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The Reluctant Stylista is a fashion and lifestyle blog written by Alex Lapa--a once tomboyish girl who suddenly discovered the joys and perks of dressing up. Original illustrations by Paolo Lazatin.
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I’ve had two trips to Saizen this weekend—first for the Blogger’s Tour held last Friday, and then on Sunday, for The Great Sale Finds at Robinsons Galleria. But if you’ve read my articles for The POC about the coolest and weirdest beauty finds here, you’ll know that I can never have enough of this crazy little concept store. Just going around it is an adventure in itself! Saizen is like a vacuum—you’ve never needed all these kawaii things UNTIL you slapped eyes on them. For some inexplicable reason, you just have to have it. You’ll probably find yourself making excuses for your purchases (“But it’s just P85!”). And just like that, you’re sucked in Saizen’s little wonderland like the rest of us. Adults make like kids in a candy store here.
Those outrageous items you hoard may or may not be the most useful items you can’t do without (for one thing, I keep buying their Cat Vine Powder—works like a charm on my cat even when catnip doesn’t) but trust me on this: you never go out of Saizen with anything boring.
Okay, quick lesson for the Saizen noob: everything in this Japanese store is P85. They offer a wide range of products such as office supplies, gadgets (they have a lot of things for your PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii and who knows what else), craft materials, home and interior, beauty and bath products, fashion and apparel, toys, kitchenware (Chrissie from Kitchencow got me started on Saizen because of the cutest little bento boxes she gets there), pet goods, gardening tools and recently, even snacks. It’s much like the all-88-pesos Daiso store except for two things. Firstly, Saizen was actually the original Daiso, as it is known in over 500 stores worldwide (the company is actually known as Daiso-Sangyo Japan, Inc.), but someone else got their name here so in the Philippines, we know it as Saizen. Secondly, well, Saizen is just so much more fun than Daiso.
For example, Saizen introduces novel ideas. See, here we have an Eyebrow Template. It’s a great gift idea to friends who often look like the Boogeyman pounced on them. Now they can draw their eyebrows in the dark if they wanted to. Who doesn’t want to??
Then they have these Illuminant Frog Earpicks, the better to find your way through ear tunnels, my dear. Are you sensing a pattern here? With these glow-in-the-dark ear pickers, you again have something else to do the next time a raging typhoon cuts off all power supplies. You’ve got a pretty good start now if you want to hold beauty makeovers in the dark.
Speaking of the dark, I don’t really much know what it is with the Japanese and their fascination for things black. But I like it; it’s a very chic color, and quite unique. Coco Chanel would have approved. Plus, I really like the mud mask. It works quite well for something so cheap!
A few things I’d recommend to Charice Pempengco. A face massager that may have slimming effects and collagen-infused wipes to keep you fresh. Just imagine your savings from Botox! Ditch Belo!
Actually, as Lace of Style and Relax pointed out to me, a lot of things in Saizen are for the lazy. They have wipes for all sorts of things, such as furniture wipes which are already infused with polisher so you don’t have to buy them separately.
But one of the fun things you’ll notice in the store is how geeky the Japanese can get about the simplest things. I mean, why use deodorant when you have…
Silver Ion sweat pads! You can cut them to any suitable shape and stick it in your top. No streaking, no scent, either.
They also have Sodium Bicarbonate and Citric Acid for dishwashing. Because soap is so five minutes ago.
Lookit this horse fat foot cream. I didn’t know horse fat could be harvested in the first place. I wonder if it makes you giddyap.
Then of course, Saizen won’t be Saizen without the barrage of all things cute.
Plain ‘ol microfiber is boring. Look at how cutely you could be cleaning your glasses.
It’s difficult to quit smoking when you’ve got these portable ashtrays. Just look at that samurai. And that geisha.
And these. Too cute for words. Well, the bear looks familiar…
I went gaga over these paperboxes. I had a hard time picking out which ones to take home, because I need them to keep myself and my accessories organized. Or so I keep telling myself. I’ll use the boxes, I swear!
Can I tempt you with some man boobs? Well apparently, Lauren couldn’t resist squeezing a feel.
And here’s Kira, squeezing a feel with more gusto than Lauren.
And then, my Saizen haul. I got myself 2 pink paperboxes for my accessories, a bath brush (with curly hair, it usually looks good if you just brush your hair once, and that’s when it’s wet), a bunch of black and white ponytails, a metal box, a facial cleansing pad, a zebra print eco bag, a black and white acrylic ring, and black travel toothbrushes.
If you love Saizen as much as I do, then you’ll be happy to know that this August, they will have their Big Switch. Prices go from 85 pesos to 58! This is for all their branches: Trinoma, Ali Mall, Galleria and Marquee. They’ve already started bit by bit, in fact, but the major switch (where a whole LOT of their stock will be on sale) will happen from August 20-22.
And, if you shop at Robinsons Galleria, you’ll be in for a bigger treat—because from August 1 to 31, the whole mall will be having their clearance sale. Besides, they have the best Saizen branch yet, but in this case, they’re not the only store that’s dropping down their prices. Everything in Robinsons Galleria goes up to 50% off, and there’s no better time to shop and take advantage of it all! In fact, I’ll be blogging about some of my other great finds soon because I want to share. And brag. Haha!
Find out more at Robinsons’ fanpage.
My thanks go out to Ms. Angela R. Perez-Rubio and Ms. Josette Salac who attended to us during the Bloggers’ Tour in Saizen Trinoma and to Ms. Cristina Puso for the invite. Thank you also to Robinsons Mall for inviting us to the first day of Great Sale Finds: All Out Clearance Sale and Jeffrey Siy of BoyKuripot who organized it.
I’d include a photo op of the bloggers last Sunday at Robinsons, too, but I wasn’t able to get picture of all of us. Might have to grab it from someone else!
All photos of Saizen were taken by me. If you wish to borrow a couple, just give credit and a link back. Thanks! =^.^=
Related posts:
ambilis. huhuhuh. i’m still assembling my photos. and it looks like i’d have to divide my blog entries into three parts.
ang cute naman your photos of the other bloggers that you caught squeezing…uh, stuff. hahahaha!
i love Saizen for the ‘wasteland of everything you never thought you needed ‘ (black earbuds! breast shaped wrist rests!)that it is
my last purchases there were: an ant farm, metal chopsticks and stuff for the garden.
how are the kikay stuff? nakaka intrigue yung nose scrubber and charcoal mask thingy..
the first time i went there i swear i spent more than an hour happily going around in a daze :3
hi nayna,
i hope this is still an active account. i would like to know more regarding the antfarm you bought? how was it?
Hi Ria! The antfarm was a small affair (nothing like the big intricate ones sa other stores), I gave it to a friend’s son
I believe he was able to create and sustain a small community for a bit.
Haha! Those were Kira and Lauren. Actually the marketing manager told us that the Japanese are amazed they’re selling toys and other stuff of Japanese humor daw.
)
Nayna – I love the mask, I mean, it’s not perfect but it’s pretty good for P85.
I’ve yet to use my facial cleansing pad, but I’m excited about it already. Hihi!
Holy..I had no idea I made that face when I squeezed ze manboobs!!! And oh that remark about Charice Pempengco made me LOL so hard! I want dat charcoal mask thingie…let’s go shopping na to Etude when we get our checks, Alex. Assuming we’re well na by then
Kira – haha, gigil! Onga I’m curious about that Etude product you blogged about.
I love how the japanese always find ways to make something look so cute! Favorite ko eyebrow template, wouldn’t it be nice to pass these around to random people? Ang cute eh hehe!
How was the cleansing pad though?
Rae – trueee! The kilay template is made of WIN.
Haven’t used the cleansing pad yet, I’ll use it later when I wash up. Hehe!
never heard of this store before. most japanese stores i know usually sells ramen noodles and weird candies. i guess the only thing we need is an akihabara equivalent and the circle will be complete.
You should visit Saizen and see for yourself. It’s funny how everyone gets something they don’t really need but when you ask them about it, they fumble for an excuse. There are a lot of great gag gifts here, for instance. xD
I’ve never been to the Daiso branch here in Manila but all those items are super tempting! I love the eyeglasses-cleaner
Amazing, i didn’t even know they have those sodium carbonate and sweat pads! the black mask looks interesting, i think i’ll purchase one for myself
Dye – I LOVE the black mask. I make monster sounds while taking it off, too. I’m having way too much fun with it for a beauty product.
Chris – whaat, you’ve never been there? I think you’ll love it! You should check out their stationery section and their bento stuff. I end up buying too many lunchboxes there.
I missed the Sunday event. Hope to see you in the next one!=) And I know Angela! We used to be in the same department in Robinsons. She’s nice:) Love the photos!
Pax – ohh sayang, I could’ve met you! But you were at the weekend bazaar, right? Hope to see you in some other event then!
Eeee ang cute ng mga stuff! I especially love the cute little creetures for cleaning. Hehehe. They have household stuff, too, right? I am so going there!
Wow Alex! You did a great job! Super fast and ang ganda ng content ng saizen topic mo haha I remember my jewelmer topic kasi it’s my favorite kaya super picture and complete with explanation din ako haha You really must love Saizen!
Hope to see you again!
xoxo
MrsM
@Aggie – oh they do! They have the best and cutest bento/lunchboxes/spoon and forks stuff!
It’s such a fun store kasi
@MrsMartinez – haha, it’s that obvious? Yes, I love Saizen. One of my favorite shopping topics, hehe! I’m so glad you like it!
Daming cute stuff nga ah. Haha.
Aliw yung Samurai & Geisha na cig cases, pati yung portable ashtrays. There’s even a pedobear one. LMAO.
I love Saizen! bought a couple of their restaurant door banners for a company event once. my favorite purchase will be a pair of grapefruit spoons- not too weird really since they also have another pair or strawberry spoons. how specialized should utensils be?
but they work! haha
btw, how does that cleansing pad work?
Louie – I knew he looked familiar! Hahahaha!
Appsie – oo nga! I love their kitchen stuff…Hmm maybe I should edit this post and include their cute lunchboxes, spoons and forks. As for the cleansing pad, I’ve been using it this week. You need to use a facial wash with it, though, but with the pad, you feel like you get a more thorough cleaning.
Wow… will Saizen be available in our part of the world — here in the South?
The Japanese really do think of everything. Even the microfiber stuff are cute! Suddenly, you go there and you just need everything.
I just hope they have some stickers with English text on them to explain what they really are. The froggie earpicks look like cocktail stirrers you can use for a party!
They have a branch opening in Laguna, haha! I hope they open in Alabang.
They have some English translations for their other products, especially the beauty ones. The ingredients are written in English separately and posted at the aisles.
fun shopping event
heheheh my son Ashton is crying dun sa group pic hehe
Oo nga eh! But he was quiet the rest of the tour.
Ok the froggie earpicks DO look like cocktail stirrers!
Lots of gift ideas here….
Saizen gets 10/5 stars for always giving me that need-to-buy feeling which I only get at shops that sell sweets/electronics/books. It has lots of good items as well as silly stuff (that you buy but can’t explain why).
You’re now almost officially my consistent image model (in my entry):
http://www.skysenshi.com/2010/08/glamorized-scavenger-hunt-robinsons.html
LOL!
Marcus – well if you’re not using them for anyone’s ears then you can use it for stirring, who’s to stop you? Haha!
Pao – Let’s do a Saizen date! I believe this is the first time you commented on my blog. :*
hi
i also love saizen… it started when i went to japan. anyway, i am not japanese but i also have a penchant to get things in black and simply because they look elegant, they don’t become yellow(like most white plastic items) and it’s like a canvass that you mix and match with any other color.
Saizen is fantastic! They’re also opening a new branch in Robinsons Manila.