Here in Tokyo where lifestyles are overly dynamic and busy, time is really of the essence. A big trend in the Japanese beauty world right now are these so-called multifunction makeup cleansers/removers. These products are supposed to be the only thing you need at night! They claim to not only remove makeup AND leave your face squeaky clean after use (also serves as a facial wash), but also contain skincare properties enough for you to skip your whole night time regime, cutting your normal 30-minute (more or less) routine to down to five. Intrigued? :)
Below are four of these multifunction makeup remover/cleansers that have just hit local drugstores: 1. Zubolabo Nighttime Cleansing Milk Lotion and Sheets
This remover-cleanser-beauty lotion-in-one promises to provide you with your complete night time skin care routine in just 5 minutes- so short that you can even do it on your bed! Its array of moisturizing and softening ingredients such as collagen, AHA and jojoba skin oil leaves skin in good condition during and after cleansing make-up and cleaning pores. Aside from base and cream makeup, this also claims to remove waterproof mascara and eyeliner. Lastly, it is infused with herbs like lavender and bergamot giving you the perfect aroma to relax with before going to bed. This product comes in two forms - liquid and sheets. If you value cost performance, then the bottle is your best bet; whereas if you travel a lot and/or prioritize convenience, then the sheet type will be perfect for you. 2. Give and Take Oil Cream
True to its name - this perfect combination of natural oils and cream (93% cream and 7% oil) claims to GIVE your skin the essential care it needs while TAKE(ing) away makeup and dirt from pores. Because of this, skin will feel clean, hydrated and soft after every use. It is also supposed to remove waterproof mascara and eyeliner, in addition to base and cream makeup. This 2-in-1 product will cut your cleansing-skincare regime short as well. This comes in three variants with each one containing a special oil targeting different skin needs. 1. AG (orange): Argan oil to improve skin’s elasticity 2. GS (pink): Grape seed oil to infuse skin with moisture 3. RH (purple): Rose hip oil to help with brightening the skin. 3. Amino Moisture Cleansing Gel
Not satisfied with the 93% essential cream composition of the previous cleanser, well, the next product I am going to talk about boasts of being a cleansing gel with 99.6% beauty ingredients! Ideal for sensitive and acne-prone skin, this cleanser does not foam up (because of its gel consistency), but effectively removes mild makeup without irritating the skin. Gel cleansers are actually very popular in Japan because they absolutely do not contain any foaming agent which can make skin feel taut and dry. As such, skin will only produce the oil it needs to keep moist. For these reasons, Japanese women believe that gel cleansers are better giving them soft skin after washing.
This product also contains eight kinds of amino acids that are supposed to help with the skin’s regenerative qualities. Unlike the other three I mentioned in this post, this does require the user to rinse off the product with water after use. 4. Kracie Creer Spa Cleansing Water and Oil in Cleansing Water
Created based on the science of water cleansing as well as the benefits of the Izumo hot spring water from Japan's native Shimane prefecture, this 4-in-1 (make-up remover, facial cleanser, skin care, lotion) will give you the privilege of your whole regime in 3 easy steps! Grab a cotton, pour in some product, wipe and you’re good to go! It’s so easy and convenient that you can do it anywhere! This cleanser’s combination of precisely engineered spa water and carefully selected mineral oil is just the perfect amount to lock in skin moisture without the greasy feel. This comes in two variants - water type to remove light makeup and oil-in type, which is made to combat waterproof and other hard-to-remove makeup.
Skeptic? I feel you. Personally, based on first impression (and the fact that I might have unconsciously developed an emotional attachment to my skincare routine :D), I think this may only be sufficient on rare occasions when you feel too exhausted that you literally cannot do anything else after reaching home, like, say, coming from a party, or overtime work. I feel that you would still need to complement this with your regular skin care (especially if sensitive skin) products… so maybe devising a schedule would be a good idea. One wherein you have days on which you will only use these multidunction cleansers and other days when you’ll do an intensive skincare regime, maybe? … Or perhaps, it’s also the OC in me speaking? Because pimples tend to pop out when I sleep with makeup on, I really cannot imagine not washing (with my regular cleanser and water) my face after removing my makeup to really really reaaaaallly make sure that nothing gets left behind. Nevertheless, these products look promising (plus some of them have really invested in attractive packaging). These will indeed be revolutionary if they really do what they claim, so I won’t say anything final until I have given some of them a try. How about you? Interested to give these a shot? :)
** All products mentioned in this post are available in Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Ainz & Tulpe, Tokyu Hands and Loft.
