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When it comes to skincare, there is certainly no shortage of Japanese beauty products to try. Among the many different types of Japanese skincare products on offer to consumers, one particular category stands out – milky lotions.
These luxurious lotions have gained popularity for their unique properties and exceptional ability to improve the skin's appearance and texture. In this article, we will delve into the world of Japanese milky lotions, exploring what sets them apart from other types of lotions, why they are a must-have in your skincare routine, and recommend some of our favorite products that you can try at home.
What Is Milky Lotion?
Milky lotions are a kind of lightweight cream popular in Japanese beauty regimes that are typically used for moisturizing and hydrating the skin. They have a creamy, milky appearance and texture. Milky lotions are designed to be easily absorbed by the skin, providing hydration without leaving a heavy or greasy residue.
What Makes Milky Lotion Different From The Other Kind Of Japanese Lotion?
Whilst in Western countries we tend to think of lotions as cream like products, in Japan, lotions usually refer to watery or toner-like products. These are normally used after cleansing and before applying moisturizers as part of the ‘double cleansing’ skincare routine. These lotions are typically lightweight and watery in consistency, serving to hydrate and prepare the skin for subsequent skincare steps.
On the other hand, milky lotion, is a specific type of moisturizer in the form of a creamy emulsion. It differs from the watery lotions in that it provides more substantial moisturization and acts as a standalone moisturizer rather than a pre-moisturizer step. Milky lotions are usually thicker in texture, offering a richer blend of hydrating ingredients and often containing nourishing oils.
Benefits Of Using Japanese Milky Lotion
Incorporating a Japanese milky lotion into your skincare routine can help to provide your skin with a deeper level of hydration, with lotions often containing nourishing ingredients such as plant extracts and vitamins to support overall skin health.
Milky lotions can also help to soften and smooth the skin, and for users with sensitive skin, they may find using a milky lotion less irritable than using a thicker heavier moisturizing cream.
How we decided
- Deep HydrationWe selected lotions that provide strong, long-lasting moisture
- Skin-Type MatchEach pick suits specific needs, from oily to dry to sensitive skin
- Gentle FormulasWe prioritized products free from common irritants
- Added BenefitsEvery item offers extra care like brightening, firming, or wrinkle support
Rohto Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Super Hyaluronic Milky Lotion
Described as a must-have item by consumers for anyone with dry skin and particularly during the winter seasons, Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Milky Lotion instantly hydrates skin and helps preserve its optimum moisture balance.
Applied after cleansing, this product’s additive-free formula features a blend of 5 types of hyaluronic acid to deeply replenish skin, leaving you with a softer and more supple complexion.
Ideally suited for more sensitive skin, this lotion is free from irritants such as fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol, and colorants.
Pros
- Deep, long-lasting hydration with hyaluronic acids
- Leaves skin soft, smooth, and plump
- Gentle, additive-free formula for sensitive skin
Cons
- Texture may feel heavy for oily skin
- Works best when layered; may not suit minimal routines
FANCL Body Milk Anti-Aging Skin Brightening Milky Lotion
FANCL Body Milk is a 3-in-1 milky lotion combining moisturization, skin brightening, and aging care. As well as moisturizing, this lotion can be used to brighten dull skin and for treating dry areas such as elbows and knees, in addition to sunburn.
This milky lotion contains natural ingredients such as soybean extract and has a non-greasy feeling. It is best applied all over the body twice a day, ideally after a bath or shower. FANCL has been making skincare products designed to relieve skin problems since the 1980s and this lotion is free from antiseptics, aromatics, synthetic colorants, oil-based surfactants, and UV absorbers.
Pros
- Hydrates, brightens, and firms in one step
- Lightweight, non-sticky texture for daily use
- Gentle formula without preservatives or synthetic fragrances
Cons
- May feel too light for very dry skin
- Bottle may run out quickly
Albion Exage Moist Advance Milk II Emulsion for Normal Skin
Albion Exage Moist Advance Milk II is a premium Japanese milky lotion ideally suited for consumers with normal skin and is designed to give the skin’s outer layer an additional moisture boost. This product has a smooth melty texture and is designed to be applied after cleansing the face.
Albion is a premium Japanese cosmetic brand usually only sold exclusively in high-end department stores and specialty shops in Japan. This product is perfect if you are looking to add a bit of luxury to your daily skincare routine.
Pros
- Adds a deep moisture layer to keep skin plump, soft
- Adds a deep moisture layer to keep skin plump, soft
- Ideal for normal skin needing extra hydration
Cons
- May feel too rich for oily skin
- Requires 3 pumps per use, so bottle may run out faster
Chifure Milky Lotion Moisture Emulsion
Chifure milky lotion is packed with moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and trehalose, to create a soft and dewy complexion. It has a non-greasy texture that leaves skin feeling deeply hydrated and nourished. Free from fragrance, alcohol, and artificial colorants this product can be used on sensitive skin without irritation.
Chifure is a Japanese skincare brand that specializes in making high-quality products at affordable prices, with all products made using carefully selected ingredients at their factory in Japan.
Pros
- Deeply hydrates and helps maintain skin’s plumpness
- Absorbs smoothly with a soft, velvety finish
- Gentle, unscented, alcohol-free formula for sensitive skin
Cons
- May feel too rich for oily or combination skin
- No fragrance, which some users may find plain
Kosé Sekkisei Medicated Milky Lotion
Kosé Sekkisei Medicated Milky Lotion is enriched with a blend of botanical ingredients including coix seed, inula flower, and moutan bark, to provide maximum long-lasting hydration and luminous skin. This product works deep into the skin without leaving any sticky feeling behind.
Beyond its exceptional hydration effects, this medicated milky lotion also works to suppresses melanin production, assisting to prevent freckles, dark spots, and dry, rough skin often caused by UV rays. The result is a brighter and more even-toned complexion.
Pros
- Deeply hydrates with botanical extracts
- Absorbs smoothly without a sticky finish
- Long-lasting moisture thanks to balance polymers
Cons
- May feel too rich for oily skin types
- Fragrance may be noticeable for sensitive users
Matsuyama Hadauru Moisturizing Emulsion Milky Lotion
Matsuyama moisturizing milky lotion is formulated with soybean-derived ingredients which support the skin’s outer layer that serves as a barrier between the body and the environment. Other ingredients include squalane and five types of ceramides to create supple, moisturized skin.
This lotion has a thick, creamy texture and blends smoothly into the skin, and controls oil and water balance while leaving a soft and smooth complexion. It can also be used on sensitive skin as it is free from irritants such as alcohol, parabens, fragrance, color, and mineral oils.
Pros
- Hydrates and helps prevent moisture loss
- Balances oil and water for smoother skin
- Gentle, clean formula suitable for sensitive skin Select 93 more words to run Humanizer.
Cons
- May feel too lightweight for very dry skin
- No fragrance, which some users may find plain
Rohto Hada Labo Shirojyun Medicated Whitening Milky Lotion
This popular whitening milky lotion from Rohto Hada Labo helps to prevent mottled and freckled skin by suppressing the production of melanin. It contains skin nourishing ingredients such as Japanese and Chinese Natural Medicine Coix Lacryma-jobi (job’s tears) to soften and smoothen skin, as well as Vitamin E and Vitamin C.
This new improved formulation of Rohto Hada Labo’s Shirojyun Medicated Whitening Milky Lotion also contains 1.5 times more hyaluronic acid than previous versions to effectively moisturize skin.
Pros
- Hydrates deeply with increased hyaluronic acid
- Arbutin and vitamin ingredients help suppress melanin
- Gentle, mild-acidic formula free from fragrance and alcohol
Cons
- May feel light for very dry skin
- Brightening results take time with consistent use
SK-II Skin Power Airy Milky Lotion
This lightweight airy moisturizer from SK-II is packed full of skin-nourishing ingredients and is absorbed quickly into skin for a healthy and supple complexion. The Skin Power milky lotion is ideally suited for oily skin and warm climates and utilizes the latest developments in skincare technology to create a plumped up and glowing complexion.
This product’s unique formula contains an exclusive cocktail of skin hydrating ingredients such as calla lily extract, dokudami extract, and peony extract along with pitera, a powerful moisturizing ingredient derived from yeast fermentation.
Pros
- Firms and plumps skin with Stem Acanax and Pitera
- Reduces visible pores, fine lines, and dullness
- Lightweight gel-cream absorbs without oily residue
Cons
- Premium price point
- May feel rich for oily or acne-prone skin
Rohto Hada Labo Gokujyun Anti-Aging Milky Lotion
This milky lotion delivers deep, nourishing hydration while also offering firming and smoothing benefits for the face and neck. Part of the renowned Hada Labo Gokujyun series, it works to keep your skin hydrated and resilient, giving it a lifted appearance from within.
This versatile product can be used as a standalone moisturizer or in combination with other Hada Labo Gokujyun Aging Care products for enhanced results. With a combination of niacinamide and three hyaluronic acids, it effectively locks in moisture, improves wrinkles and spots, and promotes a smoother texture. The thick yet smooth texture ensures easy application, reaching deep into the cell layer to support resilient and moisturized skin.
Additionally, its mild acidic formulation reduces the likelihood of irritations and is fragrance-free, colorant-free, mineral oil-free, alcohol-free, and paraben-free.
Pros
- Hydrates deeply with niacinamide and hyaluronic acids
- Smooth, thick texture boosts firmness and resilience
- Gentle, fragrance-free formula for sensitive skin
Cons
- May feel heavy on oily skin
- Works best with consistent daily use
FANCL Enrich+ Emulsion Anti Wrinkle Milky Lotion I Light
FANCL Enrich Emulsion delivers lightweight yet effective aging care, wrapping the skin in a hydrating veil that keeps it plump, smooth, and less prone to wrinkles. Ideal for oily skin, it blends squalene, Adaptive Collagen Alpha, and evening primrose extract for firming hydration.
The preservative-free formula stays fresh in FANCL’s patented airtight container, ensuring purity and potency until the last drop.
Pros
- Plumps and hydrates skin
- Lightweight formula ideal for oily skin
- Fresh, preservative-free formula
Cons
- May not be rich enough for dry skin
- Small size may run out quickly
Want to discover more transformative Japanese skincare products? Check out this article on 10 of The Best Japanese Lotions to Make Your Skin Look Radiant and the 10 Best Japanese Skincare Serums and Their Benefits.
