The Japanese Skincare Revolution

there certainly are many people with great skin in this country, but there are also a shockingly large number with appalling psoriasis. i never have been able to understand exactly why this is

I actually think that it is just the luck of the draw. Of course taking care of your skin is important too, but if you are prone to have dud skin then you are out of luck.

AKA Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat, or Have Poor Skin.

Didn't they forget laser treatments to remove the "shimi" and all those bleaching lotions ? I am not making fun of the Japanese ladies' skin. Each type of skin comes with its own problems.

Japanese and international skin doctors.

They all say to stay out of sunshine and eat a balanced diet with lots of veggies and fruits rather than junk food. For the rest, each person should get individual advice. You're right Zaichik, it's in the same series. Like "Japanese food makes you slim"...like a sumo wrestler.

step 1: Buy Make-up step 2: Apply Heavily step 3: Repeat step 2

Chinese woman have way better skin then the Japanese.

Chinese woman have way better skin then the Japanese.

WTF?

Zai, I'd subtitle it:

How to Piss Away 10% of Your Waking Life -- And Look Great Doing It!

Renowned for their great skin? By who? another J-myth with little foundation in reality.

Renowned for their great skin? By who? another J-myth with little foundation in reality.

On the continent in Asia I often hear praise for j-women's skin.

they have good genes, is not a problem the skin care, the problem is if you're uggly( buy maybe with good skin)

I'm not sure why people often say "Japanese women are renowned for their beautiful skin" when Japaense women tend to go crazy over white women's skin and do their best to have "white" skin. Oh well. Anyway, it all boils down to one's genes (any nationality) and how you take care of yourself.

when Japaense women tend to go crazy over white women's skin and do their best to have "white" skin

Actually, white skin has been valued in Japan (and Asia) for hundreds for years, even before any Japanese set eyes on any blue-eyed hakujin, and has nothing to do with wanting to be like a white woman. Having white skin was a mark of aristocracy, while a dark complexion market you as a peasant who worked outside in the fields. Even today, you can can go anywhere in Asia and see women using parasols to protect their skin from the sunlight.

****marked you..

"Japanese women are renowned for their beautiful skin" Definately the quote of this century. All I see is women on TV applying loads of exorbitantly-priced lotions and creams to their already heavily made-up beaks, with little or no change or result, except for the paid audience shouting "Sugoi!" and "Ehhhhhhhhh!" ad nauseum. As for the women I see on the trains around Tokyo, I could never say that their skin was nice - because it is so heavily covered in make-up that it is impossible to see. Some, admittedly may have nice skin - but they are few and far between. I think that many of them have destroyed thier natural skin by overdoing the makeup.

Japanese/Asian skin ages better than Western skin. I doubt face masks are going to make any difference.

I don't think it was necessary for greensatindress to bring up the issue of Japanese women wishing to have "white women's" skin, but I'm struck by how quick some people (like upnorth71) are to deny what is clear: a small but significant percentage of Japanese and other Asians feel inferior to whites, worship the ground they walk on, and/or wish to be more like them. The legacy of white domination hangs heavy over Asia, even in countries (like Japan, Korea, and Thailand) that were never colonized by whites. Do some people out there feel threatened by acknowledgment of this state of affairs?

That being said, it's nice to have nice skin.

Japanese/Asian skin ages better than Western skin.

Up to middle age perhaps, but Japanese old wrinklies can be very wrinkly. Depends how much time they spend out in the elements. Out here in the sticks the old ladies (men too) who have spent their lives out in the fields are very, very wrinkly and covered in liver spots.

Japanese old wrinklies can be very wrinkly

True, Cleo, but that's just about where I stop considering it skin.

Skin care is simple: don't smoke, don't frazzle yourself in the sun, keep hydrated, avoid too much coffee, use a moisturizer and (taiko's tip!) don't use soap on your face.

"don't use soap on your face"

Well, how the heck am I supposed to get my face clean? Get Cleo's dogs to lick it? Ha ha ha!

Sarge -

First remove your make-up with a cotton puff dipped in baby oil. Then wash it with a non-soap facial cleanser - there are lots of them around, some use water, some don't. Use a mild toilet water to remove the last traces of cleanser. Moisturise.

On days you aren't wearing makeup, just splash your face with lukewarm (not hot) water, and moisturise.

Wot makes you think my dogs would want to lick a dirty face? Different matter if you have one of those egg-and-oatmeal face packs, of course. Or cucumber eye packs. :-)

Use a mild toilet water to remove the last traces of cleanser.

You must have a very clean toilet.

Spotless, Nessie. Spotless.

:-D

Lots of denial and plenty of experts here!

Right, Japanese women have the best skin in the world... Unitl they turn 50 and look like they've been wrapped in parchment.

Cleo, ultradodgy, I've tried to figure that out too.

It's like the elastic band effect. Up to a certain age, Japanese skin retains its form, just like an elastic band being stretched. However, beyond a certain point, there is a sudden, violent change of form where the skin says "enough!".

Maybe I should write a book with that title: "The Japanese skin revolution: When the band snaps"

I'd like to see this as a podcast to absorb it on a daily basis.

Im very happy to say that your blog is really gud and offcourse youtube about the skin care..Keep it up.. Gud Stuff...http://beautyskincare.us

I think Japanese women have beautiful skin but they abuse it too much.

masswipe: i'm not sure where you get your information from but we Asian women do not feel inferior or worship white women. Just because we like to have brighter skin doesn't mean we worship you or other white women. It's just like how white women are obsessed with tanning; does that mean that they worship us Asian women because we have naturally golden skin? i didn't think so. So unless you know for a fact, keep your silly ideas to yourself.