Japan’s skincare products offer a wide range of benefits, including whitening, hydration, and anti-aging. These high-quality products are easily accessible at drugstores and department stores. If you’re looking for affordable yet effective skincare items, drugstores are the best option. On the other hand, if you prefer luxury skincare with premium ingredients, department stores are highly recommended. In this guide, we have carefully selected the best Japanese toners that you should check out during your trip to Japan.
Where to Buy Japanese Toners?
For Affordable Options and Souvenirs: Drugstores
If you want to buy high-quality Japanese toners at a reasonable price, drugstores are the best choice. Japanese drugstores offer a wide variety of toners with different effects, including whitening, hydration, and anti-aging. Many well-known skincare brands sell their products at affordable prices, making drugstores a budget-friendly shopping destination.
Additionally, you can find many budget-friendly brands with low-cost options, making it ideal for bulk purchases. Drugstores located in popular tourist areas, near train stations, and inside large shopping malls often have staff who speak foreign languages, ensuring a smooth shopping experience. Most stores also offer tax-free services, allowing you to shop at a great price.
For High-End and Effective Skincare: Department Stores
If you’re looking for exclusive Japanese toners, department stores are the best place to shop. These stores carry a wide selection of luxury skincare brands featuring advanced beauty ingredients and high-quality formulas infused with traditional Japanese elements.
One of the biggest advantages of shopping at department stores is the presence of professional beauty consultants who can provide personalized skincare advice based on your skin type. You can also try samples before making a purchase, ensuring you choose the best toner for your skin. Additionally, department stores offer elegant gift-wrapping services, making their products an excellent choice for souvenirs.
In major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, you will find many well-known department stores that offer tax-free services, making it possible to purchase high-end skincare products at a great value.
Top 10 Recommended Toners for Tourists
Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium / Shirojyun Premium
Hada Labo’s Gokujyun Premium and Shirojyun Premium are two popular toners, each with distinct features.
Gokujyun Premium is known for its intense hydration. It contains seven types of hyaluronic acid that deeply lock in moisture. Despite its thick, rich texture, it absorbs smoothly without feeling sticky. This toner is ideal for those with dry skin, especially during winter or in air-conditioned environments.
On the other hand, Shirojyun Premium is perfect for those who want both hydration and brightening effects. It contains Whitening Tranexamic Acid and Glycyrrhizic Acid 2K, which help prevent dark spots and protect the skin from UV damage. Its lightweight and refreshing formula makes it a great option for daytime use, especially in hot weather.
Hatomugi Skin Conditioner
Hatomugi Skin Conditioner is one of Japan’s most beloved skincare products. It offers a lightweight, refreshing feel while delivering deep hydration. Enriched with natural Job’s Tears (Hatomugi) extract, it helps balance the skin’s moisture levels and prevent dryness.
One of its biggest advantages is its cost-effectiveness. Most Japanese drugstores carry large 500ml bottles, making it perfect for use not only on the face but also on the body. Its fragrance-free, colorant-free, and low-irritant formula makes it suitable even for sensitive skin. Since it is non-sticky, it is also a great option for men who prefer lightweight skincare.
In addition to being a daily toner, it can also be used for cotton masks, post-sun skincare, or as a body moisturizer.
Sofina iP
Sofina iP is a Japanese skincare brand based on advanced dermatological research, designed to improve the skin’s foundation. Its standout products include the “Base Essence” and “Layer Treatment Essence”, which feature fine carbonated bubbles that penetrate deep into the skin’s layers, optimizing skin condition.
Sofina iP also extends beyond skincare with products like chlorogenic acid beverages and tablets that support skin hydration from within. These help improve circulation and reduce skin dryness, making it a comprehensive beauty solution.
Albion Medicated Skin Conditioner
Albion’s Medicated Skin Conditioner is a long-loved Japanese toner that helps regulate skin condition and prevent breakouts and irritation. Formulated with Job’s Tears (Hatomugi) extract, it provides a refreshing sensation while delivering deep hydration and keeping the skin clear and healthy.
This toner is particularly effective for soothing sun-exposed skin, making it an excellent choice for summer skincare. When used as a cotton mask, it provides a cooling effect, tightens pores, and helps prevent makeup from melting. If you want to experience premium Japanese skincare, this is a highly recommended product.
AQUALABEL
AQUALABEL is a skincare series by Shiseido, offering high-performance products at an affordable price. The brand features three main lines: Whitening Care, Anti-Aging Care, and High Moisture, allowing users to choose the best option for their skin concerns.
The Whitening Care line contains 4MSK and CICA, while the Anti-Aging Care line includes Niacinamide and Retinol Palmitate, ingredients commonly found in high-end cosmetics. These formulas deeply hydrate, improve skin clarity, and enhance elasticity.
Soy Milk Isoflavone
Soy Milk Isoflavone Cream is a moisturizing cream developed by the Japanese skincare brand Nameraka Honpo. It contains a unique blend of high-purity soy milk isoflavones and soy milk ferment extract, which deeply hydrates the skin while maintaining a smooth and plump texture.
Despite its rich, creamy consistency, it absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue. The formula is fragrance-free, colorant-free, and mineral oil-free, making it a great choice for sensitive skin.
Melano CC
Melano CC is a popular skincare brand developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Rohto. It contains Vitamin C derivatives that help prevent dark spots and freckles while also improving the appearance of pores and acne scars.
The serum in particular features pure Vitamin C for fast-acting brightening effects, leading to a more radiant complexion. Thanks to its high quality and affordable price, it has gained popularity on social media and can be easily found at Japanese drugstores and online shops. It’s also a great souvenir choice for travelers.
Elixir
Elixir is a skincare series from Shiseido, one of Japan’s leading cosmetic brands. It is known for its unique “Tsuya-Dama” concept, which aims to create a firm and radiant glow.
Based on advanced collagen research, Elixir offers toners, emulsions, and serums that provide deep hydration and skin elasticity. The brand features different lines for various skin concerns, including whitening care, first anti-aging care, and advanced anti-aging care, making it suitable for users starting from their 20s.
Keshimin Wrinkle Care Plus
Keshimin Wrinkle Care Plus is a Japanese quasi-drug skincare brand designed to target both dark spots and wrinkles simultaneously. It contains the active ingredients tranexamic acid and niacinamide, which help prevent inflammation that leads to hyperpigmentation while blocking melanin production.
Additionally, niacinamide promotes collagen production, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
IHADA
IHADA Medicated Clear Balm is a multi-functional balm that prevents dryness and irritation while also offering brightening benefits. It forms a protective barrier with highly purified petroleum jelly, while dipotassium glycyrrhizinate helps calm inflammation.
Additionally, m-tranexamic acid effectively inhibits melanin production, preventing dark spots and freckles. This lightweight balm absorbs easily into the skin without feeling greasy, making it especially suitable for nighttime skincare routines.
Conclusion
Japanese toners offer various benefits, including hydration, brightening, and anti-aging, making them a popular souvenir choice. Drugstores provide high-quality products at affordable prices, while department stores offer premium skincare for those seeking luxury options.
With tax-free services, you can shop smart and save money. Find the perfect toner that matches your skin type and concerns, and experience the beauty of Japanese skincare for yourself.
