Biore Cleanser: Japanese Cleanser Guide
Biore (ビオレ) was first launched in Japan in the 1980’s and has grown since then to establish itself as a household name around the world. I remember first using a Biore cleanser during my teenage years to combat acne, along with a fascination upon discovering their pore strips. While many of their products have been adapted for foreign markets, formulations can differ and their Japanese product range (produced by Kao) still has quite the following. This little guide looks at the Biore cleanser products available from Japan, along with links to find them available for purchase online.
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What is the best Biore Cleanser from Japan?
The following ratings are based upon the average product ratings across a range of Japanese (and global) beauty and shopping sites.
Makeup Remover Range
The Makeup Remover range (メイク落とし) includes perhaps the most infamous Biore cleanser outside of Japan. The offering includes makeup removers in oil, gel and liquid formats.
Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil
This makeup remover oil is the highest-rated product in the range. It can be used even if the hands and face are a little wet, making it suitable for use in the shower or bath. It removes waterproof mascara and eyeliner and has a refreshing fruit fragrance. To use, apply about 4 pumps of the product to your face and massage in, before rinsing thoroughly.
Biore Makeup Remover Firm Clear Gel
This makeup remover is in a gel format. It’s oil-free and can also be used if the hands and face are a little wet. To use, apply about 3cm of product to your face, massaging it into makeup before rinsing the product off with water.
Biore Makeup Remover Moisturzing Cleansing Liquid
This makeup remover is in a liquid format. To use, apply 2-3 pumps of the product to your face. Massage it all over your face in gentle, sweeping strokes. Spend extra time around the eyes and nose, where makeup can accumulate. For stubborn eye makeup, let the product rest a little longer on the eye area. Rinse thoroughly with water. Has a floral fragrance.
Marshmallow Whip Range
The Biore Marshmallow Whip (マシュマロホイップ) range are a collection of foaming cleansers that create a dense foam like marshmallow, hence the name! The foam has micro bubbles that are designed to cleanse while still maintaining moisture for smooth skin. This Biore cleanser range has been developed to include fewer ingredients (when compared with typical products).
How do I use Biore Marshmallow Whip?
To use the product, lightly wet your face and place about two pumps of the product in your hand. Massage the foam over your face to cleanse, before rinsing well with water.
Biore Marshmallow Whip Medicinal Acne Care
This foaming cleanser is the highest-rated product on this list and it has quite the following. This variation is focused on acne care and has a refreshing green floral fragrance.
Biore Marshmallow Whip Oil Control
This foaming cleanser is from the same range and focused on oil control. It is designed to help clear up the T-zone and balance oil on the nose. Has a refreshing orange floral scent.
Skin Care Face Wash Range
The Biore Skin Care Face Wash (スキンケア洗顔料) range also consists of foaming cleansers, but these come in a gel format that needs to be worked up into a lather (either with your hands or a foaming net). These products are designed to delicately cleanse skin, removing dirt and sebum to leave skin feeling smooth. The products are focused on various skin concerns.
How do I use Biore Face Wash?
Place about 2 to 3 cm of the product in your hand, add a small amount of water and work it up into a lather. You can do this with your hands or by using foaming net to achieve a fluffier foam. Apply the foam all over your face to cleanse, before rinsing well with water.
Biore Skin Care Face Wash Medicated Acne Care
The the highest-rated Biore cleanser from this range is the medicated acne care wash, which contains anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients to help prevent acne. It has a refreshing floral fragrance and many reviews describe it as better than the US formulation.
Biore Skin Care Face Wash Oil Control
This product variation is focused on focused on deep cleansing, to draw out deep-down sebum from pores and deep layers of skin. It helps to even out sebum on the forehead and nose (T-zone) it has a clear floral fragrance.
Biore Skin Care Face Wash Scrub
This variation acts not only as a cleanser, but also partly as a scrub. It helps to gently remove old keratin and dirt in the pores that can cause dull skin. Has a refreshing floral fragrance.
Ouchi de Aesthe Range
The Ouchi de Asthe (おうちdeエステ) range is an interesting one. This Biore cleanser range are total bestsellers in Japan and often top beauty charts, while outside of the country they don’t have such the following. The cleansers are a non-foaming smooth gel that leaves skin feeling refreshed. They come in two variations for different skin concerns.
How do I use Biore Ouchi de Asthe?
Unlike many Japanese cleansers, these products are not designed to foam. Ideally these products are used in the bathroom, where steam has helped open the pores. Lightly wet your face and place about 2-3 cm of product in your hand. Apply directly to the face and massage all over in a circular motion, particularly focusing on any trouble areas. Rinse well with water.
Biore Ouchi de Aesthe Massage Facial Cleansing Gel Smooth
The green package is the ‘smooth’ type, which is designed for clogged pore prone skin. It helps to remove deep-down dirt that causes blackheads, leaving pores less visible and skin feeling smoother. It has a refreshing, relaxing fragrance.
Biore Ouchi de Aesthe Massage Facial Cleansing Gel Soft
The pink package is the ‘soft’ type, which is designed for dry skin. It helps remove dirt and to hydrate the deep layer of keratin, leaving skin with a softer feeling. It has a comfortable, relaxing fragrance.
