Our Global Well-Being Mentor, Zen Monk Toryo Ito

Sunscreen used to be considered thick, pore-clogging, and opaque white — but today’s iterations are impressively different. Modern sunscreen is lightweight, nearly invisible, and can actually improve the look and feel of skin. A lightweight feel is not only sensorially important, but it also helps to make the experience of wearing it more enjoyable, while encouraging you to use it daily. It’s a pleasure to use, rather than a chore.

While oily skin and glowy skin can seem similar, they are distinctively different. Oily skin is from an overproduction of sebum from the sebaceous glands, while glowing skin gives off a natural radiance from a balanced, hydrated, and healthy skin barrier. There’s nothing wrong with oily skin, and, with a few specific products, you can take excessive oiliness and transform it into glowing, dewy skin. Utilize balancing cleansers, lightweight moisturizers, and oil-absorbing primers to help look more glowy than oily.

An ancient staple in Japan, essences are finally gaining popularity in the US. An essence is a watery liquid infused with skin-benefiting active ingredients that can hydrate, brighten, firm, and more. An essence is pressed into the skin after cleansing and before serums and moisturizers, and is designed for daily use. Some of the best essences for the face have dramatic benefits, including hydrating, plumping, reducing the appearance of wrinkles (as effectively as a retinol), and making the rest of your skincare products work better.