Here’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 150 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 150 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) |
| 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) |
| 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 (ekuste) |
| 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 |
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) |
| 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) |
| Dark Spots |
シミ (shimi) |
| Dead Skin Cells |
古い角質 (furui kakushitsu) |
| Dryness |
乾燥 (kansou)、パサパサ (pasapasa) |
| Dullness |
くすみ (kusumi) |
| 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) |
| Ingrown Hair |
埋没毛 (maibotsu ke) |
| 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) |
| 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 🇬🇧 |
Japanese 🇯🇵 |
| 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) |
| Department Store |
デパート (depatto) |
| Finish |
仕上がり (shiagari) |
| Free-Standing Store |
独立店舗 (dokuritsu tenpo) |
| 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) |
| 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!
