Seasonal Skincare for Every Skin Type

I remember my first year in Japan. After seeing how nicely my housemates take care of their skin, I came to realize that I should really be more of an adult and take care of my skin as well. However, when I stopped by my local drug store, I found myself completely overwhelmed by the skincare aisle. I had studied Japanese before arriving, but I found that I had no idea whatsoever about skincare vocabulary in Japanese. Moreover, I was not prepared for the huge variation in humidity levels seen in the Kanto area. The Kuroshio brings in warm, humid weather patterns in the summer but the dry, Siberian winds blow through in the winter. Once I had found my summer skincare routine, winter took me completely off-guard and left my skin dry and inflamed. Googling didn`t seem to help much either since there weren`t any articles in English about this situation.
So, through frantic googling in Japanese, searching the Cosme ranking page and Line-messaging friends, I`ve come up with a list of recommended products to help you take care of your skin and some of the most commonly seen vocabulary related to skincare!

Dry Skin 乾燥肌(かんそうはだ)

A table of summer and winter skincare products for dry skin. 	Summer Products	Winter Products Cleanser	ロゼット洗顔パスタ	Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Toner	ハトムギ化粧水	ハトムギ化粧水 Milk	ミノンモイストチャージミルク	ミノンモイストチャージミルク Serum	ロート メラノCC美容液 (contains whitening) ロート メラノCC Wビタミン	Skinfood Black Sugar Perfect First Serum Makeup Remover	Biore Perfect Oil	Suisei Beauty Clear Powder Sheet Mask	Innisfree My Real Squeeze Mask ベルサイユのばら ナイトトリートメントマスク	Innisfree My Real Squeeze Mask ベルサイユのばら ナイトトリートメントマスク Sunscreen	Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk	Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk Face Cream		Ayaka Vital Up Cream Moisture Moisturizing Gel		Nature Republic Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel Face Scrub		Skinfood Black Sugar Perfect Essential Scrub

Oily Skin 脂性肌(しせいはだ)

A table of seasonal skincare products for oily skin. 	Summer Products	Winter Products Cleanser	Skin Life薬用洗顔フォーム (skin without blemishes) Fancil Washing Powder (good for breakouts)	Fancl Washing Powder Toner	ハトムギ化粧水	ハトムギ化粧水 Moisturizer	極潤ライトタイプ	Embryolisse Laboratories Lait-crème Concentre AHA/BHA	AHA Wash Cleansing	AHA Wash Cleansing Makeup Remover	Biore メイク落としふくだけコットン	Biore メイク落としふくだけコットン Sheet Mask	毛穴撫子 お米のマスク	毛穴撫子 お米のマスク Sunscreen	Biore UV Aqua Rich (water-based) Biore UV Barrier Me Mineral Milk  (works with silicone-based foundation)	Biore UV Aqua Rich (water-based) Biore UV Barrier Me Mineral Milk  (works with silicone-based foundation)

   

Combination Skin 混合肌(こんごうはだ)

(My personal recommendations, since this is my skin type)

A table of summer and winter skincare products for combination skin. 	Summer Products	Winter Products Cleanser	Senka Perfect Whip	Senka Perfect Whip Toner	ハトムギ化粧水	ハトムギ化粧水 Moisturizer	極潤ライトタイプ	Curel Intensive Moisture Cream AHA/BHA	AHA Wash Cleansing	AHA Wash Cleansing Makeup Remover	Biore メイク落としふくだけコットン	Biore メイク落としふくだけコットン Sheet Mask	Lululun (Pink)	Lululun (Pink) Sunscreen	Biore UV Aqua Rich (water-based) Biore UV Barrier Me Mineral Milk  (works with silicone-based foundation)	Biore UV Aqua Rich (water-based) Biore UV Barrier Me Mineral Milk  (works with silicone-based foundation) Mask	Lush Cupcake Mask Tsururi Ghassoul Clay Pack	Tsururi Ghassoul Clay Pack Eye Cream	雪肌精アイクリーム	雪肌精アイクリーム

Sensitive Skin 敏感肌(びんかんはだ)

A table of summer and winter skincare products for sensitive skin. 	Summer Products	Winter Products Cleanser	Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil	Martina Gebhardt Shea Butter Cleanser Toner	ハトムギ化粧水 (Contains gluten) Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Floral Toner (Gluten-free)	ハトムギ化粧水 (Contains gluten) Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Floral Toner (Gluten-free) Moisturizer	Minon Amino Moist Moist Charge Milk	Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturizing and Radiance Booster Essence		Carte Clinity Stabilize Essence

Normal Skin 普通肌(ふつうはだ)

We are all jealous of you! You can basically use whatever you`d like, but here are some popular products you might want to try!

A table of products for normal skin types. Cleanser	Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil Toner	ハトムギ化粧水  Moisturizer	ちふれ保湿クリームしっとりタイプ Orbis U Lotion (for winter)

Aging Skin 年齢肌(ねんれいはだ)

A table of summer and winter skincare products for aging skin. 	Summer Products	Winter Products Cleanser	Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil	Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil Toner	ハトムギ化粧水 	ハトムギ化粧水  Serum	Beauty Mall APPS+F Serum Mist	Et Vos Skincare Moisturizing Serum Moisturizer	Astalift Moist Lotion	尊馬油 ソンバーユ Eye Cream	Perfect Whity White Wrinkle Cream    (contains whitening) なめらか本舗リンクルアイクリームN	Perfect Whity White Wrinkle Cream  (contains whitening) なめらか本舗リンクルアイクリームN

 

*This list applies to the parts of Japan that experience extreme humidity in the summer and extreme dryness in the winter. In Hokkaido and the Tohoku area, summers are not so humid and you can probably use any product you wish during that time. Conversely in Okinawa, winters are not so dry and therefore I would probably continue to use the summer products throughout the year.

**In Japan, skincare is less segregated by sex than it is in many Western countries. Japanese men also tend to take pretty good care of their skin. It is culturally acceptable for men to use the vast majority of these products (aside from maybe the face masks and makeup removers). Even if it`s not culturally acceptable, I say that everyone deserves to feel good about their skin and treat themselves. Go ahead and use that mask if it makes you happy!

Okay so now I know what to buy, Sydney, but where can I buy these things in Kashiwa??

Most of these things can be bought in regular drug stores, but a few can only be bought online or in specific stores. Here are some of the drug stores in Kashiwa (in no particular order):

Matsumoto Kiyoshi

マツモトキヨシ 柏東口駅前店
柏市柏2-2-2 浅野ビル
Asano Building 2-2-2 Kashiwa, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-22:00
電話番号:04-7167-7056

マツモトキヨシ 東武柏駅構内店
柏市末広町1-1 東武柏駅2階改札内
Kashiwa Tobu Station 2F (inside ticket gate) 1-1 Suehirocho, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:8:00-22:00
電話番号:04-7145-5200

マツモトキヨシ matsukiyoLAB 柏駅西口店
柏市末広町4-1 神崎ビル
Kanzaki Building 4-1 Suehirocho, Kashiwa-shi 
営業時間:9:00-22:00
電話番号:04-7140-1021

マツモトキヨシ 柏二番街店
柏市柏1-2-33
1-2-33 Kashiwa, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-22:00
電話番号:04-7168-2122

マツモトキヨシ 柏店
柏市柏3-2-3
3-2-3 Kashiwa, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-20:00
電話番号:04-7162-6001

マツモトキヨシ 柏千代田店
柏市千代田3-7-16
3-7-16 Chiyoda, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-22:00
電話番号:04-7166-5031

マツモトキヨシ 柏旭町店
柏市旭町4-6-2
4-6-2 Asahicho, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-24:00
電話番号:04-7147-0045

マツモトキヨシ 柏富里店
柏市富里2-4-35
2-4-35 Tomisato, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-22:00
電話番号:04-7176-3843

マツモトキヨシ 豊四季店
柏市豊四季203
203 Toyoshiki, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-21:00
電話番号:04-7147-6677

マツモトキヨシ フィールズ南柏店
柏市南柏中央6-7
6-7 Minami Kashiwa Chuo, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-21:00
電話番号:04-7172-1155

マツモトキヨシ 新柏店
柏市豊住1-3
1-3 Toyosumi, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-21:45
電話番号:04-7174-6600

Sundrug

サンドラッグ 柏南口駅前店
柏市柏1丁目2-31
1-2-31 Kashiwa, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-21:30
電話番号:04-7160-3375

サンドラッグ 柏松葉町店
柏市松葉町2-15-1
2-15-1 Matsuba-cho, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:平日9:00-21:00
電話番号:04-7135-6676

サンドラッグ 花野井店
柏市花野井681
681 Hananoi, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-21:00
電話番号:04-7133-3238

Tomods

トモズ 柏高島屋ステーションモール店
柏市末広町1-1 柏髙島屋ステーションモールS館 2F
Takashimaya Station Mall S 2F 1-1 Suehirocho, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-22:00
電話番号:04-7148-2209

Fukutaro

くすりの福太郎 南増尾店
柏市南増尾1-27-10
1-27-10 Minami Masuo, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-21:00
電話番号:04-7174-8629

くすりの福太郎 逆井店
柏市逆井13-1
13-1 Sakasai, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-21:00
電話番号:04-7172-3629

くすりの福太郎 柏の葉店
柏市十余二380番地35 中央211街区13
380-35-211-13 Toyofuta, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-21:00
電話番号:04-7137-6629

くすりの福太郎 豊四季店
柏市豊四季489番地の1
489-1 Toyoshiki, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:10:00-21:00
電話番号:04-7142-3729

くすりの福太郎 北柏店
柏市北柏1-1-1
1-1-1 Kita Kashiwa, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:平日10:00-20:30 土曜・日曜・祝日11:00-20:00
電話番号:04-7162-6629

くすりの福太郎 柏西口店
柏市旭町1-1-5 浜島ビル1F
Hamajima Building 1F 1-1-5 Asahicho, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:平日9:00-22:00 土曜9:00-21:00 日曜・祝日10:00-20:00
電話番号:04-7141-3929

くすりの福太郎 増尾店
柏市増尾1-1-1
1-1-1 Masuo, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:平日9:00-19:00 水曜9:00-17:00 土曜9:00-15:00
定休日:日曜・祝日
電話番号:04-7174-1129

Welcia

ウエルシア 柏中原店
柏市中原1814-1
1814-1 Nakahara, Kashiwa-shi

営業時間:9:00-20:00
電話番号:04-7164-2662

ウエルシア 柏しいの木台店
柏市しいの木台2-1
2-1 Shinokidai, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-0:00
電話番号:047-330-6220

ウエルシア 柏の葉キャンパス店
柏市中十余二397-1-182-3
397-1-182-3 Naka Toyofuta, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-0:00
電話番号:04-7137-3015

ウエルシア 北柏店
柏市北柏4-3-12
4-3-12 Kita Kashiwa, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:24 hours
電話番号:04-7160-2750

ウエルシア 柏南増尾店
柏市南増尾8-3-31
8-3-31 Minami Masuo, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-0:00
電話番号:04-7160-7667

ウエルシア 南柏駅西口店
柏市南柏1-8-16
1-8-16 Minami Kashiwa, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:24 hours
電話番号:04-7141-6371

ウエルシア 柏名戸ヶ谷店
柏市名戸ヶ谷857-2
857-2 Nadogaya, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-0:00
電話番号:04-7165-7773

ウエルシア 沼南店
柏市大島田305-5
305-5 Oshimada, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-0:00
電話番号:04-7190-1813

ウエルシア ららぽーと柏の葉店
柏市若柴175 ららぽーと柏の葉 1F 1013
Kashiwanoha Lalaport 1F, 175 Wakashiba, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:11:00-20:00
電話番号:04-7136-8889

ウエルシア 南柏店
柏市豊四季816-14
816-14 Toyoshiki, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-0:00
電話番号:04-7160-7885

ウエルシア 柏酒井根店
柏市酒井根2-37-5
2-37-5 Sakaine, Kashiwa-shi
営業時間:9:00-0:00
電話番号:04-7170-5124

Bonus Japanese Skincare Vocabulary!

スキンコンディショナー/トナー:toner
クレンジング/フェイスウォッシュ:cleanser/face wash
美容液/セラム:serum
アイクリーム:eye cream
化粧水:literally “makeup water”. In context, it means toner/daily moisturizer. Despite the origins of the word, it is also used for the toners/moisturizers targeted towards men specifically.
ミスト状化粧水:face mist
エッセンス:essence
乳液/モイスチャーミルク:milk-type moisturizer
フェイスマスク/フェイスパック:sheet-type masks
サラサラ:silky, smooth and dry
もっちり/もちもち:mocchi-like texture, soft and supple
ぷるぷる:elastic (like youthful skin)
かさかさ:dry
すべすべ:smooth
しっとり:moist
さっぱり:refreshing (like toner. Look for this word when trying to determine whether 化粧水 is toner or moisturizer)
ニキビ:acne
毛穴:pores

Ratzilla has an incredible list of beauty-related vocabulary in Japanese along with the pronunciation and English meaning. I highly recommend checking it out .

The Cosme Ranking page has a tag for gluten-free products! I discovered this while looking into skincare products for this list. Unfortunately at the moment, the page is mostly limited to hair care and food products. If you have issues with gluten, add some tags to help it grow!

 Hey guys! I’m Sydney, your friendly neighborhood foreigner! I moved to Japan in 2014, but I came to Kashiwa in 2019. Despite my name, I’m American not Australian.

When I first arrived in Japan, I was so relieved to find articles written by other foreigners about how to make my way in my new country. Now that I’ve been here a while, I’d like to share what I’ve learned as well and pay it forward.

This article is written by:

United States

kamon

staff

Sydney
シドニー
Profile

Hey guys! I’m Sydney, your friendly neighborhood foreigner! I moved to Japan in 2014, but I came to Kashiwa in 2019. Despite my name, I’m American not Australian.

When I first arrived in Japan, I was so relieved to find articles written by other foreigners about how to make my way in my new country. Now that I’ve been here a while, I’d like to share what I’ve learned as well and pay it forward.