Hi fellows redditors! I’m (F,28) posting here in hopes you guys can share any moisturizer recommendations especially ones that help repair the skin barrier (only if you know one). If you guys have a regular moisturizer or holy grail moisturizer that you use and want to share, I’d appreciate it too. I can’t read Japanese yet and I’m not sure which moisturizer to buy.
Winter is here and I’ve been having dry skin the next day, even when I use the humidifier. Any help of advice will be appreciated!
23 comments
Atrix medicated. Saves us every winter.
I actually still by my foreign moisturiser, Clinique’s “dramatically different moisturising gel”. It doesn’t sit on your face and feel oily for hours like a lot of other moisturisers make me feel. It’s quite expensive within Japan but it’ll last you a few months.
For body I like the Vaseline Advanced Repair lotion and the Neutrogena Intense Repair. For face maybe look for products with ceramides, I think Curel has a face line with them in them. I don’t use a Japanese brand for barrier repair, I buy Stratia Liquid Gold from America and they ship to Japan. It’s expensive but lasts a long time and has saved my skin especially under thinner normal moisturizers. Muji’s skincare (the face cream in the little white tub) is too occlusive for my face because I’m acne prone but that might be right up your skin’s alley if it is dry and its inexpensive.
Probably more useful to ask on r/AsianBeauty – but my holy grail moisturisers for face and neck are Klairs’ Rich Moist Soothing Cream, By Wishtrend’s Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Cream and Klairs’ Midnight Blue Calming Cream (bought from Wishtrend). For body, I use Cetaphil moisturiser (bought on amazon)
I am currently dealing with a broken skin barrier and was recommended by a local pharmacist to use Curel (the extra moist/ for extra dry skin ones). I think it is working well.
ETA:
Moisture facial milk ( [【楽天市場】★777円クーポン★Curel キュレル 潤浸保湿 乳液 (120ml) 花王 乳液 キュレル乳液 保湿 保湿乳液 しっとり：エンジェルドラッグ (rakuten.co.jp)](https://item.rakuten.co.jp/angeldrug/d-4901301236173/?scid=af_pc_etc&sc2id=af_113_0_10001868&icm_cid=18507516945&icm_agid=&iasid=wem_icbs_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_6Szsd_y-wIVSgVgCh0C2AirEAQYAiABEgJffvD_BwE&icm_acid=255-776-8501) )
Moisture facial Lotion III Enrich ( [【楽天市場】【月間優良ショップ受賞】 Curel Intensive Moisture Care Moisture Facial Lotion III – Enrich Curel Intensive Moisture Care Moisture Facial Lotion III – 送料無料 海外通販：The Beauty Club (rakuten.co.jp)](https://item.rakuten.co.jp/thebeautyclub/278563/?scid=af_pc_etc&sc2id=af_113_0_10001868&icm_cid=18507516945&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuL6lpN_y-wIVymkqCh0TyAY0EAQYASABEgLchPD_BwE&iasid=wem_icbs_&icm_agid=&icm_acid=255-776-8501) )
I put the links so you can see the Japanese product which has Engl and Jap. labels. I bought mine in the local Mitsumoto Kiyoshi – the pharmacist gave me a print out and circled these two – I asked the store clerk and only decision I made was III over II for the extra dry situation.
I’ve been using my son’s bum cream, which happens to be tattoo cream lol it’s called bepanthen but we get it from Australia, used it for our tattoos for repair and clears up nappy rash and keeps my skin moist without too much shim or any creamy whiteness
Etude House SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream. Best to layer skincare in winter. I would use a heavier toner. For body, apply in-shower body lotion before you get out to seal in the moisture. Hope that helps.
I still use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, even though it is crazy expensive here. It doesn’t feel greasy or cause acne, so I haven’t tried others yet.
I have dry skin and use this one. Get it from most pharmacies / supermarkets. Here is a picture for your reference: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Shiseido-Medicated-Hand-Cream-More/dp/B00IPZT5F8
It’s about ¥600 for a tub.
I use Neutrogena Intense Repair to keep my dry, cracked hands and fingers under control.
Something you can pick up at most drug stores: [curel moisture balm](https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Currell-Moisturizing-Body-Care-Moisture/dp/B07GR182MK/) (night time, easy around the eyes though, it causes milia for me), or [facial cream](https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Cur%C3%A9l-Intensive-Moisture-Care-Cream/dp/B001JF0MRG/) (day time). Both are best layered on top of something hydrating like hada labo lotion (I like [these](https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Gokujun-Hyaluronic-Liquid-Refill-Included/dp/B086K7CTMV/) [two](https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Hadalabo-Shirajun-Medicated-Whitening-Quasi-Drug/dp/B0B1H34G7H/)), which works best right out of the shower/washing your face because of the hyaluronic acid.
Something to import/order online: [la roche posay baume](https://www.ulta.com/p/cicaplast-baume-b5-soothing-therapeutic-multi-purpose-cream-pimprod2018263) – it’s suuuuper thick, a little goes a long way. [Etude House’s Soon Jung 2x intensive cream](https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Etude-Official-Sunjong-Intensive-Sensitive/dp/B091PN6NPT/) is also nice, not as heavy.
For body, I just shower/scrub and then layer on shea butter, coconut oil, and/or squalane…whatever my skin needs at the time.
If it’s seriously chapped, I resort to using Yuskin, the yellow and orange one (It rebranded from Yuskin A). It smells bad, but seems to work better than anything else.
For lighter everyday use, I just use one of the Vaseline Intensive Care varieties
Hada Labo Gokujun (肌ラボ極潤) is my holy grail. I discovered this cream thanks to Chinese girls who seem to love it and blow it out the shelves. It’s cheap and does an amazing job. You can buy it at any drugstore (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, etc.)
https://www.amazon.co.jp/肌ラボ-ヒアルロン酸-化粧水-ヒアルロン酸3種配合-170ml/dp/B074GX619Q
I’m 30 and I’ve been swearing by the [Balancing Emulsion R from THREE](https://www.threecosmetics.com/onlineshop/g/gt1m784/#null) for years. I also switch it up sometimes with the [Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream from Kiehl’s](https://www.kiehls.jp/skincare/face-product/face-moisturizers/calendula-serum-infused-water-cream/3605971990410.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnNacBhDvARIsABnDa6_KQdCkMaw3tqh4UKjaLosvvqY0C2NOGJVaALv_353SroF-ZsAbM3saAoXfEALw_wcB) and the [Camelia Nut Facial Hydrating Cream from Aesop](https://www.aesop.com/jp/p/skin/hydrate/camellia-nut-facial-hydrating-cream/). Sometimes I work with two creams for extra protection. I also highly recommend investing in a moisturising SPF cream. I swear by the [SPF 50+ RMK UV Face Protector Advanced](https://onlineshop.rmkrmk.com/ja/Root-Category/Skincare-for-Makeup-Inspiration/RMK-UV%E3%83%95%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B9%E3%83%97%E3%83%AD%E3%83%86%E3%82%AF%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC-%E3%82%A2%E3%83%89%E3%83%90%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%89/p/994083?_ga=2.222230552.1898512925.1670809777-726636581.1670809776) and it has been keeping my dry-leaning face moisturised and soft. Good luck!
I use [Vaseline: Advanced Repair (unscented)](https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/gp/product/B0061F8QFY/) on my face daily, after I wash it or get out of the bath.
A 600ml bottle pretty much lasts me all year.
Curel. It’s at many drugstores. The intensive moisture cream is great but the cheaper cream with the blue lid is also good. When need something heavier I use the moisture balm.
https://preview.redd.it/ro7sv8on3f5a1.png?width=2128&format=png&auto=webp&s=701829bc34b1f4921ce461cb18db6dc18e6ac008
For moisture barrier repair specifically, not just moisturizing, I like the VT Cosmetics CICA x Hyalon line. It’s a little pricey, but not too bad. I’ve been using their daily mask (~¥2,200) and their Cica Cream (~¥2,000) for the past three months and my moisture barrier completely repaired after 1 month!
They usually sell these at any drugstore.
You can also order online: https://m.vtcosmetics.jp/category/cica/51/
Editing to add: To those who don’t know what a damaged moisture barrier is, the obvious signs are dryness, but for a lot of people, a damaged moisture barrier can result in an overproduction of oil on the face and breakouts. So if you’re treating acne and it doesn’t seem to go away, you might have a damaged moisture barrier!
I can’t believe I’m writing this as a 50-something dude, but I had to start using creams because my feet and hands would crack so bad. File this one under “things I don’t tell my guy friends”.
So…I use Hawaiin Kukui from The Body Shop. Bonus, I get to smell good.
IMHO – it is mostly about consistently putting on the cream, especially at night for me. Less about the brand, although really thin stuff like body milk won’t do.
I second the Hado Labo and the Curel. Honestly if my skin starts going haywire and I want to give it a bit of a break, I just use the moisture milk from Muji. It’s not fancy, but it doesn’t have anything in it that breaks me out or interacts weird with other beauty products. The other options are more intense moisture.
Also before I go to bed, I’ll put a VERY thin layer of Vaseline over any flaky skin (after moisturizing) to help lock it in. Be careful about putting it near your eyes, but it helped my mask rubbed nose when I was living in freezing Tohoku winters.
I like to layer my moisturizer. I use the Kikumasamune toner first and then the same brand emulsion, and then a cream on top. I use a variety of creams but if you’re really dry, the Kikumasamune cream is thick, and will definitely keep your face protected. But these all have a strong scent that you might not like.
I would also recommend the Cezanne deep moisture toner, the curel intense moisturizer, Cerave pm moisturizer if you can get it, vanicream or cetaphil. There I think are ok for sensitive skin too.
I recommend the website RatzillaCosme to find more Japanese skincare and ingredients and stuff! It’s a huge help.
I use ‘Dr. G Red Blemish’.
It’s a Korean moisturiser but you can find it on Amazon (here: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Dr-Gドクタージー-ブレミッシュ-Dr-G-BLEMISH-SOOTHING/dp/B07G9JPZLF) or at Don Quixote. It’s a little pricey but I like it because it’s very moisturising but also light so it doesn’t make my face feel greasy or sticky afterwards. I have combination skin so I feel this really does the job.
[Curel Face Cream](https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A5%E3%83%AC%E3%83%AB-4901301236210-%E6%BD%A4%E6%B5%B8%E4%BF%9D%E6%B9%BF%E3%83%95%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0-40g/dp/B001JF0MRG)
or
[Hada Labo Hari cream](https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Gokujun-Medicated-Cream-Quasi-Drug-Unscented/dp/B09C7NHGQM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Y7SK24Z5PDUK&keywords=%E8%82%8C%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9C+%E3%83%8F%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B9&qid=1670813782&sprefix=%E8%82%8C%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9C+%E3%83%8F%E3%83%AA7%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%2Caps%2C266&sr=8-1)
Normal skin. I’ve been using Lululun Moist Gel Cream as daily face moisturizer. It doesn’t make my face feels sticky which I like. On the days my face feels dryer than usual, I use the face mask from the same brand. You can find those in drug store