You might think that all Asian skin care routines and cosmetic products would be very similar, but in reality they differ from each other very significantly. It all depends on what is valued in each culture and thus what their cosmetics and skin care aim to achieve.
You must have heard of the Korean glass skin, but have you heard of J Beauty, or Japanese skin care and it's pursuit of mochi skin? The Japanese routine focuses on products that are gentle and effectively nourish the skin, which aim to achieve this so-called mochi skin. And yes, mochi means specifically the very soft and elastic delicacy made from rice, which became a hit product in Finland in 2023 as well. The targeted mochi skin is almost baby-like, very soft, moisturized and wrinkle-free.
You can also find J-beauty cosmetics in Yeppo's selections, take a look from here!
Japanese skincare routine
Perhaps a little surprisingly, the Japanese skin care routine is relatively simple and short. In its simplicity, the Japanese morning skin care routine is as follows:
- Water-based cleansing product
- Essence (which by the way is known in both Korea and Japan as lotion, which is different from the western term, which mainly refers to an emulsion cream)
- Serum
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
In the evening routine, an oil-based cleansing product is also added to the routine just as in the Korean routine, in order to effectively cleanse the skin of all make-up, sunscreen, dirt and sebum accumulated during the day. In addition, after the essence, use a preferred face mask.
Japanese skin care emphasizes choosing products according to skin type, concern but also the season.
Skin care according to the seasons
In Japanese skin care, spring is a time of change, and with it, the skin becomes easily sensitive due to temperature changes and air pollution. For this reason, the skin should be cleansed carefully as soon as you get home and take care of moisturizing to maintain the normal function of the skin barrier. In the summer, the Japanese take special care of using sunscreen, just like the Koreans. Excessive exposure to the sun can cause skin dryness, dark spots and lines, so the use of sunscreen is a must. Sweating and air conditioning can also cause skin problems, so it's important to take care of proper hydration of skin in summertime as well.
After the summer, the skin layers may have thickened due to the effect of UV radiation, which leads to an increase in the amount of melanin and thus dark spots. To repair the damage, the Japanese prefer light exfoliating cleansing products and essences. The air becomes drier in autumn as winter approaches, so it's time to pay attention of using moisturizing products. In winter, Japanese people switch to gentle cleansing products so that the skin's natural moisture and oil balance is not affected. Moisturizing masks are also recommended to be used in addition to the rest of the skin care routine even more.
