The Most Popular Makeup and Skincare in Japan: 2025 Edition landed on the desks of Osaka’s foreign community on December 12, 2025, as the year draws to a close. Major beauty chains across the country have compiled their own countdowns of the season’s standout items, and the roundup highlights everything from cult‑favorite foundations to breakthrough serum formulas that are already generating buzz on social media. For expatriates living in Osaka, the list offers a shortcut to the products that are shaping Japanese beauty trends this winter.
Why the timing matters now is simple: holiday gift‑giving, year‑end sales, and limited‑edition releases converge in the last weeks of December, creating a narrow window for savvy shoppers. Without a clear guide, newcomers can waste precious time wandering aisles that are predominantly stocked with Japanese‑only packaging, missing out on tax‑free discounts that expire on January 5. Knowing the top picks ahead of the rush means you can secure coveted items before they disappear from shelves or online stock runs out.
The roundup names ten products that dominate the market, each backed by sales figures released by the retailers. Shiseido’s “Future Solution LX” foundation topped the list with 1.2 million units sold nationwide, while Hada Labo’s “Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion” recorded a 35 % increase in purchases compared with 2024. @cosme’s “Kiss Me Heroine Make Long‑Lasting Lip Tint” claimed the highest user rating at 4.9 stars, and the newly launched “Sekkisei Brightening Essence” from Kose broke into the top five within two weeks of launch, moving 800,000 bottles. Prices range from ¥1,200 for basic cleansers to ¥12,800 for premium serums, and most items are available at major Osaka outlets such as Shinsaibashi‑Suji Shopping Street, Namba Parks, and the flagship Matsumoto Kiyoshi in Tennoji.
The surge in interest reflects broader shifts in Japan’s beauty industry, which is responding to an aging population that demands anti‑aging solutions, while younger consumers chase the “glass skin” aesthetic popularized on TikTok. Sustainability has also become a decisive factor; many of the highlighted products now feature recyclable packaging and cruelty‑free certifications, aligning with global consumer expectations. Retailers have embraced data‑driven inventory systems after the pandemic exposed the fragility of traditional stock‑piling, allowing them to forecast demand for limited‑edition releases with unprecedented accuracy, which explains the rapid sell‑through rates seen this year.
If you want to add these hot items to your wardrobe before the year ends, follow these three steps: 1) Visit the English sections of the Shiseido, Kose, and Hada Labo websites to confirm stock levels at Osaka branches; 2) Download the “Rakuten Ichiba” app, set the language to English, and enable push notifications for flash sales at Shinsaibashi and Namba locations; 3) Bring your passport to any participating store to claim the 10 % tax‑free rebate, and ask the staff to print a bilingual receipt that you can present at the airport. For hard‑to‑find shades, consider using the “LINE Shopping” chatbot, which can forward product codes directly to the store’s inventory system, guaranteeing the item is set aside for you.
With the 2025 beauty list in hand, Osaka’s expatriate community can step into the new year glowing and confident, armed with the same products that Japanese influencers swear by. Whether you’re perfecting a runway‑ready complexion or simply looking for a reliable moisturizer, the season’s top picks promise results that match the city’s own blend of tradition and modernity—because the best beauty secret is knowing exactly where to find it.