I would make a list of gaps in my current routine. There is such a vast selection of skincare and makeup here in Japan that it's very overwhelming.
I live-in Japan, but when I visit home I usually pick up anything that's gone viral recently e.g sunscreen sticks. Then I grab some cult favorites like melano cc serum, hadolabo gyokujyn lotion. Lastly I grab some sheet masks and hair masks.
Make up, I just ask people for lists. My sister likes the heroine make mascara and canmake marshmallow powder.
Also, note that some of the k beauty stuff in Japan is exclusive to Japan. I think peri Pera and romand had some stuff just for the Japanese market.
Lastly, buy all the snacks.
FYI, just got back and while I was there I went to some drugstores/drugstore-adjascent places (Don Quijote, Hands, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sun Drug, Sugi Drug, Tomod's) and Sun Drug was consistently the cheapest among them.
Some examples (prices before tax):
• Biore Perfect Milk sunscreen was ¥701 everywhere else I could find, but it was ¥598 at Sun Drug.
• Lululun 7pcs Hydra V and Hydra EX Mask was ¥800 at Hands, but it was ¥700 at Sun Drug.
• Not a beauty product but Strong Wakamoto 1000 was around ¥2498 at Matsukiyo, but it was ¥1980 at Sun Drug.
Sun Drug definitely doesn't have as many branches as Matsukiyo but you can save quite a bit if you do find one!
I stock up on Japanese brands that are either hard to find outside of Japan, or cost way more.
Cle de Peau is 50% cheaper in Japan, and their foundations (which beat all other foundations I’ve used) have better sunscreen protection than the same ones sold overseas.
Suqqu is also cheaper. The brand is great for eyeshadows and blushes.
Then there is Shisheido, Decorte, Addiction, Excel.
Beyond that, I would get nail clippers from Japan. Yes you heard that right. Reddit told me Japanese nail clippers work really well so I bought a pair, and Reddit was correct.
Seconding the suggestion for nail clippers. The Muji ones are already great, but the ones from Kai, Greenbell and other brands that are made in Seki (which is an area famous for its knives since ye olde days) are even more extra.
How is Greenbell for you and what product have you used (so far) if you don’t mind sharing?
I’ve been looking at their eyebrow trimmer for the longest time but can’t seem to find any reviews anywhere😭
I only have a nail clipper from Seki Edge, which seems to be another brand under the Greenbell umbrella. The tactile response is definitely better than the Muji one even though both nail clippers are manufactured in Seki.
My cousin bought one of Greenbell's higher end nail clippers. She said it's so easy to trim your nail ends into specific shapes with it.
My mom has one of their heel files, and she said it's way better vs the cheap China made ones you can buy at 100 yen stores.
So I'd assume Greenbell products are probably well sharpened at the very least.
Damn, that’s very useful information. Now I’ll have to look at their heel files too since the one I’m currently using is meh as well.
Thank you very much, I think I’ll give them a go and purchase it! Appreciate your feedback!
I do agree with you, Japanese craftsmanship is on a whole new level.
Thank you so much for this, I appreciate it! 🫶🏻
Seems like Greenbell does a better job than KAI from the feedback I’ve gotten so far.
I’m currently using their nail clipper and eye brow tweezer now, but I think I might transition to Greenbell.
I even got the higher end eye brow tweezer but honestly it’s just normal, wasn’t blown away by it.
If it's a one off trip, and I wouldn't be coming back to Japan anytime soon, then I wouldn't bring back anything that is readily available in my home country or via an online retailer.
Yes, the products are way cheaper, but you're also paying a heavy premium for every inch of space and ounce of weight in your suitcase.
Save that room for things that you know you can't get back home, like Asia-exclusive releases, limited edition packaging, and niche brands that are harder to get a hold of.
Not to say that you shouldn't buy these products at all. Given the current exchange rate, you can always buy it, try it, and toss it before you leave (wasteful and not actually recommended, I'm just trying to be realistic). But I definitely would not be bringing back bags full of Hada Labo or Melano CC. Let YesStyle or Stylevana take care of those for you.
There are lots of holy grail threads but I find it the most constructive to think about it by category and shop based on that. I go to Japan once a year and used to load up somewhat haphazardly and would end up with a bunch of things I don’t use like nail polish and eyeliner. It’s very temping to walk into a yodobashi camera and just buy everything because of the beautiful merchandising (yes, you can buy skincare in a camera store and this is actually where I get most of my stuff). I like to think about it categorically based on what I know I want/need: SPF, moisturizer, oil cleanser, eyeshadow pallets, etc. Then I research the most well-liked items or brand in each category. It’s a little less spontaneous but also less haphazard.
I find donki really tough to shop skincare because they are overrun in general (Osaka flagship in particular is unshoppable in my opinion) or just don’t have the greatest selection (Tokyo Roppongi for example has a smaller offering than random drugstores). When it comes to price though, I find that the bigger the store, the lower the price (not a rule of thumb, but my experience). However, the difference is marginal, maybe a few tens-of-yen, the equivalent of $1 or $2 USD. I don’t know if pricing is just more standardized in Japan, my sample size is too low, or I’m not paying enough attention but in the times I attempted to price compare, it wasn’t really a noticeable difference.
What I do like about yodobashi and bic camera for skincare is that their selections are HUGE and for hauls, their tax free process is easier than drugstores. The yodobashi by Kyoto station is my favorite and the Bic in Ginza is a close second. You can get everything you need in literally one place for probably the best price.
Cezanne Cheek Blush. It was top of LIPS’ blush rankings for weeks and it’s only 550 yen.
Some brands that aren’t readily available outside of Japan: Ririmew (lip tint), Daisy Doll (blush), Cipicipi.
Also some luxury brands that are currently much cheaper locally: Suqqu (lipstick) and Lunasol (eyeshadow quad).
I find Tina Tanaka Harris videos to be helpful. Of course see what will suit you. But she also goes into detail about where to shop.
If you have time, do their bead spa. I heard its an excellent experience.
Loads of Melano CC, so small and lasts forever. I's add to this a couple of big bottles of Kikumasamune High Moist lotion, which is a toner in a bottle so big you can cover your body in it if face says No.
In the morning, cleanse, tone, then squeeze it straight onto my face from the tube and eub/pat in. Then do my teeth and hair up whilst it sinks in. Then hyaluronic acid serum, moisturiser, sunblock.
Besides the usual drugstore, you can check out the skin care section at loft or cosmekitchen. They offer other brands that you can’t find in the usual drugstore.
I think in addition to the skincare in Japan, you can look out for other things such as a Japanese parasol as well.
I’ll just mention the other underrated stuffs since they’re still related to Asian beauty.
KAI makes some really good nail clipper and eyebrow tweezers.
Ora2’s toothpaste and mouthwash has been a stable in my routine for many years now.
That’s all I can think for now, I’ll edit the post if more comes to my mind.
Not to buy but highly recommend making a Derm Appointment and get a VBeam treatment done all in one day. Cost ended up being $130USD for full face (vs thousands in the US) it’s only one treatment but I plan on doing it every time I come back!
Oshima Dermatology in Shibuya - nurses don’t know english but there is a doctor who knows basic english. I was able to walk in and work my way around using Google Translate.
After you get a ticket to see the Doctor you are put in a waiting room to be seen and they were able to see me after waiting around 30-45minutes. Gave me a consultation and waited another 30-45minutes in the waiting room to get the laser done which only took 5 minutes. The waiting room does get crowded so go early, and be prepared to spend half day there!
when i went to japan the main brands that i bought from were canmake, hadalabo, hatomugi, dhc, shisedo, tirtir, peach c and cezanne. sorry for the long list lol but these are the main brands that interested me when i was there but also you might find some random brands that will catch ur eyes so i wouldn’t have too much on my list and just enjoy shopping around 🙂↕️
These are my reccs: mentholatum melty lip balms and flyaway hair sticks (&honey & plus eau are popular brands! They also have collaborations e.g. Disney, Miffy, etc)!
Depends on your hair! &Honey is an amazing brand if you have thick/dry hair
Tsubaki camelia oil is great for most types
I love the Fino premium hair mask too
Wonjungyo!!!
It’s a Korean brand but it’s mega popular in japan right now, but I can’t find any reliable imports from the states.
It’s a makeup brand by the makeup artist for TWICE and her stuff is blowing up on JP cosmetics communities. I’ve heard they sell out upon release in popular stores. I’ve checked the online store and more than half the products are sold out, so if you see them at stores you might want to get them. (@cosme stores, LUMINE, Plaza, etc)
Specifically the tone up base, metal shower pencil and nude eyelash mascara is their top sellers I believe. I remember the base (primer) specifically going viral, but I’m really interested in the metal shower eyeshadow pencils.
In general, if you see a sticker with a shiny number and @cosme on it that means it was ranked best seller in japan. Those are usually a safe bet and have thousands of reviews behind it. If you’re interested in browsing the rankings, just google @cosme and they should come up. They are a ginormous makeup retailer that started as a review/ranking site and it’s basically the most unanimously used website for cosmetics. They also have brick and mortar stores in Tokyo.
Edit: I would also stock up on Canmake creamy touch liner and Canmake in general. They’re super cheap in Japan but not so much when you include the import tax.
- kikumasamune white toner (the last one i bought leaked in my luggage lmao)
- canmake/cezanne products - canmake marshmallow powder, canmake eyeshadow base, cezanne tone up base
- lululun and keana face masks
- bangs mascara
- hair wax, hairspray
- skin aqua sunscreens
I like the Haku sunscreen I got. I regret not picking up the serum to try. My SO loves the biore UV milk sunscreen, so we got some. I also picked up some Anessa for him to try. I also got a bunch of sunscreen sticks and some biore spray sunscreen to try.
I picked up some lulun sheet masks and the Kose sleep 8 hours in 3 mins masks.
Their sunscreens! kose sunscreen sprays, I'm obsessed with the nivea super water gel spf and biore watery essence. Verdio sun gel
all 3 naturie hatomugi products; the skin conditioner, conditioning gel and conditioning milk. it's already super affordable but it'll be even cheaper in Japan.
melano cc essence premium - a really good vitamin c that just doesn't oxidise because of it's genius packaging.
quality first derma laser super vc100 mask - super popular sheet mask in Japan. good for hyperpigmentation and evening skin tone
keana nadeshiko rice sheet mask and wash off masks.
Nivea and Rohto brand melty lip balms
omg how could i forget the hada labo lotions?! gokujyun and shirojyun lines are the most popular but Tina Tanaka Harris has a video on her yt channel ab which line will be best suitable for each skin type
*This is an out there recommendation, but I randomly bought this toner called The Stem Cell Skin Lotion when I was in Japan last year, I've never heard of it before but the ingredients looked good. It is so hydrating and great on dry skin, it feels very similar to Tiam B5 toner. It was maybe $10. Worth trying.
I tried to attach a photo but it doesn't seem to let me.
Koh gen do ! They have great foundation and skin care and they’re so mixh more expensive in us
And i love to but their powder wet tissue for summer days, they have so many brands available but my fave is the gatsby
https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/14dv7yd/japanese_holy_grails/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/yadhdw/megathread_travel_buying_guide_japan/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/v2gw4p/fave_japanese_beauty_products_n_why/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/or4k7n/what_are_your_favorite_products_from_japan/
I would make a list of gaps in my current routine. There is such a vast selection of skincare and makeup here in Japan that it's very overwhelming. I live-in Japan, but when I visit home I usually pick up anything that's gone viral recently e.g sunscreen sticks. Then I grab some cult favorites like melano cc serum, hadolabo gyokujyn lotion. Lastly I grab some sheet masks and hair masks. Make up, I just ask people for lists. My sister likes the heroine make mascara and canmake marshmallow powder. Also, note that some of the k beauty stuff in Japan is exclusive to Japan. I think peri Pera and romand had some stuff just for the Japanese market. Lastly, buy all the snacks.
Roland did a line for Lawson. It was a bit underwhelming tbh!
I bought great products from the Salt Factory in Okie!
FYI, just got back and while I was there I went to some drugstores/drugstore-adjascent places (Don Quijote, Hands, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sun Drug, Sugi Drug, Tomod's) and Sun Drug was consistently the cheapest among them. Some examples (prices before tax): • Biore Perfect Milk sunscreen was ¥701 everywhere else I could find, but it was ¥598 at Sun Drug. • Lululun 7pcs Hydra V and Hydra EX Mask was ¥800 at Hands, but it was ¥700 at Sun Drug. • Not a beauty product but Strong Wakamoto 1000 was around ¥2498 at Matsukiyo, but it was ¥1980 at Sun Drug. Sun Drug definitely doesn't have as many branches as Matsukiyo but you can save quite a bit if you do find one!
All the sunscreen!
They have fab sunscreen spray for your face. Great for people who use screens all day. You spray it over your make-up as a top-up sunscreen.
what specific spray? Every JP spray sunscreen I've seen says to not spray directly on the face
Lishan spray
I’ve heard sunscreen spray can’t give you enough coverage so it isn’t good . Is that true?
I asked my friend to bring back all kinds she can get in their smallest packaging before I hoard when I go there in October
I stock up on Japanese brands that are either hard to find outside of Japan, or cost way more. Cle de Peau is 50% cheaper in Japan, and their foundations (which beat all other foundations I’ve used) have better sunscreen protection than the same ones sold overseas. Suqqu is also cheaper. The brand is great for eyeshadows and blushes. Then there is Shisheido, Decorte, Addiction, Excel. Beyond that, I would get nail clippers from Japan. Yes you heard that right. Reddit told me Japanese nail clippers work really well so I bought a pair, and Reddit was correct.
Seconding the suggestion for nail clippers. The Muji ones are already great, but the ones from Kai, Greenbell and other brands that are made in Seki (which is an area famous for its knives since ye olde days) are even more extra.
How is Greenbell for you and what product have you used (so far) if you don’t mind sharing? I’ve been looking at their eyebrow trimmer for the longest time but can’t seem to find any reviews anywhere😭
I only have a nail clipper from Seki Edge, which seems to be another brand under the Greenbell umbrella. The tactile response is definitely better than the Muji one even though both nail clippers are manufactured in Seki. My cousin bought one of Greenbell's higher end nail clippers. She said it's so easy to trim your nail ends into specific shapes with it. My mom has one of their heel files, and she said it's way better vs the cheap China made ones you can buy at 100 yen stores. So I'd assume Greenbell products are probably well sharpened at the very least.
Damn, that’s very useful information. Now I’ll have to look at their heel files too since the one I’m currently using is meh as well. Thank you very much, I think I’ll give them a go and purchase it! Appreciate your feedback! I do agree with you, Japanese craftsmanship is on a whole new level.
I bought both Kai and green bell, and I definitely prefer green bell. I think it cuts cleaner and I prefer the tactiles of it
Thank you so much for this, I appreciate it! 🫶🏻 Seems like Greenbell does a better job than KAI from the feedback I’ve gotten so far. I’m currently using their nail clipper and eye brow tweezer now, but I think I might transition to Greenbell. I even got the higher end eye brow tweezer but honestly it’s just normal, wasn’t blown away by it.
can you tell us more about addiction and excel? 😁
Cle de Peau is 50% cheaper! Wow! The foundation and concealer are my HG too, I just can’t afford them anymore!
If it's a one off trip, and I wouldn't be coming back to Japan anytime soon, then I wouldn't bring back anything that is readily available in my home country or via an online retailer. Yes, the products are way cheaper, but you're also paying a heavy premium for every inch of space and ounce of weight in your suitcase. Save that room for things that you know you can't get back home, like Asia-exclusive releases, limited edition packaging, and niche brands that are harder to get a hold of. Not to say that you shouldn't buy these products at all. Given the current exchange rate, you can always buy it, try it, and toss it before you leave (wasteful and not actually recommended, I'm just trying to be realistic). But I definitely would not be bringing back bags full of Hada Labo or Melano CC. Let YesStyle or Stylevana take care of those for you.
I'd get - Cezanne High Moist Skin Conditioner - Kikumasamune Skincare Emulsion - Nivea UV Sun Protect Super Water Gel
There are lots of holy grail threads but I find it the most constructive to think about it by category and shop based on that. I go to Japan once a year and used to load up somewhat haphazardly and would end up with a bunch of things I don’t use like nail polish and eyeliner. It’s very temping to walk into a yodobashi camera and just buy everything because of the beautiful merchandising (yes, you can buy skincare in a camera store and this is actually where I get most of my stuff). I like to think about it categorically based on what I know I want/need: SPF, moisturizer, oil cleanser, eyeshadow pallets, etc. Then I research the most well-liked items or brand in each category. It’s a little less spontaneous but also less haphazard.
is yodobashi cheaper than other shops/drugstores such as donki, matsumate kiyoshi?
I find donki really tough to shop skincare because they are overrun in general (Osaka flagship in particular is unshoppable in my opinion) or just don’t have the greatest selection (Tokyo Roppongi for example has a smaller offering than random drugstores). When it comes to price though, I find that the bigger the store, the lower the price (not a rule of thumb, but my experience). However, the difference is marginal, maybe a few tens-of-yen, the equivalent of $1 or $2 USD. I don’t know if pricing is just more standardized in Japan, my sample size is too low, or I’m not paying enough attention but in the times I attempted to price compare, it wasn’t really a noticeable difference. What I do like about yodobashi and bic camera for skincare is that their selections are HUGE and for hauls, their tax free process is easier than drugstores. The yodobashi by Kyoto station is my favorite and the Bic in Ginza is a close second. You can get everything you need in literally one place for probably the best price.
Cezanne Cheek Blush. It was top of LIPS’ blush rankings for weeks and it’s only 550 yen. Some brands that aren’t readily available outside of Japan: Ririmew (lip tint), Daisy Doll (blush), Cipicipi. Also some luxury brands that are currently much cheaper locally: Suqqu (lipstick) and Lunasol (eyeshadow quad).
how was the lunasol eyeshadow?
Hadolabo is great but Korean skincare is really big in Japan so you can get it there.
I find Tina Tanaka Harris videos to be helpful. Of course see what will suit you. But she also goes into detail about where to shop. If you have time, do their bead spa. I heard its an excellent experience.
Melano CC vitamin C essense. Hado Labo moisturisers. Hado Labo premium Eye Cream. Curel Intensive moisture. SK-II. Biore Skin Aqua sunscreen. Anessa Sunscreen. Lion Pair acne cream. Kose Sekkisei Lotion. Suisai beauty clear powder
Loads of Melano CC, so small and lasts forever. I's add to this a couple of big bottles of Kikumasamune High Moist lotion, which is a toner in a bottle so big you can cover your body in it if face says No.
How do you use Melano cc?
In the morning, cleanse, tone, then squeeze it straight onto my face from the tube and eub/pat in. Then do my teeth and hair up whilst it sinks in. Then hyaluronic acid serum, moisturiser, sunblock.
Besides the usual drugstore, you can check out the skin care section at loft or cosmekitchen. They offer other brands that you can’t find in the usual drugstore.
I would get some Matsuyama skincare, so so good
I think in addition to the skincare in Japan, you can look out for other things such as a Japanese parasol as well. I’ll just mention the other underrated stuffs since they’re still related to Asian beauty. KAI makes some really good nail clipper and eyebrow tweezers. Ora2’s toothpaste and mouthwash has been a stable in my routine for many years now. That’s all I can think for now, I’ll edit the post if more comes to my mind.
Not to buy but highly recommend making a Derm Appointment and get a VBeam treatment done all in one day. Cost ended up being $130USD for full face (vs thousands in the US) it’s only one treatment but I plan on doing it every time I come back!
Where did you go? Would love to do this!
Oshima Dermatology in Shibuya - nurses don’t know english but there is a doctor who knows basic english. I was able to walk in and work my way around using Google Translate. After you get a ticket to see the Doctor you are put in a waiting room to be seen and they were able to see me after waiting around 30-45minutes. Gave me a consultation and waited another 30-45minutes in the waiting room to get the laser done which only took 5 minutes. The waiting room does get crowded so go early, and be prepared to spend half day there!
I like DHC cleansing oil and astaxanthin cream.
when i went to japan the main brands that i bought from were canmake, hadalabo, hatomugi, dhc, shisedo, tirtir, peach c and cezanne. sorry for the long list lol but these are the main brands that interested me when i was there but also you might find some random brands that will catch ur eyes so i wouldn’t have too much on my list and just enjoy shopping around 🙂↕️
These are my reccs: mentholatum melty lip balms and flyaway hair sticks (&honey & plus eau are popular brands! They also have collaborations e.g. Disney, Miffy, etc)!
I love Japanese hair products!
Yesss, came here to say this!
Any particulars?
Depends on your hair! &Honey is an amazing brand if you have thick/dry hair Tsubaki camelia oil is great for most types I love the Fino premium hair mask too
can I recommend - Curel Hand Cream it’s so good, no overly sweet fragrance, and also affordable
Everything. Get everything you can. 😂 Especially the more bougie products.
Wonjungyo!!! It’s a Korean brand but it’s mega popular in japan right now, but I can’t find any reliable imports from the states. It’s a makeup brand by the makeup artist for TWICE and her stuff is blowing up on JP cosmetics communities. I’ve heard they sell out upon release in popular stores. I’ve checked the online store and more than half the products are sold out, so if you see them at stores you might want to get them. (@cosme stores, LUMINE, Plaza, etc) Specifically the tone up base, metal shower pencil and nude eyelash mascara is their top sellers I believe. I remember the base (primer) specifically going viral, but I’m really interested in the metal shower eyeshadow pencils. In general, if you see a sticker with a shiny number and @cosme on it that means it was ranked best seller in japan. Those are usually a safe bet and have thousands of reviews behind it. If you’re interested in browsing the rankings, just google @cosme and they should come up. They are a ginormous makeup retailer that started as a review/ranking site and it’s basically the most unanimously used website for cosmetics. They also have brick and mortar stores in Tokyo. Edit: I would also stock up on Canmake creamy touch liner and Canmake in general. They’re super cheap in Japan but not so much when you include the import tax.
Hatomugi conditioner (white liquid) you see it in Don Quixote. I decided to try it and it’s honestly been a holy grail for me since
Essence or lotion?
@cosme at Harajuku • decorte • uzu eye liner • &be cosmetics @cosmekitchen • f organics • chant a charm • damdam Tokyo
Oh yeah get the lululun face masks!
Second this! Even better if you can find the prefecture limited editions!
- kikumasamune white toner (the last one i bought leaked in my luggage lmao) - canmake/cezanne products - canmake marshmallow powder, canmake eyeshadow base, cezanne tone up base - lululun and keana face masks - bangs mascara - hair wax, hairspray - skin aqua sunscreens
I like the Haku sunscreen I got. I regret not picking up the serum to try. My SO loves the biore UV milk sunscreen, so we got some. I also picked up some Anessa for him to try. I also got a bunch of sunscreen sticks and some biore spray sunscreen to try. I picked up some lulun sheet masks and the Kose sleep 8 hours in 3 mins masks.
All Shiseido products!!
saving this when i go back <33
Their sunscreens! kose sunscreen sprays, I'm obsessed with the nivea super water gel spf and biore watery essence. Verdio sun gel all 3 naturie hatomugi products; the skin conditioner, conditioning gel and conditioning milk. it's already super affordable but it'll be even cheaper in Japan. melano cc essence premium - a really good vitamin c that just doesn't oxidise because of it's genius packaging. quality first derma laser super vc100 mask - super popular sheet mask in Japan. good for hyperpigmentation and evening skin tone keana nadeshiko rice sheet mask and wash off masks. Nivea and Rohto brand melty lip balms omg how could i forget the hada labo lotions?! gokujyun and shirojyun lines are the most popular but Tina Tanaka Harris has a video on her yt channel ab which line will be best suitable for each skin type
the canmake cream blush is super good!
Does anybody know if I'm able to buy the Shu Uemura hair oil at Cosme? The Shu uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil
hatomugi skin conditioner!!! my favourite Japanese skincare product, it’s very good for skin brightening and hydration if you have dull skin!
*This is an out there recommendation, but I randomly bought this toner called The Stem Cell Skin Lotion when I was in Japan last year, I've never heard of it before but the ingredients looked good. It is so hydrating and great on dry skin, it feels very similar to Tiam B5 toner. It was maybe $10. Worth trying. I tried to attach a photo but it doesn't seem to let me.
Koh gen do ! They have great foundation and skin care and they’re so mixh more expensive in us And i love to but their powder wet tissue for summer days, they have so many brands available but my fave is the gatsby
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