5 Okinawan Cosmetics You Should Buy

1. Aroma no Hiyakedome DX

Tanning is one of the causes of dark spots and freckles and it\'s something to be concerned with especially during the summer. Aroma no Hiyakedome DX (2,160 JPY (incl. tax)) uses natural Okinawa ingredients to create a sunscreen that has no additives and is gentle. It, doesn\'t use added coloring or preservatives or UV absorbers, includes rosemary and lavender oils as well as aloe vera and shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) leaf essence. It\'s SPF24 PA+++, so even though it\'s natural it\'s a wonderful sunscreen. It\'s easy to apply and washes off easily with soap. This is a great product for people with sensitive skin.

2. Ryukyu Bihada Face Mask Sheet

This face mask sheet uses extract from a type of seaweed called Okinawa mozuku, which is a very precious ingredient since only 1% of liquid can be taken from it. After you take the sheet out of the bag there\'s still plenty of essence left over, so it\'s perfect to use on your décolletage and areas of dry skin. Other than Okinawa mozuku extract, it also has mango, okra, and mangosteen extract to protect against dryness, as well as 5 kinds of extracts for fragrance like hibiscus and shikuwasa Okinawan lime peel. It\'s very convenient as a souvenir, and costs 410 JPY (incl. tax) for one.

3. Chulala BB Cream

Chulala is a natural Okinawa skincare brand and one of their most popular products is their BB cream (3,200 JPY (excl. tax)). With this one product, it\'s both skincare and makeup, so it\'s perfect for busy people. It uses 9 kinds of native Okinawan ingredients, such as shell ginger, to moisturize and plump the skin. Three types of textured powder in the cream help to make bumpy areas look smooth. If wearing foundation for a long time makes your skin dry or causes issues, or you\'re worried about getting shiny, look no further - this BB cream keeps you moisturized the entire time you\'re wearing it. It goes on easily.

4. Kiara Keshousui

Shell ginger has more than 34 times the polyphenols that red wine does, and that antioxidant property has made it quite popular lately. Kiara Keshousui face lotion (1,512 JPY (incl. tax)) is made from shell ginger. The amazing thing about this face lotion is that it doesn\'t add a single drop of water to it in the manufacturing process! It\'s harmless distilled water so it\'s fine even if you accidentally put it in your mouth, so you can use it all over your body. If you use it right after washing your face, it makes your pores look smaller and helps skin problems, and if you spray it on a few times after you put makeup on it helps with dark spots and freckles caused by tanning. Also, if you spray it on your dry scalp and massage it in, it\'s said to help with hair loss and brings bounce to your hair. This is a product you can use without any worries.

5. Chacha no Ki

Chacha no Ki uses ocean mud called "kucha" that you can only get in Okinawa. Compared to other ocean muds, kucha is made of relatively small particles and it easily absorbs skin\'s dirt. The more you use it the more it picks up old skin cells and leaves your skin clear and refreshed. Chacha no Ki also uses shell ginger extract and Okinawa mozuku extract (fucoidan) for their antioxidant and moisturizing properties that help reduce dark spots and wrinkles. For first-timers, it would be good to buy the Chacha no Ki Soap with Foaming Net (2,570 JPY (incl. tax)).

Because all of these products are made with natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin, the more you use them the more you should be able to see results. Definitely try them!