In this third installment of our series of interviews exploring what makes women shine in a variety of fields, we feature Kimura Natsuko, Marketing Director for North Asia at Expedia, the world's largest online travel site. With her striking slender figure and confident expression, Kimura shares her passions for fashion and beauty. ■Working Out at Work Kimura, who pays close attention to her health, even practices workouts at the office. "I sit on a balance ball while I work. It's great for strengthening your core. Sitting all day is tough, so I recommend about half a day. We started using one about six months ago, and now about 40% of our employees use one (laughs). I wear diet slippers and steadily do whatever I can at the office." To maintain her slim figure, she also pays attention to her diet. "Tofu is an essential. I also try to get in plenty of vegetables, such as drinking green smoothies and eating tomatoes as snacks."
■ Maintaining a shapely figure through fashion!!
On the day of the interview, Kimura showed off a pink dress from the French brand FIFILLES. Primary colours suit her fair skin well. "I've decided that my go-to outfit is red," says Kimura. Choosing clothes that naturally draw attention to your figure, such as ones with a body-conscious silhouette or that define your waist with a belt, seems to help her maintain her shape.
■ We recommend "point makeup" that matches your fashion
The person who did Kimura's makeup this time was Isetan Mirror Girl Suzuki Emi. "It's good to emphasize some points in your makeup so that they don't get overwhelmed by bright fashion. Kimura-san is a stylish and cool woman, so this time I wanted to add a bit of softness with my makeup," she said, introducing a makeup look that focused on brown around the eyes, pink on the cheeks, and pink lipstick to accentuate the lips.
Kimura requested, "I want my eyes to look bigger," so Suzuki drew a thick black eyeliner on the outer corner of her eye and brown eyeliner on her lower eyelid. "Using brown instead of black on the lower eyelid emphasizes the eyes in a natural way and makes it less likely to go wrong," Suzuki said. She also advised, "For Kimura, whose eye makeup tends to smudge under her eyes, I recommend a wash-off mascara that can be removed with warm water. It's sweat-resistant and less likely to darken the under-eye area, so it's perfect for people who like to exercise."
Kimura usually wears red lipstick, but this time she chose a pink shade. Yves Saint Laurent Beaute's lipstick has been featured in numerous beauty magazines and is a popular item that sells out as soon as it arrives in stores. The natural, feminine makeup, featuring pink blush, seems to bring out a new side of Kimura.
Key products used: Isetan Mirror Beaute "Eyeshadow 01," "Eyeliner Pencil 01," Parfums Givenchy "Le Prisme Blush 22," and Yves Saint Laurent Beaute "Rouge Volupté Shine 08."
[Kimura Natsuko Profile]
Graduated from the Faculty of Business and Commerce at Keio University. Specializing in overseas marketing of consumer goods, internet marketing, PR, and branding, she has always worked at the intersection of Japanese and overseas cultures while working for multiple global companies. She is a huge fan of overseas travel, having lived and traveled to over 40 cities for both work and personal reasons. Since 2007, she has served as Expedia's Head of Marketing, overseeing the launch of the North Asia website and marketing strategy. She is a member of two Latin dance teams, performing at events, and recently obtained a Zumba instructor license. She has also recently taken up jazz piano and Latin percussion, expanding her personal activities.
[About Isetan Mirror]
Isetan Mirror is a cosmetics shop based on the concept of "a luxury cosmetics shop where you can buy only what you want, when you want, how you want." Isetan Mirror Girls work there. Previously only available at department stores, the shop offers a wide selection of brand-name cosmetics, transcending brand boundaries. Customers can try out items on their own or consult with an Isetan Mirror Girl for assistance. There are currently nine stores nationwide.
