Despite being pregnant, I managed to visit two continents outside of Europe, and one of the countries I traveled to was Japan. We’re all familiar with the trend of Korean skincare, but did you know that Japanese skincare is just as highly regarded as its South Korean counterpart? Before my trip, I conducted extensive research and returned with a suitcase full of more and less well-known skincare products from the Land of the Rising Sun. Japanese skincare is surprisingly affordable, especially when purchased locally.
I’m slowly testing everything I brought back, and as the year comes to an end, I’ve put together a short review of the first batch of tested products. All of these are also available in our region through online stores. I’ve included a link for each product where you can purchase it. On those pages, you can use my discount code VERULAV5, which earns me a small commission – but feel free to shop wherever it’s cheapest for you! 😊
Let’s start with one of the most iconic products in Japanese skincare. This cleansing oil is mentioned in nearly every video offering advice on what to buy when visiting Japan. I gave in and followed those recommendations – and I’m glad I did.
The oil cleanses very effectively. It’s very runny for an oil, so one pump is enough to remove even waterproof makeup in just a few moments. Thanks to its lightweight texture, it rinses off easily and, unlike many other cleansing oils, doesn’t leave the skin feeling greasy after cleansing. I truly can’t fault it and will definitely add it to my list of products I’d happily repurchase.
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When it comes to this foaming cleanser, I missed the mark and regret not listening to videos recommending other facial cleansers. I was drawn to the idea of a thick foam resembling marshmallows (and I’ll admit I was tempted by Japanese teleshopping, which didn’t feature this specific cleanser but showed something with a similar effect).
The foam itself isn’t bad, but it’s nothing extraordinary either. It doesn’t wow me, but it doesn’t disappoint. It’s lightly scented, cleanses the skin, but leaves it feeling a bit tight and dry. While it’s not bad enough to stop me from using it up, I wouldn’t buy it again. Additionally, I feel like it runs out too quickly.
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Originally, I wanted to buy the brightening essence from this collection, but since both boxes looked identical and had no English labels, I ended up with the cream instead. I didn’t mind, though – you can never have too many face creams! Unfortunately, this one didn’t work well for me.
The cream is quite rich and nourishing. If I had used it for a longer time, I think I would have noticed a more even skin tone because even after two weeks, my skin looked slightly brighter. However, I started breaking out shortly after using it, which can happen sometimes, but the problem didn’t go away even after another two weeks. Ultimately, I had to stop using it, so I definitely won’t be repurchasing it.
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My happiest pick so far was definitely this SPF. Like with most of the products mentioned, I took inspiration from social media – and this time, it paid off. After years of blogging, I’ve tried countless SPFs, so take the following statement seriously: This is the best SPF I’ve ever used. I think it’ll be hard to find something that suits my skin better.
As the name suggests, the cream has a gel-like, watery texture. It’s lightweight and absorbs into the skin almost immediately without leaving any sticky or greasy residue. It hydrates the skin and leaves it soft to the touch. Any additional benefits beyond sun protection are a bonus for me, and the fact that this sunscreen works better than a regular hydrating cream and serum combined makes it the holy grail of my current routine. The only downside is a faint alcohol scent. It doesn’t bother me, but it could be a warning sign for those with very sensitive skin.
Even though I won’t be able to get it as cheaply in Europe as I did in Japan, it’s still relatively affordable (around £10 per tube). If you’re planning a trip to Japan, make sure to add this SPF to your shopping list!
Shop here.
