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There are two seasonal events in March: Hinamatsuri on the 3rd and Vernal Equinox Day on the 21st. The origin of Hinamatsuri is said to be a custom of floating dolls made of grass or wood down rivers or into the sea to ward off evil spirits, and it seems that around the Edo period, it became established as a girls' festival, with modern-day Hina dolls being displayed. On the other hand, Vernal Equinox Day is the day when the sun is located on the Earth's equator and the length of day and night is almost equal. From this day until the summer solstice, the days get longer, so the hours of sunlight continue to shine down and the warmth increases, plants sprout, and it can be said to be a time of awakening and awakening.
This time, we will tell you about skin care that you should be aware of as spring approaches.
Cherry blossoms are a sign of spring
According to Weathernews' cherry blossom forecast for 2022 (as of February 16th), Tokyo is expected to be the first to bloom on March 19th, with areas further north than Kanto expected to bloom earlier than average.
We have a strong image of cherry blossoms being used to take commemorative photos at school entrance ceremonies (early April), but it seems like the cherry blossom season is getting earlier every year. Plants that flower in spring, including cherry blossoms, bloom as if to announce the arrival of spring, depending on the temperature conditions from autumn to winter and the temperature changes just before they bloom.
The weather conditions vary depending on where you live, and the timing of the change of seasons also differs. Take the cherry blossoms as a sign that before the flowers bloom, you should use winter skin care products that emphasize moisturizing, and after the flowers bloom, you should use skin care products that focus on protecting your skin from pollen, PM2.5, UV rays, and other sunlight that can cause skin stress.
The Vernal Equinox is the sign to start full-scale sun care
In 2022, the Vernal Equinox falls on the 21st, the day when the sun rises due east and sets due west, making day and night almost equal in length. This date is the same around the world, although it may differ by one day in some countries due to time differences, and it can differ by about one day once every few years, just as there are leap years. This is the time when living things that have been hibernating begin to move around, bringing new hope and vitality to people's lives, so ancient people considered this day to be "a day to give thanks to nature and celebrate spring."
Additionally, the Imperial Family holds a large festival to worship the spirits of their ancestors on this day, known as the Spring Imperial Ancestors' Festival, and in commemoration of this festival, the seven days before and after the Spring Equinox Day are designated as the autumn equinox, a custom in which ancestors are memorialized. The same is true for the Autumn Equinox Day, where the Imperial Family holds a large festival to worship the spirits of their ancestors on this day, a custom in which the autumn equinox is celebrated. Both the Spring Equinox Day and the Autumn Equinox Day are national holidays. However, there are no Imperial events on the summer solstice or winter solstice, and so they are not national holidays.
From a skincare perspective, the vernal equinox marks the beginning of the 12-hour day when sunlight shines, and the duration continues to grow until the summer solstice. Regardless of climate change, this period and time remains constant, so it's time to start thinking about taking proper measures against the sun.
Sleep and diet for immune system
In last month's article, "Skin Care at the End of Winter, as Spring Approaches ," we mentioned four aspects of a beauty lifestyle that focuses on immunity. In this article, we will give you some concrete tips on how to tackle two of these: "good quality sleep" and "balanced diet."
<Good quality sleep>
Sleep is deeply related to human health, just like lifestyle habits such as diet, exercise, drinking, and smoking.
Sleep is essential for resting the brain and body. We will tell you about some things you should be conscious of in order to maintain good sleep habits.
● Take a bath to thoroughly soothe your mind and body. Bath salts with your favorite scent are also effective.
●Avoid watching TV, using your smartphone, or reading right before going to bed.
●Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking immediately before going to bed.
●Go to bed before midnight and keep your bedtime and wake-up times consistent.
●Create an environment where you can wake up easily in your bedroom, where morning sunlight can easily enter.
<Balanced Meal>
In order to boost your immune system, it is important to improve your intestinal environment and activate its functions. Here we will introduce foods that are particularly effective in boosting your immune system.
1. Dietary fiber that improves intestinal function, rich ingredients, and fermented foods Vegetables such as barley, onions, radishes, burdock, garlic, shallots, fruits such as kiwi fruit and papaya, seaweed such as wakame and kombu, cheese, yogurt, pickles, fermented foods such as natto
2. Foods that warm the body: Root vegetables, warm-colored vegetables and fruits such as red and black, fermented teas (black tea, Chinese tea, roasted green tea), ginger, garlic, red wine, whole wheat bread, brown rice, etc.
3. Antioxidant foods: Green and yellow vegetables such as tomatoes, spinach, bell peppers, and broccoli are rich in antioxidants, while peppers, broccoli, potatoes, kiwi fruit, citrus fruits, strawberries, and persimmons are rich in vitamin C, and nuts (sesame, almonds, peanuts, etc.), pumpkin, avocado, eel, and other foods are rich in vitamin E.
Eating a regular, well-balanced diet will help keep your intestines active. In addition, fermented foods such as yogurt, as well as nutrients such as dietary fiber and oligosaccharides, improve the intestinal flora and boost your immunity, so be sure to actively consume them.
We've brought you some skin care tips to keep in mind as we enter spring.
Next time, I would like to talk about "skin care for environmental changes."
