How Japanese Skin Care Secrets Can Hold Off The Years
In recent years there have been a variety of studies that suggest the Japanese may hold the secrets to anti-aging.
Longevity aside, Japanese men and women are rarely overweight or obese and their skin ages well.
While the Japanese may be genetically predisposed to younger looking skin – Asian skin is generally thicker and contains more natural oils – it cannot be disputed that the Japanese diet and lifestyle may also have a positive bearing on their skin.So just how do the Japanese keep their skin looking so good? Below are some hints and tips that may help to unlock those all-important Japanese skin care secrets…
Diet And Lifestyle
1. Diet
The Japanese diet is high in naturally healthy foods and low in sugary, high-fat foods. Sugar has been proven in recent years to be a major contributor to prematurely aging skin.
Fresh oily fish, beans, seaweed, healthy oils, tofu and soy products, rice, vegetables and fruits are all everyday ingredients found in the Japanese diet.
The Japanese diet is based on the concept of ‘eating with your eyes,’ by allowing yourself to enjoy the visual appearance of your food.
Beautifully prepared foods contribute to this, as does food variety with some Japanese people believing that you should eat up to 30 different types of food per day to get a wide variety of different tastes and nutrients.
Portion control is also important, the Japanese generally eat 25% fewer calories each day compared to the average American. Reducing calorie intake by just 8 – 10 % has been shown to increase longevity.
Eating less also helps you to avoid bloating and prevents your skin from becoming puffy. The Japanese diet is therefore based on tasty, low-calorie foods that help you to feel full for longer.
2. Water
We all know that water is the number one ingredient in any anti-aging diet. The Japanese drink plenty of water and green tea throughout each day, helping to lubricate their skin on the inside.
Green tea is packed full of skin-friendly anti-oxidants that help to protect your skin from the harmful free radicals that are a major cause of skin aging.
Green tea may also help to regulate your appetite and may protect you from some cancers.
3. Sun Protection
The Japanese are fanatical about protecting their skin from the sun. With sun damage being one of the major causes of premature skin aging this makes sense.
The Japanese not only use sun block, but also protect their skin from the elements with wide-brimmed hats, gloves and by using parasols in bright sunshine.
Skin Fasting
One of the best Japanese skin care tips that is easy for anyone to try out is known as ‘skin fasting.’ Many Japanese women swear by it as a means for keeping their skin looking youthful and vibrant.
Skin fasting simply means allowing your skin to rest for one day a week. This involves using no products or make-up on your skin one day each week to let it breathe and give it well-earned rest.
The belief is that your skin is perfectly able to cleanse itself naturally and should be allowed to do so every now and then.
Leaving your skin completely product-free for one day a week allows your skin to heal, recuperate and rebalance naturally.
Overfeeding or overloading your skin with products can lead to a dull, puffy or spotty complexion. Left to breathe once a week your skin will start to look and feel better.
Japanese Skin Care Products
Commercial Japanese skin care products are known to be some of the very best, with technological advances in Japan meaning that the Japanese are often at the forefront of any new skin care trend.
However there are many natural products you can use to make your own Japanese-inspired skin care products at home.
Japanese Facial Scrub
Combine 2 tablespoons of finely ground rice powder with 2 tablespoons of adzuki bean powder. Mix the dry ingredients with a small amount of water to make a paste each time you want to exfoliate your skin.
Gently massage into your skin using small, circular movements and then rinse well with warm water.
Green Tea Skin Toner
Green tea has skin benefits when taken as a drink but it is also good for your skin when applied topically. It’s easy to make a green tea toner by adding boiling water to green tea powder or steeping green tea leaves in boiling water.
Simply leave the tea to cool and then store in a dark colored bottle in a cool, dark place. Apply to your skin with cotton wool balls after cleansing or exfoliating to gently tone and refresh your skin.
Japanese Camellia Oil
Japanese camellia oil, sometimes known as japonica or tea seed oil is suitable for all skin types and also suitable for anyone who cannot use nut oils because of nut allergy.
It is rich in natural anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.
It makes an excellent rejuvenating and moisturizing facial oil and can also be used to moisturize the entire body and condition the hair.
Nature Provides All You Need For Beautiful Skin
Nature has given us all we need to care for our bodies. Natural foods are the healthiest and most nutritious choice for our bodies but they also contain ingredients that can benefit our skin when applied directly.
Our skin simply does not need manufactured beauty products because nature has provided us with a wide range of ingredients that heal the skin, prevent wrinkles and slow down the signs of aging.