There has been alot of press recently, not surprisingly, about some of the more bizarre skin and beauty treatments to be inspired by Japan - the Nightingale Droppings Facial, Goldfish pedicure and the Bull Semen Hair Treatment all spring to mind. But are these really the secrets as to why Japanese woman have become infamous for their beautiful complexions even in their mature years? Well genes probably have alot to do with it for sure, but then they may not be the only reason.

Their diet is significantly different than the average western diet for a start. It is quite well understood that omega 3 fatty acids are generally good for your health all round, but especially beneficial to the skin. The Japanese diet is largely dominated with oily types of fish which provide a very good source of Omega 3. Oily fish is not something that westerners typically consume alot of however - well maybe in Scandinavia but not in the rest of Europe or North America in general. Another typical part of the Japanese diet is seaweed which surprisingly can be very nutritious.

Phytessence Wakame

In Japan, natural ingredients and skin care methods, that have been used for centuries, may be considered to be quite far removed from how westerners treat their skin. Wakame, for example, which is a type of Japanese sea kelp, has not only been eaten by the Japanese for centuries but has also been used in skin care for a long time. Wakame, it turns out, is not only an extremely rich source of minerals such as sodium, potassium, iron, and especially calcium, but is also a good source of B-group vitamins, antioxidants and can also inhibit the activity of the harmful enzyme hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid in the skin, which, along with elastin and collagen, is important in maintaining the firmness, elasticity and smoothness of your skin. Japanese companies making skin care products discovered the qualities of Wakame long ago, hence why it is a very common ingredient in oriental skin care.

Look for Japanese skin care products that contain a high proportion of Phytessence Wakame.

Its in the Mind

One refreshing attitude has been voiced by one of Japan's household names - Chizu Saeki. In her book "Skincare Revolution" she not only lists many, sometimes unorthodox, facial skin care methods but challenges us to think about how we cope with the effects fo ageing. Its ok to have wrinkles and saggy areas she says since this shows you have just lived and beauty has a lot to do with how you think. It may be easier for Saeki to have this attitude since although her hair is now grey, her facial skin is still firm and with few wrinkles. Still, I like her attitude. Saeki also dismisses the idea of exotic seaweed wraps in favour of more traditional methods that Japanese women have been using for centuries already, and which may contain the secret of why they age so well.

Western Skin Care Regimes

In the west we are, on the whole, more concerned with the cure as opposed to the prevention - its a multi-million pound industry and no beauty product manufacturer wants to make everyones skin forever youthful, well not in the long-term in any case. For the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles western style, you may wish to review my other article on RoC wrinkle skin care technology. RoC was the first company to develop a stable form of Retinol for use in topical skin treatments and creams and its skin care range is today one of the most popular in Europe and the US for treating fine lines and wrinkles.