How to read a Japanese cosmetics label
Products shipped from Japan keep their original Japanese packaging, so it helps to know where to look. You do not need to read the language: a handful of recognisable elements tell you most of what you need.
Name and size
The product name is the largest text on the front. The size is printed in mL or g, usually on the front or the bottom edge. Our product pages show the size next to the price so you can compare before you order.
Quasi-drug or cosmetic
Many Japanese products are marked 医薬部外品 (iyakubugaihin), usually translated as quasi-drug. This is a regulatory category for products with approved active ingredients aimed at a specific purpose, such as brightening or preventing rough skin. Products without that mark are regular cosmetics. Both are common and neither is better; they are simply regulated differently.
The ingredient list
Japanese labels list ingredients in Japanese. They are usually ordered from the highest to the lowest amount, and for quasi-drugs the active ingredients are marked. Where the brand publishes an international ingredient list (INCI), we show it on the product page.
How to use and cautions
Usage directions and cautions are printed on the back or the side. Look for a diagram, since many brands show the steps in pictures. If a product page on our site includes an application guide, it follows the manufacturer’s directions.
Dates and codes
Many Japanese products show a manufacturing or batch code instead of a printed date. Cosmetics that are stored unopened in normal conditions generally keep well, and our orders ship from fresh stock.
Good habits
- Patch-test a new product on a small area before first use.
- Check the packaging for any allergens you avoid; formulas can differ between markets.
- If in doubt about a specific claim, follow the directions printed on the packaging.
