Before the Korean skin care boom hit stateside, Japanese skin care made a splash with the introduction of the oil cleanser. Like other exports from Japan, it’s iconic on par with Geisha girls, samurais, anime, miso, sake, and ramen. Japanese aesthetics and philosophy prize a long tradition of artisanal sourcing, harvesting, and sourcing of the country’s unique flora and fauna while respecting the cycles and bounty of nature. Those same ingredients expertly produced for health and culinary purposes are also unparalleled clean beauty powerhouses.
In accordance with a deeply held belief that simple, botanical-based formulations are as harmonious with nature as with time-honored rituals around self-care, the Shiko Beauty Collective curates the best clean Japanese cleansing balms, essences, moisturizers, and masks.
First the obsession-inducing ingredient harvested in Japan that we can’t get enough of whether in lattes or sweets – matcha. The young green tea leaves, grown in the shade to amp up the chlorophyll and L-theanine composition, are finely ground to yield an emerald green powder with an almost unparalleled polyphenol count. With documented benefits for mental alertness, sleep quality, and metabolism, the beverage once reserved for Buddhist monk tea ceremonies also works wonders on the skin.
The Cleansing Balm Matcha from DUO, the best-selling purveyor of cleansing balms in Japan, combines both Matcha extract with Matcha oil and Japanese Yuzu extract in a creamy base that emulsifies instantly and melts away sunscreen, makeup, and grime instantly. The same compounds that make matcha such a nutritional bonanza absorb impurities from the skin while soothing and softening. From the first moment of application, the bright green balm and grassy, citrus scent turns cleansing into a centering ritual.
If looking for a more hydrating, delicate cleansing balm, the award-winning Lala Vie Cleansing Balm is formulated with omega-acid-rich Baobab, Argan, Marula, Chia, and essential oils for a Cushion Oil effect, in a base so emollient it breaks down on contact without the need for rubbing or friction which can irritate skin, and renders the second cleanse obsolete.
The next step in the LaLa Vie protocol is another rare Japanese invention – Oil In Lotion. The multi-purpose 3-in-1 formulation serves as essence, lotion, and emulsification to deliver a deeply-penetrating, non-greasy, hydrating cocktail of oil and water in unison. Absorbed instantly, and infused with the magical scent of jasmine and citrus, the Prickly Pear oil formula delivers Coenzyme Q10 and Aquatide, a special Japanese peptide to repair and boost cells for baby softness.
For an extra dose of skin barrier-boosting moisture, the similarly fragranced Lala Vie Chiffon Cream is rich with ceramides and Cacay Nut Oil, a proprietary South American oil naturally rich in retinol, vitamin E, and linoleic acid. The Lala Vie Cleansing Balm, Oil-in-Lotion, and Chiffon Cream are available in an affordable 7-day starter set. Prepare to be wowed.
In addition to cleansing oils which Japanese women are rumored to have been using to remove heavy Geisha girl-like makeup for centuries, one of the greatest innovations the archipelago country has given us is fermentation. On a lark, apparently, it was noticed that artisans who worked with the well-calibrated process of making Koji, the fermentation process that allows rice to become sake, had very bright, youthful hands. It’s now widely accepted that the bevy of nutrients, peptides, and niacinamide made available by stoking up the good bacteria in rice brightens, repairs, and moisturizes the top dermal layer without any ickies.
From the renowned centuries-old purveyor of premium Junmai-Daiginjo sake, Dassai Beauty collects the runoff from the fermentation process as an essence, the critical product applied to clean skin before serum and moisturizer for maximum absorption, for its signature Dassai Sake Facial Masks. Dripping in skin-loving essence, these masks are the ultimate in the age-disrupting plumping treatments needed to achieve glass skin.
Free of fragrance, silicones, and parabens, the Dassai Sake Lee Essence bathes even the thirstiest of complexions in brightening hydration in 10 minutes. It’s recommended to not waste even a precious drop of this beautifying elixir.
For a DIY treatment that provides a degree of exfoliation without any degree of friction – a big no-no in Japanese skin care – Dr. MEDION harnesses the power of botanical extracts with the simple science of carbonation. Each Dr. MEDION Spaoxy Gel is mixed to order from a packet of gel powder and a gel base.
The resulting bubbling concoction replicates spa carboxytherapy treatments which release carbon dioxide to further drive oxygen into the skin. Combining low-molecular-weight Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid to penetrate the pores, Royal Jelly Extract to boost collagen and elastin, Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Seed Extract to target pores and texture, and Gromwell Extract to soothe the skin, the Spaoxy Gel addresses all skin types and concerns in one DIY ritual.
Though no abrasion or stinging sensations, the effervescence feels warm and soothing, and in 20 minutes yields truly remarkable results – ultra-brightened, dewy, bouncy, baby soft glass skin that one would expect from a deep pore cleansing clay mask and oxygen peel or advanced laser treatment. The SpaOxy Gel is so gentle it can be applied to the under-eye area and upper eyelids.
Visit Shiko Beauty Collective, the best one-stop-shop for Japanese skin care.
