This is the second installment of interviews with members of “ampule Boostars★,” a community of beauty writers who share ampule's vision.

This time, we spoke with freelance writer Masaki Yanagihara.

We asked her about her daily work, her thoughts on beauty, and her relationship with “ampule Boostars★.” The interview is presented in a question-and-answer format.

Profile

Masaki Yanagihara

She writes for multiple media outlets, focusing on genres such as beauty, cosmetics, and romance that appeal to women. She graduated from Nihon University's College of Art with a degree in theater. After working for a theater production company and a PR company, she became independent in 2017 and is currently working as a freelancer.

Instagram（@masaki_y99）
HP：https://www.masaki-dream.tokyo

ーーMr. Yanagihara, you are active in many fields as a writer. Could you tell us again what your main work is currently?

As a freelance writer, I write articles on beauty and lifestyle topics, mainly for magazines and online media. For the women's fashion magazine ar, I am in charge of beauty projects such as skincare and makeup, as well as interviews and tie-up articles. I value the power of words and visuals to deliver content that makes people's hearts flutter.

Recently, I have also been receiving many requests from companies to direct advertising visuals and landing pages.

ーーPlease tell us what motivated you to become a writer and the background behind your decision.

I happened to be doing PR for cosmetics at the time, and that's when I learned about the profession of writer as a PR target. From there, I began to think that I wanted to become a writer, and through a series of coincidences, I ended up in my current job.

I've always enjoyed listening to my friends' concerns (especially about beauty and love) and brainstorming solutions with them. I also love cute things. Additionally, I've loved writing poems and columns since I was a child, and I even had a mysterious column series in my elementary school class newspaper where I wrote about myself (laughs). I think combining all these things I love led me to a career in editing and writing.

ーーIs there anything you value or are conscious of in your work?

I work on my articles and other projects with the hope that they will bring a little sparkle to people's everyday lives.

To be honest, I don't often meet readers who tell me, “I read your article!” But even without receiving feedback, there are many articles that I enjoy reading myself. I hope that my articles will bring joy to someone else as well.

When it comes to idol interviews, there are often lots of comments on social media, so I’ll search for them and read the comments, thinking, “I’m glad they enjoyed it.” When the editorial team or clients give feedback like, “The response was great!” or “It turned out perfectly,” I really feel like it was worth it.

ーーAre there any memorable episodes from your work?

After giving birth, I was feeling a little pessimistic, thinking, “There won't be any work for me as a freelancer...” But then several editors told me, “We've been waiting for you to come back, Yanagihara!” and “We can't do this without you!” (tears).

At that moment, I thought, “Maybe I'm suited for this job after all?” and my motivation rose.

ーーWhat made you decide to join ampule Boostars★?

I often have the opportunity to receive presentations from brands at events such as press conferences, but “ampule Boostars★” is a little different. I participated because I felt it would be a great learning experience to hear about industry trends and global trends.

Also, there aren't many opportunities for media outlets to network with each other, so I think this is a very valuable event.

ーーIs there anything that you find useful for yourself in the information and activities provided by ampule Boostars★?

It is very useful to be able to input beauty information based on data and evidence!

I am also very happy to be able to hear stories from people who have actually been in the field (for example, a study session on Korean cosmetics by Un-chan, who was a charismatic salesperson at Olive Young).

I believe that the most important thing in writing articles is to “read the mood of the world correctly” and “not stray from what readers want.” Media articles truly reflect the times. For example, if you look at a magazine from 10 years ago now, the tone feels outdated, and there might even be content that violates compliance standards (laughs).  

To convey what society and readers are seeking, daily input is crucial. That’s why “ampule Boostars★” is such a valuable resource, and ampule’s study sessions are extremely helpful.  

Some of the next trends in Korean makeup that were shared as research results during the study sessions have actually been submitted as proposal ideas!

ーーWhat does beauty mean to you, Mr. Yanagihara?

For me, beauty is like a switch that makes me feel a little more positive.

I'm a very simple person, despite being sensitive, so when I feel that I look a little better than usual, or that my body smells good, or that my nails are shiny, I find myself humming a tune (laughs). In that sense, beauty is more than just about changing your appearance—it's about giving you the confidence to believe in yourself. It's not just about your outward appearance, but also about enriching your inner self and mental well-being (at least that's what I hope it is).  

When I think about it that way, it's almost magical and adorable. I often have the opportunity to work on magazine features like “Date Preparation Plans,” and when I'm thinking about the content, it really makes my heart race. What you do is important, but the very idea of “date preparation” is so precious and cute, you know?

ーーHave your views on beauty changed since giving birth?

It has changed dramatically!

First of all, I realized how much the time I used to spend on beauty, which I had taken for granted, was healing for me. When I did my skincare routine for the first time in several days at the maternity hospital right after giving birth, I cried because it felt so good (laughs). Even now, I am still struggling with time every day as I try to keep up with my beauty routine.

I also realized that my understanding of “mom beauty” was lacking before, and I reflected on that. Additionally, seeing my child’s skin condition up close has made me more interested in kids’ skincare and UV protection.

I think I’ve become more focused on beauty that lifts my mood and is for myself compared to before giving birth.

ーー“ampule Boostars★” promotes the concept of “Enpower J-Beauty.” Finally, please tell us your thoughts on “Enpower J-Beauty.”

I really resonate with the phrase “Enpower J-Beauty”!!!

While I am interested in beauty from various countries and want to absorb as much as possible, I believe that Japanese beauty, which combines delicate sensibility and reliable techniques, is truly one-of-a-kind and a place where I can feel at ease.

I think that, ultimately, beauty is about self-care. Even if others can't tell the difference, just taking a little time to care for your skin or applying a cute shade of lipstick can mysteriously change your mood. In that sense, it feels like a moment of self-reflection, and I feel that the Japanese beauty culture, which values such moments, has tremendous power. I also believe that if the Japanese beauty industry flourishes, people's hearts will become richer as well.

The concept of “Enpower J-Beauty” is also wonderful in that taking care of oneself ultimately becomes a source of power. I hope many people will think, “Beauty is great” or “Beauty isn't such a high barrier after all,” and I would be happy to be involved in activities that spread the circle of self-care through beauty.

Thank you very much for your cooperation in the interview, Mr. Yanagihara!