H ere’s your ultimate guide to Japanese beauty-related keywords that are 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 — it’s called “ultimate” for a reason! It covers everything from products to common problems to cosmetic procedures.
If you’re going to Japan and you want to make sure you know some important words when you’re navigating the glorious, albeit confounding, beauty aisles, this is the list for you.
If you’d 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 — even if you cannot actually read them. These Japanese terms will not be much use if you cannot recognise them in the “wild” or pronounce them correctly (enough) that native Japanese speakers will actually understand you.
The list is pretty self-explanatory — there’re over 200 terms here, so do jump right to the section(s) that is to your interest.
SKIN TYPES
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Ageing/Mature Skin
年齢肌 (nenrei hada)
Children’s Skin
子どもの肌 (kodomo no hada)
Combination Skin
混合肌 (kongou hada)
Dry Skin
乾燥肌 (kansou hada)
Normal Skin
普通肌 (futsuu hada)
Oily Skin
脂性肌 (shisei hada)
Sensitive Skin
敏感肌 (binkan hada)
SKINCARE PRODUCTS
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Bath Salts
入浴剤 (nyuuyoku-zai)
Bar Soap
固形石鹸 (kokei sekken)
Beauty Serum/Essence
美容液 (biyou-eki)
Cotton Pads
カット綿 (katto men)
Eyelash Serum
まつげ美容液 (matsuge biyou-eki)
Eye & Lip Makeup Remover
ポイントメイクリムーバー (pointo meiku rimuubaa)
Face Wash
洗顔料 (sengan-ryou)
Foaming Face Wash
洗顔フォーム (sengan foomu)
Lotion/Toner
化粧水 (keshousui)
Lotion/Toner (ones you swipe on)
拭き取り化粧水 (fukitori keshousui)
Makeup Remover
メイク落とし (meiku otoshi)、 クレンジング (kurenjingu)
Moisturising Cream
保湿クリーム (hoshitsu kuriimu)
Moisturising Fluid/Milk/Emulsion
乳液 (nyuueki)
Rinse-off Mask
洗い流すパック (arainagasu pakku)
Sheet Mask
シートマスク (shiito masuku)
Sunscreen
日焼け止め (hiyakedome)
Suntan Oil
日焼け用オイル (hiyake-you oiru)
Oil-Blotting Paper
あぶら取り紙 (aburatorigami)
Wet Wipes
クレンジングシート (kurenjingu shiito)
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MAKEUP PRODUCTS
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Blush
チーク (chiiku)、 頬紅 (houbeni)
Concealer
コンシーラー (konshiiraa)
Eyelash Curler
ビューラー (byuuraa)
Eyebrow
アイブロウ (aiburou)
Eyeliner
アイライナー (rikiddo airainaa)
Eyeshadow
アイシャドウ (aishadou)
False Eyelashes
つけまつげ (tsuke matsuge)
Foundation
ファンデーション (fandeeshon)
Lipgloss
リップグロス (rippugurosu)
Lipliner
リップライナー (rippurainaa)
Lipstick
口紅 (kuchibeni)
Makeup Base/Primer
化粧下地 (keshou shitaji)
Mascara
マスカラ (masukara)
Powder
パウダー (paudaa)、 おしろい (oshiroi)
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HAIR PRODUCTS
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
At-Home Hair Colour
セルフヘアカラー剤 (serufu hea karaa-zai)
Bedhair Fixer
寝ぐせ直し (neguse naoshi)
Conditioner
リンス (rinsu)、 コンディショナー (kondishonaa)
Blowdryer
ドライヤー (doraiyaa)
Flat Iron
ストレートアイロン (sutoreeto airon)
Hair Colour for Covering Grey Hair
白髪染め (shiragazome)
Hair Mask
ヘアパック (hea pakku)
Hair Spray
ヘアスプレー (hea supuree)、 セットスプレー (setto supureei)
Hair Growth Products
育毛剤 (ikumou-zai)
Hair Wax
ヘアワックス (hea wakkusu)
Leave-In Conditioner
洗い流すトリートメント (arainagasu toriitomento)
Shampoo
シャンプー (shanpuu)
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HAIR SERVICES
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Barber Shop
理髪店 (rihatsu-ten) 、理容店 (riyou-ten) 、床屋 (okoya)
Blow-dry
ブロー (buroo)
Double Process Colour (Bleach & Colour)
ダブルカラー (daburu karaa)
Extensions
エクステ (ekusute)
Hair/Beauty Salon
美容院 (biyou-in)
Hairstylist
美容師 (biyoushi)、 スタイリスト (sutairisuto)
Haircut (at the barber’s)
散髪 (sanpatsu)
Haircut (at the beauty salon)
カット (katto)
Drastic Haircut (long to short)
バッサリカット ( bassari katto)
Formal Hair Styling
ヘアセット (hea setto)
Makeover
イメチェン (imechen)
Ombré Hair Colour
グラデーションカラー (guradeeshon karaa)
Perm
パーマ (paama)
Reservation/Appointment
予約 (yoyaku)
Root Retouch
リタッチカラー (ritacchi karaa)
Single Process Colour
ワンメークカラー (wanmeeku karaa)
Straight/Blunt Bangs
ぱっつん前髪 (pattsun maegami)
Thermal Reconditioning (“Japanese Hair Straightening”)
縮毛矯正 (shukumou kyousei)
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BEAUTY PROBLEMS
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Acne Marks/Scars
ニキビ跡 (nikibi ato)
Red Acne Marks (PIE)
ニキビ跡の赤み (nikibi ato no akami)
Age Spots
シミ (shimi)
Blackheads
毛穴の黒ずみ (keana no kurozumi) 、黒い角栓 (koroi kakusen) 、黒ニキビ (koroi nikibi)
Breakouts
吹き出物 (fukidemono)
Bumpiness
凹凸 (outotsu)
Cakiness
粉上の (kona jou no)
Chapping
ひび割れ (hibiware) 、あかぎれ (akagire)
Cystic Acne
嚢胞ニキビ (nouhou nikibi)、 黄ニキビ (ki nikibi)
Dandruff
フケ (fuke)
Dark Circles
クマ (kuma)
Dead Skin Cells
古い角質 (furui kakushitsu)
Dryness
乾燥 (kansou)、 パサパサ (pasapasa)
Dullness
くすみ (kusumi)
Enlarged Pores
毛穴の開き (keana no hiraki)
Fine Lines
小じわ (kojiwa)
Flakiness
粉吹き (kona fuki)
Freckles
そばかす (sobakasu)
Frizzy Hair
縮れ毛 (chijirege)、 くせ毛 (kusege)
Hair Breakage
切れ毛 (kireke)
Hair Loss
抜け毛 (nukege)
Hangnail
ささくれ (sasakure)
Hyperpigmentation
色素沈着 (shikiso chinchaku)
Ingrown Hair
埋没毛 (maibotsu ke)
Ingrown Nail
陥入爪 (kannyuu sou)
Mole
ほくろ (hokuro)
Odour
ニオイ (nioi)
Oily/Greasy
油っぽい (aburappoi)
Peeling
皮むけ (kawa muke)
Pimples/Acne
ニキビ (nikibi)
Pores
毛穴 (keana)
Puffiness/Swelling
むくみ (mukumi)
Razor Burn
カミソリ負け (kamisori make)
Redness
赤み (akami)
Roughness
荒れ (are) 、ザラザラ (zarazara)
Sagging
たるみ (tarumi)
Scar
傷跡 (kizuato)
Shiny
テカり (tekari)
Smile Lines
ほうれい線 (hou rei-sen)
Split Ends
枝毛 (edage)
Stickiness
ベタつき (betatsuki)
Sunburn/Suntan
日焼け (hiyake)
Tangles
からまり (karamari)
Uneven Skintone
肌の色むら (hada no iro mura)
White Cast
白浮き (shiro uki)
Whiteheads
白い角栓 (shiroi kakusen) 、白ニキビ (shiro nikibi)
Windburn
風焼け (kaze yake)
Wrinkles
シワ (shiwa)
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POSITIVE SKIN & HAIR DESCRIPTIONS
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Bouncy/Velvety
もちもち (mochimochi)
Clear
透明感 (toumei-kan)
Fine-Textured
きめの細かい (kime no komakai)
Firm/Supple
ハリ (hari)
Fresh/Juicy
みずみずしい (mizumizushii)
Glowing/Radiant/Shiny
ツヤ (tsuya) 、輝く (kagayaku)
Moisturised
うるおい (uruoi)
Plump
ふっくら (fukkura)
Silky
つるつる (tsurutsuru) 、さらさら (sarasara)
Soft
やわらか (yawaraka)
Smooth
なめらか (nameraka)、 すべすべ (subesube)
Sun-Kissed
綺麗に日焼け (kirei ni hiyake)、 健康的に日焼け (kenkou-teki ni hiyake)
Youthful
若々しい (wakawakashii)
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PRODUCT FUNCTIONS & EFFECTS
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Anti-Ageing
抗老化の (kou rouka no)、 アンチエイジング (anchieijingu)、 抗加齢 (kou karei)
Brightening
明るく (akaruku)
Easy to Use
お手軽 (otegaru)
Exfoliating
角質ケア (kakushitsu kea)
Firming
引き締め (hikishime)
Highly-Pigmented
高発色 (kou hasshoku)
Oil-Control
皮脂コントロール (hishi kontorouru)
Lifting
引き上げ (hikiage)
Long-Wearing
崩れにくい (kuzure nikui)
Low-Irritant
低刺激 (tei shigeki)
Refreshing
スッキリ (sukkiri) 、爽快感 (soukai-kan)
Revitalising
活性化 (kassei-ka)
Sheer Coverage
薄づき(usu dzuki)
Quick-Drying
速乾性 (sokkansei)
Volumising/Plumping
ボリュームアップ (boryuumuappu)
Waterpoof
防水 (bousui)、ウォータープルーフ (uootaapuruufu)
Whitening
美白 (bihaku)
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PRODUCT KEY INGREDIENTS & CHARACTERISTICS
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Additive-Free
無添加 (mu tenka)
Alcohol-Free
ノンアルコール (non’arukooru)
Anti-Oxidant
抗酸化 (kou sanka)
Clay
泥 (doro)、 クレイ (kurei)
Collagen
コラーゲン (koraagen)
Fragrance-Free
無香料 (mu kouryou)
Honey
はちみつ (hachimitsu)
Hyaluronic Acid
ヒアルロン酸 (hiaruron san)
Japanese Camellia Oil
椿油 (tsubaki abura)
Japanese Rice Liquor (Sake)
日本酒 (nihonshu)
Job’s Tears
ハトムギ (hatomugi)
Liquorice Root
甘草 (kanzou)
Paraben-Free
パラベンフリー (parabenfurii)
Rice Bran
米ぬか (komenuka)
Soy Milk
豆乳 (tounyou)
Surfactant-Free
界面活性剤不使用 (kaimen kassei-zai fu shiyou)
Hot Spring Water
温泉水 (onsen-sui)
UV Absorber (Chemical UV Filter)-Free
紫外線吸収剤不使用 (shigaisen kyuushuu-zai fu shiyou)
Vitamin C
ビタミンC (bitamin C)
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FACIAL FEATURES
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Babyface
童顔 (dougan)
Big-Eyed Makeup Look
デカ目 (deka-me)
Deep-Set Eyes
ちょっと落窪んだ目 (chotto ochi kubonda me)
Double Chin
二重あご (oku ago)
Double Eyelids
二重まぶた (oku ni juu mabuta)
Chiselled/Fine-Sculpted Face
彫りの深い顔 (hori no fukai kao)
Flat Face
平らな顔 (taira na kao)
Face with Sharp/Distinct Features
濃い顔 (koi-gao)
Face with Soft/Plain Features
薄い顔 (usui-gao)
Hidden Double Eyelids
奥二重まぶた (oku ni juu mabuta)
Japanese Male Face with Boy-ish Features
(lit. “Sugar Face”)
砂糖顔 (satou-gao)
Japanese Male Face with “Western-Looking” Features
(lit. “Sauce Face”)
ソース顔 (soosu-gao)
Japanese Male Face with “Japanese-Looking” Features
(lit. “Soy Sauce Face”)
しょうゆ顔 (shouyu-gao)
Japanese Female Face with Fox-like Features — inverted triangle face, slant eyes, high sharp nose, high cheekbones
(lit. “Fox Face”)
キツネ顔 (kitsune-gao)
Japanese Female Face with Soft, Round Features — round face, large dark round eyes, large rounded nose, soft arched brows
(lit. “Japanese Racoon Dog Face”)
タヌキ顔 (tanuki-gao)
Makeup-Free/Bare Face
すっぴん (suppin)
Monolids (Single Eyelids)
一重まぶた (hitoe mabuta)
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COSMETIC PROCEDURES
English 🇬🇧
J apanese 🇯🇵
Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery
美容整形 (biyou seikei)
Breast Augmentation (“Boob Job”)
豊胸手術 (yutaka mune shujutsu)
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
目の整形 (me no seikei)
Botox
ボトックス (botokkusu)
Chemical Peel
ケミカルピーリング (kemikaru piiringu)
Laser Skin Treatment
レーザー治療 (reezaa chiryou)
Laser Hair Removal
レーザー脱毛 (reezaa datsumou)
Liposuction
脂肪吸引 (shibou kyuuin)
Rhinoplasty (“Nose Job”)
鼻の整形 (hana no seikei)
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SHOPPING
English 🇬🇧
Japanese 🇯🇵
Affordable/Low Price
プチプラ (puchipura)
Coverage
カバー力 (kabaa-ryoku)
Daily Use
毎日の使用 (mainichi no shiyou) 、日常用 (nichijou-you)
Department Store
デパート (depatto)
Domestic Shipping
国内配送 (kokunai haisou)
Overseas Travel Use (Universal Voltage)
海外対応 (kaigai taioo)
Finish
仕上がり (shiagari)
Free-Standing Store
独立店舗 (dokuritsu tenpo)
International Shipping
海外配送 (kaigai haisou)
Limited Edition
限定版 (gentei-ban)
Mail Order Cosmetics
通販化粧品 (tsuuhan keshou-hin)
Official/Genuine Product
正規品 (seiki-hin)
Recommendation
おすすめ (osusume)
Shelf Life
保存可能期間 (hozon kana kikan)
Value for Money (Cost Performance)
コストパフォーマンス (kosuto pafoomansu)、 コスパ (kosupa)
Variety/General Store
バラエティショップ (baraeti shoppu)
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I hope this list was helpful for you. What other important beauty-related words do you think should be on this list? Let me know!
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