"Living moment by moment, turning entirely to the moon, snow, cherry blossoms and red leaves of maples, singing songs, drinking sake, consoling oneself, forgetting reality, not worrying about the misery in front of us, not being discouraged, To be like an empty pumpkin floating on the stream of water: this I call Ukiyo. "
So wrote the Buddhist monk Asai Ryoi, in his book Ukiyo monogatari (story of the floating world), in which he described the lifestyle of the Japanese who dedicated themselves to pleasure, or we could say to Carpe Diem, they reached a state of asceticism aimed at atarassia because the earthly world is fallacious and illusory, and only through overcoming emotions could one reach enlightenment.
Ukiyo has also become the artistic current of which are the famous traditional Japanese prints, scenes of life of geishas and samurai, Kabuki theater, poems and landscapes and we visited the exhibition that closed yesterday in Pavia, "Hokusai, Hiroshige Utamaro, masterpieces of Japanese art", and which gives me the opportunity not so much to talk about the influence of Japanese art in Europe in the 19th century, there will be occasion, but of the self-care that Japanese women traditionally reserve for themselves. We have so much to learn!
Their ritual is essentially based on the "layering" of a series of treatments that go to optimize the radiance of the skin. It ALWAYS starts with the cleansing, which in the evening even includes a double cleaning: traditionally there is a first step of demaquillage with oil, and then washing the face to remove the excess of the same oil (we at jo.maison.jo have made your task easier with our Adorable milk!)
We then move on to the lotion, which is fundamental to complete the cleansing of the face and give shine, then to the serum, which stimulates and cares for the cells of the epidermis, and finally the cream, which completes the effect of the serum. And there are treatments to be performed once or several times a week, such as scrubs and masks, but the real secret of these rituals, which basically do not differ much from ours, is the awareness: of the time we are dedicating, of the love for ourselves and the desire to feel good, really good in our skin, because, and I am convinced of it, each of us must try to become the best version of ourselves.
