Mao Asada's Beauty & Wellness Routine | Skincare, Diet & Fitness

From her silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics to her unforgettable free skate at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and her spectacular ice shows after retiring from competition, Mao Asada has captivated audiences for years as one of Japan's most celebrated figure skaters.

Her graceful posture on the ice, flowing movements, attention to every detail of her performance, and naturally warm smile have made her an admired figure far beyond the skating world. But what beauty routines and healthy lifestyle habits does Mao Asada follow in everyday life?

Looking through her interviews reveals a fascinating collection of personal routines: a facial cleansing soap she has used since she was 16, a commitment to moisturizing, a balanced diet featuring seasonal vegetables and fermented foods, boxercise and ballet, and a thoughtful approach to sleep and bathing.

There are also some unexpected stories. Asada has spoken about taking collagen regularly, developing an interest in herbs and spices while learning to cook, and traveling through New Zealand with her older sister, Mai Asada.

Perhaps most interesting is how her relationship with her body and daily routines changed after retiring from competitive skating. Having spent years following demanding training schedules as an elite athlete, she gradually discovered new ways to enjoy exercise, food, and personal interests.

In this comprehensive feature, we explore Mao Asada's career achievements, family relationships, skincare, eating habits, fitness routines, posture, hydration, sleep, bathing rituals, New Zealand adventures, and current activities to discover the beauty and wellness practices that have shaped her life.

1. Mao Asada's Career, Signature Performances, and Family Bonds

Mao Asada was born on September 25, 1990, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of October 2026, she is 36 years old.

She enjoyed physical activity from an early age, began classical ballet at three, and started figure skating at around five alongside her older sister, Mai Asada.

In 2005, at just 15 years old, Mao won the Grand Prix Final, defeating some of the world's leading figure skaters and attracting international attention.

At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, she won the women's singles silver medal. She also made history by successfully landing three triple Axels during a single Olympic competition.

Four years later, at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Asada faced a difficult start in the short program. However, she returned the following day with an unforgettable free skate set to Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2.

Her performance, filled with emotion and determination, moved audiences around the world. The sight of Asada in tears after completing her program remains one of the most memorable moments of her career.

Her competitive achievements include three World Championship titles, four Grand Prix Final titles, and six Japanese national championships.

She announced her retirement from competitive figure skating in April 2017, but her passion for the sport continued. She went on to develop a new career as a professional skater, creating, producing, and performing in original ice shows.

Her Older Sister Mai and the Support of Their Mother

Family has played an important role throughout Mao Asada's skating career.

Her older sister, Mai Asada, is also a former competitive figure skater. The sisters trained at the same skating rinks as children and grew up encouraging and inspiring each other.

Their mother, Kyoko Asada, was a dedicated supporter of their skating ambitions. She helped organize their daily lives, drove them to training sessions, and worked hard to create an environment where both daughters could focus on their sport.

Kyoko passed away in December 2011. Mao continued pursuing her competitive goals and went on to win her third World Championship title in 2014.

As adults, Mao and Mai have continued to spend time together, including traveling and appearing at events. Their shared experiences as young skaters remain an important part of their relationship and Mao's personal story.

Regarding marriage, no official announcement confirming Mao Asada's marriage had been identified as of October 2026. Her private life is best discussed through information she has chosen to make public.

2. Mao Asada's Skincare Routine: Cleansing, Moisturizing, and Body Care

One distinctive feature of Mao Asada's beauty routine is her long-standing loyalty to skincare products she knows and enjoys using.

One of the brands she has publicly discussed using for many years is the Japanese skincare company Arsoa.

In particular, its facial cleansing soap, Arsoa Queen Silver, has been part of her routine since she was 16 years old.

Her introduction to the product happened during an overseas skating trip. After forgetting her own skincare products, she borrowed a facial soap and liked the experience enough to continue using it.

It is a charming story: a simple incident during a busy international skating trip eventually became the beginning of a long-running beauty habit.

A Simple Routine Centered on Cleansing and Moisturizing

In a 2019 interview with FYTTE, Asada explained that her everyday skincare routine focused on cleansing and moisturizing with facial lotion.

She acknowledged that she sometimes experienced skin concerns, including blemishes. At such times, she would consider factors such as tiredness, lack of sleep, eating habits, and her overall daily routine.

When washing her face, she preferred to avoid very hot water. If she used warm water, she also paid attention to finishing with a cool-water rinse.

During an official Arsoa online presentation in 2020, Asada shared more specific details of her routine.

She said that she washed her face soon after returning home, then generously applied Arsoa Lotion in three separate rounds.

During a period when face masks had become part of everyday life, she also spent more time caring for her skin while staying at home.

Official brand materials have additionally introduced skincare routines involving facial packs and essences. These references help illustrate her interest in attentive skincare while keeping cleansing and moisturizing at the center of her routine.

Asada spent many years practicing inside ice rinks, where the environment could feel dry. Moisturizing therefore became a familiar part of her everyday beauty care.

Figure skating costumes can also reveal the shoulders, back, and décolletage. Asada has spoken about caring for her body as well as her face, including using her preferred cleansing soap when washing her body.

For someone who has spent so much of her life performing in elaborate costumes, attention to these details is a natural extension of her professional experience.

3. Mao Asada's Diet: Rice, Fermented Foods, Home Cooking, and Herbs

Rice and sushi are among the foods Mao Asada has frequently mentioned enjoying.

In a 2019 FYTTE interview, she described her eating habits while traveling around Japan with Mao Asada Thanks Tour.

Her meals included carbohydrate-rich foods such as rice, alongside meat, fish, and vegetables.

When meals were provided through catering at performance venues, she also made sure familiar foods such as rice and natto, or fermented soybeans, were available at the rink.

It was a practical way to enjoy foods she knew while managing a busy schedule filled with travel and performances.

She paid attention to choosing a variety of vegetables, their colors, and what was in season. When eating out frequently, she sometimes visited salad-focused restaurants to enjoy more vegetables.

Asada has also expressed an interest in fermented foods, including yogurt, natto, kimchi, and miso.

She enjoyed reading books and magazines about nutrition and exploring ideas that interested her in her everyday meals.

During her competitive skating years, Asada had experienced strict dietary management. After retiring, she gradually began placing greater value on enjoying the foods she loved.

Her approach evolved toward combining an awareness of balanced meals with the pleasures of food and finding eating habits that suited her changing lifestyle.

Learning to Cook and Publishing Mao Asada: My Home Cooking

Asada's love of food eventually inspired her to learn more about cooking.

In 2020, she began a cooking series with the Japanese lifestyle and food magazine Orange Page, learning a variety of home-cooked dishes from professional cooking instructors.

The first recipe she requested was nikujaga, a traditional Japanese dish of simmered meat and potatoes and one of her personal favorites.

During the lesson, she was surprised when the instructor suggested cutting the potatoes into large pieces. She wondered whether the potatoes would cook through properly and became interested in the many small decisions involved in preparing a dish.

Throughout the series, she explored dishes such as Japanese-style fried chicken, omurice, hamburg steak, mapo tofu, gratin, and pasta.

She also learned about cuisines from countries including Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, France, Italy, and Russia.

After nearly two years of cooking lessons, her experiences were collected in a recipe book published on February 22, 2022, titled Mao Asada: Watashi no Ouchi Gohan, meaning Mao Asada: My Home Cooking.

Alongside recipes, the book features stories about foods she enjoyed around Japan, her ideal lifestyle, and her thoughts about skating.

One of her discoveries during the lessons was how seemingly small techniques could shape the finished dish.

She learned the importance of knife skills, the way eggs are beaten, and how cooking tools are handled.

She would carefully observe the instructor's movements, picture the process in her mind, and then try it herself.

This approach has much in common with her years of practicing figure skating, where observing movements, visualizing techniques, and repeating them are part of the learning process.

Asada also developed an interest in presenting food beautifully and began buying Japanese tableware and serving trays.

Her appreciation for visual presentation is particularly interesting given her skating background, where costumes, music, choreography, and overall artistic expression are closely connected.

She has also reflected on the similarities between cooking and figure skating.

Even when two people use the same ingredients and recipe, the appearance and flavor of the dish can differ. Similarly, two skaters performing to the same music and choreography can create very different artistic impressions.

For Asada, careful preparation and consistent practice are important in both activities. Discoveries made while learning to cook have even influenced the way she thinks about producing ice shows.

Her Interest in Herbs, Spices, and Traditional Food Philosophy

As her cooking knowledge expanded, Asada became interested in herbs and spices.

In an interview published by Orange Page, she discussed discovering ingredients such as rosemary and star anise, which she had rarely used before taking cooking lessons.

She enjoyed learning how these ingredients could add new layers of flavor and aroma to dishes.

She also mentioned wanting to learn more about traditional Kampo concepts and the idea of selecting foods with the seasons and her daily condition in mind.

For Asada, experimenting with herbs, spices, and different cooking traditions was another way to broaden her enjoyment of food.

Her interest now extends beyond the ingredients themselves to preparation, aromas, presentation, and tableware.

This curiosity and attention to detail reflect the same qualities that helped her explore different forms of artistic expression through skating.

More Than a Decade of Loving Kakigori

One of Asada's best-known food passions is kakigori, Japan's elaborate shaved-ice dessert.

In her 2019 FYTTE interview, she revealed that she had already been enthusiastic about kakigori for around ten years.

Her favorites ranged from classic matcha milk flavors to seasonal creations made with ingredients such as pumpkin, chestnuts, and pistachios.

She particularly liked chestnuts and enjoyed checking social media for new autumn menus before visiting shops that caught her attention.

Asada also likes Japanese and Western-style sweets, including desserts made with sweet red bean paste.

During her national ice-show tours, discovering delicious local dishes and desserts became one of the pleasures of traveling.

There is something especially endearing about an athlete renowned for years of demanding training looking forward to a seasonal shaved-ice dessert.

4. Mao Asada's Fitness Routine: Boxercise and Life After Competitive Skating

Although Mao Asada spent many years competing at the highest level of figure skating, her relationship with exercise changed after retirement.

In a 2019 interview with FYTTE, she openly discussed a period when her physical activity decreased and her weight became approximately eight kilograms higher than it was at the time of the interview.

She recalled feeling less motivated to exercise and uncertain about the changes she was experiencing.

Eventually, she began moving again, taking small steps and gradually rediscovering the enjoyment of exercise.

She learned to appreciate the process of building habits over time rather than expecting everything to change immediately.

Even for a world-class athlete, retirement meant adapting to a new lifestyle and discovering a different relationship with physical activity.

Boxercise Two or Three Times a Week

One activity Asada particularly enjoyed after retiring was boxercise, a fitness workout inspired by boxing movements.

By 2019, she had been attending classes for approximately two years, usually two or three times a week.

She had been interested in trying it and quickly became enthusiastic after experiencing the satisfying sensation of throwing punches.

Another attraction was the opportunity to move to music. She enjoyed the sessions almost as though she were dancing.

Because classes were available in cities such as Tokyo and Nagoya, she could fit them into her schedule while traveling around Japan for ice shows.

Asada also tried trampoline-based workouts, discovering another way of moving and jumping that felt different from skating on ice.

At home, she kept exercise equipment such as dumbbells and resistance bands that she had used during her competitive years.

In a 2019 interview, she described spending around 45 minutes to an hour exercising at home, adapting her routine to how her body felt that day.

Her extensive athletic experience helped her pay attention to physical sensations and select exercises that suited her needs.

She also looked for opportunities to move during everyday activities, such as choosing stairs when possible.

These habits show how exercise gradually became something she could enjoy in different parts of her daily life.

5. Mao Asada's Posture and Body Awareness: Ballet, Dance, and Collagen

One of Asada's most recognizable qualities is her graceful posture and the precision of her movements, right down to her fingertips.

Alongside her figure-skating career, she has practiced classical ballet and explored other activities, including tap dancing and kickboxing.

In a conversation with former marathon runner Yuko Arimori, Asada discussed how she pays attention to posture in everyday life.

When sitting, she tries to keep her pelvis upright and imagines bringing her shoulder blades gently toward each other.

When standing, she pictures the center of her head extending upward toward the ceiling.

Years of controlling her balance and body alignment on the ice have shaped the way she approaches even ordinary movements such as sitting and standing.

Through classical ballet, she has also learned to consider the beauty of turning around, crouching, standing, and expressing emotions through facial movements.

During ice shows, she pays attention to the line of her body from her head to her toes and fingertips.

Her performances therefore involve much more than jumps and spins. Small gestures, expressions, and artistic details all contribute to the finished presentation.

Incorporating Collagen into Her Daily Routine

In addition to her interests in food and exercise, Asada has spoken about taking collagen.

During her conversation with Yuko Arimori, she explained that she takes collagen every day while paying attention to her body as she gets older.

Asada has served as an ambassador for Kyusai's Hiza Support Collagen product, and she also discussed her own collagen consumption in the interview.

Having spent much of her life in demanding athletic training, she has developed an awareness of how her body feels and changes from day to day.

Her collagen intake is one of the personal habits she has described as part of that broader interest in taking care of herself.

During a conversation with Arimori, Asada also expressed interest in activities such as swimming and water walking.

From skating and ballet to dance and water-based exercise, her interests show a continuing enthusiasm for discovering new ways to move.

6. Mao Asada's Sleep, Bathing, and Hydration Habits

Sleep and relaxation have been important parts of Mao Asada's everyday routine.

In a 2019 interview, she explained that she ideally wanted around eight hours of sleep and tried to secure approximately six hours even when her schedule was busy.

She has also been particular about the bedding she uses.

In an official conversation with Airweave, Asada said she had been using the company's bedding since her teenage years.

She liked the feeling of the bedding when she first tried it and continued using the brand over the years.

For someone who spent so much of her career traveling internationally for competitions, creating a comfortable place to sleep was another important aspect of her daily routine.

Aromatherapy During Her Olympic Years

Asada has also spoken about using aromatic oils.

Although she generally found it fairly easy to fall asleep, she recalled experiencing difficulty sleeping at major events such as the Olympic Games, when she felt nervous.

On those occasions, she sometimes selected scents such as lavender, ylang-ylang, and geranium according to her mood and placed a small amount of aromatic oil near her pillow.

She brought these oils to competitions in Japan and overseas and continued enjoying them during ice-show tours around 2019.

Choosing a favorite fragrance became one of the ways she created a relaxing atmosphere during evenings away from home.

Bathing was another familiar part of her lifestyle.

In a 2018 interview with the Japanese beauty magazine Biteki, she discussed taking half-body baths for around 30 minutes and visiting places offering lava-stone bathing and massages.

In 2019, she described enjoying 20- to 30-minute half-body baths when time allowed.

When staying somewhere without convenient access to a bathtub, she sometimes visited a sauna or a ganbanyoku hot-stone spa.

She occasionally used bath salts, while on other days she simply enjoyed relaxing in ordinary bathwater.

Alongside the physical demands of training and performing, Asada made space for experiences that she personally found comfortable and enjoyable.

Room-Temperature Water, Warm Water, and Lemon Sparkling Water

Hydration is another everyday habit that Asada has discussed in interviews.

In a 2019 MAQUIA feature, she explained that she had always enjoyed drinking water and had tried many different varieties.

She described drinking water at different points throughout the day, including after waking, during daytime activities, after exercise, and before going to bed.

At skating rinks, she often preferred room-temperature water or warm water.

She also enjoyed adding lemon juice to sparkling water for a refreshing flavor.

Her drink choices reflected both the chilly environment in which she spent many working hours and her personal preferences.

7. Mao Asada in New Zealand: A Sisters' Adventure in Nature and Food

Mao Asada has a memorable personal connection with New Zealand.

In 2014, during a break from competitive skating, she traveled to New Zealand with her older sister, Mai Asada, for a three-day adventure.

The journey was featured in a TV Tokyo program titled Mao Asada and Mai's TRY & GO: First Experiences on a Private Trip.

During their visit, the sisters took part in a variety of activities that were quite different from their usual skating lives.

They experienced traditional Māori dance, tried bungee jumping, helped care for animals on a farm, and learned about local home cooking.

Learning Māori dance was a particularly interesting experience for someone who had spent so many years expressing herself through movement on the ice.

The sisters also attempted bungee jumping for the first time.

Although Mao was famous for performing challenging jumps as a figure skater, leaping into the air in the middle of New Zealand's natural scenery was an entirely different adventure.

During a farm visit, they helped feed cows and pigs and spent time with a local family.

Mao also had the opportunity to learn how to prepare New Zealand food from the family's mother.

For someone who enjoys food and would later explore cooking in greater depth, learning about another country's home-cooking traditions was a meaningful way to experience local life and culture.

Her Dream of Skating on Natural Ice

One of the highlights of the trip was Asada's desire to skate on naturally formed ice in the great outdoors.

Having spent years training on artificial indoor rinks, she was fascinated by the idea of skating amid New Zealand's spectacular natural scenery.

The television program also covered changes in local ice conditions caused by an unusually warm winter, making her attempt to experience natural ice one of the central stories of the trip.

Even while taking time away from her competitive schedule and enjoying a holiday with her sister, Asada's affection for skating remained a part of her adventure.

8. Mao Asada's Mental Wellness and Life Today: Continuing to Follow New Dreams

Throughout her competitive career, Asada experienced extraordinary achievements alongside difficult moments and disappointments.

In a 2019 interview with FYTTE, she spoke openly about feeling down at times.

She explained that discovering a new goal or something she genuinely wanted to pursue could gradually change her outlook as she became absorbed in working toward it.

She also valued taking time to rest when she felt tired.

On days off, she enjoyed sleeping in, going out for delicious meals, getting massages, walking, and watching stage performances.

Her leisure time reflected her desire to choose activities she genuinely enjoyed rather than following a rigid schedule every day.

Combining dedication to ambitious goals with time for personal enjoyment has remained an important part of her life after competitive skating.

From Creating Ice Shows to Training the Next Generation

After announcing her retirement in 2017, Asada began pursuing new dreams through professional figure skating.

Starting in 2018, Mao Asada Thanks Tour traveled across Japan, giving her the opportunity to express gratitude to fans who had supported her throughout her competitive career.

She later expanded her creative activities through productions such as BEYOND and Everlasting33, becoming involved in the planning and direction of ice shows as well as performing.

These productions allowed her to explore figure skating as a form of theatrical and artistic expression.

In November 2024, MAO RINK TACHIKAWA TACHIHI, a skating facility bearing her name, opened in Tachikawa, Tokyo.

In 2025, Kinoshita MAO Academy was established, with Asada serving as director and helping develop the next generation of figure skaters.

The academy offers a combination of on-ice training and off-ice activities, including ballet, dance, rhythmic gymnastics, and physical conditioning.

Having once pursued her own dreams on the international stage, Asada is now helping younger skaters work toward theirs.

Her years of experience are finding a new purpose through the creation of learning opportunities for future athletes.

In interviews with Kyusai, Asada has also spoken about valuing physical and mental well-being while continuing to pursue new goals.

Since retiring from competition, she has explored new forms of exercise, developed her cooking interests, enjoyed travel, created ice shows, and moved into coaching and athlete development.

Her journey reflects a positive perspective on growing older: drawing on the experiences of earlier years while continuing to discover new possibilities.

For Asada, each new stage of life provides another opportunity to learn, create, and challenge herself.

Conclusion: What Mao Asada's Beauty and Wellness Habits Reveal About Her Lifestyle

Mao Asada's beauty and wellness routines reflect a fascinating combination of the self-discipline developed during her competitive years and the new interests she discovered after retirement.

From her long-standing skincare habits to her enjoyment of seasonal foods, exercising to favorite music, and creating comfortable moments for sleep and relaxation, her daily routines are closely connected to her personal experiences.

Her curiosity has taken her into the world of cooking, where she discovered new flavors and aromas, and to New Zealand, where she experienced local culture and natural beauty alongside her sister.

After retiring from competition, she also learned to adapt to changes in her body and explore new ways of enjoying physical activity.

Today, her work has expanded from performing and producing ice shows to helping train a new generation of figure skaters.

The common thread running through these experiences is her willingness to keep learning, find enjoyment in what interests her, and continue taking on new challenges.

Once a young athlete pursuing her dreams on the world stage, Asada is now helping others pursue their own.

Her story offers an engaging perspective on beauty, wellness, and the pleasure of building a fulfilling life while embracing new possibilities with age.

References and Sources

1. FYTTE — Interview with Mao Asada: Diet and Eating Habits (2019, Japanese)
2. FYTTE — Interview with Mao Asada: Fitness and Exercise (2019, Japanese)
3. FYTTE — Interview with Mao Asada: Beauty and Lifestyle Habits (2019, Japanese)
4. Orange Page — Mao Asada on Cooking and the Similarities Between Cooking and Skating (Japanese)
5. Kyusai — Mao Asada and Yuko Arimori Discuss Health, Posture, and Body Awareness (Japanese)
6. TV Tokyo — Mao and Mai Asada's TRY & GO: A Private Adventure in New Zealand (2014, Japanese)
7. Arsoa — Official Announcement Featuring Mao Asada's Skincare Routine (2020, Japanese)

Note: This article is based on publicly available information and interviews with Mao Asada. Some of the personal routines described reflect her habits at the time of those interviews.