In what order should I do my morning skincare?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Should the morning routine differ from the evening one? The debate runs worldwide, but in Japan there is a basic sequence that is widely presented as the standard. If you have just bought a shelf of Japanese products and cannot read the labels, this is the order to start from.
The basic sequence and the reasoning behind each step
| Step | Action | Reasoning / guide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleanse | What is on your face in the morning is mainly your own sebum. On days when it is not oily, lukewarm water alone is an option |
| 2 | Water-rich product (化粧水, keshōsui, "lotion") | Gives water to the stratum corneum (outer skin layer). But it evaporates |
| 3 | Oil-rich product (乳液, nyūeki, "milky emulsion") | Forms a film on the skin surface and physically blocks evaporation |
| 4 | Sunscreen | SPF and PA values are measured with 2 mg per cm² applied. For the whole face the guide is 0.7–0.9 g |
This sequence is presented on several medical-institution websites as information from the Japanese Dermatological Association. PA (Protection Grade of UVA) is Japan's UVA rating, shown as PA+ to PA++++.
[Verify] Confirm the source of the sequence (Japanese Dermatological Association) and the sunscreen figures (2 mg/cm², 0.7–0.9 g) against primary sources before publication.
Misunderstanding 1｜The order must be followed without exception
The instructions for each product take priority. Some products are designed in a way that does not fit this order. Under a Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) notice, the efficacy claims cosmetics may make in Japan are limited to 56 items, and a claim that "the order changes the effect" falls outside that list.
Misunderstanding 2｜More steps are better
Every extra step is another touch on the skin. Keep to a number you can sustain.
Misunderstanding 3｜A little sunscreen spread thinly is enough
At half the amount, the performance on the label is not achieved. Of the four steps, this is the only one that belongs to the morning alone. Skimp here and the morning routine loses much of its point.
Misunderstanding 4｜Keep the same routine all year
Skin changes with humidity and temperature, and Japan's seasons swing from humid summers to dry winters. There is no need to fix the routine year-round.
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Sources
- Japanese Dermatological Association, "Dermatology Q&A" [公益社団法人 日本皮膚科学会「皮膚科Q&A」]
https://www.dermatol.or.jp/qa/
- MHLW, "Revision of the scope of cosmetic efficacy claims" [化粧品の効能の範囲の改正について] (Notice Yakushoku-hatsu 0721 No. 1, 21 July 2011)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11120000-Iyakushokuhinkyoku/kesyouhin_hanni_20111.pdf
- Ministry of the Environment, *UV Environmental Health Manual* [紫外線環境保健マニュアル]
https://www.env.go.jp/chemi/uv/uv_manual.html
⚠️ 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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