Japanese women never seem to age. With their beauty rituals and anti aging skin care products, it seems they have found the secret code to looking youthful, forever. No matter how closely I look at mother’s skin (who is 79 years old), I cannot see a single wrinkle. Her skin is flawless and still glowing after all these years. When my friends ask what she does to look this good, I tell them to sit down, grab a cup of green tea and pull out a notebook – they are in for a treat.
Japanese Anti Aging Secrets
I must have been seven or eight years old.
Sitting on the hamper in the bathroom, I watched my mother as she went about her daily morning ritual. After washing her face with warm water, she gently patted her cheeks and forehead in an upward motion.
“This is to improves blood circulation”, she said.
She told me that taking care of my skin is very important and that I should always treat it with love and respect.
“As you get older, your skin is going to need your help to stay healthy. You will have to work with it to keep it hydrated and glowing” she explained.
Then she pulled out a few bottles and jars and showed me step by step, her beauty routine.
“This is a traditional Japanese skin care routine followed by all Japanese women. It’s not that complicated but very helpful to your skin. Let me show you how it’s done.”
That was 35 years ago.
Since then I’ve been following my mother’s Japanese skin care routine, morning and night.
And I’m here to tell you, they work!
Why should you trust me with these tips and recommendations?
Because I’ve been a professional model for the past 24 years and have worked with many beauty brands including Lancôme, Perricone MD, Boots No.7 and Kanebo.
I’ve spent more than half of my life in front of the camera and having to deal with different climates, time zones and harsh studio lighting. My skin has seen it all and I’ve had to take exceptionally good care of my skin to keep it from aging quickly.
Tired looking skin or break outs are not allowed in my industry since it’s all about selling youth and health. And I’ve learned that the best way to keep my skin looking youthful is by eating lots of anti-inflammatory foods and using beauty products that are gentle, rich in nutrients and super hydrating.
And nothing is better than Japanese beauty products to give my skin the hydration it needs to stay smooth and glowing!
This is a commercial I shot for Lancôme three years ago when I was 41 years old.
And here I am now at 45 years old with barely any fine lines and wrinkles. People think I’m in my early 30s and I owe this to my daily skin care routine, and the Japanese beauty secrets my mother shared with me.
The best part about those Japanese skin care secrets?
They don’t require a lot of commitment since they only take a few minutes a day to implement.
These are simple and popular Japanese anti aging skin care secrets that can take years off your face.
By taking an extra 10 minutes out of your day, you will dramatically improve your skin’s texture and complexion. It’s never too late to get started – turn these tips into daily habits and see how these changes will make you look and feel younger.
A good anti aging skin care routine helps you age well, naturally.
Japanese Skin Care Secret #1 – Use A Gentle Skin Cleanser
The gentler the product, the better!
Japanese women like to avoid harsh products containing lots of chemicals.
Instead, they use products that are low in alcohol and more on the natural side. By using gentler products like a softener (I wrote a post about it, you can read it here), the skin remains hydrated (instead of being stripped away of its natural oils).
Cleansing is essential to healthy skin because it washes away bacteria that could possibly get into pores and create breakouts.
But only cleanse once a day otherwise you will dry out your skin! The best time to do it is before bedtime to get rid of all the dirt and pollutant your skin is exposed to during the day.
Whether you wear makeup or not, you should always cleanse your skin before bedtime. Finish by applying a serum and a nighttime moisturizer.
Using softer products will help your skin retain lots of moisture which in turn naturally minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Top Selling Skin Cleansers In Japan
1. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
DHC is one of Japan’s most popular brands. The cleansing oil is lightweight and loaded with antioxidants to boost the skin with nutrients, and give it a glow. It effectively removes traces of makeup – including waterproof makeup – and dirt.
2. Cure Natural Aqua Gel
This is the #1 best selling exfoliator in Japan, selling 1 bottle every 12 seconds! The extremely gentle formula can be used on people with very sensitive skin.
3. Kanebo Suisai Beauty Clear Powder
Kanebo is a brand I know well because I had the honor to model for one of their famous brands, RMK.
Kanebo has been around for as long as Shiseido and is considered to be one of the best skin care brands in the world. I love the Suisai Beauty Clear Powder because it’s super gentle to the skin and hydrates it at the same time.
I also love that the powder comes in 32 mini containers since I can take a few with me whenever I travel. All you need to do is add a little water, create a foam in the palm of your hands and gently rub it on your face in a circular motion. And even though it’s quite gentle, it does a great job at cleaning pores and impurities.
4. Shiseido Perfect Whip
On a budget? This is the cleanser for you. The thick foam act as a barrier from the cleansing motion and removes every bit of impurities. It also hydrates the skin and gives it a soft feel.
Japanese Skin Care Secret #2 – Ditch the toner for a skin softener
I’ve had a love affair with skin softeners for years.
There’s nothing like a good skin softener to give your skin an extra layer of moisture!
Skin softeners hydrate your skin and infuse it with nutrients. Unlike toners, which tend to dry out the skin, softeners lock in moisture and brighten up the complexion. The overall look is smooth skin that looks plump and juicy!
My grand mother, mother, aunts, cousins and friends – Every Japanese woman I know uses a skin softener as a base and swear by it (myself included).
Using it is easy to – Apply a small amount to your face and gently pat the softener until it has fully absorbed into the skin. Follow your beauty routine with a moisturizer.
Top Selling Skin Softeners In Japan
1. Amore Pacific IOPE Moistgen Softener Skin Hydration
Amore Pacific is a Korean brand that is a best seller in Japan. Good for all skin types, this softener brightens the skin and gives it a boost of moisture.
2. SK-II FACIAL TREATMENT ESSENCE
SK-II is a high end Japanese skin care line. Used by celebrities such as Kate Blanchett, SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is a softener rich in vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids. It’s lightweight and quickly absorbs into the skin.
3. Shiseido Treatment Softener
This softener is great for people with normal to combination skin, or very dry skin. It’s packed with antioxidants (to help protect the skin against free radicals like sun rays), anti aging ingredients, and feels like a water bomb! It’s extremely moisturizing, giving the skin a plump and sticky texture that lasts throughout most of the day.
Japanese Skin Care Secret #3 – Look for collagen rich products
Collagen products are all the rage in Japan.
During my last visit in Tokyo, I swam in a sea of collagen products. I had collagen drinks – which happen to be delicious! – collagen cookies, collagen masks, powder, supplements… Even gloves!
This may just be a trend – there aren’t any concrete proof showing that adding collagen to your diet works. But if there is one thing Japanese women are good at, is taking good care of their skin. With that in mind, I’ve hopped on the collagen train and will continue to take my pills and slap on a collagen mask until more research is done to prove me wrong.
Collagen Products
1. Asahi Perfect Asta Collagen Powder
What makes this collagen powder so powerful is that it’s also packed with additional beauty ingredients. This powder which you can add to your coffee, tea, smoothie, yogurt, or sprinkle over your food, includes hyaluronic acid (3mg), Elastin (1mg), Beauty body lactic acid bacteria (30mg), Glucosamine (60mg), CoQ10 (5mg), and Vitamin C (100mg). It’s easy to see why it’s such a big hit in Japan.
2. Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel
The long-lasting moisture helps to plump fine lines and wrinkles so your skin stays younger, longer. Only a pea size amount is needed per application and provides moisture for up to 24 hours.
3. DHC Collagen Tablets
I brought back a few bags of these and have been taking them daily. The tablets are small and easy to swallow and so far I have noticed that my skin is softer. This product is also good for people suffering from joint pain as collagen production is essential to joint health.
Japanese Skin Care Secret #4 – Apply an anti aging face mask once or twice a month
As you can now see, the foundation of Japanese skin care lies in keeping a high level of moisture to the skin. The more hydrated the skin is, the healthier it looks. Applying a face mask once or twice a month helps boost the moisture level and therefore, give the skin that youthful glow we all dream to have.
Japanese Face Masks
1. Lululun Face Mask Rich Moisture
This is a top selling mask in Japan because of its high volume of moisturizing ingredients included. Each mask is infused with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, citron fruit extract, royal jelly extract, seaweed extract, and Polyquaternium 51. The main goal of the mask is to hydrate the skin as much as possible and thus, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This product is meant to be used before bedtime, nightly, to preserve plump and soft skin.
2. HADABISEI FACIAL MASK SUPER MOIST
This face mask contain royal jelly to plump your skin along with lemon extract to inject it full of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential to repair skin cells and preserve youthful looking skin so I always tell my friends to go nuts with citrus!
3. HADA LABO Koi-Gokujyun 3D Perfect Mask
Another product from Hada Labo that’s extremely popular in Japan is their 3D Perfect Mask. This is an all in one mask that brightens and moisturizes skin and also contains anti aging ingredients such as hyaluronic acids, collagen, creamide, and squalane.
Japanese Skin Care Secret #5 – Give your face a massage
While many of us in the Western world like to much on popcorn while watching our favorite TV show, Japanese women use that time to stimulate blood flow (which minimizes fine lines and wrinkles) with a face massager.
Regular use of a face massager will tone and tighten the skin with its kneading motion. Good ones have multi angular rollers to fit every curve of your face and body. Yes, it can be used for legs, arms and stomach too!
To put it simply, you can get a facial and body massage while watching television from the comfort of your own couch. Every single night.
Face Massager/Beauty Roller
Best Selling Beauty Roller
MTG Platinum Electronic roller ReFa 4 CARAT
The MTG Platinum Electronic Roller is designed to replicate the deep “grip and glide” kneading sensation that an esthetician might include as part of a professional treatment. It’s made in Japan and the rollers are platinum coated to suit all skin types, including delicate skin.
The platinum rollers have inbuilt solar panels. This means no batteries are ever needed to use the rollers. The micro current generated from the solar panels act in the same way as the type of currents used in esthetic salon treatments.
It can be used for:
• Jaw line • Face • Underarm • Waist • Inner thigh • Neck • Chest
The MTG Platinum Electronic Roller is waterproof (it can be used in the shower and the bathtub) and comes with a cleaning cloth, pouch, instruction manual, guidebook, and warranty card.
Bonus Japanese Skin Care Secret – Leave Your Skin Bare once in a while
Simplify and let your skin breathe.
While it’s great to care for your skin, it’s also good to let it breathe once in a while.
Too many products can cause the skin to suffocate resulting in a loss of elasticity and color. If you’re spending the evening at home, take off your makeup before dinnertime and leave it bare until the morning. I know it will be tempting to slap on a little serum or moisturizer but try to stay away from all skin products. Remind yourself you are doing your skin a favor!
The next day, apply a little skin softener (read skin softener: a girl’s best friend) or a beauty mask to add moisture.
Best Japanese anti aging face creams
1. Shiseido Bio Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream
This is a rich anti aging cream with bio-revitalizing complex. What it does is reinforce the skin’s elasticity, which promotes skin resilience and firmness.
2. DHC Astaxanthin Collagen All-in-One Gel
This is a lightweight moisturizing gel with antioxidant derived from freshwater green algae (considered 6000 times more powerful than vitamin c). This multi-action gel cream absorbs deeply to moisturize and nourish skin. Good for sensitive skin.
Best Japanese face cream/moisturizer for wrinkles
SK-II RNA Power Radical New Age
SK-II is renowned for being one of the best skin care lines for aging skin. This particular cream thoroughly hydrates the skin to give it a glowing look. The skin appears smoother, with fines lines that are less defined.
Best Japanese Serum
Pola Wrinkle Shot Medical Serum
This is the hottest beauty item in Japan right now and women swear by it! Revered by all the Japanese beauty magazine as the best serum for aging skin that reduces wrinkles, it’s no wonder this product is disappearing off the shelves!
Best Japanese Sunscreen
Skin AquaTone Up UV Essence
This sunscreen took the top spot at the Cosme Awards, Japan’s largest beauty website. The rankings are based on real users who use the products and vote them up or down.
What makes Skin Aqua Tone Up so popular is the blue-pink-lavender tint that acts as a color corrector to even out skin tone. It has the ability to neutralize heavy yellow sun tan tones that can cause the skin to look dirty or sallow.
It’s not sticky, lightweight and has an SPF of 50. The iridescent pearl particles brightens up the skin and give it a luminous glow.
ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen
ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen is ideal for sensitive skin and children. Its Aqua Booster technology means that when the minerals from the sunscreen comes into contact with water or sweat, it redistributes itself instead of melting away, continuously protecting the skin from harmful UV rays.
This sunscreen is alcohol-free and fragrance-free and has an SPF of 50. ANESSA (part of the Shiseido family) is considered gold standard in Japan for sun protection and consistently tops the lists for best sunscreen.
Natural Anti Aging Products
Seaweed Based Products
Eat seaweed every day to fight fine lines and wrinkles.
Japanese women eat seaweed on a regular basis because it’s packed with natural skin care benefits.
Seaweed is a great anti-aging food and contains a wealth of vitamins and minerals hard to find in other foods. Because of its natural anti-inflammatory properties, seaweed reduces redness caused by rosacea as well as swelling. The iodine regulates the metabolism and helps rejuvenate the skin.
One sheet of nori contains the same amount of Omega 3’s as two avocados! Omega 3’s are the good fatty acids that help keep the skin retain moisture, consequently reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Packed with Vitamin C, it also strengthens nails and hair.
Fill Your Pantry With Seaweed
Green Tea Based Products
Make a habit to drink 1-2 cups a day.
Green tea is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties to protect the skin against UV rays (which is one of the main causes for wrinkles). Some research has been done with women who had moderate skin damage and by supplementing their diets with green tea (over a two month period), saw significant improvement in elasticity. It’s easy to include green tea into your diet these days as there are so many green tea based products available on the market.
Fill Your Pantry With Green Tea
Other Beauty Related Posts:
- Skin Softener: A Girl’s Best Friend
- What Is BB And CC Cream
- 3 Powerful Anti Aging Supplements
- Anti Aging Serum: Golden Honey For The Skin
- How To Get Rid Of Bags Under Eyes
oils are definitely gaining a lot of popularity among skincare enthusiasts, and for good reason. Depending on your skin type, facial oils can be one of the best ways to get the hydration your skin needs without causing you to break out or feel greasy..
I am 35 due to cancer treatment I have developed low electricity my skin less firm wrinkles in just two years I looked as if I have aged five years I would like to know what would you recommend products wise for all not just for facial but for body as well if you have information for me I can use that would be great much appreciate
Hi Kathleen, I’m so sorry you had to go through such a difficult time at such a young age. Before focusing on skincare products I would recommend nourishing your skin from the inside with a diet high in vitamin C and healthy fats to boost collagen production. I think I read somewhere that coconut water with a freshly squeezed lemon in the morning helps with electricity, so that might be something you want to look into. I would also look into following a Mediterranean diet or Okinawan diet. One book I highly recommend you read is the Blue Zone, which is full of recipes to keep the body healthy. It’s based on decades of research (it’s not a diet fad or a trend) by the people at National Geographic, so it’s very informative and science based. As for skincare, I would look into EGF (epidermal growth factor) products. The downside is that they are expensive. They were originally created to heal scarring so what they do is thicken the skin, which might be helpful in reducing the appearance of fine lines. My husband and I (we are both in our mid 40s) use BioEffect EGF serum and have seen some improvement is skin tightness and wrinkle reduction.
Great article! I live in Mexico and now I want to bring all these products to the country!
Japanese cosmetic industry is rich of anti aging products. Thank you for sharing the details and product information.
Hello there! thank you for your advice. Any idea on good face oils? I live in Japan and have dry skin
Lucky you for living in Japan! If you have dry skin I recommend staying away from any oils and using something water based. Your skin needs hydration first so focus on that with a skin softener and an oil-free moisturizer. Also drink plenty of water and vitamin C! 🙂
Hello! My name is Alex. I saw you page. I have a question for you . You mentioned a lot of creams and products. How many can I use and how to I make a good routine with them. Can you please help me with that I got a little confused. Thank you!
Love all of your advice but what if your 58yrs. old and have not really taken care of my skin?
Am I SOL.
Hi Linda! I believe it’s never too late to start taking care of your skin 🙂 You may not be able to get rid of certain age spots or lines but I promise that you will notice a difference in your skin’s complexion. Aside from basic skincare, food is very important in nourishing your skin – the easiest way to give a boost of vitamin C is to drink a smoothie every morning. I have a few recipes you might be interested in, listed in the drinks section. And lastly, a serum is what you want to invest in since it’s the most potent of all skin products. Dior has some good ones – they are expensive but do work. To get the most benefit out of it, only use it at night since this is when your skin does all the work in repairing itself. I hope this helps!
Hey softner and face wash is one thing?
If not can y suggest me a good face wash… serum should I apply bot the time or in the night only…
Can you also suggest some othe serum…
Thank you!
Hi Kanika,
Find a face wash for oily skin type. If budget is an issue, try Olay. My mother used Olay for years and I also use it sometimes. I would recommend checking out site like Makeup Alley and Sephora and reading the comment section. It’s hard for me to recommend anything since I don’t know anything about you. Google ‘best affordable serum for women X (add your age)’, look at recommendation and pay attention to the products that show up often. Then visit the Makeup Alley and Sephora and read the comments. The good thing about those sites is that women share their age, skin type, etc.. It’s very helpful in choosing a product 🙂
Thank you so much for your reply.
So should I continue using Jojoba oil or use some serum?
I don’t use makeup only once in a month.
I would recommend serum since jojaba oil might be too oily for your skin type 🙂
Hi! I really liked your post.
One question my skin is oily but it’s less oily from last two years when I shifted to Japan,I
am using Jojoba oil andbi feel good so should I continue or try to use something else? I don’tt take much care of my skin but after delivering baby I realise my skin and hairs are getting worse so please can you suggest me how to start with which products?
Thank you!
Hi Kanika! It sounds like it could be more of a hormonal thing for you since your hair is also affected. I think it’s normal to be going through that stage after having a baby, your body is trying to return to normal and that will take time. I would suggest reading about post natal diets like this one – https://www.familyeducation.com/pregnancy/postpartum-diet/basic-postpartum-diet
Also, if your skin is oily you should avoid oily moisturizers. Try something more basic for now that’s oil-free but make sure you still moisturize everyday. I would also recommend and exfoliant 2-3 times a week to get rid of residues that may be sitting at the surface of your skin. Your pores are bigger than someone with dry skin which is great because you will look young forever! But it also means that it’s easier for dust and other pollutants to enter your skin and create breakouts. I hope this helps, keep me posted!
Hi,i have mixed type facial skin and very sensitive .and some blackish spot around my lips after using some bleaching agent .could you please suggests me about how can i take care of my skin.(Full routine) and thanks for your helpful post.
A very interesting read. I am very interested in Japanese skincare treatments as alternatives to some of the modern harsh treatments out there.
Hello! Is the Cure Aqua Gel a cleanser or exfoliator? I double cleanse every night and need a gentle exfoliator once a week, i don’t need another cleanser.
Hi KT! Cure Aqua Gel is an exfoliator and it’s very gentle. I use it once or twice a week 🙂
Hello! I really enjoyed reading this beauty tips. I am from Japan and this article explained everything very well. Thank you Caroline!
Im amazed thank you for all the beauty tips i will use them .
D o you use every single product listed on this post?
Hi Daisy! I have used all the products at some point but don’t use them all at the same time. Right now I’m using a softener, day cream, night cream, serum, and I exfoliate my skin once or twice a week. I also use the scrub which I love 🙂
Wow! I can’t believe the quality of this blog! I love your tips and how you recommended products in each category so thoroughly. All these products are really perfect for anti aging skin care! Also appreciated the fact that you also suggested the ones that are affordable and not so expensive like DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, Cure Natural Aqua Gel, Shiseido Senka Perfect Whip and Lululun Face Masks.
Something I would like to add is that I believe Lululun just released a new version, Lululun Precious Green Face Mask which really targets at anti-aging care and skin-repair with the new L22 ingredient. It is a moisturising ingredient that imitates the sebum balance of 22 years old in the aim to achieve youthful skin. So for those who didn’t know about this, it’s definitely worth checking out as it could be really beneficial for your anti-aging care!
What other budget friendly softener do you recommend now that shiseido’s ibuki line softening concentrate has been discontinued?
Hi Marie! I’ve updated the list with one softener I absolutely love – Shiseido Treatment Moisturizer. It’s affordable and is super moisturizing!
The shiseido ibuki softener has been discontinued. What softener are you using now?
Thank you
Hi Sakura, you can use the Benefiance line by Shiseido, the softener is really nice or I also really like the treatment softener too (both by Shiseido).
Awesome! Such a wonderful checklist. you provide us great information in this whole content. The content seems very useful. Thanks for sharing, I would definitely try this.