How do Japanese women manage to look younger than their age and have such flawless skin?

The Japanese are really known for their slender bodies, fair smooth skin and straight shiny hair. The Japanese are highly organized people that believe in the goodness of health and natural ingredients. Their beauty regimen is extensive. They use facial oils, fermented skin care products and enzymes for exfoliation and to keep their skin looking hydrated. Their diet is rich in fish which contains omega 3 and green tea with antioxidants. They lead active lifestyle with plenty of walking and exercise.

How does mental peace and calmness play a role in nourishing skin?

Spiritual wellbeing and mental calmness is paramount to having good skin. We know stress causes breakouts. Eczema and other dry skin conditions get worse. Lack of sleep and fatigue causes dull sallow skin with lack of glow. Constant stress causes skin to age fasterSimplicity, Softness and Nourishment are three crucial elements in the Japanese beauty regime.

Can you please elaborate on each and explain what role they plan in maintaining healthy skin?

Simplicity- The Japanese use simple formulas but use them effectively. Their skin care regimen has fewer ingredients and products but they know how to make best use of them by using proper massage and technique.

Softness- Japanese skin care is all about soft techniques. Its all about hydration with creams, serums and oils. They layer their oils and creams to seal in everything. Rather than harsh exfoliation they indulge in gentle exfoliation and soft nourishing creams.

Nourishment- They use creams, serums and oils which nourish the skin layers. They like using enzymes and fermented bean and other products. They use antioxidant formulas in their skin care to nourish and hydrate.

It is said that the Japanese prefer applying gentle layers (cleansing/hydration/moisturising) rather than applying one strong all encompassing product.

Why is this preferable?

The Japanese prefer elaborate skin regimens preparing their skin at each and every step for the next step. Cleansing ensures remoal of dirt, grime, makeup and other debris clogging the pores. Hydration with a lotion which mainly contains water is believed to make skin softer. They then follow this with a serum or a cream as a moisturizer or maybe both layering one on top of the other. These creams and serums are chosen as per their skin type and target either pigmentation, dullness, ageing skin, oiliness or dryness. They believe in using several different layers with individual properties rather than using a single product which has a little bit of everything

The Japanese use a lot of natural ingredients on their skin- directly and in their products. Why is this important?

The Japanese believe in simple techniques and nourishing products. They believe in natural properties of food substances like fish, green tea and fermented products which give them longeivity in health as well as skin well being. The Japanese beauty regime involves the following:

Please elaborate on each step and the proper way to do it.

Double cleansing (oil cleaning followed by foaming cleansers)The Japanese double cleanse their face at night. The first step is oil cleansing which they had been using since ancient times. They believe oil helps to remove stubborn makeup and dirt from their pores. This is then followed by cleansing with a foam cleanser to remove residues of oil and feels softer.

Hydration lotions (more watery in texture: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, aloe, Job’s tears etc)The hydrating lotions suit oily and cane prone skin and contain mostly water. The Japanese belive this hydrates the skin and makes the skin look softerSerums (thicker texture: ceramides, collagen and sodium hyaluronate, Vitamin C, grapeseed oil, Okinawan wild grapes)

Serums are slightly more thicker in consistency and are chosen with specific ingredients to match their skin needs. Vit C serum for repair and antioxidant activity, sodium hyaluronate to further hydrate, grapeseed oil for its antioxidant activity etcMoisturisers (milk, oil and cream: horse oil, squalane oil)They then like to also seal in everything with a moisturizer on top which can be squalene based which is great for dry skin or horse oil based which is lighter and used for oil skin types.

Exfoliation (gel-based) : The Japanese use gentle exfoliating agents that are mostly gel based. They massage this into the skin gently. The gently beads in these gels cause effective but gentle exfoliationSunscreens The Japanese are very particular and regular with their sunscreen use and will use it meticulously every single day come rain or shine.

Please explain the benefits of the following natural ingredients for skin.

Essential oils : They add a beautiful fragrance and they have individual properties based on the type of essential oil you have chosen. Lavender oil for example has sleep inducing properties and citrus based oils can reenergize and revitalize.

Camellia Oil : It is an oil used by Japanese mainly for moisturizing skin and hair. It has ingredients such as Omega fatty acids for nourishment and antioxidants for anti ageing benefits.

Azuki (red bean) : This redbean is ground finely and used in exfoliants and cleansers. It helps to rejuvenate and brightens the complexion.

Rice bran : Rice bran a by product of milling rice grains has been used by the geishas and has always been a part of Japanese skin care rituals. Rice bran is rich in antioxidants and nourishing moisturisers.

Wakame kelp : Wakame kelp Is a type of sea weed that is used in facial masks in Japanese skin care. The sea weed has minerals and vit B which help with redness and skin prone to rosacea.

Seaweed : Seaweed has been used by Japanese for the lonegst time. With all the mineral and vitamins seaweed has to offer, it is great used as a mask or as a gentle exfoliating agent.

Green tea : Green tea has many antioxidant properties . the Japanese not only drink this in plenty throughout the day but also use this in their skin care products and cleansersLicoriceLicorice extract is taken from the root of the plant and has skin brightening properties. The Japanese use this as a skin lightening and conditioning agent in their serums and moisturisers.

Bird dropping facial (Uguisu) : Bird Poo facials use bird droppings which have an enzyme that dissolves dead skin cells and gives smooth soft skin. The Japanese bird poo facial is quite a populay facial even in Hollywood!