These J-Beauty Products Will Give You The Perfect No Makeup-Makeup Look

For a fresh base: Maquillage Dramatic Skin Sensor Base EX UV+ SPF50

J-beauty is all about a natural-looking complexion that ets one’s actual skin to peek through. That’s why something lightweight and luminous like the Maquillage Dramatic Skin Sensor Base EX UV+ is the perfect base for capturing that no-makeup makeup look. It comes in Natural, which blends into the skin like a tint and Tone Up, which is for colour correction and a bright-looking appearance.

Both are formulated with hyaluronic Acid, collagen, and other moisturising and skin-repairing components to keep your skin cared for even under makeup. And, because Japan is quite big on SPF, this also has SPF50 for that much-needed UV protection day in and out. Get it for JPY2,860/~USD26.11.

For a soft flush: Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks in Rose Tea Fleur

To give your skin a subtle and fresh pop of colour, this sheer blush from Canmake is the one to get. It has a barely-there effect that gives the cheeks a soft flush. It also doubles as a very faint highlighter, giving the skin a natural dewy look. You can also pat some colour on your lids for a monochromatic look. Have oily skin? This product is also sebum-absorbing yet hydrating, making sure that your glow isn’t just from unwanted shine. Did we mention it’s also an affordable drugstore pick at approximately JPY880/~USD8?

For wide-eyed lashes: Kate Tokyo The Lash Former mascara

Another J-beauty obsession are lashes since they give any eye look (even a bare one) an instant lift. But since we’re going for a no-makeup makeup route, a lash product that delivers a natural fanned-out look like Kate Tokyo’s The Lash Former mascara is the perfect choice. This mascara gives both volume and length with its ‘curl-memorising formula’ that works well even for those with stubborn lashes. This ensures that the lashes are curled from inside-out.

It comes in a Film variant (smudge-resistant but can easily be removed by warm water) and a WP type (waterproof and sebum resistant that requires a heavy-duty makeup remover to be taken off) to suit your preference. At MYR44.96/~USD12.04, what’s stopping you from adding to cart?

For natural-looking arches: Shiseido Brow InkTrio

As compared to Western brows that are more sculpted and sharp, J-beauty brows are all about soft and youthful-looking brows. This means only filling in the necessary gaps between your natural arches and going for a more diffused look. To achieve this, something like the Shiseido Brow InkTrio is the one you need. This product has a pencil (for precise shaping), a brow powder (for filling in the gaps between sparse brows), and a spoolie (for grooming and blending) for beautifully shaped brows. Get it for USD24.

For just-bitten lips: shu uemura rouge unlimited matte in BG954

Finish your look with shu uemura’s rouge unlimited matte in BG954, a great rosey nude MLBB that’s highly pigmented, hydrating, and smudge-resistant. Just tap on the colour on your lips if you want a blurred appearance or pack it on a bit for a more opaque, but still just-bitten appeal. You’ll never go wrong with this formula and shade, especially with the finished look you’re trying to achieve.

J-beauty is all about the subtleties, making it a great reference for more minimalist looks. If you’re ready to embrace your youthful appeal, these picks will surely make it worth your while. Take it home for PHP1,800/~USD37.

(Cover photo from: Heshan Perera via Unsplash)