You’ll notice that in our Classic Ritual, “Purify” is the first step. Starting with a clean face means that you’ve removed everything obscuring your natural skin, allowing all of the formulas that follow to best serve their purpose. In Japan, there is a concept called kiyome, which means purification in a general sense, cleanse in a literal sense. Purification rituals are woven throughout Japanese culture, from everyday activities, like washing your face or cleaning your room, to special occasions, like visits to shrines and tea houses.
The Most Important Step of Your Skincare Ritual
In Japan, to purify yourself or your space is a show of respect as well as an act of care. Even the simple ritual of cleansing your face can help cleanse the mind and soul. As you imagine washing away everything that no longer serves you. As you rinse away the impurities, you’re left with more than just pure skin— a clean slate for a fresh start.
Before you begin, it’s important to determine what kind of cleanser will best serve your skin’s needs. Do you want something that removes makeup? Are you looking to exfoliate as you cleanse? Below, we’ll dig into how our cleansers work for whatever your skin is craving.
If you want to remove makeup…
Our Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil gently melts away impurities, even waterproof makeup, leaving behind pure, silky-soft skin. Applied to dry skin and massaged in circular motions, Japanese Camellia Oil clings to the oils in makeup, as well as the sebum and excess oil produced by skin. When rinsed off with warm water, the excess oils fall away, and you’re left with soft, nourished moisturized skin.
If your skin tends to feel dry…
If your skin tends to be on the drier side, or you live somewhere with a dry climate, you might prefer our gentle cleanser, The Rice Wash, which leaves skin +39%* more hydrated over a 6-hour period! This cream-to-foam formula has a pH-neutral amino acid base so that it can remove impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oils. A blend of Okinawa red algae, Mie brown algae, and hyaluronic acid work together to restore moisture—supporting the skin barrier and helping to improve its moisture-retention capabilities for a healthier, more resilient complexion. Besides leaving your skin more hydrated, Japanese rice powder softens skin and boosts luminosity, for a soft, glowing complexion.
If your skin tends to feel oily...
If your skin is blemish-prone, or you live in a humid climate, The Deep Cleanse might be the one for you. This oil-free gel formula cleanses and exfoliates, gently yet thoroughly lifting impurities to leave skin soft and balanced. Japanese luffa fruit, a natural physical exfoliant, helps turn over dead skin cells, deeply purifying and decongesting pores, while Japanese wild rose visibly reduces pores and smooths skin. Japanese leopard lily helps minimize excess oil to prevent build-up in the future.
If you want smoother, poreless-looking skin...
While The Deep Cleanse offers gentle physical exfoliation, our line of The Rice Polish offers enzymatic exfoliation, which is non-abrasive. It starts as a fine powder, but when activated with water, it transforms into a creamy, cloud-like foam.The Rice Polish features finely ground rice bran and papaya enzymes to promote natural skin turnover, while a pH-neutral amino acid base provides effective cleansing without stripping skin of essential moisture or breaking the skin’s barrier function. These kind-to-skin ingredients leave skin smooth, supple, and radiant, and daily use can help visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and breakouts.
Each of our four formulas of The Rice Polish cater to different skin needs, so you’re sure to find one that will work for you. Silk protein conditions and nourishes skin in our The Rice Polish: Classic formula, which is beneficial for all skin types, specifically dry skin. Tailored for sensitive skin, The Rice Polish: Calming is formulated with Japanese Indigo to help soothe skin. If your skin tends to feel dry, The Rice Polish: Gentle features Licorice Root to help prevent flakiness and tightness in the skin. The Rice Polish: Deep helps tighten the look of pores and clarify skin with Japanese Wild Rose, making it ideal for combination to oily skin.
All of our cleansers are gentle enough for daily use, and can be incorporated into both morning and evening rituals. Some days you may need different cleansing than others, and our formulas can be combined to meet your needs. For instance, if you’ve been wearing long-wear makeup all day, you may want to start by removing makeup with our Pure Camellia Cleansing Oil, then following with The Rice Polish for a deeper cleanse. If you’re washing your face in the shower, The Rice Wash or The Deep Cleanse are easy formulas to measure out and use when your face and hands are already wet. There’s no right or wrong way to wash your face, so don’t hesitate to try all of our cleansers.
*Based on an expert grader survey of 25 subjects over a 4 week period
Victoria Tsai
Chief Treasure Hunter
