UV Protection Alone Isn’t Enough: A Beauty Expert Who Has Worked with Over 50,000 Clients Shares the Best UV Care for Mature Skin

As we move through different stages of life, our skin often reflects changes in our environment and hormonal balance, making the signs of aging more apparent. Enter SHUGYOKU, a premier aging care[1] brand designed to restore firmness and radiance to mature skin, helping you achieve your personal best complexion at all times.

Often hailed as a 'next-level cosmetic,' SHUGYOKU is the brainchild of its creator, TAMAKO. With a rich heritage spanning Japan, Asia, and several Eastern European nations, she has analyzed the skin of over 50,000 clients in European beauty salons. In this interview, we take a deep dive into the story behind SHUGYOKU and explore the cornerstone of its aging care[1] philosophy: UV protection.

Incorporating Global Secrets of Beauty and Health

SHUGYOKU Brand Developer TAMAKO was born to parents with roots in several countries, including Japan, other parts of Asia, and Eastern Europe.

"I grew up amidst diverse cultures from a young age, but I was particularly influenced by the medicinal cuisine my grandmother practiced. At home, I became familiar with ingredients rarely seen in a typical Japanese household, like Korean ginseng and deer antlers. I was taught the principle that 'food is medicine'—that you can stay healthy by eating high-quality foods that suit your body. These formative experiences from my childhood are integral to the development of SHUGYOKU.

Living in America due to my father's work transfer also broadened my horizons by exposing me to food cultures and lifestyles completely different from those in Asia, which greatly influenced my later experiences."

During her student years, TAMAKO also stood in the spotlight, winning awards at international beauty contests. However, she discovered that she found more joy in making others beautiful than in being in the public eye herself. After initially pursuing a career in marketing, she decided to follow the path of aesthetics and deepen her studies.

"After entering the aesthetics industry, I served as a national trainer for high-end overseas brands and was also involved in developing treatments for the Japanese market. The experience of working directly with the skin of over 50,000 clients and addressing their real-life skincare needs and concerns is also foundational to the current SHUGYOKU brand."

After honing her aesthetic techniques, methods, and keen eye for selecting products in Europe, she brought that experience back to Japan and opened an exclusive, members-only, all-manual esthetic salon in 2008. It quickly gained popularity and won an industry award in esthetics, eventually becoming widely known as a trusted salon frequented by beauty industry insiders and media professionals.

After training as an esthetician in Europe, TAMAKO brought her practice to Japan. She explains that there are major differences between overseas and Japan—not just in climate and skin types, but in core beauty values as well.

"When starting my salon in Japan, my first step was to optimize my formulas and approach for Japanese skin and lifestyles. For instance, toners are popular in Japan's humid climate, while in Europe's dry conditions, people prefer creams and oil-rich products.

"You also have to consider Japan's distinct seasonal changes. Flexibly choosing textures and frequency of use to match the season and environment is the secret to maintaining your skin's ideal condition.

"In Asia, there's a strong focus on skin brightening, whereas in the West, tanned skin is often seen as a symbol of affluence. This just goes to show that there's no single standard of beauty. That's why at SHUGYOKU, we develop products by tapping into each customer's unique vision of 'how they want to be.'"

While working with the skin of 50,000 people in Europe, TAMAKO saw firsthand how many women couldn't maintain a satisfactory skincare routine due to their busy lives. That experience deeply influenced her product development after she opened her salon in Japan.

"When I first opened my salon in Japan, many clients were dealing with various issues. Some were mentally and physically exhausted, while others had sensitive skin from hormonal imbalances. The first product I developed was an easy-to-use blended aroma oil. I created a massage blend with ylang-ylang and jasmine to enhance femininity, and it became a huge hit."

This blended aroma was featured in magazines, and in response to a flood of requests for "skincare with this exact scent," the brand's signature product was born: an introductory beauty serum inspired by traditional Japanese-Chinese (Wakan) and medicinal cuisine concepts, the "S-Beauty Booster."

"My background is in science, where I studied chemistry and physiology. I draw on all of that knowledge—on top of my experience in the esthetics industry, of course—to develop products that fit my customers' lifestyles.

"It's great to admire artists from overseas, but I believe the most important thing is to avoid comparing yourself too much. Instead, listen to your own skin and your inner voice to find the care that's truly right for you."

SHUGYOKU's new sunscreen, "S-Biyō 3D Protect UV Tone Up 50” sunscreen," is being hailed by both the beauty industry and consumers as "practically a beauty serum."

"There are so many fantastic UV products on the market already. When it comes to anti-aging care[1], protecting skin from photoaging caused by UV rays is non-negotiable.

"'S-Biyō 3D Protect UV Tone Up 50' not only provides Japan's highest level of UV protection (SPF50+ PA++++) but is also generously packed with carefully selected anti-aging care[1] ingredients that give the skin firmness and radiance. It's a signature SHUGYOKU formula, combining traditional Asian herbs with cutting-edge science."

This formula is the culmination of TAMAKO's expertise.

The anti-aging care[1] ingredient selected is Withania Somnifera Leaf Extract (a moisturizing ingredient), also known as the "queen of traditional Eastern herbs." Furthermore, to give radiance to sun-exposed skin, it also contains Ocimum Basilicum Hairy Root Culture Extract (a moisturizing ingredient), an extract derived from plant stem cells developed using proprietary technology by a prestigious Swiss ingredient manufacturer.

"Mature skin, which has lost moisture and is undergoing various changes, is not only more susceptible to UV damage but can also be stressed by high-protection UV products.

"This is especially true during the change of seasons when the skin tends to get worn out, just like our overall physical health. That's why it's crucial not just to protect the skin, but to shield it from external aggressors while delivering moisture. With this new UV product, we pursued a formula that keeps the skin hydrated all day long."

According to TAMAKO, protecting skin from UV rays while continuously moisturizing it throughout the day to maintain its condition is the key to beautiful skin in the fall—and for years to come.

The Ideal Sunscreen, Six Years in the Making: The Passion Behind Its Development

The development of this new sunscreen took a full six years to perfect.

"Most UV care products are developed using a pre-existing base. But at SHUGYOKU, we started from scratch, sourcing UV base materials and reformulating everything from the ground up.

"Depending on the ingredient combinations, the UV protection factor would drop or the texture would be off, and we struggled to land on the ideal formula. On top of that, we were committed to creating a natural, tone-up effect for any skin color, a goal that took endless trial and error to achieve. That's how we finally perfected it."

Rave reviews are pouring in from users, with comments like, "It's so easy to use," "I love that it doesn't leave a white cast," "It's completely stress-free, so I can use it daily," and "Even with my sensitive skin, I've noticed my skin becoming firmer since I started using it."

"We are constantly reading academic papers and staying on top of the latest information, all while testing our formulas at the molecular and structural levels to ensure they are as effective as possible for our customers. The SHUGYOKU philosophy is to never release a product until we are absolutely satisfied with it. That’s why we have quite a few products still in the development phase.

Our goal is to enable our customers to maintain a simple, effective skincare routine as they navigate the aging process in their daily lives, and to make that time a rich and joyful experience. We will continue to pour these aspirations into our development process going forward."

We can't wait to see what SHUGYOKU comes up with next.