ICYDK, Japan is one of the best places to go shopping if you're a certified beauty girl. Their drugstores are a haven for all your beauty needs—from cult-favorite items to internet-famous products, you'll find them all in pharmacies tucked into just about every nook and cranny in the Land of the Rising Sun (yes, even in their subway and train stations). Plus, if you spend more than ¥5,000 (approximately P1,900), you get to enjoy tax-free shopping! ;)
If you're planning a trip to Japan soon, I've compiled a list of must-have skincare products you need to include in your haul. Check them out below and make sure to take screenshots or bookmark this story!
The Best Skincare Products to Buy at Japanese Drugstores
1. Cleansing Oil: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Japanese price: ¥1,880 (approx. P715)
Whether you wear makeup or not, oil cleansing is a step that's vital to anyone's routine. It gently breaks down all the gunk on your face and makes it ready for the next steps in your evening regimen. The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is a cult-fave for a reason—it easily melts away all the products on your skin, leaving it soft and bouncy.
2. Facial Wash: Senka Perfect Whip Soap
Japanese price: ¥498 (approx. P189.42)
This facial wash may have only entered the Philippine market in the last few years, but it has enjoyed a cult-fave status in Japan for more than a decade, and for good reason, too! It cleanses your face thoroughly without leaving it taut or too dry.
3. Gentle Exfoliator: Cure Natural Aqua Gel Exfoliator
Japanese price: ¥2,464 (approx. P937.23)
Described as "a facial in a bottle," this mild exfoliant gets praise for being able to effectively slough off the dead skin cells and gunk on your skin without being too harsh. It's great for all skin types, especially those with sensitive skin, as it's made from 90% activated hydrogen water!
4. Toner: Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion
Japanese price: ¥740 (approx. P281.47)
Hydration is definitely a must, what with the cold weather in Japan. While we don't enjoy the same breezy conditions, people with dry or normal skin types can still benefit from using the internet-famous Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion. Made with five (!!!) different kinds of hyaluronic acid, it promises to deeply hydrate your skin and prevent moisture loss.
5. Vitamin C Treatment: Melano CC Vitamin C Essence
Japanese price: ¥928 (approx. P352.98)
Treating active acne breakouts is only half the battle, TBH. Once you've gotten your pimple to calm down and heal, you're most likely left with *annoying* dark spots. This is where Melano CC's Vitamin C Essence becomes your new BFF. Don't be put off by its initial watery/oily texture—it dries down to virtually nothing once absorbed into your skin! It contains active Vitamin C and E that helps brighten hyperpigmentation and even out your skin tone.
6. Moisturizer: Hada Labo Hydrating Water Gel
Japanese price: ¥2,210 (approx. P844.11)
Calling all my fellow girlies with oily skin! This moisturizer from Hada Labo is a godsend since it contains hyaluronic acid that's able to deeply penetrate your skin and hydrate it without leaving you with that lagkit feeling. Its gel formula also ensures that you won't feel greasy after application!
7. Sheet Mask: Lululun
Japanese price: ¥400 (approx. P152.15)
Consider sheet masks a treat for your face twice or thrice a week. This one from Lululun contains fermented black bee honey and lactobacillus ferment extract and works to deeply moisturize your skin and balance out your skin's flora (aka the healthy microorganisms that live on your skin!)
8. Pimple Patch: Today's Cosme Zero Spot Patch
Japanese price: ¥850 (approx. P323.31)
Beat breakout blues by immediately slapping on a pimple patch once you see 'em begin to form. It's also a great and effective way to prevent yourself from picking at your skin or having your pimples exposed to the ~elements~. Today's Cosme Zero Spot Patch contains cica (aka centella asiatica) which helps calm down aggravated skin and helps to speed up the healing process.
9. Sunscreen: Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Gel
Japanese price: ¥1980 (approx. P284.52)
In case you don't know it yet, sunscreen is *definitely* a must as frequent exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays can cause skin cancer. If you're also dealing with acne breakouts, going out unprotected will also worsen the dark spots and hyperpigmentation. This sunscreen from Anessa is sweatproof and non-greasy, which makes it the perfect SPF to use in our ~eternally humid~ weather.
