Sun protection factor (SPF) is as an index to measure the ultraviolet B (UVB) blocking effect of a sunscreen product, and the amount applied at the time of SPF measurement test is 2.0 mg/cm² according to international standards. However, the actual applied amount of a sunscreen emulsion has been reported to be approximately 1 mg/cm². Since formulations of sunscreen products have diversified in recent years, in this study, we investigated the actual usage amount of each form. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 131 women in their age ranged from 20s to 50s. The four commonly used formulations of sunscreen products were ①milky lotion, ②gel, ③base cream, ④spray, and their actual usage amount on the face was ①0.3, ②1.2, ③0.5, ④0.5 mg/cm², respectively, and that on the arm was ①0.3, ②0.9, ④0.2 mg/cm², respectively. The amount of application was calculated by actual measurement in 20 volunteers, and no divergence from the questionnaire results was found. This survey also demonstrated that the actual usage amount of the sunscreen product is less than the applied amount at the time of SPF measurement and that sufficient UVB blocking may not be achieved.

The yellowish coloration of the aged skin is generally known to be caused by the yellowing of dermal extracellular matrix such as collagen. We, however, found that cultured dermal fibroblasts themselves became yellowish color after long-term culture. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of yellowish coloration of the replicatively senescent dermal fibroblasts. In the yellowed fibroblasts, the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and carbonylated proteins that were reported to be a main factor of yellowish dermal extracellular matrix were increased. In addition, marked lipid peroxidation products (aldehydes) which are intermediates in the carbonylation reaction were observed. In the trans-resveratrol-treated yellowed cells, intracellular ROS, carbonylated proteins and aldehydes formation was reduced and the yellowish color was diminished. Based on these results, we speculate that the carbonylation of dermal fibroblasts may be related to the yellowing of aged skin similar to the carbonylated dermal extracellular matrix. Further, it was expected that inhibition of ROS could restore the yellowish color to the previous color in yellowed cells, even in the skin.

The time has come when we can talk about the science of appearance. Appearance is the phenotype produced by the combination of DNA and environment. Furthermore, by including the time axis of aging, we can understand the appearance from a biological perspective. With the concept of epigenetics, I thought about the meaning of cosmetics for the purpose of pursuing beauty. In addition, the recent flow for the anti-aging was explained by adding intestinal-brain-skin axis and epigenetic clock. From the point of view of the science of appearance, a new way of thinking has been developed that not only seeks beauty from traditional health.

I will briefly describe the history of Japanese facial skeletons before describing that of Japanese beauties. Japanese facial skeletons significantly changed with a diet shift from animal protein by mobile hunting and gathering to plant protein by sedentary agriculture probably around the 3rd century BC. In addition, Japanese facial features were diversified because different races immigrated from the north and the south to this vertically long country, and were mixed together. As far as women’s faces are concerned, the first painting of female faces in Japan is a mural of beautiful women from Takamatsuzuka Tomb painted allegedly around the late 7th to 8th century. Japanese female faces in ancient times can be seen only in portraits and sculptures, which were commissioned by rich men. It may be said that the Japanese standards of beautiful faces were established by upper-class people in those times. Around the 17th century, Ukiyo-e artists began painting “Bijin-ga”, or pictures of beautiful women who were popular among ordinary people rather than rich people. In addition, since photography was introduced into Japan in the late 19th century, the standards of beautiful faces in Japan significantly changed according to the facial preference of ordinary people. I will discuss the history of standards of beautiful female faces in the period shifting from painted portraits to photographed portraits in Japan.

Artistic anatomy had begun as the anatomy for painters and sculptors in 15th century of Italy. Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) dissected even 30 male and female bodies of all ages during his lifetime. In the Christianity where the nakedness was thought to be guilty to express the beauty such as ancient Greek sculpture, the manner to know the inner structure by dissection was extraordinary but the best way to understand the human body precisely by the dissection for the expression at that time. As like torso of the ancient Greek, the beauty of modeling is in the expression of the trunk. The spinal column that creates the posture, the muscles of the body wall that wrap the internal organs, the subcutaneous fat that surrounding them and the expressions of their reliefs, appearing and vanishing from the skin surface, had made the expressions of males and females of all over the age. Many young beauties had been modeled, whereas the expressions of old women were also seen in the 19th century. I observe the beauty of old aged person from the works of Rodin and others. It seems that there may be a hint to build a vision to accept the change due to one’s own age in the expressions of paintings and sculptures.

Sense of touch is fundamental perceptual modality that most people experience in their daily life. Although we tend to pay little attentions to touch modality, recent study showed that our cognitive behaviors such as the preference to warm materials and decision makings were affected by the haptic impressions obtained in our daily life. This article introduces several examples about human behaviors which are associated with haptic impressions, and provides basic knowledge on how we can elucidate such perceptual and cognitive phenomena based on multiple research aspects concerning sense of touch and bodily sensation.

In sensitive skin such as atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and rosacea, it is necessary to continue skin care on a daily basis, but it is also necessary to mask the disease with makeup. Looking at the yearly change in the number of annual outpatients in our department, it can be seen that the number of female patients in their 40s is increasing. I think that the number of medical examinations is increasing at her age when makeup is required. I think that the instruction of their face washing is most important for sensitive skin with reduced barrier function. Patients with seborrheic dermatitis may also have sensitive skin, so is easy to get irritant contact dermatitis due to her constitution. Patients with rosacea and rosacea-like dermatitis have almost same sensitive skin condition. Rosacea-like dermatitis is caused by topical ointments, so discontinuation of topical therapy is the most effective treatment. Internal diseases such as liver or kidney disorders and visceral cancer often impair the health of the skin. Even if you think that it is healthy skin, the skin may become fragile due to menopause, aging and changes over time, and skin damage due to makeup may occur. Participation in society is required even if you have a disease, but being able to do so also leads to a desire to live. Makeup should be useful as a means to hide aging and pathological conditions of mind and body because it makes it easier to participate in society. Specialists need to be able to identify sensitive skin and provide proper makeup instruction.

Methods for treating bruises, vitiligo, and scars are improving year by year, but they often take a long time to work and are not always effective. In those cases, the use of cover makeup can improve the patient’s QOL (quality of life). While cover makeup cannot treat the issue itself, it causes no discomfort and can boost users’ confidence with its high coverage. It can also be used whenever and wherever. Early versions of cover makeup had a thick, powdery finish, but advances in powder and emulsification technology have led to the development of foundations that can sustain a natural finish over a long time. Patients can easily apply cover makeup at home if they learn techniques from a professional beauty consultant. This paper briefly covers the history of cover makeup in Japan, the latest types and features of foundation, and techniques for different kinds of cases.