Japanese cosmetics and cleanliness: how to properly cleanse the skin without overdrying it?

That is why Asian-style washing is indicated for owners of any skin type, both women and men of all ages.

Proper Japanese skin care

A person’s face needs daily cleansing, because even during sleep, two types of impurities remain on the skin: fat-soluble (sebum and makeup) and water-soluble (sweat, dust, dead cells)

The Japanese have come up with and are actively popularizing the system of double facial cleansing as part of a multi-stage care. At the first stage, using products based on oils or oily textures, excess sebum and traces of decorative cosmetics are eliminated. At the second stage, foams or mousses help to cope with water-soluble contaminants.

How to wash your face in Japanese?

In Japan, it is customary to cleanse the skin at least twice a day, for example, in the morning and evening. This is enough to keep the skin healthy.

Japanese care is divided into steps. Most often they are classified according to the type of cosmetics that is needed at each stage. This is what the right technique looks like.

Step 1. Hydrophilic oil

The Japanese cannot imagine their care without hydrophilic oil - a product designed for deep cleansing of the skin. It consists of natural vegetable oils, vitamins and other useful substances, which, upon contact with water, turn into a homogeneous emulsion or milk.

Before use, the skin of the face must first be rinsed with water, then apply the oil with a sponge or hands. Make-up is removed with gentle circular motions.

Hydrophilic oil can slightly dry out the skin, so it is not recommended to limit care only to them.

Step 2. Balm, foam or mousse for washing

In Japan, they love products with a light but elastic texture. After removing makeup with hydrophilic oil, you need to thoroughly eliminate the remnants of cosmetics and stains. Balms, foams and mousses are not as aggressive as gels, but they do their job even better. They literally draw dirt out of the pores, and also minimize the effect of rubbing the face with your fingers.

The cosmetic should be distributed over the skin with your hands, and then go through all areas in a circular motion. After that, it remains to wash with water at room temperature and blot the remaining moisture with a dry cloth.

Step 3 Micellar Water

Japanese micellar water, familiar to many, is usually used at the end for spot cleansing. For example, a cotton pad dipped in micellar water can be used to go over the area around the eyes or other tricky places. In order not to experience discomfort, you can wash your face with ordinary water again, but the micellar water itself does not require rinsing if it does not contain surfactants.

Step 4 Scrub

The use of scrubs in daily care has long been debated. Many experts assure that home peeling should be done no more than once a week. Japanese women do this regularly because they use light, fine-grained products that do not injure the skin, but help to safely renew its top layer.

After that, the cleansing phase smoothly flows into the nutrition phase. The Japanese cannot do without it.

Step 5. Tonic or mist

Cleanliness isn't everything. This step restores the natural pH of the skin. For toning, Asians often use products in the form of mists and sprays, but the usual lotions are also suitable. They are applied to a cotton pad and distributed over the entire face, with the exception of the area around the eyes.

Step 6. Serum and cream

Serum and moisturizer do not just appear at this stage. After all the manipulations listed above, the skin becomes “open” to all components. Between applying a nourishing emulsion and a moisturizer, you can take a break of 20-30 minutes, or you can apply two products at the same time, they will not conflict. The main thing is to use them in order of increasing percentage of fat content.

At the end, if desired, you can add one more step - applying sunscreen. Once every two or three days, you can make nourishing masks. The Japanese love tissue, generously flavored with hyaluronic acid.

Benefits of the Japanese Washing Technique

Cleansing, toning and moisturizing the skin in a Japanese way allows you to effectively get rid of impurities on the skin, maintain a natural protective barrier, prevent and eliminate age-related changes in a timely manner and stimulate cellular renewal through the use of natural remedies.

Depending on the needs, age, habits and skin type, the number of “steps” of care may vary, and their content may be adjusted.