10 Best Tried and True Japanese Face Washes for Acne in 2023 (Beauty Expert-Reviewed)

Rosette's Facial Cleansing Paste Acne Clear claims to unclog pores, remove sebum and old skin cells all while preserving your skin's moisture.

With soap-based ingredients and clay blended into the formula, this cleanser managed to remove 80% of the sebum in our cleansing power test. This is an ideal face wash for those who are worried about dry skin and prefer to retain some of the skin's natural oils. The Houttuynia cordata extract in the formula also helps in preventing rough skin. In our moisture retention test, the moisture content in the skin dropped by a mere 8.3%, sufficiently retaining its moisture.

The paste foamed up well and we were able to work it into a fluffy foam easily. The product came in a good-sized container that was easy to open and close with one hand, which was convenient to use. The light herbal scent remained ever so faintly on our skin after rinsing off.

This is definitely the first face wash we would recommend to adults with acne-prone skin.

Fujifilm's Lunamer Fiber Foam cleanser contains fiber scrub particles and clay that the manufacturer claims to help remove dirt and sebum from your pores.

Although this is a soap-based cleanser, this product does not make use of any bactericidal agents that may affect sensitive skin, which means we can use it throughout the year. This face wash removed 70% of the sebum in our cleansing test, which is sufficient cleansing power for skin that is prone to dryness. Thanks to its high amount of glycerin, the skin lost its moisture content by only 7.7%.

We found that the lathered foam turned out thick and bouncy and left a refreshing finish on the skin. The lid might feel a little hard to open, but without any particular strong smell, this product will be easy to use for all.

We would recommend this facial wash to those who are looking to prevent acne through their daily routine.

Tokiwa's NOV AV Active Washing Foam claims to prevent acne with a mild exfoliant that helps removes dead skin cells and sebum.

This product is marketed as a face wash for acne in adults, but it contains active ingredients such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid. These have bactericidal and keratin exfoliation properties, so it might irritate mature skin where the skin's barrier is not as strong, making it more effective in preventing acne in adolescents. 

With mild amino acid-based cleansing ingredients, this cleanser was able to remove 80% of the sebum. Unfortunately, the skin's moisture content had dropped by 21% in our moisture retention test, so it's best to follow up with a moisturizer afterward.

According to our staff, this face wash created a light and soft foam that was easy to use. However, we had some comments that mentioned that the need to twist the cap to open and close was a bit inconvenient.

Kao's Curél Sebum Trouble Care Foam Face Wash is perfect for dry and sensitive skin and is formulated to hydrate and remove sticky sebum.

Featuring amino acid-based cleansing ingredients, this face wash removed 80% of the sebum during our cleansing test, which led to a full score. With water-soluble moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin and sugars, the moisture retention was reasonable with the skin's moisture content dropping by about 16%. Still, we found that this foam was very gentle on the skin.

Although the foam was not particularly dense, it's soft and fine. Our testers commented that they felt thoroughly cleansed and moisturized after washing off. The large container size felt stable in our hands and the ease of use led to a high evaluation. As this cleanser is unscented, we would recommend this to anyone.

Orbis's Clear Wash is a face wash that claims to help prevent recurring acne.

With strong soap-based cleansing ingredients, this face wash was able to remove 70% of sebum, which means it's not too powerful and can be used on dry skin. With ingredients that help prevent rough skin, we can expect this product to deliver what it has promised.

On the other hand, there weren't many moisturizing ingredients in this formula, resulting in the skin's moisture content dropping by 17%. We would recommend this for oily skin as this contains menthol which leaves a refreshing feel after use.

According to our testers, this cleanser foamed up really well and the dense and thick foam led to multiple positive comments. The container came with a lid that was easy to open and close, which was a plus point.

Tokiwa's Nameraka Honpo Medicated Foam Face Wash claims to help prevent rough skin and acne breakouts.

The best thing about this face wash is how gentle it was on the skin. With a milder type of amino acid-based cleansing ingredients, this face wash gently removed about half of the sebum during our cleansing test. 

This had an excellent moisture retention rate as the skin's moisture content only dropped by a mere 7%. As the only active ingredient was dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, we believe that this product will be gentle and usable on all skin types.

The pump type container was extremely easy to use, and although the foam was not as thick and dense as we'd hoped, it was very easy to rinse off, which we found helpful on busy days. This face wash also has almost no scent, so you'll be able to freely use any other skincare items without worrying about fragrances clashing.

Ishizawa Lab's Acne Barrier Medicated Protect Wash claims to prevent acne while retaining a sufficient amount of moisture.

The formula contains ingredients that help prevent rough skin, such as tea tree oil. With a mild amino acid-based soap, this face wash was decent in its cleansing ability. However, we actually felt that the moisture retention could have been better. Moreover, we think that the high concentration of essential oils used in this face wash might irritate sensitive skin.

With a fine and fluffy foam, this gave us a refreshed feel after use. The lid was easy to open and the tea tree oil helped give it an amazing scent.

Kosé's Dr. Phil Cosmetics Acneo Medicated Washing Cream states that it's able to help prevent acne while leaving you with smooth and soft skin.

This face wash uses salicylic acid, which is a soap-based bactericidal ingredient with particularly strong cleansing power, hence we would not recommend this face wash for those with sensitive skin. 

However, this cleanser removed about 60% of the sebum during our test, meaning the product is decently cleansing. This product also gave us varied results during our moisture retention test, leading to an adequate score.

In terms of feel, we were able to create a satisfyingly thick and dense foam when lathering, but we found that the container lid was a little stiff and hard to open. Although this cleanser is fragrance-free, the natural smell of the ingredients may be a slight concern to those who are particularly sensitive to scents.

Nature Lab's Acnes Labo Washing Foam claims to cleanse your skin while retaining a necessary amount of sebum.

The best part of this cleanser is how gentle on the skin the ingredients seem to be. With an amino acid based-soap, this product was able to remove 60% of the sebum during our test, which delivers exactly what the product promised to. 

There were also many moisturizing ingredients formulated into this face wash but we actually found that the skin's moisture content dropped heavily after use. Since this contains isopropylmethylphenol, an active ingredient with bactericidal effects, we would recommend using this only when you have breakouts.

The foam was said to be light, flat and it dissolved quickly, leading to a few negative comments from our testers. The container comes with a cap that you would need to remove completely, and the product itself has a slight alcohol scent to it.

FANCL's Acne Care Washing Cream claims to cleanse and smooth your skin by improving your skin's natural barrier.

We found that the ingredients are likely to be effective in preventing rough skin as well as caring for those with combination skin. 

While the ingredients were promising, we found the soap-based cleansing ingredients worked too well during our cleansing test which led to a lower score, stripping too much sebum. We also were disappointed that our testers lost moisture by 15%, even though it was formulated with the moisturizing ingredient glycerin.

On the other hand, this face wash foamed into a dense, whipped cream-like texture which earned it many positive comments. The size of the container was convenient and it was easy to open and close the lid. This product left us with a refreshingly clean feeling after use, but it's best to follow with a moisturizer.