A Japanese Dream: My Favourite Japanese Beauty Buys

Here’s a little fact you may not have known about me…did you know I used to live in Osaka, Japan for four years? I also speak Japanese although my words have gotten rustier over the years having not been back in awhile. Therefore, my love for Japanese beauty runs deep and with it I have recently gotten my hands on a few little Japanese beauty buys which I absolutely love. There is something about Japanese and Korean skincare and make-up that really suits my skin. Read on to find out what I am loving from Japan!

Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation SPF 20

Ever wondered how to get silky smooth, flawless skin? Well it does actually exist and it comes in a bottle called Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation with SPF 20. This is such a dream of a foundation – it blends in as though barely there and feels silky in texture. This is a medium-coverage foundation meaning that your flaws get hidden but your bare skin can still shine through. I don’t like the kind of make-up that makes it look like you are wearing a mask. This leaves a lovely airy matte finish that lasts all day long…just what you want in a foundation, right?

Shiseido Face Color Enhancing Trio

Another winner from Shiseido is the Face Color Enhancing Trio which again perfectly enhances the cheekbones without making it look like you got carried away with the blusher. It gives you that fresh-faced, peachy skin that the Japanese so love to create. You can use the top colour as blusher, the middle colour as a sculptor and the bottom colour to harmonise. Harmony is at the centre of Japanese philosophy and this little trio certainly embodies that. Perfection in a palette.

Shiseido Anti-Ageing Foundation UV Protective SPF 30

Ah the Japanese do SPF so well in their skincare and make-up formulas. There is none of those greasy, balled-up specks of make-up that don’t seem to blend in. No, this is pure silk and it comes out very liquid-like – just like water but blends in like a dream so that you hardly notice that it’s there. It leaves a lovely dewy glow to the skin as well which I’m a big fan of. This is a must-have when travelling or being outside for hours in the sun and it’s super easy to pack as well.

Shiseido Waso Soft & Cushy Polisher

I was super excited when this summer Shiseido launched its little sister brand, WASO. I’ve always been a long-time fan of Shiseido, having lived in Japan for four years. Shiseido was all I used! The WASO brand was created for the millennial in mind and you can see that with the minimal packaging and clean but chic look. The Soft + Cushy Polisher is a lovely little exfoliator that’s super gentle on the skin but still does the job at the same time. I like to use this post-cleansing as the second step in my double cleanse because it’s gentle enough to do so.

Shiseido Waso Color-Smart Day Moisturiser SPF 30

I usually never like tinted moisturisers until I met this one. The Shiseido WASO Color-Smart Day Moisturiser is a BRILLIANT tinted moisturiser that not only doubles as your foundation but also works as your moisturiser. With this it’s skincare first and foundation second which is the kind of philosophy I like because then you know it’s got skin-loving ingredients. The colour comes out white and adapts upon application. Mine suited my skin tone perfectly and I also like that it has SPF 30. Asian brands do SPF in their products so well – it’s all about the formulation. It doesn’t ball up or get clumpy either. This one also contains loquat cells which balance the skin and have high antioxidant levels. The best tinted moisturiser I’ve tried yet!

DHC Astaxanthin Collagen All-In-One Gel

DHC has been one of my favourite Japanese brands for a very long time and I love the brand so much that I had to include them in my Tokyo Love beauty box. The DHC Astaxanthin Collagen All-in-One Gel is a new product and one that my skin absolutely loves. I have been using this for the past couple of weeks and my skin is super clear and definitely more radiant.

The key ingredient? Super antioxidant astaxanthin which is ‘a vitamin-like substance considered 6000 times more powerful than vitamin C’. I mean wow. The ingredient is derived from freshwater green algae and works to brighten, nourish and moisturise the skin. I love this skin and if you have sensitive skin this is dream because it doesn’t break you out or irritate the skin either.

DHC Beauty Lift Eye Care Essence Roll-On

The eye area is a pesky one and it’s usually the first area that starts to show signs of ageing. Fine lines start to appear and skin under the eye gets dehydrated easily as well. I love the new DHC Beauty Lift Eye Care Essence Roll-On – it’s a little roller ball massager that firms and smooths around the eye. It’s got all the good stuff – peptides, ceramides and extracts. Honestly if you haven’t tried DHC before GET ON BOARD!!