18 Best Tried and True Japanese Anti-Aging Face Washes in 2022 (Shiseido, Kanebo, and More)
Have you started to feel like the facial cleansing products that you’ve always used in the past aren’t working for you anymore? Or are you looking for a product that suits your skin type better? There are many choices for aging skincare on the market today, and Japan has some great products. We collected 18 popular aging-care face washes, the top-sellers on sites like @cosme, Amazon, and Rakuten, and tested them to determine which are really the best!
mybest consulted with an expert in cosmetic ingredients. Then we actually bought and used all of the products to test for the following three points:
1. Cleansing power
2. Moisturizing ability
3. Ingredients
Quick List - Top Japanese Anti-aging Face Washes
Shiseido
mybest Overall Score Winner! Excelled at Cleansing, and Great Value for Money
Max Factor
The Best Anti-aging Face Wash for Those Worried about Sebum
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
Why Do I Need Anti-aging Face Wash?
Your skin is constantly renewing itself, but as you age, the process doesn’t happen as quickly as it used to. If you don’t remove the outer layers of old keratin, all your moisturizers and serums won’t penetrate. But if you use the right aging-care cleanser, you can remove this layer to keep your skin clear and bright.
How to Choose an Aging-Care Facial Cleanser- Buying Guide
These two points will help you find the right cleanser.
① Choose the Right Product for Your Skin Type
Most women’s skin tends to produce less sebum as they age, but if your skin is shiny or oily, look for cleansers with powerful soaps towards the top of the ingredients list.
If it contains potassium or sodium hydroxide, along with fatty acids and oils, it’s likely to be good for those with high sebum production. Washes containing clay are also recommended, because this helps remove dead, dull skin.
If your skin tends to dry out, look for milder cleansers containing amino acid detergents. Sodium cocoyl glutamate and sodium lauryol methyl are two examples, which are often made from coconut and vegetable oils.
② Look for a Good Balance of Moisturizers
A facial cleanser will wash away dirt and makeup, but it will also take away sebum and your skin’s moisture. Since most women have drier skin as they get older anyway, this can put you on the road to wrinkles!
You may think, “It’s just getting rinsed off anyway. Why do I need moisturizers in my face wash?” But these ingredients act as a buffer that protects your skin from drying during washing, so they’re very important. Again, it’s a good idea to look for products which contain lipids and amino acids.
18 Best Japanese Anti-aging Face Washes
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shiseido Prior Esthetic Face Cleansing Gel | | mybest Overall Score Winner! Excelled at Cleansing, and Great Value for Money | |
2 | Max Factor SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser | | The Best Anti-aging Face Wash for Those Worried about Sebum | |
3 | Kanebo Dew Cream Soap | | The Most Unique Ingredients for Moisture Retention | |
4 | Shiseido Senka Perfect Whip Collagen In | | The Most Affordable Face Wash with High-quality Ingredients | |
5 | Covermark Mineral Wash | | A Dense Foam That Has Good Cleansing and Moisturizing | |
6 | Orbis U Wash | | Best at Removing Dead Skin, Leaving it Ready for Lotion | |
7 | Pola B. A Wash | | Good quality, but Overpriced | |
8 | Confiance Dr. Linn Sakurai Treatment Foam | | Good Wash for Those Who Want an Amino Acid Cleanser | |
9 | Fancl Aging Care Washing Cream | | Great at Moisturizing but with a Weak Foam |
ShiseidoPrior Esthetic Face Cleansing Gel
mybest Overall Score Winner! Excelled at Cleansing, and Great Value for Money
This facial cleanser was our top choice overall because it did the best job at washing, even removing makeup from pores and fine lines.
Because it's a gel, there's no need to whip it, and the container is large.You will need to use a moisturizer afterwards, but we still think it stands out above the other products we tested.
Max FactorSK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser
The Best Anti-aging Face Wash for Those Worried about Sebum
Our second choice also did a great job of cleaning, so much so that it may remove too much sebum for some. However, the moisturizing was good.
It doesn't foam very well, so you'd be better off using a whisk or washing net. It comes in a refreshing rose scent.
The Most Unique Ingredients for Moisture Retention
Kanebo spent years of research on this product line and it shows. The moisture retention was great.
We recommend using this, along with lotion and cream from the same series, if you're looking for moisturizing. Since we found the cleansing to be good as well, it earned our number 3 spot.
The Most Affordable Face Wash with High-quality Ingredients
This wash is 60% beauty serum, containing collagen and hyaluronic acid. With good scores, a low price, and a floral scent, it's a great choice. If you want good quality that won't bust your budget, we recommend this one!
A Dense Foam That Has Good Cleansing and Moisturizing
Containing fine clay particles, the foam is springy and feels wonderful. It also does a good job at washing and moisturizing while ridding your skin of dirt and oil. If you want a good and cleansing foam, we recommend Covermark!
Best at Removing Dead Skin, Leaving it Ready for Lotion
This is a fine foam that is meant to strip away dull skin. It can be drying, but it actually helps improve lotion penetration. We recommend this for those who like to apply lotion after washing.
Good quality, but Overpriced
We found the washing and moisturizing good, but the sticky foam required a net to apply. It's a great product, but there are better bargains available.
ConfianceDr. Linn Sakurai Treatment Foam
Good Wash for Those Who Want an Amino Acid Cleanser
Although the moisturizing properties were not great, this did a good job of cleansing for an amino acid wash. If you want a gentle cleanser, this is a good choice.
Great at Moisturizing but with a Weak Foam
We found the cleansing power of this face wash to be so-so, and its amino acid properties are probably what cause it to have a flimsy foam. If moisture is your priority, we'd still suggest giving it a try.
How We Tested the Face Washes
We put each of the face washes through a series of three tests.
Test ① Cleansing Power
To test cleansing power, we applied the face wash to artificial sebum on glass and checked how much was removed.
To determine moisturizing ability we used a corneometer to measure skin moisture before and after washing.
Test ③ Ingredients:
Finally, our expert, Ms. Mizuha, analyzed the balance of the ingredients within.
Need More Skincare? We've Got More Recommendations for You
Here's even more suggestions for skincare to keep your face looking fresh and lively.
Top 5 Japanese Anti-aging Face Washes
No. 1: Shiseido｜Prior Esthetic Face Cleansing Gel
No. 2: Max Factor｜SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser
No. 3: Kanebo｜Dew Cream Soap
No. 4: Shiseido｜Senka Perfect Whip Collagen In
No. 5: Covermark｜Mineral Wash
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Most ViewedFeatured Rankings Similar to Face washes
Search by category
Health
Body care products, Health accessories, Health foods and supplementsBeauty
Blushes, Bronzers, CleansersHome goods
Bath supplies, Ceremonial occasion supplies, Cleaning suppliesHome electronics
Air conditioners and coolers, AV accessories, Blenders and food processorsPC
Computer supplies, Desktop computers, TabletsCamera
Camera bags and backpacks, Camera supplies, Digital single lens camerasFood and drinks
Jams and Jellies, Alcohol, BreadsKitchen
Coffee and tea products, Cooking utensils, CupsFashion
Footwear products, Men's shoes, SandalsAccessories
Wristwatches, Accessories and jewelry, Umbrellas and parasolsKids and baby
Baby carriers, Baby food, Baby formulaInterior
Beds, Beds and bedding, ChairsHobbies
Aromatherapy products, Art supplies, Arts and collectiblesOutdoor
Barbecue grills and fire pits, Camping beds and cots, Camping gearHome, garden, and tools
Agricultural materials and gardening supplies, Exterior and garden furniture, Materials and repairing agentsSports and fitness
Sports shoes, Surfing supplies, Badminton suppliesPets
Bird and small animal supplies, Cat Supplies, Dog SuppliesMedia
Books and magazines, CD, Children's books, picture books and illustrated encyclopediasGames
Gaming accessories, Nintendo Switch games, PC gamesApps
Business apps, Cooking apps, Dating appsAutomotive
Car accessories, Car navigation systemsGifts
Christmas gifts, Father's Day gifts, Gifts for childrenMobile devices
Mobile phone and smartphone accessories, Wearable devices and smart watches