13 Best Japanese Skin Care Products ELLE Editors and Experts Love

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Belonging to the hyper-reactive skin club means I’m constantly asking myself the perennial question, “Is less indeed more when it comes to skin care products?” In recent years, instead of relying on a 10-step routine of potent serums and treatments to help combat shine and brighten my dark spots, I’ve decided to take a simpler approach to minimize my side effects. Enter: Japanese skin care, which focuses on using fewer, gentle yet effective formulas that marry the best of centuries-old traditions with modern innovation.

“Japanese skin care has a long legacy and deep cultural influence in the skin care industry, felt throughout Asia and Europe and lately, spreading wider to the U.S,” says Giselle Go, co-founder of clean Japanese skin care brand DamDam. “It has a reputation for incorporating time-honored, high-efficacy ingredients like rice, shiso, konnyaku, and tea while introducing new, well-researched formulas. The focus is on maintaining overall skin health rather than isolating specific issues, a philosophy in line with the growing interest in minimalism, wellness, and self-care. We also have some of the most stringent regulations in skin care, so the quality and safety standards of Japanese products are trusted globally.”

In fact, for my fellow sensitive skin sufferers, J-beauty products can be an especially great option. “Japanese formulations are designed to integrate into the skin and never feel greasy, or like they are ‘sitting’ on the surface,” explains Tracy O’Connor, director of Shiko Beauty Collective, a U.S.-based retailer of under-the-radar Japanese beauty products. “They tend to have pH-balanced formulas and don’t formulate with things like strong acids or retinoids that can be beneficial but also cause a host of other problems like redness or barrier dysfunction.”

Thanks to mainstream media and a growing number of brands making J-beauty accessible in the West, there are tons of great Japanese skin care products now available at your favorite stores. As a big fan of them myself, I’ve shared some of my go-to's ahead, and tapped the above experts, a handful of dermatologists, and fellow ELLE editors to find the 13 best Japanese skin care products worth adding to your lineup—from moisturizers to toners, cleansers and face masks.

Nomad's Cream Purifying & Exfoliating AHA Cleanser

I’ve tried dozens upon dozens of cleansers, only to find they either leave me feeling tight and dry or don’t thoroughly cleanse my easily congested pores. But DamDam’s exfoliating cleanser has been a total game-changer for me.

“Exfoliation doesn’t normally have a place in Japanese skin care—any harsh exfoliant or chemical is a big no-no—so we were looking to create something that allowed for dead skin removal while being extremely gentle,” explains Go. “We turned to Japanese Konnyaku, a fiber-rich, highly-absorbent tuber plant that we eat in detoxifying diets, as our key ingredient for this product. It acts as a physical exfoliant, with the gentlest of granules that melt into the skin, bringing with it its absorption power. The result is super-smooth skin that feels hydrated and plump to the touch. It does the double duty of gently cleansing and serving as your first layer of hydration. It is my personal favorite, too!” she adds.

• Key ingredients: Konnyaku, phytic acid, tea tree oil

• Skin type: All

• Size: 5.3 oz.

Pitera Facial Treatment Mask - 10 Masks

SK-11 has been a pioneer in Japanese skin care for over four decades, loved by celebrities, estheticians, and beauty editors worldwide. These editor-approved sheet masks are the perfect pick-me-up for thirsty skin in need of a little extra R&R. They flood the skin with a concentrated dose of SK-II’s iconic Pitera essence, which contains over 50 micro-nutrients to deeply nourish, enhance the skin barrier, and help reverse damage.

“Putting this on after an ‘everything’ shower is free therapy to my skin (and me!),” attests Bianca Rodriguez, Hearst fashion and luxury commerce editor. “The price is less than ideal for most folks, but the results I’ve seen after a week of use rival the results of the most luxurious facial.”

• Key ingredients: Pitera

• Skin type: Normal, oily, combination, dry

• Size: 10 masks

Spaoxy Gel Bright Plus (6 Masks)

“As a part of the J-beauty skin care trend, I have always been a great fan of CO2 masks,” says Hinako Sugioka, a skin care expert and Japan-based curator for Shiko Beauty Collective. “Carbonic acid (CO2) contained in a mask has the effect of dilating blood vessels and improving blood flow, helping to activate skin cells and make the skin firm and radiant. I especially love Spaoxy Gel Bright Plus from Dr. Medion, because it not only does the above job, but the Yuzu citrus fragrance of this product is amazing! It will make you feel like you’re in a luxurious spa at home.”

O’Connor is also a fan of these masks, adding that “they improve skin tone and texture, even around the eye area, tighten pores, and help reduce redness.” To use, mix the included gel and powder packet to create a frothy mixture, then apply it with the included spatula.

• Key ingredients: Carbonic acid, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, royal jelly extract, vitamin C

• Skin type: All

• Size: 3 masks

Deep Cleansing Oil

“Japanese cleansing oils and balms are beautifully formulated to not only melt off makeup and moisturize skin, but also preserve the pH balance and help breakdown keratolytic plugs that lead to enlarged pores, blackheads, acne, and irritations,” says O’Connor. This version from classic Japanese skin care brand DHC is also beloved by celebrity esthetician Ian Michael Crumm. “DHC is known for its high-quality cleansing oil, which effectively removes makeup and impurities within pores without leaving a greasy residue behind,” he notes. “It’s a staple first step in the double-cleansing method.” Plus, it’s high in antioxidants to protect the skin against skin of aging.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin E, rosemary leaf oil, olive oil fruit

• Skin type: All

• Size: 6.7 oz.

Future Solution LX Total Radiance Foundation SPF 20

While this is technically a foundation, Shiseido’s SPF 20 formula works to blur and improve imperfections, featuring skin-loving ingredients like soothing green tea, brightening vitamin C, and plumping Japanese Angelica root extract. “I saw my friend, makeup artist Nam Vo, used this in an Instagram story and marveled over how flawlessly it covered any sort of dark eye circles (not that she has any),” shares ELLE beauty director Kathleen Hou. “Something about this foundation, which is admittedly very rich, works to brighten and lighten my under eyes in a way that doesn’t require any color-correcting. The little hollow I have in my under eyes looks filled when I put this on, and I look much less gray and tired.”

• Key ingredients: SkingenecellEnmei complex, green tea, vitamin C, Angelica root extract

• Skin type: All

• Size: 1.2 oz.

Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Solution

After cleansing, a key part of any Japanese skin care routine is to use a hydrating serum, essence, or toner to create a silky base. Crumm recommends this cult-loved toner from Tokyo-based brand Hadalabo, which features a slightly thicker gel-like consistency but should sink into skin quickly. “It contains multiple types of hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturize, leaving the skin plump and radiant,” he says. It also includes lactic acid to gently buff away impurities and is free of common sensitizers like fragrance, dyes, oil, alcohol, and parabens. For the best results, add a few drops to damp skin to increase hydration levels.

• Key ingredients: 7 types of hyaluronic acid, lactic acid

• Skin type: All, dry

• Size: 5.74 oz.

Bio-Performance Skin Filler Serum Duo

With impending winter weather threatening to wreak havoc on our complexions, Hou calls this serum duo her skin care secret weapon. “This dual serum is cleverly formulated,” she says. “One bottle holds a liquid shrunken hyaluronic acid to more easily penetrate the skin. The other holds an ‘expansion serum,’ which works to further hydrate and plump. I found that either way, if I used both bottles or just one, my skin felt soft and really moisturized, even on the coldest winter days. This combo of serums got me through the polar vortexes of 2023.”

Looking for a product that’s like botox in a bottle? This J-beauty serum and ELLE Future of Beauty 2022 award winner will also be right up your alley, as it’s been clinically shown to visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles and increase skin elasticity in just two weeks.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, red clover extract, cinnamon extract

• Skin type: Dry, aging

• Size: 1 oz.

Intensive Facial Cream

Of course, you’ll also need a good moisturizer on deck. This drugstore classic is dermatologist-approved to provide intense yet gentle hydration. “Curel’s Intensive Moisture Facial Cream is a wonderful find for dry, sensitive skin as a final step in a morning or night regimen,” says dermatologist Dr. Claire Wolinsky. “With glycerin, ceramides, and dimethicone, the cream feels light but strongly moisturizes. It contains no alcohol, fragrance or preservatives, which is typical of Japanese skin care restoring the skin barrier.”

• Key ingredients: Glycerin, ceramides, dimethicone

• Skin type: Dry, sensitive

• Size: 1.4 oz.

The Dewy Skin Cream

Another great pick for dry, sensitive skin, The Dewy Skin Cream is by far the most well-known and popular product from fan-favorite J-brand Tatcha. In fact, two of the dermatologists we spoke with endorsed this cream. “Japanese skin care likes to utilize few ingredients from nature that have antioxidant and hydrating benefits along with more well-known ingredients like hyaluronic acid to boost skin moisture,” explains Dr. Wolinsky. “The Dewy Skin Cream by Tatcha has rice, algae, and botanical extracts. And like most Japanese skin care products, it has no fragrances, sulfates, or parabens.”

Dermatologist Dr. Carmen Castilla adds that the formula is rich yet absorbs well and can be used year-round. I’ve personally tried this formula and can confirm it is super hydrating, but I found it was a bit too thick for my combo skin (aka layering this on left me looking shinier than I would like). For a formula better suited to combo or oily skin, try Tatcha’s Oil-free Water Cream, which is designed to boost moisture levels while limiting excess sebum.

• Key ingredients: Japanese purple rice, algae, ginseng, wild thyme, and sweet marjoram extracts

• Skin type: Normal, dry

• Size: 0.34-2.5 oz.

Comfort Day Mist Set & Protect

Courtesy of Decorté, one of Japan’s leading luxury beauty brands and another ELLE Future of Beauty award winner, “this ultra fine mist is packaged in a spray bottle that evenly disperses over your face in one spritz,” says ELLE Digital Beauty Director Danielle James. “Its 2-in-1 formula doubles as the perfect mist for hydration and setting spray. After you spray, the refreshing aroma transforms your olfactory senses into a luscious garden where you catch the whiff of a citrus farm in the distance. Be right back, gonna take a spritz now,” she adds.

• Key ingredients: Dimethicone, rosemary leaf extract, witch hazel

• Skin type: All

• Size: 2 oz.

Indigo Overnight Repair

Hearst fashion and luxury commerce editor Tatjana Freund especially loves Tatcha’s Overnight Repair Cream, which works to calm, strengthen, and hydrate the skin barrier while you sleep. “Of all the luxury skin care I re-purchase regularly, Tatcha is on the top of the list,” she says. “I’m obsessed with nearly all their products—the Kissu Lip Mask never leaves my side—but the Overnight Repair Cream is a true standout for me.” This serum-in-moisturizer hybrid stars antioxidant-rich Japanese indigo and red sage root to double down on redness due to environmental aggressors, so you can wake up feeling and looking refreshed.

• Key ingredients: Japanese indigo, red sage root, ceramides, hyaluronic acid

• Skin type: All

• Size: 1.7 oz.

Oil Cleansing All Day Reset

Those with oily or acne-prone skin may also want to try this cleansing oil, suggests James. “Your waterproof mascara and eyeliner don’t stand a chance against it,” she says. “It has a nice herbal scent that makes you actually want to wash your makeup off. Plus, the formula includes sesame and safflower oils, which help with texture, tone, and minimizing breakouts.”

• Key ingredients: Sesame, safflower, and jojoba oils

• Skin type: All

• Size: 5-8.4 oz.

Brightening 18-Piece Mask Treatment Supreme Set

“On my very first trip to Japan, my mom and I went to visit a Cle de Peau counter,” shares Hou. “I was interested in their concealer, the stick that has won hundreds of beauty awards, which I still use to this day. My mom was curious about their skin care, and she continues to have at least one Cle de Peau product in her routine. More recently, this sheet mask is a new favorite. It is the richest, most decadent sheet mask I’ve ever tried. My skin forgets what it’s like to be dry after using this,” she notes.

These masks come as a set of 18 with the brand’s Gentle Exfoliator Serum, which is made to be applied as a first step to unclog pores and allow for increased absorption of the mask’s ingredients. Highlights include Cle de Peau’s exclusive 4MSK complex, rehmannia root extract, and sea ferment to reduce the look of dark spots and boost overall radiance.

• Key ingredients: 4MSK complex, rehmannia root extract, and sea ferment

• Skin type: Dull, discolored

• Size: 18 masks

What makes J-beauty unique?

“Many Japanese products are associated with the ‘Ishoku Dogen’ or ‘You are what you eat’ approach,” explains Sugioka. “We’ve maintained many unique, nutrient-rich natural ingredients, such as rice bran and green tea, that are good for your diet and have been used for skin care from ancient times. They all have a proven record of efficacies and are safe for long-term use.”

Alongside these traditional, time-tested ingredients, O’Connor notes that Japanese beauty brands have also pioneered innovations, like patented ceramide and proprietary hyaluronic acid technologies, that are “the gold standard.” Sugioka mentions that some Japanese skin care companies are even focusing on utilizing cutting-edge treatments from regenerative medicine, such as stem cell technologies and sirtuin proteins.

What kinds of skin care rituals does J-beauty focus on?

“Japanese skin care often follows a minimalist philosophy, advocating for fewer but highly effective products,” explains Crumm.

Per Go, the focus is always on gentle cleansing and layered hydration. “Proper cleansing is crucial in Japanese skin care, including a double-cleansing method—which involves using an oil-based cleanser and then a water-based cleanser to ensure thorough removal of makeup—sunscreen, and impurities,” she says. “This is followed by light layers of hydration using serums, moisturizers, and essences (or lightweight yet richly hydrating formulas that contain a higher concentration of ingredients) to maintain and seal in the skin’s moisture levels. Through this approach, the benefits of each product can be fully soaked into the skin.”

Our other experts note Japanese skin care rituals often include facial massaging for extra soothing benefits and an enhanced emphasis on a multi-sensory experience. “For instance, when washing your face, enjoy the smell of the product and pay attention to the way it feels as you are applying it,” says dermatologist Merry Thorton.

What are some key ingredients in Japanese skin care?

“Japanese skin care products have many moisturizing ingredients like silk and rice, which also are soothing to inflammation,” says Dr. Wolinsky. “Ceramides, one of the best ingredients in moisturizers and the building blocks of skin, are used in many Japanese skin care lotions and creams. There are also a lot of powerful antioxidant ingredients used in Japanese skin care products, too, such as algae, green tea, mushrooms, and vitamin C.”

What are some key differences between J-beauty and K-beauty, in terms of their approach to skin care?

“With Japanese skin care, there is a strong emphasis on maintaining healthy skin through streamlined, gentle, consistent care, whereas K-beauty is known for its trendy and elaborate maximalist routines,” Giselle says. “Overall, Japanese skin care is grounded in timeless skin care wisdom, innovating in a gradual manner that adheres to stringent Japanese safety and quality regulations. Korean skin care is all about adopting new ingredients and technologies, making it more trend-focused. The two can blend beautifully together. What is important is creating a consistent ritual that suits your skin.”

Meet the Experts

Giselle Go is the co-founder of clean Japanese skin care brand DamDam.

Tracy O’Connor is the brand director of Shiko Beauty Collective, a U.S.-based e-tailer curating premium Japanese beauty products.

Hinako Sugioka is a skin care expert with over 30 years of experience leading development for brands like Shiseido and NARS Cosmetics. She is currently based in Japan and a curator for Shiko Beauty Collective.

Ian Michael Crumm is a celebrity esthetician and co-host of the podcast BeautyCurious.

Dr. Carmen Castilla is a board-certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group and clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Dr. Claire Wolinsky is a board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology.

Merry Thorton is a board-certified dermatology physician assistant, licensed skin care expert, and Founder of Element Medical Aesthetics.

Why Trust ELLE Beauty

Sam Peters is a seasoned commerce writer and editor with over five years of experience covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle topics. For this story, she personally tested Japanese skin care products and tapped a range of skin care experts to find the best options on the market and learn more about what makes J-beauty so unique. She also spoke with ELLE editors to share their favorites.

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