One of the most requested souvenirs when someone is in Japan is likely some sort of beauty product. Specifically, those bought from the drugstore. Drugstores in Japan are practically mecca for makeup junkies and those religious with their skincare routines because these types of stores sell a wide variety of quality beauty products at reasonable prices—at least, reasonable by Japan's standards.
Now, you don't have to wait for someone to vacation in Japan and ask them to pasabuy what you need. Many of the trendy Japanese drugstore products are available online, and some are hiding in plain sight in a local drugstore near you.
SHOP: 10 Trendy Japanese Drugstore Products You Can Buy Online in The Philippines
1. SHISEIDO Clear Sunscreen Stick
UV protection is a must when it's summertime in Japan and a 365-day-a-year need for us living in the Philippines. If you need to reapply sunscreen in the middle of the day, sunscreen sticks are a new trendy skincare product that lets you reapply SPF on the go.
One of the more famous sunscreen sticks is Shiseido's Clear Stick UV Protector. The Japanese brand's sunscreen stick is clear, meaning no white cast! It's also water-resistant, has SPF 50+, and has a PA++++ ranking.
Clear Sunscreen Stick, P1079, SHISEIDO, Shopee
2. UTENA MATOMAGE Hairstyling Stick
Do you always struggle with taming unruly baby hair? You should have Matomage's hairstyling stick in your bag at all times. This stick pomade is available in two holds, regular (pink) and strong (green), and can be applied directly on wet and dry hair to achieve a sleeker look.
Since this pomade is in a stick shape, similar to sunscreen sticks, it's a product that you can easily use whenever, wherever. Unlike pomade tubs that require application with the use of your fingers, this hairstyling stick lets you flatten hair out of place minus the sticky feeling on your hands.
Hairstyling Stick, P275, UTENA MATOMAGE, Shopee
3. HISAMITSU Salonpas Liniment
If you're at that age when the likes of pain relievers have become a staple in your daily life, then you'll most likely want to have the Hisamitisu Salonpas Liniment in all of your bags, work area, and bedside table. The roll-on version is way better than the patches for two reasons.
First, the roll-on liniment doesn't limit your usage as compared to the patches wherein: one patch = one use. Second, you don't have to worry about the patch's tendency to lose its stickiness because of sweat or dirt. The only downside is that it is more expensive, but we're willing to overlook the price for the pros.
Hisamitsu Salonpas Liniment, P399, HISAMITSU, Shopee
4. SHISEIDO Eyelash Curler
The Shiseido eyelash curler has been awarded sooo many times, including Byrdie's Best Eyelash Curlers of 2023. The hype around this beauty tool is that it can grip all the eyelashes—yes, even the tiny ones!—and easily give them a beautiful curl. Squeeze the curler once for a natural lift, or you can squeeze it twice, thrice, or as many as you'd want, to achieve a more dramatic look.
If my personal experience with the product is any indication: My Shiseido eyelash curler turns six years old this year and it only has minimal signs of wear and tear, and I've only replaced the rubber twice in those six years. Sure, the Shiseido eyelash curler is more expensive than other brands, but you'll definitely go above the return on investment.
Eyelash Curler, P445, SHISEIDO, Lazada
5. HEROINE MAKE Mascara
In terms of long-wearing, waterproof, smudge-proof mascara, the Heroine Make Mascara checks all boxes. Ask anyone who has ever tried this Japanese brand of mascara, and they'll tell you that it stays on the longest—even through a whole day of sweating, you wouldn't need to retouch. This may or may not be based on personal experience, but it can even last through a meltdown. Promise, no raccoon eyes.
This Japanese drugstore mascara comes in three versions: The Long & Curl is for lengthening, the Volume Up is for volumizing, and the Micro Mascara is for lower lashes. And just in case you want a killer combo: Curl your lashes with Shiseido's Eyelash Curler and enhance them with the Heroine Make Mascara.
Mascara, P795, HEROINE MAKE, Lazada
6. KOSE SOFTYMO Oil Cleanser
Japanese drugstores have tons of oil cleansers from brands such as Bioré, DHC, and Habado, but one of the most famous is Kose Softymo. This brand is specifically known for its gentle and moisturizing properties while dissolving stubborn mascara and other makeup buildup, sans all the friction of exfoliating or rubbing a cotton pad soaked in makeup remover.
The Kosemo cleansing oils come in four variants; the auburn bottle is the Deep Cleansing Oil, the yellow bottle is the White Cleansing Oil, and the blue and the pink bottles are both Speedy Cleansing Oils. All of these cleansing oils are used for the same purpose, but certain variants such as the White Cleansing Oil has whitening and brightening ingredients.
Oil Cleanser, starts at P400, KOSE SOFTYMO, Lazada
7. DHC Lip Cream
Japanese drugstores have an overwhelming amount of moisturizing lip products. If chapped lips are a recurring problem you get from our country's dry weather, the DHC Lip Cream is not one to disappoint. It continues to be one of the most reliable lip moisturizing products since it was released decades ago.
The formulation of the DHC Lip Cream is known to highly moisturize the lips and is light enough that it doesn't feel like you slathered a stick of butter on your lips and called it a day. It doesn't have a tint or flavor and, if you're sensitive to scents, you'll love that this product is fragrance-free too.
Lip Cream, P345, DHC, Lazada and Shopee
8. LULULUN Face Masks
We're sure you've tried Korean face mask brands, but have you tried Japanese-branded ones too? LuLuLun is a popular face mask that you will likely see in every drugstore you go to in Japan. This brand has great everyday face masks that won't hurt your wallet, especially if you're buying the face masks sold in packs of seven or 32.
There are three categories for LuLuLun masks; the LuLuLun Pure series is best for beginners and daily usage, the LuLuLun One Night masks are specifically made to tackle dry and dull skin, and Precious & Over 45 has masks with anti-aging properties.
Face Masks, P275, LULULUN, Lazada and Shopee
9. KANEBO Evita Beauty Whip Soap
Kanebo Cosmetics launched the Evita Beauty Soap in 2016, and since then, it's been a popular facial wash product found in drugstores in Japan. This product comes in an aerosol can that has the distinct feature of releasing white rose-shaped foam by pushing down the two levers in the nozzle.
The rose-shaped foam is definitely one of, if not the main reason, why this product is popular. But just in case you're wondering about what's in it, the Evita Beauty Soap has royal jelly extract, collagen, hyaluronic acids, rice extract, and rose water. It has a velvety lather that leaves the skin soft, moisturized, and smelling like roses.
Evita Beauty Whip Soap, P873.06, KANEBO, Lazada
10. TSUBAKI Shampoo and Conditioner
TSUBAKI is one of Japan's leading haircare brands. ICYDK, The word "tsubaki" translates to camellia, which is a flower that's cold-pressed into oil and used in the brand's hair products. The use of tsubaki, as is with the case of the TSUBAKI Premium Moist & Repair Shampoo, makes hair softer and gives it a sheen.
TSUBAKI comes in two versions: Moist & Repair and Volume & Repair. Both are available as shampoo and conditioner, and these are all priced the same at P549 each for a 490-ml pump bottle. What's particularly great about the packaging is that it makes it easy to use—no heavy lifting whatsoever.
Shampoo and Conditioner, P549, TSUBAKI, Lazada
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*This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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