Times Of TIU

Writer: Maurille R.
Editor: Samantha P.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body, and it plays an important role in our overall health and appearance. That is why taking care of it is an important thing to do. Skincare routine is a routine wherein you take care of your skin by applying products that primarily focus on the delicate areas on your face, neck, and chest, with regimens focused on cleansing, moisturizing, and treating specific conditions. 

As the cold season begins, your wardrobe is not the only thing that you should change. Our skin becomes more sensitive and dehydrated as the seasons go from hot to cold. Not only that but the sudden change of season in Japan might be harsh to your skin since you might not be used to the coldness of winter. With that, our skin needs more extra love and care by adding and applying the right product to our skin care routine. On cold days, our skin becomes more dry, flaky, and dull, which requires swapping your skincare products to lighter moisturizers from richer formulas, exfoliating less often, and using a calming cleanser as a few basic first steps in your skincare routine. Here are some basic skincare routines for you to achieve glowy and hydrated skin even in the cold days.

STEP ONE: CLEANSING

Start out your routine with a gentle cleanse. During the winter, it is important to ensure that none of your products are drying out your skin. Any cleanser that leaves your skin a ‘squeaky clean’ is actually stripping your skin’s natural moisture. Use gentle hydrating cleansers that have cream or milk formula, and make sure you’re using warm (not hot) water when washing your face.

• The Senka Perfect Whip is one of the famous Japanese facial cleansing foams that creates a super-rich, thick, and fluffy foam that gently cleanses your skin while keeping its moisture. This cleanser also has different varieties that are perfect for every type of skin!
• Perfect Whip (Blue) – perfect for removing excess dirt and residue from the deepest areas of your pores.
• Perfect Whip Collagen (Pink) – contains more beauty serums and ingredients. 
• Perfect White Clay (White) – helps remove dirt and old skin cells, making the skin look brighter and more translucent.
• Perfect Whip Medicated (Green) –  specially formulated for acne prone skin.

Retail: ¥547 ~ ¥560

• The face wash that contains clay as a cleansing ingredient is available in 5 types with different effects and formulations that can be chosen according to your skin type, including clogged pores (green), moisture (pink), skin brightening (yellow), acne (blue), and anti-aging (red).

Retail: ¥548

• It is a medicated foam facial wash that contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients that sterilize the acne-causing bacteria and prevent inflammation.

Retail: ¥543

STEP TWO: TONER/ SKIN LOTION

As the cold winter air takes the moisture out of your skin, providing an extra layer of hydration will help in penetrating a quick hit of hydration and strengthen the skin’s barriers. Opt for toners that have hydrating ingredients like butylene glycol (BG) , glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, collagen, and trehalose since these are ingredients that help in moisturizing the skin. Toner also helps close pores and minimize their appearance. 

1. Hada Labo Skin Lotion 

Skin Type: All skin types based on the product line

• The number one skin care brand in Japan features a combination of hyaluronic acids as the key ingredient in their products.
• Gokujyun (White) for moisturizing
• Gokujyun Premium (Orange) for rich moisturizing
• Shirojyun (Light Blue) for brightening
• Shirojyun Premium (Dark Blue) for rich brightening
• Medicated Gokujyun (Green) for Acne Prevention
• Gokujyun Alpha (Red) for Anti-aging

Retail:¥657 – ¥990

2. Curel Moisture Lotion 

Skin type: Dry and Sensitive Skin

• It has a comforting milky texture that hydrates and restores skin comfort and leaves it soft and radiant.

Retail:¥1,980

STEP THREE: SERUM

Serums are lightweight skincare products that will help your skin be more radiant, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and calm your irritated skin. They contain a higher concentration of active ingredients that will help to brighten, hydrate, and provide a variety of benefits. 

1. Melano CC Anti Spot 

Skin Type: All Skin Types especially for those struggling with acne spots/ hyperpigmentation

• A concentrated serum that treats certain skin problems, such as acne scars and dark spots that are caused by UV rays.

Retail: ¥1,060

2. Unlabel Lab Vitamin C

Skin Type: Dull Skin, Suffering with Hyperpigmentation

• It is an essence that helps in refining pores and skin dullness.

Retail: ¥1,980

STEP FOUR: MOISTURIZER

Moisturizers have a thicker formula compared to serums that improve skin hydration and create a physical barrier that locks in hydration and prevents skin from drying out. It provides a soothing protective film and protects skin from friction.

• It is an all-in-one gel that works as a toner, essence, moisturizing cream, serum, and mask. The product is enriched with three kinds of hyaluronic acid to help improve the skin’s moisture retention abilities.

Retail: ¥1,080

Curel Moisture Facial Cream

Skin Type: Very Dry and Sensitive Skin

• It is a lightweight moisturizer that intensely nourishes and comforts the skin, absorbs instantly, and leaves the skin with a healthy glow.

Retail: ¥2,330

2. DHC Super Collagen Cream

Skin Type:  All Skin Types

• An intensive face moisturizer featuring skin-loving collagen to deliver a firmer appearance and more youthful-looking skin.

Retail: ¥4,890

STEP FIVE: SUNSCREEN

After applying everything to your face, the last and most important part is to apply your SPF or sunscreen to keep you safe from the sun’s UV rays. Even if it is winter, the sun can still be damaging even when it is cold.

• A waterproof sunscreen that provides a high degree of protection when coming into contact with water, allowing you to relax and enjoy more time in the sun.

Retail:¥1,980

2. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence

Skin Type: All Skin Type

• It is one of the most affordable water-type sunscreens sold in Japan! It hydrates your skin, has special key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, and it is also waterproof.

Retail:¥1,210

3. Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence

Skin Type: All Skin Type

• It is one of the Japanese award-winning sunscreens recognized for its tinted correcting features that help brighten up your face instantly. It has a brightening effect that would help you even out your skin tone and give the skin a natural-looking finish.

Retail:¥732

Now that we know about the list of skincare products that we may add to our skincare routine, why don’t we find out where to find them? Lucky for you! There are several stores that have these products near the Ikebukuro Campus.

1. Matsumoto Kiyoshi is one of the famous drugstores in Japan that offers a wide variety of products. It is easy to find your desired product here since each section is categorized by floor.

Location: Matsumoto Kiyoshi, 1 Chome-22-8 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 170-0013

2. Sun Drug-  Just like any drugstore, they have a section for selling pharmaceutical goods and cosmetics. Also, there is a section for selling everyday household products.

Location:  〒170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 1 Chome−21−1 ラグーンビル池袋 １階

3. Tomod – Is a Western-style drugstore that has a good selection of pharmaceutical products, daily goods, and even food that can make excellent Japanese souvenirs because of their unique designs.

Location: 〒170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 3 Chome−4−3 池袋イースト １階 ＮＢＦ

I hope that the given skincare products stated below will help you build your skincare routine as the winter season approaches. But before purchasing a product, it is important to know your skin type so that you can know the appropriate type of products that you will include in your routine. The reason why we need to add or change some products from our previous skincare routine is that some of them may not be as effective as they were during the cold weather. Some of the products may be too light or don’t help when it comes to moisture. That is why it is better to find products that are suitable for your skin based on the season.