Hello! 😊 We are now approaching the end of winter in Japan. That usually means a change in my skincare routine, but some cold days still remain until spring comes around. Since my routine will be staying put for a bit longer, I thought now would be a good time to share and document it before the weather warms up. I’ll update this post with links to full reviews of the products listed if I end up writing them.
Just a bit of context, I have oily to combination skin. My routine is focused on preventative anti-aging and managing large, clogged pores. I use retinol along with BHA and niacinamide to target those concerns. Most of the products in my routine are Asian beauty products sourced locally in Japan, although my actives are from Korean brands. For some of the products, I’ve included a “Replaced” note to indicate what I used before it. I also wrote a skincare journey reflection and check-in here if you’d like more background. Otherwise, here is my Winter–Spring 2026 routine.
🗺️ Routine Easy Navigation Map:
- Proactiv Medicinal Renewing Cleanser
- Rohto Melano CC Medicated Stain Whitening Lotion (Optional)
- dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop
- Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Cream
- Sunscreen: COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream
- Sunscreen: Nivea UV Deep Protect & Care Milk Mist
- V・drug Deep Cleanse Cleansing Oil
- Proactiv Medicinal Renewing Cleanser
- Actives: ANUA Retinol 0.3 Niacin Renewing Serum (Fri)
- Actives: SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum (Mon/Wed)
- Actives: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum (Tue/Sat)
- Actives: COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid (Thu/Sun)
- Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Cream
- Vaseline Lip Therapy Advanced Healing White Petrolatum Lip Protectant
- Bifesta Micellar Cleansing Water Bright Up (Optional)
AM Routine
1. Proactiv Medicinal Renewing Cleanser
Replaced: CARE:NEL Cicavita B5 Salicylic Acid Gentle Cleanser (emptied)
It’s so good I could cry. Wow. What a slow burn romance. I thought it was going to be meh at first due to its thin consistency, weak lather, and the tiny freaking beads dispersed throughout the formula. 😭 I thought I got scammed at first because what serious skincare brand in this era still puts physical exfoliators in a cleanser? Still, I was forced to use it consistently for a month when I temporarily moved to Yokohama and only brought a few essentials with me, and that’s when I noticed my skin clearing up. If I used this cleanser twice a day without fail, I would get almost no breakouts unless I was nearing my period. It sounds so simple, like duh it’s salicylic acid, of course my skin cleared up. But I tried other salicylic acid cleansers before and none of them really worked. TL;DR, this product is the MVP of my routine and is largely responsible for clearing my acne. There is more to say, but I’ll save it for a review.
2. Rohto Melano CC Medicated Stain Whitening Lotion (Optional)
I got this product because I thought I could be extra dedicated and prime my skin before my serums, but I didn’t end up doing that. This toner is actually quite good. It offers great value at 170ml per bottle and does a decent job at brightening my skin. I sometimes use it as a temporary alternative to my Vitamin C serum on days when my skin can’t tolerate a full-on active. That said, my serums do the heavy lifting in targeting major skin concerns, so using this is an extra step that doesn’t add significant permanent benefits. It helps me apply the Klairs Vitamin C serum faster due to the slip that it provides, but I honestly don’t reach for it on most days.
3. dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop
Replaced: COSRX The Vitamin C 23 Serum
It’s alright. I don’t dislike it, but I’m not a raving fan either. I like that I get 35ml of product so it lasts a long time, and it’s also gentle on my skin, which can’t tolerate higher concentration Vitamin C serums. It has an oily texture that absorbs without feeling greasy. It’s easy enough to spread around your face, but using a toner beforehand would help with application. I’m honestly just waiting for it to run out so I can switch back to my Melano CC Serum. There aren’t many negatives to this product, but there’s more to love about the other serum, so I’m probably not repurchasing anytime soon.
4. Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Cream
This moisturizer has definitely established itself as a workhorse and earned its place in my winter routine. I started using it in 2023 when I noticed that the moisturizer I was using at the time was not protective enough for the dry winter cold. It has a thin cream consistency that moisturizes my oily skin sufficiently without leaving any stickiness. I don’t think it will be enough moisturization for those with dry skin, though. It’s my most repurchased product as I go through a jar in 3–4 weeks. It’s also probably the most drama-free product I’ve ever had in that it just gets the job done. When my skin gets irritated from trying a new product, I default to just cleanser plus this cream and call it a day.
Sunscreen
I actually dug through my stash to pull out some sunscreens to use this winter. I have a summer staple sunscreen but no well-loved winter sunscreens yet. Since I knew I wouldn’t be going out much this season, I figured I’d use the opportunity to finish some sunscreens I’d previously set aside. I’ve been alternating between the COSRX Aloe Sun Cream and the Nivea Deep Protect Mist.
5. COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream
I put it away last summer as it was too thick. It’s alright, I guess… If I find something better, I probably won’t look back. It’s marketed as lightweight and some descriptions even say “no shine”, which is a blatant lie. 😂 It’s definitely thick and would sometimes break me out if it’s been on my face for too long, like when I used it in the morning and am out until late at night. The only situation I can think of that would make it lightweight is if you don’t layer anything under it, which really weakens its appeal if it can’t cooperate inside a routine.
6. Nivea UV Deep Protect & Care Milk Mist
I have a more favorable view of this mist, which I first bought in summer 2025 for easy sunscreen reapplication. For facial use, it’s meant to be sprayed to the palms first before applying to the face. It comes out as a light green liquid and is easy to apply, especially if you’ve layered a lot of products before it. The convenience of using it makes me like it enough that I think I’ll repurchase. Given how thin and liquidy it is, I’m curious how effective this mist actually is at protection, though, because I often use it as a standalone sunscreen. It will dry to a shiny finish, just FYI. Not wet or oily-shiny like the COSRX one, but dry-shiny like saran wrap.
For both sunscreens, a light dusting of face powder after application is necessary. Otherwise, you’ll look like Edward Cullen under direct sunlight.
🚀 Jump to: Map | AM Routine | PM Routine | Tried but Shelved | Empties
PM Routine
1. V・drug Deep Cleanse Cleansing Oil
My reliable oil cleanser that I’ve been using for years now. The ROI I get from this is really like no other. I use it at night to remove sunscreen or makeup, and it is gentle and non-drying when washed off—no oils or weird residues. One pump is enough to cover my face, although I usually do two for a face massage before washing off. A 500ml bottle costs 968 Yen and lasts me months. Unlike other more fancy oil cleansers, it doesn’t claim to have random additional benefits or “special ingredients” that make no sense being in an oil cleanser anyway. It’s no-frills and has a light apple scent. Not bad for a grocery store brand!
Side rant, but I did a double-take when I saw the latest price. IDK if I’m seeing things, but I could have sworn I bought this cleanser two years ago for less than 600 Yen. I get that prices increase over time in general, but a 350 Yen increase tho? This thing has become the symbol of post-COVID Japanese inflation in my head. Despite this blatant price hike, I will be repurchasing like an idiot.
2. Proactiv Medicinal Renewing Cleanser
Same cleanser from my AM routine. Click here to jump to that section.
Actives: A rotation of Retinol, BHA, and Niacinamide
3. ANUA Retinol 0.3 Niacin Renewing Serum (Fri)
This serum is the most powerful member of my skincare roster. Everything else revolves around the proper use of this active. I bought this because I foolishly thought the SOME BY MI serum was too mild. I thought I could handle a higher dose of retinol for better preventative anti-aging benefits. So I went ahead and bought it on Amazon and started using it M/W/F…
🫡🪦🕊️
If you’re a beginner to retinol, please don’t do that. I never got to week 2 of that M/W/F schedule because my skin was already super irritated and peeling by the weekend. I didn’t apply any on my eye area, but even that was peeling, likely due to spreading from my moisturizer. My jaw area was also purging with cystic acne bumps beneath it. I had to go on a skin reset for a week and scale down use to just every Friday until I’m properly acclimated. So yeah, I got humbled by this serum. I just resumed using it last month and am still testing it. It’s harder to spread than the SOME BY MI one, which is very runny, whereas this one is more of a light cream. It absorbs quickly, so I make sure to put on a healthy amount of moisturizer after.
4. SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum (Mon/Wed)
Replaced: NILE Perfect Serum (emptied)
This serum is one of the first retinols I used when I turned 25, and I’m a fan. It’s gentle and easy to apply, perfect for beginners like me who don’t need a serious anti-aging routine yet but want to start early for prevention. I used this for a long while with no problems and had to come back to it recently because the ANUA serum was too strong. I imagine I’ll be using this serum for years to come. I’m so glad it doesn’t have a weird or sticky finish. My only gripe is the packaging. It’s hard to get the serum out when there’s only a bit left because the bottle is so square and the dropper doesn’t reach all the way down. I love it though!
5. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum (Tue/Sat)
Replaced: Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide (emptied, details in the Empties section)
This is one of my recent purchases. I thought this was going to be a steal at 1,980 Yen for a 60ml bottle since I’m on a budget. I’m sad to find out that it’s not combining well with my Klairs Vitamin C serum. I’m close to shelving this because of how irritating the 10% niacinamide solution is, but I want to test if it might work as a standalone serum on active rest days. I’m surprised by how runny it is because I actually used it a few years back, and I thought it had more of a like a snail mucin consistency. Now it just flows out of the dropper like a toner. While I like easy-to-spread products, this serum bubbles up sometimes if you use too much and try to pat it in with your palms. I also don’t like the faint glue smell, but I’ll try to figure out how to incorporate this into my routine. More updates to come.
6. COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid (Thu/Sun)
This is the product that will be in charge of addressing my large, clogged pores thanks to its BHA content. I haven’t been using it for that long yet, though. I used to apply it with a cotton pad, but I found that method a little irritating and started patting the product in with my hands instead. I hope it works, but if not, I’d love to try Paula’s Choice’s Skin Perfecting BHA Liquid next.
7. Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Cream
Same moisturizer from my AM routine. Click here to jump to that section.
8. Vaseline Lip Therapy Advanced Healing White Petrolatum Lip Protectant
Replaced: Country & Stream Natural Honey Lip Serum (emptied)
So simple but so effective! Winter lip balms have become an essential part of my winter night routine to prevent cracked and bleeding lips when I wake up. I bought this tube as I ran out of my trusty honey lip balm that got me through winter 2025. It’s great as a night balm because it’s colorless and no-frills, so I don’t have to worry about any weird product transfers to my pillows. My only complaint is that it kind of solidifies during the peak of winter by nature of the petrolatum, so it’s hard to get the product out. For the simplicity, price, and healing/protection benefits though, it’s an “elegant solution”, as they say in math!
9. Bifesta Micellar Cleansing Water Bright Up (Optional)
Replaced: Micellarista Micellar Water (emptied, details in the Empties section)
I use this product as a last resort alternative to double cleansing on lazy days where I can’t be bothered with soap and water or when washing my face is too inconvenient, like when traveling. I just bought it last month after emptying my other cleansing water. It’s not drying, which is important. Packaging-wise, I’m not a fan of the pump because I can’t control the amount of product that comes out and where the liquid goes. Sometimes I would press the pump, and the liquid just goes flying past my cotton pad and onto my clothes. Other than that, it works well enough.
🚀 Jump to: Map | AM Routine | PM Routine | Tried but Shelved | Empties
Tried but Shelved
1. KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief Serum
I’m a little confused about what happened with this serum. It was supposed to be a soothing and moisturizing serum that I planned to use during active rest days. I had such a positive experience when I first tried it back in 2021. I remember it being so easy to spread and was excellent at reducing redness. I don’t know if I’m imagining things, but the texture seems thicker now. They recommend using 1-2 pumps before moisturizer, but 3 pumps just barely cover my face and neck. Either viscosity is up in cold weather, or KraveBeauty reformulated it after 2020/2021. In any case, I’m determined to use up the two jumbo bottles I got after spending a fortune on them. I’ve shelved it for now and will try using it again once the weather is a little warmer.
2. COSRX The Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer
I don’t know why I had high hopes that this moisturizer and I would work out. I recruited it to be the moisturizer for my pore-targeting campaign, but it’s too thick for my oily skin. The fault is 100% mine though because the packaging literally says “For dry & sensitive skin”. 🤡 They got me good with the “skin barrier” angle. I’m sure this could be an excellent moisturizer for some people, but I don’t really know how I’m going to fit this into any future routines. If it’s already waxy for me in the winter, then it’s gonna be even worse in the summer. I might just have to take the L and give it away.
Jump to: Map | AM Routine | PM Routine | Tried but Shelved | Empties
Empties
Sorry, I don’t have photos for these. I already threw them out.
1. Micellarista Cleansing Water
My first micellar water. I got it on Amazon for 779 Yen a bottle (500ml), and it was such good value for the money. It was non-drying and came in clutch so many times in 2024 and 2025. I used it on tired days, when travelling for work, or on vacation overseas. No complaints, but I do wanna try other micellar waters so I didn’t repurchase for the time being.
2. Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
I didn’t realize BOJ isn’t actually a well-known brand in Korea!! 🤯 Anyway, have you ever heard those stories of people dumping their ex for someone they thought was better but a few months in, they realize the grass was not greener on the other side? That’s me and this serum. It’s the Taylor Lautner to my Taylor Swift in Back to December. I got this serum to address my visible pore problem, and it has been very friendly to my skin barrier and, more importantly, worked really well in combination with my Klairs Vitamin C serum.
At 1,870 Yen1 for 30ml, though, I thought I could do better and switched to The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum as a more affordable alternative. Big mistake because my face stung when I used it after Vitamin C, and I had to wash everything off. I tried crawling back to my ex begging for a second chance but they’ve changed phone numbers and are unavailable now on Amazon. 😭
Will definitely get back together if I can 🥺
🚀 Jump back to: Map | AM Routine | PM Routine | Tried but Shelved | Empties
- Amazon price. It sells for 3,000 Yen on the official Beauty of Joseon Japan site. ↩︎
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