スキンケア
Meaning: Skincare routine; the daily regimen of cleansing, moisturizing, and treating the skin.
スキンケア is practically a religion in Japan, where multi-step routines involving cleansing, toning, seruming, and moisturizing are standard. Japanese skincare philosophy emphasizes prevention and gentle, consistent care over harsh treatments. The global popularity of J-beauty (Japanese beauty) has made Japanese スキンケア products and routines famous worldwide. Men's skincare has also grown significantly, with dedicated product lines.
Examples
- 毎晩スキンケアに30分かけてるけど、肌の調子めっちゃいい。 每晚花30分钟护肤,皮肤状态变得超好。Dedico 30 minutos cada noche al cuidado de la piel y la tengo genial.매일 밤 스킨케어에 30분 들이는데 피부 상태가 엄청 좋아.
- メンズスキンケア始めてから周りに「肌きれいになった」って言われる。 开始男士护肤后,周围人都说'你皮肤变好了'。Desde que empecé con el cuidado de la piel masculino, la gente me dice que se me ve la piel mejor.남성 스킨케어 시작하고 나서 주변에서 '피부 좋아졌다'는 말을 들어.
- 高いスキンケア用品より、ちゃんと続けることが大事だよ。 比起贵的护肤品,坚持才是最重要的。Más que productos caros, lo importante es ser constante con el cuidado de la piel.비싼 스킨케어 제품보다 꾸준히 하는 게 중요해.
Pronunciation
/su.kiɴ.ke.a/
Usage Guide
Context: beauty, daily conversation, social media
Tone: routine, beauty-focused
✓ Do Say
- スキンケアは量より続けることが大事。 (With skincare, consistency matters more than quantity.)护肤比起用多少,坚持更重要。En el cuidado de la piel, la constancia importa más que la cantidad.스킨케어는 양보다 꾸준히 하는 게 중요해. (스킨케어는 양보다 지속하는 게 중요해.)
- 最近スキンケアにハマって朝と夜ちゃんとやってる。 (I've gotten into skincare lately and do it properly morning and night.)最近迷上了护肤,早晚都认真做。Últimamente me he enganchado al cuidado de la piel y lo hago como toca mañana y noche.요즘 스킨케어에 빠져서 아침저녁으로 제대로 하고 있어. (최근 스킨케어에 관심이 생겨서 아침저녁으로 꼼꼼히 하고 있어.)
✗ Don't Say
- 「男がスキンケアなんて」は時代遅れ — 性別関係なくケアは大事 ('Men don't need skincare' is outdated — everyone benefits from taking care of their skin)'男的还护什么肤'这种想法已经过时了——无论性别,护肤都很重要«Los hombres no necesitan cuidarse la piel» es una idea anticuada — el cuidado de la piel es importante independientemente del género.「남자가 스킨케어를 해?」는 시대에 뒤떨어진 말 — 성별에 관계없이 관리는 중요 ('남자가 무슨 스킨케어야'는 시대착오적입니다 — 누구에게나 피부 관리는 중요합니다)
Common Mistakes
- Assuming Japanese スキンケア is the same as Western routines — Japanese skincare emphasizes hydration, layering, and gentle products over harsh actives
Origin & History
From English 'skincare.' Adopted into Japanese as the beauty industry grew. Japan's skincare tradition predates the English loanword, but スキンケア as a category term became dominant in modern beauty marketing.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern term, tradition is much older
Generation: All ages, increasingly men too
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Japanese skincare (J-beauty) has global recognition, and drugstore chains like Matsumoto Kiyoshi are destinations for skincare shopping.
More From This Topic
More from Health & Body
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free