Testimonials

I learned about Shiseido Life Quality Makeup through an introduction from the hospital. Even after I was out of the hospital, I visited regularly, and during a consultation, I was told by my attending doctor that Shiseido had makeup to help reduce the appearance of scars and was asked whether I would be interested in trying it. Thus, I met with a Shiseido staff member at the hospital.

The reason why I decided to try makeup was because there was a period when I suffered social phobia. I was not the same person I used to be, as I had scarring on my face and body, and I was terrified of facing other people. This person with all of these wounds was not the person that I used to be. I believe that all people fear something new and different, and are afraid of what others may think. By putting on makeup, I thought that maybe it would help me feel better, or that it would impact me in some positive way.

Although I am not so worried about my appearance now, in the past, I wanted to avoid people looking at me, and after getting scars on my face, I constantly wore a mask. There were some people who did not even recognize me because my face had changed. When that happened, there were times when I intentionally avoided acknowledging them because I could not be bothered to explain to them what had happened.

My son also asked me to wear a mask when I was outside, so I never took my mask off when I went to visit his school for events and such. One day, right before my son was due to graduate from high school, he asked me to come to his club’s farewell party. If I were to go, I knew I would have to remove my mask because they would also be serving food, but my son told me that I did not need to wear a mask, which made me feel so happy. I think that back then, my son was asking me to wear a mask because he was worried that I might experience the discomfort of being the target of curious stares from other people, but now, he tells me that I do not need to wear a mask, and he happily introduces his friends to me.

As for my daughter, she has always been very encouraging. She gave up her career aspirations because of my medical treatment so that she could help out with the family business. It pains me that I am responsible for my daughter leaving behind her career aspirations, but I appreciate how she has always looked out for me. My family is truly the source of my power.

I first encountered Shiseido Life Quality Makeup at a session held for the patients’ association. At the session, they also conducted a makeup demonstration, and I took part in a trial after the demo. Back then, I thought that it was a complete waste to wear makeup, so I did not bother using it. Yet, when I tried this cover makeup, I got really excited seeing how different my face looked. It was truly like magic. It was not a case of totally regaining my former self, but I think I had discovered a new me.

I feel that my mother is happy when I wear makeup, and she tells me, “You look so pretty when you properly do your makeup – from now on, you should wear it every day.” Since I started wearing makeup, I have become more confident about going out. Before, I used to feel uncomfortable talking to people, but perhaps it is because of the makeup that I have become much more relaxed in talking to other people.

In the beginning, I visited the dermatologist once a week for phototherapy. I continued for a while, but when there was no improvement, I switched to treatment with liquid nitrogen. Unfortunately, that didn’t work either. My doctor explained that vitiligo varies from case to case, and it isn't always curable. Eventually, I decided to stop treatment altogether.

To be honest, going to the clinic every week while working full-time was both physically and emotionally exhausting. At some point, I found myself thinking, “Maybe it’s okay to let this go,” and I stopped going.

Yes. I learned about a brand called Perfect Cover through my work at Shiseido. I knew vitiligo couldn’t be fully cured, but hearing that there was a foundation specifically designed for it—the earlier version, Foundation VV—gave me hope. The idea of blending the shade to match the surrounding skin sounded a little tricky, so I made a reservation and traveled from Shizuoka to visit the Shiseido Life Quality Beauty Center, which was then located in Ginza (now in Shiodome).

The first time I had the product applied, I was amazed by how natural it looked—my vitiligo was barely noticeable. It was incredibly moving. Later, at my wedding, I brought it along and asked the makeup artist to use it for my makeup. I still remember her reaction—she was genuinely surprised and said, “I can’t believe how well this covers!”

I joined Shiseido as a Personal Beauty Partner (beauty consultant). When I was working at the counter, customers would sometimes ask about my birthmark, especially in the summer when we wore uniforms with shorter sleeves. Back then, I did consider having it surgically removed or treated with a laser. But, because it's fairly large, the treatment would have been more involved than a mole or dark spot. In the end, I didn’t go through with it.

Over time, I transitioned to an office-based role, where I could wear my own clothes and dress in ways that made the mark less noticeable. Later, I became a mom, and life naturally began to revolve more around my child than myself. My mindset and priorities shifted. This birthmark has always been part of my life, and I’ve come to see it as just one part of me, something I’ll continue to live with.

Yes, I worked at a store that carried Perfect Cover, so I often introduced it to customers with a wide range of skin concerns, like discoloration or uneven texture. Many had already done their research and came in specifically looking for it. Whenever I demonstrated how beautifully it could provide coverage, they’d light up and leave the store with a smile. I’ll never forget those moments.

One visit that really stayed with me was a mother and her child, who looked to be around middle school age. The child had a scar they were concerned about, and during the consultation, I demonstrated how to apply coverage. I remember noticing that the mother seemed more worried about the scar than the child was. When she saw how well the coverage worked, she looked genuinely happy. It was a moment that left a lasting impression on me.