Clear skin is the foundation to helping you look and feel your best, and that's exactly what Japanese Beauty is all about. We've partnered with Bioré to break it all down with a routine that will help change your skin for the better.
There's a lot we can learn from other cultures around the world — especially when it comes to our beauty regimes. By now, you've probably mastered the art of French girl minimalism and maybe even tried your hand at multilayered Korean Beauty (also known as K-Beauty) skin care. One of the best parts about exploring these different practices, traditions, and products is that, along the way, you can take a bit of insight from each one to create a beauty routine that feels totally custom. You'll also never run out of ways to expand your knowledge.
On that front, our beauty editors are currently obsessed with Japanese Beauty (or J-Beauty), and we have a hunch you will be, too. Built on a philosophy of simple-yet-effective products, gentle ingredients, and deep hydration, it's a much more straightforward approach to achieving bright, glowing skin for the long haul. Rather than touting quick fixes, it's all about creating a strong, resilient foundation, simultaneously yielding preventative benefits against damage or early signs of ageing. Sounds intriguing, right? Just wait until you take a closer look.
To break down Japan's currently trending (but always effective!) skincare practices, we've created an editor-approved guide to J-Beauty. With the help of charcoal, a universally-loved ingredient for normal-to-oily skin types, prepare to learn need-to-know facts, a breakdown of key steps, and products to try from Japan's #1 cleansing brand, Bioré. (And if you've got combination skin, be sure to stay tuned till the end for a lineup of baking soda-infused products that'll yield similar results!) It's everything you want to know, all in one place.
Don't let the word "double" intimidate you; J-Beauty isn't complicated by any means, but cleansing is a crucial step. That's why, in this case, two is better — and stronger, and more effective — than one. Contrary to what you may think, taking a makeup wipe or makeup-removing cleanser straight to your face at the end of the day won't do the job when it comes to removing the day's grime and cleansing your skin. J-Beauty encourages breaking this step down into two parts.
First up: complete makeup removal. This doesn't have to be a difficult or daunting step, so a micellar water is an effective choice for getting the job done in a breeze. In addition to seamlessly dissolving makeup, this charcoal-based option removes dirt and impurities from pores while absorbing excess oil on skin, ideal for those with normal or oily complexions. Follow this up with a foaming cleanser to ensure your skin is truly, thoroughly cleansed. This two-part step should be done daily for squeaky clean skin.
There's a difference between daily and consistent use, and J-Beauty stresses the latter. Different from cleansing, certain skincare steps or products are intended to work on a more sporadic basis — from every few days to once a week. Exfoliation falls into that category.
Regardless of your skin type, exfoliating is one step you don't want to bypass or overlook. Aside from removing dead skin particles that can clog pores and cause breakouts, it leaves skin smooth, even, and — thanks to rapid cell turnover — radiant, too. True to J-Beauty principles, you'll want to select an exfoliator that works effectively without being too harsh. For example, this charcoal-based scrub is formulated with Skin Purifying Technology that targets blemishes and the like without interfering with the skin's natural moisture barrier. What's more, it absorbs unwanted oil while it works to clear your skin. Use two to three times per week.
Blackheads, be gone — for good! If removing stubborn blackheads is one of your most pressing skincare woes, you'll be thrilled to know that charcoal may be just the ingredient you've been searching for.
True to the corrective principles of J-Beauty, charcoal pore strips work to unclog pores, eliminate blackheads, and draw out excess oil for the deepest clean and long-lasting results. With just 10 minutes and once-per-week use, you can remove several week's worth of built-up dirt and see three times less oil.
