Organic And Natural Japanese Cosmetics - 5 Must Try Products!

The Japanese have long been known for their dedication to health and beauty - there are dozens of spas, salons, and beauty treatment facilities to choose from at almost every station in Japan, and plenty of unique vocabulary to go along with this. But you can also find an incredible array of items in department stores and drug stores too. Japanese beauty products often have histories dating back a hundred or more years, tend to be gentle on the skin, and in most cases, are fully made in Japan with all natural Japanese ingredients.

If you are looking for a souvenir to treat yourself to, or have a beauty concern while in Japan, then any of these five organic cosmetic products are sure to help you out. And, if you find that you must have more once you've used them up, they can also be purchased online and are able to be shipped overseas (depending on which site they are purchased from).

1. A Treat for Your Nails - Ueba Eso Nail Polish

Ueba Eso is a nail polish brand from Kyoto, that specializes in a traditional, water-based nail polish formula, and is a winner of the Good Design Award. These nail polishes are made with finely powdered scallop shell which is an ingredient in traditional Japanese paint pigments, have no irritating odors and dry quickly.

What is even better about them is that, rather than requiring a harsh nail polish remover, they come off quite easily with just rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad.

These polishes mainly come in traditional Japanese colors, like what you would find in kimono or in ukiyo-e, and last two to three days without topcoat. The shade in the picture is called Tsuyabeni (shiny red), and it was exactly that, a rich glossy red that reminded me of freshly bloomed red camellia flowers.

Average price: 1300 yen per bottle

2. Take Care of Chapped Lips - APS Fond of Herbs Lip Balm

While there are many different options to chose from when you first look at the lip care aisle in any Japanese pharmacy, the APS Fond of Herbs lip balm (only sold in Tomods drug stores), is one that anyone can use.

This lip balm only comes in mint and aloe, which might seem like an overpowering combination, but it isn't at all. In fact, the mint scent is very subtle, and the overall texture of the lip balm is quite smooth, without any stickiness that you might expect from aloe.

Average price: 410 yen per balm