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Perhaps nothing strikes tourists in Japan so much as ... the absence of women. Of course, in our "European" sense of the word. Because all Japanese women can be divided into 3 categories: grandmothers, girls and ... students. The fact is, any student can actually be 30, 40, and even 50 years old. To call her a woman is simply not a tongue-in-cheek. How do Japanese women manage to deceive old age? It turns out that everything is very simple - they have 7 habits that help them look younger than they really are.
Protect skin from the sun in all weathers
Japanese women will never leave the house on a sunny day without an umbrella or a wide-brimmed hat. This is because tanning is a bad taste for them, and white, porcelain-pearl skin is considered the standard of beauty. No wonder a couple of decades ago, in order to make their faces whiter, Japanese women applied a thick layer of rice powder mixed with water to their faces.
Of course, nowadays no one does such an exotic make-up - it is not fashionable, and there is no need. In addition, almost all Asian cosmetics (creams, serums, lotions) contain components that inhibit the synthesis of melatonin and protect the skin from UV rays.
So, according to Chizu Saeki, a leading Japanese cosmetologist and creator of his own beauty school, you need to use sunscreen not only in summer, but all year round .
“The sun's rays not only give the skin a tan, but also make it wrinkled and saggy. They penetrate the skin and destroy its inner layer. Therefore, you can’t wait until the ultraviolet causes irreparable harm, but take preventive protective measures in advance,” advises Chizu Saeki.
Use only natural cosmetics
The main difference between Japanese cosmetics is that it consists of almost 100% natural ingredients and does not contain preservatives. As a basis in creams and serums, there is an extract from porcine or horse placenta (CIPIRICA), sea products (Sana) or extracts from plants (Murasaki Japan).
So, the most popular masks among Japanese women are made from rice flour, dried seaweed, beans and green tea. But a Japanese woman will not put strawberry gruel or slices of cucumber on her face (as we do here) - who knows how many pesticides, hormones and other chemicals there are ...
snail therapy on themselves . According to Yoko Miniami, manager of a beauty clinic in Tokyo, shellfish mucus contains proteins and antioxidants needed for facial rejuvenation. In addition, snails massage the skin and moisturize it.
Moisturize your face with lotion
According to beauty guru Chizu Saeki, one of the most important conditions for maintaining youthful skin is its proper and regular hydration. For this procedure, she suggests using her know-how - a lotion mask.
The difference between this “life-giving liquid” and tonics and lotions familiar to us is in the complete absence of alcohol, oils, emulsifiers and other chemicals. The consistency of the lotion-mask is more like a light moisturizer, only very liquid.
According to the method of Chizu Saeki, small cotton napkins soaked in lotion (cotton is important!) Wipes should be applied to the face like a compress for 10-15 minutes. According to the cosmetologist , such a mask soothes and moisturizes the skin, improving its structure and instantly making it softer.
“If you pour water on a sheet of paper, it will remain on the surface and will gradually evaporate and wrinkle the paper. But if you put a damp towel on the sheet and leave it for a while, the paper will gradually absorb water and become damp. By the same principle, the lotion-mask moisturizes the face, ”says Chizu Saeki.
Regular facial massage
Japanese women combine nightly cleansing and moisturizing of the skin with a light facial massage. They know that this improves blood flow, which means it activates the process of skin repair and rejuvenation.
There are several methods of Japanese facial massage - kobido, rejuvenating Asahi, Shiatsu. Each of them has its own effect on the skin: tightens and renews, speeds up metabolism, relieves tension and smoothes wrinkles.
Shiatsu massage , invented by Dr. Tokuiro Namikoshi, is based on a point effect on the muscles of the face. It helps to “disperse” lactic acid under the skin, which is one of the causes of expression lines.
By the way, Japanese women never start a facial massage (and other cosmetic procedures too) without first warming their hands. In addition, even when removing makeup or applying cream, they will never rub the skin in a circular motion, but only use light point touches, similar to gentle spanking. Take note!
Turn skin care into a ritual
According to Japanese philosophy, the body is given to a person for a while, so you need to handle it with the utmost care. Japanese women do not just take care of their skin, but turn home cleansing, toning and moisturizing procedures into a real cult.
They are not in a hurry (like us), but they do everything with feeling, with sense, with arrangement. That is, they do not jump headlong out of the shower, grab the first cream they come across from the shelf and vigorously rub it into their skin in a couple of seconds, being late for work.
No, before applying the cream to the face, Japanese women will definitely hold the bottle in their hands for several minutes, warming it with their warmth. And then they will slowly apply it, admiring the aroma and texture, and enjoy feeling how the life-giving agent penetrates into every millimeter of the skin.
Do not abuse hardware procedures and plastic surgery
According to Chizu Saeki, one of the reasons why Japanese women devote so much time to their appearance is that they like to be beautiful. And beautiful not only here and now, but also in 10-20-30 years. Already at a young age (if not from childhood), Japanese girls carefully study their skin and recognize all its vulnerabilities. And then, in order to eliminate the shortcomings and choose the right care, they resort to the services of cosmetologists.
But peeling, Botox injections, mesotherapy, laser exposure, and everything in that spirit, popular in the West, are treated with caution in Japan, if not negatively.
First, because it's expensive. And, secondly, Japanese women consider such methods too aggressive for their delicate body. By the way, the same applies to plastic surgery - they are resorted to only in the most extreme cases.
Taking thermal baths
Another secret that allows you to maintain health and beauty for many years is regular bathing in geothermal springs (onsen).
According to Japanese scientists, the main effect of thermal water is to activate the body's forces that prevent aging and promote rejuvenation.
The Japanese are lucky: thanks to volcanic activity, there are 27,000 onsen on the territory of the country, in half of which the water temperature is 420C and above.
“If you swim in the onsen once, then your appearance will become beautiful, and if you swim constantly, you will be cured of all diseases and remain forever young,” says an ancient Japanese legend.
That is why every Japanese woman tries at least 2-3 times a year to go to one of the onsen and swim in the thermal water. But even at home, Japanese women do not deny themselves hot baths with fragrant salts and oils.
Well, and finally, one more secret from the beauty guru Chizu Saeki. When she was once asked what personal care products should be in the arsenal of every woman, the beautician replied: “Only two - your desire and your hands.”