9 Best Tried and True Japanese Body Creams in 2021 - Beauty Expert-Reviewed

Kaori approaches her work from the perspective of "I want many people to strive for beauty through the use of science, and enjoy a level of care that suits them individually." She runs a popular Japanese blog about beauty science and her daily life.

She's self-taught and not connected to the cosmetics industry, but she is a member of various related organizations and is active in cosmetics consulting and PR.

Here are the 9 best Japanese body moisturizers available online that we tested. They were ranked by how well they did on our tests and given an overall grade ranging from 1.0 to 5.0.

*Jill Stuart Body Cream was featured in this list as a Japanese body Cream due to the fact that the manufacturer, KOSÉ, is a Japanese company, and the Jill Stuart Beauty line of products was first launched in Japan.

The purpose of body cream is to provide moisture to our skin. Using a Corneometer, a device used by research institutes to measure the amount of moisture in the skin, we tested the body creams according to the following steps:

1. Wash the testing area
2. Maintain a standard environmental temperature and humidity, and wait for 20 minutes
3. Measure the amount of moisture in the skin
4. Apply a set amount of body cream to the testing area
5. Measure the amount of moisture in the skin immediately after application and after 3 hours

After all the above steps were taken, we then calculated the difference in the amount of moisture that was retained in the skin after immediately applying and 3 hours later, and made our evaluations based on those results.

We also tested the fragrance of each body cream, as it was mentioned as a point to consider in the buying guide. 

For every product, we gathered three women each from the age range of their twenties, thirties, and forties, and had them evaluate each body cream based on whether or not they thought it was a pleasant smell, and whether or not the scent was too strong for them.

We had our expert test the body creams for their ingredients based on the following:

• Whether or not the type and amount of oil in the product is appropriate
• Whether or not it contains cosmetological ingredients
• Whether or not the composition is gentle on the skin
  

Since the body creams we tested fall under the category of quasi-drugs, which is defined by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan as a category of products that fit between medicine and cosmetics, they are not obliged to label all ingredients, so for this test, only the labeled ingredients were evaluated.

Since how sticky a body cream is can potentially limit when and where it can be used, we made sure to include that in our buying guide. As such, we had our testers check how sticky each product was.

Our testers applied a set amount of each body cream to the back of their hand. After three minutes passed, they pressed their hand onto a plate full of beads.

Finally, they counted the number of beads remaining on their hand after shaking their hand gently left and right. We calculated each body cream's score based on the number of beads remaining on their hand.

Finally, we tested how each body cream feels based on its texture and ease of application. For every product, we had five testers actually use the body creams, and had them score each product based on the following:

• If the texture of the product made it easy to use or not
• How well it spread
• How easy it was to apply

Here, we want to introduce three things you should look out for when picking out a Japanese body moisturizer.

Common terms to look for:

• シェア脂 - Shea butter
• スクワラン - Squalane
• ホホバ油 - Jojoba oil
• アルガン油 - Argan oil
• ワセリン - Vaseline

When choosing a body cream, it's important to know which kind of oils to look for, since the amount of moisture that gets absorbed into the skin and how the product feels when applied differs depending on the oil type. 

If you want to protect your skin from dryness, look for oils like vaseline and shea butter. In particular, shea butter is a great emollient and can be applied smoothly on the skin. 

The oils featured in a product are usually listed at the top of the ingredient list.

Common terms to look for:

• グリセリン - Glycerin
• BG - Butylene glycol
• アミノ酸 - Amino acids
• ヒアルロン酸 - Hyaluronic acid
• セラミド - Ceramides
• コラーゲン - Collagen
• PCA-Na - 2-porrolydon carboxylic acid sodium salt
• 糖類 - Sugars
• スクロース - Sucrose
• マルチトール - Maltitol
• キシリトール - Xylitol

If you're looking to add extra moisture to your skin, in addition to oils, check for water-soluble moisturizing ingredients such as those listed in the image above.

In particular, we recommend those with sensitive or dry skin look for ceramides and amino acids, which allows the skin to retain more moisture, which results in finer-looking skin.

Common terms to look for:

• トラネキサム酸 - Tranexamic acid
• アルブチン - Arbutin
• プラセンタエキス - Placenta extract
• ナイアシンアミド - Niacinamide
• アスコルビン酸2-グルコシド(ビタミンC誘導体) - Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside (Vitamin C derivatives)
  

In order to have more clear skin, you first need to make sure it's properly hydrated, and secondly, you need to look for brightening ingredients.

The ingredients listed in the image above are often featured in skincare products and can help suppress the production of melanin in the skin, which is caused by UV rays.

Common terms to look for:

• グリチルリチン酸ジカリウム - Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate
• グリチルレチン酸ステアリル - Stearyl glycyrrhetinate
• アラントイン - Allantoin

Anti-inflammatory ingredients such as stearyl glycyrrhetinate can help prevent acne as well as maintain healthy skin.

If you still find yourself struggling with acne after using products with the ingredients featured in the image above, consider what may be causing your breakouts. Factors like dryness, friction from your clothes, or unthorough rinsing of soap, shampoo, or conditioner can cause acne.

Terms to look for:

• 無香料 - Unscented
• 無着色 - No coloring
• アルコールフリー - Alcohol-free

Fragrances, coloring, and alcohol are major points of concern for sensitive skin. While these are pretty standard ingredients, in some cases they can act as irritants. Those with sensitive skin should look for products that are unscented, have no coloring, and are made from simple ingredients.

Additionally, preservatives such as parabens and phenoxyethanol are considered safe ingredients with a proven track record, but those who've experienced irritation should choose products without them, just to be safe.

Body creams are available in a wide range of scents, such as floral, fruity, citrus, with some even unscented.

Overall, our testers preferred scents that offered a clean, fresh scent, since they'll be applying body creams after bathing. If you're looking to buy a body cream as a gift, this might be something to consider!

When and where you are can play a major factor in deciding what sort of texture you want in your body cream. 

For example, if you're about to go outside, you might want to choose something that isn't too sticky. On the other hand, if you've just had a nice relaxing bath or are about to go to sleep, you might want to choose something that offers more substance.

In our test, we found that body creams with smoother textures were absorbed by the skin better, making them less sticky. However, watery body creams, as well as those that were too firm, tended to be more difficult to spread evenly, and also resulted in more stickiness.

Moisturizers work by either assisting in moisture retention in the epidermis or feature emollients to create a thin film on the surface of the skin to prevent moisture evaporation and soften the skin.

Body creams generally have more oil when compared to body lotions or body milks, meaning they have a high level of emollients, which makes them perfect for dry winters or for those with dry skin.

However, on the flipside, body creams also tend to be thicker in nature. For those of you who want to use something lighter in the hotter months, or aren't too fond of thick creams, you may be better suited to look for body lotions or milks.

It's important to keep your skin hydrated and fully moisturized if you want to retain healthy, baby-soft skin. Besides body lotion, there are plenty of other skincare products that can help you. If you're looking for more great suggestions, take a peek at the articles below!

Author: Haruka Toda/Translation: Jasmine Li, Mitsuki Nagasawa

Updated November 15, 2021

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