Five Top Japanese Beauty Products to Try in August

Summer is here, and these five Japanese beauty must-haves will have you looking flawless despite the heat.

Tsururi Ghassoul Mousse with Charcoal Powder

Humidity, sweat and sunscreen are synonymous with summer, and they are also sure-fire ways to block pores, leading to breakouts and skin congestion (blackheads). A good cleanser is an essential part of your summer beauty routine. During the summer months you need a hard working cleanser that ensures all of the makeup, sunscreen, dirt, oil and sweat that accumulates on our skin during the day are properly washed away. Tsururi Ghassoul Mousse (¥1,000) is designed as a six-in-one beauty product. It promises to be a makeup remover, cleanser, face mask, massage lotion, moisturiser and skin lifter. This product has a lot to live up to! I was drawn mostly to its key ingredients: ghassoul and charcoal powder, which are two of the most talked about skincare ingredients for cleansers at the moment. Ghassoul is a type of lava clay found in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and is packed with active ingredients including silicone, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium and lithium. All of these ingredients are brilliant at removing impurities from deep within the pores, as well as helping to shed dead skin cells. The charcoal powder in the mousse attracts and absorbs dirt and oil, which is then washed away when you rinse the product from your skin.

To use the Tsururi Ghassoul Mousse to deep clean your skin, apply a golf ball sized amount of mousse to a damp face. Carefully spread all over your face, avoiding the area directly around your eyes and lips. Massage into the skin for a few minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. For a further deep cleanse, apply another layer of product all over the face and leave for 20 to 30 minutes, ensuring that the product has completely dried. Once dry, splash your face again with lukewarm water and gently massage to soften the mask. Once you can move the mask around comfortably, cleanse your face completely with a damp face cloth.

Koh Gen Do Oriental Plants Essence

Dehydrated skin may seem like an unlikely summer skin problem in Tokyo, where in August near-100-percent humidity is a daily occurrence. However, other environmental and lifestyle factors such as constant air conditioning, sun damage, not drinking enough water, or indulging in one too many mojitos will definitely leave your skin parched and looking for some much needed moisture. Tokyo skincare brand Koh Gen Do has a wonderful essence in its Oriental Plants range, which is the perfect addition to your summer skincare routine. The Oriental Plants Essence (¥6,480) is a rich, botanical based serum, containing 36 plant extracts and ceramides that quickly revive even the most dry and dehydrated skin. The cool gel serum is applied all over a clean face, and quickly absorbs into the skin. Almost immediately, dry or sensitive skin feels soothed, softer and firmer. Definitely a must for all skin types.

Biore UV Aqua Rich 50+ Sunscreen

Undoubtedly the most important beauty product to have in your makeup bag this time of year is a good broad spectrum sunscreen. Lucky for us, Japanese sunscreens are arguably the best in the world, and you don’t need to pay a fortune, as Japanese drugstores stock impressive products with equally impressive prices. Biore’s UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence (¥797) is a great buy for everyday wear, as it has a very high protection factor of 50+, protects against both UVA and UVB rays, and the water-based formula promises to quickly absorb into the skin, leaving a non-greasy finish. Biore UV Aqua Rich is lovely to apply to your skin, spreading smoothly, absorbing quickly and leaving the skin feeling hydrated but with a pleasant, light powder finish. Best of all, it leave no ghost-like cast on the skin. The high protection factor of 50+ ensures you feel confident even in direct sunlight. Suitable even for dry and sensitive skin types.

K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyeliner

As the humidity continues to climb, it’s time to turn to long wearing and waterproof makeup formulations to make sure your makeup has some longevity. A long wearing eyeliner is a good place to start, as eyeliner is definitely one product you don’t want sliding halfway down your face. K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Eyeliner (¥1,296) is a long wearing eye pencil that truly delivers on what it promises. Available in three colors, the thin two-millimeter pencil is soft to apply and easy to smudge into the lash line, and as promised it stays in place all day. As the K-Palette eye pencil is waterproof, you can apply to the tight line of your eye and not have to constantly reapply, which is perfect on a night out when you don’t want too many products in your clutch bag. Make sure to have an eye makeup remover on hand at home to remove all your eyeliner at the end of the day.

Canmake Candy Wrap Lip

Add a pop of tropical color to your summer makeup look with a fruit punch color lip gloss. I have recently discovered the fantastic Japanese drugstore cosmetic brand Canmake, and immediately fell for all of the great colors in the Candy Wrap Lip range. My pick for summer is Lady Strawberry (04), an easy-to-wear sheer red lip gloss, which is great when you don’t feel like wearing a lot of eye makeup. These cute Canmake lip glosses are a bargain at ¥580, and the formula contains some serious moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane and royal jelly extract.