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Guide to Japanese Skincare | MATOKA
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items While some American skincare is harsh and not ideal for sensitive skin, Japanese skincare is great for dry, sensitive skin types! These are my favorite products that I would live and thrive off of when I was living in Japan! And yes, they're pretty a...
Sections
9
Cleansing
Brightening
Hydration
Eye Cream
Pore Reduction
Exfoliators
Cleansing
Cleansing is step one in your skincare routine and it's good to find a cleanser that really gets into those pores. I really like Perfect Whip cause it's affordable and works. But, I prefer getting the foam bottle instead of the squeeze bottle cause t...
Shiseido Senka Perfect Whip Facial Cleanser 4.2 oz
Curel is a household name in skincare in Japan, you'll see it in every store and pharmacy. They focus on moisturizing for sensitive skin!
Kao Curel Foaming Facial Wash 150 ml
Perfect whip has many different products, this one promotes collagen in it's cleansing foam to give you gentle and moisturized skin.
Shiseido Senka Perfect Whip Collagen In Cleansing Foam 4.2 oz
Rohto Melano CC Deep Clear Enzyme Face Wash 130g 3
SHISEIDO Men face cleanser 130 g
People swear by DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil, made with olive oil in order to avoid clogging pores and keeping a smooth complexion.
DHC DEEP CLEANSING OIL RENEWED AND BRIGHTENED 1 each
Ishizawa Research Institute Japan Baking Soda Deep Cleansing Foam 100 g
Brightening
Rhoto Melano CC is the household name for budget brightening and Vitamin C treatment products. From lotions to serums, you can find whatever you need for whatever skin type you are.
ROHTO MelanoCC Pigmentation Solution 20ml 1 each
Whitening products are very common and popular in Japan, as people like to keep their complexion fair. ShiroJyun is a top competitor in brightening solutions and these lotions are hydrating and light. While lotion makes you think it's a cream, it is ...
Rohto Hada Labo ShiroJyun Premium Whitening Lotion 170 ml
Rohto Melano CC Intensive Anti-Spot Essence 20 ml
Japan Rohto Melano CC Medicated Brightening Toning Lotion 170 ml
Hydration
8 glasses of water a day does wonders, but we still need face hydration. Even in Japan, where the air has visible droplets of water (TY Humidity) its important to use hydrating products, like these!
The Lotion that isn't a lotion! “Lotions” in Japan can come in many different consistencies - this specific one has a watery consistency, almost like a toner. So it will leave your skin hydrated without feeling like there is a coating on your skin!
Hadalabo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Solution
This is going to make you feel like you were slapped with water because it's so hydrating! There's also no fragrance and it's not too creamy, so it doesn't feel like there is a film on your skin when using it!
Imju Naturie Face Lotion 500 ml
If you have dry, sensitive skin, then Curel products will definitely be an asset in your skincare routine. It absorbs quickly without leaving a filmy layer.
Kao Curel Intensive Moisture Care Face Cream 40 g
CUREL Deep Moisturizing Lotion Japan No2 Nourishing 150ml 1 each
Eye Cream
Sana Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Isoflavone Eye Cream is a anti-aging and moisturizing eye cream infused with soy isoflavone extract to help prevent wrinkles. The product hasno fragrance, no artificial colorant, and no mineral oil.
Sana Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk isoflavone Wrinkle Eye Cream 20 g
SHISEIDO Vital Perfection Eye Cream 20g 1 each
Shiseido Benefianth Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream N 15g 1 each
Shiseido Men Total R Eye N 15g 1 each
Pore Reduction
I have pores the size of craters, it's like my face was the first moon landing…but I digress. To prevent my face from becoming the plot of the movie “Holes”, here are some of the skincare products I use to reduce pore size.
I have pores the size of craters so sometimes my face looks like the surface of the moon. Let's reduce pore size together and prevent blackheads with this great Japanese skincare product
Labo Labo Super Pores Lotion
Now there is a lot of talk about whether pore extractions actually close pores, but when your pores are as big as craters on the moon, they aren't gonna shrink if there is gunk in them. So I always try to clean out the pores and this is one of the be...
Biore Pore Strips
Exfoliators
Japanese Exfoliators remove dead skin, but in a gentle manner. I remember trying the “blood mask” when it was trending on TikTok and thought “wow, this hurts”. If you have sensitive skin and don't want to feel the pain of a chemical exfoliator, you s...
One of my favorite Japanese skincare products: Facial/Full-body Peeling Gel, Water-based Exfoliator, And Removes Dry and Dead Skin!
Toyo Cure Aqua Gel Gentle Exfoliator
The competitor, and honestly cheaper version of Cure, yet I haven't tried this before but wanted to give options since the original Cure exfoliator is a bit pricier.
TOYO LIFE CURE Natural Aqua Gel 250 g
Sheet Masks
The mens version of this mask is my favorite sheet mask for hydrating and reducing pore size. Keana Nadeshiko is such a great brand, so I recommend their other products too!
Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask
While I haven't seen this for sale abroad, it's still being sold in Japan, so I don't think it's been discontinued yet. This is probably my fav mask for pore reduction and hydration!
NADESHIKO Men's Mask - 石澤研究所
Keana Nadeshiko's newest released mask, adding pineapple and cucumber to help shrink pores and moisturize! I have tried it before and it is really leaves my skin refreshed!
Ishizawa Lab Keana Nadeshiko Facial Treatment Pore less Masks 10sheets 1 each
If you're not familiar with VC100, it's Japan's patented Vitamin C gel serum that can be found in many of the masks sold at the moment. Derma Laser is a popular brand for face masks, specializing in high concentrations of essences in their masks.
QUALITY 1st Super VC100 Derma Laser Masks 7 sheets 1 each
QUALITY First Dermal Laser Super TEATREE 100 Mask 7pcs 1 each
Sunscreens
In my opinion, the best sunscreen gives protection and doesn't leave your skin filmy and oily. If it moisturizes or adds vitamin C to your skin, that's a plus. But Japanese sunscreen formulas have never done me wrong, so here's my favorites:
THIS IS THE BEST SUNSCREEN EVER! Honestly I think it's discontinued so I would cop this ASAP! Super light on skin, is not oily at all and moisturizes at the same time!
Bioré Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+
After Biore's Water Essence was discontinued, I have had to settle for their second best product. While it is still very thin and not filmy, I think it is not as good as watery essence. But this is what we have now and honestly I can't complain cause...
Biore Skincare - UV Aqua Rich SPF 50 - Kao
While it does have a little bit of a whitecast and is a bit thicker than my watery essence I was so fond of, I can't complain too much when it's packed with Vitamin C for extra brightening - since I use sunscreen everyday!
Rohto Melano CC Sunscreen Brightening Vitamin C UV ...
Rohto Hada Labo UV White Gel is a multi-functional lightweight Japanese sunscreen that hydrates your skin and defends from sunlight. 6 roles in one - toner lotion, serum, emulsion, cream, makeup base and sunscreen. Lightweight gel that keeps the skin...
Rohto Hada Labo Gokujyun UV White Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ 90 g
SKII
Unveil your skin's aura from within with this fast-acting brightening serum. The new Ultraura Cocktail formula contains an active ingredient D-Melano and works faster to visibly improve dullness and help reduce the appearance of dark spots caused by ...
SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence 50 ml
An intensely regenerating facial essence that boosts cell metabolism to energize skin, replenishes skin with exceptional moisture, lightens blemishes & evens out skin tone, and prevents the appearance of wrinkles & fine lines to unveil a soft...
SK II Facial Treatment Essence 230 ml
SKII uses the power of pitera in order to keep your face youthful and wrinkle free. Try to power ket to get SKII's line of most used and favored products.
SK-II PITERA Power Kit Street Art Limited Edition 30ml+20ml+15ml 1 each
A powerful brightening facial essence that features a lightweight milky texture that dissolves rapidly into skin. It is formulated with a unique infusion of Pitera & Prunus extract Rich in anti-oxidants, humectants, vitamins & minerals, which...
SK II GenOptics Aura Essence 50 ml
An advanced, powerful anti-aging facial cream developed with InfinitPower Technology featuring an exclusive cocktail of powerful ingredients. Powered by PITERA, a natural bio-ingredient with over 50 micro-nutrients to condition skin's natural functio...
SK II Skinpower Cream 80 g
SK-II's featured product, focusing on Pitera technology to reduce pores, fine lines and wrinkles. This technology was discovered in sake breweries, as they found that sake workers would have flawless skin due to working so close to the fermentation p...
SK II Facial Treatment Essence 230 ml
SK-II/SK2 Ex-boyfriend mask