There was a time when I felt like my skin condition just wasn’t quite right lately.

‘I feel like I’m washing my face thoroughly, but it still feels rough.’ ‘I’m using my usual toner, but it feels like it lacks that plump, moisturized feeling.’

These little skin discomforts can become small daily stresses, can’t they?

I was in that exact state myself, and I had a period where I was lost, thinking and trying various things like, ‘Should I switch to a more expensive serum?’ or ‘Should I incorporate a special face mask?’

But one day, it suddenly occurred to me, ‘Before adding new things, let’s review the basic daily steps I’m already doing.’

From there, I carefully changed my daily ‘routine’ one by one, such as how I apply cleansing oil, how I lather my face wash, and the timing of my moisturizing. As a result, I gradually began to feel changes in my own skin.

This time, I will share plenty of skincare tips and tricks that I actually tried and felt were ‘really worth doing’ to prepare the base of your skin.

1. The pitfalls of ‘cleansing and face washing’ that we often fall into

Speaking of the first step of skincare, it’s ‘cleansing,’ but this is also the point that is most likely to put a burden on the skin. In the past, I also used to put strength into my hands unconsciously, with the sole desire to remove my makeup quickly.

How to use your hands to minimize friction

When you take cleansing agent in your hand, it is recommended to warm it slightly in your palms before applying it to your face, rather than applying it immediately. This alone will significantly improve how well it blends with your skin.

When applying it to your face, use the pads of your fingers to gently massage it in a circular motion, with the image of ‘sandwiching a cushion of cleansing agent between your hands and your face.’ Especially around the sides of the nose and the jawline, it’s easy to apply too much pressure, so using your ring fingers is a great way to avoid applying unnecessary pressure.

Also, the temperature of the water when rinsing is very important. If you rinse with hot water, the moisture necessary for your skin will wash away, and if it’s too cold, makeup residue won’t come off easily. It is ideal to rinse carefully about 20 times with lukewarm water at around 32°C to 35°C, which feels ‘a bit lukewarm.’

Try being particular about the ‘quality of the foam’ for your face wash

When you lather your face wash, are you able to create foam with proper elasticity?

The point is to use a foaming net to create fine, chewy foam that won’t fall off even if you turn your palm upside down. Once you have the foam on your entire face, wash it by ‘rolling the foam’ rather than letting your hands touch your skin directly.

Just by applying it from the T-zone (forehead and nose) and only quickly spreading the foam over the cheeks and around the eyes, which are prone to dryness, the moist feeling after washing will be quite different.

2. Moisturizing makes a difference depending on ‘timing’ and ‘how you layer it’

Once you’ve finished washing your face, move on to the moisturizing step immediately. What’s important here is ‘when and how you apply it,’ just as much as what you use.

The ‘sense of speed’ after a bath or washing your face

After washing your face, your skin is in a state where moisture evaporates rapidly. Once you have gently wiped off the water with a towel, it is a good idea to get into the habit of applying your first stage of hydration (booster serum or toner) within 3 minutes if possible.

What worked well for me was keeping the toner I use immediately after washing my face in a place that is easy to reach in the dressing room or washroom. This alone can prevent that ‘time when it accidentally dries out’.

For toner, ‘apply in layers’ rather than ‘splashing it on all at once’

When applying toner to your face, are you spreading it all over your hands and slapping it on at once?

Even if you apply a large amount at once, it may not fully absorb into the skin and will just bounce off. The recommended method is to ‘apply a 500-yen coin-sized amount in 2 to 3 separate layers’.

  1. First, spread the first layer over your entire palms and gently press it into your skin (hand press) to help it absorb.

  2. Once the surface of your skin feels slightly tacky to your hands, apply the second layer.

  3. For areas that dry out easily, like around the eyes and mouth, use your fingertips to gently pat on extra layers.

With just this, even if you use the same amount of toner, the final feeling of absorption will change completely. If you use cotton pads, don’t be stingy—soak them until they are saturated, and the trick is to gently pat them on without sliding them across your skin.

3. The importance of ‘sealing it in properly’ with milky lotion or cream

Once you have provided plenty of moisture with toner, you need to lock it in firmly with oil at the end.

In the past, I made the mistake of skipping milky lotion in the summer because I didn’t like the sticky feeling. But that causes the moisture I worked so hard to put in to escape, which actually disrupts the balance of moisture and oil in my skin.

Adjust the amount you apply based on the area

Instead of applying milky lotion or cream uniformly to your entire face, a smarter way is to adjust the amount depending on the area.

  • Areas that dry out easily like cheeks, mouth, and eyes: Apply generously

  • T-zone and chin that get oily easily: Apply only a thin layer using what is left on your hands

By adding these variations, it becomes easier to properly balance the moisture and oil across your entire face. Wrapping your whole face with your palms and finishing by warming it up makes your skincare time a little moment of relaxation, so it’s killing two birds with one stone.

4. ‘Daily lifestyle habits’ to be conscious of along with skincare

Care from the outside is certainly important, but I have realized that ‘care from the inside’ has just as much of an impact.

You don’t need to start anything special; just a little bit of awareness is enough.

Hydrate frequently

Instead of drinking a large amount of water all at once only after I feel thirsty, I make sure to take small sips of room-temperature water or low-caffeine tea throughout the day. I feel that when my internal circulation improves, it has a positive effect on my skin tone and glow.

Prioritize quality sleep

The morning after staying up late for work or chores, my skin’s firmness would inevitably feel lackluster. Rather than being rigid about exactly how many hours I sleep, I recommend trying simple adjustments like stopping smartphone use right before bed and relaxing with indirect lighting; it really makes a difference in how smooth my skin feels the next morning.

Find the level of ‘gentle care’ that feels right for you

Through trial and error, I realized that skincare isn’t just about completing many steps or buying expensive products.

What’s important is to carefully observe your skin’s current condition and treat it with care.

  • Reduce friction during cleansing and face washing

  • Gently apply toner in several layers

  • Seal in moisture thoroughly with milky lotion

Just by being a little more mindful of these basic steps, daily care becomes much more enjoyable, and you’ll find yourself thinking, ‘Oh, my skin looks pretty good today!’ more often when you glance in the mirror.

If you feel like your skincare routine has become a bit monotonous lately or you want to boost your skin’s overall condition, please try being just a little gentler with your touch starting with your skincare routine tonight.