The scorching heat of summer is finally over, and autumn is fast approaching. The leaves are turning red in the Daisetsu mountain range in Hokkaido, and the front of the autumn foliage will soon be moving south across Japan. If you look at autumn leaves from a botanical perspective, you will find lots of hints for skin care during the transition from summer to autumn. In this article, we would like to share some tips for your beauty routine in October.
The mechanism behind autumn leaves
2023 Autumn Foliage Viewing Expected Times
The timing and degree of autumn foliage change is closely influenced by temperature changes and hours of sunlight. According to the Japan Weather Association's forecast for the best time to see autumn foliage this year, temperatures nationwide in September will be higher than average, and this trend is expected to continue into October, so the best time to see autumn foliage this year is expected to be later than usual in northern Japan, and about the same or later than usual in eastern and western Japan.
The mechanism behind autumn leaves
Autumn leaves are closely related to the natural pigment anthocyanin, a type of polyphenol. From spring to summer, a green pigment called chlorophyll is produced, and using sunlight as energy, plants produce starch from water taken in through the roots and carbon dioxide from the air, while releasing oxygen, a function unique to plants called photosynthesis. In deciduous tree leaves, chlorophyll breaks down from autumn to winter, and the nutrients stored in the leaves are recovered by the trunks, and are reused the following spring. Meanwhile, in autumn, the production of anthocyanin shifts to autumn, and the increase in the proportion of anthocyanin causes the leaves to turn red. During this process, anthocyanin is said to protect plants from the harmful effects of sunlight and support the dormancy period of deciduous trees in winter.
When the daily minimum temperature falls below 8°C, the leaves begin to change color, and when there is a large difference in temperature between day and night, the decomposition of chlorophyll progresses, and the production of anthocyanin, which is the basis of autumn leaves, begins. Since sunlight is necessary for the production of anthocyanin, sunlight can also be said to be one of the conditions for autumn leaves to change color. In other words, the three elements for autumn leaves are a minimum temperature of 8°C, temperature difference, and sunlight.
When enjoying the autumn leaves during the autumn sightseeing season, why not learn about the mechanism behind these autumn leaves and explore the best times and places to see them?
Skin care tips for autumn from autumn leaves
Although humans do not hibernate, our skin metabolism also slows down from autumn to winter. Many people have accumulated damage from the summer heat this year, especially after spending the summer with their skin in such a hot weather. Combined with the temperature difference and decreasing humidity during this time of year when the leaves turn red, skin problems caused by dryness are likely to occur.
Just as plants store nutrients in their trunks using a pigment called anthocyanin, skin care that nourishes the skin is important during the height of autumn in order to get through the dry winter months when metabolism slows down. In other words, while protecting your skin from the sun's rays, strengthen your moisturizing care and thoroughly nourish your skin with a beauty serum that has anti-aging properties.
"Antioxidants" from a beauty perspective
What is oxidation?
Oxidation = aging. In the chemical industry, antioxidants are also called antioxidants, and various additives are used to prevent the deterioration of materials due to oxidation. Oxidation occurs when oxygen chemically bonds with iron, and when iron rusts, it is the result of oxygen bonding to form iron oxide. In the case of food, oxidation reduces freshness and impairs quality and flavor, so food oxidation is prevented by using vacuum packaging and oxygen absorbers. Meanwhile, about 20% of the atmosphere is oxygen, and living organisms, including humans, rely on oxygen to maintain their vital functions. Although oxygen is essential, it is also a cause of aging and disease, which is a problem.
Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species
You may have heard of the term "reactive oxygen." About 30% of the oxygen taken into the body by breathing turns into highly reactive active oxygen, which acts as an intercellular transmitter and immune function. Although active oxygen itself has such an important function, its excessive production causes oxidation (=aging) of the body, damages cells, and is a factor in various diseases, so active oxygen has an established image as a villain. Although the body has a function to protect against active oxygen, it is important to understand oxidative stress, which leads to excessive production of active oxygen and inhibits the body's own active oxygen defense function, and to live a beauty lifestyle that reduces oxidative stress. Causes of oxidative stress include external stimulants such as ultraviolet rays, radiation, air pollution, tobacco, and drugs, as well as excessive exercise and psychological stress.
Antioxidant beauty life through diet
To start a beauty lifestyle that focuses on antioxidants, we recommend that you start by consuming foods with antioxidant properties. Autumn is the season of harvest and appetite, so let's try to live a beauty lifestyle that pays attention to the foods we eat. The main recommended foods are as follows.
[Vitamin C]
Green and yellow vegetables (paprika, parsley, broccoli, green vegetables, etc.), fruits (kiwi fruit, strawberries, citrus fruits, etc.)
[Vitamin E]
Vegetable oils (sunflower oil, coconut oil, safflower oil, etc.), nuts and seeds (sesame, almonds, peanuts, etc.)
[Polyphenols]
Prunes, apples, red wine, coffee, green tea, black tea, etc. [Minerals]
Seaweed (wakame, nori, kelp, etc.), seafood (sakura shrimp, round herring, etc.), natto, etc. [Carotenoids]
Yellow, orange, and red pigments in green and yellow vegetables and fruits, such as peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and mandarin oranges
It is important to lead a beauty lifestyle that maintains a good antioxidant defense mechanism by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep, thereby suppressing the excessive production of active oxygen.
We've brought you "Tips for your beauty life in October"!
The next topic will be "Aging care in preparation for winter."
