Your New Way
Skin Sobering is a book I had no idea I would be writing
the introduction
My school friends from 40+ years ago meet every year. We eat, and talk about life, health, and beauty. During one of our annual meet-ups, one of my friends brought up a #1 best-selling Japanese book called Skin Fasting written by a skin physician named Dr. Ryuichi Utsugi 宇津木龍一. The book sat on the bestseller list for 5 years in Japan, and was translated and published in China, Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. It revealed why skin care products (cleansers included) are one of the biggest culprits of skin problems, after UV rays and poor lifestyle. The evidence, from thousands of clinical cases, and the science of skin anatomy, physiology, and product chemistry, was clear.
the denial
I could not believe and did not want to agree, because I had trusted skin care products all my life, and I am smart! Yet my skin issues only got worse, despite diligent skin care routines. I had black heads, fine lines, dark under-eye circles, puffy eyes, pigmentation, dullness, uneven tone, dryness, oiliness, dehydration, sensitivity, and breakouts – each of them taking turns to show up, or to stay. And it was more than just aging. I was resourceful and skillful (and vain), so I learned to cover all these flaws with “natural-looking” make-up and a lot of time, before I faced the world. Because of this effort, very few friends noticed my skin issues, nor how much time I spent to cover them up.
the awakening
At age 53, I was exhausted with these morning and evening routines of putting on and taking off my face. My dear husband was patient, every night, but I was fed up. I wanted to look good, however, things were not working.
So I finally read Skin Fasting, listened to the science, and started a new way of caring for my skin. I spent no money, little time, and no products – just water and purposeful steps. In 3 months, after I went through the quitting and withdrawal phase (just like giving up smoking), my skin was revived!
I felt so indebted to Dr. Utsugi for “saving my skin”, I tracked him down and built up the courage to send him a heartfelt letter of gratitude. He wrote back! I convinced him to write a new book in English, and to have a more accurate title – Skin Sobering. Skin care products are not nutrients, so the process is not really fasting, and it is not intermittent. It is quitting something that your body doesn’t need, but you’ve come to depend on, for its temporarily desirable effects.
the book
Skin Sobering will have two more voices besides the clinical proof of Dr. Utsugi’s lifelong work.
The scientific voice will provide further support for his clinical evidence. Epidemiological studies have shown that skin care products don’t just affect skin beauty. They are tightly linked with skin sensitivity, dryness, itchiness, oiliness and diseases, which have reached epidemic proportions.
Even though science is important, many readers are drawn more to stories and emotions from someone who feels for the ‘girly girls’ who have tried so much, and the ‘health nuts’ who want the best for their body – this second voice raises suspicion, disbelief, and HOPE for this "sobering" method.
I am both of those voices – Erin Yuet Tjam, PhD; The Beauty Obsessed Scientist
Dr. Ryuichi Utsugi, M.D. – Plastic Surgeon, Adjunct Assistant Professor, and Author of 7 best selling beauty books, published in multiple countries.
“SKIN SOBERING ADDRESSES A LONG-STANDING PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, DISGUISED AS MERELY A CONCERN FOR BEAUTY.”
