I often see information that focuses on just one aspect and presents it as if it’s the whole truth. This leads to extreme conclusions like “XX is bad” or “YY is good.” For example, when it comes to cancer, there are two sides: “anticancer drugs are bad for the body” but also “they are effective for cancer treatment.” Depending on what you focus on, your perspective can change 180 degrees. As truth and information drift further apart, it only leads to confusion. While freedom of speech is important, as someone with expert knowledge, I sometimes see advertisements or videos that make completely baseless claims sound like facts, and I can’t help but laugh—human bodies don’t work that way!

Once such information is out, it spreads rapidly and becomes impossible to contain. What’s important is individual necessity and balance.

Since I was little, I’ve apparently had a bit of a contrarian streak (as my mother used to say). The more people get excited about something, the more I tend to step back and observe. Even when I hear a commercial say, “95% of people are satisfied!” I wonder, “Why weren’t the other 5% satisfied?” Of course, some things are worth the hype, but personally, I tend to be skeptical—maybe it’s just a clever ad campaign or they’re using a popular celebrity as a mascot. Still, I can’t judge until I try it myself, so I’ve tried many things. “Was it as good as advertised?” “Was it really worth the buzz?” Of course, it depends on the product (skincare, movies, food, etc.), but as far as skincare goes, in my experience, not a single one has lived up to the hype. I’ve tried expensive products out of desperation to fix my skin troubles, only to be disappointed—or worse, my skin got even worse. That’s why I always make sure to recommend skincare that’s truly suited to someone’s skin type or issues, based on clinical data and research, and after trying it myself.

The other day, as I was looking at the window leading to my garden, I had a thought. My elderly dog, whose eyesight has deteriorated, often gets food all over her face and moves along the walls and windows. So, at her eye level, the window is always dirty (lol). I was in a hurry and wiped only the biggest smudge. Then I realized—this is just like treating dark spots on the skin. Even if you clean the spot that bothers you most, the overall impression doesn’t change much. It’s about balance. Only by understanding all the different aspects can you achieve true balance. Then, you can decide what to prioritize. Do you absolutely want to remove the spot? Do you want to avoid pain or downtime at all costs? Can you keep up with skincare routines? There are many things to consider. If I were a magician, I could grant every wish to “remove spots,” but spot treatment isn’t that simple. It’s a process that requires cooperation from the client.

This morning, I saw a client for her fourth treatment. She was concerned about oily skin and enlarged pores, but by following my skincare advice at home, she’s improving quickly, which makes me very happy.

Finally, an important truth about skin treatment: It’s a journey we take together.