Japanese Skincare Routine

Many daily routines in Japan are enveloped in mindfulness, elevating an everyday action into something performed with precision, care, and the ultimate desire to treasure the moment and oneself. And classical Japanese skincare routines are evidence of that mindful belief, steeped in meditative moments attending to your skin and yourself, every single day. Beyond the fresh perspective, what makes a Japanese skincare routine so beneficial is its simplicity (and effectiveness). Keep reading to discover the benefits of a Japanese routine for your skin and how to recreate one for yourself using the best Japanese skincare products available today.

What is a Japanese Skincare Routine?

The beauty of a classical Japanese skincare routine, one suitable for women of every age, lies in its clarity, accomplished in just four simple steps: purify, polish, plump, and nourish. Less is more in this routine, with an emphasis on consistency, efficacy, ingredients, and thoughtful application, essentially making your skincare routine a mindfulness practice. The Japanese skincare routine isn’t about overnight transformations or aggressive treatments, but rather putting the ‘care’ back into skincare, which can be accomplished with just these four steps, twice a day.

The Japanese Skincare Routine: Purify, Polish, Plump, and Nourish

Purify

While cleansers may be an afterthought in Western culture, cleansing is seen as key to healthy skin in Japan. This vital step is not just rushing through the purification process, but actually taking the time to choose the right facial cleanser and carefully and thoroughly cleanse for healthier skin. The trick to transforming the mundane cleanse into a mindfulness ritual is to embrace the Japanese concept of kiyome, which translates to purification. This belief can act as not only a physical cleanse, but also an emotional one, allowing the cleansing process to be an act of letting go.

Polish

While exfoliation may seem like a modern technique, the geisha skincare routine has been using komenuka, also known as Japanese rice bran, to polish the skin for centuries. This is a crucial step in the Japanese skincare routine because it removes dead skin cells and impurities, while also helping the rest of your products achieve their maximum potential. Rice powders have stood the test of time because they can be used every day without stripping, irritating, or pulling at the skin.

Plump

A classic Japanese skincare ritual has long featured these essences, or “beauty waters”, prized for their ability to soften and brighten the complexion. While they might seem like an unnecessary step in the Japanese skincare routine, the potent liquid can resurface, soften, plump, and boost the effects of skincare in a single application. A water-light essence floods skin with hydration and amplifies the performance of any treatment by channeling it into the skin.

Nourish

Nourishment through your chosen moisturizer or hydrating face cream is always beneficial to your complexion, whether your skin tends to be more dry or oily. After plumping skin with an essence, apply a moisturizer to form a protective barrier over your skin. Follow our founder Vicky Tsai’s lead: “When I nourish my skin in the morning and at night, I close my eyes and massage my face. It’s a treasured moment of self-care that I never rush through.”

The Japanese Skincare Routine: How to Purify, Polish, Plump, and Nourish

At Tatcha, we aim to bridge the gap between timeless beliefs and modern ingredients. And that combination is abundantly present in our straightforward Japanese skincare routine. Here’s how to take inspiration from these classic Japanese rituals and implement them into your routine at home.

How to Purify 

In Japan, it’s customary to cleanse the face twice a day. However, if just using a cleansing oil, you can skip this step in the morning (since a cleansing oil’s primary function is to remove makeup and sunscreen), if you’d like. While purifying skin, take a page out of founder Vicky Tsai’s book, Pure Skin, by visualizing distractions, negative thoughts, and self-doubt melting away as you cleanse.

Try: Inspired by geishas, who cleanse away their makeup with camellia oil, Tatcha created The Camellia Cleansing Oil, which simply features camellia oil and our proprietary Hadasei-3. Camellia oil is particularly beneficial for skin, as it’s rich in oleic acid and vitamins A, B, D, and E—making it incredibly nourishing and healing when massaged into the skin.

If sensitivity is top of mind, consider cleansing with our newest innovation instead: The Indigo Cleansing Balm. This skin-strengthening formula instantly calms redness and irritation, while also supporting and transforming the barrier—but it still effectively cleanses, removing even waterproof makeup. Unlike harsh cleansers though, the Indigo Cleansing Balm also soothes and replenishes moisture—strengthening the skin barrier so it can prevent future damage for smooth, plump, and radiant-looking skin. In clinical studies, 100 percent of participants demonstrated an improvement in barrier function after just one week of use.* 

How to Polish

Exfoliating or polishing should be the first step of your ritual in the morning (if you choose not to cleanse) and the second step, after purifying skin, in the evening. To polish, wet your palms and splash a handful of warm water onto your face. Pour approximately half a teaspoon of powder into one hand and gently rub your palms together to create a creamy, luxuriant foam. Massage gently with your fingertips onto your face in circular motions for 10 to 20 seconds, avoiding your eyes. Rinse well and pat your skin dry with a soft face cloth. Tsai suggests thinking of the meditative mantra, “begin again” as you gently massage the creamy rice bran foam into the skin.

If you purify with oil and polish with an enzyme powder, you’re already utilizing a two-step protocol favored by geishas centuries ago and now throughout modern Japan. The Kyoto Cleanse—also known as the Double Cleanse—is the method that not only removes surface debris, sunscreen, and makeup, but also unclogs pores and preps skin for hydration.

Try: Inspired by geishas and the Kyoto Cleanse, Tatcha created The Rice Polish, a simple, yet game-changing exfoliant. Finely ground rice bran and papaya enzymes promote natural skin turnover, while the amino acid-base formula provides effective cleansing without stripping skin of essential moisture or breaking the skin’s barrier function. To bring the powder to life, simply add a few drops of water and watch as it transforms into a creamy, cloud-like foam. For an additional level of customization, consider the other Rice Polish formulas, from Calming to Gentle to Deep, which allow you to select the option best for you.

How to Plump

To achieve the benefits an essence promises, utilize the liquid twice a day—but the order or usage is important. Pat the essence into the skin after polishing and before serums, moisturizers, or oils. The most important job of the essence and its primary function is to make the skin ready for whatever treatment that follows. To utilize, pour a palmful of essence into your hand, press palms together, and then gently press it into the skin.

Try: The Essence, an uncomplicated, yet transformative, formula that is 100 percent Hadasei-3, a proprietary fermented complex of the very superfoods core to the Japanese diet: rice, algae, and green tea. This potent formula boosts the effects of skincare, resurfaces, and hydrates for primed, plump, petal-soft skin at any age. In studies, panelists demonstrated a 621+ percent improvement in skin moisturization immediately** and 100 percent of panelists demonstrated an improvement in skin glow and radiance after just one week of use.***

How to Nourish

Nourishment is always beneficial to your complexion, no matter your skin type. After plumping skin with an essence, apply moisturizer to form a protective barrier for your skin. Moisturize like Tsai does, taking a moment to close your eyes and massage the nourishing hydration into the skin, mindfully treasuring the moment of self-care.

Try: At Tatcha, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to nutrient-rich moisturizers. As luxurious as they are effective, each unique face moisturizer delivers the optimal level of moisture for any skin type, helping you achieve your healthiest-looking complexion yet.

Consider The Silk Cream, a rich yet weightless gel-cream moisturizer enriched with silk extract for softer, smoother, and firmer-looking skin. Or grab the award-winning Water Cream, which balances the skin, decongest pores, and minimizes excess oil production. For dry skin, try The Dewy Skin Cream, which plumps, hydrates, and strengthens the skin. For a more rich cream, grab the Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream for an intensely hydrating and nourishing treatment. Sensitive skin? Slather on the innovative Indigo Overnight Repair Serum, which visibly calms irritation, strengthens the skin’s barrier, and balances the microbiome overnight.

Or not sure which formula is right for you? Consider Tatcha’s newly updated formula, The Indigo Calming Cream. This rich, fragrance-free moisturizer delivers therapeutic soothing relief from redness and itchiness with long-lasting hydration. 100 percent of panelists in a clinical study**** saw an improvement in softness and suppleness immediately, an improvement in the appearance of the skin barrier after one week, and an improvement in visible redness and evenness of skin tone after two weeks.*****

The Japanese Skincare Routine: Enhancements

You can tailor the basic ritual with enhancements based on your skin’s needs, which can change from time to time. Here are a few additional enhancements to consider, based on your skin’s needs.

Dullness/Dark Spots: Brighten skin and add radiance with a vitamin C serum, like the Violet-C Brightening Serum.

Excessive Oil: Blotting papers are a simple way to instantly lift away excess oil gently without stealing moisture from the skin.

Fine Lines: Smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles with a retinol-like serum. Consider The Silk Serum, which visibly firms and smooths skin.

Dehydration: Plump and seal in moisture with The Dewy Serum, a radiance- and hydration-enhancing booster.

Irritation: Visibly calm redness and irritation as you sleep with the Indigo Overnight Repair, a powerful serum-in-a-cream treatment.

Protect Skin: No matter your skin type or needs, use sunscreen every single day. Try the Silken Sunscreen SPF 35 for a matte finish or The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 for a sheer, moisturizing finish.

Japanese Skincare Routine Steps for Day And Night

We’ve discovered the beauty of a Japanese skincare routine and how to implement the basics into your daily routine, but when do you use which products during your morning and night ritual? Allow us to break down the Japanese skincare steps into a quick, helpful guide.

Japanese Skincare Routine: Steps for the Morning

Your morning routine is a beautiful time to set your intentions for the day. It’s also the perfect moment to prep, hydrate, and protect skin for the day ahead. Follow these Japanese skincare routine steps for glowing, youthful-looking skin in minutes.

The Japanese skincare routine for the morning:

1. Purify or Polish
2. Plump
3. Nourish
4. Protect

Step One: Purify (or Polish)

For those with sensitive or dry skin, a splash of water may be just what the skin needs. However, almost everyone can benefit from a refreshing morning cleanse to wash off the sweat, skincare, and sleep from the night before. For sensitive (or sensitized) skin, try the The Indigo Cleansing Balm, a miraculous cleanser that actually strengthens skin while cleansing. Individuals with oily or acne prone skin will adore The Matcha Cleanse, a multipurpose gel cleanser that decongests pores and controls oil for smooth, primed skin. You can’t go wrong with The Rice Wash, a creamy cleanser that softly washes away impurities—ideal for all skin types, especially dry and combination skin.

On the other hand, some prefer to start the day with a brightening face polish, which can instantly impart a radiant glow and smoother skin. As mentioned before, the beauty of Tatcha’s Rice Polishes is the customization to your specific skin type (or how skin feels that day) via the classic Rice Polish, Calming, Gentle, or Deep options. 

Step Two: Plump

Perhaps your skin is rather predictable or the opposite is true and yesterday’s dryness is today’s combination or oily skin—either way, assess how skin is feeling after using your Essence. Massage in your moisturizer of choice (whether that be the gel-cream moisturizer Silk Cream, the balancing Water Cream, the plumping Dewy Skin Cream, the intensely hydrating Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream, or therapeutically soothing Indigo Calming Cream.

Step Four: Protect

No matter the weather outside—even rainy, snowy, or cloudy—daily sunscreen is non-negotiable. UVA and UVB rays are reaching your skin even if it’s not bright and sunny, so be prepared to protect skin with a broad spectrum, 30+ protection sunscreen. The Silken Sunscreen SPF 35 provides a matte finish and combination and oily skin will especially love it, while The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 is a lightweight sheer finish with a hydrating feel, ideal for dry, sensitive, and combination skin.

Japanese Skincare Routine: Steps for the Evening

One of life’s simplest pleasures is decompressing after a long day. Start the evening’s journey of rest by properly nourishing your skin with this evening Japanese skincare regimen.

The Japanese skincare routine for the evening:

• Purify
• Polish
• Plump
• Nourish

Step One: Purify

Arguably the most important thing you can do for your skin has nothing to do with what you apply on it, but rather what you take off—meaning how well you cleanse your skin at the end of the day. There is no greater method of purifying your skin than the double cleanse (aka the Kyoto Cleanse), as discussed above. The first step is using a cleansing oil, like The Camellia Cleansing Oil, and then following up with a cleanser or foaming Rice Polish for a purification process that removes every speck of debris, sunscreen, and makeup. 

Step Two: PolishDid you use an exfoliant as part of your double cleanse? You’ve combined the purify and polish process into a streamlined process and are ready for the next step in the traditional Japanese skincare routine: plumping the face.

However, if you used a face wash after the cleansing oil, you might enjoy using a face polish for a brighter, smoother face almost immediately. We should note that if you prefer utilizing your face polish in the a.m., not all skin types need twice-a-day exfoliation. Safely test out different regimes to discover your ideal Japanese skincare routine—and ensure you aren’t over exfoliating along the way, too.  

Step Three: Plump

Flood the skin with the nourishing Essence to hydrate and prepare the skin for the next steps in your evening Japanese skincare regimen. Evening is a beautiful time for the skin to repair itself while you sleep, so take advantage of this natural process by using a serum to target your skin desires, whether that be brightening, addressing fine lines, or a healthy dose of moisture. 

Step Four: Nourish

A moisturizer is vital in helping support healthy skin. This is true no matter the time of day, but especially important come evening when it aids in the skin’s repair process while you sleep. Slather on your ideal moisturizer (which can change daily, depending on how skin feels or the weather outside) and allow the skin to soak up the nourishment.

You can also take things to the next level by massaging in an overnight treatment, like the revolutionary Indigo Overnight Repair Serum, which visibly calms irritation, strengthens the skin’s barrier, and balances the microbiome overnight. Or if you simply seek added hydration (especially helpful come chilly winter nights), try massaging a few drops of face oil, like the famed Gold Camellia Beauty Oil, atop your evening moisturizer to lock in hydration all night long.

No matter what Japanese skincare routine is ideal for you, we encourage you to bring the added elements of the treasured routine into your daily life as well, including mindfulness and intentional care. At Tatcha we aim to bring the ‘care’ back into ‘skincare’ and try to accomplish that emotionally and physically every time we touch and care for our skin.

*Based on bio-instrumentation (TEWL) clinical study on 40 panelists.

**Based on an instrumentation study conducted on 30 panelists in 2022.

***Based on an expert-grading study on 30 panelists in October 2021. 

****Based on an expert grading clinical study on 30 panelists.

*****Based on bio-instrumentation (novameter) clinical study on 30 panelists.