J-Beauty: 11 Japanese Products To Have On Your Radar
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer, £54
This brand has long been a best-kept secret in the beauty industry - but we can finally get our hands on it here in the UK. The range is full of skin perfectors and creamy blushers, but this iconic concealer is without doubt one of the brand’s best products. Loved by celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, January Jones and Kate Hudson, it’s full-coverage, but the creamy formula still provides a skin-like finish. It's also full of antioxidants and SPF, too.
Available at Harrods.com
Curel Make-Up Cleansing Gel, £12.50
New to the UK, this is Japan’s number-one brand for sensitive skin types, and now, you can get hold of it in Boots. Our favourite from the range is this gentle cleansing gel that’s jam-packed with ceramides and oils to maintain and nourish the skin’s protective barrier, while still gently melting away all traces of make-up.
Available at Boots
Shiro Essence Lip Butter, £32
The UK is the first country outside of Japan to have access to Shiro. From covetable brushes to skin-loving serums and creamy make-up, there’s so much to choose from, with many of the formulas made up of nourishing oils. Special shout-out to these moisturising lip butters which feel like a balm, apply like a gloss, and deliver the pigment of a stain. Available in two peachy colours, they leave behind a healthy sheen that’s beautiful for daytime, or layered on top of other colours for a more dramatic finish.
Available at Shiro
Sensai Lash Volumiser 38 Degrees Mascara, £23.95
Loved by the likes of make-up master Mary Greenwell, this mascara’s chunky brush allows for maximum coverage. The inky black formula gives high-impact definition, too, and lasts the whole day. Plus, unlike other clumpy formulas, it’s easy enough to remove with just warm water.
Available at Sensai
NatureLab TOKYO Perfect Smooth Blowout Lotion, £11
More than just pretty packaging, this Japanese beauty brand has recently launched in the UK and it doesn’t disappoint. We’re hooked on this smoothing blowout lotion that protects against heat damage, while smoothing marula oils fend off frizz and flyways. Work a small amount through damp hair, then flip your head forward and dry for optimum volume and bounce. Argan stem cells encourage better growth and strength, too.
Available at Nature Lab
Surratt Smokey Eye Baton, £34
A cross between a liner and a shadow, this dual-ended crayon provides a fool proof smokey eye in minutes. The pencil end is ideal for defining the lashline or creating soft feline flicks, while the sponge-tipped shadow provides a seamless wash of colour – available in charcoal, brown, blue, mauve and burgundy. We love the retractable and compact packaging too, which makes it great for on-the-go.
Available at SpaceNK
Yu-Be Moisturising Cream, £12.99
A best-seller in Japan, this multi-purpose cream is a great all-rounder. Dab a little onto flaky, dry patches, parched heels, chapped lips or split cuticles for instant hydration. The soft, lemon scent is a bonus.
Available at Fragrance Direct
Kose Esprique Foundation Face Brush
One of the best foundation brushes we’ve ever tried, these densely packed bristles really hold foundation (and any other product for that matter) to provide a fingertip-like application – aka, soft and weightless. The longer handle also gives you more control, so you can properly buff in the product for a more airbrushed finish.
Available at: Amazon
Hada Labo Anti-Ageing Super Hydrator Lotion, £18.84
This silky lotion is a best-seller and loved by industry insiders – notably our resident beauty expert, Lisa Potter-Dixon. With three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, it’s brilliant value and gentle enough for all skin types. Use it post-cleanse but before moisturiser to deliver deep down hydration. Get it quick – it sells out regularly, so it’s worth buying a few in bulk.
Available at Amazon.co.uk
CANMAKE Cream Cheek Colours, £7.93
Japan do some of the best cream blushers. A best-seller in Tokyo chemists and high-street shops, these creamy colours melt into the skin, but dry down like a lightweight powder, so you still get maximum staying power. That doesn’t mean you lose all dewiness though – thanks to the addition of squalane and amino acids, skin is left hydrated with an unbeatable glossy sheen.
Available at Amazon
Flowfushi UZU Eye Opening Liner, £14
Regularly spied backstage at Fashion Week, these well-loved liners have a paintbrush-like applicator and streak-free colour payoff. They’re so precise, even novices will nail a flawless feline flick. Available in every colour imaginable (blues, greens, white and black), they allow you to add subtle flashes of pigment, without it looking bulky or theatrical. A make-up bag staple.
Available at: Ever Glow Cosmetics
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