Hi everyone! 
Some nice little updates before I get cracking on tonight’s blog post:
- I’ve got another movie ticket giveaway coming soon for my Australian based readers! Email and feed subscribers (RSS, Bloglovin, Hellocotton) will be the first to know about this, as always, so consider subscribing to the site by email/feed to maximise your chances of winning!
- I’ve been featured and will be featured on some other sites soon! I received a Liebster Award from Bethany at Beauty Junkie (on a Budget) – check out her interesting questions for bloggers – and my response to these in the blog post’s comments! Thanks Bethany. I will let you know about the other features when they are published!
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Remember the skin care book I recently purchased online? The Japanese Skincare Revolution?
If not, you can read my intro post about it over here.
I promised to share some of the most interesting parts that I have come across, as I read through it. Well, I’ve now finished the book and really enjoyed it!
Saeki-san’s book is a light read in that it’s only 126 pages including appendices, but it is chock full of ideas and includes plenty of handy photos to help guide you in following her skin care and anti ageing advice. Due to this, I have decided to write a series of posts on it. If I was to try and fit all the things that I had found useful and interesting in one post, it would be wayyyy too long!
The first section of the book focuses upon The Tenets of Saeki-style Skincare.
What really stood out to me is the point she makes about caring for your skin when it is stressed, breaking out or behaving badly:
Gear down in times of trouble
Saeki-san considers that excessive skin care can actually damage the skin – which I agree with! Consequently, she recommends that once a week you simply let your skin do its thing, completely au naturel. This means that you can wash it gently with water, but do no else. No products at all. She argues that by doing this, you allow the skin to maintain its natural defenses and protective mechanisms in this way. She recommends the same when your skin is stressed – breaking out – or otherwise being cheeky (no pun intended! 
).
I admit that I always endeavour to have at least one day a week in which I wear no makeup at all, but doing nothing to the skin was a new concept to me. I’ve been trying it on my makeup free day (usually it ends up just being one day). I haven’t noticed any particular changes as such but it is quite liberating! The only thing I would say about this, however, is make sure you have a plan for sun protection. You wouldn’t want to do this on a day you’re headed to the beach!
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What I also found quite intriguing is her technique for discovering your past, present and future faces using a mirror. The idea is that by doing this you will identify areas you need to work on now to slow down the natural ageing process, oh and I suppose reminisce about your younger self!
A picture will explain this more clearly – this is taken straight from the book:
The images are showing how you are, apparently, looking (from L-R) 5 years ago, today and then in 5 years! The model is using a small hand held mirror to do this.
When giving this a try myself, I didn’t identify any wrinkles (wahoo!) but rather, I looked like a bloated puffer fish! Is this a sign I need to go on a diet?! LOL Realistically I don’t believe that I won’t get any wrinkles, as I am already getting some smiley lines (fine lines) around my eyes.
So this particular point I found amusing but that was about it… I thought it was worth sharing, however!
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I hope you have found this post interesting and that you’ll find the future posts about it interesting too! Posts on this will appear roughly once a month - once every two months, until I’ve worked my way right through! The next post about the book will focus on Saeki-san’s tips for assessing the status of your skin.
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What do you think of these ideas from Saeki-san? Have you tried them?
That’s so interesting! I try to leave my face make up free a couple of days a week but with the number of days I’ve been working lately it’s not happening :’( I wonder if the mirror thing actually works.. I don’t have any wrinkles yet so who knows!
Louise recently posted..REVIEW & SWATCHES: Lancome – Rouge in Love
Hi Louise yeah it can be challenging to find a makeup free day! I’m not sure re the mirror trick… But all it takes is you and a mirror, so all you have to lose is your time lol!
I don’t want to say what I saw when I looked down in the mirror!! I am really interested in learning more about what is in the book so look forward to your future posts!
Kate from Seduced by Beauty recently posted..David Jones Beauty Book 2013–Thrifty Thursday
Lol Kate I can’t say mine was too flattering haha!
thanks for the feedback so far feedback is + so I will continue with the series of posts. 
Hi, I would love to read your posts about Saeki’s beauty advice. I have read interviews with her and she is highly respected in the beauty world in Japan. She doesn’t encourage using expensive products and is all about consistency and routine. She is a big advocate of the Japanese-style lotion step which I’m not sure it works for me as I haven’t found a lotion that does my skin good – they usually break me out! But I’m sure she has a ton of gems and I look forward to finding out more.
Beauty Box recently posted..Weekend In Tokyo Vlog: Behind The Scenes @ BB HQ
Hi!
Oh I’ll have to try and look up those interviews but I don’t know if my Japanese will be good enough to read them (oh well I guess there’s always google translate haha!). I like her attitude to skin care a lot too! 
I still don’t quite understand what a lotion is – is it what would be called a toner or moisturiser in the West? That’s a shame about breaking out; I have that issue with some products too!
wow – i’ve never heard of that mirror exercise before but it sounds fascinating. i’ll have to give it a try (though admittedly a part of me would rather not know what lies ahead).
i love the idea of a make-up free day just to let the skin breathe. thanks for sharing the tips!
emi recently posted..DIY: Trash Cum Treasure
Hi Emi, my pleasure!
lol I think she’s got some great advice but I’m not so convinced re the mirror trick so I wouldn’t take that part too seriously lol.
Ps. I’ve finally found some material that will suit the head band – woohoo! Once I have made it I will certainly blog about it.
ha ha, i couldn’t agree with you more.
sometimes i wonder if it’s just having good genes and being rather vigilant about sun exposure.
omg! i’m so excited to see the headband – can’t wait! thanks, Sarah! xo
emi recently posted..The Street Beat: FEB 2013
Hi Emi! Well, I think that’s part of it for sure, especially the sun exposure. As Australia has such strong UV you do see a few “lizards”! (People who’ve had too much exposure and did not use SPF.) :-0
I wouldn’t be game to do the mirror thing. I’d probably get depressed. Lol.
Still, it seems like a really interesting book.
You know what’s weird? Since I’m a bit of a hermit at the moment, I only wear make-up maybe 2, 3 days a week instead of six or so. And yet, my skin seems to be in worse condition. Maybe some BB Creams really do have the skin benefits they promise.
Bethany recently posted..Liebster Award
Lol don’t take that trick too seriously Bethany! I have found her advice very good and interesting overall but that one is a bit?
oh that is interesting about what has happened to your skin… Hmm maybe you are right!? I guess at the end of the day you’ve gotta stick with what works for you and what you observe to make your skin happy. 
Interesting book! Excessive skincare and makeup. I’m looking at girls apply eye makeup and dragging their lids. OMG there’s wrinkles right there.
Ling recently posted..Stalk my Monday: The Horror of all Horrors
You’re absolutely right about approach to make up application Ling! That makes me cringe if I see dragging (e.g. On You Tube videos). :-0
The title of your blog post (in comment luv) sounds intriguing – I must check it out!
Hi Ling you’re absolutely right – the dragging makes me cringe if it’s done on you tube vids etc! I don’t like the feeling on the eye either so always test pencils on my hand before buying/trying!
The title of your linked blog post is intriguing – off to read it now!