After months of hinting and teasing, we are pleased to formally announce ARTISTRY YOUTH XTEND – a powerfully proactive and comprehensive skincare collection addressing the first signs of aging.

As early as age 25, many women begin to show the first signs of age in the form of fine lines and wrinkles, crow’s feet and loss of skin clarity and radiance. These changes are due in part to the cumulative effects of free radical damage, including exposure to sun and pollution, stress, certain lifestyle habits, genetics and wear and tear of life. Fortunately, YOUTH XTEND helps to re-program the future of skin and repair and protect skin to prolong the look of youth.

“The YOUTH XTEND collection marks the beginning of many exciting new developments in the re-emergence of the ARTISTRY brand as a global competitor in the prestige beauty space,” said Maud Pansing, Amway’s Vice President of Global Beauty.

The YOUTH XTEND collection makes its debut this month in Korea, Japan and Thailand, followed by additional markets in Southeast Asia and around the world through 2013.

 It has become pretty important at Amway. LCA, is an internationally recognized way to determine the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. An LCA analyzes the entire production process from raw materials to manufacturing to distribution to “end of life management.” (Can it be recycled or will it go to a landfill?)

 Amway Research Scientist David Byrne recently attended the LCA XII Conference in Tacoma, Washington, and shared the evolution of Amway’s use of LCA and our goal to be recognized as a sustainability leader in the direct sales industry. Here is the gist of his message:

 Amway’s first product, L.O.C., was a phosphate-free, all-purpose cleaner that was one of the first bio-degradable products on the market. It was the first of many products we designed with environmental considerations. The company’s founders did this because it was the right thing to do.

 However, our Independent Business Owners, customers and partners now want to know about our sustainability efforts. That’s why in 2009 Amway started using LCA. As a test case, an LCA helped shape the design of the new eSpring system launched in Japan that year. The result? It used 46% less energy than its predecessor.

Now sustainability requirements are integrated into corporate objectives for all new products and sustainability claims are tested along with performance claims. At Amway, LCA has been used successfully, and it’s gaining recognition inside and outside the company.

For centuries, the tea house has been a key element of a Japanese garden.

It’s a tranquil place. Before you enter, you cleanse your face and hands to symbolically check your cares and worries at the door. 

It’s a harmonious place, where you meet with friends, receive special tea and cake, and enjoy your time together. 

It’s also a familiar place for our recent guests at Amway World Headquarters, who participated in the Georgetown University Leadership Program, supported by Amway Japan and The Japan Times.

They were excited to learn that a tea house is planned for the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, as part of The Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. Construction for the project begins in 2013.

During a preview and personal tour of the future garden site, they shared their stories and suggestions for the first official tea ceremony with David Hooker, president and CEO at Frederik Meijer Gardens.

Already new friendships are starting to blossom.

He’s intelligent, confident and charismatic. His skin is healthy and his wardrobe effortlessly cool. He’s who the ladies would call “the perfect guy.”

 And now, he’s officially an ARTISTRY Man!

Amway Japan recently named Daisuke Fujii, 30, winner of the ARTISTRY Men Contest. He’ll serve as brand ambassador for ARTISTRY Men, the premium range of skincare products formulated to address the specific needs of men’s skin, namely hydration and oil-control. But first, he’ll take an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Stonehenge, among the world’s most famous iconic stone monuments, which inspired the packaging for the ARTISTRY Men collection.  

From more than 3,000 entrants, Daisuke was selected by a panel of celebrity judges including actor Mikihisa Azuma, photographer Herbie Yamaguchi, model Alice Saito and Amway Japan President Mark Beiderwieden. Contestants were judged on style, intelligence, communication skills, sense of humor and good values. As brand ambassador, Daisuke will work to raise brand awareness for ARTISTRY Men while attracting Gen Y males in Japan.

 For a contest play-by-play, check out this video.

 Congratulations, Daisuke!

It’s been called the “hottest and coolest book” of the year in Japan and was #2 on GQ Japan’s ”Hot and Cool 100” list.  It’s making headlines and flying off shelves from Asahikawa to Tokyo and intriguing readers around the world.

“Reimagining Japan: The Quest for a Future that Works“, brings together 80 leaders and visionaries who explore how Japan will deal with current challenges like the March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, and longer-term concerns like an aging population and lost competitiveness.

Amway Chairman Steve Van Andel is one of the thinkers featured in the book. Writing as part of a collection of essays about refreshing Japan’s talent pool, Steve suggests that Japan has not lost its way in developing the talent needed to drive growth and innovation. He says Japan needs only to tap two powerful sources of ideas it already has – entrepreneurs and women.

“I’m hopeful for Japan because I’ve seen Japan’s innovative spirit,” Steve writes. “I have also seen how hard Japan’s women – and men – can work. I have seen that when given a chance, entrepreneurs, both men and women, can achieve great things.”

It’s been two months since an earthquake shook Japan and a tsunami swept through cities and towns, creating unprecedented damage.

Immediately following the quake Amway Japan provided food and shelter for employees and distributors left stranded due to power outages.  The company was honored by the Shibuya Ward Mayor for its disaster preparedness and has agreed to become a shelter and provide relief and aid to those affected by future disasters.

Amway and our affiliates immediately mobilized fundraising and support for Japan, raising more than US$4.4 million to aid relief and recovery efforts in just one month.

Less than two weeks after the disaster, Amway President Doug DeVos visited Tokyo to personally share our support. The following day Amway Japan President John Parker visited Sendai, among the hardest hit areas in Japan, to meet with our distributors and reopen our Plaza there as a relief center. 

Last week John was in West Michigan with the Georgetown University Leadership Program (GULP) sponsored by Amway Japan.  He and two members of the GULP delegation, government official Kosaboro Nishime and Kyodo News Editor Satoshi Yoshida, shared their experiences and perspectives on the disaster with local media.   

Although Japan has suffered, it will recover and there’s great optimism for the future.   

Perhaps John said it best when he told local reporters, “I’m bullish on Japan.”

Amway Japan is decking the halls of its Tokyo headquarters with ribbons of orange this holiday season. 

Amway Japan is a supporter of the National Network for Child Abuse Prevention orange ribbon campaign to end child abuse.   The orange ribbons signify hope and a bright future for all children.

In November Amway Japan customers, distributors and employees created orange ribbon ornaments to decorate holiday trees. For every ribbon used in the display,  Amway donated 10 yen to a shelter for abused children.

As a sign at the display proclaims, it’s a way to create a Merry Christmas for all children this holiday season.