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When it comes to J-beauty products you can find a wide variety of Japanese skincare serums, each with its unique benefits. This article will explore the various types of Japanese skincare serums and their benefits to help you find the best one for your skin type and needs. With this information, you can make an informed decision about which serum is right for you!
Find the product that best suits your needs down below.
How we decided
- Japanese InnovationSerums harness cutting-edge tech like nano-ingredients or placenta extracts from Japan.
- Targeted BenefitsEach tackles specific concerns—wrinkles, dullness, firmness, or dark spots effectively.
- Premium IngredientsFormulas blend potent actives such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, or astaxanthin.
- Proven ExcellenceProducts earn top rankings, awards, or bestseller status in Japan’s beauty scene.
Affordable Anti-Aging Serum With Collagen
Shiseido Elixir Superieur Design Time Serum
This anti-aging serum from the giant Japanese beauty brand Shiseido is packed with beauty-boosting ingredients including iris root, cornflower, watercress, glycerin, and collagen to make your skin firm, plump and glossy.
Applied at night time after cleansing and toning, the serum gets to work whilst you sleep to provide your skin with plenty of hydration benefits and it helps to increase firmness in areas that tend to lose skin elasticity due to aging, such as the eyes and cheeks.
It also has a pleasant floral fragrance and a non-sticky texture that is quickly absorbed into the skin. Our customers also rate this serum five stars as a very good product for mature skin.
Pros
- Firms cheeks and eyes overnight
- Smooth non-sticky quick absorb
- Aqua floral scent relaxes
Cons
- Night use only for best
- Contains fragrance
Great For Brightening Dull Skin And Improving Skin Tone
Fracora Concentrated Placenta Extract Beauty Serum
This product from the beauty brand Fracora is a concentrated placenta extract beauty serum that helps to brighten and revitalize dull skin. It does contain animal placenta so if you are a vegan this product is not for you. Placenta is rich in nutrients and is believed to have many skin benefits, including antioxidants to reduce inflammation and prevent signs of aging such as reduced elasticity and skin discoloration. Japanese Taste customers have also seen positive results from using this product such as smoother skin and more even skin tone.
Pros
- 100% pure placenta smooths lines
- Watery fast absorb no grease
- Fragrance-free alcohol-free
Cons
- Subtle results need time
All-Round Serum For Clearer, Healthier Skin
Takami Skin Peel Beauty Serum
The Takami Skin Peel is a beauty serum produced by the dermatologic clinic Takami of Tokyo. Takami was first established in 1999 as a medical aesthetics beauty clinic in Omotesando by Doctor H. Takami, before developing into a successful skincare brand which was acquired by L’Oréal in 2021.
This serum is a top-ranking product on Cosme, Japan’s biggest beauty site and community, and is applied to the skin after washing your face, but before toning. This product targets the skin’s metabolism, helping to improve its appearance by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, lifting pores, and reducing blackheads, and it has a moisturizing effect.
Despite its name, there is no actual peeling of the skin involved, instead, the serum works deep into the skin’s cell layers leading to clearer, and healthier skin overall.
Pros
- Renews surface reduces pores
- Balances for clear healthy glow
- Gentle no peeling irritation
Cons
- 3-min wait before next step
- Not highly moisturizing
For Firmer, More Resilient Skin
Astalift Essence Destiny Serum
Astalift Essence Destiny serum helps to make the skin’s collagen structure thicker and stronger to make skin firmer, lifted, and more youthful. Its formula includes the following beauty-boosting ingredients: Nano-Astaxanthin, Nano-Lycopene, and Nano-Resveratrol EX, which is a proprietary technology from Astalift.
Astaxanthin is great for the skin because it contains many antioxidants that fight against free radicals and skin damage from the environment. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and protects against hyperpigmentation.
Lycopene is a nutrient found in tomatoes and studies have found that it defends against skin aging and boosts levels of collagen, whilst Astalift’s Nano Resveratrol EX” has been developed to prevent the degradation of mesh collagen and keep the skin moisturized and elastic.
Pros
- Nano-tech lifts collagen firm
- Pore-deep resilience boost
- Smooth youthful texture fast
Cons
- Contains fragrance
- Not highly moisturizing
Concentrated Wrinkle Repair Serum
Kose Infinity Intensive Wrinkle Serum
Designed for use in the morning and at night, Kose Infinity Intensive Wrinkle Serum is a concentrated wrinkle repair serum that helps to firm up loose skin and is great value for money. Kose’s Infinity series of skincare products focus on tackling the growth stage of wrinkles in which each wrinkle becomes thicker and longer.
This rich Japanese wrinkle serum is formulated with wrinkle niacin, which works to tackle wrinkles forming in the skin's dermis and epidermis layers. This serum also contains ingredients such as red wine yeast extract to boost collagen production and AZ-Astaxanthin to increase skin elasticity & firmness.
Pros
- Niacin targets deep wrinkles
- Firms loose skin all areas
- Refill available
Cons
- Texture is more like a cream
- Contains fragrance
Premium Serum For Brighter, More Translucent Skin
Shiseido Haku Melanofocus Z Brightening Beauty Serum
This beauty serum from Shiseido is formulated with anti-melano agents that penetrate deep into the skin, controlling the excess of melanin production and targeting dark spots. The popular product has been the number one best-seller in sales for brightening beauty serums in Japan for 17 consecutive years!
It focuses on the root causes of pigmented spot formation and suppresses melanin production to help make skin appear clearer, rejuvenated, and more translucent.
The formula contains skin-brightening ingredients exclusive to Shiseido, as well as white lily, extract to enhance the effect of the whitening components whilst retaining moisture and keeping skin plumped.
Pros
- Fades dark spots melanin block
- Hydrates brightens no redness
- With anti-aging formulation
Cons
- No UV protection
- No moisturizing effect
Best For Brightening Complexion
Sekkisei Clear Wellness V Serum Moisturizer For Dull Skin
Sekkisei Clear Wellness V Serum Moisturizer For Dull Skin revitalizes dull, tired skin using the innate power of natural ingredients. This luxurious serum contains 87% naturally derived ingredients that work to change the skin's texture, providing intensive care suitable even for sensitive skin.
The formula is centered around Black Yeast Ferment and the ITOWA™ blend, which work together to deeply hydrate, firm, and support the skin's moisture barrier, defending it against daily stress. Additionally, Clarity Boost ingredients, including botanicals like ume plum and rice leaf extracts, enhance clarity and improve overall tone and texture. The serum is lightweight, fast-absorbing, and free from parabens and artificial colorants, leaving your skin soft and resilient
Pros
- 87% natural firms dull tone
- Lightweight absorbs barrier boost
- Paraben-free, artificial-free
Cons
- Not fragrance-free
- Not alcohol-free
Eye Serum For Firming And Hydrating Complexion
Shiseido Revital Eye Zone Booster Anti-Aging Eye Serum
Shiseido Revital Eye Zone Booster Anti-Aging Eye Serum is a powerful anti-aging treatment that deeply hydrates and firms the delicate, thin, and fragile skin around the eyes. Infused with HyaloPro Delivery Technology, this advanced formula penetrates deep into the stratum corneum with miniaturized hyaluronic acid, ensuring superior moisture retention.
The serum works to restore vibrancy, making the eyes appear brighter, fresher, and more lifted by reducing dryness and fine lines. It targets firmness, smoothness, and dullness caused by dehydration. The formula is lightweight, non-greasy, and is free from parabens, fragrance, oil, silicone, and artificial coloring.
Pros
- Deep HA firms eye dryness
- Lightweight non-greasy
- Paraben-free, fragrance-feel
Cons
- Need technique to dispense
- Not alcohol-free
A Luxurious Serum Designed For Daily Use
Clé de Peau Beauté Le Sérum Beauty Essence
This premium-priced beauty serum by luxury cosmetics brand Clé de Peau is one of their flagship products, featuring exclusive ‘Skin Illuminator’ ingredients that protect skin from dryness and other environmental damage to promote more youthful-looking skin. The serum also has a silky texture and an opulent aroma of rare orchids and natural roses.
Applied twice a day, the serum is absorbed easily onto the skin and with regular use will lead to your skin feeling plumper and more supple. The luxurious ingredients within this serum include a blend of seaweed-based extracts called Kelplex which helps to promote the production of epidermal cells, leading to a more radiant complexion. The blend of red, yellow, and green kelp is renowned for its light-absorbing properties which aid in activating your skin’s regenerative powers.
Pros
- Adds glow, smooths texture
- Silk texture instant absorb
- Orchid rose scent indulgent
Cons
- Contains fragrance
- Relatively high price point
Great Daily-Use Serum For Dry Skin
Matsuyama Hadauru Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Serum
If you are looking for an anti-wrinkle serum that is effective on dry skin, then this product by the Japanese skincare brand Matsuyama is perfect for you. Their Hadauru range of products uses natural ingredients derived from soybeans to moisturize and repair your skin’s natural barrier, in addition to five hyaluronic acids, ceramide, and other super-moisturizing ingredients to keep your skin plump and hydrated.
This serum also helps to fight against early signs of aging and fine lines and is great value for money, making it ideal for daily use. It is also free from skin irritants such as alcohol, parabens, fragrance, and mineral oil.
Pros
- 5 HA ceramide deep hydrate
- Good for daily skincare routine
- Alcohol-free, Paraben-free
Cons
- Not enough for very dry skin
