There’s no secret in the 21st century. We reveal everything, don’t we? We know The Skincare Routine of Geishas and What we Learn from Geisha Skincare. Here I have collected the products they had used for their skin. They are still famous for their beauty.
Geishas’ Natural Beauty Secrets
Japanese and Koreans are always in the first row when it comes to their skin. Skin or beige glass? I admire them for the time they take, and for the knowledge they have regarding their skin. But is it possible to be perfectionists in just 2-3 generations? I don’t think so! They have taken care of their skin since the ancient era. They know their stuff, what they are doing, what their skin needs, how much, and when.
Geisha first appeared in 1800. But it’s not just about Geishas, but every Japanese woman has smooth, even-toned, shiny skin. I mean having some skin problem is normal, right? With puberty, everybody faces some skin problems and that’s 100% normal. Every month with hormones ups and downs ladies especially face more problems than gents. But Koreans, or Japanese, why they don’t have blemishes? Why their skin is neither dry nor oily, is it all makeup! Believe it or not, a good painting also needs a good canvas, without a good canvas it’s not possible to perform as a perfectionist as a painter.
Geishas sleep after midnight around 3 am still their skin unbelievably smooth, glowy, with glossy black long hair and lip is crimson. That is when I understand you need a peaceful sleep of 7-8 hours at a time, that does not matter when. Because sleep and diet make a huge difference in your skin. But in this post, we do not talk about their healthy habit. I will point out some holy grail ingredients you may wanna try. But also remember it was hundreds of years ago, now science has been improved a lot. Whatever you put on your face make sure its pH is close (3-7) to our natural skin pH which is 5. You should never put something lesser than 3pH like lemon and more than 7pH like baking soda.
Natural Exfoliants Geishas Use
It came from the ancient age. I know how scary it sounds, at least for me! Scrubbing your face is not good, and using a natural product for it is something I never liked. It’s not because they are all bad but scrubbing can go wrong easily. The Natural product is not very evenly shaped, different particles have different sizes. Even if we put the same pressure all over the skin still it may affect differently because of different sizes of particles. But if we are gentle, these things may work! Do not use it if are not 100% sure. It’s better not to scrub sensitive skin at all.
Sea Salt
I talked about sea salt before. Sea salt is something easily available in Japan. So before, sea salt was used as a scrubber. Geishas exfoliate their skin regularly so that skin remains smooth. I have to disclaim this is quite dangerous to do every day. But let’s see the good side. Salt is great to get rid of cellulates because it breaks down fat. Sea salt p is about 7.5. But we definitely can dilute it. Mix it with mango or shea butter or simple coconut oil in a 2:1 ratio, then massage your whole body. It will make your skin visibly smoother and also keep it moist because of the used oil or oily ingredients. Wash your body and then pat dry it so the moist, butter stays.
Rice Bran
Rice bran has been used for centuries in the eastern world to smoothen skin. Geishas used this from the very first in their faces. It is enriched with Vitamin E & B that helps to treat acne and hyperpigmentation. It reduces the appearance of pores. Every skin type can use this. It is high in antioxidants. Rice bran is the outer layer of raw rice, which is crunchy, becomes a flour-like texture after crushing, and is good for exfoliating. This is something you don’t have to worry about whether it’s harsh or not because the pH of Rice bran is about 6.5.
Milk & Yogurt
Milk pH is less than 7. Yogurt’s pH is about 4.5 when our natural skin pH is 5! Milk contains lactose, minerals like iodine, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and Vitamin A. Milk does not exfoliate that much, but it cleanses the skin. But it can work as a perfect milk exfoliator. You don’t have to rub it, just apply it to your neck and face, and if you have sensitive skin, don’t worry it will still do nothing. Milk also can heal redness caused by the sun. Use cold raw milk for that. Now come to Yogurt. Yogurt contains Vitamin B6, B12, Calcium, minerals, probiotics, etc. Yogurt is fermented and contains lactic acid. So yogurt works as a good exfoliator but it is also very mild. It brightens and tones the skin. You can also mix your sea salt or rice bran with milk or yogurt.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is a bit extra acidic for the skin. But this can be a good exfoliator for the skin if we use it properly. The thing I like about liquid natural products is that you don’t have to scrub, so no extra scrubbing which will irritate your skin. All you need to do is, mix in a proper ratio and do not keep it for more than 5 minutes. Done! Okay, so apple cider vinegar contains acetic, malic, and lactic acid which will work as great exfoliators. Next, it contains vitamins and it is a fermented item. I love fermented items, these contain bacteria, and make skin glow! I use Brag Apple Cider vinegar every month once on my scalp and hair to wash out residues, and build-ups. Trust me, it feels so light after. But not more than once, because then it will make my hair dry. For the face dilute it with the same amount of water. For the scalp and body, you may use in 3:2 (Vinegar &Water) ratio. Follow up with a good moisturizer.
Natural Ingredients to Provide for the Skin
There are many natural things we can use for our skin. For example natural oils, foods, and diluted fruits. Be careful with the fruits or anything you will apply to my face, my skin broke out once very bad. But if you be careful then many things are safe for use.
Rice Water
Rice water came from ancient beauty idols, Geisha. They even took bath in rice water. There are more than 10 recipes for rice water. But I like it when rice is almost fully cooked. Because that is when I can get the most out of the rice water. And I apply it as it is on my whole body including my face and neck. Sometimes from scalp to toe. After all rice water is also great for hair! So that’s all. Make the rice for lunch or dinner. And apply it all over, kee it 15-30 minutes. Wash it before drying. It’s quite similar to take bath with rice water, isn’t it? 😅
Rice
Neither Rice bran nor rice water but rice. Why not rice is enriched with antioxidants that will boost the collagen level of the skin. Take uncooked rice in a mixer and find it then store it in a box. Take a nickel size every day and mix it with your regular toner or rose water. Apply accordingly what you need. Light or thick does not matter. You can also make a thick paste and use it as a mask. But for that, you have to spray water so that it won’t get dry fast. Then wash it by massaging the face. Same you can do for your whole body. For the body, you may use natural butter or oils for moisture, but for the face, I don’t like to use oils or natural butter like cocoa, mango, or shea. This process is good for repairing the skin as rice has Vitamin B which helps to strengthen the skin.
Green Tea
I love Green tea products. Green tea extract is not something available here in the surroundings. So I depend on clean beauty products. My all-time favorite green tea toner is Innisfree Green-Tea Toner. ISNTREE Green Tea Toner is my other favorite one. In lotion (I love lotions) TONYMOLY The Chok Chok Green Tea Lotion is my favorite. This product is filled with about 80%-85% of green tea extract. Now, how much hydrating is that! Green tea contains polyphenols mostly flavonols. This is a strong antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. That’s why I love Green tea. Applying it before going to bed just soothes the skin and provides a lot of hydration.
If green tea is available near you you can make a DIY green tea mask for yourself and that is safe. Take some green tea leaves and wash them in warm water. Then pour water and boil the green tea until the water almost die. Then mix it in a grinder and apply the paste to your face. You can add more ingredients to it like rice water instead of green tea, honey, or oatmeal. But I would like to use it as it is. Because fewer number ingredients make a product more effective.
Persimmon
Persimmon has a pH of about 6 which makes it good for skin with the added benefits. Geishas used Persimmon fruits in various ways. Persimmons are a good source of antioxidants and have inflammatory properties. It has vitamins A, B, and C. It can increase blood flow. In my opinion, eat fruits more than apply them to the skin. I mean there’s no problem with it, but if it goes internally it can do better. But don’t misunderstand this. Some people think healthy eating is all the skin needs, but that’s not true, skin, hair, and nail always needs external effort. So for DIY, mix permission with honey in a 1:1 ratio and apply it on the face and neck, and the body if you want to. Wash it before drying.
Oils
Oils were always there in skincare, and hair care routines, in eastern and western countries. Some just like it, some dislike it. I like to apply oil, keep it for one hour and wash it. Does not matter hair or body. I know there are many facial oils, but I never like them very much. I always feel they kinda make your skin unbreathable even though every oily product has its comedogenic rank. But, I like natural oils for oil cleansing. Sometimes I treat my whole body with oils, and then I only use natural oils.
I mix a little Castor oil and Neem oil with Argan or Coconut oil. All of these oils are also great for hair. Then massage my whole body and face for 30 minutes. Now here I wanna disclaim that using raw oils on your face may break you out. Be careful, know your skin and how much it can take, then go for it. It’s healthy. Every muscle needs a massage from time to time. If you have anyone to massage then good, otherwise you just have to do it by yourself. Use Castor, Neem, with Argan or Coconut oil on your hair from scalp to end, and if possible apply heat steam or just wrap it with a warm towel for 1 hour. Then shampoo it. Castor oil helps in hair growth. Neem has anti-inflammatory properties. Argan oil makes hair soft and shiny and Coconut oil deep conditions your hair and should be used occasionally. Do not forget to use Apple Cider Vinegar once in a while to clear the build-ups.
