Published on March 27, 2025
Sephora, Macy’s, Shiko Beauty
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Much like Korean grooming products, Japan’s self-care exports lead the charge in innovation, as well as affordability.
But Japan also offers world-class luxury, from hospitality to dining to beauty and skin care. Within grooming, that range covers skincare and fragrance to hi-tech devices. After spending weeks in the country sampling everything from razor blades to bath salts, I’ve assembled a list of the best Japanese luxury grooming brands for men, complete with recommendations on the products you should try.
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Shiseido
Image Credit: Sephora In Japan, most skincare roads run through Shiseido. While we all recognize Shiseido as a brand, it’s also the parent company of numerous Japanese labels (and home to many international brands, too, like Dr. Dennis Gross, Drunk Elephant, NARS, Narciso Rodriguez, and Serge Lutens).
And much like Korea’s AmorePacfic parent company, Shiseido pumps the best ingredients into its eponymous label. Look no further than its Ultimune Power Infusing Serum, chock full of skin-firming peptides, plus antioxidant-rich extracts like reishi mushroom and heartleaf. It even boosts moisture retention with roselle extract—so basically, it does everything shy of a facelift. And I’d be remiss not to recommend Shiseido’s ubiquitous SPF50 stick, which goes on clear and is sweat- and water-resistant for 80 minutes (the perfect active-wear sunscreen).
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Feather
Image Credit: Fendrihan Perhaps you never realized that razor- and blade maker Feather was Japanese, which should come as no surprise since so many global shave brands source their steel from the country. Also, have you seen some of the artistry behind top-tier Feather razors, like this straight razor?
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Ya-Man
Image Credit: Ya-Man Ya-Man has a product release schedule as enthusiastic as its name suggests. One day it’s rolling out a heated electric shaver, and the next it’ll drop skin-lifting face wands, scalp-massaging blow dryers, and spa-grade face masks. This is also one of my favorite stores to visit in Tokyo, if you find yourself walking through Ginza and feel like testing out a ton of hi-tech grooming toys.
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Amayori
Image Credit: Amayori Amayori is part bodycare brand, part U.S.-based retailer (which sells some truly top-tier, authentic Japanese bathing products). It’s the easiest way to turn your bathroom into a DIY luxury onsen, replete with bath salts, body oils, the hinoki embellishments and Yukata robes.
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SK-II
Image Credit: Sephora As someone who receives and tests every product out there, I can tell you that my stuff from SK-II products is what friends ask to borrow the most. The brand’s assortment centers around Pitera, a yeast better known as galactomyces ferment filtrate. Pitera accelerates cellular turnover and is surely working, given its legion of global followers. The Advanced Cream is an overnight miracle worker on tired or dull skin.
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Shu Uemura
Image Credit: Amazon While Shu Uemura offers outstanding products for skin, I think of them first when it comes to Japanese hair care—particularly hair masks for all different types. Of particular appeal to men is this hair-thickening mask that harnesses Japanese rice water to firm and smooth strands, while also increasing how shiny your strands look.
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Nemohamo
Image Credit: Shiko Beauty I first discovered the eco-friendly, plant-powered company Nemohamo through Japanese skincare retailer Shiko (a great resource if you’re looking for brands that can be a little inaccessible). On my recent trip to Japan, I saw Nemohamo at every luxury turn; I hope their omnipresence trickles west soon. I love love love their booster oil, but I suggest pairing it with their ginseng lotion in this duo pack for a one-two punch of anti-aging.
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Shikohin
Image Credit: Shikohin I could quit my product-testing job if it meant just using Shikohin daily. That would likely mean daily baths and massages, too: The assortment is mushroom-powered and offers bath essentials, massage creams, facial serums and lotions, and more. My favorite is the often-sold-out muscle-cooling CBD roller, but I’d be remiss not to recommend the cushioning 5-Mushroom Moisturizer to you, too.
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Dr. Medion
Image Credit: Shiko Beauty Centered on “carboxytherapy,” Dr. Medion’s products harness CO2 to boost circulation in the skin and thus rejuvenate. Their products aren’t advised for super-sensitive skin, since baking soda is in the formula. But so are a bevy of powerful ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid, collagen-boosting royal jelly, antioxidant-rich gromwell extract, and a supremely toning extract called coix lacryma-jobi ma-yuen seed… say that five times fast, eh?
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Issey Miyake
Image Credit: Macy’s The late, great Issey Miyake built one of the world’s most beloved clothing and fragrance brands. For many labels, it would be hard to follow up something like L’Eau d’Issey—both the men’s and women’s editions of the masterpiece. And yet each flanker of the classic is deserving of fanfare, like 2024’s L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme Solar Lavender. The final fragrance Miyake worked on (before his passing last year) wa an instant favorite of mine, too: Le Sel d’Issey.
Authors
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Adam Hurly
Credit: robbreport.com
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