Best of Beauty Vol.1: Award Winning Japanese Cosmetics

Numbers of Japanese cosmetic products are highly regarded not only in Japan, but also in abroad because of the quality, safeness, precision and the huge production rage. Some of popular brands such as SHISEIDO, SK-Ⅱ, KOSE,etc are recognisable worldwide today. Cosmetics are now one of most popular items to purchase among foreign visitors (especially female) in Japan.

Another strong reason why Japanese cosmetics are popular is that many of products are sold at very very affordable price for the value. It’s not difficult to find great quality skincare and make-up products at general drugstores in Japan, sometimes at great bargain prices.

Every season, numbers of Japanese cosmetic brands attract us by releasing new beauty products as well as classic products which are sold for a long time. But don’t you wonder which products are the best? or what Japanese girls use? out of millions of them on market. If you agree, I highly recommend you to check out the website called @cosme.

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

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What is @Cosme?

@cosme is the most popular and influential online beauty community in Japan. On the website, viewers can check latest information of new products, best selling items, monthly ranking, and comment on products’ page and exchange their reviews. Besides the online platform, @cosme has physical stores across Japan.

Check @cosme stores in Tokyo here ▶ Best @cosme Stores in Tokyo

The biggest event of the year on @cosme is “THE BEST COSMETICS AWARDS” which reveals rankings of beauty products in each category based on readers’ reviews every year. Once products received an award, the sales goes magically high since @cosme is very powerful and influential website for all kinds of beauty products in Japan. You can probably find many products honorably displayed with @cosme stickers on at shops. Along with “THE BEST COSMETICS AWARDS”, they also reveal “ Hall of Fame” products.

Check all the items from the Best Cosmetics Awards here ▶ @cosme Best Cosmetics Ranking Archive

What is the Hall of Fame Cosmetics Products??

In Japan, the word “hall of fame (Dendo-iri (殿堂入り) in Japanese)” is used in a similar term to “holy grail” or “cult-favourite”.

Some of beauty products are beloved for many years and has ranked several times at Best Cosmetic Award. Instead of being awarded for multiple times, they are listed on the Hall of Fame and considered as all-time best products. Each year, several products join this honored list. This award is based on reviews by users who have actually used products, so it’s the most trust worthy data for cosmetic products in Japan.

If you are looking for reliable beauty products in Japan, you should definitely look at these Hall of Fame awarded products. Here, I’m going to introduce most recommended 12 products on the “Hall of Fame” list by @cosme.

Award Winning Japanese Cosmetics Products

1. Excel Powder&Pencil Eyebrow EX

Excel is a popular Japanese make-up brand, offering inexpensive products which give edgy and trendy looks. Excel Powder&Pencil Eyebrow EX (エクセル パウダー&ペンシル アイブロウEX) is a 3-in-1 eyebrow make-up tool that comes with a pencil, powder and brush. It’s easy to draw, shape and shade to create natural looking eyebrows on your face.

Available in 10 different shades so you may find the one perfectly suitable to your hair and skin tone.

Price: 1,595 yen

▶ Check the Price-Excel Powder & Pencil Eyebrow EX

2. SHISEIDO Spots Cover Foundation

SHISEIDO is one of the biggest Japanese cosmetics companies and offers a wide range of beauty products including skin care, makeup, body care and hair care. The company has produced several holy grail beauty products in past, and SHISEIDO Spots Cover Foundation (資生堂 スポッツカバー ファウンデイション) is one of them. The cream type foundation with great full coverage can cover various skin problems such as spots, freckles, scratches and most kinds of marks on your skin.

The product has been sold for nearly 40 years, and it’s been also used often by professional make-up artists. And its price is surprisingly cheap for the quality. Since it’s full coverage foundation, it’s recommended to use deep cleansing oil to remove at the end of the day.

Price: 1,320 yen

▶ Shop Now!- Shiseido Spots Cover Foundation

3. CANMAKE Cream Cheek

CANMAKE offers a range of affordable, trendy and colouful makeup products which are especially popular among teenagers. CANMAKE Cream Cheek (キャンメイク クリームチーク) is a creamy gel type cheek blush, which is absolutely great value for the money as it’s considered as one of best drugstore cosmetics in Japan. Although the cream has thick and moist texture, it creates a smooth and sheer look when you apply on your skin. By applying face powder on top, it can last longer.

It’s available in 6 different colours.

Price: 638 yen

▶ International Shipping Available-CANMAKE Cream Cheek

4. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+

When it comes to sunscreens, many people imagine that they are thick and greasy, but this the water-light sunscreen is totally opposite. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ (ビオレ さらさらUV アクアリッチ ウォータリーエッセンス SPF50+) is a best selling Japanese sunscreen known for its water-like texture with powerful UV protection. It’s one of the most popular Japanese cosmetics products across the world. This water-light sunscreen feels amazingly smooth, and appears transparent on the skin. It protects skin from UV damage and resists water and sweat, yet it’s easy to remove with regular soap or shower gel.

Suitable for face and body, even for makeup base.

Price: 968 yen

▶ Buy Now!-Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence 

5. SOFINA Primavista Long Keep Base

SOFINA Primavista Long Keep Base (ソフィーナ プリマヴィスタ 皮脂くずれ防止化粧下地) is a top-selling make-up base/primer which is especially popular for oily skin or during summer. The oil control formula manages with excess sebum, keeps your skin smooth, non-shiny and flawless for many hours even in hot and humid weather. It gives the skin a natural glow and helps your foundation to last longer. It blocks UV rays and moisturizes the skin.

Price: 3,080 yen

▶ Check the Price-SOFINA Primavista Long Keep Base

6. MUJI Jojoba Oil

MUJI is a popular Japanese retail company which also has stores in abroad. MUJI offers a wide range of products including furniture, home goods, clothes and food, and beauty products are one of the most popular categories.

Muji Jojoba Oil (無印良品 ホホバオイル) is made with squeezed jojoba seeds purified for cosmetic use. Oil-based cosmetics products tend to have greasy and heavy texture, but this one feels pleasanty light and smooth. It can be used in multiple purpose such as for body, hair and face to moisturize skin, protect scalp, or for massage. It’s most effective to use after bath or shower when the skin is soft. It’s a great product for almighty use in daily. Available in 3 sizes.

Price: 50ml 890 yen/ 100ml 1,590 yen/200ml 2,490 yen

▶ Check the price of Muji Jojoba Oil

7. DHC Lip Cream

DHC Lip Cream (DHC 薬用リップクリーム) is a long selling lip cream by the trust-worthy Japanese beauty company, DHC. The balm contains beauty ingredients including virgin olive oil and aloe extract, which helps to heal chapped lips and protect them gently.

As well as daily lip care use, it can be applied on top of lipsticks since it’s colourless and helps good colour payoff. It keeps lips smooth and moist, especially effective in dry and cold weather.

Price: 770 yen

8. SHISEIDO Eyelash Curler

SHISEIDO Eyelash Curler (資生堂 アイラッシュカーラー) is another long-time beloved product by the beauty empire, SHIDEIDO. It works amazingly to lift up eyelashes, grabbing every eyelash without pinching eyelids and keeps them in shape all day long. It can greatly fit to most shapes of eyes.

It costs less than 1,000 yen and can last almost for a life time. The rubber pad is replaceable which is sold at 100 yen for 2 pieces.

Price: 880 yen

▶ International Shipping Available Here-Shiseido Eyelash Curler

9. DAISO Reusable Silicone Mask Cover

The popular Japanese 100 yen store DAISO sells a wide range of cosmetics products. DAISO Reusable Silicone Mask Cover (ザ・ダイソー シリコーン 潤マスク フェイスマスク用) is one of most amazing innovations by DAISO. It’s a mask to use on top of sheet masks. It covers a sheet mask and a face to prevent from slipping off and evaporating beauty ingredients. It works also as a face-steaming mask and help to enhance moisturize effect.

Because it can hold the mask on your face, so you don’t need to stay still while using a sheet mask. Even though it costs only 100 yen, the mask is reusable!

Price: 100 yen

10. CANMAKE Quick Lash Curler

CANMAKE Quick Lash Curler (キャンメイク クイックラッシュカーラー) is a multi-purpose makeup product that works as mascara, mascara primer and top coat. It’s available in 6 colours.

You can apply it before applying mascara or on top of mascara, and it provides long-lasting curl and prevents mascara from smudging or fading caused by sweat, tears and sebum. It also gives great effect to hold curl for long hours. It comes with a double-sided comb with the short side catching and lifting up lashes and the long side separating lashes beautifully and boosts curl.

Price: 748 yen

▶ Buy Now!-CANMAKE Quick Lash Curler

11. SHISEIDO Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask

SHISEIDO Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask (フィーノ プレミアムタッチ 浸透美容液ヘアマスク) is a hair treatment with penetrating beauty serum. It repairs and nourishes dry, damaged hair and leaves it sleek and shiny. It’s a perfect item for home hair care and you can use once or twice weekly for the best result by applying on wet hair after shampoo.

Price: 1,078 yen

▶ Check the Price- Shiseido Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask

12. KAO Curel Moisture Cream

KAO Curel Moisture Cream (花王 キュレル 潤浸保湿フェイスクリーム) is an excellent face cream for dry and sensitive skin, providing highly effective solutions to improve skin condition. It contains ceramide-function ingredients which penetrate deeply into the stratum corneum and moisturize the skin. It also contains an anti-inflammatory ingredient to prevent skin roughness. It’s moisturizing formula yet the texture is very light and smooth.

Apply after face toner, or use as a make-up base before applying foundation. It’s recommended to use all year round.

Price: 2,520 yen

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Where to Buy Japanese Cosmetics Products

Most of products can be found easily at drugstores in Japan with surprisingly inexpensive price. They are definitely worth buying beauty products proven by Japanese users!

@cosume actually has physical stores at several locations in Japan, selling the products that are recommended on their website. If you are looking for awarded Japanese beauty products, it would be an ideal place to shop! Shop list: http://cosmestore.net/shop/ (Japanese)

How did you enjoy the list of “Hall of Fame” beauty products on @cosme? Wondering which beauty products are trending in Japan right now? Check out the latest ranking of THE BEST COSMETICS AWARDS by @cosme!

▽Here is Award Winning Japanese Cosmetics Vol.2!▽

▼THE LATEST BEST COSMETICS AWARDS▼

▼Check the rankings from the past Best Cosmetics Awards▼

If you are into Japanese makeup and skincare products, you may wanna check out my other articles listed below, as I have previously introduced several recommended Japanese beauty products! Make sure to save these links and don’t forget to shop them when you visit drugstores in Japan!

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