“We want to look beautiful, no matter how old we are!” – Japanese manufacturers of household appliances are bringing out handy electronic beauty products one after another to keep up with this kind of yearning from women. Lots of different products are coming out to allow us to meticulously groom the whole body; including, naturally, skin-moisturizing products, as well as those for the eyes, mouth and scalp. An increase in unisex products to appeal to men has created a new boom.

Ions & a Weak Electrical Current, and Thermal Sensations too

One of women's top concerns is to keep their skin firm and moisturized in the dry air of winter. The Plasma Cluster Ion Generator is a mobile device that is enjoying much interest among such women. It is small sized, just 6 cm high, and has become a hot topic as it is shown to be convenient and can be used anytime, anywhere by clipping it to your chest; whether you are in the office, or out and about.

The proprietary plasma cluster technology developed by a Japanese manufacturer has mainly been used in air conditioning and air purifiers etc., due to its sterilizing and deodorizing effects. It has been proven that the fine ions link with water molecules in the air to moistly coat the skin's surface, and one product after another is incorporating this technology. It is not only used in skin care, but also in hair dryers, where it dampens the hair and so keeps down the generation of static electricity, which is reputed to lessen damage.

Then there is the Este Roller which was created in light of the demand for professional esthetician techniques that could be easily practiced at home. By simply gliding the roller over the skin, the skin is said to regain its luster and firmness. The platinum-coated two-pronged round shaped roller rubs and pinches the skin. At the same time a small solar panel activates a weak electric current that stimulates the skin.

This fall, leading consumer electronics manufacturers also released a type of Este Roller that can thermally heat while toning the skin. This type features heaters, which are installed inside the oval-shaped rollers allowing gentle skin care that feels like warm hands. The temperature can be switched to either 44oC or 48oC in line with your mood and physical condition.

A Sudden Surge in Male Users

There is also a lot of interest in esthetical devices for the eyes. These are aimed at office workers suffering from dry eyes caused by over-use of computers and smartphones, like the eyes mask developed by one such manufacturer. As well as moisturizing by generating steam inside the eye mask, the product itself vibrates gently and so soothes the eyes. There has been a sudden surge in the number of men purchasing the product, as you can refresh your eyes in just a short break between works.

Then there are waterproof, scalp cleaning brushes, popular with men in their 30's and older, which give you a ‘head spa’ while shampooing your hair in the bathroom.

Some models mimic the washing movements of bare hands; but the ends of the fine brushes wash　meticulously right down to the pores of the scalp, which are difficult for human fingertips to reach. A feature of such models is that the brush heads can be replaced for heads that more closely resemble the shape of human finger pads, for scalp care that allows you to work in styling lotions and hair tonics.

In addition, there is another manufacturer who has brought out a model with 4 brushes that rotate independently of one another; and a model that features "Sonic Vibration (vibration within a sonic region)" which deftly removes oil and dirt from the scalp with extra-fine brushes spaced at intervals of around 2.7 millimeters that rotate backwards and forwards at 9,000 rpm.

Convenient to Carry Around

Small, electric toothbrushes are experiencing a new boom; these have been developed for women who are in the habit of cleaning their teeth after lunch. The boom has been sparked by pocket-type brushes around 15cm long that women can carry in their bags. These feature beautiful designs that look just like a cosmetics containers, and also high performance that removes plaque from every nook and cranny using 16,000 rpm ultrasonic vibrations. They come in a great range of colors such as pink etc., and have been a hit with sales of 1 million in the 6 months since they were launched.

In addition, there is a manufacturer who claims that their product, which is the same type that uses sonic vibration, is extremely effective at removing plaque with 33,000 rpm ultra-high speed micro-vibrations. There is also a portable brush that can be charged by connecting it to a PC using a USB cable, and its appeal is the high speed at which it vibrates; namely, 25,500 rpm.

It seems that there is a stream of innovative ideas coming out, for new products that fulfill our desire to be beautiful and clean anytime, anyplace.

(December 2013)