You’ve probably heard of the famed 12-step skincare routines that have become synonymous with Korean skincare. Nowadays the ever-popular global skincare trend is diverting its focus to Japanese Beauty. What are the hallmarks of Japanese Beauty? How do they differ from Korean Beauty? Let’s discuss.
Japanese Beauty, also known as J-Beauty, is marked by an emphasis on hydration and simplicity. Skincare routines are generally shorter and involve less diversity in their required products. The central idea is to look fresh faced, polished, and youthful.
On the other hand, the Korean skincare trend, which is better known as K-Beauty, is based on a mindfulness and attention to detail that yields the notorious 12+ step routines. You know, the ones that involve an oil-based cleanser, water-based cleanser, toner, essence, moisturizer, eye cream, ampoule, sheet mask, and the list goes on.
Japanese skincare routines are comparatively pared down, relying on cleansers, essences and moisturizers to keep the skin hydrated, plump, and supple. It’s all about light, moisturizing layers here.
The ingredients are another point of the departure between the two trends. While Korean skincare relies heavily on ingredients such as snail mucin, rice bran, sea-kelp, and sake, Japanese skincare prioritizes moisturizing and anti-inflammatory ingredients like green-tea, hyaluronic acid, Camellia oil, and Aloe Vera.
Which skincare regimen is right for you? Needless to say, your skin type will be the first thing to consider when weighing your options. If you’re dry as the Sahara and sensitive to boot, maybe the less-is-more philosophy of Japanese Beauty will appeal to you. The next point of consideration would be your commitment level, because let’s face it – if a 12-step skincare routine sounds like downright madness to you, maybe the Korean skincare trend isn’t your bag. If you’re a skincare enthusiast (we hope you are), who likes to cater their skincare to targeted concerns (brightening rice bran toner today, hydrating snail essence tomorrow), and who relishes in the “me-time” a lengthy skincare routine provides, then you ought to give the K-beauty trend a try.
Can’t seem to make up your mind? Our J-Beauty collection, Sake Blossoms, that we will be launching soon combines the very best of both worlds to create easy, multi-tasking products that are in line with the Japanese Beauty philosophy. Like our 3-in-1 leave-on cleanser, Sake Martini, and our Sake Spritzer, a micellar water and cleanser in one. Sake Blossoms even features effective and nourishing ingredients known to both beauty disciplines – vodka, rice bran, aloe, cherry blossoms and of course – sake. Kanpai! Or, as we say, Cheers!
