Although Korean beauty products are getting a ton of global love these days (Sheet masks! Snail slime! Toners galore!), we’d be remiss not to shine a light on another East Asian country’s beauty scene: Japan.

Japan is the land of magical moisturizers, fan-favorite cleansers, and a few products that truly have no equivalent in the states. (Here’s to looking at you, Bioré UV Aqua Rich SPF 50+/PA++++.) All have an emphasis on gently treating skin with care and detail, which is the essence of J-beauty. We combed through the country’s beauty blockbusters and compiled an impressive roster of the most sworn-by classic brands — including Shiseido, Canmake, DHC, and even SK-II — plus some notable newness from a 100-year-old company.

Take a tour of these niche novelties, and you might just discover a formula that you didn’t even know existed. Time to pack those (beauty) bags and get glowing. No cross-continent plane ticket required.

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