January is a month when we welcome the new year and start fresh. Many people set goals in terms of health and beauty.
Well, the zodiac sign for 2023 is the rabbit. To be precise, it is "water rabbit" (水のと・う), but the character "water" means "blessed water revives plants and trees" and the character "う" means "to jump or leap like a rabbit". The combination of "water" and "う" is said to mean "this will be a year of vigorous growth and leaps."
It looks like we will continue to live with COVID-19 in 2023, but I hope that it will be a year in which we regain our vitality with a spirit of "leap forward," as embodied in the meaning of the zodiac sign.
2023 Skin Care Calendar (Basic Edition)
The Skin Care Calendar is an annual tradition, but this year's skin care calendar will not only offer basic skin care suggestions according to the season, but also introduce measures for specific factors that affect skin condition.
Use this calendar to plan your skin care routine to stay healthy according to the season.
Timing varies by region, so adjust your intensified skin care routine based on where you live.
Winter and Summer
Choose a beauty serum that strengthens moisturizing and provides anti-aging care, and use them in combination. We also recommend strengthening care for parts of your body, such as the eye area, at the same time.
Sunscreen
Of course, you should take care of your skin all year round, but from February to August, you should intensify your skincare routine by applying more product than usual. Also, be mindful of applying more product during the day. Don't forget to apply to your décolleté, including your neck.
Pore care/Acne care
From the rainy season through to summer, let's be more conscious of proper cleansing and washing our faces (washing gently). Let's also make washing our faces when we wake up a part of our routine.
Skin care calendar for 2023 (skin care by factors that affect the skin)
Skin condition changes due to various external and internal factors. It is important to choose and add skin care products according to the factors that affect your skin, and to devise skin care products that suit you.
<External factors>
- Temperature fluctuations. So-called temperature difference stress causes skin stress. Rather than the season, it is the temperature difference throughout the day and between the outside and room temperature that stresses the skin, leading to poor metabolism. If you notice a temperature difference, be sure to moisturize your skin thoroughly! In particular, be careful of air-conditioned environments in the summer, not just indoors, if you feel cold while traveling on the train or in a car! It is important to take measures against air conditioning, such as always carrying a cardigan that you can quickly put on.
・Dry temperature is the skin's biggest enemy. In addition to the dry air, winter is also dry indoors due to heating, making it a season for dry skin. In addition to winter, it is summer when you need to be aware of dryness. Although the outside air is not dry, the dryness of indoor air-conditioned environments is comparable to that of winter. In winter and summer, you should strengthen your measures against dryness and make sure to protect your skin from dry environments!
You may want to consider using a humidifier indoors in a heated environment in the winter, and an air conditioner with a humidifying function in the summer.
・Foreign substances in the air (air pollution, pollen, yellow dust PM2.5, house dust, etc.)
For some people, the pollen season begins as early as late February. It's also troublesome because the yellow sand and PM2.5 particles arrive at almost the same time. The Japan Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of the Environment will inform you of the current situation, so during this time, be sure to brush off pollen from your mask, coat, and wash your face. The same goes for people who suffer from pollen allergies caused by house dust, regardless of the season. To protect your skin from these stresses with skin care, you should maintain the sebum film, which is said to be the last barrier of the skin (don't wash too hard when cleansing or washing your face), and strengthen the finishing step with creams and gels to supplement the skin's barrier function.
<Internal factors>
As we age, our skin metabolism (turnover) tends to become longer. The production of collagen and elastin, which are involved in the elasticity and flexibility of the skin, and NMF (natural moisturizing factor), which is involved in the skin's own moisturizing ability, also declines. To counter the decline in the production of NMF (natural moisturizing factor), you can strengthen your skin's moisture and supplement these ingredients from the outside with cosmetics.
・Hormonal balance Menstruation is unique to women. It's fine when estrogen, also known as the skin-beautifying hormone, is secreted, but when progesterone (luteal hormone) is secreted from ovulation to the next menstruation, the amount of sebum secreted increases, so be careful of acne and pimples. This is also a time when the skin's defenses against ultraviolet rays work, increasing the amount of melanin produced and making the skin dull and prone to blemishes. Wash your face to remove excess sebum and strengthen your UV protection!
・Side effects of medicines Medicines used to treat illnesses or symptoms can have side effects that can cause skin problems. If you have been prescribed medicine for skin problems, you have no choice but to follow your doctor's instructions, but if you experience skin problems after taking other medicines, your skin may be prone to sensitivity. Be mindful of your skin care, such as temporarily using cosmetics for sensitive skin that are less irritating to the skin.
・Lifestyle In a word, keep a regular rhythm of life, avoid overeating, sleep well, exercise moderately, and stay healthy. Beauty is only possible if you are healthy, so be determined to live a healthy lifestyle.
What did you think of the "2023 Skin Care Calendar"?
Now that you know the factors that affect your skin condition depending on the season and the countermeasures you can take, I think your attitude towards skin care will change in 2023.
The next topic will be "Skin care at the end of winter and just before spring."
