A bottle of serum is like a special gift for your skin.

It can transform your skin like never before.

 

Not using a serum yet?

Not sure which serum to use?

You’re missing out on the most powerful way to make your skin glow.

 

A serum contains high concentrations of active ingredients, which can penetrate deeper than other usual skincare products like moisturisers.

 

It is the best way to target a specific skin concern due to potency.

 

In Japan, many women start using a serum early to keep youthful skin as long as possible, and I’m certainly one of them (yes I’m Japanese). Japanese women use serums to achieve flawless skin.

 

You are never too young to start using a serum.

Wanna know which serums Japanese women use to make their skin glow?!

 

In this post, I’m going to share some of the best serum for glowing skin – based on my 25 years of Japanese skincare experience (since 13, yes!).

Here are the best serums for glowing skin Japanese women swear by to get porcelain skin – voila.

 

 

5 Best Serums for Glowing Skin [ J-Beauty ]

 

 

Japanese women know that starting to take care of their skin early is the key to maintaining their youthful look, not to mention flawless skin.

 

Brightening serums, in particular, are extremely popular in Japan.

 

Japanese women swear by brightening serums in their typical Japanese skincare routine. These serums are very effective in achieving clear and radiant skin.

 

Here are the best serums for flawless skin according to J-Beauty:

 

Best Serum for Glowing Skin 1

HAKU Melano Focus V (SHISEIDO)

No.1 Brightening Serum for 15 Years in Japan / 68 Beauty Awards

courtesy of brand

acne spots, sunspots | all skin types, all ages | light texture

To SHOP – click here

HAKU is a Shiseido’s specialist brand for brightening, and they only produce brightening products! Shiseido dedicated 100 years to perfecting this ULTIMATE brightening serum – its technology behind is the most advanced of all brightening serums out there.

👉 Shop HAKU Melano Focus V today

 

Key Benefits:

Shiseido’s exclusive active brightening ingredient W Anti-Melano Agent works to:

• act on the root causes of pigmented spots under the skin
• suppress the production of melanin

➝  promote clear, dewy skin.
➝  translucent skin

How to Use

After cleansing & toning

• Apply twice daily, in the morning and evening
• Handpress well to let the skin absorb

 

1 bottle can last up to 75 days, so it is a good investment 😉
It is a serum, but it does feel really moisturising, so you may not need a moisturiser after this.

 

 What Japanese Women Say

 

HAKU Melano Focus V has many loyal fans in Japan!

It just so works.

Scars went away:

A friend of mine had some accident, and her face got some scars. So, she bought this serum hoping that it will help fade the scars….. And it DID!!
Her skin got brighter and clearer in a few months.

Age spots keep fading:

Not only does this serum help age spots fade, but also it prevents them from appearing in the first place. When age spots appear, many women feel it’s too late, but it’s NEVER too late. I know this because I saw my friend’s face got clearer in just 3 months!

Less acne, more dewy:

One lady used this serum for 3 years, and all her acne spots and age spots DISAPPEARED. Apparently, it brightened her face, but also it helped boost the skin cell turnover – it meant she now hardly gets pimples! It’s a GOLD serum.

 

I highly recommend 👉 HAKU Melano Focus V even if it’s going to be quite an investment. A bottle costs about $110 USD (¥ 11,000 JPY) – which lasts 75 days.

 

Basically, it’s less than $1.50 /day investment to get clear and radiant skin!
What’s there not to like?!

 

 

Best Serum for Glowing Skin 2

White Lucent Illuminating Micro S Serum (SHISEIDO)

Brightening ingredient developed by Shiseido over 26 years

courtesy of brand

dark spots, fine lines | all skin types, all ages | light texture

To SHOP – click here

Enjoy the Shiseido’s exclusive SAKURA bright technology to achieve translucent skin. It is a light serum to help reduce dark spots and fine lines. Your skin becomes even-toned and supple. No more dullness!

👉 Shop White Lucent Illuminating Micro S Serum today

 

Many Japanese women love this serum not only for the dewy skin effect but also for the ease of use – light cream texture + such relaxing and heavenly floral scent.

 

 

Key Benefits:

Shiseido’s exclusive active brightening ingredient Active4MSK works to:

• help skin become resistant to dark spots
• target the discolouration

➝  promote clear, radiant skin.
➝  bright complexion

 

How to Use

After cleansing & toning

• Apply twice daily, in the morning and evening
• Gently massage onto skin till absorbed fully

 

 What Japanese Women Say

 

Many women can’t stop using White Lucent Illuminating Micro S Serum in Japan!

Shiseido REALLY nails it.

Skin gets clearer and clearer:

One of my friends who is in her early 40’s has been a huge fan of this serum. She’s been using it for years, and every time Shiseido renews with new technology, it exceeds her expectations, so she says! She loves the feeling she gets in the morning seeing her skin radiant – I can see it in her face too 😉

More translucent, dewy skin:

A lady in her early 30’s has been using the serum for a month, and she can feel the skin is more radiant. She’s loving the subtle floral scent which makes her so relaxed too. It’s a little steep price-wise, but she invests because it’s a long term investment for the future skin. Darn, right, I say!

Keep SAKURA bright skin:

This serum is even popular with young girls in their 20’s. After the sun damage, or during the winter for dry skin and fine lines. They use this serum to prevent premature ageing! Never too early to start. That’s so J-Beauty. The scent is relaxing & healing after a long day – it’s a perfect way to start self-care every evening.

 

I love the scent and use it to relax too!

I look forward to my skincare time – a happy moment in my busy schedule.

I highly recommend 👉 White Lucent Illuminating Micro S Serum!

 

It’s an investment – I have to remind you.
$ 125 USD (¥ 12,650 JPY) / bottle – which lasts about 30 days.

 

It’s about the same price as the first one HAKU Melano Focus V, but I would say this serum is more powerful reflected in the price!

Still, it’s about $4.00 a day – it’s a bargain, especially when you think of all the transformation your skin experiences in a month.

 

Best Serum for Glowing Skin 3

GenOptics Aura Essence Serum (SK-II)

Transform your skin to crystal clear skin

courtesy of brand

dark spots, dullness, UV damage | all skin types, age 20 – 50 | light texture

To SHOP – click here

This serum is the best-selling brightening serum from a Japanese luxury skincare brand SK-II. Its unique radiance-enhancing ingredients will help bring up your skin’s natural aura – leading to clear, even-toned and glowing skin. You’ll shine like never before!

👉 Shop SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence Serum today

 

It sells so fast in Japan that people want to keep it a secret.

SK-II has a long history of producing high-end skincare products since its launch in the early 1980s. It’s the unique ingredients that make SK-II one of a kind – this time is no exception with this serum.

 

 

Key Benefits:

SK-II’s exclusive radiance-enhancing ingredients help to:

• reduce dark spots
• increase skin’s luminosity
• radiate from within

➝  promote clear, radiant skin.
➝  bright complexion

How to Use

After cleansing & toning

• Apply twice daily, in the morning and evening
• Gently massage onto skin till absorbed fully

 

SK-II is a brand associated with opulence for Japanese women – they feel so special and luxurious.

When you own SK-II products, you’re seen as a woman who invests in herself.

 

It is NOT cheap, so it is a big investment you have to make for yourself ✨.

If you want to transform your skin, you have to invest. You have to DECIDE to invest in yourself.

Still not sure? Rest assured, SK-II delivers results!

 

 What Japanese Women Say

 

Brighter, more radiant skin the next morning:

This is my experience. When I apply SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence Serum in the evening, my skin gets brighter the next morning. Not only that, it feels supple too. It’s a versatile serum – brightening & hydrating at the same time – YES!

The ultimate and legendary serum yet:

A friend of mine literally swears by this serum. She calls this serum a god-like super serum. It helped her dark spots disappear in a few months! She’s 24, but since she started to use this serum, the SK-ll’s skin age test says – she’s virtually 18. Can it get any better?!!

Glowing like glass skin with undeniable aura:

Many Japanese women are raving about this serum for its efficacy. Literally like the name of the serum, it gives you a glowing aura – brightening, diminishing dark spots, ageing care all in one this shiny bottle, so they say.

 

Sun-damaged skin?
Suffering from acne marks?
Dullness?

Not any more.

This gorgeous serum GenOptics Aura Essence can help solve all of your concerns like above, literally. It is a confidence booster, too – I absolutely love it 😘.

 

Best Serum for Glowing Skin 4

Concentrated Brightening Serum (Clé de Peau Beauté)

Most advanced Japanese skin technology in a bottle

courtesy of brand

dark spots, uneven skin tone | all skin types, age 30+ | silky texture

To SHOP – click here

This serum is from the most sophisticated J-Beauty luxury brand Clé de Peau Beauté – a brand which is most famous for the exquisite formula that unlocks your skin’s radiance. It targets dark spots and uneven skin tone for maximum clarity. Your skin will be luminous in no time!

👉 Shop Concentrated Brightening Serum today

 

Clé de Peau Beauté is renowned for their skin-cell science. Each formula is created to help unlock your skin’s natural beauty.

This serum is really the epitome of Clé de Peau Beauté excellence.

 

Key Benefits:

Clé de Peau Beauté’s unique ingredients (Golden Silk Essence / Japanese Pearl ) help to:

• creates flawless clarity
• visibly firms skin’s surface (healthier skin turnover)
• reduce dark spots

➝  even-toned glowing skin
➝  enhanced radiancy & translucency
➝  youthful-looking skin

How to Use:

After cleansing & toning

• Apply twice daily, in the morning and evening
• Gently smooth over the face (particularly on spots, freckles and uneven tone)

 

This serum feels so silky – it just feels so good on the skin.
You feel it’s luxurious.

Many Japanese women are crazy about this serum even if it’s quite expensive!

 

 What Japanese Women Say

 

Dark spots reduced – now clear, dewy skin:

A friend of mine keeps coming back to this serum after having an affair with other serums ’cause it WORKS! She says the ingredients are more potent than other serums – in a few months, her dark spots diminished almost entirely! Now her skin is clear and looking supple too.

If you want results, it’s Clé de Peau Beauté:

A beauty advisor once said to me almost like a conviction – ‘Trust Clé de Peau Beauté, do NOT look elsewhere if you want results’. So, I bought it and thank god it was true! Gotta say it works. It made my skin radiate from within!

Radiant like a diamond…:

One Japanese lady said: ‘just a tiny pearl size drop does the magic!’ She was so moved to see how clear her skin got as it worked on the cellular level. So, she calls it a diamond brightening effect 😉 Apparently, skin gets smoother over time too.

 

Clé de Peau Beauté has a very special place in the heart of Japanese women.
It’s like buying a luxury gift for them. It is not cheap, but you buy the quality.

With Clé de Peau Beauté, you can be confident that your skin will be treated with the utmost care.

If you want to up the game like no one else, I highly recommend you invest in Clé de Peau Beauté Brightening serum. – a whole new world awaits you ✨.

 

Best Serum for Glowing Skin 5

SENKA Pure White Beauty Serum (SHISEIDO)

Beautiful translucent skin like Snow White princess

courtesy of brand

dryness, pores, dark spots | all skin types, age 30+ | light creamy

To SHOP – click here

This serum is designed to achieve skin that needs no makeup! Every morning you can wake up with bright, clear skin. It targets 4 major skin concerns at once – dryness, pores, rough skin and dark spots. Your natural beauty will shine with this serum!

👉 Shop SENKA Pure White Beauty Serum today

 

SENKA is a Shiseido brand that dominates Japanese drugstores.

(The brand is most famous for the legendary ‘Perfect Whip Cleansing Foam’ – No.1 face cleanser for 10 years in Japan)

 

SENKA Pure White Beauty Serum is a  J-Beauty drugstore bestseller too for its effectiveness for THAT low price ($29)!

 

Most effective serum for the price. 100%.

Shiseido’s skincare science never ceases to impress Japanese women.

 

Key Benefits:

Shiseido-developed ingredients (m-Tranexamic acid, Japanese natural ingredients) help to:

• reduce dark spots
• deeply hydrate
• revitalise skin

➝  plumped up & supple skin
➝  enhanced radiancy
➝  youthful-looking skin

 

How to Use:

After cleansing & toning

• Apply a pearl-sized amount twice daily, in the morning and evening
• Gently smooth over the face (particularly on spots, freckles and uneven tone)

 

This serum is completely unscented – even perfect for sensitive skin!

With just one pearl-sized dollop, your skin feels moisturised and remains hydrated for 8 hours straight too.

Truly amazing for the price.

 

 What Japanese Women Say

 

Bouncy & translucent skin with no makeup:

Many of my friends said the same thing. “Not only does this serum help brighten the skin tone, but also moisturise it sooooo much! And it’s less than $10. “Apparently, the skin gets so clear that you wouldn’t need foundation anymore!

No more dull skin, so moisturising:

Many Japanese women are stunned how smoothing and moisturising this little serum makes their skin. You wouldn’t need a cream after this serum, so they say. AND, it really works to reduce dark spots! I saw my friend’s dark spots completely disappear in 3 weeks.

Poreless, supple, radiant skin:

A friend of mine loves this serum – she’s got sensitive skin, but this serum has no fragrance, no colourant and yet it’s got so many benefits! It’s truly Shiseido’s power – my friend saw no more dryness, fewer pores, brighter complexion and dark spots diminishing.

 

Honestly, this serum is really worth it.

It’s less than $30 with these outstanding results.

 

How To Get Glowing Skin With Your Skincare (J-Beauty Way)

 

 

Do you know the secret of Japanese flawless skin?

Here’s the answer from me – a Japanese woman who’s doing the typical Japanese skincare for 25 years since 13.

It’s their attitude to skincare. They prevent rather than fix.

That is why they invest in brightening serums to maintain their natural beauty and prevent premature ageing at the same time – and they start EARLY.

 

Here are the simply 4 steps Japanese women take to keep their skin glow:

 

【1】Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise

 

Your skin naturally gets glossy when moisturised. When it’s properly moisturised, your skin’s barrier stays strong – less susceptible to UV damage.

Be extremely gentle when washing your face – never rub to keep the skin barrier. Wash with big foam like rolling the foam over the face.

Then, use a hydrating lotion and cream. It seems obvious but make sure you do this basic ritual every day. Look in the mirror & gently press it with your hand – imagining all the good ingredients going into your skin….

 

【2】Protect Your Skin From the Sun

 

Almost all Japanese women swear by this rule. Avoid the sun and wear sunscreen all year round. They know UV rays eventually will make the skin age faster.

Protecting your skin from UV rays will prevent dark spots, dull skin, dry skin and saggy skin in the future.

Even if it’s cloudy, raining or in winter, make sure you protect your skin with sunscreen.

Read also 👀 [ 10 Best Japanese Sunscreens for Flawless Skin ]

 

【3】Incorporate Regular Exfoliation

 

Your skin may get thicker and harder when skin cell turnover slows down due to UV damage and ageing.

Old dead skin accumulates and creates a layer on the face. Then, it becomes difficult for any skincare products to penetrate.

Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells. Not only does this help your skincare products work better but also brighten up your skin complexion.

Read also 👀 [ The Cult Japanese Exfoliator – Cure Natural Aqua Gel ]

 

【4】Use a Brightening Serum to Keep Radiance

 

Japanese women act early and use brightening serums to prevent dull skin in advance.

Brightening serums can keep you away from dark spots and freckles caused by sun damage. They can limit melanin production too.

Use a brightening serum to prevent premature ageing and to maintain a youthful glow.

 

Summary [ J-Beauty Tips for Glowing Skin]

 

 

 

Start early – this is the key.

Japanese women start their skincare routine early – most of them start in their teenage years. They remain consistent throughout their lives.

 

What you do today to your skin will show on your skin tomorrow, in 5 years or 10 years from now.

Use the power of brightening serums to create your future beautiful skin 😉.

 

To summarise,

here are the steps you can take today to get 1 step closer to flawless skin.

 

First, choose a brightening serum.

【5 Best Serums for Glowing skin】

SHISEIDO | HAKU Melano Focus V

SHISEIDO | White Lucent Illuminating Micro S Serum

SK-II | GenOptics Aura Essence Serum

Clé de Peau Beauté | Concentrated Brightening Serum

SHISEIDO | SENKA Pure White Beauty Serum

 

 

Then, follow the special 4 steps by J-Beauty described above.

【The 4 Steps Japanese women follow】

1. Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise
2. Protect Your Skin From the Sun
3. Incorporate Regular Exfoliation
4. Use a Brightening Serum to Keep Radiance

 

Trust the process.

Remain consistent too.

 

Brightening serums can help you get clear and radiant skin faster even if you’ve been suffering from dark spots, sun damage or even dull skin for long.

Imagine your skin is so dewy… you’ll be so happy and confident 😉

Try one of the amazing Japanese brightening serums – this could be the secret to your gorgeous skin soon…✨