Top 15 Japanese Beauty Brands You Can Buy Outside Japan

If you visit Japan, you’ll notice these drugstores are more ubiquitous than other stalls and filled with locals and tourists. Japanese drugstores are an equally great, largely untapped source for high-quality Japanese beauty products at inexpensive prices. However, as one of the leading beauty sources, these Japan Cosmetic brands are ranking to be available in any other country:

Shiseido

This is the oldest and fourth largest cosmetics company in the world was founded in 1872 by Yushin Fukuhara. Arinobu Fukuhara, former head pharmacist to the Japanese Imperial Navy introduced Japan to its first Western-style pharmacy in Ginza, Tokyo after traveling to the United States and Europe. Shiseido’s early success arrived through building a clientele of royalty and high society through which it’s reputation spread and popularity grew. Over the next 20 years, Shiseido shifted from pharmacy based products to cosmetics. Other Shiseido products included a superior toothpaste and record-breaking white face powder.

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Shu Uemura

After Shu Uemura stepped in the movie set of Geishawas, he found himself in a period of discovery, inspired by the magic of make-up pigments he had been introduced to. This then became the starting point for him to switch direction and is how Shu Uemura came to become a celebrity make-up artist in Hollywood who looked after the stars of the time like Frank Sinatra, Shirley Maclaine, Audrey Hepburn. There is even talk that Old Blue Eyes once wrote a song for him called Shu Shu Baby. Shu introduced the first-ever cleansing oil for the skin in 1967 called Unmask which was a revolution in the beauty world as it had the effect of cleansing the skin and taking off all impurities, yet still was water-soluble and removed all residue from the skin. The cleansing oil put the industry on its head and became the fastest-selling beauty product ever recorded, with one bought every three minutes around the world. Today the oil has formed the basis for many facial products used by therapists and is available for all skin types.

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Biore

Developed exclusively to care for pores, the Biore skincare range has products that work with the skin to combat dirt and oil and fight blackheads and clogged pores. The collection offers a full range of cleansers, pore-cleansing strips, and specialty products to help achieve a clear, radiant complexion. Their products, whether it be nose strips, scrubs, or cleansers all aim at unclogging your pores for a deep clean that keeps other skincare problems at bay.

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Dolly Wink

A very well-known gyaru, model, and singer Tsubasa Masuwaka created the Dolly Wink and is famous for its eyelashes which have been the all-time favorite lash brand among many models in Japan. Handmade by Koji craftsmen, an eye makeup product specialist manufacturer with a history of over 80 years, Dolly Wink eyelashes are durable and can be reused for over a month. The soft but durable transparent adhesive band, with lashes that are intricately shaved at the ends that give you the signature Dolly Wink flutter. They also tend to be able to retain their curl better than other false lashes and are both longer & wider.

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Liese

Liese brings women a range of hair products that include color, styling, and leave-in treatments. Their main goal is to help women achieve gorgeous professional-looking hairstyles in their own homes, so you can step out to face the world feeling chic and confident.

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Olay Regenerist Cellscience

Although Olay isn’t traditionally a Japanese brand, the Olay Regenerist Cellscience range will be made in Japan. This new line has a formula infused with the breakthrough Super Peptide Complex, as well as Olay’s signature ingredient, Niacinamide. With over 10 years of studies to prove, Olay has shown that “less than 1% of skin cells are Origin Cells”. 

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Tatcha

If you didn’t know, Tatcha is actually a Japanese skincare brand too! This cult favourite caters to modern women while honouring ingredients and time-tested traditions found in Japan. Furthermore, Tatcha’s star ingredient is the Hadasei-3™, which contains anti-ageing superfoods. They also have a variety of products to help combat numerous skin concerns such as oiliness, acne scars, skin tone and more. 

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Natural Aqua Gel Cure

Natural Aqua Gel Cure rose to fame fairly quickly. Founded back in 2003, this Japanese skincare brand has a star product that focuses on extremely gentle exfoliation. Exfoliating with Natural Aqua Gel doesn’t feel painful or grainy at all. Its exfoliators have a water-like consistency, as do all Japanese exfoliators. The brand also lives by 3Rs – remove, replenish and retain. 

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DHC

Embracing the Japanese concept of wasabi, DHC has been revolutionising skincare for over 40 years! They do this by fusing together traditional botanicals with all the latest sciences to offer your skin superior nourishment. Their best sellers are the Deep Cleansing Oil and Olive Virgin Oil. Both of which are formulated with one of the world’s most nourishing oil, olive oil. 

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Hada Labo

Hada Labo has over 100 years of research development and is the Japanese term for “Skin Lab”. Moreover, Hada Labo’s best selling product is also Japan’s No. 1 face lotion. Their star ingredient is the Super Hyaluronic Acid, which provides even hydration across your skin. Offering your skin a supple and youthful look. 

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Sekkisei

Sekkisei is a time-trusted Japanese skincare brand. All of their products are truly the best for hydrating, illuminating and replenishing your skin. What’s more is that it has been a trademark of Sekkisei ever since 1985. Today, Sekkisei still continues to combine traditional Japanese and Chinese herbs with research. Thus giving you acne-free skin that looks translucent. 

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Senka

Senka is yet another popular Japanese brand best known for its facial cleansers. Senka’s Perfect Whip foam facial cleanser is a fan favourite as it leaves the skin feeling hydrated and clean. With nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, you are bound to fall in love with this Japanese skincare brand. 

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SK-II

As the reigning queen of skincare essences, we can’t forget SK-II. They use a formulation with their signature ingredient, Pitera™. This special ingredient promotes elasticity, natural rejuvenation and minimises the appearance of pores. Aside from that, it can also brighten your skin and even out your skin tone! Truly the whole package that everyone needs. 

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Cezanne

Cezanne is best known in Japan for being an affordable beauty brand. Offering high quality products at affordable prices, Cezanne is the best way to pamper yourselves on a budget. 

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Heroine Make 

Enter your local Watsons and you just might find Heroine Make sitting on a shelf. Their mascaras are beloved and of world-class quality. With an adorable anime packaging, it is definitely a scene-stealer. Choose from their wide variety of different mascaras for different needs. If you need a quick wipe to remove your smudged mascara, don’t worry because they also sell a Speedy Mascara Remover too! 

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