With so many skincare brands out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to put on your face, even for a seasoned beauty editor like me! But it is still one of my favorite categories, so I try to narrow it down by focusing on things that I gravitate toward, like ancestral ingredients and a meaningful ethos that centers nature and sustainability. This is why I was instantly drawn to DamDam, a Japanese skincare brand that launched at Sephora in 2021.
According to co-founders Giselle Go and Philippe Terrien, DamDam is made up of four pillars: simple beauty rituals, high-efficacy formulas, time-honored ingredients, and planet-friendly practices—all the things I look for in a beauty brand. One of these beauty rituals honors osoji, the traditional deep cleaning of a home that is done at the end of the year. "In Japan, the practice of cleansing is the foundation of everything,” explains Go and Terrien. When you apply it to your skincare routine using DamDam’s products, it’s through a double-cleanse regimen, followed by a detoxifying mask at least once a week. When it comes to formula, the brand uses ingredients that have been used in Japanese skincare and wellness rituals for centuries. "One of our hero ingredients is shiso, a Japanese mint historically used in kampo medicine. It is a plant rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids,” says Go and Terrien. "Another hero ingredient we use is konnyaku, a Japanese tuber used in detoxification and cleansing since 710 AD.”
With this in mind, I decided to try out DamDam’s entire line to see if it was right for my over-40, acne-prone combination skin. Keep scrolling for my honest opinion.
This was one of my favorite products off the bat. It contains shiso, the Japanese mint, which gives it its "plumping power,” according to Go and Terrien. It also has phytic acid, which evens out skin tone. While I do prefer a gel moisturizer for my skin, I like something slightly thicker when the weather starts getting cooler, as I am getting a little more prone to dryness in my elder-millennial age. This is perfect consistency, as it’s not as thick as other rich creams. I can see this being a great transitional-weather moisturizer for me.
I’ll be honest. I’m not too big on oils in skincare. However, I do like using a cleansing oil as part of a double-cleanse routine, specifically on my eyes and lips because my lipstick and liquid eyeliner absolutely refuse to budge with a regular face wash. My usual go-to for removal is micellar water, but lately, even that hasn’t been cutting it. This cleansing oil is made from skin-firming rice-bran oil, and sunflower-seed oil, which is rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid. It sounds promising already, and the results were even better. It helped remove my eye makeup without stinging my eyes and erased my lipstick while moisturizing my lips.
After removing my makeup with the cleansing oil, I took Go’s advice and followed up with this purifying cleanser. Now, this is a cream cleanser, and like many of them, this one doesn’t lather up. So keep that in mind if you’re like me and prefer a nice, frothy cleanser. However, it’s not a dealbreaker, and the benefits of this cleanser outweighed my pickiness. It contains the aforementioned konnyaku, which gives it a grainy yet gentle exfoliating texture, as well as rice-derived AHA phytic acid. One thing I noticed was how soft and plump my skin felt after I used this cleanser, to the point where it felt like I already applied moisturizer! This must be due to the konnyaku, which has impressive water-retaining properties.
I’ve become a big essence fan and really appreciate this one because you can just spritz it on. (I love easy application.) Like the moisturizer and mask, it contains phytic acid to exfoliate and improve tone and the appearance of pores. It also has grapefruit-peel oil, which has antioxidants, and rose damascena, which helps with aging signs. I liked the scent of it and thought it felt great when applied to my skin post-mask.
Like I mentioned, oils are not really my thing. However, this one contains nutrient-rich jojoba oil and avocado oil, which is anti-inflammatory. it didn't feel heavy on my skin and absorbed quickly. Plus, it smells amazing. But I probably wouldn’t use it alone just because I’m not a big oil gal! I ended up mixing a couple of drops with the Mochi Mochi Luminous Moisturizer and really liked it that way.
Because I’m over 40 and have combination skin that is prone to breakouts, I asked what DamDam product would specifically be beneficial for my skin. Go and Terrien suggest I use this mask once a week to deep clean and clear the pores. Because I’m experiencing some weird constant breakouts on my jawline, I’m trying to be more regular with a mud mask, so this one came at a good time. I like how it dries quickly, so I can leave it on for about five minutes instead of 20 like other ones.
The only thing I wasn’t really into at first is that it contains coconut oil, which is something I don’t like to use on its own on my skin, but seems fine in a clay mask. I did love how my skin felt and looked after using it—really clean and bright. The next day, two of my most stubborn jaw zits were dried up and on their way out and off my face. Thank goddess. Overall, I enjoy DamDam’s line, but this product might be my favorite! I’m excited to see what else the brand comes out with in the future.
Other Japanese Beauty Products to Try
Shiseido’s Waso line is all about sustainability and uses upcycled water that’s left during apple juice production as well as upcycled rice husk, recycled plastic, and sugarcane-derived polyethylene in its packaging. Everything in this naturally sourced, ingredient-forward line is worth trying, especially this tinted moisturizer that’s great for oily and combination skin like mine.
Tatcha will forever be one of my favorite brands, as its Water Cream and Rice Polish are my go-tos for life. I was excited to learn that the brand recently launched bodycare, including this lotion. It has a Forest Awakening essential oil blend of hiba, cedar, and hinoki woods, which is meant to help increase well-being.
I know I keep talking about this legendary essence, but I can’t stop! It’s seriously improved my texture and tone over the past few months. The magic lies in Pitera, a fermented yeast extract that was found in sake and is rich in peptides, proteins, amino acids, and many other vitamins and minerals.
This classic exfoliator is something everyone should have in their bathroom cabinet. After cleansing and drying your face like normal, you apply a couple of pumps of this exfoliator, then massage it in until it turns a milky-white color. Your dead skin cells will be gently lifted away.
MyKirei makes great (and fun!) hand soaps, but don’t sleep on its body wash. This one is made with rice water and yuzu extract, both of which will plump and nourish the skin while cleansing it of the day’s impurities. It’s a must-have for your shower routine.
With a formula made up of coconut amino acids and fermented rice extract, this gentle foaming cleanser removes dirt and makeup while keeping skin hydrated and soft.
The long-standing J-beauty brand is famous for its cleansing oils, but this is its most popular one. It’s made with eight botanical oils that cleanse the skin while leaving it feeling smooth, moisturized, and glowy.
If you’re a fan of micellar water, try using this popular makeup remover from Koh Gen Do. It’s made with hot-spring water that’s chock-full of minerals and essential herbs that nourish and protect the skin while cleansing.
Oil-cleanser lovers must have this best-selling product from DHC in their stash. It removes all makeup, no matter how budge-proof it is in a pinch while also protecting the skin from pollution through its antioxidant ingredients.
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