10 Best Japanese Beauty Products of 2022, According to Experts
Skincare and hair products for radiant skin and healthy hair.
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Japan has always been a rich source of beauty inspiration, from the ancient beauty traditions of geishas' clear skin, bold makeup and shiny hair, to the advanced technology and sophisticated packaging of modern times.
Now, thanks to the boom in online shopping and the rise of multinational brands, Japanese beauty (also known as “J-Beauty”) products are now widely available in the U.S. You can find everything from cutting-edge skincare, hair and makeup formulas and textures to traditional ingredients like rice water and camellia flower from Japanese beauty brands, all created with a respect for skin and hair as well as design.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts rounded up the best Japanese beauty products you can buy, including cosmetics, anti-aging, hair products and more, from luxury skincare and makeup brands to drugstore finds:
Pros
- Works for day and night
- Firms skin
- Rich formula
Cons
- May be too heavy for some skin types
- Pricey
This decadent Shiseido anti-aging cream gives skin a lift with botanical ingredients. "I like adding richer moisturizers to my skin routine, and I love using this one day and night," says GH Beauty Lab senior chemist Sabina Wizemann. "It smells nice, feels luxurious on skin, and keeps it bouncy and tighter."
Pros
- Lightweight skin softening
- Created for sensitive skin
It's called a lotion, but this Curél formula, from the best-selling skincare brand in Japan for sensitive skin, is actually a liquid essence. Infused with softening glycerin, castor oil, and allantoin, and fragrance- and alcohol-free, it's great for lightly nourishing and refreshing skin without irritating. "It just soaks into your skin, never makes my face oily or feels heavy, and makes a huge difference for my dry skin," an Ulta reviewer reported.
Pros
- High level sun protection
- Works for face and body
- No mess or spill risk
- No visible residue on skin
From the iconic Japanese beauty brand Shiseido, this high SPF sunscreen stick for face and body is an example of the next-generation formulas the country is famous for: It's a completely clear solid gel, so it leaves no visible residue behind. The stick "applies onto the skin translucent without a white cast," a Dermstore reviewer said. "It is super convenient to throw in a bag (without worrying about potential leakage) and for reapplication purposes."
Pros
- Cleanses and exfoliates at the same time
- Doesn't dry out skin
Cons
- Pricey
From a brand that honors the beauty secrets of Japanese geishas, Tatcha's face wash does double duty, sloughing skin with the fibers of the Japanese luffa fruit as it cleanses. "This gently exfoliates, but I really love how non-drying the formula is," says GH beauty assistant Katie Berohn. "I have dry skin and my face tends to feel tight and uncomfortable after cleansing, but not when I use this."
Pros
- Removes makeup and cleanses simultaneously
- Doesn't dry out skin
Cons
- May be too rich for oily or acne-prone skin
A cult classic and one of the original facial cleansing oils, Japanese brand DHC's olive oil-based wash has more than 2,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. " You’re getting your face clean from deep down in your pores without it stripping away your face’s natural oils," a reviewer raved. "I always have the best skin when I use it regularly."
Pros
- Softens dry lips
- Lightly fruit scented
- Cushiony, soothing texture
Wear this jelly-like leave-on lip mask from Tatcha overnight to wake up to softer lips. Infused with Japanese camellia oil, "It leaves lips feeling plush with no sign of flakes or dryness," GH's beauty director says. "I couldn't stop putting it on and used it until the last drop."
Pros
- Multi-use
- High-quality
- Smooth makeup application
A GH Beauty Award winner, this unique flower-shaped Shiseido powder makeup brush is crafted by hand. Its compact size and curved edges make it easy to grip and help it hug face contours seamlessly.“My makeup looks airbrushed and the bristles are so soft,” a fan said.
Pros
- Smooths skin
- Brightens and evens skin tone
- Large bottle lasts a long time
Cons
- Pricey
Made by SK-II, a brand based on a proprietary yeast extract developed when Japanese scientists noticed that older sake brewery workers had smooth and clear hands from soaking them in the fermented yeast, this gently exfoliating liquid has become iconic for its skin-smoothing effects on mature skin. "My skin texture and tone really improved shortly after I started using this," a Dermstore reviewer said.
Pros
- Lightly conditioning
- Soft scent
Made with softening Japanese camellia seed oil and strengthening rice water, MyKirei by Kao's conditioner works on all hair types. "My strands felt supple and smelled lightly floral after use," GH's beauty director says.
Pros
- Multi-purpose color saves space and money
- Portable size
- Comes in three shades (rose gold, silver, and gold)
These GH Beauty Award-winning weightless cream color pots from Shiseido are the ultimate makeup multitaskers and have a unique, futuristic bouncy texture. They can be used as eyeshadow, over lipcolor or as highlighter on cheekbones and more. “Foolproof application with fingers, and the subtle shimmer enlivened my face,” a tester noted.
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