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  4. 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Face Washes for Sensitive Skin in 2023 (Kanebo Cosmetics, Muji, and More)
  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Face Washes for Sensitive Skin in 2023 (Kanebo Cosmetics, Muji, and More) 1
  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Face Washes for Sensitive Skin in 2023 (Kanebo Cosmetics, Muji, and More) 2
  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Face Washes for Sensitive Skin in 2023 (Kanebo Cosmetics, Muji, and More) 3
  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Face Washes for Sensitive Skin in 2023 (Kanebo Cosmetics, Muji, and More) 4
  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Face Washes for Sensitive Skin in 2023 (Kanebo Cosmetics, Muji, and More) 5

10 Best Tried and True Japanese Face Washes for Sensitive Skin in 2023 (Kanebo Cosmetics, Muji, and More)

People with sensitive skin can agree on one thing: finding products suitable for your skin is time-consuming and at times painful. That's why our editors searched Japanese e-commerce sites (such as @cosme, Amazon, and Rakuten) for the best face washes for sensitive skin. We then chose the 19 most popular products and tested them.

We focused on three things: its cleansing power, its post-wash hydration level, and its ingredients. We then compiled everything we learned into a buying guide about and list of the best Japanese face washes for sensitive skin available online.

Last updated 06/15/2023
Mizuha
Expert
Sensitive Skin Beauty Researcher
Mizuha

She's a scholar at an academic institution that researches the creation of new medicines. Besides that, she utilizes her previous work experience as a beauty product researcher and developer to review and analyze products for people with sensitive skin. She holds multiple certifications as a high-grade cosmetics ingredients specialist and concierge. Mizuha has also been using social media to further her reach by providing cosmetic ingredient ratings and surveys.

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mybest US Editors
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mybest US Editors

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.

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The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.

Table of Contents

How to Choose a Face Wash for Sensitive Skin - Buying Guide

Here are two big things to look out for.

① ① Choose a Face Wash That Lists Amino Acids as its Main Cleansers

① Choose a Face Wash That Lists Amino Acids as its Main Cleansers

Amino acids provide mild and gentle cleansing that's perfect for sensitive skin. It's not strong enough that it will strip away your skin's natural oils and will ideally keep them feeling moisturized.


Though the image above shows the mild cleansing ingredients listed in Japanese, here are some ingredient names in English to look for:


  • Sodium cocoyl glutamate
  • Sodium lauroyl methylaminopropionate
  • Sodium cocoamphoacetate
  • Cocamidopropyl betaine

② ② Check Ingredients to Make Sure They're Okay for Your Skin

Knowing what exactly your skin is sensitive to can make all the difference since all sensitive face washes are not created equally. Here are some specific things to look out for.

Sensitive to Alcohol? Then You Should Avoid Alcohol

Sensitive to Alcohol? Then You Should Avoid Alcohol

If you know your skin is sensitive to irritating ingredients like alcohol, look for these ingredients in the ingredients list (which is also sometimes listed as ethanol) to effectively avoid them.

"Additive-free" Doesn't Always Equal "Safe"

"Additive-free" Doesn't Always Equal "Safe"

The mere fact that a product is advertised as "additive-free" doesn't mean it will be gentle on your skin.


The term "additive-free" can be applied to any product that doesn't contain at least one of 130 common allergens based on data from 1980. Many makers use this as a way to make their product more appealing, even though it may only be free of just one common allergen.


That's why you should always check the label to see what exactly it's "free" of.

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10 Best Japanese Face Washes for Sensitive Skin

We picked out 19 of the most popular products and tested them for the following: how cleansing it was, how much moisture our skin retained after, and how much good stuff was inside. Then, based on how they performed on our tests, we graded and ranked the top 19 Japanese face washes for sensitive skin available online. ※Japanese prices for the some of the products are given; they’ve merely been converted into USD for easy viewing.
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Key features
1

Kracie

Muo Foaming Face Wash

Kracie Muo Foaming Face Wash 1枚目

The Very Best Japanese Face Wash for Sensitive Skin

2

Haba

Squa Facial Foam

Haba Squa Facial Foam 1枚目

The Face Wash with the Best Ingredients and Cleansing Power

3

Etvos

Ceramid Skin Care Clear Soap Bar

Etvos Ceramid Skin Care Clear Soap Bar 1枚目

The Most Balanced Face Soap

4

Rank Up

Manara Moist Wash Gel

Rank Up Manara Moist Wash Gel 1枚目

A Face Wash That Feels Like a Face Cream

5

Muji

Mild Facial Washing Foam

Muji Mild Facial Washing Foam 1枚目

The Best Citrus-scented Face Wash

6

Daiichi-Sankyo

Minon Facial Wash

Daiichi-Sankyo Minon Facial Wash 1枚目

The Face Wash with the Strongest Fragrance

7

Cow Brand

Additive-free Foaming Face Wash

Cow Brand Additive-free Foaming Face Wash 1枚目

The Face Wash with the Best Collection of Ingredients

8

I.D.E.A International

pupo Face Wash

I.D.E.A International pupo Face Wash 1枚目

The Most Compact Pump-type Face Wash

9

Kanebo Cosmetics

freeplus Mild Moisture Soap

Kanebo Cosmetics freeplus Mild Moisture Soap 1枚目

The Most Moisturizing Face Wash

10

Rosette

Additive-free Soap Face Wash

Rosette Additive-free Soap Face Wash 1枚目

The Best Bang for Your Buck

Product details
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No.1

KracieMuo Foaming Face Wash

Muo Foaming Face Wash Image 1
Source:ebay.com
Muo Foaming Face Wash Image 2
Muo Foaming Face Wash Image 3
Reference price
$3.67

The Very Best Japanese Face Wash for Sensitive Skin

We were so impressed by this face wash's cleansing and moisturizing powers that we just had to give it first place. It doesn't have a rich foam, but it does adhere to your skin and cleanse deeply.


You normally can't see how much product is left with pump-type products, but since this bottle is translucent, you can definitely see it. We'd recommend this to anyone with super sensitive skin.

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No.2

HabaSqua Facial Foam

The Face Wash with the Best Ingredients and Cleansing Power

You may not be able to expect much in the way of moisture retention with this face wash, but its combination of ingredients and cleansing power should exceed your expectations.


You'll need a net to create a nice lather, but it's one that will penetrate your pores after the effort. If you want excellent cleansing power, you should add this to your shopping cart.

No.3

EtvosCeramid Skin Care Clear Soap Bar

The Most Balanced Face Soap

This Etvos soap bar nailed 4.0 scores in all categories because it had an excellent array of ingredients, washed away almost all dirt and impurities from our skin, and it left our skin feeling moisturized well after rinsing.


We recommend using a net to build a thick and creamy foam. You can also use this soap on other parts of your body that are particularly parched.

No.4

Rank UpManara Moist Wash Gel

A Face Wash That Feels Like a Face Cream

We were surprised when we rinsed off this ultra-cleansing gel and felt like we'd just applied face cream. This feeling didn't last as long as we would have liked, but we were still impressed.


This product has a mixed scent of citrus and, for lack of a better term, rubber - if smell doesn't bother you that much and you're looking for a good cleansing gel, this should be great for you.

No.5

MujiMild Facial Washing Foam

The Best Citrus-scented Face Wash

Muji Face Soap did a pretty decent job of cleansing our skin of oils and impurities, but it didn't help our skin retain as much moisture after the fact. 


However, it did create some pretty good bubbles without having to use much product. If you want a good face wash that smells like oranges, try out this Muji product.

No.6

Daiichi-SankyoMinon Facial Wash

The Face Wash with the Strongest Fragrance

Some people like a little extra oomph in terms of fragrance in their daily wash, and Minon Facial Wash will definitely give that to you. 


We also liked that it used a lot of effective amino acid-based cleansers, but they stripped our skin of valuable oils. Just follow it up with some of your trusty skin care products.

No.7

Cow BrandAdditive-free Foaming Face Wash

The Face Wash with the Best Collection of Ingredients

This foaming face wash had the best ingredients for those with sensitive skin, hands down. However, it was hard to get a lot out of the pump at one time and it left our skin thirsty for post-wash moisturizing.


If ingredients are your top priority and you have a good array of follow-up skin care, we would still recommend you try this.

No.8

I.D.E.A Internationalpupo Face WashBaby Citrus

The Most Compact Pump-type Face Wash

pupo Face Wash sells itself by advertising that even babies can use this gentle face wash. It's definitely good at cleansing, but follow-up skincare is imperative.


The bottle size is a bit smaller than most pump-type products, so if you're looking for something compact, consider this as an option.

No.9

Kanebo Cosmeticsfreeplus Mild Moisture Soap

The Most Moisturizing Face Wash

You may be wondering why the overall score for this product was 3.0 when it has above-average scores in two categories; that's because even though it left our skin the most moisturized, it didn't feel that way. Our skin felt a bit tight after.


If moisture is your top priority and you don't mind that post-wash feeling, we'd highly recommend this. 

No.10

RosetteAdditive-free Soap Face Wash

The Best Bang for Your Buck

We've got a great product for those of you on a budget: this Rosette face wash. It gave our skin a bit of a tightening finish, but it helped our skin retain moisture and it cleansed our skin decently.

Here Are Some More Products for Your Sensitive Skin

Top 5 Japanese Face Washes For Sensitive Skin

No. 1: Kracie | Muo Foaming Face Wash

No. 2: Haba | Squa Facial Foam

No. 3: Etvos | Ceramid Skin Care Clear Soap Bar

No. 4: Rank Up | Manara Moist Wash Gel

No. 5: Muji | Mild Facial Washing Foam

View Full Ranking

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The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.

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