15 Japanese Skin Whitening Products That Actually Work (Product List Below)
| Image | Product Name | Top Choices | Latest Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Merano CC | Our Favorite | Amazon |
 | 2. Komenuka Bijin Essence Whitening Serum | Great Deal | Amazon |
 | 3. Shiseido Anessa Whitening Sunscreen | Amazing Product | Amazon |
I’m sure it’s crossed your mind once or twice on how the women of the Japanese culture keep their pale skin so vibrantly white and visibly unblemished making people wonder why Japanese skin is flawless. Notoriously known to look youthful and ageless, these beautiful women have shared their specific beauty regimes on how they keep their skin so perfectly flawless. However, before we get into what their secrets are, let’s go back to when it all began. Throughout the centuries these Japanese women always admired the look of pasty white skin, originating back to the mid-18th century when the geisha tradition gained prominence. These women worked as skilled entertainers, performing dancing skits, singing chores, playing music, and fabricating verses of poetry lines while using artful calligraphy.
Despite their intricate performances and elegant attire they wore during their skits, these women were primarily known for their immaculate makeup. The routine and application of the makeup were very time consuming and lengthy in the process, even more so for apprentice geishas who were required to wear this makeup publicly.
The makeup for an apprentice geisha involved thick pasty white foundation, vibrant red paint for their lips, and black and red lines of shadow around the eyes. Initially, the white foundation contained the toxic ingredient Lead but eventually was reformulated with rice powder.
But the geisha women weren’t the only ones using makeup to achieve whiter skin. Traditionally Japanese women in general would rely on different skin lightening alternatives than just applying white makeup to achieve desired pale skin. Like many products today, the use of Kojic Acid was implemented into their skincare routine, as well as the use of nightingale feces (bird feces).
Since then, the use of traditional remedies in Japan have evolved into greater and better substitutes that are more effective and provide real results. Here we shall list 15 of the best products to whiten the tone of your skin and give you the results you want, and they’re all some of the best Japanese skin care products online.
Japanese Skin Lightening Lotion / Serum
Lotions have many benefits when it comes to the skin. Their primary use is to hydrate and moisturize the areas of your body that need it the most. However, what if you could get a “two for one” in just a single bottle?
That’s right, this lotion is not only a great daily moisturizer, but it also contains the active ingredient Vitamin C.
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Vitamin C is a popular and effective antioxidant that is used to treat hyperpigmentation and dark spots. It lightens these areas by lowering the production of melanin in the skin thus creating a whiter complexion.
Using this lotion daily will give instant results because of the absorption of vitamin C.
Before you decide to apply the lotion, consider adding a few drops of brightening serum into it. Doing so will help enhance and maximize the lotion’s lightening effects.
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Komenuka Bijin Essence Whitening Serum is a product we recommend. This serum contains Rice Bran which is a naturally hydrating oil extracted from the germ and inner husks of rice. Like peanut oil, this ingredient is high in fatty acids which are great for moisturizing the skin.
Mulberry Root, which is extracted from the mulberry tree originally native to China, but has been cultivated in Japan, Europe, Australia, and North America is another ingredient infused in this serum and is used to lighten and brighten the skin.
Japanese Skin Whitening Sunscreen
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Using sunscreen is crucial and important when it comes to having paler skin but also maintaining good skin health. Shiseido has released their uniquely formulated sunscreen that acts both like a sunscreen and a lotion, protecting your skin from the harsh UV rays of the sun with its high SPF while also incorporating skin whitening ingredients that can help you achieve a whiter complexion.
Whitening sunscreens are very lightweight which means they are readily absorbed by the skin and are perfectly suited to wear under foundation. Because of this, it can act as a primer for your skin and protect it from tanning.
This sunscreen provides superior protection against both UVA and UVB rays and contains M-Tranexamic Acid, which has been a proven ingredient in skin lightening. However, it doesn’t stop there. This cream also contains hyaluronic acid and collagen which are highly effective and provide a big array of great skin advantages.
Japanese Skin Whitening Mask / Face Wash
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Made in Japan, the WHITE WHITE Whitening Face Mask is just what you need to lighten your complexion. This is a fast acting and simple face mask to use that contains citrus-based ingredients and hyaluronic acid to improve the brightness and glow of your skin.
To get the most out of its whitening effects, you first want to apply it directly onto the dark spots that you want to become lighter. Next, let it set on the area for at least 5 minutes before rinsing away.
If you’d like to take it a step further, then it’s best to apply a thin layer on your face avoiding the eye area. Again, let it set for 5 minutes before rising to reveal the results. You will find that it provides a more vibrant and whiter skin.
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As a bonus, follow up with the WHITE WHITE Whitening Foam Cleanser. This is a great face wash that unclogs pores, cleanses the face of impurities, and boosts the process of skin lightening, it’s one of the best Japanese face washes. Having similar additives as their face mask, this foam cleanser uses citrus-based extracts which are powerful whitening antioxidants that will alter your complexion to a lighter shade.
To get the most out of this product, use this twice daily by lathering it up in the palms of your hands and dispersing it evenly on your face. After a short few minutes, you should start noticing a foaming reaction occurring. This is an indicator the product is working. After, be sure to rinse thoroughly with warm water then rinse once more with cooler water. Using cold water will tighten the pores of your skin. These are some of the best Japanese beauty tips for your face.
Japanese Skin Lightening Soaps
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Kojic Acid is a skin lightening acid that stops the production of tyrosine, which is the amino acid that produces melanin. Certain soaps like Kojic Acid & Collagen Skin Lightening Soap are a great and easy way to lighten your skin, after all… Washing is part of everyone’s daily routine which means it is nearly effortless!
This soap contains nourishing ingredients and is collagen-infused, which means it is very gentle on the skin and won’t cause dryness or itchiness. You can also expect the collagen to help to reduce the signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, sun spots, red marks, and other pesky blemishes. This Japanese whitening soap is a Japanese beauty secret for collagen.
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Having more than one option is always good, which is why we decided to throw in and mention The Shouvy Whitening Bleach Soap another alternative that provides the same results, but cheaper and faster! This is some of the best whitening soap in Japan. Infused with Kojic Acid and Glutathione you can expect instant skin lightening effects after just a few uses. If you didn’t know, glutathione is a very popular skin lightening ingredient in the world. By combining these two (Kojic Acid & Glutathione), you are increasing the perks of their skin lightening properties.
Whichever soap you decide to use, they both are wonderful options for the use of skin whitening. However, if your skin is more sensitive and prone to drying out rather quickly, we suggest the Kojic Acid Collagen Lightening Soap as it contains nourishing ingredients that help to moisturize.
Japanese Skin Lightening Sheet Masks
Sometimes it’s more relaxing and fun to throw on a sheet mask than it is to deal with the hassle of applying a cream or lotion to your skin to illuminate your complexion.
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As you may know, many of the Asian cultures love their different sheet masks and have many for us to try therefore, we have decided to throw in three different sheet masks for you to check out!
Starting off we have the Shiseido Aqualabel Hyaluronic Acid Mask. Using this sheet mask can pack a punch with its rich hydrating and lighting ingredients. Infused with collagen, this will help by repairing and motorizing your skin, and removing the effects of time. This is one of the best Japanese skin care brands.
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This is where M-tranexamic Acid comes in to lighten pigmentation. Initially developed by Shiseido, this acid is used to attack different forms of hyperpigmentation and sun spots caused by sun damage. Combined with the other two ingredients being; Saxifrage Extract and Peony Extract. From this, you can expect a significant difference in skin lightening activity from using this mask.
Next, we would like to introduce the Kose Clear Turn White Vitamin C Sheet Masks which are very affordable and loaded with precious Vitamin C. They will provide an immediate and noticeable lightening of your skin. Did I mention they’re so good that you’ll almost feel like you are “addicted” to them? These masks are especially great for those just starting out and want to try a lightening skin mask for the first time!
Finally, we’d like to mention the Kracie Hadabisei Facial Mask (Clear) Whitening product. This mask contains natural minerals extracted from spring water and other essential extracts for skin lightening purposes. It also uses waxy lipids (called synthetic ceramide) which are found naturally in the skin and are primarily used for keeping it moisturized.
Skin Whitening Supplements
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If you are someone who isn’t a fan of using skin care products directly on the skin, you can always opt for using a simpler alternative that not only whitens your skin from the inside out but is also quick and easy to take in literally just one gulp. This brings us to skin whitening supplements. Skin whitening supplements generally come in the form of pills (or tablets or capsules) that contain the same ingredients that most of the previously mentioned topical lotions, lightening oils and creams already provide. The difference is that you are simply digesting it rather than applying on your skin.
For example, the antioxidant Glutathione can be produced into a tablet form and consumed orally. Tatiomax Gold Capsules are Japanese dietary supplements specifically made to achieve skin whitening and brightening. However, the product comes with a hefty price tag and is why we suggest using liposomal glutathione which is cheaper and allows you to absorb pure glutathione easily.
Another great alternative is the skin whitening tablets by Mosbeau. Uniquely made with placenta protein that helps to plump and firm the skin while also whitening it. As the bottle claims, noticeable results occur in 14 days of use.
Japanese Face Lightening Powder
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Face lightening powder is like a face mask. Just take the Pure Seawater Pearl Powder Facial Whitening Pack as an example.
Made with pure pearl powder extracted from the seas of South China and 20+ other amino acids for extra support all packaged together, it is a powerful skin whitening product.
To use this lightening powder correctly, the instructions indicate to add either milk or egg with 10 grams of pearl powder until it forms a paste-like consistency. Next, apply the gooey texture evenly to the face and let it set on for approximately 30 minutes before rinsing off. It is recommended to use this product at least two times a week for results to occur.
You can also apply the powder directly to your skin after you have used a daily facial cleanser by allowing it set on your face at night, then remove in the morning when you wake.
Lastly, you can also take 0.3 grams of pearl powder daily with either honey or water to increase the effectiveness of the powder.
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Perhaps your skin is sensitive to using soaps? Did you know that you can cleanse your face with powder? You can indeed, which is why you need to try out Tatcha’s Rice Enzyme Powder. Inspired by traditional beauty regimens of the geisha women, this powder combines numerous amounts of natural ingredients that have been used for many centuries to lighten and brighten the skin.
Using this as a cleanser can be somewhat odd at first but after using it a few times you will come to love and enjoy this product as much as others do! This water activated powder is very fine in consistency and holds heaps of great natural elements such as rice bran, papaya extract, green tea leaf extract, pearl protein, and algae extract.
Use this Tatcha Powder to exfoliate, smoothen, soften and brighten your skin!
