Lypo-C presents "AWAKENING", a series of interviews where professionals in various fields share their "awareness" from health and lifestyle. In the last few years, we have heard the phrase “be yourself” frequently. However, I think there are many people who say, "I don't know who I am..." or "I don't have confidence in myself..." in the first place. So this time, we asked beauty writer Anna Osada, who is currently a hot topic, to teach us how to find your own beauty.

Anna Nagata (beauty writer) A beauty writer who is active mainly in women's magazines and the web. Her book is "Beauty is muscle training for self-esteem" (P Vine). Responsible for editing "Etcetera VOL.3 My body for me by me" (Etcetera Books).

Beauty is one of "self-care"

For those who are worried about "lack of self-confidence...", reading Mr. Nagata's beauty essay book "Beauty is self-esteem muscle training" will give you a sense of awakening.Why is the "mind" important in beauty? There was a sense of incongruity that Mr. Nagata felt. Nagata｜What do you think “beauty” is? I felt The beauty that I think of is something like "self-care" that takes care of yourself. The meaning of the word “beauty” that I like is completely different from the general “beauty” of the world, such as popular and girl power. However, I am not a person who can boast of invincible self-esteem by nature. If you do something that feels good to yourself and treat yourself with care, you will start to think "I'm good" or "I'm good". I thought that the act of accumulating it was "somewhat like muscle training", so I named it the title of the book.Mr. Nagata says, "I want to help maintain self-esteem" by proposing beauty as a form of self-care. However, for those who say, "I don't have confidence in myself..." (low self-esteem), I was taught about three themes: "complex", "role", and "aging".

We are living in a “complex rice planting state”

People have complexes to a greater or lesser extent, but I think there are many people who have a complex about "appearance" in particular. We asked Mr. Nagata about how to deal with complexes. Osada | As a beauty writer, I meet many models and celebrities who are active on the front lines of beauty. When I see a beautifully shaped person, I am genuinely moved. Ah, it's beautiful ~, it's art ~. After admiring the people who are on the front line of popular beauty, when I look at myself, there is a gap in my painting style. But the beauty of a person cannot be simply measured by height or strength. Even less, don't use it as a blade to belittle or hurt yourself by comparing yourself to someone else. "Beauty is different for each person, but I'm fine with my own taste!" Of course, it's not always possible to do it smoothly just once, so it's like practicing over and over again in your head. Then you will gradually get used to it, saying, "I'm fine with this. This is fine."He says that complexes are influenced not only by oneself but also by others and by society. Osada | After I published the book, I received letters of impressions from various people. What I felt was that there are many people who have a complex due to the criticism of people close to them, such as loved ones and blood relatives. There are so many people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who are still hurt and resentful after receiving unkind remarks about their appearance when they were children. Even if the person who said it forgets, the person who said it is stuck in my heart like a rusty nail and has never come out. Also, complexes can be planted from "society". For example, even in the fashion and beauty industry, there are many cases of using white women for prestige brands. The beauty of an attribute far from ours is raised as an excellent image of high class, and it arouses admiration. It's so commonplace that we've become accustomed to it, but before we can remember, we've been living surrounded by images that are far from natural. In other words, having a complex is not because the person himself/herself has a weak heart, but because there are too many things in the world that instill a complex in the first place, it is inevitable to some extent. Because we are living in a “complex rice planting state”.

Convert from complex to positive

In his book, Mr. Nagata proposes a unique method of "converting one's weaknesses into strengths." Osada: The main premise is that it's inevitable that people have complexes in today's society, it's natural and not your fault. On top of that, I live with my complex. Speaking for myself, when someone with a sharp tongue teased me about my gills on my face, this is a cool, purposeful skeleton like [Oscar actress] Faye Dunaway. ! and bounce. I will not be swallowed by the value that the other party imposes as a premise that "the one without errors is the correct answer". For someone who thinks that the bigger the better, the bigger the eyes, the more pitiful and small they look, but to me, they are round eyes like a Shiba Inu. In this way, let's put a slightly different label on the elements that are roughly put in the "complex" box because there is a correct image and there is a deviation from it. I'll change the angle of the light. I myself know enough about my bad points, but I know better than anyone else the hidden efforts, charms, and good points that others don't notice. I feel like, "This kid looks like this, but he's actually a good kid..." (laughs) My number one ally is myself. That's why I take care of you every day. That's how it feels.

It's okay to stray from the royal road. have a choice

Ms. Nagata also says that there is a "role" demanded by society that causes women to lose their self-esteem. Osada: I feel that women, especially, have a well-defined "female image for each role." For example, the "TPO" project that is often seen in magazines and on the web may be easy to understand. It's a standard project to dress like this and make up like this according to the time, place and occasion. I'm going to meet his mother today, so I'll make it look a little neat and soft. Trying to wear clothes and make-up that are not strong and do not show yourself. Don't you want to know the personality of your family partner first? Why is it safer to hide it? Also, interviews with married women and children tend to have template-like headlines such as "As a mother, as a wife, as a woman." Focusing on the person's individuality and expertise is appropriate, and we take up each role so that there is value in completing many roles. Of course, I think there are many cases in which the person himself/herself feels that he/she is competing with the "role" or is proud of it. However, if you apply it to everyone without thinking about it, it will easily become pressure, and playing the role well will become manners and commonplace. That's a lot of extra care, and isn't it disrespectful of the person's true nature? What? For example, you don't really put a headline on a specialist of some kind, like 'as a father, as a husband, as a man', right? The image in my head is that women are forced to enter the "short program" in figure skating. If you become a good wife, you get ○ points, if you give birth to a child, you get ○ points, if you have a second child, you get ○ points, and when you take the exam, you get ○ points. I was forced to participate in a short program that I didn't remember entering, so who the heck is making the rules? It's not even clear where it came from. I don't want to waste my precious days and my life just to score points in the short program decided by someone who doesn't take any responsibility for my life.Nagata | The important thing is to have choices and to be respected. There is only one choice, that is, the situation where there is only the "royal road" is cramped and there is no escape. "This is the image of an ideal woman, a model life route!" It's not that the royal road is wrong. Going back to the first example, even if it's the day I see his mom, the day I'm at work, my mom, or my wife, I think I'm the same. If you can enjoy it, you can use it differently, but you can use your usual makeup, your favorite makeup, and it doesn't matter if you don't wear makeup. It would definitely be fun if more people could freestyle and do whatever they wanted.

Admire yourself like a "vintage"

Mr. Nagata, who turned 44 this year. What are your thoughts on aging? Nagata | I don't think getting older is a bad thing at all, and I want to age as realistically as possible. However, in Japan, there are still many contexts in which women lose their value as they age. Living in a society where “young and new things”, “pure and innocent things”, and “immature things that tickle the protective instinct” are considered good, the older I get, the more I feel left out of that “market”. Some people may feel lonely and feel lonely. But that's just the default setting of society, so I think it's important to realize how distorted the default setting is and how much you distance yourself from it. Of course, there is the goodness of being young, but there are also textures and flavors that only come with age. For example, I can have dimples, but recently it looks like vertical wrinkles instead of dimples. Instead of feeling depressed and thinking, "Ah...you're getting old," I feel like I'm really loving it, saying, "Oh, well, dimples. You've been together for a long time." Osada | I guess it's the feeling of thinking of yourself as a "vehicle". Let's change to a new car released every year! Rather, it is an image of taking care of yourself like a "vintage car". It's up to you to care for old things as vintage and antiques instead of treating them as junk.

Collecting “comfort” creates “personality”

Recently, I often hear that it's important to be yourself, but I think there are many people who don't know how to actually find it, or who are lost because they don't know their own personality. We asked Ms. Nagata for tips on how to find your own personality. Nagata | Yes. The words “personality” and “individuality” are very strong in themselves, so some people may feel impatience and timidity when words take on a life of their own. Rather than forcibly searching for individuality and aiming for a character, I think it's better to move a little bit in the direction that you feel is "comfortable". It feels like it's more comfortable this way, and more fun this way. Something wrong? If you think so, you should go back. It might be a good idea to collect more and more of your own "comfort" like furniture in a new house. The sofa is relaxing, and the bed is comfortable. I think it's the same with makeup, fashion, and how you spend time with people. Whether it's the things around you or the things you can't see, such as your way of thinking, you can gradually bring them closer to things that are "fitting," "somewhat fun," or "comfortable," or collect them little by little. I think the atmosphere that naturally builds up as you spend your days doing that kind of trial and error is your “personality” and “individuality.”

Anna Nagata's view of health. I'm weak, so I'm conscious of "health"

Mr. Nagata has a nice smile and a positive atmosphere, but surprisingly he says that he has a weak body. Osada: Despite my appearance, I'm rather frail. I have asthma and have allergies. I spend a lot of time sleeping at home. I'm very interested in health because I tend to pull my body with energy. I love trying different supplements. In terms of meals, I can't eat much in the morning, so miso soup and green juice x protein are the standard these days. Eat well during the day and at night. I have two children, and when the older one comes home from school and eats dinner late, he falls asleep. That's why I have dinner as early as 5:30. Eating dinner early is good for digestion.

Take 2 packets of Lypo-C when busy

Mr. Nagata, who has been working as a beauty writer for many years, talks about the image of Lypo-C. Nagata | Speaking of Lypo-C, there is an image that most people who interview about beauty drink it. Today's exciting models, actors, celebrities, and beauticians all drink it. It seems that some people drink 3 packets at a time when they are busy, so it's a little pricey, but I think it's still good.Mr. Nagata said on his podcast and SNS that he is incorporating Lypo-C into his lifestyle. We asked about his impressions when he first drank it and how he usually drinks it. Osada | My honest impression is "the taste of being drowned in the sea." Hmmm, it tastes bad...but I've got another drink! Like (laughs). It doesn't taste good, but I think it looks good. I used to drink it directly, but I was told that it tastes better when mixed with kiwi juice or amazake, so I'm trying various ways to drink it.Mr. Nagata has many jobs as a popular writer. He says he uses Lypo-C to deal with the stress of deadlines. Nagata | I'm pressed for deadlines every day... I'm working on this manuscript right now, and I apologize for the delay in that manuscript, and the next manuscript will be even worse! That's what it feels like. When I'm busy and my body feels like it's going to die, I'm like, "Okay, let's drink 2 Lypo-C today!" In my case, I take one packet when I want to keep in shape, and two when I want to jump.

Think about the next generation and the environment rather than yourself

Ms. Nagata is actively disseminating not only beauty but also social issues such as gender and environmental issues, and has captured the hearts of many people. At the end of the interview, when asked, "What are you conscious of for your future self?", he says that he is more conscious of society than himself. Osada: When I think about the future, I tend to focus more on the realization of a society that is easier for the next generation to live in and the natural environment, rather than about myself. For example, when introducing a product in a magazine, if the product is made by a company that considers the environmental impact, they should raise their voices. I would like to support as much as I can so that the next generation will not have an easy-to-live-in society. As far as I'm concerned, it's about not trying too hard. There are many times when I feel like I'm forced to carry it on my back, but if I try to meet everyone's expectations, I'm sure I'll collapse. I'll do my best at what's in front of me, but don't let it go to the point where it's bad for my body. Aiming to be a master who doesn't overdo it, I'm going to consciously take it easy.This is because there are almost no techniques such as skin care, cosmetics, and health methods, and it is written around the "mind" that is important in beauty.