The six ingredients used in Japanese skincare for sensational skin

Mushrooms

In Japan, mushrooms have long been valued as both food and medicine because they support the body’s natural defenses by enhancing the immune system. Packed with antioxidants, mushrooms help protect skin against environmental aggressors and free radicals, which in turn helps with signs of ageing and visible damage. A natural anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, they can help heal and calm stressed skin, and they also boost blood circulation to restore your gorgeous, natural glow. ‘The mushrooms found in our hero range, the Dr. Andrew Weil Mega Mushroom collection, have been directly influenced by the mushrooms and natural ingredients found in the region.’ Jean-Alexandre tells us. It’s officially time to start using fungi on your face.

Green tea

Abundant in antioxidants, it’s one powerful protector and is rich in a variety of phytochemicals, polyphenols, enzymes and amino acids. It works wonders for soothing stressed and irritated skins whilst its antiageing properties prevent wrinkles and fine lines. It’s also great for detoxifying and keeping skin hydrated, and it’s been proven to help banish blemishes. No wonder the likes of Kareena Kapoor and Gwyneth Paltrow swear by it. ‘Even if you’re not a tea drinker, you can apply it topically and still reap the benefits’, recommends Treston. ‘Use green tea as a toner by letting two cups cool after brewing, then apply it to your face with a cotton ball. This natural alternative can give you glowing skin and reduce the size of pores.’

Collagen

Most of us think collagen comes in the form of fillers or pills, but in Japan it’s consumed as a drink. Women across the country boil beef and chicken tendon to make their own beautyboosting beverage, as – unlike creams which work solely on the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) – ingesting an ingredient works from the inside out to target the deeper layer of skin.

Collagen is a protein that gives skin structural support and is key in maintaining firm, supple skin. It slows the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, improves elasticity, and helps retain moisture. The good news is we naturally produce collagen. The bad news is that as we grow older, we produce less of it. Therefore, it is no wonder the Japanese have developed yet another helping hand to keep them young and beautiful. If boiling up bones is not quite for you, there is an array of collagen drinks to give you a beautifying boost.

Seaweed

Scientists have long believed that marine bacteria were the first forms of cell life to form on Earth. As the depths of the ocean offered protection from the sun’s harsh UV rays, species of micro-algae could benefit from the nutrients in seawater and develop into powerful organisms beneath the surface of the sea. This is due to their amazing ability, like that of human skin, to adapt and develop according to their environment in order to combat aggressors and protect their DNA.

Packed with vitamins and minerals, the goodness from this green stuff is quickly absorbed by the body due to its cellular structure being so similar to that of our skin. Not only does this super sea-vegetable restore moisture levels in the skin, but it also firms it, slows ageing, boosts cell generation and helps with detoxification – all while purifying and improving skin texture and tone.

Pearls

If you want skin as smooth, lustrous, and perfect as a pearl, then (you guessed it) it’s time to make pearls your skin saviour. Abundant in calcium, magnesium, and zinc - which help rebalance skin, promote regeneration, and reduce breakouts – pearls act as a potent antioxidant and are able to boost the body’s own production of enzymes. Pearls also pack a serious anti-ageing punch as they’re rich in amino acids and proteins, which help preserve collagen and even increase its production.

Rice bran

A staple in Japanese culture, rice is so much more than a base for your sushi. Japanese rice bran, known as komenuka, has been used for centuries by Japanese women and is still a staple skincare ingredient thanks to its deep moisturising abilities. Geishas were known to use leftover water from washing rice to then wash their faces in a bid to get smooth, supple, and luminous skin. Rice bran is bursting with fatty acids and squalene – an essential at that makes up 12 per cent of human sebum. This makes it extremely effective on very dry, ageing, and even super-sensitive skins. It’s also rich in vitamins B and E and gently exfoliates whilst hydrating and promoting cellular turnover.