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On a good day, the menfolk on dating apps compliment me on my smile or the clothes I pull together in the dark. If I’m lucky, we have similar music tastes; we’re both latecomer stans to The Weeknd. On bizarre days, they want to do unmentionable things to my feet or unmentionable body parts. On days that are as rare as they come, they’re into skincare as I am; one of them recently complimented me on a picture where I looked “extremely moist”.
The secret, however, isn’t from an editing app or studio-worthy lighting. It is thanks to the recent popularity of Japanese skincare or as I’d like to say: “a trend that took too damn long to make a resurgence”. Without giving my age away, I remember a time where Japanese skincare was all the rage. It wasn’t overtly TikTok-trendy and neither did it require a famous face to push products.
The popularity of Japanese skincare in the early ’90s to noughties was centred around providing your skin with as much moisture as possible for it to work effectively. Skincare gilded on more effectively, you broke out less because your skin stopped overcompensating with oil and as for ageing? Ain’t nobody got time for that because these products were so nutrient- and hydration-dense that even time couldn’t affect you! Perhaps another reason why they were just damn good was because they weren’t trying to completely overhaul your skin. They didn’t want to tighten your pores or obliterate acne; they believed in soothing your skin and making sure that it could perform as it should.
While the popularity of Japanese skincare has dwindled down thanks to the obsession of Gen Z with the new and fresh and the K-wave, the comeback will please even said Gen Z-ers and near-boomers like me. It pays close attention to the lightness of the product as it does to how effective it is. And because #Japanese, every pump and drop from a beautiful bottle and every blob from a fancy jar feels like a ritual itself. In a nutshell: we’re immensely sold.
What we’re banking on:
1. Hada Labo AHA+BHA Mild Peeling Lotion, RM66
The OG lotion now has an exfoliating counterpart: it keeps its lightweight formula (remember to pat and not rub) but the inclusion of gluconic acid helps to soften skin while a combination of alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids helps to exfoliate efficiently.
Shop it here.
2. Saborino Morning Facial Sheet Mask, RM65.90
The mask that has contributed to the resurgent popularity of Japanese skincare, this sheet mask is the answer to you pressing the snooze button too many times: one use and 60 seconds later, your skin is prepped, moisturised and toned. Just don’t forget your sun protection!
Shop it here.
3. Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Eye and Lip Contour Cream, RM337
On the eyes, this rich cream smoothens out wrinkles and fine lines. On the lips, it reduces the lines that form around them thanks to excessive smiling (yes, that’s a thing!). Both parts of your face can thank the eight precious botanical oils and soy protein in this wonder product.
Shop it here.
4. SK-II Atmosphere CC Cream SPF50/PA++++, RM291
Besides concealing imperfections with alight, natural coverage, one of the reasons for the popularity of Japanese skincare like this one is all thanks to its finish. It provides a lit-from-within glow and its said finish is oh-so light that you’re likely unable to feel it post application!
Shop it here.
5. Three Cleansing Oil, RM207
How has Three improved on the popularity of Japanese cleansing oils? It can now even be used on sensitive skin thanks to its more skin-friendly usage of tea seed and jojoba oil. This one in particular even removes excess keratin and air impurities. What’s not to love?
Shop it here.
6. Utena Premium Puresa Beauty Mask EX, RM39.90
Did you know that before the Koreans started using sheet masks, the Japanese did it first and more specifically, the geisha? This specific sheet mask stays true to how the flowers of the night enjoyed them: highly moisturising, intensely brightening and applicable even for the body.
Shop it here.
Text: Stacie Cai
Featured image: 邱 严/Unsplash
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