There are a ridiculous number of Japanese brands out there, and a lot of them claim to be “#1 bestselling in Japan” – so which products and which brands are actually beloved by Japanese beauty junkies?
If you know anything about the Japanese beauty scene, you would probably have already heard of @cosme.
@cosme is basically a huge online community of Japanese beauty junkies, probably the largest in Japan. Every year, they poll their extensive member base to find out what products have been the favourites of the year, and rank them in order in their Best Cosmetics Awards.
These are the products that made it into 2017’s top 10.
Overall top 3
1. OPERA Lip Tint
Looks like the trend towards juicy, shiny lips has reached Japan. OPERA has always been well-known for their lip colours, and with glossy lips coming back in trend, it’s no wonder that their Lip Tints have hit top spot.
Get it on Kokoro Japan Store, Qoo10, and Shopee.
2. ADDICTION The Eyeshadow
These are individual pot eye shadows, so you can really zoom in on the colours that you want instead of having to make do with colours you won’t ever use. The formula is said to be blendable and almost creamy, and the pigment is unreal.
Get it on Qoo10, Lazada, and Shopee.
3. naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner
The Skin Conditioner is formulated with a type of seed called the Job’s tear grains, popular in Asian skincare because of how important it already is in traditional Chinese medicine. The Skin Conditioner is gentle on the skin with no nasty ingredients, and doesn’t leave a greasy after-feel either.
nature Hatomugi Skin Conditioner retails for SGD10.90 at Watsons and Guardian stores. Alternatively, get it on Kokoro Japan Store, Qoo10, Lazada, and Shopee.
Category winners
1. Primer: CEZANNE Make Keep Base
This primer is perfect for those with oily skin, hydrating your skin while also keeping the shine at bay. What’s more, it only retails for a low, low price of JPY600 – talk about value for money.
CEZANNE Make Keep Base retails for SGD15.90 on RedMart. Alternatively, get it on Qoo10, and Shopee.
2. Liquid Foundation: KATE Tokyo Secret Skin Maker Zero
The formula for this one is blendable and oh so smooth. According to users, it really evens out your skin tone and does a great job at creating a flawless look while still feeling lightweight on the skin, like you have no makeup on.
KATE Tokyo Secret Skin Maker Zero retails for SGD29 at Watsons stores.
3. Cream Foundation: RMK Gel Creamy Foundation
What a pity that RMK has just left Singapore! You’d think that cream foundations would be unpopular these days but this Gel Creamy Foundation has won the hearts of the Japanese with its hydrating and lightweight formula.
Get it on Qoo10, Lazada, and Shopee.
4. Powder: CANMAKE Marshmallow Finish Powder
CANMAKE is no stranger to ranking on @cosme’s annual awards list, and this isn’t even the first time their Marshmallow Finish Powder has won number one in their category. It can be used to set your makeup, touch up, or even as a concealer to cover up blemishes, pores, and redness.
CANMAKE Marshmallow Finish Powder retails for SGD20.90 at Watsons and RedMart. Alternatively, get it on Qoo10, and Shopee.
5. Concealer: NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer
If you thought that the @cosme awards are biased to Japanese brands, you’d be wrong. The cult favourite NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer is also the favourites of Japanese beauty junkies, with its long-lasting high coverage formula.
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer retails for SGD46 at Sephora, Tangs, SGD44 on LookFantastic and SGD42 on ASOS (shipping fees apply). Alternatively, get it on Qoo10, Lazada, and Shopee.
6. Eyeliner: FLOW FUSHI MOTE LINER
This new formula was bound to make heads turn, being not only waterproof, but also budge-proof even with oily eyelids. The barrel of the pen liner is in an octagonal shape, which improves your grip on the eyeliner, making it that much easier to achieve your perfect stroke.
7. Mascara: OPERA MyLash Advance
As you might have guessed, Japanese makeup junkies tend to aim for natural beauty with their makeup. The OPERA MyLash Advance has won the hearts of many for how it manages to plump up lashes without making you look ‘over-done’.
8. Eyebrows: Fujiko Mayu Tint
Who would’ve thought that a brow tint would snag first place in the @cosme awards? The brow tint is especially useful for those with sparser brows, and is said to look particularly natural – something that many brow tints can’t boast of.
Get it on Qoo10, Lazada, and Shopee.
9. Lip gloss: OPERA Sheer Lip Color
It’s evident to all that OPERA was a big winner at the 2017 @cosme awards. With flattering pigments and high shine, the OPERA Sheer Lip Color is the go-to for those who want a naturally glossy lip look.
