Japanese beauty is the next big thing in skin care Japanese beauty keywords
Move over, K-beauty: J-beauty is taking over
Everyone is buzzing about J-beauty, so Renée Tse asked Tatcha founder Vicky Tsai to break down everything you need to know about the next must-try skin care routine.
“The original muses of J-beauty are geisha, whose skin care rituals and beauty practices have been passed along for centuries,” says Tsai.
Follow our guide below to achieve the ultimate Japanese beauty skin goal: mochi-hada. “It translates to ‘rice cake skin,’ and essentially describes the soft, smooth and bouncy quality of a baby’s skin,” says Tsai.
Puru-puru:
“A word that refers to the light, plump quality of healthy skin.”
Asayake:
“Translated as ‘morning glow,’ this type of massage is performed after palms are chilled with cold water to tighten and awaken the skin.”
Wabi-sabi:
“A concept that describes the beauty of what is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete — and serves as a reminder that unique traits help tell our life stories.”
Japanese beauty routine
“Typically, daily Japanese beauty routines consist of three to four steps. In the classic J-beauty ritual, the first step is a cleansing oil to purify, followed by a very gentle exfoliation — traditionally with rice enzyme — to polish, then an essence to plump and, finally, a moisturizer or beauty oil to nourish and seal in the other ingredients. Protecting the skin from UV damage with a sunscreen and protective accessories, like a hat or parasol, are also daily essentials,” says Tsai. And avoid the ultimate taboo: “Going to sleep with makeup on! Cleansing is a cornerstone of a classical Japanese ritual.”
Japanese beauty super ingredients Camellia oil
“Geishas cleanse away their makeup with this type of oil. It is rich in oleic acid, along with vitamins A, B, D and E, and contains anti- inflammatory, skin-softening omega-3 fatty acids that promote the barrier function of your skin.”
Rice bran
“This dietary staple also effectively removes impurities, while providing skin-nourishing oils. A natural enzyme exfoliant, rice bran boasts potent antioxidants and nourishing moisturizers. Women traditionally used the leftover water from rinsing rice in their baths to score soft and smooth skin.”
Seaweed
“It contains natural polysaccharides, which replenish your skin’s natural water reservoir and increase its capability to retain moisture.”
Silk
“This protein- and amino-acid-fortified structure closely mirrors the composition of our skin. With a fluctuating pH, it can also keep you warm or cool.”
Pearl
“It acts as a potent antioxidant, boosting the body’s own enzymes and reducing cell damage.”
Indigo
“Its active ingredients provide powerful anti-inflammatory relief, helping to soothe symptoms of irritation from conditions like dermatitis, rosacea, psoriasis and eczema.”
Red algae
“This ingredient contains incredible moisture-retaining properties. It can replenish the skin’s moisture reservoir for a plump, glowing complexion.”