As a beauty addict, I love trying out new trends. So last summer, when my sister visited Japan (lucky her!), I was super jealous because I know this country is THE place for skincare. Based on the pictures she showed me, everything from the food to the scenery looked wonderful and made me want to visit Japan even more. Since my sister knows my obsession with beauty and skincare, she brought me back a package of the best Japanese cosmetics. How lovely!

As you probably already know, Asian skincare, especially Korean and Japanese cosmetics, is THE thing every beauty addict has been talking about for a while now. I have already tried some Korean and Taiwanese cosmetics, including a fermented shampoo and mist, extremely hydrating sheet masks, and many more, and I loved it.

I am always looking for new makeup and skincare brands to try, but it isn’t always easy: shipping and customs fees can be quite high and off-putting… So travelling is the best way to try and test new brands, and perhaps even discover new favourites!

Here are the products that my sister brought back from Japan :

Just like in Korea, sheet masks are a popular step in the Japanese skincare routine. This package contains 30 sheet masks, so I’m good for a month, maybe more!

How to use Japanese cosmetics in a routine

Contrary to the Korean routine that requires several steps, the Japanese routine is more simple and consists mostly of cleansing, hydrating and protecting the skin from sun damages. And voilà!

Beauty standards in Japan are all about big eyes with minimal makeup, and of course, a healthy-looking, naturally-glowing skin. This may seem easy to achieve, but it isn’t a look that can be achieved overnight. Taking care of your skin takes time! To achieve the Japanese look, hydrating, brightening, and sun-blocking products are at the center of the routine.

Try the routine yourself!

Here are the magical steps to do the Japanese routine like a pro:

1. Cleanse. Most cleansers are oil-based, in order to hydrate the skin at the same time.
2. Lotion. Lotions are more liquid than what we are used to normally. They are meant to be gently pressed on the skin and not rubbed.
3. Serum. A serum is meant to hydrate the deeper layers of your skin.
4. Moisturizer. Again, not as thick and greasy as we are used to. Go for a gel, water-based product.
5. Eye gel. It is known for a fact that the skin around the eyes is more fragile and ages more rapidly. So make sure you give some extra love to this area of your face by gently dabbing your eye gel in a circular motion to active circulation.

Of course, certain steps may be added, such as removing the makeup, exfoliating and masking.

Do you have any favourite Japanese products?

-xox- Marika