Japan is widely celebrated, particularly among women, for its high-quality cosmetics. Japanese women uphold discerning standards when it comes to beauty products. It’s a competitive world, where entering the section of the most popular or best-selling products is not easy. Not only cosmetic, beauty supplements are also in high demand and Japanese women use them in a daily basis.

You might often see lists featuring products from popular brands. However, these lists don’t always reflect the most commonly used products by Japanese people in their daily lives. In this list, I will introduce you to the 15 must-buy drugstore products for when you visit Japan.

Effective and affordable, check out this list and make sure to pick them up on your next trip to Japan!

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

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Must-See! Trending Drugstore Items

Japanese skincare products are well-regarded for their quality, innovation, and use of natural ingredients. Currently, there are several must-try products trending in Japan, including cleansers, toners, serums, and moisturizers. These items are designed to help you achieve smooth, radiant, and healthy skin. Be sure to check them out!

Melano CC Deep Clear Face Wash

Melano CC Deep Clear Face Wash is a renowned Japanese skincare product that combines Vitamin C, clay, and enzymes to brighten and even out skin tone while cleansing. This face wash effectively targets dark spots, dullness, and hyperpigmentation, removing dirt, oil, and impurities while providing antioxidant benefits.

Its unique enzyme formulation uses proprietary technology to maintain enzyme efficacy in a convenient tube form, offering powerful cleansing without causing dryness. This balance of strong cleansing power and moisturizing ingredients makes it a popular choice. In 2022, Melano CC Deep Clear Face Wash won first place in the cleanser category on @cosme, Japan’s largest cosmetics portal. Additionally, it received the 2023 Best Cosmetics Award in the cleanser category from Biteki readers. And within just one year of its release, Melano CC Deep Clear Face Wash achieved over 2 billion yen in sales, highlighting its popularity and effectiveness.

Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence

The Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF50+ PA++++ is a top Japanese sunscreen, offering superior protection against UVA and UVB rays. Its high SPF50+ and PA++++ ratings ensure robust defense against the sun’s harmful effects. This essence not only protects but also enhances your skin tone with color-correcting particles that brighten dull skin. The lavender tint in the Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence Lavender variant imparts a radiant glow.

Its light and easily spreadable texture ensures comfort and is highly appreciated for its non-greasy feel and moisturizing qualities. Suitable for both facial and full-body application, it helps maintain an even and beautiful skin tone all over.

Lululun Hydra V Mask

Lululun is one of the most popular Japanese facial mask brand, selling over 1 billion sheets since he brand was first launched in 2011. With high-quality, yet very affordable face mask. Lululun is known as the pioneer of drugstore face masks in Japan, offering a wide range of face masks with various effects such as moisturizing, skin-brightening and anti-aging.

So any face mask from Lulun is a good choice, but if you need some suggestion, in the The Best Cosmetics Awards 2023 from @cosme the Lululun Hydra V Mas won the second place, while the Lululun Hydra Ex Mask is in the 1st place in 2024.

THE LYPO VC Deep Capsule

THE LYPO VC Deep Capsule is a beauty supplement that combines two types of vitamin C with hyaluronic acid. Utilizing advanced liposome technology, this supplement encapsulates the ingredients in structures that mimic cell membranes, allowing for slow and sustained release of nutrients in the body.

THE LYPO VC Deep Capsule is ideal for individuals seeking flawless, luminous skin and a healthier lifestyle by ensuring they get an adequate amount of Vitamin C. This innovative supplement is designed to enhance the skin’s radiance and overall well-being.

Popular Summer Products

Next on our list, we have products that are especially popular during the summer in Japan. During this season, increased sweat and sebum production can lead to concerns like dull skin, acne, and odor. These products, available year-round, are particularly helpful in addressing those summertime issues.

Melano CC UV Milk

Melano CC UV Milk offers comprehensive sun protection and skin-brightening benefits, combining powerful UV-cut ingredients with effective skincare components. With SPF50+ and PA++++, it shields against UVA and UVB rays, preventing sunburn, premature aging, and UV-induced skin damage.

Melano CC UV Milk not only protects the skin from UV damage. Formulated with Vitamin C and E derivatives, it also brightens the complexion and reduces the appearance of dark spots over time. Its lightweight and non-greasy texture makes it perfect for daily use, even under makeup, ensuring your skin remains radiant and well-protected.

Acnes 25 Medical Cream EX

Acnes 25 Medical Cream EX is the ideal solution for individuals with persistent and severe acne, including adults. It effectively addresses redness, recurring breakouts, and root causes of acne. The cream applies transparently, making it perfect for use under makeup. Its non-greasy formula ensures a smooth, comfortable feel while moisturizing the skin.

Key ingredients include anti-inflammatory Ibuprofen Piconol to reduce acne-causing bacteria and inflammation, antibacterial Isopropyl Methylphenol to prevent acne progression, and Allantoin to repair damaged skin. Free from fragrances and colorants, Acnes 25 Medical Cream EX offers gentle yet powerful results, leading to clearer, healthier skin.

Biore Sarasara Powder Sheet

In Japan’s hot and humid summer, you might feel the need to shower multiple times daily. Biore Sarasara Powder Sheet offers a quick and refreshing solution. These body wipe sheets instantly refresh and remove sebum, the cause of stickiness and odor, with their Sebum Clear Formula. Infused with transparent powder, they keep your skin smooth and silky for long, preventing clothes from sticking even if you sweat.

The four-layer thick sheets effectively wipe away sweat and leave a long-lasting, fresh scent without any white residue. Perfect for staying fresh on the go!

Eye Care Products

Eye drops are one of the most popular products in Japan, a country well-known for long hours of work using a computer or screen. Many brands sell different types of eyedrops, making it sometimes confusing for international visitors.

An important point when buying eye drops is to know the difference between eye drops for the naked eye and eye drops for contact lenses. Mixing up eye drops can cause discomfort and damage your lenses if you use regular drops with contacts.

V Rohto Premium

Among the many brands of eye drops you’ll find in Japan, V Rohto Premium stands out as a favorite and trusted choice.

V Rohto Premium contains 12 active ingredients known for their premium quality and effectiveness in relieving eye fatigue and discomfort. These drops provide quick relief for tired, dry, or irritated eyes caused by prolonged screen time and environmental factors. While priced slightly higher than other products, V Rohto Premium promises great results, especially for dry, red, tired eyes and blurred vision.

Lycée Glow

Lycée Glow is a popular eye drop choice among women, known for its appealing pink packaging and high quality at an affordable price. This eye drop relieves eye fatigue and discomfort, providing hydration and soothing effects for tired or strained eyes.

A key feature of Lycée Glow is its versatility—it can be used with or without contact lenses, making it suitable for daily use. The pink color comes from the nutrient Vitamin B12, ensuring its safety. Its gentle, long-lasting moisturizing properties make Lycée Glow an excellent option for overall eye care.

MegRhythm Hot Eye Mask

One of my personal favorites. MegRhythm Hot Eye Mask is a self-heating eye mask that warms up gently when worn. Infused with gentle steam and essential oils, this innovative eye mask is offering a spa-like experience that helps to provide soothing relaxation and relieve tired eyes. Ideal for unwinding and easing tension anytime. They also can help to sleep better.

Hair Care Products

Japanese hair care products are known for their innovative formulas and natural ingredients. They focus on nourishing, strengthening, and repairing hair, often featuring ingredients like seaweed, rice water, and camellia oil. Popular items include shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and serums, promoting healthy, shiny, and beautiful hair.

50 Megumi Hair Color Treatment

For women who dye their hair and want to maintain its health, 50 Megumi Hair Color Treatment is a popular choice in Japan. Celebrated for its natural seaweed-derived ingredients, it gently colors the hair without causing damage, making it ideal for at-home touch-ups. Specifically designed to cover gray hair, it offers an easy and convenient solution.

While not as strong as chemical dyes, it ensures hair remains healthy and vibrant. “50 Megumi,” meaning “50 blessings,” reflects its 50 beneficial ingredients. This treatment provides a perfect balance of color and nourishment, making it a trusted option for home hair coloring.

Oshima Tsubaki Camellia Oil

Oshima Tsubaki Camellia Oil is a renowned Japanese hair care product made from 100% natural camellia oil. This versatile oil moisturizes, smooths, and adds shine to your hair, while being unscented and free from colorants.

Ideal for hair, scalp, face, and body, it offers excellent moisturizing and protective benefits. A small amount applied to dry areas delivers impressive results, making it a beloved, long-selling product in Japan for achieving healthy, beautiful hair and skin.

Fino Premium Touch Rich Serum Hair Mask

The Fino Premium Touch Rich Serum Hair Mask is a top-rated hair treatment designed to repair and nourish damaged hair. This mask contains six different serum ingredients that penetrate deeply, addressing split ends and breakage. Its damage-search function targets even the smallest imperfections, leaving hair smooth from root to tip. The result is hair so soft and silky that a comb glides effortlessly through it.

With a pleasant and refined Grace Floral fragrance, this hair mask ensures a luxurious and enjoyable experience. It’s a must-try for achieving beautifully smooth and healthy hair.

Other Popular Products

Mentholatum Medical Lip

Next, we have Medical Lip, an essential lip care product for anyone suffering from dry, chapped, or irritated lips, especially during the harsh winter months. Medical Lip provides medical-grade care with a blend of moisturizers, emollients, and soothing agents that hydrate and protect the lips. Additionally, it offers anti-inflammatory benefits to ensure comprehensive lip care.

While Mentholatum is globally popular, Medical Lip is exclusively available in Japan, offering a unique solution for lip care in this region.

Wakansen Bofutsushosan

Wakansen Bofutsushosan is a highly regarded pharmaceutical product in Japan, designed to address a variety of health challenges. It is particularly effective for individuals struggling to lose belly fat, dealing with excessive abdominal fat due to obesity, experiencing discomfort from swelling caused by hypertension or obesity, battling constipation related to obesity, and enduring hot flashes and shoulder stiffness due to hypertension.

Wakansen Bofutsushosan supports individuals on their journey to a healthier lifestyle. With an extract amount of 5000 mg, it is conveniently taken only twice a day, making it easy to remember. The pills feature a film coating to suppress the distinctive odor and taste of traditional Chinese medicine, ensuring a more pleasant experience.

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