Best of J-Beauty – Drugstore
Have you ever tried or heard of J-Beauty? What about K-Beauty?
J-Beauty stands for Japanese Beauty, and K-Beauty for Korean beauty. Both terms have been around for a good few years now, but personally, I’ve been hearing a lot more about K-beauty in the west.
So today, as a Japanese girl, I want to introduce to you the best of J-Beauty! I’ll be talking about my favourite drugstore j-beauty products, from cleansers all the way to moisturisers. They are also all available online, and I’ve put links on all the products!
I LOVE J-beauty products, and have been using them every single day as part of my skincare routine for almost a decade (since I was 15!). I use and love western products as well, but this post is a special on just the Japanese skincare products!
I’ve introduced a lot of these in the past in various favourites and routines posts, but I’ve always wanted to do a full on J-Beauty post like this – so I hope you like it 
Please share and let me know what you think, and I want to know if you’ve used any of these products or anything J-Beauty!
*** Disclaimer ***
The links on this post may contain affiliate links, where if you click through my links to purchase an item, I may get a small commission from Amazon, at no additional cost to you. This post is NOT sponsored, and all opinions are mine. I have bought all of the products for myself, for my personal use without external influences. For my full disclosure, please visit my disclosure page.
Cleansers
Sana Isoflavone foaming cleanser:
I want to start with cleansers, as its the most obvious starting point. I have SO many J-beauty drugstore cleansers that I’m in love with, but have picked three out today which I want to recommend. The SANA Isoflavone range is one of my favourite brands, whether luxury or drugstore, J-beauty or otherwise. I love this brand so much, and their cleanser is one of their best products. Although they have multiple cleansers, this foaming moisturising one is my absolute favourite. I’ve gone through over 10 of these, and I can’t get enough.
Their isoflavone range is all derived from soy extracts, and isoflavones are a great antioxidant. I’ve talked about this product in so many of my favourites and routine posts, but honestly I think this is such an incredible cleanser at such a bargain. The foam which is created is dense, and gets into all the pores cleaning them out. My skin feels so clean and so so so soft.
The product is also available online here
Another Japanese drugstore product I’ve mentioned in past posts. This foam cleanser is made from a special clay and kelp, and is definitely ideal for oilier days. It gives such a deep cleanse, without being an exfoliator. This is best used with the foaming net, and the dense bubbles that it forms really gets into your pores and cleans them out. This product is SO cheap, and although the Rosette line has multiple paste cleansers, this one and the next one are hands down my favourite ones. This cleanser is great for those days when you can “feel” your pores getting clogged, or if you can feel like you’ve got a spot coming on.
Its also available online here
Tools
Foaming Net:
Your best friend when you need a dense foam! This is my j-beauty secret weapon!! Any paste cleanser will be transformed with this magic net. Squeeze out about 1cm length of cleanser into the foam net with a bit of water, and rub the net together until a dense, stiff foam emerges. You can just rinse it off with water when you’re done, and hang it up in the bathroom to dry. It dries super quick because its just a net, but is utterly essential for the foam creating process!
Get it online here
Related post: Winter skincare routine
Toners
Sana Isoflavone hydrating moisture toner:
From Sana, the makers of the soy foam cleanser I mentioned above, their full range also consists of the facial lotions. Their toners range in consistency from light and watery to intensely hydrating and moisturising ones, which are a bit thicker in consistency.
This one is the hydrating moisture toner, which is a bit thicker in consistency than the watery light toner. I would use this in the winter after the foam cleanse, when I need a bit of extra moisture. Even though its a bit thicker, the product is so easily absorbed into the skin, and doesn’t leave any residue or greasy feeling on the skin. It is super moisturising, especially for a toner, and is just what I need when my skin is feeling very dry.
You can get it here on amazon if you’re interested!
Sana Isoflavone toner:
This is the lighter version of the one above, and is a watery and light toner. I love this toner so much, and use it year round, although I prefer the heavier moisturising one in the depths of winter. I love this light toner in the summer, it is absolutely ideal and has a cooling effect on my skin. The consistency is very very light, and is very watery and my skin just drinks it all up.
This is from the isoflavone range as well, and leaves skin so plump and hydrated. I love that it doesn’t leave any kind of residue behind. My skin is instantly hydrated, even though its a toner. I love using it in the summer because it makes my skin super smooth without the sticky texture that some can leave behind.
Again its available online for a bargain here
Related post: Skincare empties
Masks
Tsururi Point Clay Pack:
This is hands down my favourite pore cleanser! I really don’t like using the pore strips, which stick onto your skin. The adhesive can irritate your skin and pull off the top layer of your skin, which is actually so so much worse for your skin! Its the top protection barrier of your skin, and removing this can cause your skin to get more oily to try and make up for it.
This clay mask is amazing, because it doesn’t stick to your skin but cleanses excess oils and sebum by dissolving it into the clay mask. You simply just cover your nose or any problem areas in the paste, and wait around 10 minutes to allow it to dry. Then you just simply rinse off with warm water and go about with the rest of your skin care routine. Its also super disgusting but satisfying to watch the paste get all gross and spotty as it absorbs the dirt!
Its available online here
Quality 1st All in one Moisture Sheet Mask:
This is my favourite face mask – and its SO cheap! It comes as a huge pack, with 70 face masks, soaked in over 700 ml of product. Its super hydrating without being overly greasy. I love that it comes with so many face masks, and because its so cheap, its easy to just pop on after showering before doing the rest of your skincare routine. The sheet mask is really refreshing, and *unpopular opinion(?!)* but I’m usually not a fan of face masks! I fine them too heavy and wet, but I love this product!
You can get it here on amazon
Eye creams
Curél Moisture Eye Zone Essence:
This is another well known drugstore brand in Japan – Curél. They have a wide range of skincare products, and one of my favourites is this eye cream. Its very soft and glides on, which is super important to me because I absolutely cannot tolerate tugging in the under eye area. This is quite light for an eye cream, and is great for when you’re using more heavy serums or if its particularly hot and humid out. Because of the light formula, it doesn’t fall or glide down. I hate the feeling of products kind of seeping down my face instead of being absorbed by the skin. This is great for those hot days when formulas tend to run rather than sink into the skin.
Get it here on amazon
Sana Isoflavone Eye Cream:
Another one from the Sana isoflavone range is the wrinkle eye cream. This cream is my all-time favourite eye cream! J-beauty drugstore products are vey affordable, and I’m so impressed that this comes with the drugstore price range despite it being an eye cream. I also love the packaging that it comes in. The tube makes it really easy to get the product out, and the cream comes out really thin, so you get exactly the amount you need. This is actually part of their anti ageing range and contains retinol. I’ve been using this since I was a teenager, because I think prevention is key!
Also, the area under the eye has the thinnest skin, and needs the most special treatment. So in my opinion, you can never start too early!
Get it online here
Related post: Summer skincare routine
Lotions
Sana Isoflavone Milky Facial Lotion:
This is the facial lotion version of the toners from above. Its in between a toner and a moisturiser, and is still liquid and flows. Its intensely hydrating, and easily absorbed by the skin because its not quite a cream, and is liquid enough to sink in. Its the perfect addition to the skincare routine if your skin is super dry, like in the winter months. However, I also love to use it when a heavy moisturiser is too much. In summer, or on days when I’m feeling more oily, it can be a replacement moisturiser. It is a light moisturising lotion, and if I’m using it as an addition, I put it on after serums and treatments. Otherwise, I use it at the end when I would usually put on a cream to seal all the products in.
You can get it here
Moisturisers
Curél Intensive Moisture Cream:
Another magical little product from Curél is this amazing moisturiser. I’ve probably gone through about six or seven of these, and they are the perfect cream whatever the season. Its the least greasy moisturiser I’ve used, and seals in all of the other products really well. My skin loves this, and is never greasy when I’m using this. Its intense enough to use in the colder months when my skin gets really dry. But I also love it in the summer, where it makes my skin really soft and smooth, despite the extra sweat and oils, as well as sunscreen. It was the first moisturiser I think I really fell in love with, because I hate that greasy, heavy feeling. It is so amazing how smoothly it goes on, despite being an intensely moisturising cream.
I always get a couple when I’m home in Japan, but they can also be bought online here!
Sana Isoflavone all-in-one gel:
I bought this product on a whim – and I’m so glad I did! I call this the “magic cream” because the texture is amazing! Its this incredible gel, which is super fun to touch! This cream/gel is technically an all-in-one (or 6 in one as they say) and can be used straight after cleanser or toner. I was worried about how greasy it would be because its an all in one, but it was surprisingly smooth! It glides on to the skin, and is absorbed into skin really quickly. I love this because if I’m feeling particularly lazy, I can cleanse (double of course), tone and then apply this gel everywhere! Its definitely one for the evening/night after a shower and/or a long day.
Get it online here
Hope you enjoyed this post and learnt a little something new about J-beauty skincare products☺️I’m so happy to be able to share this with you. Japanese skincare is one of my favourite products, and their drugstore products are some of the best to me!
You definitely don’t have to break the bank to get great quality products, and I hope you will be happier to try out some of the products if you like the sound of them!
Please do let me know any products you’ve tried or want to use, and let me know if there are any other similar posts you would be interested in reading!
As always, thank you so much for reading, and I hope you like it!
See you in the next one,
Rina
14 Comments
aisasami
You know, even though I live in Japan, I never use these products. I use the cheap, 100 yen stuff. I am bad a beauty. But, it is expensive here. I have seen these products before.
Rina Kay
Its definitely more expensive than the 100 yen store, but its very reasonable and cheap for what they are! The SANA products are all less than 1000 yen (GBP8 or USD10) and I would say they’re on the level – if not better – than a lot of high end and luxury products which retail at almost USD 100! Thanks so much for reading!
Sarah Winton
I need to try the foaming net!
Rina Kay
Its amazing! Its definitely a game changer 😁
Geraldine
I LOVE THIS POST!! I’ve always wanted to try J Beauty products and there is just so much that I don’t know where to start. I’ve never heard of Isoflavone so this was something new that I learned! I really want that pore cleaner haha that looks so gross but cool like you said! I didn’t realize Curel was a Japanese brand!! I have used their products before and I think it’s nice!! Thank you for sharing girly!
Geraldine | https://geraldinetalks.com
Rina Kay
Thank you so much Geraldine – that makes me so happy! Please please let me know if you try any of them, I’d love to know your thoughts on them. They’re super affordable but amazing, so I love them so much. Thank you so much for reading! X
Raki
I’ve heard so many great things about Japanese beauty products. Those moisture sheet mask sound really amazing
Rina Kay
They’re so amazing! I love them so much 😍I may be biased but I love J-beauty products so much – especially the drugstore ones. I find them so affordable yet so effective. Thanks so much for reading! X
Baby Boomer Super
Wow, I didn’t know the adhesive strips could strip off part of your skin! Not good.
This is such an informative post – thanks for sharing so many different products in one post!
The Rosette Kaidei Smooth product looks really interesting! Clay and kelp are both wonderful ingredients for skincare – very purifying! My daughter likes to use the sheet masks, but I haven’t tried one yet.
I’ve been using Miessence products for years, and just tried their newest organic beauty line “Orient” which I love. The Orient skincare line is 30% off for the entire month of March, in honor of International Women’s Day. https://orient.one.organic/aromatherapist/en/
Rina Kay
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found something new 🙂 Yes! The rosette cleanser is absolutely amazing! I’ve been using their products since I was a teenager and just never looked back – they are super affordable as well which I love. Ohh I haven’t heard of it – I will be sure to check it out 😀 Thank you so much for reading and commenting X
Chloe Chats
I really enjoyed reading this post, so many of these products sound amazing!! I love the sound of the Tsururi Point Clay pack, the fact that it doesn’t stick to your skin sounds fab, there’s so many things like that out there that just are super gooey and stick to your face and it doesn’t feel great. Also love the sound of the Curel Intensive Moisture cream, I’m alwayss a big fan of moisturisers! And especially those that make your skin feel soft and smooth. Fab post! <3
Chloe xx
http://www.chloechats.com
Rina Kay
Thank you so much Chloe! I love love love the tsururi clay mask, its incredible! Nothing cleans out my pores as much and leaves it as smooth. Please do let me know if you try any of them! X
Alice V-DIYerfy
I’ve used Curel lotions and liked it. Thanks for this list, it’s always good to try new things.
Rina Kay
Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know if you do use/try any of them, I’d love to know what you think! X