Japanese beauty rituals focus on being gentle, effective, and consistent—and the best Japanese skincare products embody this holistic approach. Esthetician Erica Choi explains that Japanese skincare philosophy involves multiple steps tailored to specific needs while promoting long-term skin health. “Key steps include double cleansing, layering lightweight hydrating products, and daily sun protection—all working together to achieve clear, glowing skin,” she says.
### Vogue’s Favorite Japanese Skincare Products
Best Sunscreen
Sekkisei Herbal UV Defense Gel
$30 at Amazon
Best Hydrating Lotion
Kikumasamune Moisturizing Hydrating Japanese Body & Skin Toning Lotion
$19 at Amazon
Best for a Glow
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
$72 at Tatcha
While some Japanese skincare gems require a trip to Japan, many top products are now just a click away. To help navigate the options (and language barriers), we’ve curated a list of the best Japanese skincare products, as recommended by Vogue editors and experts.
### What Makes Japanese Skincare Special?
Japanese skincare emphasizes gentle yet effective formulas, often featuring natural ingredients like sake, green tea, and rice bran. The multi-step approach ensures thorough care, from deep cleansing to hydration and protection.
### Best Sunscreen: Sekkisei Herbal UV Defense Gel
$30 at Amazon
Why We Love It: Japanese sunscreens are known for their lightweight, non-greasy textures—far ahead of many U.S. options. This SPF 40 gel blends herbal extracts like Job’s Tears seed, angelica root, and licorice to hydrate and brighten skin without residue.
Key Ingredients: Coix seed extract, angelica gigas root extract, licorice root extract
Skin Type: Dry, combination, normal
Size: 1 oz
### Best Serum: Tatcha The Silk Serum
$98 at Tatcha
Why We Love It: Ideal for mature skin, this serum tackles fine lines, wrinkles, and texture with liquid silk protein and Japanese seaweed. The Hadasei-3 complex (a blend of green tea, rice, and algae) delivers deep hydration and nutrients.
Key Ingredients: Silk protein, Japanese seaweed, Hadasei-3
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 30 mL
### Best Face Moisturizer: Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer
$65 at BlueMercury
Why We Love It: A Japanese favorite, this moisturizer locks in hydration with hydromanil (derived from tara seeds) and nourishes with shea butter, mango butter, and avocado oil.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, mango butter, tara seed extract
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1.7 oz
### Best Hydrating Lotion: Kikumasamune Moisturizing Lotion
$19 at Amazon
Why We Love It: Packed with sake and moisturizing ingredients, this lotion hydrates and brightens skin with a fast-absorbing, lightweight formula.
Key Ingredients: Sake extract, ceramides, arbutin
Skin Type: All skin types
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A refreshing, smooth finish that boosts skin hydration and elasticity. No sticky residue—just healthy, glowing skin you’ll love.
Key Ingredients: Junmai Ginjo sake, amino acids
Skin Type: Dry, rough skin
Size: 500 mL
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### Best Hyaluronic Acid: Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Solution
Price: $16 ($14 with 13% off) | Where to Buy: Amazon
Why We Love It: Why use just one type of hyaluronic acid when you can get multiple? This lightweight, fast-absorbing serum delivers intense hydration—perfect for dry skin or winter weather. Choi raves, “It deeply moisturizes, plumps fine lines, and keeps skin supple.”
Key Ingredients: Nano hyaluronic acid, super hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 170 mL
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### Best Cleanser for Sensitive Skin: Curel Japanese Skin Care Facial Cleansing Oil
Price: $15 ($13 with 13% off) | Where to Buy: Amazon
Why We Love It: A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser that removes sunscreen and oil without irritation. Choi says, “It melts away makeup and dirt while protecting skin’s moisture barrier with ceramides, leaving skin soft and hydrated.”
Key Ingredients: Ceramides
Skin Type: Dry, sensitive skin
Size: 150 mL
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### Best Cream Cleanser: Albion Infinesse Face Release Cleansing Cream
Price: $45 | Where to Buy: Nordstrom
Why We Love It: More than a cleanser—it strengthens the skin barrier with OSK9 Peptide (a high-tech complex backed by Osaka University research). Choi notes, “It dissolves makeup while conditioning skin, leaving it silky smooth.”
Key Ingredients: Mei Gui Hua extract, royal jelly extract, resveratrol
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 170 g
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### Best Smoothing Cream: Damdam Mochi Mochi Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer
Price: $48 | Where to Buy: Moda Operandi
Why We Love It: Inspired by soft mochi, this cream hydrates with rice bran, hyaluronic acid, and botanical oils. Phytic acid (a gentle AHA from Japanese rice) subtly exfoliates for smoother skin over time. Lightweight yet deeply nourishing—perfect for waking up glowing.
Key Ingredients: Shiso leaf, phytic acid, hyaluronic acid, rice bran, willow bark extract
Skin Type: Mature, dry skin
Size: 1.8 oz
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### Best Night Cream: Clé de Peau Beauté Intensive Fortifying Cream
Price: $190 | Where to Buy: Nordstrom
Why We Love It: A luxury Japanese brand under Shiseido, Clé de Peau’s rich night cream supports skin’s natural renewal. Choi explains, “Powered by their proprietary illuminator, it…”
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Best Moisturizer: Clé de Peau Beauté Intensive Fortifying Emulsion
Why We Love It: This luxurious moisturizer deeply hydrates, strengthens the skin barrier, and boosts firmness. Its rich texture and high-quality formula reflect Clé de Peau Beauté’s premium position in Shiseido’s skincare line.
Key Ingredients: 4MSK, ononis spinosa root extract, okra extract, peony root extract
Skin Type: Normal to dry
Size: 1.7 oz
Best Lip Treatment: Decorté Liposome Advanced Lip Repair Serum
Why We Love It: This lip serum uses multi-layer liposome technology to deliver hydration and repair deep into the skin. It smooths fine lines, restores softness, and locks in moisture. Liposomes ensure active ingredients reach where they’re needed most—though results build over time, aligning with J-beauty’s gentle, long-term approach.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, shea butter, jojoba oil, serine, squalane, vitamin E
Skin Type: Dry, cracked lips
Size: 0.24 oz
Best Hydrating Sunscreen: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen SPF 50+
Why We Love It: This lightweight sunscreen feels like a water-based serum, absorbing instantly without stickiness or a white cast. Ideal for those who avoid sunscreen due to heaviness, it offers strong broad-spectrum protection while hyaluronic acid and glycerin keep skin hydrated. It layers smoothly under makeup and has no typical sunscreen scent.
Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, hyaluronic acid, glycerin
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 3.7 oz
Best for a Glow: Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
Why We Love It: A cult favorite, this cream hydrates and nourishes with Japanese botanicals like Hadasei-3 (green tea, rice, algae) and purple rice. Rich in antioxidants, it delivers deep moisture for a dewy, plump look while soothing irritation.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, red algae, Hadasei-3, squalane, Japanese purple rice
Skin Type: Dry, dull, or aging skin
Size: 50 mL
Best Oil Cleanser: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Why We Love It: This makeup remover effortlessly dissolves even stubborn products without stripping skin. Enriched with olive oil and vitamin E, it cleanses while maintaining moisture and offering antioxidant benefits.
Key Ingredients: Organic olive oil, rosemary leaf oil, vitamin E
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 6.7 oz
Best Essence: SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
Why We Love It: Known as “miracle water,” this essence is packed with pitera (vitamins, amino acids, minerals) to refine texture, brighten, and hydrate.
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“It gives a more youthful, radiant glow,” Choi says. If you’re hesitant to try it, Dr. Lee assures that the formula is clean and simple with minimal additives, reducing the risk of irritation—ideal for sensitive skin.
Key Ingredients: SK-II’s Pitera
Skin Type: Dry, combination, normal
Size: 75 mL
### Best Eye Cream: Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream
Price: $65 (Nordstrom, Amazon)
Why We Love It: Perfect for nighttime use, this deeply hydrating eye cream smooths fine lines around the delicate eye area while brightening for a more awake, youthful look—great for those nights when you skip your magnesium drink or lose sleep. Dr. Lee adds, “It’s especially beneficial for mature skin or visible signs of aging around the eyes.”
Key Ingredients: Peptides, squalane, ginseng extract, turmeric
Skin Type: Dry, combination, normal
Size: 15 mL
### Best Gel Cream: Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream
Price: $20 (17% off on Amazon)
Why We Love It: The secret to its deep hydration is its signature Super Hyaluronic Acid, which Choi says “locks in moisture, plumping skin and reducing fine lines.” Plus, with collagen, arginine, and ceramide in the mix—all for under $20—it’s a steal.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, collagen, arginine, ceramide
Skin Type: Fine lines, wrinkles
Size: 1.76 oz
### Best Cleansing Balm: Perfect One Focus Smooth Cleansing Balm
Price: $25 (Amazon)
Why We Love It: A staple in J-beauty, this balm blends sunflower and olive oils to melt away makeup and impurities while soothing skin. Dr. Lee notes it also contains calming botanicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. If you wear heavy makeup, this removes it effortlessly—no harsh scrubbing needed.
Key Ingredients: Natural citrus essential oils
Skin Type: Dry, combination, normal
Size: 2.64 oz
### Best Makeup Wipes: Koh Gen Do Spa Cleansing Water Cloth
Price: $62 (Amazon, Violet Grey)
Why We Love It: While most wipes get criticized, these stand out. Choi says the ultra-soft fabric removes makeup gently without tugging. Infused with micellar water, they leave skin clean and refreshed—ideal for travel. Plus, the soothing scents (like lavender and rosemary) add a spa-like touch.
Key Ingredients: Rosemary, sage, white birch sap, lavender
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 10 cloths
### What Makes Japanese Skincare Special?
For Getz, it’s all about philosophy: “It’s not just looking good today—it’s about long-term skin health, radiance, and resilience.” She explains that in Japan, beauty ties into wellness—skincare is self-care, not just cosmetics. Every step, from cleansing to moisturizing, is intentional, working with your skin’s natural rhythm.
Choi adds that Japanese skincare thrives on mastery—continuously refining formulas over decades. “Scientists and artisans build on tradition, making textures smoother, hydration deeper, and results more consistent.”
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This version keeps the original meaning while improving flow, simplifying complex phrasing, and making it sound more natural. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!Japanese skincare combines tradition with a deep respect for harmony and simplicity, creating gentle yet highly effective products. You’ll notice this in their ingredient lists, where timeless botanicals like green tea, rice bran, and camellia oil are enhanced with modern technology. The result is skincare rituals that focus as much on mindful care as they do on visible results.
What are the most popular ingredients in Japanese skincare?
According to expert Kyoko Getz, Japanese skincare favorites include fermented extracts, green tea, seaweed, rice bran, and panax ginseng. In recent years, advanced yet gentle ingredients have also gained popularity, such as CO₂, exosomes, liposomes, placenta extract, multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, nano-collagen, APPS (a stable form of vitamin C), and human-type ceramides.
The Ideal Japanese Skincare Routine
Getz explains that the perfect Japanese skincare routine isn’t about the number of steps but about choosing the right ones and applying them with care. “We see skincare as a daily ritual—an act of patience, respect, and self-love,” she says. The goal is never to disrupt the skin’s natural balance but to support its barrier function.
For a structured approach, esthetician Erica Choi recommends starting with an oil or cream cleanser to remove makeup and impurities, followed by a gentle foaming cleanser. Next, apply a hydrating lotion or essence to prep the skin, then a targeted serum for concerns like brightening or firming. Finish with a moisturizer to lock in hydration and, in the morning, always apply sunscreen—rain or shine. Evening routines can include a richer night cream or a mask. “The philosophy is to layer lighter textures first, then build to richer creams,” Choi says. “It’s about treating skincare as a mindful practice, not a chore.”
Why Use Japanese Beauty Products?
Vicky Tsai, founder of Tatcha, highlights the holistic approach of Japanese beauty. “In Japan, skincare is about caring for both the skin and the mind,” she explains. “They understand that inner health reflects outwardly, so true skincare means nurturing every part of yourself.” This philosophy extends to diet, with longevity-boosting ingredients like rice, green tea, and algae—staples in both Japanese cuisine and beauty rituals for centuries.
Due to Japan’s hot, humid summers, sun protection is also a priority. “Many sunscreens are sweat- and water-resistant, while powerful cleansers ensure thorough removal of sunscreen and excess oil,” Choi adds. Primers and setting sprays are popular to keep makeup flawless all day.
Meet the Experts
– Erica Choi: Licensed esthetician and founder of Superegg.
– Kyoko Getz: Renowned esthetician and Kyoto native based in Beverly Hills.
– Dr. Kimberly Lee: Board-certified facial and reconstructive plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills.
– Vicky Tsai: Co-founder of Tatcha.