Most Japanese toners are translated as “lotion” on the Japanese packaging. Many people are often confused by this and this is a bit misleading. To make it clear, Japanese lotion is a Japanese beauty term for toner, softener, and Korean’s “skin” and “first essence.” Read on to know more about its properties and how to use it. Though Japanese lotions hydrate skin, they are not any type of moisturizer. They don’t remove any traces of makeup residue.
Functions of Japanese Lotions:
Japanese lotion is an essential part of the Japanese skincare routine, and they are unique to Japanese beauty brands. There is no equivalent product available in North American or European brands. It acts as a toner and prepares the skin for other skin care products by softening. It has a blend of several humectants like hyaluronic acid and hydrates skin so well. Some brands offer additional features like brightening, soothing, firming, anti-aging, treating acne and the list goes on.
Methods of Applying Japanese Lotion:
Here are 3 methods of applying Japanese lotions, and choose one that suits your time:
- Pour appropriate amount onto your palm and warm it up a little by rubbing your hands together gently before carefully patting it onto your face.
- Pour appropriate amount on to a soft cotton pad and gently press and hold it against your skin.
- Saturate a compressed sheet mask with Japanese lotion and place it on the skin for 5-10 minutes as a lotion mask (do it on a weekly or bi-weekly basis in addition to applying it twice a day using any of the above-mentioned methods).
When to Apply Japanese Lotion:
After you have completely cleansed your face and removed excess dead skin cells, it’s time to moisturize the skin using lotion. Japanese lotions have alcohol as a common ingredient to get a light, watery consistency. Since it has a light texture, it is usually applied before applying any other product so that your skin can absorb it easily. But, the alcohol doesn’t dry out your skin as it has a high concentration of hydrating ingredients in it.
So, the next time when you walk into any Japanese skincare store, don’t get misled by the word “lotion.” It’s a toner, not a lotion.
