Have you ever wondered why almost every Japanese woman has the most perfect, radiant skin ever? Well, we’ll let you in on the secret: the Japanese skincare routine is one that focuses on ‘bihaku’!

The word bihaku (美白) literally means “beautiful white” - these beauty products have an emphasis on brightening your skin, giving you a luminous glow from within!

From young, Japanese women are taught that the ideal complexion should be one that showcases a woman’s natural beauty. With flawless skin being the key ingredient to looking bright and youthful, it’s no wonder that many Japanese women pay such close attention to it. 

To find out how to achieve the soft, plump and bouncy skincare look (called mochi skin!) that the Japanese have perfected over the years, simply read on for the typical night-time skincare routine of a Japanese.

The 10 Steps Towards Perfection

Now, a 10 step skincare routine definitely sounds daunting but in actuality, some of the steps are not compulsory! The beauty of a skincare regimen is that it is flexible and can be altered to fit each individual’s unique skincare needs and goals. After all, every person’s skin is different and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Although the Japanese skincare routine relies on a wide range of products such as lotions, essences, moisturisers and serums, the main focus is definitely its double cleansing and double moisturising steps.  

A deep and thorough cleanse with multiple layers of hydration helps in nourishing smooth and radiant skin, which is what J-beauty is all about! 

So let us guide you on this seemingly complicated but wonderfully effective 10 step night-time skincare journey...and if you do try it out, don’t forget to thank us for changing your entire world!

Step 1: Cleansing Oil

In Japanese skincare, the first part of double cleansing involves the use of an oil-based cleanser to get rid of the top layer of makeup, sunscreen and environmental debris that accumulates throughout the day. 

Just by walking around all day, dirt, pollen and other toxifying agents can land on your face, so don’t think that this step is only necessary for those who wear makeup! This is an integral step to make sure that your skin is completely free of pollutants that can clog up your pores.

When using the oil cleanser, start with dry hands and a dry face. Take your time to gently massage the oil into your face, giving the muscles in your face a little love. Emulsification is a tedious process that is necessary for any makeup or dirt to be dissolved! Slowly introduce water to your face, then wash it all off when it’s done. 

Not sure which cleansing oil to use?

You might want to try this KYOTO KOMACHI Mild Cleanser & Make-up Remover ($98.00 SGD) from Bare Japan

Containing vitamins, saponins and high-quality green tea extracts hand-picked by farmers in the fields near Kyoto, this makeup remover dissolves and removes lasting makeup, keeping your skin clean and fresh. 

It does not leave a greasy residue and instead leaves your skin feeling moisturized, firmer and smoother.

As part of Kyoto Komachi’s Matcha Beauty series, it focuses on fighting against ageing, dryness and pigmentation. The main active ingredient of the series is catechin, a strong antioxidant that effectively whitens skin and brightens dark spots. And green tea has been known to contain more than 70 types of catechins!

The entire Matcha Beauty line is also certified by Ecocert, all products are natural and environmentally friendly.

Step 2: Facial Wash

The next step of double cleansing is to remove the oils that aren’t product-related from your face - think sweat, sebum and daily grime! Using a foam or gel-based facial wash (洗顔料) for this step is often preferred.

This helps to unclog your pores, removing the deeper layer of oil on your face and ensuring that your skin remains spotless daily! This also prepares it to fully absorb the following layers of moisture and nutrients that you will be putting on your face.

Step 3: Exfoliator

Exfoliating helps to prevent the buildup of dead skin cells and excess oils, which clears the way for deeper absorption of products. Incorporating it into your skincare routine allows for a more intense skin-cleansing session, and it automatically leaves your skin feeling smoother for that soft, bouncy feel!

It should not be a daily routine, however. Each skin type has a different frequency schedule for exfoliation, which ranges from a few times per week to once every 10 days. What works differs from person to person, so just try it out and see what suits you!

Using green tea powder and other moisturising plant extracts, this face pack helps to smoothen skin by removing dead skin cells and dirt from the pores for overall brighter and more radiant skin.

Step 4: Toner

The next step is toner (化妆水), which is also called lotion in Japan. However, don’t be confused! This isn't the same lotion you use on your body. Instead, it has a light, watery consistency that helps add hydration to your skin.

This is the last step for cleaning your skin and it also helps to tighten the pores while retaining moisture.

Step 5: Essence

Following that, an aqueous essence (美容液) is applied to the face, which hydrates your skin and preps it to effectively absorb subsequent products, like serum and moisturizer. This is considered the first step of double moisturising.

The idea is that products are layered by their consistency - the most watery products go first, followed by products that are thicker in consistency with each step. This is to ensure that your skin absorbs all of the moisturizing products and locks them in!

Like toner, a few drops of essence are meant to be poured into your hands, patted on to your face and absorbed into your skin.

Step 6: Face Mask

Face masks (メイク落とし) are an extremely important part of Japanese skincare routine. There are many types of face masks with different functions such as brightening, moisturizing and anti-aging, which people choose based on their individual needs. You can check out our unfiltered reviews on 10 Japanese sheet masks that you can find in Singapore here, to find out which ones would suit you the most!

While they are not typically used every day, face masks should be regularly incorporated into your skincare routine. Ideally, they should be used once or twice a week depending on how much moisturizing your skin needs!

Featuring the KYOTO KOMACHI Matcha Face Pack ($80.00 SGD) from Bare Japan

We tried it out for you!

First off, what we immediately noticed about the face pack is its overall sweet scent, despite the earthy tones of the matcha. The scent lingers on your skin after application, which is a plus for those who love smelling like a treat all day!

The face pack also has a very slightly grainy texture which resembles matcha powder, ensuring us of its quality and authenticity. However, it is not rough to the touch and it instead adheres well to the skin with a pleasant cooling sensation.

After letting the face pack sit for a while and washing it off, the skin feels more supple and hydrated. There is also no oily feeling and the pores seem less visible to the eye!

Step 7: Serum

This next step may be optional for you if you do not have any specific concerns that you would like to treat! However, many Japanese women use serums to target different problems they would like to address, such as wrinkles, dark spots, firming or lightening. It is also not uncommon for more than one to be used at a time!

Serums are made up of smaller molecules that can truly penetrate the skin and hydrate it on the deepest level. Thus, when using serums, a few drops should be more than enough due to their high concentrations of active ingredients.

Serums also take a while to be fully absorbed, so be sure to give it some time before continuing on with the next step!

Featuring the CORECO Night Repair Serum ($130.00 SGD) from Bare Japan

Containing stem cells and placenta extract, this serum is a powerful solution for restoring aging skin. By promoting the production of collagen fibers and hyaluronic acid, it helps eliminate deep wrinkles, bringing extra elasticity and softness to your skin.

Besides the relaxing aroma, the natural vegetable oils of macadamia, moringi and camellias present in the serum also help to moisturise and smoothen your skin.

Our verdict!

Arriving in a cute glossy box, this serum has a very natural smelling herbal scent that might appeal to some - its included range of medicinal plant extracts is definitely no lie!

Its light translucent gel texture glides extremely smoothly on to the skin and it also blends easily, providing for a pleasant and fuss-free application process. Additionally, the natural dewy look it gives your face is impressive as it makes it seem as if you are glowing from within.

The skin feels evidently plump and hydrated after application, attesting to the moisturising effects it claims to have. Overall, this Night Repair serum is a promising product that we would be likely to invest in.

Step 8: Moisturiser

Moisturiser is then applied as the final step to double moisturising. The importance of moisturising is often not lost, but for those who have yet to be convinced, it helps to replenish your skin’s natural moisture which is often stripped away when applying makeup, washing your face daily and showering (especially with hot water!).

Additionally, it reduces the chances of skin problems such as acne breakouts, which tend to occur when your skin is either too oily or too dry. Freshly moisturized skin also brings a naturally healthy sheen to your skin, which can even out any existing blemishes.

Step 9: Eye Cream

The Japanese also recognise the importance of eye cream. As the skin around your eyes is more fragile, more prone to dryness and quicker to show fatigue, eye cream helps to diminish the appearance of any wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles.

This helps to fight signs of ageing where they show first, giving Japanese women their signature perfect skin for a youthful look.

Step 10: Night Cream/Overnight Mask

This final cream works both as a barrier and sealant. On one hand, it prevents dirt and dust from closing in on your pores and on the other, it is designed to help the active ingredients you have just fed to your skin penetrate more deeply as you sleep. 

By locking in the nutrients, the goodness can better work their magic overnight without evaporating away!

This is it, the secret to achieving perfect skin condensed into 10 simple steps! It is no surprise that the Japanese have such flawless skin - they understand that each step has its specific purpose in the skincare routine and it is through this laborious but worthwhile process that they achieve their highly sought-after mochi skin.

About Bare Japan:

Bare Japan is a Singaporean based online store bringing you the best organic, professional and premium authentic Japanese skincare products straight from Tokyo.

Dedicated to offering premium, high-quality and innovative Japanese cosmetics at affordable prices to the world, Bare Japan carries a wide range of Japanese skin, hair and body care brands such as Superfood Lab, Dr. Select, White Ichigo and many more!

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*This article is a collaboration with Bare Japan. However, all reviews are independent.

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