My Recommended Makeup & Skin Care Products for Dark Skin Women in Japan | What Makeup do I Use as a Black Woman in Japan

I have been asked to make a video in regards to what makeup I have been using seemingly ever since I came to Japan. I swear I get asked this question at least once a day (if not every few days) and sometimes even more. I have read all of your private messages and emails. I can assure you that I am not running out of video ideas. I had planned to make this video long before anyone had ever asked me to do so, but I never expected so many women to be interested in what I was wearing considering that I have mediocre makeup skills at best. You can read about the makeup that I use and recommend here or you can watch my video on YouTube to see what it looks like in store as well as hear me talk about it.

Watch The Video Here!

About Me

I am actually wearing Maybelline (purchased in Japan) in shade 330 Toffee for this picture. It is too dark for me but it matches great when I have a tan like in this photo.

I am an African-American (black) woman. I am mixed race but predominantly of African descent. Don't let my videos and pictures fool you! I have very dry skin ( I never get oily), but I breakout easily if any chemicals touch my face (such as if I have curly hair the oils form the products cause me to breakout) which has led my doctor to believe that I have oily skin although I personally disagree especially after seeing other women on YouTube show how nasty their face looks after a full day of wearing makeup. My skin is so dry that I actually add oils and lotions to make my face look shiny as you can see in some of my videos.

My skin is actually so dry that it tends to crack and peels around my eyebrows and nose on a daily basis if I don't apply a good moisturizer.

KATE Foundation 

KATE Foundation

Revlon Color Stay

KATE 

I have a caramel complexion. I normally wear Makeup Forever Ultra HD foundation in shade Y405-Y415 if that helps you determine how well the makeup I use will match you. I recently purchased MAC and Shu Uemura for this video and I honestly love both of them after about a month or so I plan to make a new video and post in which I will review the two products in more depth. Because you asked me what makeup do I wear and not what do I recommend for black women I will stick to talking about what I actually wear mostly BUT since I have been wearing these two new products recently I will add them to my list and hopefully they will become staples in the near future for me,

Please keep in mind that I am not a makeup artists nor am I a beauty guru. I am not good at doing makeup and I am not the best at finding the right shade either. I am a blogger and vlogger. I am not into the latest makeup trends. I prefer to wear natural looking makeup. My extent of unnatural is red lipgloss, darkening my eyebrows and black winged liner. I don't use translucent powders, eyeshadow, blush, eyebrow kits, setting sprays or contour kits on a regular basis (I do sometimes but it's rare).  This blog is just my own personal advice and opinions aren't facts. I am simply sharing what I personally use as well as giving you ladies some insight on the beauty industry here.

As always you may or may not agree with what I have to say and that's okay too! A lot of people get so wrapped up in their idea of what they want Japan to be like that they are no longer being

My Options Are Limited

Before I came to Japan I did a ton of research on everything from sex and dating, to housing and language. I did so much research on Japan that I made myself afraid to even come here in the first place. I overpacked and I wasted a lot of time and money brining unnecessary things. I was convinced that my shade wouldn't be available  because no one was talking about it seemly anywhere on the internet so I stocked up on my favorite Makeup Forever foundation, concealer and even mascara only to later discover that Japan does indeed sell makeup for women with dark skin (some black women (just not all of them).
As always when your options are limited in store you can always shop online from within Japan or you can simply have items shipped from overseas/imported and delivered to your front door. Since makeup lasts for at least 1-3 months or more it's just a small investment to buy it online if you really just can't find anything that matches you.

Cultural Differences

Japanese women prefer natural looking makeup ad thats pretty much all they tend to wear. Japanese employers and men also tend to only find the natural look acceptable. While you may not care about what men think feminism and western concepts haven't really taken off here. Women may admire your bravery to try and look like a magazine or runway model but they'd never dare to try your sharpie eyebrows, glow in the dark highlighter, giraffe lashes, spider acrylic nails, bronzed cheekbones and forehead, crazy statue contour, rainbow eyeshadow, or smokey eye.
Despite all of the "kawaii" makeup videos that you see on YouTube and in Japanese magazines I can assure you that Japanese women don't wear any of these ridiculous looks even although these are natural and toned down in comparison to what us Americans tend to wear  it's too much and over the top to most Japanese women.
You can of course find all o these products here but the overwhelming majority of women don'r wear them. I personally just wear winged eyeliner and a shiny lipgloss or lipstick and I still stand out like a sore thumb. this is partially because I am a black women with fillips and people think that it's sexy BUT it's also because it looks a bit clown like since pretty much no other girl is wearing such a look out in public.
As always feel free to do what you want to and in this sense choosing to wear full face glamour girl makeup isn't insulting to Japanese culture like dressing immodestly is so by all means go for it!

My Shade Varies

Japanese people are still Asian and Asians just like black people come in a variety of complexions. Most of the really white pale complexions that we see aren't natural at all but rather the result of skin that has been manipulated and altered from photo editing, skin bleaching and whitening. Most beauty products here from soaps to lotions have whitening agents. Women commonly take whitening peels and apply whitening creams and masks before bed and in the morning before applying their makeup. You might notice that the Japanese women here tend to be much lighter than their male counterparts on average. Asians such s this win India, Thailand, some parts of China, and the Philippines can have very dark complexions comparable to those of Africans (if not even darker) but as for most East Asians (Japanese people included) this is EXTREMELY rare and unlikely especially for a Japanese woman who i snot mixed (FYI there aren't a lot of half-black and half-Japanese people in Japan).
   I personally don't believe that the dark shades that are available in Japan are really marketed towards foreigners, but rather they're for Japanese women who have naturally tanned complexions, that are mixed race, or that have gotten a tan over the summer which is hard not to do considering how hot and humid Japan is during the summertime and how much walking and bicycling everyone does. Living in Japan you are constantly being exposed to harsh UV rays. I have personally tanned "harder" than I ever have in my entire life.  Beyond just getting very dark I experienced heat exhaustion and felt as though the sun was burning my back like an ant under a magnifying glass.
Because I spend a lot of time out in the sun I tan quite often here even although I'd rather avoid doing so. Because tanning is inevitable (that is unless you choose to walk around with an unnecessary bulky umbrella all day).

 Here's an old embarrassing picture of me when I was really fat and living at Sakura House. You probably don't even think that this is me do ya?! Look at how long my REAL hair used to be😢. I promise I never bleached myself but this is what I looked like in the Summer of 2017 thanks to working out outside and walking to and from school. At this shade nothing matches if you watch some of my old videos or look at some old photos you can see me looking ashy and gray because of that. 

This picture was taken during the winter but I still managed to get a tan thanks to being out in the sun. As you can see I am clearly much lighter than the above picture in this one but I am still dark.

My Honest Opinion

People rave about how great Japanese skincare and makeup products are, but as someone who isn't even a cosmetics snob I was extremely disappointed with just about everything that Japan had to offer in their beauty departments. Like most things in Japan I wanted to love it and be able to brag about how amazing all of their beauty products are because I love Japan as a country and I enjoy shopping here, but I have honestly never come across a single Japanese brand that had a foundation or concealer that was my perfect match. I have only found products that were great because they were cheap or convenient.I love the lipgloss and lotions here, but even simple items like makeup remover wipes are pretty crappy which is why I don't use them much. 
The final verdict for me is that as a woman with dark skin I will never be able to buy just any brand of makeup here. I will always have to purchase from a higher end store like Shiseido or MAC otherwise Maybelline & Revlon offer the best color match foundations and concealers for under $30.

The Color Range

No I am not just complaining about the lack of color representation for us dark skin women but I am amazed that there's generally only 3-5 shades of every foundation and concealer. Most store sonly care 3 shades of both whereas some big brands like KATE offer 5 different shades. There is no variation for different undertones and most foundations don't use any color match technology like Loreal and Maybelline do. It looks and often feels as though the makeup is too sheer, watery, and runny and doesn't provide enough coverage  or it simply doesn't match and causes you to look gray, ashy and washed out. This goes for Japanese women too! You will often be able to see where their makeup begins and ends. It looks as though a lot of these women are wearing a "natural" looking face mask. Japanese women definitely have more than 3 different tones and complexions and considering that most women are either forced to wear makeup to work or feel socially obligated to do so I would think that there would be more of a variety of foundations NOT on the darker side necessarily but on the lighter and medium side.
Even in the biggest of makeup stores there is only a small variety of colors and shades to choose from   which is very disappointing.  Higher end brands like MAC and Shu Uemera, as well as lower end brands such as Revlon and Maybelline offer a great range of colors (based on the complexions of Asian women) and thus I have zero complaints about these four companies but the others are just being cheap because since this is all Japanese women have ever known they will simply buy 1 of the 3 available shades of foundation and convince themselves that it matches and looks great because they have never had any other readily available choice. I imagine that this must be very profitable for the makeup brands since they only need to manufacture and stock 3 different shades and concealers. While we are on the topic of colors and shades I also find that pantyhose in Japan has the same limited shades/color options.   Anyway back on subject, brands that offers a large range of colors are only found at real department stores such as SOGO (my go to store) which is the only kind of place that you'll find the higher end brands .

The Pricing

Cosmetic in Japan are very expensive. Even drug store makeup is more comparable to what you'd pay at a more high end store like Sephora or MAC Cosmetics. The average price is around $12-$17 for drugstore mascara. foundation is about $15-$25, and lipstick is about $9-$16. These prices would be fine if this was Sephora or Ulta, but it's not. It is crazy considering that these are drugstore brands (some of which are Japanese so it's not like its all imported and that's why it costs more) and that the average salary in Japan is quite low.  To add insult to injury the quality is generally poor to just okay. It is definitely not comparable to the cheap $1-$12 stuff that i can buy at Walmart and Walgreen in America. They say that you get what you pay for but I couldn't disagree more when it comes to Japanese cosmetics.

The Quality & Pigmentation

Most makeup here isn't available in a waterproof format but waterproof makeup most certainly does exist and when they say waterproof they mean it! Heroine Make has the best waterproof formula that I have ever seen and it truly curls, thickens and lengthens short lashes to create the best "falsies" look ever. However most of the makeup that I have personally tried in Japan isn't worth it's price tag and despite paying 2-3x's the amount of U.S drugstore products the color pigmentation is either poor to good and isn't anything exceptional or extraordinary like I had expected from Japan.

The Quantity

I generally feel cheated anytime I buy makeup that isn't from KATE, Heroine Make, or DAISO  because not only is it overpriced but the containers are very small. You only get a free fluid ounces and it doesn't last very long especially since you are constantly exposed to the elements switching between being hot cold and wet thanks to crazy weather that Japan experiences and the ridiculous rules for controlling the AC in stores, on train and in the office.

The Bad News

Unfortunately the darkest shade of makeup that you can find in Japan is a dark caramel brown shade. Women who have very dark and deep brown skin complexions will not be able to find makeup in Japan if if they are shopping at an American or European.While it may seem unfair I honestly can't blame Japan. Most Japanese women ale to slightly tanned complexions. There aren't a lot of black women who live in or that visit Japan for there to be a market for such products. Most of the black women (people) in Japan are serving on a U.S military base they can simply purchase their cosmetics on a base or have them shipped online or from a close friend or family member back home.
Even in America I found some difficulty finding my shade as I didn't live in a black neighborhood so there weren't always dark shades available and when there were there'd only be 1-2 bottles of my shade if not it was already sold out.Makeup doesn't last forever! It expires and companies don't want to waste money stocking products that will more than likely just collect dust and inevitably go bad.
There will sadly probably never be an increase in the amount of shades but if there were to ever be a change then Tokyo or Osaka would most certainly be the only 2 locations that those shades would be sold at since that's were most black people tend to live study and work at whether they are in the military or not.

The Good News

There is so much more to good makeup than concealers, and foundations. Sure the main purpose of makeup is to achieve flawless skin but you can still use a great variety of lipsticks and glosses as well as mascaras, eyeliners, eyeshadows, blushes, primers, moisturizers, and makeup removers. Not to mention whitening creams are great for acne and scar removal treatments just be sure to only apply it to your scars and nothing else unless you nat to look gray and patchy.

My Personal Reccomeded Brands 

There is an endless list of Japanese makeup brands and products. Its would be nearly impossible for me to tryout all of them. I am sure that better products that were made in or for Japan do exist here even for a girl with brown skin, but these are the beauty products that I personally use on a daily to monthly basis and the purpose in this blog is to tell you ladies what I wear (isn't it?). 
There are of course better options and products here in Japan as makeup is extremely subjective. What works for (and looks great on) me might not work for you. Why? Because we all not only have different shades and complexions but we all have different skin types and flaws that we'd like to cover up. 
These are my own personal favorites that I wear and would recommend to other women of color that have dark complexions like me. 

Quick & Makeup Basic Advice

If your skin complexion is darker than a light brown caramel complexion then you will not be able to find a foundation or concealer here and you will either be extremely limited or unable to find a good primer as they tend to look cake and have a thick ashy white residue (even the ones that claim that they will match all skin tones).

If you want a more precise match, if you have very light or very dark skin (by Japanese standards), or if you simply have the money to splurge  then I'd had recommend purchasing MAC or Shu Uemura for your foundation, concealer, and setting powders and sprays.

Heroine Make & INTEGRATE make the best eyeliners and mascaras,

DAISO & Cando have the best and most affordable lip glosses, lip tints, and budget friendly concealers.

Japanese makeup remover wipes (that are affordable) are horrible. Stick to cleaning oils like Bifesta. I recommend using a cleansing oil with soap, water, a loofah, and an acne exfoliant as needed.

If you must use wipes then I'd suggest using Biore makeup remover wipes.

My Favorite Products

Japan is always coming out with new products and new trends are always being made so over time I will find new products that I like more than the ones listed in this blog but for now these are my go to items that I use on a daily to monthly basis.

KATE

Affordable long lasting, HD, lightweight foundation.

https://www.nomorerules.net/pickup/secret_skinmaker_zero/

Shu Uemura

HD Foundation that matches your complexion.

Revlon

Long lasting foundation that doesn't transfer.

https://www.revlon-japan.com/pickup/revlon_csmu_cspp/

Can Do 

Affordable concealers and contour sticks.

https://www.cando-web.co.jp/e/index.html

Kancore & Espoleur (DAISO)

The best budget friendly lipgloss, concealers, lip tints, and mascaras.

Maybelline 

Lightweight color match foundation & concealer.

https://www.maybelline.co.jp/face/foundation/fitme-liquid-foundation/6902395646891

INTEGRATE (Shiseido)

Precise liquid eyeliner that lasts all day.

http://www.shiseido.co.jp/ie/items/0076/

MAQUILLAGE

Light colored metallic two toned mix match lipsticks. 

https://maquillage.shiseido.co.jp/rougemini/

Heroine Make

All in 1 mascara that provides you with length, volume a dramatic curl and lasts all day.

https://www.isehan.co.jp/heroine/product/mascara/volumecurlmascarasuperwp/

MAC

HD liquid foundation for a more precise match.

https://www.maccosmetics.jp/studio-fix-fluid

MAQUILLAGE

 Neutral color matching primer.

Dew (Kanebo)

Lightweight moisturizer for your face.

https://www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/dew/products/dew/

Bifesta

Makeup remover and skin cleansing oil.

https://www.bifesta.jp/lineup/cleansing-oil.html

Thank you so much for reading!

Do you have any more tips and advice that you'd like to give to others about makeup in Japan or would you like to ask some more questions about your options here? If so please leave a comment down below or send me an email.

Stay Tuned!

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