All The Best Japanese Skin-care Products We’ve Written About

The best cleansing oils removegrease from the skinwithout stripping it ofmoisture, says celebrity estheticianJoanna Czech, whorecommendsthis one for its featherweight texture. When mixed with water, it becomes slightly milky, which “leaves the skin nicely conditioned without any tightness,” Czechsays. DermatologistDr. Sejal Shahsaysall skin types can benefit from its gentle ingredients, but especiallythose that are drier. “Camellia oil is rich in omega fatty acids, in particular oleic acids, and antioxidants, so it hydrates, nourishes, and protects while cleansing,” Shah says. Strategist editor Maxine Builder — who’s been usingTatchaskin care since 2012 — alsocallsthisoilone of her ride-or-die products because it takes off all her makeup in “one easy swipe” and leaves skin feeling fresh and moisturized but never tight, shesays.

Viera-Newton introduced us to this organic, olive-oil-basedcleanser, which she praises for how effortlessly itremovesmakeup.She also calls it “one of the best products for getting rid of stubbornblackheads,” thanks to its nourishing ingredients that bind with excess sebum to unclog pores. Shah, whoapprovesof the gentle formula for all skin types, points out that the oil blend is water soluble, so it’s easy to rinse off, plus it’s infused with antioxidant-rich vitamin E to give skin a dewy, plump texture. It also contains rosemary, which has antimicrobial properties. (Viera-Newton says it can be found in virtually everyJapanese drugstore).

When Strategist contributor Jinnie Lee firstreviewedthisexfoliator, she noted that it was the top product of its kind in Japan (one sells every 12 seconds, she said). “Ever since using it, my skin has felt softer, fresher, and even more youthful — never dried out or tight,” Lee says, adding that her friends began referring to her as “Babyface.” This is because the non-acidic gel contains 91 percent hydrogen water, which catchesdead skin cellson the surface of the skin,oo35mm’s Winnie Zhong says. Along with applying it on the face, the non-stripping formula can be used to exfoliate other sensitive parts of the body, like the bikini line, to preventrazor bumps, Zhong says.

As one of SK-II’s best-known (and loved) products, this essence has many fans, fromChloë Grace MoretztoVictoria’s Secret models, and regularly appears oncelebritymust-havelists. The main component is galactomyces ferment filtrate (SK-II calls it “Pitera”), ayeastingredient derived from sake, which Viera-Newtonsaysis “capable of moisturizing skin while simultaneously calming down inflammation, keeping sebum production controlled, restoring smoothness, and brightening up your complexion.” Despite the steep price tag, Viera-Newton says it’s worth the splurge for its ability to deeply hydrate, retexturize, and plump skin. She suggests opting for thetravel sizeif you’re not completely sold. (Rebel Wilsonprefers thesheet-mask version.)

UV Aqua Rich comesrecommendedby Dr. Michelle Wong, a cosmetic chemist and skin-care blogger atLab Muffin, who likes that it offers the broadest UV-spectrum filters and that it’s a water-basedsunscreen, so it easily absorbs into the skin when applied in larger quantities. While someSPFcan feel drying, this formula is infused with glycerin and hyaluronic acid, two ingredients that “can hydrate without the need for emollients that may feel too heavy for oily skin,” dermatologist Dr. Hadley Kingsays. My regular rotation offacial sunblockincludes this product, so I can vouch for its thin, glowy finish, which immediately brightens my entire complexion. It’s one of the only nongreasy sunscreens that stays put all day, so I often layer it under mymakeup, even on extra-humid days.

“Nobody does sunscreen better,” Megan Rapinoesaysof this Japanesesunscreenshe’s used for at least six years. It has a clean, nonoily finish, Rapinoe says, plus it stands up well to sweat when she’s playing soccer. It also offers hours of protection in the water, says dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Howe. Howe’s wife, who’s an avid surfer, along withJulee Wilson,Cosmopolitan’s beauty editor-at-large and the executive director ofBeauty United, both like the soothing formula because it has a light, fluid consistency that doesn’t leave a white cast. “It works on everyone in my family, so I usually bring a few bottles,” Wilsonsays. It also contains eco-friendly mineral blockers (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide).

Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla calls thissunscreenstick one of her “smartest purchases” because it doesn’t leave a Casper-like cast; instead, “the effect is almosthighlighter-esque,” she says. She also recommends it because the roll-on glides easily for quick, mess-free reapplications throughout the day. And if you often ditch yoursun hat, Pardila reports that the stick works well for covering the scalp withSPFand, in a pinch, for slicking down flyaways, shesays.

DermatologistJoshua Zeichnerrecommendsthis Tatcha eye cream because it contains white peony to strengthen barrier function, along with silk extract, an ingredient known for creating a protective “seal” to improve hydration and shield the skin from the environment. It doubles as a primer and helps makeup apply more smoothly and stay put throughout the day, Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurstsays.

In our guide to thebest drugstore eye creams, celebrity aesthetician Joomee Song recommends this super-hydrating formulation for treating under-eye bags. It’s full of caffeine to tighten saggingskin, but Hada Labo is also unique for its use of “super hyaluronic acid,” which contains twice the moisture-retention capacity of regular hyaluronic acid, Song says. Combined, these ingredients help restrict blood vessels, retain moisture,restore radiance, and lessen dark circles, she says, which in turn reduce the appearance of discoloration. The texture is also very light, so Song says you can reapply throughout the day without worrying about ruining yourmakeup.

Viera-Newton has written afull-length reviewof this product, which is one of the onlyprimersshe’s willing to use. “Not only does this never, ever make me break out, it also keeps my makeup looking frighteningly fresh and flawless — like I’ve just applied it — all day long,” Viera-Newton says. The velvety balm is made with squalane and glycerin to quench dryness, dermatologistDr. Hope Mitchellsays, along with silk powder to reduce the appearance of dullness. This means it’s a solidoption for mature skin because it blurs fine lines and fills in any large pores,saysmakeup artistLucky Bromhead(the personal makeup artist to Catherine O’Hara).

Thanks to her decade-long enthusiasm forskin tints, Strategist contributor Mbiye Kasongasays she uncoveredthis Shiseido product, which is her favorite all-day formula because the coverage is light yet buildable, and it melts into herdarker skin tonewith a matte finish. Kasonga says the formula lasts through 40 minutes of commuting, hours of client meetings, and post-work drinks with no transferring and minimal creasing. Beyond its 20 SPFsun protection, the tinted makeup also contains skin-care ingredients like hyaluronic acid (to deeply hydrate) and squalane (to lock in moisture), making it worth the steeper price tag, Kasonga says.

In our roundup of thebest pimple patches, we named these Bioré ones our top easy-to-apply pick. Dermatologist Dr.Carmen Castillais a fan because the perforated packaging ensures each dot-shapedpatchcan be applied without contaminating the side that comes into contact with the blemish. And like ourbest overall optionfrom Hero Cosmetics, these only contain medical-grade hydrocolloid, which removes excess fluid and oils from spots. And because they’re fragrance and alcohol free, they shouldn’t dry out sensitive skin, Castilla says.

Japanese andKorean beautycompanies have created superior skin-carecotton padsfor years, Viera-Newtonsays— which is why she recommends theseultra-gentle ones from Unicharm that she describes as spongypuffsthat transfer every single product drop to your skin. “If you use pricey skin-care items likeP50, and you want to make sure you’re really getting all thatmagic liquidinto your skin, this is the cotton pad for you,” Viera-Newton says.