1. (Double) Cleansing
The first step of Japanese layering is to cleanse the skin thoroughly yet gently, removing all the impurities accumulated throughout the day. This promotes overnight skin regeneration and prepares the skin to better absorb active ingredients. While perfectly cleansed skin helps prevent clogged pores and oxidation, cleansing should never compromise the skin barrier. For this reason, cotton pads and micellar waters are generally not favored, as they can be too harsh. Instead, the preferred method is just as quick and significantly more effective: double cleansing.
Step 1 – Oil-Based Cleanser
To remove makeup, dust, excess sebum, and pollution, choose an oil-based product (oil, balm, or cleansing milk) and gently massage your skin with your fingertips. Nothing removes impurities more effectively while respecting the skin.
Step 2 – Water-Based Cleansing
In the past, Japanese women used pure plant oils to remove makeup, which required soap (a surfactant) afterward to remove the oil. Today, surfactants are already incorporated into cleansing oils, balms, and milks, making them much easier to use. Simply emulsify the cleanser with lukewarm water to dissolve the oil, massage your skin with your fingers or a konjac sponge, then rinse thoroughly.
If you still prefer to follow with a facial soap or cleanser (as many Japanese women do), choose a gentle formula. And don't undo your efforts by rubbing your face dry with a towel—simply pat your skin dry instead.
WHEN: Every evening
Cleansing Oil — RUHAKU
An organic cleansing oil that removes makeup and sunscreen. Its botanical extracts also provide gentle exfoliating benefits, making it suitable for dull skin or skin prone to clogged pores.
Cleansing Jelly — Curél
A cleansing jelly designed to remove makeup and sunscreen while minimizing friction. It is especially suitable for dry and sensitive skin.
Regena Nourishing Cleansing Oil — Waphyto
A lightweight, sensorial cleansing oil that removes makeup, sunscreen, and impurities accumulated throughout the day.
Rice Ferment Cleansing Balm — Bizen
Its balm texture melts into an oil to dissolve even long-wearing makeup, excess sebum, and sunscreen while allowing for an extended facial massage.
Moisturizing Rice Ferment Soap — Bizen
Bijo;'s best-selling cleanser and winner of the 2026 Bijo; Beauty Award in the Cleanser category, this soap creates a rich, luxurious foam. It pairs perfectly with the Bizen Cleansing Balm in the Double Cleansing Set.
Japanese Silk Soap — Cokon Lab
A solid soap with a soft, creamy lather inspired by Japanese silk craftsmanship.
Regena Foaming Cream — Waphyto
A botanical foaming cleanser with a luxurious sensorial texture. It pairs beautifully with Regena Nourishing Cleansing Oil or is available in the Waphyto Discovery Set.
Gentle Clarifying Soap — RUHAKU
A natural soap enriched with clay and Okinawan gettou that purifies the skin without leaving it feeling stripped. The RUHAKU Foaming Net helps create a dense, airy foam.
Natural Konjac Sponge — Makanai
A konjac sponge that complements cleansing with gentle mechanical exfoliation. It should always be fully soaked before use.
2. Exfoliation (Optional)
Even with daily cleansing, a layer of dead skin cells naturally forms on the skin's surface. This is known as the stratum corneum. Besides dulling the complexion and clogging pores, it also reduces the penetration of skincare products. The second step of layering is therefore to exfoliate the skin weekly—always following the same philosophy: gently.
WHEN: In the evening, once a week
10 Exfoliating Silk Cocoons — Cokon Lab
Natural silk cocoons designed for targeted, ultra-gentle mechanical exfoliation.
SUVÉ Facial Exfoliating Brush — SHAQUDA
A handcrafted natural-bristle facial brush designed for occasional use with light pressure.
Skin Refining Gel — IREN Shizen
An exfoliating gel that helps remove dead skin cells and excess sebum during massage without abrasive particles.
3. Lotion
A treatment lotion is an essential step. Many Japanese people are surprised that Western skincare routines often skip it because, beyond its many benefits, it dramatically improves the effectiveness of active skincare products.
Skin saturated with moisture (a treatment lotion is primarily composed of water or floral hydrosols) behaves like a sponge. It becomes plump, soft, and capable of absorbing concentrated treatments such as essences and serums much more effectively. It benefits every skin type by softening dehydration lines while also helping rebalance combination skin that produces excess sebum to compensate for dehydration.
You can apply it using a cotton pad to remove the last traces of impurities, or simply pour it into your hands and gently press it into the skin. Japanese skincare expert Chizu Saeki also recommends applying cotton pads soaked in lotion and water as a daily mini-mask for several minutes to maximize hydration. The choice is yours.
WHEN: Morning and evening
Hydrating & Regenerating Lotion — RUHAKU
Perfects cleansing while delivering antioxidant and soothing botanical ingredients.
Regena Lotion Serum - Waphyto
A comforting lotion serum for regenerating hydration
Eau de Ki Hydrating Lotion
A purifying, hydrating and repairing elixir with anti-aging benefits
Rice Ferment Hydrating Lotion - Bizen
A lotion serum enriched with rice ferment
Decorté's Double Hydration Ritual
For a Japanese-inspired "glass skin" effect, embrace double hydration. This iconic duo is the secret of many Japanese women for smooth, plump and radiant skin every day.
DECORTE AQ Absolute Treatment Micro Radiance Emulsion II - Rich
Softens the skin and restores its lipid balance.
DECORTE AQ Absolute Treatment Hydrating Lotion II - Rich
Deeply hydrates while leaving the skin supple and radiant.
4. Serums & Essences – The Heart of Your Skincare Routine
While cleansing and lotion are essential steps for keeping urban skin healthy, a serum is not strictly necessary... and yet, in Japan, it is one of the most cherished steps of the skincare ritual.
A true targeted treatment, a serum stands out thanks to its high concentration of active ingredients and its lightweight molecular structure, allowing it to penetrate deeply into the skin once it has been prepared with lotion. Perfectly balanced skin may not need one, but as soon as concerns appear—pigmentation spots, loss of firmness, localized dryness, blemishes, scars, dullness or rough texture—a serum becomes a valuable ally for targeted and effective care.
An essence, on the other hand, has an even lighter, more watery texture than a serum, which is often oil-based or creamy. It is applied immediately after the lotion to optimize the absorption of active ingredients and enhance the performance of the skincare products applied afterward.
In Japanese layering, there are several families of serums, each chosen according to the desired texture and the skin's specific needs. Water-based serums for targeted concerns, high-tech formulas to stimulate the skin deeply, bi-phase serums that combine hydration and nourishment, or oil-based serums that strengthen the skin barrier—all play a complementary role in building healthy, balanced and radiant skin over time.
WHEN: Morning and/or evening, after applying lotion.
Water-Based Serums – Targeted Solutions
Water-based serums have a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture. They quickly address specific concerns such as radiance, blemishes, soothing or visible signs of aging.
FOREVER YOUNG Anti-Aging Serum — IREN Shizen
A peptide-based serum that smooths and firms the skin
STAR LIGHT Brightening Serum — IREN Shizen
A niacinamide serum to reduce dark spots and restore radiance
CLEARER DAYS Blemish Control Serum — IREN Shizen
Calms inflammation and helps prevent future breakouts
KEEP CALM Soothing Serum — IREN Shizen
A soothing water-based serum for sensitive or reactive skin
High-Tech Water-Based Serums
These serums combine advanced technologies to stimulate the skin from within, including liposomes, encapsulated active ingredients and next-generation lifting formulas.
Liposome Advanced - Repair Serum
High-performance botanical anti-aging concentrate
Bi-Phase Serums
Bi-phase serums combine a water phase and an oil phase, delivering hydration and nourishment in a single step.
Antioxidant Booster Serum
Rice oil & hyaluronic acid to protect and plump the skin
Oil-Based Serums
Rich in lipids, oil-based serums strengthen the skin barrier, deeply nourish the skin and help prevent loss of firmness.
Repairing Night Serum
Gettou & tamanu to nourish and regenerate the skin overnight
5. Face Masks (Optional)
A weekly step in the Japanese layering ritual, face masks are not essential but provide an instant boost of radiance. Whether sheet, cream or gel masks, they are applied for 10 to 30 minutes to intensely hydrate the skin while targeting specific concerns.
All face masks are naturally hydrating, but some also help improve radiance, firmness, pores or visible signs of fatigue. This is a convenient two-in-one step that can occasionally replace both lotion and serum.
WHEN: Morning or evening
Camellia & Ginseng Eye Patches
Hydrating and revitalizing patches for the eye contour
Hyaluronic Acid & Lithospermum Face Mask
20 minutes for plumper, intensely hydrated skin
Ultra-Hydrating Sheet Mask
Organic cotton sheet mask infused with a rich hydrating emulsion
LuLuLun MOIST +45 Sheet Mask
Pack of 32 daily sheet masks to hydrate and improve skin elasticity
Intensive Repair Radiance Mask - 6 Pieces
Liposome-infused cotton mask for plump, radiant skin
24K Gold Sheet Mask
Pure gold regenerating mask to restore the skin's natural radiance
LuLuPad Moisture & Elasticity Care
Targeted hydrating pads to smooth and plump the skin
6. Eye contour care
The eye contour area is a fragile and demanding zone. The skin is thinner here and more prone to dehydration, fine lines, dark circles and puffiness. Textures that are too rich or applied in excess can weigh down the tissues and accentuate these concerns. It is therefore essential to choose targeted, lightweight treatments highly concentrated in active ingredients, applied with gentle tapping motions to stimulate microcirculation.
WHEN: morning and evening
Liposome Advanced - Eye Revitalizing Concentrate
Intense 24-hour hydration, a refreshed and smoothed eye area thanks to bio-liposomes
TIMELESS ELIXIR Multi-Lift Eye and Lip Cream
A lifting cream with bakuchiol and a platinum massage roller
SKIN REBOOT Antioxidant Serum
4% caffeine to help reduce puffiness, dark circles and signs of fatigue
7. Moisturizing cream
The final step of the Japanese skincare ritual, the cream plays an essential protective role. Contrary to popular belief, its purpose is not to deeply hydrate the skin: its larger molecular weight mainly helps seal in the hydration provided by the previous steps and protect the skin from external aggressors such as pollution and dust.
WHEN: morning and evening
Ultra-Hydrating Cream - RUHAKU
A rich texture to preserve hydration throughout the day
Regena Facial Milk - WAPHYTO
A fluid and lightweight texture, ideal for normal to combination skin
Regena Enriched Cream - WAPHYTO
A rich texture, perfect as a regenerating night cream
Kanazawa Beauty Face Cream - MAKANAI
A melting mousse texture for a soft and comfortable finish
Liposome Advanced - Concentrated Night Repair Cream
A night cream with bio-liposomes to repair and revitalize the skin
Adaptogenic Nourishing Cream
A soothing balm-cream for sensitive and weakened skin
Rice Ferment Hydrating Cream
Lightweight postbiotic cream to strengthen the skin barrier
8. UV protection
In the Japanese skincare ritual, UV protection is an essential daily step. Even when the sky is cloudy, UVA rays can pass through clouds and windows: these are the rays responsible for accelerating skin ageing (wrinkles, loss of firmness, dark spots). Protecting your skin all year round helps preserve the radiance and youthful appearance of your complexion over time.
WHEN: every morning, as the final step of your routine (and reapply during the day if exposed).
Sun Shelter - Sunscreen - High Protection SPF50
SPF50+ PA++++ protection against UVA/UVB, ultra-light texture with no white cast, perfect under makeup
In summary
You now have all the keys to understanding your skin and the wide range of treatments available to you. It is up to you to choose what best suits your needs to rebalance your skin and improve its quality.
However, remember that your skin is also influenced by your lifestyle habits and your diet.
