Hereโs your ultimate guide to Japanese beauty-related keywords that areย frequently seen on packaging and print advertisements. What was originally intended as an ongoing bite-size series has resulted in one very extensive list with over 200 terms โ itโs called โultimateโ for a reason! It covers everything from products to common problems to cosmetic procedures.
If youโre going to Japan and you want to make sure you know some important words when youโre navigating the glorious, albeit confounding, beauty aisles, this is the list for you.
If youโd like to get the most out of this list but you do not know any Japanese whatsoever, you need to familiarising yourself with romaji and also be able to differentiate Japanese characters โ even if you cannot actually read them. These Japanese terms will not be much use if you cannot recognise them in the โwildโ or pronounce them correctly (enough) that native Japanese speakers will actually understand you.
The list is prettyย self-explanatory โ thereโreย over 200 terms here, so do jump right to the section(s) that is to your interest.
| SKIN TYPES |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Ageing/Mature Skin |
ๅนด้ฝข่ (nenrei hada) |
| Childrenโs Skin |
ๅญใฉใใฎ่ (kodomo no hada) |
| Combination Skin |
ๆททๅ่ (kongou hada) |
| Dry Skin |
ไนพ็ฅ่ (kansou hada) |
| Normal Skin |
ๆฎ้่ (futsuu hada) |
| Oily Skin |
่ๆง่ (shisei hada) |
| Sensitive Skin |
ๆๆ่ (binkan hada) |
| SKINCARE PRODUCTS |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Bath Salts |
ๅ
ฅๆตดๅค (nyuuyoku-zai) |
| Bar Soap |
ๅบๅฝข็ณ้นธ (kokei sekken) |
| Beauty Serum/Essence |
็พๅฎนๆถฒ (biyou-eki) |
| Cotton Pads |
ใซใใ็ถฟ (katto men) |
| Eyelash Serum |
ใพใคใ็พๅฎนๆถฒ (matsuge biyou-eki) |
| Eye & Lip Makeup Remover |
ใใคใณใใกใคใฏใชใ ใผใใผ (pointo meiku rimuubaa) |
| Face Wash |
ๆด้กๆ (sengan-ryou) |
| Foaming Face Wash |
ๆด้กใใฉใผใ (sengan foomu) |
| Lotion/Toner |
ๅ็ฒงๆฐด (keshousui) |
| Lotion/Toner (ones you swipe on) |
ๆญใๅใๅ็ฒงๆฐด (fukitori keshousui) |
| Makeup Remover |
ใกใคใฏ่ฝใจใ (meiku otoshi)ใใฏใฌใณใธใณใฐ (kurenjingu) |
| Moisturising Cream |
ไฟๆนฟใฏใชใผใ ย (hoshitsu kuriimu) |
| Moisturising Fluid/Milk/Emulsion |
ไนณๆถฒ (nyuueki) |
| Rinse-off Mask |
ๆดใๆตใใใใฏ (arainagasu pakku) |
| Sheet Mask |
ใทใผใใในใฏ (shiito masuku) |
| Sunscreen |
ๆฅ็ผใๆญขใ (hiyakedome) |
| Suntan Oil |
ๆฅ็ผใ็จใชใคใซ (hiyake-you oiru) |
| Oil-Blotting Paper |
ใใถใๅใ็ด (aburatorigami) |
| Wet Wipes |
ใฏใฌใณใธใณใฐใทใผใ (kurenjingu shiito) |
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| MAKEUP PRODUCTS |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Blush |
ใใผใฏ (chiiku)ใ้ ฌ็ด
(houbeni) |
| Concealer |
ใณใณใทใผใฉใผ (konshiiraa) |
| Eyelash Curler |
ใใฅใผใฉใผ (byuuraa) |
| Eyebrow |
ใขใคใใญใฆย (aiburou) |
| Eyeliner |
ใขใคใฉใคใใผ (rikiddo airainaa) |
| Eyeshadow |
ใขใคใทใฃใใฆ (aishadou) |
| False Eyelashes |
ใคใใพใคใ (tsuke matsuge) |
| Foundation |
ใใกใณใใผใทใงใณ (fandeeshon) |
| Lipgloss |
ใชใใใฐใญใน (rippugurosu) |
| Lipliner |
ใชใใใฉใคใใผ (rippurainaa) |
| Lipstick |
ๅฃ็ด
(kuchibeni) |
| Makeup Base/Primer |
ๅ็ฒงไธๅฐ (keshou shitaji) |
| Mascara |
ใในใซใฉ (masukara) |
| Powder |
ใใฆใใผ (paudaa)ใใใใใ (oshiroi) |
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| HAIR PRODUCTS |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| At-Home Hair Colour |
ใปใซใใใขใซใฉใผๅค (serufu hea karaa-zai) |
| Bedhair Fixer |
ๅฏใใ็ดใ (neguse naoshi) |
| Conditioner |
ใชใณใน (rinsu)ใใณใณใใฃใทใงใใผ (kondishonaa) |
| Blowdryer |
ใใฉใคใคใผ (doraiyaa) |
| Flat Iron |
ในใใฌใผใใขใคใญใณ (sutoreeto airon) |
| Hair Colour for Covering Grey Hair |
็ฝ้ซชๆใ (shiragazome) |
| Hair Mask |
ใใขใใใฏ (hea pakku) |
| Hair Spray |
ใใขในใใฌใผ (hea supuree)ใใปใใในใใฌใผ (setto supureei) |
| Hair Growth Products |
่ฒๆฏๅค (ikumou-zai) |
| Hair Wax |
ใใขใฏใใฏใน (hea wakkusu) |
| Leave-In Conditioner |
ๆดใๆตใใใชใผใใกใณใ (arainagasu toriitomento) |
| Shampoo |
ใทใฃใณใใผ (shanpuu) |
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ย
| HAIR SERVICES |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Barber Shop |
็้ซชๅบ (rihatsu-ten)ใ็ๅฎนๅบ (riyou-ten)ใๅบๅฑ (okoya) |
| Blow-dry |
ใใญใผ (buroo)ย |
| Double Process Colour (Bleach & Colour) |
ใใใซใซใฉใผ (daburu karaa) |
| Extensions |
ใจใฏในใ (ekusute) |
| Hair/Beauty Salon |
็พๅฎน้ข (biyou-in) |
| Hairstylist |
็พๅฎนๅธซ (biyoushi)ใในใฟใคใชในใย (sutairisuto)ย |
| Haircut (at the barberโs) |
ๆฃ้ซช (sanpatsu) |
| Haircut (at the beauty salon) |
ใซใใ (katto) |
| Drastic Haircut (long to short) |
ใใใตใชใซใใ (bassari katto) |
| Formal Hair Styling |
ใใขใปใใ (hea setto) |
| Makeover |
ใคใกใใงใณ (imechen) |
| Ombrรฉ Hair Colour |
ใฐใฉใใผใทใงใณใซใฉใผ (guradeeshon karaa) |
| Perm |
ใใผใ (paama) |
| Reservation/Appointment |
ไบ็ด (yoyaku) |
| Root Retouch |
ใชใฟใใใซใฉใผย (ritacchi karaa) |
| Single Process Colour |
ใฏใณใกใผใฏใซใฉใผ (wanmeeku karaa) |
| Straight/Blunt Bangs |
ใฑใฃใคใๅ้ซช (pattsun maegami) |
| Thermal Reconditioning (โJapanese Hair Straighteningโ) |
็ธฎๆฏ็ฏๆญฃ (shukumou kyousei) |
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| BEAUTY PROBLEMS |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Acne Marks/Scars |
ใใญใ่ทกย (nikibi ato) |
| Red Acne Marks (PIE) |
ใใญใ่ทกใฎ่ตคใฟ (nikibi ato no akami) |
| Age Spots |
ใทใ (shimi) |
| Blackheads |
ๆฏ็ฉดใฎ้ปใใฟ (keana no kurozumi)ใ้ปใ่งๆ (koroi kakusen)ใ้ปใใญใ (koroi nikibi) |
| Breakouts |
ๅนใๅบ็ฉ (fukidemono) |
| Bumpiness |
ๅนๅธ (outotsu) |
| Cakiness |
็ฒไธใฎ (kona jou no) |
| Chapping |
ใฒใณๅฒใ (hibiware)ใใใใใ (akagire) |
| Cystic Acne |
ๅข่ใใญใ (nouhou nikibi)ใ้ปใใญใ (ki nikibi) |
| Dandruff |
ใใฑ (fuke) |
| Dark Circles |
ใฏใ (kuma) |
| Dead Skin Cells |
ๅคใ่ง่ณช (furui kakushitsu) |
| Dryness |
ไนพ็ฅ (kansou)ใใใตใใต (pasapasa) |
| Dullness |
ใใใฟ (kusumi) |
| Enlarged Pores |
ๆฏ็ฉดใฎ้ใ (keana no hiraki) |
| Fine Lines |
ๅฐใใ (kojiwa) |
| Flakiness |
็ฒๅนใ (kona fuki) |
| Freckles |
ใใฐใใ (sobakasu) |
| Frizzy Hair |
็ธฎใๆฏย (chijirege)ใใใๆฏ (kusege) |
| Hair Breakage |
ๅใๆฏ (kireke) |
| Hair Loss |
ๆใๆฏ (nukege) |
| Hangnail |
ใใใใ (sasakure) |
| Hyperpigmentation |
่ฒ็ด ๆฒ็ (shikiso chinchaku) |
| Ingrown Hair |
ๅๆฒกๆฏ (maibotsu ke) |
| Ingrown Nail |
้ฅๅ
ฅ็ช (kannyuu sou) |
| Mole |
ใปใใ (hokuro) |
| Odour |
ใใชใค (nioi) |
| Oily/Greasy |
ๆฒนใฃใฝใ (aburappoi) |
| Peeling |
็ฎใใ (kawa muke) |
| Pimples/Acne |
ใใญใ (nikibi) |
| Pores |
ๆฏ็ฉด (keana) |
| Puffiness/Swelling |
ใใใฟ (mukumi) |
| Razor Burn |
ใซใใฝใช่ฒ ใ (kamisori make) |
| Redness |
่ตคใฟ (akami) |
| Roughness |
่ใ (are)ใใถใฉใถใฉ (zarazara) |
| Sagging |
ใใใฟ (tarumi) |
| Scar |
ๅท่ทก (kizuato) |
| Shiny |
ใใซใ (tekari) |
| Smile Lines |
ใปใใใ็ท (hou rei-sen) |
| Split Ends |
ๆๆฏ (edage) |
| Stickiness |
ใใฟใคใ (betatsuki) |
| Sunburn/Suntan |
ๆฅ็ผใ (hiyake) |
| Tangles |
ใใใพใ (karamari) |
| Uneven Skintone |
่ใฎ่ฒใใ (hada no iro mura) |
| White Cast |
็ฝๆตฎใ (shiro uki) |
| Whiteheads |
็ฝใ่งๆ (shiroi kakusen)ใ็ฝใใญใ (shiro nikibi) |
| Windburn |
้ขจ็ผใ (kaze yake) |
| Wrinkles |
ใทใฏ (shiwa) |
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| POSITIVE SKIN & HAIR DESCRIPTIONS |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Bouncy/Velvety |
ใใกใใก (mochimochi) |
| Clear |
้ๆๆ (toumei-kan) |
| Fine-Textured |
ใใใฎ็ดฐใใ (kime no komakai) |
| Firm/Supple |
ใใช (hari) |
| Fresh/Juicy |
ใฟใใฟใใใย (mizumizushii) |
| Glowing/Radiant/Shiny |
ใใค (tsuya)ใ่ผใ (kagayaku) |
| Moisturised |
ใใใใ (uruoi) |
| Plump |
ใตใฃใใ (fukkura) |
| Silky |
ใคใใคใ (tsurutsuru)ใใใใใ (sarasara) |
| Soft |
ใใใใ (yawaraka) |
| Smooth |
ใชใใใ (nameraka)ใใในใใน (subesube) |
| Sun-Kissed |
็ถบ้บใซๆฅ็ผใ (kirei ni hiyake)ใๅฅๅบท็ใซๆฅ็ผใ (kenkou-teki ni hiyake) |
| Youthful |
่ฅใ
ใใ (wakawakashii) |
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| PRODUCT FUNCTIONS & EFFECTS |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Anti-Ageing |
ๆ่ๅใฎ (kou rouka no)ใใขใณใใจใคใธใณใฐ (anchieijingu)ใๆๅ ้ฝข (kouย karei) |
| Brightening |
ๆใใ (akaruku) |
| Easy to Use |
ใๆ่ปฝ (otegaru) |
| Exfoliating |
่ง่ณชใฑใข (kakushitsu kea) |
| Firming |
ๅผใ็ท ใ (hikishime) |
| Highly-Pigmented |
้ซ็บ่ฒ (kou hasshoku) |
| Oil-Control |
็ฎ่ใณใณใใญใผใซ (hishi kontorouru) |
| Lifting |
ๅผใไธใ (hikiage) |
| Long-Wearing |
ๅดฉใใซใใ (kuzure nikui) |
| Low-Irritant |
ไฝๅบๆฟ (tei shigeki) |
| Refreshing |
ในใใญใช (sukkiri)ใ็ฝๅฟซๆ (soukai-kan) |
| Revitalising |
ๆดปๆงๅ (kassei-ka) |
| Sheer Coverage |
่ใฅใ(usu dzuki) |
| Quick-Drying |
้ไนพๆง (sokkansei) |
| Volumising/Plumping |
ใใชใฅใผใ ใขใใ (boryuumuappu) |
| Waterpoof |
้ฒๆฐด (bousui)ใใฆใฉใผใฟใผใใซใผใ (uootaapuruufu) |
| Whitening |
ย ็พ็ฝ (bihaku) |
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| PRODUCT KEY INGREDIENTS & CHARACTERISTICS |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Additive-Free |
็กๆทปๅ (mu tenka) |
| Alcohol-Free |
ใใณใขใซใณใผใซ (nonโarukooru) |
| Anti-Oxidant |
ๆ้
ธๅ (kou sanka) |
| Clay |
ๆณฅ (doro)ใใฏใฌใคย (kurei) |
| Collagen |
ใณใฉใผใฒใณ (koraagen) |
| Fragrance-Free |
็ก้ฆๆ (mu kouryou) |
| Honey |
ใฏใกใฟใค (hachimitsu) |
| Hyaluronic Acid |
ใใขใซใญใณ้
ธ (hiaruron san) |
| Japanese Camellia Oil |
ๆคฟๆฒน (tsubaki abura) |
| Japanese Rice Liquor (Sake) |
ๆฅๆฌ้
(nihonshu) |
| Jobโs Tears |
ใใใ ใฎ (hatomugi) |
| Liquorice Root |
็่ (kanzou) |
| Paraben-Free |
ใใฉใใณใใชใผ (parabenfurii) |
| Rice Bran |
็ฑณใฌใ (komenuka) |
| Soy Milk |
่ฑไนณ (tounyou) |
| Surfactant-Free |
็้ขๆดปๆงๅคไธไฝฟ็จ (kaimen kassei-zai fu shiyou) |
| Hot Spring Water |
ๆธฉๆณๆฐด (onsen-sui) |
| UV Absorber (Chemical UV Filter)-Free |
็ดซๅค็ทๅธๅๅคไธไฝฟ็จ (shigaisen kyuushuu-zai fu shiyou) |
| Vitamin C |
ใใฟใใณC (bitamin C) |
โตBack to the Table of Content
| FACIAL FEATURES |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Babyface |
็ซฅ้ก (dougan) |
| Big-Eyed Makeup Look |
ใใซ็ฎ (deka-me) |
| Deep-Set Eyes |
ใกใใฃใจ่ฝ็ชชใใ ็ฎ (chotto ochi kubonda me) |
| Double Chin |
ไบ้ใใ (oku ago) |
| Double Eyelids |
ไบ้ใพใถใ (oku ni juu mabuta) |
| Chiselled/Fine-Sculpted Face |
ๅฝซใใฎๆทฑใ้ก (hori no fukai kao) |
| Flat Face |
ๅนณใใช้ก (taira na kao) |
| Face with Sharp/Distinct Features |
ๆฟใ้ก (koi-gao) |
| Face withย Soft/Plain Features |
่ใ้กย (usui-gao) |
| Hidden Double Eyelids |
ๅฅฅไบ้ใพใถใ (oku ni juu mabuta) |
Japanese Male Face with Boy-ish Features
(lit. โSugar Faceโ) |
็ ็ณ้ก (satou-gao) |
Japanese Male Face with โWestern-Lookingโ Features
(lit. โSauce Faceโ) |
ใฝใผใน้ก (soosu-gao) |
Japanese Male Face with โJapanese-Lookingโ Features
(lit. โSoy Sauce Faceโ) |
ใใใใ้ก (shouyu-gao) |
Japanese Female Face with Fox-like Features โ inverted triangle face, slant eyes, high sharp nose, high cheekbones
(lit. โFox Faceโ) |
ใญใใ้ก (kitsune-gao) |
Japanese Female Face with Soft, Round Featuresย โ round face, large dark round eyes, large rounded nose, soft arched brows
(lit. โJapanese Racoon Dog Faceโ) |
ใฟใใญ้ก (tanuki-gao) |
| Makeup-Free/Bare Face |
ใใฃใดใ (suppin) |
| Monolids (Single Eyelids) |
ไธ้ใพใถใ (hitoe mabuta) |
โตBack to the Table of Content
| COSMETIC PROCEDURES |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery |
็พๅฎนๆดๅฝข (biyou seikei) |
| Breast Augmentation (โBoob Jobโ) |
่ฑ่ธๆ่ก (yutaka mune shujutsu) |
| Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) |
็ฎใฎๆดๅฝข (me no seikei) |
| Botox |
ใใใใฏใน (botokkusu) |
| Chemical Peel |
ใฑใใซใซใใผใชใณใฐ (kemikaru piiringu) |
| Laser Skin Treatment |
ใฌใผใถใผๆฒป็ (reezaa chiryou) |
| Laser Hair Removal |
ใฌใผใถใผ่ฑๆฏ (reezaa datsumou) |
| Liposuction |
่่ชๅธๅผ (shibou kyuuin) |
| Rhinoplasty (โNose Jobโ) |
้ผปใฎๆดๅฝข (hana no seikei) |
โตBack to the Table of Content
| SHOPPING |
| English ๐ฌ๐ง |
Japanese ๐ฏ๐ต |
| Affordable/Low Price |
ใใใใฉ (puchipura) |
| Coverage |
ใซใใผๅ (kabaa-ryoku) |
| Daily Use |
ๆฏๆฅใฎไฝฟ็จ (mainichi no shiyou)ใๆฅๅธธ็จ (nichijou-you) |
| Department Store |
ใใใผใ (depatto) |
| Domestic Shipping |
ๅฝๅ
้
้ (kokunai haisou) |
| Overseas Travel Use (Universal Voltage) |
ๆตทๅคๅฏพๅฟ (kaigai taioo) |
| Finish |
ไปไธใใ (shiagari) |
| Free-Standing Store |
็ฌ็ซๅบ่ (dokuritsu tenpo) |
| International Shipping |
ๆตทๅค้
้ (kaigai haisou) |
| Limited Edition |
้ๅฎ็ (gentei-ban) |
| Mail Order Cosmetics |
้่ฒฉๅ็ฒงๅ (tsuuhan keshou-hin) |
| Official/Genuine Product |
ๆญฃ่ฆๅ (seiki-hin) |
| Recommendation |
ใใใใ (osusume) |
| Shelf Life |
ไฟๅญๅฏ่ฝๆ้ (hozon kana kikan) |
| Value for Money (Costย Performance) |
ใณในใใใใฉใผใใณใน (kosuto pafoomansu)ใใณในใ (kosupa) |
| Variety/General Store |
ใใฉใจใใฃใทใงใใ (baraeti shoppu) |
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I hope this list was helpful for you.ย What other important beauty-related words do you think should be on this list? Let me know!
ยฉ 2018 RatzillaCosme
How common are procedures like botox and fillers in JP, especially amongst women who are middle-aged and older?
Iโd say they arenโt common at all. Mainstream beauty magazines, for example, almost never mention these kinds of cosmetic procedures.
this is so useful! I was wondering how I could say โfacial oilโ or โoil serumโ ?
Like an oil-based facial serum? Thank you!
ใชใคใซใปใฉใ (oiru seramu). Itโs an English loanword.
Thanks i thought so ๐
What does araka jime mean please?
ใใใใใ (arakajime) means โbeforehandโ/โin advanceโ/โpreviouslyโ
Thank you ๐
Are full lips popular in Japan, and is cosmetic lip filler a procedure that people get? I recall hearing once that smaller lips were considered more desirable in Japan but I wonder if the beauty standards have been influenced by the West at all.
You might be thinking of Korea and China and their trend of gradient lips. The look supposedly plays down plump lips and draws more attention to the eyes. That trend has never taken off in Japan.
Japanese have naturally fuller lips than Caucasians so lip fillers or plumpers arenโt really a thing. When it comes to the lips, the trend in Japan has always stuck to the natural side of things. People donโt really try to make their lips look bigger/fuller (or smaller/thinner).
This list is EVERYTHING! I imagine that it must have taken a considerable amount of time and effort. Thank you so much for having gone to the trouble of compiling this valuable and much-needed guide!
hello! this list is amazing thank you!
i have a question; how do i say to hair wax as a verb- as shaving you hair etc
thank you in advance
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