Consumers are demanding quality as a factor in beauty products
The globalization of beauty products and practices have advanced significantly over the past decade. While there are cultural differences in each country, consumers are demanding high quality as a factor in beauty products. According to one survey, the highest-quality beauty products come from Japan, the United States, and France (in that order).
In this survey, 65 percent of those who used a wide variety of beauty products from different countries placed Japanese products in the number one spot. In fact, most of those surveyed stated they expect Japanese products to be of the highest quality, due to their past use of those beauty products.
Japanese beauty products are renowned for quality and effectiveness
Research has shown that Asian-Americans spend the most on beauty products across the globe, spending 70 percent more than the general U.S. population on these beauty products. While high-quality beauty products can come at a price, many people are willing to pay the price to obtain the best quality care for their skin. Overall, Japan is an amazing country for beauty products, with Japanese beauty products renowned across the world for quality and effectiveness.
Globally, Japan is the second-largest market for beauty products
As far as market share, Japan is the world’s second-largest market for cosmetics and beauty products after the United States. The Japanese beauty product industry is highly sophisticated—and highly competitive. Japanese consumers are considered to be highly conscious of quality, product value, and the brands they buy and use.
In 2013, Japan’s beauty and personal care product markets accounted for more than 40 percent of the entire Asia Pacific market (which is one-third of the global market). Those numbers have only increased over the past few years. The most popular items for Japanese consumers are skincare items that are high performing and quick-acting, with multi-appeal attributes. Organic, natural, luxury, and unique or branded products are in high demand in the marketplace.
So which beauty products from Japan stand out most? Here are some categories where Japanese beauty products excel.
Sunscreens
When it comes to sunscreens, Japanese brands bring their A-game. They have formulated sun protection in every product texture for every skin type imaginable. There are the conventional creams, sprays, and sticks, but also milks, powders, gels, and essences with advanced sun protection of at least SPF 30 with PA+++. Perhaps what users rave about most is the unique texture of Japanese sunscreens. Due to the hot and humid Japanese summers, Japanese brands seem to have mastered non-greasy formulations that are lightweight and quick-absorbing, and blend well without leaving a white cast.
Sheet masks
Japanese sheet masks are no joke. With formulations for nearly every skin type and concern under the sun, there’s bound to be a holy grail for everybody. And no matter your budget, there’s a wallet-friendly option within reach. Daily sheet masks are an affordable option that can also help simplify your skincare routine, as they replace your essence toner and emulsion steps immediately after cleansing. Such masks target specific skin concerns like hydration, brightening, purifying, and anti-aging. For people who prefer the occasional feel of a mask, weekly masks can provide more intensive treatments than daily sheet masks since they tend to be more concentrated. If you’re willing to splurge, you should opt for luxury masks made by Japanese designer brands. These high-performance masks are perfect before special occasions but also for regular maintenance. For busy people on the go, travel masks feature select formulations infused with local ingredients like coix seed, rice bran and Japanese sake. Japanese beauty brand Clear Turn makes such masks at an unbeatable price point.
SHOP: Clear Turn Beautiful Skin Artisan Coix Seed Brightening Mask (7 sheets)
Essences
No J-Beauty list would be complete without a worthy mention of Japanese essence toners. They may look basic with their watery texture and appearance, but don’t be fooled. The essence is a key step you won’t want to miss on the quest for mochi skin. The essence contains a large amount of active ingredients that help to target specific skin concerns like dryness, dullness, and wrinkles. Their liquid consistency also allows them to penetrate the skin and prep it to better absorb products like serums, emulsions, and creams. Check out some of our top essence toner picks below.
If you’re an essence first-timer, we recommend the antioxidant-rich KITAO Matcha + Chia Essence Lotion formulated with matcha green tea, chia seed, acai and quinoa. Those seeking a dewy glow should check out the UNNATURALLY NATURAL Vitamin C Oil Essence. Infused with fermented pumpkin extract, vitamins C, and marula and jojoba oils, the vegan essence not only brightens but acts as the perfect makeup primer. For a splurge-worthy essence, try the hydrating La Vie Précieuse MOIST A.P.G. Lotion designed for mature and dry skin types. For a soothing essence on a budget, try the Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner. This essence is a cult-favorite in Japan due to its incredible value. Rich in Vitamin B, amino acids, and anti-inflammatory coix seed, the skin conditioner plumps the skin while calming acne and irritation. Once you’re comfortable with essences, here’s our favorite tip to slay your J-Beauty game like a pro. Take several cotton squares and gently pull them apart into two thin halves. Fully soak the cotton squares with your J-Beauty essence of choice. Apply the soaked squares to your face. Once you’ve covered your entire face (except for your eyes), let the “mask” sit for 10-15 minutes. Remove the squares and gently press the excess product into your skin.
SHOP: KITAO Matcha + Chia Essence Lotion
Foam cleansers
If anyone knows how to do foam cleansing right, J-Beauty hands down takes the cake. There is a method to the madness, and it begins with using a foaming net or similar item that is capable of creating a rich foam filled with microbubbles. This is much more effective than making a lather with your bare hands, and even helps stretch the life of your cleanser. We might think of foaming cleansers as only for oily skin types, but Japanese facial foaming cleansers come in a wide array of hydrating, exfoliating, purifying, and brightening options that are gentle enough to be used day and night. If you run on the oily side, you’ll want to try a charcoal-infused cleanser like the Real Bell Black Charcoal Facial Wash. If you want your cleanser to double as an exfoliant, check out the KITAO Matcha + Chia Enzyme Powder. Can’t decide? Pretty much no skin type will go wrong with the EDOBIO Masu Soap.
SHOP: KITAO Matcha + Chia Enzyme Powder
SHOP: Real Bell Black Charcoal Facial Wash
SHOP: EDOBIO Masu Soap
The JBeauty Collection offers quality J-Beauty brands
Looking for a splurge-worthy luxury Japanese skincare line? You’ll want to zone in on Japanese beauty brand La Vie Précieuse, an innovative anti-aging skincare line that’s all about hydration. Hydration is the key to virtually every skin problem you will face—dark spots, sagging, wrinkles, and dullness. As we age, our skin’s ability to retain hydration diminishes. La Vie Précieuse focuses on replenishing your skin with super-hydrating ingredients.
And one of the key hydrating ingredients seems to be getting a lot of attention these days — Proteoglycan. While Proteoglycans are similar to hyaluronic acid—which we’ve all heard about—it retains even more moisture in your skin. Hyaluronic acid is a popular skincare ingredient due to its ability to attract and hold almost 1,000 times its weight in moisture. But wait till you hear this. Proteoglycan retains 1.3 times more water than hyaluronic acid! It’s basically the new superstar in hydration everyone who cares about their skin should check out.
Proteoglycan was discovered in the 1970s, but its remarkable benefits on top of the complexity of its extraction made it an extremely expensive ingredient. It was valued at $300K per gram at the time of its discovery! That’s more than a diamond was worth. 40 years after its discovery, Hirosaki University in Aomori, Japan found a safe and cost-efficient way to extract Proteoglycan from the nasal cartilage of a salmon! This was a major breakthrough in the beauty industry in Japan.
Quality beauty products come from quality research. The Japanese beauty industry is said to be 2-3 years ahead in research compared to the states. This meticulous research seems to be the secret sauce in all the quality innovative beauty products from Japan.
Shop La Vie Précieuse at the JBeauty Collection
There is much more to J-Beauty than the iconic brands you will see at U.S. beauty stores. The JBeauty Collection is curated by a diverse team of beauty experts with a mission to demystify the Japanese beauty philosophy to American beauty lovers.