15 of The Best Japanese Makeup Removers for Every Skin Type

In Japan, the typical skincare routine consists of a double cleansing process to be sure to remove all impurities from the skin and we recommend pairing a makeup remover with an additional cleanser for maximum results. 

Japanese makeup removers come in many different forms, from oil-based cleansers, to gels, creams, and sheet wipes. Featuring unique formulas and ingredients such as fermented rice extract and spa water sourced from Japanese onsen resorts, here are our top 15 recommendations of the best Japanese makeup removers, no matter what your skin type is.

Oil-Based Japanese Makeup Removers  

An oil-based cleanser is typically the first stage in the Japanese skincare routine, and the following products are designed especially to easily remove all traces of makeup.

Kao Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Cleansing Oil

This cleansing oil makeup remover from Biore effortlessly dissolves and removes makeup and mascara without leaving a greasy film on your face and maintains the skin's natural moisture balance. It also removes excess sebum, SPF, and other oil-based impurities. 

Shiseido Senka All Clear Oil Makeup Remover

This Japanese cleansing oil from Shiseido's Senka series is a powerful oil-based makeup remover that works even on waterproof mascara and eyelash extensions. This product contains rice bran oil which is believed to support skin health and cleanses and removes dirt and other residues that collect inside pores. The Shiseido Senka makeup remover also works to moisturize skin with ingredients including naturally derived silk essence and two types of hyaluronic acids.

Nivea Cleansing Oil Beauty Skin Makeup Cleanser

This oil-based makeup remover from Nivea Japan is a speedy and efficient way to remove makeup and waterproof mascara in an instant without rubbing your skin. Despite being oil-based, this cleanser has a super light smooth texture that quickly spreads to remove makeup, and is packed with beauty boosting oils including squalene, rosemary, jojoba and argan to stop your skin drying out. The cleanser’s aroma features a fragrant blend of rosemary, lemon grass, mandarin, and cinnamon leaving your skin feeling refreshed. 

Japanese Eye Makeup Removers

Isehan Kiss Me Heroine Make Speedy Mascara Remover

From the company that produces one of Japan’s best-selling mascaras comes the Isehan Heroine Speedy Mascara Remover, formulated with lash care ingredients to easily remove waterproof mascara whilst keeping lashes moisturized.

The Speedy Mascara Remover dissolves difficult to remove waterproof mascara smoothly and without any need for rubbing. It is alcohol-free, fragrance-free, and formulated with ingredients that do not irritate your eyes. 

The Heroine Make Speedy Mascara Remover also comes in convenient mascara-like packaging so you can just apply the makeup remover with the mascara wand, making it the ideal product for travel too thanks to its size and functionality.

Mandom Bifesta Micellar Water Eye & Lip Makeup Remover

This makeup remover from J-beauty brand Mandom is part of their popular Bifesta range of cleansing products which features cleansing water, wipes, and this eye makeup remover. 

The eye makeup remover is applied to cotton wool and then wiped gently over the eyelid for 10 seconds to remove all traces of eye makeup including waterproof mascara easily and thoroughly. It also features a moisturizing ingredient usually used in skin lotion, keeping the eye area fresh and moisturized. 

Japanese Makeup Removing Face Washes and Lotions

Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Makeup Remover

This luxurious makeup remover from high-end cosmetics brand Koh Gen Do is famous for adding water sourced from Japanese onsen (hot springs) to their products as the base ingredient.

This mild acidic cleansing water features hot spring water from the ancient village of Izumo Yumura Onsen in Shimane Prefecture, whose water is known for its rich minerals and skin hydrating properties. Other ingredients of this premium makeup remover include Japanese white birch sap and six herbal extracts such as lavender, basil, and ginger root for better cleansing and moisturizing effects.

Rosette Rice Bran Makeup Cleansing Wash Additive-Free

This gentle on skin foaming cleanser and makeup remover is ideal for sensitive skin and formulated with 100% plant derived ingredients and rice bran to remove makeup while locking in moisture.

The Rosette Rice Bran Makeup Cleansing Wash is an additive-free Japanese makeup-remover that removes makeup and dirt and at the same time keeps your skin healthy and dewy-fresh.

Cow Makeup Cleansing Milk Additive-Free

This cleansing milk facial wash is great value for money, free from additives, and is gentle on skin. The Cow Soap company is a famous Japanese beauty brand founded 100 years ago and focuses on creating products for sensitive skin. 

The Cow Makeup Cleansing Milk is made mainly from plant derived oils and gently cleanses makeup and dirt from your skin, whilst keeping it hydrated. 

Mizuhashi Hojudo Emulsion Remover Cleansing Lotion

This Japanese makeup remover comes in a handy spray bottle and is applied by spraying directly onto your face and rinsing off with water. The Mizuhashi Hojudo Emulsion Remover cleanses and dissolves sebum impurities, makeup particles and other residues that can clog the pores, lifting them up to purify the skin.

This Japanese cleansing lotion also tones your skin by tightening pores that have expanded and helps to minimize the cause of darkening spots and blemishes. It works effectively on all skin types without causing any damage.

Creams and gels 

Kao Curel Makeup Cleansing Gel Intensive Moisture Care

Kao’s Curel Makeup Cleansing Gel thoroughly removes makeup and sunscreen from deep inside pores whilst retaining moisture and protecting ceramides, your skin's natural barrier.

This soft gel-type Japanese makeup remover spreads easily on skin and removes tough makeup easily including long-lasting foundation and lip colors without the need for excessive scrubbing, leaving your skin feeling fresh and clean. 

This makeup remover also contains antiphlogistic ingredients which prevents inflammation and is suitable for sensitive skin with its colorant-free, fragrance-free, and alcohol-free formula. 

Shiseido Elixir Superieur Makeup Cleansing Cream

Shiseido’s Elixir series of skincare products are specially designed for skin that shows signs of aging and has focused on collagen research since the brand’s inception in 1983. This makeup removing cleansing cream helps remove any impurities whilst retaining moisture and without drying out your skin.

One of Japan’s biggest selling skincare brands, the Elixir cream has a luxuriously thick texture that adheres to makeup and dirt deep inside your pores. It also softens skin cells and hydrates your skin, so you can feel your skin becoming smoother after using this product.

Kikumasamune Sake Skin Care Cleansing Gel Makeup Remover

Kikumasamune Skin Care Cleansing Gel is easily applied to the skin and gently dissolves all traces of makeup. This product has recently improved its formula and added cleansing oil to the ingredients to ensure the removal of difficult to remove makeup such as waterproof mascara, without drying out or irritating your skin. 

This moisturizing Japanese makeup cleanser contains ingredients like fermented rice extract, squalane, amino acids, placenta extract, and arbutin to cleanse, brighten and protect skin. The addition of squalane also leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturized after cleansing.

Kikumasamune is a traditional Japanese sake brewing company founded more than 350 years ago that launched a skincare brand based on sake as the main ingredient. Sake is a popular ingredient in Japanese beauty products believed to help moisturize and brighten skin.

Koh Gen Do Oriental Plants Makeup Removal Cream

The Koh Gen Do Oriental Plants series highlights the power of natural beauty essences made from plants grown in Japan, and this premium cream-type makeup remover also comes with added skin hydration benefits. 

This product has a rich yet light texture and spreads easily onto skin. It’s also packed full of beauty-boosting natural ingredients including Japanese rose extract, chamomile flower extract, and bitter orange fruit extract.

Wipes

Mandom Bifesta Makeup Cleansing Sheets

Bifesta Makeup cleansing sheets are Japanese oil-free makeup removing wipes that feature moisturizing ingredients derived from skin lotion. These cleansing sheets remove dead skin cells that cause dullness and at the same time keep skin moisturized.

They are formulated with special ingredients that easily and smoothly remove even the thickest makeup and foundation trapped in pores. This product is available in two types – the Bright Up Cleansing Sheet which specialize in removing dirt and pores, and the Moist Cleansing Sheet which is more suited for dry and sensitive skin and contains extra moisturizing ingredients.

Kao Biore Makeup Remover Wipes 

Sometimes after a long day you may be too tired to go through the whole double cleansing routine and so it’s times like these when makeup removing wipes come in handy. These facial wipes by Biore contain skin-nourishing and hydrating serums and are made with 100% natural cotton, so they feel soft and gentle on the face. Each sheet is also free of coloring agents and oils.