Perfection In A Few Steps: The Japanese Model Of Beauty
Sobriety, simplicity, and serenity - these three words encompass the ideal of beauty in Japan.
In Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, aesthetics is considered an integral part of the culture and everyday life - is expressed through balance, the pursuit of perfection, attention to detail, and body care rituals that might seem obsessive for a Western but for a Japanese are a matter of self-respect, and respect for others.
A holistic approach that follows a millennial tradition, with very precise rituals, natural ingredients, discreet luxury, but also seriousness, innovation, and technology. A concept that has conquered the world, as reported by the Financial Times in the article "J-beauty: Japan's sleeping giant awakens".
Japanese women long for white, translucent skin and, for balance, a small face and large eyes. An old proverb says that "white skin covers the seven flaws", which is why there is a tendency to avoid sun exposure and to use whitening cosmetics as much as possible.
The reason? The desire to imitate the stereotypical beauty of Caucasian women, but it is also said, according to tradition, that a white complexion is a sign of a higher social standard. In addition, porcelain skin is considered to be synonymous with perfection.
White Skin - The Ideal Of Beauty In Japan
The ideal of "bihaku" beauty - "bi" means beautiful and "haku" means white - plays a very important role in the culture and standards of Japanese female beauty. In fact, white skin, as an aesthetic canon, has always been associated with the concepts of purity and nobility.
This idea of beauty has been prevalent in Japan since the Nara period (710-733) when women in the imperial court used a wide range of skin health beauty products - such as rice bran and crushed pearl powder - and, in addition, applied white blush on their face to get a pallor effect.
During the Edo period (1603-1868) the cosmetic product called "uguisu no fun" - derived from the excrement of a bird, the Japanese nightingale - was used to remove the heavy makeup of geishas. Another quality of this product was that it whitens the skin and restores its radiance.
In the early decades of the twentieth century, white skin was often associated with virtues such as femininity, chastity, purity, honesty, and maternal instinct.
In Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, aesthetics is considered an integral part of the culture and everyday life - is expressed through balance, the pursuit of perfection, attention to detail, and body care rituals that might seem obsessive for a Western but for a Japanese are a matter of self-respect, and respect for others.
A holistic approach that follows a millennial tradition, with very precise rituals, natural ingredients, discreet luxury, but also seriousness, innovation, and technology. A concept that has conquered the world, as reported by the Financial Times in the article "J-beauty: Japan's sleeping giant awakens".
Japanese women long for white, translucent skin and, for balance, a small face and large eyes. An old proverb says that "white skin covers the seven flaws", which is why there is a tendency to avoid sun exposure and to use whitening cosmetics as much as possible.
The reason? The desire to imitate the stereotypical beauty of Caucasian women, but it is also said, according to tradition, that a white complexion is a sign of a higher social standard. In addition, porcelain skin is considered to be synonymous with perfection.
White Skin - The Ideal Of Beauty In Japan
The ideal of "bihaku" beauty - "bi" means beautiful and "haku" means white - plays a very important role in the culture and standards of Japanese female beauty. In fact, white skin, as an aesthetic canon, has always been associated with the concepts of purity and nobility.
This idea of beauty has been prevalent in Japan since the Nara period (710-733) when women in the imperial court used a wide range of skin health beauty products - such as rice bran and crushed pearl powder - and, in addition, applied white blush on their face to get a pallor effect.
During the Edo period (1603-1868) the cosmetic product called "uguisu no fun" - derived from the excrement of a bird, the Japanese nightingale - was used to remove the heavy makeup of geishas. Another quality of this product was that it whitens the skin and restores its radiance.
In the early decades of the twentieth century, white skin was often associated with virtues such as femininity, chastity, purity, honesty, and maternal instinct.
Japanese Beauty Rituals
The pursuit of perfection through aesthetics is characterized by the use of meticulous rituals every day: 60% of Japanese spend more than twenty minutes on self-care, and 21% exceed half an hour a day. Traditional protocols include a daily ritual of applying sophisticated treatments called "layering". In this context, layering refers to the application of several treatments that protect and nourish the skin.
This "layering" treatment system - used to make the skin more radiant - is performed both in the morning and in the evening, strictly following the order of the various stages. Specifically, it includes seven stages: cleansing with an oil; cleansing the skin with soap or a specific product; applying a lotion; applying a serum; skincare around the eyes; applying day or night cream; applying a lip balm. It may seem like a long and even complicated procedure at first glance, but once it has been memorized it takes about ten minutes to complete all these steps.
The Japanese beauty's secrets are the natural ingredients: such as seaweed, white camellia flower oil, and rice water. Collagen? Instead of injecting it to correct wrinkles, the Japanese eat it. In fact, there are restaurants that offer collagen-based drinks and food for both the female and male audiences.
