This post will share the best retailers to get cheap and authentic Japanese Skincare products from the UK.
I’m so excited to share this post because it is way overdue.
I got into Japanese Skincare just around the same time I got into Korean Skincare about two years ago, and it has been such a thrilling adventure.
For someone like me with dry dehydrated skin, having access to hydrating products in massive 500ml bottles is honestly life-changing.
Not only do I not have to hoard skincare for my face, but I also don’t have to worry about it. I can literally slather my entire body in them because they’re ridiculously cheap.
Just like Kbeauty, I’ve also tried to experiment with buying products from different retailers to gauge their shopping experiences and, of course, offer various options to my UK readers.
For those who are not aware, I am based in Manchester, UK, and I typically buy my products straight from Japan.
This is because I get authentic Japanese products, unlike the European formulas you can easily get locally.
Before COVID-19 and Brexit, my products typically arrived within 10 to 30 days.
\But with COVID-related travel restrictions, deliveries have been slightly delayed in recent times, which is quite understandable.
Hence, the variety of retailers.
If I want a product urgently, I buy from a retailer that ships it to me the fastest.
But what are the pros and cons of buying Japanese Skincare locally?
Now, some people might wonder why I have to import products from Japan when I can find the same items locally.
Well, here are the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Fast shipping for those accustomed to Amazon Prime shipping.
- Favourable return policies. Read about my horrible experience with Olive Young Global.
- Easy returns for damaged or faulty products.
Cons:
- Exorbitant prices. £10 – 20 makes a lot of difference in the long run.
- Localised formulas. Sometimes the formulas and packaging are changed completely to suit the European standards.
- Limited availability of products. Japanese skincare is not as widespread as Korean skincare, so you’re restricted to ‘popular’ products. Meanwhile, some of the best products might not necessarily be popular.
These are some of the pros and cons of buying Japanese Skincare locally.
Considering the money you’ll save and the additional options for direct purchases from Japan, the 2-4 week delivery time becomes less of an issue.
So, what are the top retailers of Japanese Skincare in Asia? Let’s get right into them!
6 Websites to Buy Authentic and Cheap Japanese Skincare Products from the UK.
This list will be arranged in order from cheapest to most expensive in terms of product prices and shipping.
eBay
Although eBay may seem intimidating and overwhelming to beginners.
It is honestly the best place to get great deals from independent sellers.
I started my Asian skincare journey on eBay before venturing out to bigger retailers, and it never fails to deliver.
This is because they have a Customer Protection Program of sorts that guarantees refunds in the event your product goes missing in transit.
Regardless of who is at fault, you will always get a refund.
Did I mention that there are tons of options?
My default filter is Price: Low to High.
I mean, what is the point of paying extra for a product when you can save some cash?
Plus, more often than not, the prices are always inclusive of Free Shipping.
One of my favourite things about eBay is that I can find hidden gems.
There are some Japanese products that you will not find anywhere else, aside from maybe two sellers on eBay.
I love it so much!
My go-to sellers for Japanese Skincare products are and-jp, duvux-zenpan_shop, kyotoarashiyama, world_kurachan and japan-life.
StyleVana
I never used to buy Japanese Skincare from Stylevana because they are my go-to store for Korean Skincare.
But then, I started to compare prices and availability of products, and I was pleasantly surprised by their competitive, if not cheaper, prices.
If you are into Asian Skincare, you would know that Stylevana is the cheapest website for Korean Skincare.
Coupled with their outstanding Rewards Program, as a regular customer, I already get discounts which make my purchases even cheaper than eBay.
When you combine super-fast shipping, great prices, and a £39 minimum spend for free shipping, it is really hard not to go all out with Stylevana.
I almost always have to control myself. Granted, you might not get some unique products from them, but you will almost always get your staple products.
Fun Fact: I’ve gotten a StyleVana order in FOUR DAYS before!
Dokodemo World
Think of Dokodemo as Japanese eBay.
If I am not mistaken, it happens to be the largest Japanese online shopping mall, an equivalent of Aliexpress.
They sell a wide range of products, including Japanese Snacks, Medicines, Makeup, and Skincare.
It is such a wonder that they manage to stock most, if not all, of the essential Japanese skincare products you can think of.
While their prices rival independent eBay sellers, their shipping, particularly during this pandemic, has been off the roof.
Not only did they suspend their cheapest shipping options, but they also slap you with customs fees when it gets to the UK.
This was even before BREXIT.
While you are guaranteed to get authentic products at rock bottom prices straight from Japanese manufacturers, the shipping by weight is a real bummer for a blogger like me who goes through a lot of products.
You’re better off buying refills or just weightless products.
I probably won’t be buying from Dokodemo until the Pandemic is over and their shipping options return to normal.
Harajuku Culture Japan
Just when you think Dokodemo is pricey, Harajuku Culture Japan takes it up a notch.
I patronised him once after hearing about his website on a Facebook Group.
Granted, he has an extensive range of Japanese skincare products, but the prices are unjustifiable for no reason.
Especially when you can get the exact products for half the price on eBay with free shipping.
I haven’t been convinced to go back to shop there, and I probably never will.
I only go there to learn about new products because he does a great job of translating the products into English correctly.
Perhaps the only redeeming feature of the website is its fast shipping.
I got my order in about 10 days!
YesStyle
After SokoGlam, Yesstyle is probably the most popular website for buying Korean Skincare products.
I’m not sure why they are popular, given their numerous shady practices, particularly in pricing.
But they are, and there’s nothing we can do about it.
They stock a wide range of Japanese skincare products, particularly the bestselling ones, and, like Harajuku Japan, their prices are outrageously high for no apparent reason.
Last year, I bought some sample products from them because those were the only prices that could be justified.
But if you use Yesstyle already and prefer to buy all your Asian products in one place, it makes a lot more sense.
Amazon Japan
An honourable mention, which I recently discovered but haven’t tried, is Amazon Japan.
Even though you can get the popular Japanese products on Amazon UK (check out the Best Japanese Skincare Products on Amazon), Amazon Japan clearly has more local options.
If you are an Amazon geek who can navigate currency conversion, shipping, and customs fees, it is not a bad option at all.
Important Tip when buying Authentic Japanese Skincare
One way I have learnt to identify authentic Japanese products is by the packaging.
The entire packaging is almost always in Japanese, so I sometimes use Google Translate.
Other times, I can’t really be bothered.
But the Japanese packaging is what differentiates the authentic products from the European version, which is usually in English.
Take note of that when buying products, especially on eBay.
In Conclusion,
It is always an adventure for me to venture out of the typical UK/US/European Skincare.
It’s exciting to learn how products are formulated, what ingredients are commonly used and how consumers respond to them.
I hope this post has inspired you to enjoy exploring skincare from other regions.
Are you into Japanese Skincare?
Where do you buy them?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
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