June is called "Minazuki" in the Japanese calendar. It is the rainy season, but it can be read as "the month without water?", but "Mu" means "of", so it means "the month of water". There are various theories, and the exact meaning is unclear. The seasonal calendar for June is June 1st, when the clothes are changed, the third Sunday (June 16th) is Father's Day, and June 21st is the summer solstice. In terms of weather, it is the start of the rainy season, and with the exception of Hokkaido, it will be rainy and humid days. In terms of beauty care during this time, the two keywords are "summer solstice", when the daylight hours are the longest in the year, and "rainy season", when the days are humid and damp.
This time, I would like to talk about beauty life using the two keywords "summer solstice" and "rainy season."
Skin care during the rainy season in June
The latest (May 30th) forecast for the start of the rainy season from the Japan Weather Agency is as follows:
✓ The rainy season is expected to start in mid-June from Kyushu to southern Tohoku, later than average.
✓ Temperatures are expected to be cool in early June, normal in mid-June, and then extremely hot and humid in the latter half of the month.
The rainy season is a time of high temperatures and humidity, so it is important to take care of your skin while being aware of the mental stress caused by discomfort, and the adverse effects that sweat and sebum caused by sweating can have on your skin. In addition, the summer solstice is the day with the longest hours of sunlight in the year. The sunlight that falls during this period around the summer solstice is also at its highest level for the year. Although there are many rainy and cloudy days during this period, you should not neglect to take measures against sunlight, regardless of the weather. We have summarized and presented the following three skin care tips to keep in mind during the rainy season.
1. Sweating measures <br data-mce-fragment="1">Sweating itself plays an important role in eliminating waste products, regulating body temperature, and promoting metabolism, but if the dirt caused by sweat, sebum, and makeup is left unattended, it can lead directly to skin problems such as rough skin and breakouts. After sweating, carefully wipe off the sweat and wash your face to remove dirt and keep your skin clean. Sweating also expels minerals from the body. Minerals are essential nutrients for maintaining good health, so be sure to replenish your minerals after sweating.
2. Measures against dryness and chills caused by air conditioning <br data-mce-fragment="1">The season when we start to rely on air conditioning is finally upon us. Air conditioning has started to be used indoors as well as in cars and trains, and the skin is subjected to a dry environment caused by the air conditioning. If the skin becomes too dry, skin problems will occur, so even though the humidity outside is high at this time of year, it is essential to take moisturizing care to prevent dryness caused by air conditioning.
3. Protection from the sun <br data-mce-fragment="1">This is the time of year when sunlight, mainly ultraviolet rays, is at its highest level of the year, and sunburn can be prevented with sunscreen, a parasol with UV protection, a hat, sunglasses, or a jacket. However, it is important to continue using sunscreen as a protection against photoaging, even on rainy or cloudy days.
Minerals closely related to beauty
This mineral was mentioned in the section on sweat prevention, and since it is an important nutrient, I will summarize it here.
What are minerals?
It is one of the five major nutrients (protein, carbohydrates (sugar), lipids, vitamins, and minerals). Although the required amount of minerals is small, they are nutrients that cannot be synthesized in the body and are essential for keeping the body healthy.
Essential Minerals <br data-mce-fragment="1">It is said that there are about 100 types of minerals, of which the minerals necessary for our human bodies are called "essential minerals." Specifically, there are 16 types: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, chlorine, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, iodine, selenium, molybdenum, and cobalt.
<Major minerals that are deeply related to beauty>
Calcium (Ca)
A calcium deficiency can make you more easily fatigued and make your skin lose firmness and elasticity. Calcium is also the main component of bones and teeth, and is the most abundant mineral in the body, but if you don't get enough calcium, it will be replenished from storage sites such as bones and teeth, which can lead to a loss of calcium in bones and teeth and illness.
<Ca-rich foods> Seafood, seaweed, milk
Magnesium (Mg)
It is a mineral that is closely related to energy production in the body. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) plays a major role in energy production, and magnesium is said to be essential for the activation of various enzymes in the process of producing this ATP. Since cell metabolism is the basis for maintaining youthful skin, magnesium can be said to be an essential mineral for the skin.
<Foods rich in magnesium> Buckwheat, wakame seaweed
Zinc (Zn)
It plays an important role in intracellular metabolic functions, and it is known that when cellular metabolism slows down due to zinc deficiency, it can lead to skin problems such as rough skin. It is also involved in DNA replication and protein synthesis when generating new cells. Japanese people, in particular, tend to have insufficient intake of this mineral.
<Foods rich in Zn> Oysters, beef
Copper (Cu)
It is a mineral that is a component of enzymes involved in removing and suppressing lipid peroxides in the body. A deficiency of it is said to lead to arteriosclerosis and aging.
<Foods rich in Cu> Cocoa, walnuts
Iron (Fe)
It is a mineral that exists in red blood cells and is a component of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. A deficiency of it can cause anemia, affect the supply of oxygen to the body through blood, and inhibit cell metabolism.
<Foods rich in iron> Liver, natto
Potassium (K)
It regulates the osmotic pressure of intracellular fluid and retains water. It also excretes sodium, so it helps regulate excessive salt intake.
<Foods rich in iron> Bananas, taro
Manganese (Mn)
It is a nutrient that is used as a component of various enzymes and helps activate enzymes. It is a component of enzymes that are involved in bone formation, enzymes that work on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and enzymes with antioxidant properties.
<Foods rich in iron> Matsuno nuts, ginger
Using the two keywords "summer solstice" and "rainy season," we shared information about beauty tips that are unique to this time of year!
The next topic will be "skin care for the height of summer."
