What are the common misunderstandings about cleansing?

This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.

How much cleansing you need, and how strong it should be, is argued about in communities everywhere. Japan adds a habit of its own: "double cleansing" (W洗顔, daburu-sengan — an oil-based cleanser followed by a foaming face wash). Drugstore shelves (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, etc.) are full of products marked "no second wash needed" (W洗顔不要), which adds to the confusion.

A cleanser (クレンジング, kurenjingu) removes mainly oil-based dirt: make-up, sunscreen and sebum. It uses oils or surfactants to loosen what water alone cannot shift.

Background｜What a cosmetic may claim is fixed by law at 56 items

In Japan, the effects a cosmetic may state on its label or in advertising are limited to 56 items by a notice from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) (Yakushoku-hatsu 0721 No. 1, 21 July 2011). "Cleans the skin by washing" and "conditions the skin" are within that range. Wording such as "makes skin problems go away" or "improves" is outside it.

In other words, the most that can be said about a cleanser is that it removes. Any description that promises more is inaccurate, both legally and factually.

Misunderstanding 1｜You need the same cleanser on days you wear no make-up

Cleansers are designed for oil-based dirt. On a day when you have used neither sunscreen nor make-up, there is no need for a product of the same strength. It is sensible to change how you cleanse according to what you put on that day.

Misunderstanding 2｜The stronger the cleansing power, the better

Removing more oil than necessary puts a strain on the skin surface's ability to hold water. If your skin feels tight after washing, take it as a sign the product was too strong for your skin that day.

Misunderstanding 3｜The longer you take, the cleaner you get

The longer you keep rubbing, the greater the load from friction. The basic rule is to follow the time and amount stated on the product. A product that works quickly, used briefly, is gentler than rubbing long and hard.

Misunderstanding 4｜"No second wash needed" means you must never use a face wash

That label describes how the product is designed. Depending on the type of sunscreen you used and the state of your skin, a face wash may still suit you better. Read the label, then judge by your own skin.

Misunderstanding 5｜You can see whether everything has come off

Leftover sunscreen or sebum is not always visible. The hairline, the chin and the sides of the nose are known as places where residue tends to remain.

How VV sees it

VV does not want skincare to become a contest of strength. Change how you cleanse according to what you used that day. That alone reduces the load on your skin.

[Verify] Check the notice that sets the 56 permitted cosmetic claims (Yakushoku-hatsu 0721 No. 1, 2011) and the statements about cleansing ingredients against the original source texts.

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Sources

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Director-General of the Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, notice "Revision of the scope of cosmetic efficacy claims" [化粧品の効能の範囲の改正について] (Yakushoku-hatsu 0721 No. 1, 21 July 2011)

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11120000-Iyakushokuhinkyoku/kesyouhin_hanni_20111.pdf

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Cosmetics and quasi-drugs" web page [化粧品・医薬部外品等ホームページ] (quasi-drugs are a Japanese category between cosmetics and medicines)

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/keshouhin/index.html

• Japanese Dermatological Association, "Dermatology Q&A" [皮膚科Q&A]

https://www.dermatol.or.jp/qa/

⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.

About this article

What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.

This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.

Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.

Cosmetics are not medicines and are not meant to diagnose, heal or prevent any condition. If your skin reacts, stop using the product and see a dermatologist.

Sources

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