The best Japanese moisturizers have always been the talk of the town when it comes to a natural skincare routine. We know how moisturization is crucial in our everyday beauty regime and a good moisturizer can get the job done. From priming to prepping, it lets your skin feel hydrated by adding a quick boost of refreshment. 

It also acts as a first line of defense and protects the outer skin layer from damage, inflammation, dehydration, and irritation. Japanese moisturizers are well-known for their hydrating properties, while some of them also serve a dual purpose – anti-aging and hydration to provide a youthful look. You'd be surprised to know that a few moisturizers have built-in sun protection abilities too! 

So we conducted hours of research and tried and tested products to come up with the best. Below, we've enlisted some good Japanese moisturizers you'll love to add to your skincare kit.

• 1
  Best Overall

  TATCHA The Water Cream

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Inspired by advanced Japanese technology, the water cream is a holy grail for oily and combination skin. The lightweight formula releases a burst of hydration from the nutrients to provide a dewy look. It's infused with botanicals like Japanese leopard lily, wild rose, and Hadasei 3 which is a blend of green tea, algae, and rice. Leopard lily soothes irritated skin, wild rose helps tighten pores and minimize excess oil, and Hadasei 3 promotes skin turnover. Overall, the cream helps maintain your skin health.

2

Most Soothing Formula

Kikumasamune Sake Milk

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Packed in a cute pink bottle, this Japanese face lotion carries the goodness of ancient rituals. The formula is made to give your skin an intense amount of moisturization and hydration – thanks to its active ingredient sake extract, which is obtained from fermented rice (1). It is rich in vitamins, fatty and amino acids, and antioxidants. The trio works together to brighten and hydrate skin while reducing dark spots at the same time. Also, it shows anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties to calm irritated and itchy skin. Further, the ingredients also improve skin elasticity and make loose skin feel more firm.

3

Best for Dry Skin

Curel Moisture Facial Cream

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This cream by Curel is a well-known Japanese moisturizer for dry skin. However, it also works great on sensitive and dehydrated skin. Unlike conventional moisturizers, this product feels weightless and non-sticky. It doesn't cake up and gets absorbed deep into the skin layers to give it a boost of hydration. This Ceramide Care technology inspired cream heals existing breakouts and prevents future ones from happening. With continuous use, you may see a reduction in fine lines and scars. What’s more is that the cream improves the skin's natural barrier and makes it more supple.

4

Most Versatile

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

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Containing active components like vitamin E, this moisturizing cream is perfect for extra dry and cracked skin on both your face and body. The healing formula relieves stubborn, itchy skin and treats minor scrapes and sunburns. It has been formulated with soothing natural ingredients like camphor, glycerine, sodium hyaluronate, and vitamin B2. Camphor adds a fresh scent to the formula that refreshes your dermis, while the other ingredients provide long-lasting moisture (2). Our analysis of the product shows that the blend is ideal for both men and women.

5

Best Anti-aging Formula

NAMERAKA Sana Isoflavone Lotion

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If you need a J-beauty moisturizer with built-in exfoliating and pH-balancing properties, this can be the best option for you. The magical concoction is meant to get softer and smoother skin. After all, it contains plant collagens, soy, and carrot extracts that assist in achieving your skincare goals. The ingredients claim to increase collagen levels in the body to boost skin sturdiness and elasticity. The hero compound Isoflavone is found in bean extracts like soy which shows anti-photoaging effects. It protects against damage from UVB exposure and may delay the signs of aging (3).

6

Best Acne-prone Skin

naturie SKIN CONDITIONING GEL

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This lush skin conditioning gel from Naturie is here to prep your skin. Enriched with Hatomugi – a grass crop that’s also known as Job's Tears, the featherweight, light-textured cream is ideal for enhancing the skin’s hydration levels. The hero ingredient is rich in Vitamin B3, which brightens skin and evens out the complexion. Moreover, it controls melanin production to balance skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation. This Japanese gel moisturizer is a multi-purpose formula that you can use for your face and body. What's more is that the gel doesn't clog pores and keeps acne, pimples, and breakouts at bay.

7

Best for All Skin Types

DHC Super Collagen Cream

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DHC's super hydrating cream is formulated for all skin types. The nourishing Japanese facial moisturizer is crafted with DHC-patented dipeptide-8 which delivers micronized collagen on the skin's top layer to elevate suppleness and elasticity (4). The complex is infused with vitamins E and C, rapeseed oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil to smoothen and lighten skin complexion. In addition, the magical potion helps combat environmental stressors and fights against free radicals to ensure overall skin health while reducing premature aging signs.

You've now seen our top recommendations for the best Japanese moisturizers. It's time to explore our user guide which will help you pick the right product to get the most out of it.

Here're a few tips to consider before you slide a Japanese moisturizer into your shopping cart. 

Ingredients 

Checking the ingredients is a rule to follow before buying a Japanese beauty product. Look for organic acids and natural ingredients like hyaluronate, plant extracts, skin-firming collagen, vitamins, glycerin, essential oils like rapeseed oil and olive oil, etc. These are excellent for your skin and improve its overall health. If you're allergic to a specific ingredient, stay away from products containing that. Also, your ideal pick shouldn't have harsh chemicals, as they can cause redness, irritation, and other skin problems. 

Skin Type 

You should always be aware of your skin type when choosing a moisturizer. If you have excessively dry or flaky skin, you may consider an intense hydrating moisturizer loaded with essential oils, collagen, or hyaluronic acid. For oily skin types, non-comedogenic formulas or those that don't cause breakouts can be a perfect fit. Sensitive skin types can go with hypoallergenic or non-irritating blends. Also, ensure that the product suits your skin and is gentle. You may go for a patch test to check your skin’s sensitivity to a particular ingredient. 

Formula 

Japanese face and body moisturizers are available in different formats, from creams to lotions and gels. Creams are ideal for normal, aging, and mature skin. Lotions have semi-thin consistency and work well on dehydrated, sensitive, and oily skin types, especially during the summer. Gels are usually perfect for oily and dried skin.

If you're wondering how these moisturizers can level up your skincare regime, here're the benefits they offer. 

Boost Skin Hydration 

Japanese face and body moisturizers are meant to maintain and restore moisture. They inhibit water loss and mimic the skin's natural barrier to lock moisture. This makes the skin soft and supple. Some moisturizers can also reduce spots and lighten the skin tone besides doing their primary job. 

Anti-aging Effects 

Some moisturizers also show anti-aging benefits that include reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin texture, and boosting the skin's firmness and elasticity. Typically, such formulas are infused with collagen, hyaluronate, antioxidants, vitamins, and more. 

UV protection 

Believe it or not, Japanese skincare moisturizers help combat damage caused by sun exposure. Ingredients like vitamins, plant collagens, Isoflavone, and more assist in managing aging signs that may arise with continuous UV exposure.

Japanese moisturizers are popular among global audiences for their exclusive benefits. Today they are a beauty staple and are hard to avoid. The reason is that they are intensely hydrating, nourishing, and moisturizing agents. They make your skin appear seamless and dewy. Moreover, a few of them also exhibit anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and repairing properties that make them a must-have beauty product in skincare kits. The above-mentioned natural moisture elixirs do more than hydrating and moisturizing your skin. They even your skin tone, reduce dark spots, fade aging signs, and a lot more. You can choose any of them depending on your skincare needs.