Cheek colour, and in particular cream blush and tints, are really having a moment. These versatile beauty products are easy to use and you don’t have to spend a fortune to try out this trend, the Japanese drugstore has some amazing cheek and lip creams that won’t break the bank. But before we details 5 of the best Japanese drugstore cheek and lip creams, we have a look at why this trend is so uniquely Japanese.
Strong, rosy cheek colour has long been a part of Japanese makeup look, perhaps beginning a long time ago with the traditional Maiko (apprentice geisha) in Kyoto wear exagerated flush pink cheeks. Over the past few years in Tokyo, Igari (or hangover makup) style makeup has really flourished becoming more and more mainstream.
Igari makeup is all about the blush, said to mimic the look of a sweet, innocent girl who has had too much too drink. To create igari makeup style you have to use a cream blush and place it high o the cheeks directly under the eyes. While this style is quite extreme for of us to wear each day, the popularity of the trend has lead to the availability of some amazing cheek and lip tint products at the Japanese drug store.
Canmake Cream Cheek ¥600
A cult favourite and the benchmark for all Japanese cheek tints.
Canmake Cream Cheek has been around for while now, and without a doubt it’s one of the Tokyo brand’s most loved products. The gel like texture has amazing pigmented colour, and sets to a more powdery (although not too powdery) finish. Loved by style icon and Creative Director of J.Crew, Jenna Lyons, who has her make up artists stock up on the vibrant cheek cream when in Japan- Canmake Cream Cheek has serious global cred. Don’t let the product name limit it’s use, this product is just as good on lips as it is on cheeks.
Available in 8 shades: Sweet Apricot, Coral Orange, Love Peach, Apple Cream Red, Clear Red Heart, Clear Happiness, Clear Peach Sugar and Clear Cute Strawberry.
Visee Lip and Cheek Tint ¥1,000
Super hydrating formula is perfect for dry skin and lips.
A must for every make-up bag, the Visee Lip and Cheek tint is one of my favourite Japanese beauty products. This hardworking product is a time and space saver making it perfect to take when you are travelling or in your handbag for touch ups throughout the day. The fantastic range of colours are the perfect way to add some polish and colour to the face in a minute flat.
Available in 8 shades: ranging from beige through to red and orange.
Integrate Melty Mode Cheek ¥1,296
Take your cheek tint to the next level with a highlighting gloss.
New release Integrate Melty Mode Cheek, has a really nice cream to powder texture, but what sets it apart from the rest, is that is contains two shades in the same compact. On the left side is the vibrant cheek colour that will add a healthy rosiness to the face, and on the right is a clever highlighting shade that add gloss and shine to the high points of the cheek making it highly versatile and modern.
Available in 4 shades: Pink, Light Red, Dark Red and Orange.
Maikohan Lip & Cheek Tint ¥972
Maikohan is a unique brand of Japanese cosmetics that takes it’s cue from Kyoto’s tradition of Maiko (apprentice Geisha). The makeup of a Maiko is characterised by white face, highlighted with noticeable pink blush around their cheeks (while a Geisha’s face will be perfectly white). Maikohan’s Neribeni tint has a smooth texture that is best applied with fingertips, so the blush simply melts into the skin to achieve the innocent flushed cheek look of the beautiful Maiko.
Available in 4 shades: Pink, Strawberry Candy, Apricot Candy and Plum Candy.
Kate CC Lip and Cheek Cream ¥850
Best for a sheer, natural colour on the lips and cheeks.
If you are looking for a natural, easy to apply cheek and lip tint that you can wear everyday, then you can’t go past Kate’s CC Lip and Cheek cream. The sheer finish makes this cheek colour makes it perfect for those who like a more natural look, and the hydrating formula ensures the colour doesn’t look powdery and obvious on the cheeks, and makes for a lovely sheer gloss when worn on the lips.
Available 2 shades: Red Glow and Classy Pink.
Where to buy these products in Tokyo?
All of these products can be found easily at the Japanese drugstore or at beauty stores like Ainz & Tulpe, Tokyu Hands and Loft.
i would like to buy Tatcha skincare products . Appreciate you could let me know which beauty store i could get this in Japan ( tokyo/Osaka or kyoto). Thank you
Thank you for reading and for your comment. Unfortunately Tatcha is not actually sold in Japan. I believe sold from the USA and now available in other countries like Australia etc but not Japan. Sorry.