The 9 Japanese & Korean Beauty Must-Haves I Restock Whenever I Travel
Main image – Courtesy of writer
My love for all things skincare first started with K-Beauty.
In 2020, I would spend hours on TikTok discovering brands such as Beauty of Joseon and Thank You Farmer, frequently ordering from platforms like Stylevana.
I was sold not just on what the products did, but on the textures, the packaging, and the entire worlds the brands created around them… And as a model who has to practice good skincare for work, these products made it look like less of a chore – more like a ritual I actually looked forward to.
I was also fascinated by the ingredients- rice… ginseng… fermented extracts- that felt so much more advanced than anything I normally came across in the UK and Europe. K-Beauty and J-Beauty seemed to always be two steps ahead, constantly finding new ways to make formulas both gentle and effective, and that innovation completely hooked me.
Fast forward three years and I went on my first trip to Japan – and bought everything I set eyes on.
Since going back a second time this year, I’ve refined my must-haves from Japanese and Korean beauty down to a small handful of products that I won’t be without for my rosacea-prone skin and dry, often-bleached hair.
Here’s how I shop my whole routine, plus a few hacks I’ve learned along the way.
1. Cleanser: Softymo Speedy Oil
When I first went to Japan, I tried the viral Shiseido Senka Perfect Whip Cleanser that everyone on TikTok was raving about, but it was sadly too drying for my skin type.
On my second trip, I realised that oil-based cleansers actually work best for my combination, slightly oily skin. That’s when I came across Kose’s Softymo Speedy Oil in a Japanese pharmacy.
Image – Softymo
Pharmacies are cheaper than Don Quijote (Japan’s famous discount store chain), and often have better stock of skincare essentials. It was labelled one of Japan’s bestsellers and cost only about £2. I bought it, and it quickly became my holy grail cleanser. You can also get it on Mykstyle for £11.50 or on Amazon US for $9.98.
Oil-based cleansers are brilliant for my skin because they remove makeup and excess sebum without stripping my skin. I usually use a micellar water first if I’m wearing sunscreen or foundation, but the Softymo is great at removing lighter makeup on its own.
2. Moisturiser: DamDam Tokyo Mochi Mochi Luminous Cream
I first found DamDam Tokyo, a Japanese skincare brand, on Instagram and was completely sold by the world they created around their products. I made it my mission to visit their Omotesando store when I was in Shibuya, Tokyo.
The loveliest team greeted me, let me try every product, and even served green tea to me and my boyfriend. I ended up buying their bestseller, the Mochi Mochi Luminous Cream, which contains rice-derived phytic acid with antioxidant and skin barrier-repairing properties. It’s so moisturising and makes my skin look super glowy.
Image – DamDam Tokyo
I usually use it in the morning under sunscreen or makeup because it absorbs beautifully and keeps my skin soft without feeling greasy.
DamDam ships this moisturiser to both the UK and US, and it’s on sale for $48 on their website. As an easy-to-find global alternative though, I recommend Tatcha’s Dewy Skin Cream or Glossier’s Priming Moisturiser Rich.
My one regret from DamDam Tokyo? Not buying more! I wish I had also picked up their viral Citrus Glow Serum with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, as even testing it on my hands left them soft all day. The shop smelt incredible as welll, so I left with their signature incense too!
3. Sleeping mask: Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask
Another Korean brand that’s famously already taken the world by storm Laneige.
I’ve found that in situ, some products differ slightly from the UK/US lineup – and they’re also much cheaper.
I became obsessed with the Lip Sleeping Mask after a makeup artist once used it on me before a shoot, so I always bring one home when I visit.
I also recommend stocking up duty-free at the airport. I bought a whole Laneige routine on a Shanghai layover in duty-free for about £20!
Image – Laneige
One of my favourite items is the Cica Sleeping Mask. It’s made for overnight use, but I’ve discovered a little hack in cold weather: I’ll apply a thin layer during the day on dry patches, or replace my moisturiser altogether when the air is particularly harsh.
It creates an extra moisture barrier and leaves my skin so soft. It’s now one of my favourite products to repurchase, but if you can’t make it to the far east, you can find it at Boots UK for £30 or from Sephora US for $35.
4. Sunscreen: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF
I’ve been using this Korean SPF for five years, ever since I discovered it on TikTok. In that time, I’ve tried and tested hundreds of sunscreens, but I always come back to this one from Beauty of Joseon. It’s lightweight, leaves no white cast, and works beautifully on sensitive skin.
Image – Beauty of Joseon
This SPF has a PA++++ rating, which is the highest you can get for UVA protection, so it’s great for preventing sun-induced ageing and pigmentation. It contains rice extract, which brightens the skin and strengthens the skin barrier.
It’s much cheaper buying it while on my travels, so I usually bring back 12 tubes to last the year. It’s also the SPF I recommend to all my friends, no matter their skin type or shade. Luckily, you can also buy it at Boots in the UK for £15.50 or from Stylevana US for $18.
5. Tool: Shiseido eyelash curlers
I have extremely straight lashes, and UK curlers never seem to reach the lash line properly.
After hearing rave reviews of the Shiseido lash curler on TikTok, I decided to try it, and now I’ll never go back. The shape grabs every lash and curls right from the base without creating a harsh bend. I just stock up on the rubber refills now. You can also buy it at Boots for £27 or from Sephora US for $28.
Image – Shiseido
6.Haircare: ViCREA’s &honey Hair Oil
This TikTok-viral product is 100% worth it. It comes in five versions for different hair needs: ‘Deep’ for very dry hair, ‘Melty’ for frizz, ‘Creamy’ for damaged hair, ‘Silky’ for softening and shine, and ‘Pixie’ for tangled hair.
Each has a slightly different scent inspired by natural honey and floral notes. Deep has a rich, warm honey fragrance, Melty is soft and sweet, Creamy has a subtle milky aroma, Silky is lightly floral, and Pixie is fresh and delicate.
Image – ViCREA
I use Melty because my bleached hair is frizzy and static. I massage the oil into damp ends after washing my hair, then blow-dry. It works as both a heat protectant and for UV protection, smells gorgeous, and leaves my hair really glossy.
Over time, I’ve noticed it also reduces frizz and improves softness without weighing my hair down. You can get it on Stylevana UK for £17.51 or Stylevana US for $20.49, but it’s far cheaper in Japan.
7. For taming frizz: &honey Melty Matomake Stick 4.0
Another part of the &honey family, this stick is part of the Melty collection for frizzy hair. It’s my go-to and perfect for keeping down flyaways. It has a gel-like consistency but is super moisturising, so it smooths hair without making it stiff.
It’s perfect for quick touch-ups on the go and you can get it from YesStyle UK for £12.65 or YesStyle US for $15.60.
Image – ViCREA
8. Hair duo: Fino Mask & Fino Oil
Another one of my go-to haircare duos is Shiseido’s Fino mask and Fino oil. I use the mask every time I wash my hair, about twice a week, and alternate the oil with &honey.
I credit this system for keeping my three-times-bleached hair in perfect condition. The mask is deeply moisturising and leaves hair glossy, while the oil is lightweight, traps frizz, and is applied to damp hair before blow-drying. The scent is delicate and subtle, unlike &honey, which is fruitier.
You can buy the hair oil from Amazon UK for £22.99 and from Stylevana US for $15.83.
Image – Shiseido
9.Accessories: Claw clips
This is one beauty product I have tried and tested extensively, and my favourites are from Japan.
I love claw clips, but with thick, heavy hair, they often snap or fall out. I noticed that the Japanese Miffy-shaped claw clip I bought has four extra prongs though, which helps it stay in place.
I use these all the time for doing my makeup, wearing at the gym, or just day-to-day, and they’ve never failed me.
For a good hair clip brand in the UK, I’ve been wanting to try Loxx Hair, created by celebrity hair stylist Chad Maxwell. Their clips also have extra teeth to keep them in place and feature a curved design.
Image – Loxx Hair
Takeaway
If you’re looking to dip your toes into J or K beauty but are overwhelmed by all the viral products on TikTok, this list is a great place to start.
And if you are heading over that way, wy top tip is to shop in Japanese pharmacies instead of Don Quijote. They’re generally cheaper, less overstimulating, and also offer tax-free purchases.
Make a list of your favourites before your trip, and don’t be afraid to try testers of products first. You’ll find it’s a treasure trove for skincare, haircare, and beauty tools, and with a little planning, you can stock up on the products that truly make a difference.
Get Glowing!
