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J-Beauty 101: Japanese Beauty Vocabulary Guide

Learn over 200 beauty-related terms!

Japanese Beauty Vocabulary

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 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 (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)
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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