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Japanese consumers tend to take a preventative approach to beauty and skincare to produce radiant-looking skin naturally without the need for a lot of makeup, and a Japanese skincare routine will also expose your skin to all kinds of unique natural ingredients and botanical extracts. For example, Japanese citrus fruits such as yuzu are known for their anti-aging properties and for promoting collagen production and are used widely in beauty products.
Another advantage to carrying out a Japanese skincare routine is that, unlike Korean beauty regimes, you don’t need to buy a lot of products to see results, as a lot of them are multi-functional, saving you time and money.
Choosing the right product starts with understanding your skin type. Oily, dry, sensitive, and combination skin all require different textures and ingredients. By selecting products suited to your specific needs, you can create a routine that supports balanced, well-maintained skin over time.
How we decided
Below is a selection of Japanese skincare products across key categories, chosen for their quality, popularity, and suitability for different skin types.
Our recommendations
Best Japanese Cleansers
Japanese cleansers come in many different forms, and if you’re following a traditional 4-step Japanese skincare routine that incorporates the double-cleanse, you’ll need an oil-based cleanser and a foam cleanser to follow.
1. DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil
An award-winning and best-selling non-greasy cleanser whose ingredients include organic virgin olive oil, which is full of antioxidants, hydrating vitamin E, and rosemary oil to invigorate and refresh skin.
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2. FANCL’s Mild Cleansing Oil
It instantly dissolves and removes the most stubborn makeup and pore-clogging dirt and oil without stripping natural oil from your skin, to leave it feeling soft and moisturized.
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3. Senka Perfect Whip
A good foaming cleanser gently removes impurities without stripping the skin of its natural hydration and removes any water-based impurities, such as sweat, making sure any pores are left clean of any dirt. Popular Japanese foam cleansers include Senka Perfect Whip, an affordable and high-quality cleanser whose super fine bubbles form a rich and creamy soft foam that removes impurities and excess sebum while leaving skin clean, smooth, and hydrated.
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4. Kikumasamune Japanese Sake Face Wash
Contains fermented rice extract as one of its core ingredients to create a dense, refined lather that works into the pores to remove dead skin cells and other impurities, whilst brightening skin and leaving it hydrated.
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5. Curél Foaming Face Wash Intensive Moisture Care
A gentle foaming cleanser that removes dirt and sweat without harsh rubbing while helping protect the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Suitable for sensitive skin, it supports ceramides and leaves skin clean, smooth, and comfortable.
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Want to explore more options? See more of our top Japanese cleanser picks, or if you’re looking for skincare for men, check out our men’s skincare recommendations.
Best Japanese Toners or Lotions
As part of a complete Japanese skincare routine, a liquid lotion is usually used as a toner before applying a final moisturizer. This helps to prepare the skin so that the moisturizer can be fully absorbed, resulting in maximum hydration.
6. Hado Labo’s Gokujyun Premium Lotion
Some of the most popular Japanese lotions include Hado Labo’s Gokujyun Premium Lotion, a beauty blogger favorite – affordable yet highly efficient and formulated with 7 kinds of hyaluronic acid to lock in maximum moisture, leaving skin feeling silky smooth and soft.
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7. Hakutsuru Japanese Sake Moisturizing Lotion
A lightweight, hydration-focused lotion formulated with rice ferment (sake), niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to support moisture retention and improve overall skin texture. It absorbs easily with a non-sticky feel, making it suitable for daily use on both face and body.
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8. Dr.Ci: Labo VC100 Essence Lotion Pore Refining Toner
For reducing the appearance of pores, try Dr.Ci: Labo VC100, which softens the skin and effectively removes excess dead skin cells, blackheads, and closes pores.
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9. Shiseido Elixir Bouncing Moisture Lotion
Other Japanese lotions we recommend include Shiseido Elixir Bouncing Moisture Lotion, an anti-aging skincare lotion from Shiseido formulated with exclusive beauty ingredients to prevent signs of aging like dark spots caused by melanin and promote firm, resilient, and incredibly soft skin.
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10. Matsuyama Hadauru Balancing Lotion
If you have oily skin, particularly in the T-zone area, then you’ll want to try Matsuyama Hadauru Balancing Lotion, a moisturizing lotion with a light texture that blends smoothly into the skin to leave it feeling healthy and hydrated.
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If you’re focused on specific concerns, check out our recommendations for best anti-aging lotions, best acne toners, best brightener toners, and best Japanese lotions for overall radiant skin.
Best Japanese Face Creams
Most Japanese face creams are used as the final step of a typical skincare routine as a moisturizer after the skin has been double cleansed and then primed using a lotion. These are often more gel-like creams for daytime use in addition to thicker creams that are designed to be left on the skin all night long.
11. Shiseido Aqualabel Special Gel Cream Moist
Examples of popular Japanese face creams include Shiseido Aqualabel Special Gel Cream Moist, an all-in-one light moisturizing gel cream which is great for treating oily skin. It is formulated with a high concentration of collagen GL to highly moisturize and fight signs of aging.
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12. Mediplus All-in-One Moisturizing Hydrating Gel
This gel face cream functions as a toner, milky lotion, beauty serum, and cream, and in addition to containing hydrating ingredients like 4 kinds of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, 2 kinds of collagen, 14 kinds of amino acids, and 3 different types of ceramides, it contains moisturizing thermal hot spring water from Tamatsukuri Onsen, an ancient Japanese hot spring.
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13. Shiseido Elixir Lifting Night Cream
For a high-quality anti-aging night cream, try Shiseido Elixir Lifting Night Cream, a product that replenishes moisture and firms skin during your sleep.
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14. Transino Brightening Repair Cream EX
A whitening cream that works throughout the night to improve skin tone and prevent dull skin, aging spots, freckles, and blemishes.
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15. Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Hyaluronic Face Cream Moisturizer
A rich moisturizing cream formulated with 7 types of hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and help seal in moisture for long-lasting softness. It has a smooth, non-irritating formula that works well as the final step in a skincare routine.
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Best Japanese Face Masks
Visit any Japanese drugstore and you’ll be amazed at the number of Japanese sheet masks there are to choose from and their variety of ingredients – everything from rice to sake, as well as specially formulated masks designed to perform specific functions such as hydration, whitening, and anti-aging. Using a face mask regularly can work well as a complementary treatment to a good skincare routine.
16. Ishizawa Lab Keana Nadeshiko Japanese Rice Face Mask
For dry skin and minimizing pores, try this rice face mask, which contains Japanese rice serum known for its moisturizing properties.
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17. Kose's Clear Turn Essence Mask
A hydrating sheet mask designed to support firmer-looking skin with collagen and moisture-rich ingredients.
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18. Quality 1st Derma Laser Super VC100 Multi Function Mask
A multi-function sheet mask designed to target pores, uneven texture, and loss of firmness. It’s infused with a high concentration of moisturizing and conditioning ingredients to support smoother, more even-looking skin while delivering deep hydration in a single step.
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19. BCL Saborino Morning Face Mask
For a sheet mask that’s a little different, try BCL Saborino Morning Face Mask, a 3-in-1 face mask that acts as a complete morning skincare routine in just 60 seconds. This multifunctional mask cleanses and hydrates your face, reduces eye puffiness, and tightens skin.
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20. Kose Babyish Sheet Mask
If it’s super soft ‘baby-like’ skin you’re seeking, try the Babyish range of sheet masks from Kose, whose gentle masks are made from Japanese cotton and filled with highly moisturizing ingredients like collagen, hyaluronic acid (HA), honey, and amino acid G.
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Want to explore more options? Discover different types of Japanese face masks including hydrating, clay, and vitamin C formulas, in our guides: best Japanese face mask brands, top moisturizing face masks, best clay face masks, and popular vitamin C face masks.
Best Japanese Sunscreens
Japanese sunscreen is famous for its effectiveness, high SPF protection, and resistance against water and sweat. Many of the products also double up as effective makeup bases thanks to their non-greasy formulas that don’t leave any white cast behind. A good sunscreen will also protect your skin from premature aging and dark spots.
21. Hada Labo UV White Gel
A lightweight gel that is easily applied and formulated with highly hydrating components such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to replenish moisture and powered with SPF50+ for strong UV protection.
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22. Mermaid Skin Gel UV by Canmake
A versatile sunscreen with SPF50+ that comes in smooth watery gel form that glides onto skin without feeling sticky or rough, helping foundation to sit better and last longer.
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23. Isehan’s Kiss Me Mommy UV Aqua Milk
A moisturizing sunscreen suitable for the most sensitive and delicate of skin. Made with 80% natural ingredients including strawberry, aloe, and jojoba oil, the sunscreen is free from alcohol and fragrances, making it a gentle product that can be used on children and adults.
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24. Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel
A lightweight feeling, yet it effectively protects from strong UV rays thanks to its UV blocking ingredients, such as water capsules, which, when applied to the skin create a pleasant, watery veil. It also has a powerful resistance to water that lasts for 80 minutes without the need to reapply.
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25. Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Mild Milk
Anessa is a super waterproof Japanese sunscreen with an SPF of factor 50 that is suitable for use on sensitive skin. This sunscreen also incorporates Shiseido's famous Aqua Booster Technology Ex, a formula that actually increases protection when skin meets the water or sweat.
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See more trusted sunscreen brands in Japan or discover more popular options in our best Japanese sunscreen guide.
Best Japanese Skincare for Acne-Prone Skin
If your skin is prone to breakouts, Japanese skincare for acne offers targeted products that focus on gentle cleansing, oil control, and maintaining skin balance without over-drying.
26. Shiseido Senka Medicated Perfect Whip Cleanser for Acne
For facial cleansing washes, we recommend Shiseido Senka Medicated Perfect Whip Cleanser for Acne, a medicated, rich foaming cleanser that specializes in alleviating acne and preventing rough skin.
27. Ettusais Pore Care Wash
Alternatively, you could try a face wash such as Ettusais Pore Care Wash, which helps to prevent acne by utilizing deep cleansing ingredients to remove unsaturated fatty acids, and unnecessary sebum which causes enlarged pores and skin roughness.
28. Ishizawa Lab Acne Barrier Medicated Protect Lotion
After cleansing, use a Japanese lotion designed to tackle acne like Ishizawa Lab Acne Barrier Medicated Protect Lotion which contains 14 kinds of herbs including tea tree to prevent plugged pores, acne and inflammation while hydrating the skin.
29. Rohto Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence
A Japanese serum ideal for individuals with problem skin because it helps to reduce redness and irritation whilst killing the bacteria that causes the formation of acne. Ingredients include vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients to prevent and treat blemishes and acne.
30. Kracie Hadabisei Moisturising Facial Mask Acne Care
There are also several brands of sheet masks you can try that are designed to target acne, like Kracie Hadabisei Moisturising Facial Mask Acne Care, which contains green tea extract and special acne treatment gels like Kobayashi Atnon Acne Treatment Gel that suppresses the production of melanin and can be used after washing your face.
31. Kobayashi Atnon Acne Treatment Gel
There are also several brands of sheet masks you can try that are designed to target acne like Kracie Hadabisei Moisturising Facial Mask Acne Care, which contains green tea extract.
32. Kobayashi Atnon Acne Treatment Gel
A special acne treatment gel that suppresses the production of melanin and can be used after washing your face.
Other Recommended Japanese Skincare Products You Can Try
In addition to facial cleansers, creams, sheet masks, sunscreens, and lotions, there is an extensive range of other Japanese skincare products you can try to complement your regular skincare routine like eye creams and masks, facial peels, and scrubs. Popular products include the Kracie Hadabisei Intensive Wrinkle Care Eye Mask – an anti-aging serum eye mask that helps to reduce the appearance of dryness-induced eye wrinkles, reduce dark circles, and leave the eye area firm and plump.
Another popular eye product is the Sukoyaka Suhada Urea Moisture Eye Cream, an intensive moisturizing treatment cream for the eye area featuring botanical extracts and ingredients such as urea, hyaluronic acid, and ceramide.
If you want to try a Japanese facial peel, Cefine Herb Clear Gel Pure is a lavender scented Japanese peeling gel that removes unnecessary dead skin cells and leaves skin feeling clean, smoother, and brighter.
Finally, if you’re looking for a skincare product with unique Japanese ingredients then consider trying this facial pack made from Sake Lees. Sake lees, or sake kasu in Japanese is a by-product of sake and is what is leftover after the sake-making process. Sake lees also greatly benefits the skin because it is highly moisturizing and also naturally brightens the skin's complexion.
Where Can I Buy Japanese Skincare Products Online?
You can find the Japanese skincare products mentioned in this article and many others online through the Japanese Taste website, who specialize in shipping authentic Japanese products directly from Japan to your door.
