Japanese skincare has a wide range of skincare products targeting different skin issues. Whitening care is one of the top concerns in Japan, damage caused by extreme UV rays can produce dark spots and pigmentations that are difficult to remove.

With beauty rituals and whitening skin care products, it seems that Japanese women have found the secret to keeping their skin looking forever youthful, radiant, and free of hyperpigmentation. Whitening creams are designed to prevent blemishes and freckles caused by UV rays. It helps suppress the production of melanin; hence, it has an ability to significantly reduce pigmentations on your skin. While it may not completely remove your blemishes, it definitely helps even-out your skin tone and make it appear brighter. Here, we have compiled a list of the Best Japanese Whitening Creams in the market.

 

 

How to Choose the Right Whitening Cream

Choosing a skin whitening cream is a big decision to make as you need to ensure the safety of your skin first. It is important that you understand your skin type in order to choose the skincare product accordingly. 

Know your skin type

Knowing your skin type is the most important part when it comes to picking the best whitening cream. Your skin can be dry, oily, normal, or a combination of these. There are a range of whitening products available in the market, some of them may not work on a certain skin type or may even have some negative effects. For instance, someone with sensitive skin can experience unwanted side effects from the chemicals that are present in whitening products. Therefore, it is important to understand your skin type.

Read the ingredients

Whitening products can contain intense ingredients or chemicals that may not be suitable for your skin. Therefore, it is best if some research is done before purchasing a skin whitening cream or serum. Common whitening ingredients such as tranexamic acid can cause slight irritations after the first use. Hence, knowing the ingredients can give you a better guide on how your skin will react to the whitening products.

What texture do you prefer?

Just like any other facial cream, whitening cream comes in many different textures and formulas. If you have oily skin, you may prefer a lightweight cream that has a quick absorbing effect. If you have dry skin, you may prefer a thicker cream that will nourish your skin with moisture as it slowly absorbs into your skin. Choose wisely according to your preference.

 

 

How to Apply Whitening Cream Effectively

Firstly, you need to ensure that your skin is clean before applying any sort of cream on your skin. It is important to identify if your whitening cream is for the AM or PM. The cream should be applied according to the instructions. Most whitening creams contain active ingredients such as Vitamin C, which means you must apply sunscreen on top during the day time, to ensure that your skin does not get direct exposure from the UV-rays. 

 

 

 

1. Fujifilm Astalift White Cream

 

 

This Astalift White Cream is extremely lightweight containing various elements that bring out a radiant and glowing skin. It has added Fujifilm’s proprietary complex Nano AMA+ and evening primrose seed extract. These ingredients help brighten the skin as well as even out your complexion. It envelops your skin in a veil of hydration for a clear and radiant complexion. Also contains apricot extract to promote skin cells turnover and remove melanin, as well as boosting moisture within your skin. Overall, the cream will increase your skin cell reproduction rate, and boost your skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid.

• Complex Nano AMA+
• Helps brightening the skin
• Boosts your moisture production
• Contains apricot extract

 

 

 

2. Lits White Stem Cream

 

 

Lits White Stem Cream blends smoothly and wraps your skin with its high moisturising power. It is a medicated cream that suppresses the production of melanin while providing moisture to your skin. It is the perfect blend of ingredients that will help lighten the complexion of your skin as well as help to eliminate redness and reduce hyperpigmentation. This cream is great for those who have concerns about skin discolorations.

• High moisturising power
• Suppresses the production of melanin
• Lighten and brighten your complexion

 

 

 

3. Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream

 

 

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream is a refreshing, light and smooth gel moisturiser that corrects your hyperpigmentation and targets dark spots. It incorporates ReNeura Technology+™ which helps support skin's natural resistance to the appearance of dullness, dark spots, and uneven tone as well as provides all day moisture to improve the appearance of dryness and fine lines. This is a refreshing, light and smooth gel moisturiser cream that corrects and preemptively targets the causes of dark spots and discoloration. You can expect to see improvement in your skin tone after several uses.

• Light and smooth gel
• Corrects hyperpigmentation
• Targets dark spots
• Improve dryness and fine lines

 

 

 

4. Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Medicated Whitening Cream

 

 

Hada Labo Shirojun Premium Medicinal Whitening Cream penetrates deep into UV-damaged skin and helps restore impaired skin cells. Damaged skin caused by UV rays can result in inflammation as well as spots and freckles. This cream ensures that your damaged skin cells are being restored, and it also helps reduce the production of melanin.

More than just the surface, this cream replenishes moisture deep within skin and brightens skin tone, making it appear healthier and radiant. It is formulated with a focus on moisture retention and whiteness, Shirojun is a whitening series that includes a special hyaluronic acid (moisturising ingredient). Which penetrates deep into your skin and delivers moisture.

• Repair UV-damaged skin
• Reduce the production of melanin
• Replenishes moisture
• Makes the skin appear healthier and radiant

 

 

 

5. Muji Medicated Whitening Moisturising Cream

 

 

Muji, also carries a great range of skincare products, they mainly focus on providing a solution for those with sensitive skin. The Muji Medicated Whitening Moisturising Cream is a pH-balanced facial cream that focuses on creating a healthy skin barrier that protects you from further damage. It has grapefruit seed extracts that act as a hydrator while reducing the production of melanin.

It is formulated with vitamin C derivatives to suppress melanin, stains, and freckles with tranexamic acid to prevent skin rashes. It aims to eliminate dark spots that may cause you to feel less confident. This product is formulated free of fragrances, colorants, mineral oils, parabens, and alcohol.

• For sensitive skin
• Creating a healthy skin barrier
• Contains grapefruit seed extracts
• Reduce the production of melanin
• Contains vitamin C

 

 

 

6. Shiseido Aqua Label Special Gel Cream White

 

 

Shiseido Aqua Label Special Cream is a multi-purpose gel cream that works effectively after your face wash. It is an all-in-one facial cream that acts as a watery lotion, beauty serum, moisturising lotion, face cream and mask. It has a “triple effect” formula that softens the skin from within, providing a soft and glowing radiant. The cream locks in moisture and replenishes nutrients to keep your skin supple and moisturised. It provides clear and bouncy skin while delivering moisture.

The AQUA LABEL series is designed to fulfill your skin and repair damaged cells. Formulated with active whitening ingredients to suppress melanin production and prevent stains and freckles. It also contains a rare ingredient consisting of 4 "D-amino acids' found in Shiseido's unique formula. It protects the original moisture barrier function of the skin.

• An all-in-one cream
• Has triple effect
• Provides bouncy and healthy skin
• Suppresses the production of melanin

 

 

 

7. Kao Curel Whitening Care Moisture Facial Cream

 

 

This cream is perfect for those with dry and sensitive skin who seek for whitening care. A reputable Japanese skincare brand, Kao Curel came up with an effective formula for those that want to prevent dullness due to aging. It has moisturising ingredients such as ceramide, eucalyptus extract, which penetrate deep into the stratum corneum.

Keeps the skin moisturised and radiant, making it less susceptible to external stimuli. Prevents rough skin and promotes healthy and supple skin. Contains plant-derived whitening ingredients that suppress melanin production and prevents stains and freckles.

• For sensitive skin
• Effective formula to prevent dullness
• Contains moisturising agents
• Contains plant-derived whitening ingredients
• Prevents freckles and stains

 

 

 

8. Kanebo Dew Brightening Cream

 

 

Kanebo Dew Brightening Cream is great to achieve moisturised and transparent skin. It has brightening power that moisturises the skin to prevent it from looking dull due to dryness. It suppresses the production of melanin and prevents spots and freckles. In addition to moisturising ingredients, it contains uniquely developed ingredients and active whitening ingredients. It also has a light scent of gentle floral based on lily essence, accented with refreshing top notes of orange and lemon.

• Brightening power
• Suppresses the production of melanin
• Prevents your skin from looking dull
• Contains whitening ingredients
• Light scent of floral

 

 

 

9. Transino Whitening Repair Cream EX

 

 

Transino Whitening Repair Cream EX contains an active whitening ingredient called "Tranexamic Acid", which blocks stain information" that encourages melanin production. It reduces melanin production and prevents stains and freckles. In addition to the active whitening ingredient, it is formulated with glycyrrhizinate to prevent skin rashes.

The gel-like texture hugs the skin with a transparent wrap effect that closely locks ingredients into the skin. Not only does it care for skin brightening, but also skin texture such as moisturising, dullness and pores. This Japanese whitening face cream improves the overall skin tone and prevents dull skin, aging spots, freckles, and blemishes.

• Contains active whitening ingredient
• Prevents freckles and stains
• Gel texture
• Improves overall skin tone

 

 

 

10. Kose Medicated Sekkisei Whitening Cream

 

 

This Japanese whitening cream from Kose contains five moisturising oriental herbal extracts—coix seed, angelica and melothria, as well as Korean ginseng and cordyceps sinensis. The ingredients work together to strengthen your skin cells and improve your overall skin condition. This product not only prevents melanin from fading and stains caused by sunburns, but also prevents dryness and skin irritation.

It is a capsule-type base that allows the ingredients to infiltrate and work deep within the epidermis. It is formulated with components that suppress the melanin production to prevent age spots and freckles from sun exposure, as well as dryness and other skin problems.

• Contains 5 moisturising extracts
• Strengthens your skin cells
• Suppresses the production of melanin
• Capsule-type base

 

 

 

12. Senka White Beauty Cream

 

 

Senka White Beauty Cream is formulated with skin care powder to help lighten the skin for a brighter appearance. A 4-in-1 cream that can be used as Lotion, Serum, Cream, and Toner. It helps to eliminate freckles, prevent, and reduce the manifestation of hyperpigmentation. The active ingredient called tranexamic acid, is combined to deliver the effect of skin whitening, by getting rid of freckles and pigment spots.

In addition to tranexamic acid, it contains rice germ oil (stimulates the cell renewal process), honey (promotes nutrition, recovery, skin rejuvenation), hyaluronic acid (moisturising, maintaining water balance) and hydrolysed silk (for moisturising, makes the structure of the skin smoother and silky). A powerful cream that will make your skin feel like new!

• 4-in-1 cream
• Eliminates freckles
• Reduces hyperpigmentation
• Contains tranexamic acid
• High moisturising power

 

 

 

12. Hada Labo Koi-Gokujyun Whitening Perfect Gel

 

 

Hada Labo Koi-Gokujyun Whitening Perfect Gel suppresses the formation of melanin to prevent dark spots and freckles. It has a mild-scent and delivers intense moisture deep in the skin. It has a thick texture which replenishes moisture in dry and damaged skin.

In addition, it contains various types of hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C derivative and Vitamin E to deliver hydrating effects and brightening care. The thick cream provides instant glow and dewy effect to heal your damaged skin. It can be used as lotion, serum, moisturising gel, and face cream, all in one. With constant use, the gel keeps the skin looking radiant and bright with a healthy glow.

• Suppresses the production of melanin
• Prevents dark spots and freckles
• Mild scent
• Delivers intense moisture
• Can be used as lotion, serum, moisturising gel and cream

 

 

 

13. Hadabisei Adult Acne Treatment Medicated Whitening Cream

 

 

This medicinal cream prevents formation of acne and uneven acne scars. It deeply moisturises and protects your skin by preventing blackheads, dark spots, scars, and sunburnt marks. In addition, it is formulated with active whitening ingredients, so it is also used as whitening skincare that prevents hyperpigmentation.

It leads to a smooth and healthy skin tone. It is an excellent medicated whitening cream that helps fade scars and prevents acne using active ingredients such as Vitamin C, lemon extract and collagen.

• Medicinal cream
• Prevents formation of acne
• Heals acne scars
• Includes whitening ingredients
• Leads to smooth and healthy skin

 

 

 

14. Aqua Label White Up Cream

 

 

 

Aqua Label White Up Cream is Shiseido’s Aqualabel series that focuses on skin whitening. It moisturises your skin and prevents freckles, which leads to a brighter and translucent skin. It contains tranexamic acid as an active ingredient for whitening your skin and preventing roughness.

The combination of these ingredients suppresses the production of melanin and effectively prevents freckles and blemishes. It also contains baby amino acids for moisturising your skin. Every time you use it, you will be impressed by the instant moisture and its whitening power.

• Shiseido’s Aqualabel series
• Focuses on skin whitening
• Prevents freckles and dark spots
• Contains tranexamic acid
• Deep moisture  

 

 

 

15. Placenta Whiter Whitening Essence Cream

 

 

Placenta Whiter Whitening Essence Cream is a lightweight cream that penetrates your skin, and reduces stains and wrinkles from sun damage. It is formulated with carefully selected 100% domestic placenta as an active whitening ingredient.

It reduces melanin production and prevents stains and freckles, giving your skin a sense of transparency. In addition, it contains a luxurious blend of moisturising ingredients such as collagen and amino acids. This is a proven formula that has been tested for effectiveness to reduce wrinkles and damaged skin. It can be used for intensive care before sleeping or as a day cream.

• Lightweight cream
• Prevents stains and wrinkles
• Formulated with domestic placenta
• Reduces the production of melanin
• Contains collagen and amino acids