I have been to Japan and the credibility of this statement can be gleaned from the photos at the end of this article as well as my skincare habits. I am a skincare fiend and view my routine not only as a hygiene practice but as a form of self-care. I like feeling like my own esthetician.
Truly investigating your skin type and investing in the toners, lotions, or oils that are right for you can save you a lot of money in the long run. For years I was guilty of panic-buying Clearasil and Proactive, and even attempting home remedies to quell my cystic acne (banana peel, egg, honey, cinnamon facials). It can be frustrating when you do everything from making soap cocktails over your sink to cutting out dairy, i.e. any food you enjoy, just to be left with irritated skin.
Plus, acne hurts, accidentally popping a zit, laying on your face weirdly and the chemical burns you obtain trying to get rid of pimples are all experiences that nearly threw me into fits of anger. I had BAD acne before my trip but the habits I have developed in Japan are what maintain my skin and my confidence. Though much of my improvement can be credited to procedures that addressed my residual scarring, these Japanese products effectively kept my acne at bay.
Trying out the makeup and other beauty items from the drug stores and the kombinis was a game changer for me. I am chronically oily, and Japan seems to have a place in their beauty industry that accounts for this problem. Below is the list of all the products that I would 100% buy again as someone with oily hair and an oily-acne-prone face. Most products are easily brought from verified online vendors such as Kioko Beauty. The “In Country” portion of the list features the products that I will be yearning for in the foreseeable future.
Available on online:
Hatomugi Skin Conditioner (Toner): a layer of lightweight moisturizing water that calms the skin.
How I use it:
Put the liquid on a cotton pad.
Swipe across my face.
Or
Place on multiple cotton pads.
Layer the pads on different sections of my face, like a face mask.
remove after five minutes.
2. Hatomugi Moisturizing Gel: What I use as my moisturizer. It’s a white lightweight gel that applies clear. I only need a small dollop across my face and neck.
3. Cica Clay Mask: A green clay mask with bits of Centella Asiatica (Cica) an herb that is known to help with dryness irritation, acne, and eczema.
How I use:
Peel back the film to open the mask capsule.
Use a finger or face mask brush to layer on my face.
Wait for 20 minutes.
Rinse
4. Fino Hair Mask: A hair mask to be used on wet hair. Nourishes hair and with weekly use makes hair appear thicker.
How I use:
Shampoo hair and rinse.
Open Fino Hair mask jar
Take a generous glob.
Apply the hair mask to the mid-length and ends of your hair only. Not scalp.
Wait 10-20 minutes then rinse thoroughly.
Follow with hair conditioner.
Or
Obtain a small bowl
Mix:
1-3 tablespoons of Fino hair mask
1 tablespoon of any hair oil or serum
1 tablespoon of baby oil
Apply to dry/slightly damp hair
Coad mid-length and ends of your hair. Not scalp.
Wrap hair in plastic wrap.
Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
Shampoo and rinse hair thoroughly.
Apply hair oil then allow to dry.
5. Curel Intensive Moisture Care Lip Balm: scentless and tasteless lip balm. On par with many other lip balms, but I like this one the best.
6. Hero Brown Mascara: Long-lasting mascara that hardens around lashes. Absolutely cryproof.
7. Hero Mascara Remover: Applicator wand reminiscent of a mascara applicator that will cover each lash. Mascara remover formulated to break down Hero Mascara.
8. Atrix Hand Creme: Thick hand crème made from sunflower oil.
9. Shiseido Tsubaki Shampoo and Conditioner: Comes in a set, smells great, and keeps my oily hair at bay. The conditioner does not leave a greasy film on my hair if I skip a wash day.
10. Oshima Tsubaki Pure Camellia Oil: Moisturizing for dry hair and skin uber concentrated oil that is found in many Japanese beauty products.
How I incorporate Camellia Oil:
Pre-shower scalp massage
Put a few drops in lotion.
11. Peripera Inkmood Glowy Tint: Wide range of shades and a little goes a long way. Wears more like a stain rather than a gloss lip and is super hydrating.
Any eyeshadow pallets you can find: The eye pallets I came across in Asia were more on the neutral side. There will be browns, greys, pinks, and all-around lighter colors. Even their more colorful pallets are muted. This comes in handy if you’re working an office job and want a slight pop of color.
If you prefer a bold look, their shadows are great for layering and details!
12. Biore Sunscreen: Non sticky, non-greasy, no white cast, and minimal shine. All Japanese sunscreens have a gold star in my book. However, Biore has a color-correcting formula that is tinted green for those who struggle with pinky/irritated skin. The color chemistry of putting green sunscreen on irritated skin is to cancel out the redness.
13. Toner Pads: Holds a lot of liquid but does not trap it. Not just a vehicle for your toners like cotton pads tend to be, can double as a facemask.
In Country:
1. Choi! Acne Face Wash: Face wash specifically formulated for acne and was my go-to wash for an entire year.
2. Choi! Acne Face Mask: Tea tree oil mask that helped calm my acne. Comes in sheet mask form for easy application and disposal. To be used after facewash and before moisturizer.
3. Choi! Acne face oil Cleanser: To be used pre-wash, help deeply scrub blackheads, excess oils, or any debris on the face.
BONUS
The MEDICUBE Age-R device: A facial tool that pushes in any moisturizer and toners you have into your skin. The Age-R uses electric pulses to stimulate the skin, many users have compared it to micro needling.
If you’re interested in any of these products make sure to get them from a verified vendor like MEDICUBE, or Kioko Beauty, or pay a friend/family member in that area to ship them to you. Please don’t order from Amazon and don’t go on shady websites because there are so many fakes out there.
These products don’t cure skin problems overnight, but they did help me. Paired with consistent use I started seeing results within two weeks. It was nice to soothe my skin instead of attacking it with retinol and acids to get rid of my zits. Approaching yourself in a manner that is coming from a place of care, rather than a place of hiding flaws and insecurities, also helped on my “skin healing journey”.
Before I set you loose, just know that most changes do not occur overnight whether you’re trying to clear up acne, learning a new skill, or even losing weight. We all have insecurities, but they will never improve if we don’t give the time for them to heal. So just like you wouldn’t pick a scab and expect it to heal properly, never let the slowness of the process rattle you enough for you to stop pursuing the end goal. Furthermore, you can improve all you want but if you’re unappreciative and mean to the person in the mirror, any changes you make will be met with more cruelty from yourself!
Appreciate yourself to be better, look better, and want more. However, don’t forget to appreciate yourself as you are right now.
