Erika Toda's Beauty & Wellness Routine | Skincare, Diet & Lifestyle

With her expressive eyes, elegant presence, and warm, natural smile, Japanese actress Erika Toda has captivated audiences through a wide range of memorable performances. She is best known for films and television dramas such as Death Note, Code Blue, SPEC, Dai Renai: Boku wo Wasureru Kimi to (A Great Love), and the NHK morning drama Scarlet.

Born on August 17, 1988, in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, Toda began gaining acting experience as a child and moved to Tokyo at the age of 16 to pursue her career. Over the years, she has portrayed doctors, unconventional detectives, ceramic artists, and emotionally complex women. In 2026, she took on the role of Japanese television personality and fortune teller Kazuko Hosoki in the Netflix series Hell for You.

In her personal life, Toda married fellow Japanese actor Tori Matsuzaka in December 2020. The couple announced the birth of their first child in May 2023. Since then, Toda has spoken openly about discovering new ways to balance her acting career, family life, and personal well-being.

Looking back through her interviews over the years, two recurring themes emerge from her approach to beauty and wellness: understanding her own body and finding enjoyment in the small moments of everyday life.

Her skincare routine has included introductory serums, layered toner, moisturising creams, and face masks after bathing. She has also spoken about her interest in brown rice, vegetables, fish oil, MCT oil, and herbal preparations such as lemon balm.

At one point, she even enjoyed adding MCT oil to rooibos tea, an unusual detail that offers a fascinating glimpse into her personal food and drink preferences.

Her approach to movement has evolved as well. From strength training for a demanding acting role to dumbbell workouts at home, yoga, meditation, and thoughtful sleep habits, Toda has continued exploring routines that suit different stages of her life.

In this comprehensive feature, we explore Erika Toda's beauty routine, skincare, diet, rooibos tea habits, exercise, sleep, and relaxation rituals through her own interviews and publicly available information. Along the way, we also discover her family's signature hot pot, her love of cooking, unexpected hobbies, marriage, motherhood, and the roles that have shaped her remarkable acting career.

Erika Toda's Beauty and Skincare Routine: Serums, Face Masks and Sun Care

Erika Toda's approach to beauty has developed naturally alongside her life and career. In her twenties, she enjoyed experimenting with makeup colours and finishes. As she moved through her thirties, she became increasingly interested in understanding her skin, observing how it changes, and finding ways to make her daily skincare routine enjoyable.

Skincare for Dryness: Introductory Serum, Layered Lotion and Moisturising Cream

In a December 2020 interview with Japanese beauty magazine Biteki, Toda described her skin as naturally prone to dryness.

At the time, her routine began with an introductory serum, followed by several layers of hydrating lotion. On days when her skin felt especially dry, she added a richer moisturising cream.

Rather than following exactly the same steps every day, she paid attention to how her skin felt and adjusted her routine accordingly.

In Japanese skincare, an introductory serum is generally used early in a routine, often before hydrating lotion. Such products vary in formulation and intended order of application, making individual product instructions useful when choosing how to incorporate them.

Hydrating lotions provide moisture to the skin, while moisturising creams help protect against dryness. Different textures, from lightweight lotions to richer creams, offer options for different seasons and personal preferences.

Night creams and eye creams are also familiar options within everyday skincare, particularly for people who enjoy tailoring their moisturising routines to specific areas or times of day.

The specific combination Toda discussed in her 2020 interview was an introductory serum, layered hydrating lotion, and moisturising cream.

In a 2019 interview, she had also spoken about noticing changes in the appearance of her skin's firmness and glow after using a beauty serum consistently.

At the time, she was serving as a Japanese ambassador for a cosmetics brand and had developed a greater appreciation for taking time over her daily skincare.

In 2021, Toda also reflected on how her skin felt during a period when she was reconsidering her food choices and lifestyle.

Her experiences highlight a personal interest in understanding her body as a whole, rather than viewing skincare as an isolated activity. Skin appearance naturally varies with many factors, including environment, seasonal conditions, individual characteristics, and daily care.

Favourite Sheet Masks and Her After-Bath Face Mask Ritual

In a July 2024 interview with MAQUIA, Toda shared one of her favourite skincare items at the time: a sheet mask made from biocellulose material.

She particularly enjoyed the appearance of her skin after using it and described the experience as something that lifted her mood.

Biocellulose is one of several materials used in facial sheet masks. Other options include cotton and nonwoven fabrics, with different formulations, textures, and recommended application times.

By October 2025, Toda's relationship with face masks had developed into an everyday ritual.

Speaking to VOCE, she explained that applying a face mask after bathing had become part of her routine.

As she paid closer attention to her skin, she began noticing more of the subtle differences in how it looked and felt from day to day.

She found this process of observing her skin increasingly interesting and described a renewed enthusiasm for skincare.

Her journey from describing a favourite sheet mask in 2024 to enjoying regular after-bath care in 2025 illustrates how a beauty product can become part of a meaningful personal routine.

Sun care has also been a longstanding part of Toda's approach.

In 2020, she explained that she used sunscreen throughout the year and also incorporated hats into her daily sun protection habits.

Sunscreen products are available with different SPF and PA ratings and can be chosen according to the activity, environment, skin type, and personal preference.

For Toda, combining everyday skincare with an awareness of sun exposure has been part of maintaining a thoughtful beauty routine over the years.

Natural Makeup and Short Hair: How Her Beauty Style Has Evolved

In a 2018 beauty interview, Toda shared an interesting detail about her casual makeup routine.

When meeting friends for a meal, she sometimes mixed moisturising emulsion with foundation to create a lighter-looking base.

On days when she wanted a deep red lipstick to be the focal point, she balanced the overall look with more understated eyeliner, defined eyebrows, and simply styled hair.

This was Toda's personal makeup technique at the time. Cosmetic formulations vary, and following each product's recommended application instructions remains a practical approach to everyday use.

In 2020, she also spoke about using eyebrow powder for a natural finish and adjusting the length and angle of her brows to suit her outfit.

In 2021, she described her preference for makeup that feels close to her natural appearance, with glowing-looking skin, softly defined brows, and a touch of lip colour.

Then, in 2025, Toda surprised fans with a major hairstyle change.

After wearing her hair long for years, she switched to a shorter hairstyle. She later explained that the new look changed the way she approached fashion.

Previously, she had often gravitated towards monochrome and understated outfits. With short hair, she found herself increasingly drawn to soft yellow, pink, floral patterns, and other feminine designs.

She enjoyed the contrast between a shorter haircut and clothing with a softer, more playful feel.

In 2025, Toda took on a new role as a fashion brand ambassador, and in October 2026, her appointment as a muse for another skincare brand was announced.

From experimenting with makeup in her twenties to discovering new fashion combinations in her thirties, Toda has continued to enjoy expressing herself in different ways.

Erika Toda's Diet: Family Hot Pot, Brown Rice, Rooibos Tea, MCT Oil and Herbs

Food is one of the most fascinating parts of Erika Toda's approach to everyday wellness. From a beloved family hot pot to brown rice, vegetable dishes, fish oil, MCT oil, and rooibos tea, she has shared many specific stories about what she enjoys eating and drinking.

Her relationship with food also tells a story of change. Around the age of 30, she became increasingly curious about her body and began rethinking how she selected ingredients and planned meals.

Toda Nabe: The Family Hot Pot Inspired by Her Parents' Favourite Meal

One of the most memorable dishes associated with Erika Toda is a traditional-style family hot pot affectionately known as Toda Nabe, or Toda Hot Pot.

In October 2018, Toda appeared on the Japanese television programme Sakurai Ariyoshi THE Yakai, where she prepared the dish for other guests.

According to accounts of the broadcast, the recipe originated from a hot pot meal that her parents enjoyed while dining out. They later recreated a version at home, and it gradually became a family favourite.

The dish eventually became known among people around her as Toda Nabe.

Ingredients described in reports of the programme included Chinese cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, burdock root, bamboo shoots, pork, chicken, eggs, and sesame seeds.

The vegetables were sliced into long, narrow pieces, while the meat was prepared separately before being added to a kombu-based broth.

The broth was seasoned with ingredients such as sake, mirin, and light-coloured soy sauce. The finished dish was topped with thin strips of cooked egg, sesame seeds, and pepper.

The result is a comforting combination of vegetables, meat, savoury broth, delicate egg, and fragrant seasonings.

As these recipe details come from published accounts of the television broadcast, individual quantities and preparation steps can be adapted when making a home-inspired version. As with any meat-based hot pot, cooking meat thoroughly is an essential part of preparation.

This family dish offers an appealing glimpse into Toda's childhood and helps explain why preparing food at home continues to be such an important part of her life.

From Brown Rice to Vegetable Dishes: Watercress, Potatoes and Lotus Root

In a 2019 interview with Biteki, Toda explained that around the age of 30, she had become interested in learning more about her individual characteristics and daily food choices.

During that period, she explored different ingredients and reflected on which foods she personally enjoyed and felt comfortable including in her meals.

In a 2020 MAQUIA interview, she described a diet centred around chicken, pork, and brown rice.

Brown rice retains more of the outer grain layers than polished white rice and has a distinctive texture and nutritional composition.

By 2021, however, Toda had adjusted her eating habits again.

She explained that she continued enjoying rice in some work-related meals while paying more attention to portion sizes and the types of food she prepared at home.

Rather than describing a single unchanging diet, her interviews reveal an evolving interest in food choices that suited her lifestyle at different times.

Among her favourite vegetables in 2021 were watercress, potatoes, and lotus root.

She enjoyed potatoes cut into thin strips, briefly cooked and served with a light Japanese-style broth. Lotus root appeared in dishes such as lotus-root dumplings and kinpira-style preparations.

For watercress, she preferred a simple combination of salt, pepper, lemon, and olive oil, allowing the vegetable's fresh flavour to stand out.

These details reveal someone who genuinely enjoys discovering different textures and cooking methods.

Toda also spoke fondly of sushi, mentioning botan shrimp as a particular favourite at the time.

Her personal approach to food has involved exploring ingredients while continuing to enjoy the dishes she loves.

Individual dietary requirements vary, and medical assessment is important when determining food allergies or medically necessary restrictions. The eating habits described here reflect Toda's experiences at the time of each interview.

Rooibos Tea with MCT Oil, Fish Oil, Lemon Balm and Favourite Drinks

One of the most distinctive details about Toda's food and drink habits is her combination of rooibos tea and MCT oil.

In an October 2020 interview with MAQUIA, she explained that she enjoyed water with a little of her favourite salt or rooibos tea, sometimes adding MCT oil to her drink.

At home, she also liked sitting near the window on a single-seat sofa, taking time to enjoy the view outside.

Rooibos tea is made from a plant native to South Africa. Plain rooibos tea is naturally caffeine-free and is known for its mellow, gently earthy flavour.

MCT oil contains medium-chain triglycerides, a type of dietary fat with a fatty acid composition that differs from many conventional cooking oils.

Individual MCT oil products have their own recommended uses and serving guidance, making product information an important consideration.

In a 2021 interview with Biteki, Toda also spoke about including fish oil alongside MCT oil in her eating habits.

Fish oil is derived from fish and is known for containing omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA.

EPA and DHA also occur naturally in foods such as oily fish. Fish-based meals and commercially available fish oil products offer different ways to include these dietary fats.

In the same interview, Toda mentioned carrying a tincture made from lemon balm, also known as melissa, which she sometimes added to water.

Lemon balm is a fragrant herb from the mint family, recognised for its gentle lemon-like aroma. It is also enjoyed as a herbal tea.

Herbal tinctures are liquid preparations made by extracting substances from plants. Their ingredients, concentrations, and alcohol content can vary, so products intended for consumption should be selected and used according to their instructions.

In 2024, Toda shared another favourite drink: a decaffeinated almond milk latte.

And in 2025, while appearing in an advertisement for a blended tea, she spoke about the appealing roasted aroma of a blend containing corn silk.

From rooibos tea and herbal preparations to decaf lattes and blended teas, Toda's choices reflect a curiosity about aroma, flavour, and the enjoyment of everyday drinks.

Traditional black tea, rooibos tea, and herbal infusions all offer different taste profiles and caffeine characteristics. Choosing among them can be part of a relaxing daily ritual.

Toda's comments about rooibos tea, MCT oil, fish oil, and lemon balm describe her habits during specific interviews rather than an ongoing endorsement of particular products.

Erika Toda's Exercise and Sleep Habits: Strength Training, Yoga and Rest

Throughout her career, Erika Toda has adapted her exercise habits to her work and everyday life. At times, she has trained for physically demanding acting roles. At others, she has preferred home workouts, yoga, meditation, and simple stretches.

Since becoming a mother, she has also spoken about the importance of making time for rest and adjusting her working routine to support family life.

Strength Training for Scarlet and Dumbbell Workouts at Home

In 2019, Toda explained to Biteki that she was attending a gym to prepare for her role in the NHK morning drama Scarlet.

Her character was a woman pursuing a life in ceramics. After trying pottery herself, Toda discovered that working with clay required more physical strength than she had initially imagined.

Handling clay and working at a potter's wheel gave her a greater appreciation for the movements and physical demands of the profession.

She decided to concentrate on developing her strength so she could portray the character more convincingly.

She also noticed that training made her feel much hungrier than before, an experience she shared with amusement.

In 2021, she described another fitness routine: strength training at home once or twice a week.

At the time, she used dumbbells ranging from approximately 2.5kg to 10kg, depending on the exercise, focusing on different muscle groups including her arms and chest.

Dumbbell training can be adjusted through the weight, repetitions, and range of motion. Choosing a level appropriate for individual experience and physical condition is an important part of exercising safely.

From preparing for a demanding acting role to incorporating exercise into everyday life, Toda has continued finding ways to remain engaged with physical movement.

Ten Minutes of Yoga Morning and Night, Meditation and Gentle Stretching

In 2021, Toda spoke about spending approximately 15 minutes meditating after yoga.

As an actress deeply involved in her roles, she sometimes continued thinking about work even after filming had finished.

She began setting aside quiet time to shift her attention away from work-related thoughts and focus on the present moment.

For her, sitting peacefully after yoga became an enjoyable way to create some personal space.

In September 2025, Toda explained that she had also started practising yoga for around ten minutes in the morning and another ten minutes at night.

She used online videos as a guide, choosing routines intended for mornings or bedtime.

This gave her a simple way to move her body before work or unwind at the end of the day.

During the same interview, she mentioned experimenting with headstands.

She described noticing changes in how her body felt and in the appearance of her face in the morning.

Headstands require particular care because of the pressure they can place on the head, neck, and shoulders, as well as the risk of falling. Her comments reflect her individual experience, while gentler movements may suit people seeking more accessible ways to enjoy yoga.

In 2025, she also mentioned spending around five minutes stretching before bed.

From gym workouts and dumbbells to yoga, meditation, and short bedtime stretches, Toda's routines have evolved to suit the different demands of her life.

Seven to Eight Hours of Sleep and a New Approach to Work After Motherhood

In an October 2024 interview with Biteki, Toda explained that she aimed to sleep for approximately seven to eight hours.

She felt that a good night's sleep made a noticeable difference to how energetic she felt during the following day.

She also spoke about replacing her mattress and pillow to find bedding that better suited her preferences.

After making these changes, she felt differently about some physical discomfort she had previously noticed.

Comfortable bedding is a personal choice influenced by sleeping position, body shape, preferred firmness, and other factors. Pillow height, mattress feel, lighting, and bedroom temperature are among the details people may consider when creating a comfortable sleeping environment.

In October 2025, Toda shared a particularly interesting story with VOCE about returning to work after childbirth.

At first, her child's bedtime sometimes extended beyond 10 p.m. Once her child was asleep, she still had lines to memorise for the following day's filming.

By that time, she was often tired, making it difficult to concentrate.

Rather than simply pushing through, Toda decided to change the way she worked.

She began learning as many of her lines as possible on set, allowing her to spend more time at home focusing on her family and rest.

She explained that this adjustment helped her make more room for sleep and that she noticed a welcome difference in how she felt.

By the time of the 2025 interview, her child was sometimes going to bed around 7 p.m., leaving her with more personal time in the evening.

She was once again able to enjoy television dramas and films and, on some nights, sleep for around eight hours.

What makes this story memorable is her willingness to rethink her working habits as her family life changed. For Toda, rest became something she actively made space for rather than simply fitting into the end of a busy day.

Erika Toda's Hobbies and Relaxation: Cooking, Aromas, Music and Nature

Erika Toda finds enjoyment in everyday experiences such as shopping for ingredients, cooking at home, organising her surroundings, listening to music, and spending time in nature.

As her life has changed through marriage and motherhood, she has also discovered new ways to enjoy weekends and family outings.

Home Cooking, Fried Chicken, Fermented Cabbage and the Joy of Chopping Vegetables

In a 2021 Biteki interview, Toda described how much she enjoyed visiting supermarkets, choosing ingredients, and preparing meals at home.

One of her favourite dishes at the time was Japanese-style fried chicken, known as karaage.

She enjoyed seasoning the chicken, coating it with potato starch, leaving it to rest for a day, and then frying it.

In 2024, she mentioned another favourite ingredient: oyster-infused soy sauce, which she particularly enjoyed using with seafood dishes.

This type of seasoning combines soy sauce with oyster-derived extracts or stock, giving dishes an additional savoury flavour.

Cooking utensils also matter to Toda.

In a 2024 MAQUIA interview, she talked about buying a frying pan she had discovered on social media.

Previously, she had found that dishes such as eggs and okonomiyaki could stick to her pan. She was delighted when her new cookware made cooking more enjoyable.

By 2025, she had become interested in fermenting cabbage at home.

Fermented cabbage is familiar in foods such as sauerkraut. When making fermented foods at home, clean utensils, suitable preparation methods, and appropriate storage conditions are important considerations.

In a 2026 television appearance, Toda also spoke about growing herbs at home and using them in her cooking.

She shared an amusing detail about her love of cutting vegetables into very thin strips.

She especially enjoyed slicing vegetables such as cucumbers and celery and appreciated the texture of the finely prepared pieces.

For Toda, cooking is more than a practical household task. Selecting ingredients, trying different utensils, growing herbs, and preparing vegetables are all activities she genuinely enjoys.

Homemade Room Spray, Piano Music, the Sea and Family Getaways

In a July 2024 MAQUIA interview, Toda shared another personal favourite: a homemade room spray.

She described making it with purified water and essential oils such as lemon and mint, creating a fresh fragrance for her living space.

She enjoyed spraying the room, playing her favourite piano music, and lying down to relax.

One musician she particularly liked was haruka nakamura, whose music reminded her of peaceful morning walks and the sensation of floating in the sea.

Essential oil preparations vary in their ingredients and concentrations. Appropriate handling, ventilation, and storage are especially important in homes with young children or pets.

Spending time in nature has also been a longstanding pleasure for Toda.

In 2019, she recalled a diving trip overseas, describing how much she enjoyed the sounds of bubbles underwater, the light passing through the water, and the distinctive sense of stillness.

In 2026, she spoke about how much she liked visiting the seaside, going barefoot, and simply relaxing on the beach.

Since becoming a mother, she has also found new enjoyment in visiting aquariums and spending time around animals with her family.

In 2025, she named a hot spring trip, her first in about a year, as one of her memorable experiences from the first half of the year.

She also expressed a wish to revisit Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido, a place connected to a drama she had worked on when she was younger.

Whether she is enjoying music at home, spending time near the sea, taking a hot spring break, or exploring a new place with her family, Toda continues finding pleasure in the world around her.

Erika Toda's Acting Career, Husband, Child and Family Life

Erika Toda has spent much of her life working in Japanese film and television. From childhood appearances to major leading roles, she has continually expanded her range as an actress.

Her marriage and the arrival of her first child have added new dimensions to her personal life, influencing how she approaches work, rest, and family time.

From Death Note and Code Blue to SPEC, Scarlet and Her 2026 Roles

Erika Toda was born on August 17, 1988, in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

She began gaining experience in entertainment at a young age, including an appearance in the NHK morning drama Audrey, which aired in 2000.

At 16, she moved to Tokyo to pursue acting more seriously.

In 2006, she gained widespread attention playing Misa Amane in the film adaptation of Death Note.

From 2008, she became a familiar face to television audiences through the medical drama Code Blue, portraying physician Mihoko Hiyama.

In 2010, she took on one of her most memorable roles as the unconventional detective Saya Toma in SPEC.

Toda has since described her experience working on SPEC at around the age of 22 as a turning point in her acting career.

When she was younger, she sometimes felt uncertain about the difference between the image others expected of her and the person she felt herself to be.

Playing such a distinctive character helped her discover greater freedom and enjoyment in acting.

In 2018, she starred as Nao Kitazawa in the television drama Dai Renai: Boku wo Wasureru Kimi to, a moving romantic story.

In 2019, she led the NHK morning drama Scarlet, portraying Kimiko Kawahara, a woman pursuing a career in ceramics.

It was a remarkable milestone: almost two decades after appearing in an NHK morning drama as a child, she returned as the central heroine.

In 2022, she appeared in the film Motherhood, taking on a complex role exploring the relationship between a mother and daughter.

In 2026, she continued expanding her career with projects including the television drama Reboot and the Netflix series Hell for You.

In Hell for You, she portrayed Kazuko Hosoki, depicting the character at different ages over many decades.

She studied archival material and worked on details such as gestures and speaking styles to portray the character's development over time.

Doctors, detectives, ceramic artists, mothers, and real-life figures have all become part of Toda's impressive acting journey.

Marriage to Tori Matsuzaka, Their First Child and the Values She Learned from Her Family

Erika Toda married actor Tori Matsuzaka in December 2020.

The couple announced the birth of their first child in May 2023.

In a 2021 interview with Biteki, Toda described how marriage brought a sense of reassurance because she could share her thoughts and concerns with someone close to her.

Hearing the voices of family members and spending time together became an important source of comfort in her daily life.

In a 2025 MAQUIA interview, she reflected on marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting as a series of new experiences.

Her life, previously centred so strongly on acting, now included the routines and discoveries that come with raising a child.

Because both Toda and Matsuzaka work as actors, they sometimes discuss their professional schedules while coordinating family time.

In a 2026 television appearance on Tetsuko's Room, Toda shared charming stories about everyday conversations with her child.

As her child grew more confident expressing personal wishes, even ordinary moments such as changing a diaper became opportunities for conversation.

The same television appearance also explored Toda's memories of her father.

Her late father was a Shorinji Kempo instructor who had emphasised the importance of manners, greetings, and respect during her childhood.

When Toda moved to Tokyo at 16 to pursue acting, his words provided important encouragement.

Those early family values, together with the family life she is building today, continue to shape her outlook.

In a 2024 Biteki interview, she expressed a desire to keep choosing acting projects that genuinely inspired her.

In 2025, she also spoke warmly about working with directors and crew members whose passion for their craft made the filming process especially meaningful.

And in 2026, she shared a simple wish for the years ahead: to continue enjoying everyday life with energy and a smile.

From discovering new possibilities as an actress in her twenties to exploring her relationship with food and well-being around the age of 30, and later embracing family life, Toda has continued to grow through experience.

Looking across Erika Toda's beauty and wellness habits, one quality stands out: she has remained curious about what feels right for her at each stage of life.

Her routines have included carefully chosen moisturising skincare, regular face masks, sun care, favourite home-cooked meals, rooibos tea, herbal drinks, strength training, yoga, meditation, and thoughtful sleeping habits.

These choices have changed naturally as her career, interests, and family life have developed.

One of the most memorable examples is her decision to adjust the way she prepared for acting work so that she could enjoy more time with her family and make room for sleep.

From cooking a family recipe and enjoying a fragrant cup of tea to practising a short yoga routine or spending a peaceful afternoon by the sea, Toda continues to find beauty in ordinary moments.

Her appeal lies not only in the characters she brings to life on screen but also in the thoughtful, curious, and adaptable way she approaches life beyond it.

Editor's note: This article is based on Erika Toda's published interviews, official acting credits, and publicly available statements. Beauty products, foods, herbal preparations, dietary supplements, and exercise practices are discussed as general lifestyle information or as personal experiences described at the time of each interview. Her past comments do not establish current use or endorsement of any specific products. Individual preferences and routines may change over time.

References and Further Reading

• Biteki — Erika Toda on skincare, hydration and her approach to beauty
• MAQUIA — Rooibos tea, MCT oil, brown rice and everyday lifestyle
• MAQUIA — Food preferences, home strength training and personal interests
• Biteki — Fish oil, lemon balm, eating habits and meditation
• MAQUIA — Face masks, strawberries, homemade room spray and cooking
• MAQUIA — Yoga, hairstyle changes and personal reflections
• VOCE — Work, sleep, motherhood and family life
• TV Asahi — Family background, childhood and personal life