Recommending Skincare Products from Japan (yamibuy.com)
Hi! So I lived in Japan for many years and moved back to the US last summer. I thought it might be helpful for folks who've never lived in Japan to get some tips on products I personally enjoy.
Why? Because there's quite a lot available in Japan that's different from and/or better than what's generally found in the US.
This first post will just cover skincare products from the website yamibuy.com, which I've ordered from recently, so I can confirm they send the same products I used to buy in Japan. Interestingly, they also charge the same price that I paid in Japan (or the markup will be very modest). The don't sell luxury brands; they offer the same things that can be found in typical Japanese drugstores, grocery stores, and household goods stores like Loft.
I'm not affiliated with yamibuy.com in any way. This isn't a sponsorship or anything like that (lol).
who this guide is good for:
1) US-based folks who like skincare stuff and
2) people who've maybe just moved to Japan and don't know how to shop yet.
Okay, let's go!
Exfoliation
CURE Natural Aqua Gel is the best exfoliator I've ever used. I don't know how it works and I don't want to. Just rub it gently into dry skin and watch all your dead skin cells come off. (It's never irritated my skin at all, and I'm pretty sensitive.) It's usually about $30–35/bottle in both Japan and the US (you can get it on Yamibuy.com or Amazon):
CURE Natural Aqua Mild Gel Exfoliator 250ml For Sensitive Skin, Brand: TOYO LIFE, Cleanser, Exfoliators-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return
Sheet masks
I really like sheet masks. I find sheet masks all make different claims (vitamin C, hydrating, wrinkle-fighting, etc.), but they all accomplish the basic aim of giving you clear skin when you use them regularly.
My favorites:
Saborino
I put on the Saborino morning/night 30-pack sheet masks in the shower. The morning sheets are generally worn for 1 minute and make your skin feel tingly and nice with ingredients like citrus and tea tree oil. The night sheets are generally worn for 10–15 minutes and have more calming ingredients (chamomile, aloe, etc.).
Here are some of the morning masks:
SABORINO Morning Mask 32 Sheets, Brand: BCL, Sheet Masks-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return guarantee, authorized retailer, low price.
Saborino Morning Sheet Mask 28 sheets, Brand: BCL, Sheet Masks-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return guarantee, authorized retailer, low price
Saborino Morning Mask Fresh 32sheets, Brand: BCL, Sheet Masks-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return guarantee, authorized retailer, low price.
Some of the night masks:
SABORINO Night Facial Mask #Vitamin A 30 Sheets, Brand: SABORINO, Sheet Masks-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return guarantee, authorized reta
Saborino Night Mask Mild Aloe Peach Scent, 28 Sheets, Brand: BCL, Sheet Masks-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return guarantee, authorized reta
SABORINO Night Mask Limited Chamomile Orange Scent 28 sheets, Brand: BCL, Sheet Masks-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return guarantee, authori
Other good sheet masks:
Wafood:
Wafood Made SK Face Mask 10pcs, Brand: PDC, Sheet Masks-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return guarantee, authorized retailer, low price.
All-in-Ones (also from Saborino):
Wrinkle Care Acne care
This double-collagen mask is gooey (~fun~) and clears my skin really well:
Jelly Mask Collagen #Blue 1 Box 3 sheets, Brand: UTENA, Sheet Masks-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return guarantee, authorized retailer, low
The Ishizawa rice mask is good.
This Papa Recipe Bombee Black Honey Mask is from Korea; it smells like real honey and makes my skin feel really smooth:
Bombee Black Honey Mask 10 Sheets, Brand: papa recipe, Sheet Masks-Yami. 100% authentic, 30-day return guarantee, authorized retailer, low p
Also from Korea: My lips are always dry, and I love this LaNeige overnight lip mask
These masks are just for under the eyes
Anti-recommendations: For me personally, I find that sheet masks that come in packs of 50+ never work that well. I also don’t get a lot of benefits from the brand LuLuLun, but they're really popular, so mileage may vary.
I also absolutely do NOT recommend any mask that says it's “skin whitening,” because 1) that’s stigmatizing/gross and 2) these products may have harmful skin-bleaching properties. (Products that say “brightening,” by contrast, are different; they usually help scars fade.)
Overnight masks
There are also jelly-textured overnight masks that you rub in (don’t wash off), and they’re more expensive but do amazing things for my skin. I’ve tried these two and really like them both: 1) HABA night repair 2) Kose night cream/mask
Night cream
This is just the standard night cream I usually used in Japan, but I can't find night cream this affordable where I live in the US (it's currently listed at $10.33).
I like to use KAO hot lavender masks on airplanes and when I feel sick:
For the eyes
For the neck/shoulders
Misc:
Finally, I like these eyebrow razors, which are faster/cheaper than getting your eyebrows waxed, threaded, or tweezed (and the razor is also totally painless).
Tumblr is getting angry at me for using too many URLs, so that's all for now!
In my next post I'll cover OTC medicines and sunscreens! If there's something you want my opinion on or if you want me to try to recommend a particular kind of product, please let me know.
If this feels too shoppy-shoppy for you, I understand. I'm gonna tag these posts #shoppy so you can block them if you want.
