You may notice one interesting thing about Japanese beauty brands: they don’t release new products as quickly as their other counterparts.

We spoke to insiders and learnt that the Japanese are more into quality than quantity, and often put a lot of effort and resources into long researches to produce high quality products. This means that every launch that they have is typically quite revolutionary and definitely something we’d want to look out for.

Here are the latest launches from some of our favourite Japanese brands: there’s everything from a lotion that addresses “cell dehydration” to a makeup palette that helps you achieve the latest “WhiLight” technique effortlessly.

1. ORBIS U Lotion

ORBIS is one of the Japanese brands we can’t get enough of. They are dedicated to creating minimalist skincare products that work from within the skin, and are always at the forefront of innovation.

Their latest innovation is the ORBIS U Lotion. The product focuses on addressing cell dehydration, which is brought about by factors like ageing, UV rays, and air pollution. Cell dehydration is why skin cells lose moisture and are unable to take in water properly, making our skin look dull, dehydrated, and rough.

Use the product faithfully, and you’ll see your skin looking plumper, more radiant, and bouncier over time. You’ll also love its rich, watery texture which refreshes your skin and is absorbed quickly.

The ORBIS U series also include a facial wash and moisturiser that you can use together with the ORBIS U Lotion.

The ORBIS U series is available at ORBIS Takashimaya S.C., the ORBIS Online Store, Robinsons Raffles City, Metro Centrepoint (M Beauty), Metro Causeway Point (M Beauty), selected Sasa


stores.

2. Utena Premium Puresa Golden Jelly Mask Hyaluronic Acid

The winner of Best Hydrating Mask at the Daily Vanity Beauty Awards 2019, the Premium Puresa Golden Jelly Mask is among the bestselling products by Utena.

It contains a generous amount of 33g of jelly essence in every sheet of mask, making sure that you receive all the skincare goodness you can get with every masking session.

Formulated with two types of Hyaluronic Acid, this mask is also free from artificial fragrances, colourants, mineral oil, alcohol, silicon, and UV absorbers. Besides its ability to moisturise dry, irritable skin, you’ll also love its therapeutic scent – thanks to the addition of natural essentials oils such as Lavender, Palmarosa, and Geranium in its formula.

Utena Premium Puresa Golden Jelly Mask retails at SGD16.90. Utena products are available at selected Watsons stores, Tokyu Hands, Welcia-BHG, Don Don Donki, Robinsons stores, Metro stores, and Qoo10, Shopee, and Lazada.

3. Fancl White Advance Drink

Known for its no-preservatives philosophy, Fancl is among the forerunners when it comes to skincare and wellness technologies. If you have the chance to visit Fancl’s stores in Japan, you’ll notice that the brand doesn’t just carry skincare brands, but also offers makeup and  an array of consumable products for health and wellness! 

While we don’t get the full range of Fancl products in Singapore, you’ll be pleased to know that they’ve just released their newly reformulated White Advance Drink in Singapore. This beauty supplement is a super convenient way for you to protect yourself against UV rays. It contains Hydroxytyrosol, L-Cystine, Artichoke Extract, Enzymatically-modified Hesperidin, Vitamin C, and Niacinamide – all of them help to brighten, repair and rejuvenate your skin after sun exposure. Additionally, it comes with a refreshing grapefruit flavour and does not contain caffeine, and of course, free from preservatives.

FANCL White Advance Drink retails at SGD68 for 10 bottles (30ml) and is available at all FANCL stores and counters.

4. Kate White Shaping Palette

There’s a new makeup technique embraced by Japanese makeup artists called “WhiLight”, a strobing style that uses a brilliant white highlighter. This style of strobing is said to look great on Asian skin tones and create a shine-from-within look. 

To help you achieve this style of makeup, Kate Tokyo has launched this all-in-one palette that contains a highlight, blush, nose contour, and eyeshadow. We love how easy it is to bring along just one palette for midday touch-ups – because all the products you need, including the sponge, are now all within one case. And as if it weren’t foolproof enough, the function of each shade is embossed on the palette – you can never get it wrong.

Kate White Shaping Palette is an ASEAN online exclusive, and is available on Lazada in two colours: WT-1 White and WT-2 Purple White.

5. Lunasol The Lighting Color Eyes

Lunasol leads the style pack when it comes to its makeup offering, delivering pigments that are always brilliantly saturated. In its latest spring/summer makeup collection is this gorgeous palette that comes in 10 vivid shades of shimmers and mattes to choose from. We love how you can use one product to reinvent your look every day (that is, if you’re not positively overwhelmed from being spoiled for choice!) These LUNASOL eyeshadows are highly-pigmented and deliver great colour payoff – truly worth every penny, in our opinion!

Lunasol The Lighting Color Eyes palette retails for SGD138 and is available at the Kanebo counters located at Takashimaya Departmental Store and OG Albert Complex.

6. Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Nobara Collection

It’s impossible to talk about high quality Japanese brands without mentioning Shu Uemura. Focusing on delivering artist-level products, Shu Uemura is always breaking grounds with their latest offerings. What we’re currently obsessing over: The Rouge Unlimited Nobara collection. 

“Nobara” refers to the Japanese wild rose, and the shade is the inspiration behind the collection, which promises to offer my-lips-but-better lipsticks that look flattering on Asian complexions. The collection ranges from creamy pinks to vivid reds, and comes in both matte and shiny textures. The unique lipstick formula also allows you to create both an ombre blended look with your fingers or a classic opaque look using a brush.

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited lipsticks retail at SGD38 each. They are pre-launched at TANGS.com from today and will be officially launched islandwide from 1 July 2019.

7. Biore UV Athlizm range

You probably already know of Biore’s range of sunscreens that are lightweight while delivering high level of protection. Even with the great reputation and existing high quality products, the brand isn’t resting on its laurels. Its latest launch – the new Biore UV Athlizm range – is their first foray into the sports sunscreen market, and consists of sunscreens that are long-lasting, waterproof, and highly sweat- and friction-resistant.

There are two variants to choose from: Skin Protect Essence and Skin Protect Milk, depending on the texture that you prefer. They can be used on both face and body, and offers SPF50+ and PA++++. They are designed to continue performing even at up to 40°C and humidity levels of up to 75%. On top of these, they are moisturising, thanks to the inclusion of ingredients like the hyaluronic acid and royal jelly extract in their formulas.

The Biore UV Athlizm Skin Protect Essence and Biore UV Athlizm Skin Protect Milk are available at selected Watsons and Guardian, Don Don Donki and Welcia BHG outlets, and retail at SGD24.90 each.