Globe Trotting Skincare

Sure, you may be a guru when it comes to skincare and cosmetics here at home, but what about the skin care techniques and design of other cultures? Read on to learn about traditional Japan and the art of their geisha skincare and makeup!

When you walk through the streets of Japan, most of the women that you will see wear their hair and makeup extremely similar to us Westerners. However, there is a fair amount of the Japanese female population who work as geisha. Being employed as a geisha demands an elaborate daily application of makeup that you will not find anywhere else in the world, and even in Japan it is becoming a dying art.

Becoming a geisha means that you are willing to put in the hours it takes to learn this complex skincare and cosmetics ritual, and the authenticity of the look is dependant upon the skin's appearance. Many people have the misconception that geisha is a euphemism for escorts or prostitution, but in actuality geisha are hired to keep mostly foreign businessmen company, and to occasionally dance or play instruments at a get-together to help preserve traditional culture and atmosphere for tourists. The entire setting that geisha provides revolves around their gorgeous skin and makeup artistry.

The beginning of the geisha look starts with a waxy white foundation, which is actually more of a paste than a traditional makeup. This is applied all over the face and the front of the neck. Traditionally, spots of the skin are purposely avoided during application so that the white makeup forms the look of a mask.

After this is applied, geisha fill in their eyes and eyebrows with traditional cosmetics you can find here in the west. In the past, charcoal was used, but now using commercial liners and shadows makes the whole process more time effective and practical.

Lips are then colored in with a bright red lipstick, and this gives the dramatic look that we come to know when we think of geisha. The Japanese use a special crystallized formula with their lip colorant that really causes the lips to look full and long lasting. No lip plumper for these, gals! Tradition is the way to go when it comes to geisha makeup, and for hundreds of years Japan's natives and overseas tourists alike have enjoyed the artistry and design associated with this unique form of skincare and beauty.

By Samantha Peterman. Source: www.skincare-news.com