Japanese beauty lovers swear by a lot of makeup and skincare hacks. It’s no surprise that the beauty and makeup trends in Japan are something pretty special. And you simply have to take a stroll through Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, to see some truly quirky, colorful and cutting edge fashion.
Japanese Beauty Trends
Here are five beautiful, vibrant, practical and downright bizarre hacks trending in Japan right now.
False lashes
Beauty trends in Japan often focus on creating a cute or ‘doll-like’ look, so false lashes have dominated the Japanese beauty scene for a while. You might have a pair of false lashes that you apply to your top lashes, but in Japan, they also apply false ones to your bottom lashes. As RuPaul likes to put it, “False lashes make every look go from day time to glamazon!”
The hangover makeup look
The hangover makeup trend has spread across Tokyo. I’ve never heard of this trend, so I was curious about what it is all about. Basically, you buy yourself some blush in a pinkish-red shade, and you apply it not on your cheeks, but just under your eyes.
The trend is referred to as “byojaku”, which translates as “sickly”. It’s also characterized by applying your makeup to look pale or washed out. Now you might be racking your brains about why this look is trending, but at least you don’t have to worry about looking hungover anymore.
Face shaving
“Kao sori” is a sought after skincare custom all across Japan. To achieve this beauty hack, you need a straight razor, to shave the peach-fuzz off your face. It’s believed that skin creams can penetrate your skin better without any fuzz.
Face-shaving is also great for getting rid of dead and flaky skin. There are plenty of kao sori salons across Tokyo that perform this service, leaving your skin as soft as a baby’s. If you’re traveling in Japan, then be sure to schedule an appointment at one of these salons. Also, check with your local dermatologist, as they may also offer face-shaving.
Rice water
Using rice water as part of skincare is a historic geisha tradition. It’s thought to improve the elasticity of your skin, even the tone, and enhance your complexion.
First, you’ll need to place some rice in a bowl and rinse it off with water. Drain the rice, then add water a second time and let the rice sit in the bowl for about twenty mins. From here, drain the rice again and use the water to massage the skin of your face. The water contains vitamins B and E plus antioxidants which will work their magic.
Tabata regimen workout
Many will agree that a good exercise regimen helps us to look and feel amazing. In Japan, it’s all about the Tabata regimen. This practice was founded in 1996 by Dr. Izumi Tabata. He determined that short, intense sprints were the most effective way to get in shape.
Tabata is a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) routine, which involves working out for a total of four minutes, and then repeating this workout after rest periods (20 seconds of all-out effort, 10 seconds of rest, repeat eight times — like the workout below).
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As you can see, when it comes to unique beauty trends, Japan is always one step ahead of the game! What are some of your favorite Japanese beauty hacks?
Yours Truly,
Vanessa
{Feature Images borrowed from Fashion Arrow, Career Girl Daily, and Racked.}