| The image of the Japanese girl, despite or | | | | in the cooking process, which is something |
| because of animé, is easily among those things | | | | Western diets have large quantities of. |
| that a number of men find powerfully appealing. | | | | Reports also indicate that Japanese skin care |
| The look isn't something everyone goes for, but a | | | | regimens tend to use a wide variety of natural |
| sizable enough portion of the population has found | | | | herbs, rather than relying on chemical treatments. |
| interest in it. It helps that, for some reason | | | | There are numerous herbs that naturally occur in |
| inexplicable to all but the Japanese (and, to some | | | | Japan that help fight off the negative effects |
| extent, the Chinese and the Koreans), the | | | | caused by the various adverse weather conditions |
| women in that part of the world never seem to | | | | that the skin has to endure. They also help fight |
| age properly. That is, thanks to Japanese skin | | | | off all the pollutants and skin irritants that fly |
| care secrets, even a woman well into her | | | | around, thanks to the highly industrialized nature |
| mid-forties looks a little too much like a woman | | | | of the country's urban infrastructure. |
| who's only in her early or mid-twenties. Even | | | | Cosmetics in Japan also lend to the apparent ease |
| more startling to observers is just how little | | | | that women who employ Japanese skin care |
| involvement plastic surgery and expensive | | | | techniques enjoy. Chemically speaking, Japanese |
| cosmetics have in Japanese skin care and beauty | | | | cosmetics are much "lighter" than their Western |
| maintenance. Just how do the Japanese manage | | | | counterparts. Most Japanese-made cosmetics rely |
| to keep even middle-aged women looking like | | | | more on essential oils and components derived |
| teenagers? | | | | from herbal treatments than anything else, with |
| Most analysts would like to point out that | | | | some products having firm basis in food. They |
| Japanese skin care and beauty maintenance is | | | | also do away with some potentially damaging |
| remarkably different from other areas. Closer | | | | chemicals by insisting that everything be free of |
| inspection reveals a number of similarities and | | | | any scent. It is a poorly recognized fact that |
| parallels to Chinese beauty secrets (because just | | | | adding scent to make-up can sometimes cause |
| about anything in Japanese culture has some sort | | | | problems in long-term skin care. The focus on |
| of loose parallel to Chinese culture somewhere), | | | | natural products and compatibility with even the |
| but the differences still stand out. Most reputable | | | | most sensitive skin conditions is often combined |
| authorities point out that it is likely that the | | | | with products that have a stimulating effect on |
| standard Japanese diet forms the core of their | | | | the skin, making it appear more vibrant and |
| ancient secrets. | | | | young. |
| Even with the arrival and success of big chains | | | | As stated, Chinese and Japanese beauty secrets |
| such as KFC and McDonald's, traditional food still | | | | are very similar to one another in principle, if not |
| makes up the bulk of the average meal. Most | | | | in tactics. Both cultures have honed their skin care |
| Japanese, in a recent survey, revealed that the | | | | and beauty management secrets to keep their |
| occasional "Big Mac" was good for a treat, but | | | | people looking as fresh and as young as possible |
| bowls of ramen or a few rounds of sushi were | | | | for as long as possible. Both sides have managed |
| still preferred as regular meals. The diet, on most | | | | to succeed in that endeavor, though factors in |
| levels is much simpler and, culturally, great | | | | the Japanese diet appear to have given the |
| emphasis is placed on preparing food such that it | | | | Japanese the edge in terms of maintaining that |
| retains as much of its natural state as possible. | | | | "porcelain doll look" much longer than their Chinese |
| This usually translates to less chemicals being used | | | | counterparts. |