One of the latest Japanese beauty trends is called layering. Each “layer” represents a phase that involves a specific treatment for the skin, from cleansing to toning, moisturising, protection and nourishment. The layering technique was discovered and launched by French blogger Elodie-Joy Jaubert, who is passionate about the land of the rising sun. She has also written a book entitled The seven Japanese beauty rituals: how to achieve flawless skin and silky hair (Sonzogno, 2021). The rituals need to be performed slowly, taking your time to massage or enjoy a face, body or hair mask, preferably after a sauna or Turkish bath when the warm temperature has allowed the pores to open and the skin is purified. This allows active ingredients contained in scrubs, creams and oils to nourish the skin deep down. To this end, products must be natural and packed with vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, so that they are similar to our skin, and therefore well-tolerated. Skin absorbs over 60% of anything we apply, and in around 26 seconds everything in our creams is absorbed into the bloodstream.
THE FACE
L’arte del layering parte dalla pulizia della pelle del viso e del corpo utilizzando saponi che contengono, per esempio, latte d’asina, miele, olio di argan. I dermatologi consigliano anche i syndet, i cosiddetti “sThe art of layering begins by cleansing face and body skin using soaps that contain, amongst others, donkey milk, honey or argan oil. Dermatologists also recommend syndet or “soap-free soaps”, which contain synthetic surfactants. These substances break the layer of grease and impurities that deposit on the skin into tiny droplets that are then washed away with water. After cleansing, particularly the face, a floral toner or lotion should be applied. These can contain lavender, cornflower, camomile, orange flowers, geranium, witch hazel or rose. The next stage is the serum, which should be applied before the day or night cream. This should be chosen according to the skin’s needs, for an anti-wrinkle, restructuring or anti-dark spots action.
THE BODY
Per il corpo, anche nella sauna o nell’hammam si può usare il guanto di crine, ideale per favorire il tuFor the body, an exfoliating horsehair glove can be used, including in the sauna or hammam. The glove stimulates cell turnover, particularly when the seasons change. For more sensitive skins, it should be moistened first and used to massage skin with care. Alternatively, natural bristle brushes can be used. These should be moistened with purified essential oils that remove dead skin cells and provide a massage that boosts blood flow. These beauty accessories are also useful for body scrubs made with natural extracts such as lavender, mint, rosemary, sweet orange, eucalyptus and lemon. Fragrances are perfect for using inside the sauna or Turkish bath, to enhance the beneficial effects of these time-honoured rituals with a relaxing and olfactory experience. After showering and drying off gently, it is always advisable to use a moisturising cream. The best ones are made with oat milk, which is more environmentally friendly than other plant milks because oat can be grown in various areas of the world and requires very little water.
HAIR
A treatment for both men and women is an oil hair mask (camellia, olive, macadamia, coconut, avocado, castor oil or jojoba) to be rinsed off with warm water and a mild shampoo with a few surfactants (so a product that produces a light foam). After washing, a conditioner can be applied to untangle hair.
