Japanese Skin Care Products Your Routine Is Screaming For

From its deep-rooted, time-honored beauty rituals stemming from the age of the Geisha, to its minimalist design and unbelievable innovations, Japanese skin care ranks at the top of our obsessed list.

Like most anything that comes out of Japan, the key word in a Japanese skin care routine is minimalism. Though the packaging may scream otherwise—no complaints here, we love an elaborate bottle—stripping down your routine to a simple oil cleanser, water-based face wash, hydrating serum, and of course, moisturizer, can prove to be beneficial to both our complexions and our time-management. Less time spent caring and fussing over the skin, means that you can hit the snooze a few more times in the mornings and go to sleep earlier—or stay out later— in the evenings, without sacrificing the core—read: necessary—steps in a skin care regimen.

When it comes to Japanese skin care, we turn to one of our favorites, Shu Uemura, for gorgeously packaged—and innovative—products that can make our shelves—and our complexions—glisten like the Rokuon-ji Temple, like these five below. 

Shu Uemura Blanc Chroma Cleansing Oil

Beginning your skin care routine with a cleansing oil can help remove makeup, sunscreen, and other oil-based impurities residing on your skin’s surface. We recommend Shu Uemura’s Blanc Chroma Cleansing Oil, for a cleanse that can also help to even out the appearance of your skin tone while targeting dullness and dark circles. Formulated with purifying clay extract and lipo hydroxy acid, this oil helps to polish the skin and promote a glowing complexion. For those who don’t experience an uneven skin tone, Shu Uemura offers a variety of oil-based cleansers that can target other concerns like dry skin, acne, and sensitivity.

Shu Uemura Blanc Chroma Cleansing Oil, $81

Shu Uemura Porefinest Gentle Foaming Cleansing Water

After you’ve cleansed your skin of the oil-based debris, water-based debris—like sweat—are next. We love the Gentle Foaming Cleansing Water from Shu Uemura’s Porefinest collection. Formulated with an enzyme that is known to cut protein bonds, the eco-friendly foaming cleanser can remove excess sebum and protein dirt from the surface of the skin and can leave the complexion feeling soft and supple to the touch.

Shu Uemura Porefinest Gentle Foaming Cleansing Water, $40

Shu Uemura Mint Depsea Water Facial Mist

After cleansing, follow up with a reviving facial mist, like the Mint Facial Mist from Shu Uemura’s Depsea Water line. With six different fragrances to choose from—we like mint for its refreshing and soothing properties—there is a scent for everyone, including those who prefer no scent at all. Incorporating a hydrating facial mist into your skin care regimen can provide extra hydration and comfort to the skin after cleansing. We also like to use a mist when freshening up after a workout or spending time in the sun.

Shu Uemura Mint Depsea Water Facial Mist, $25

Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Intense Moisturizing Concentrate

When applying a serum to your skin, you can either use it all over or as a spot treatment to target specific skin concerns–similar to multi masking. The reason why we love serums is because they are more concentrated than your everyday moisturizer. Though we definitely use serums as a spot treatment, we also like to give our skin all-over hydration with a serum before we moisturize. The Hydrability Intense Moisturizing Concentrate can get the job done, as its application can lock moisture in and improve the skin’s self-moisturizing ability. Another reason why we love this serum is that in summer months— if you have an oily or normal skin type—it can be hydrating enough to use on its own without layering a moisturizer on top. 

Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Intense Moisturizing Concentrate, $46.80

Shu Uemura Tsyua Bouncy-Fine Cream

Though we highly recommend—in terms of skin care…and you know, life—not judging a book by its cover, sometimes a product is really just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. Case in point: Shu Uemura’s Tsyua Bouncy-Fine Cream. In a shiny, holographic-like container, this cream—from the brand’s Tsyua line, which was developed with “ideal skin” in mind—helps to promote radiance and youthfulness and can work to combat the external stresses that the skin is faced with on a day-to-day basis. It’s no wonder fans of this product have deemed it “perfection in a jar.” 

Shu Uemura Tsyua Bouncy-Fine Cream, $75