What do people get wrong about cosmetics labels in Japan?

This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.

This article covers the wording on the pack. For product names see #99, for expiry see #94, for SPF and PA see #84.

The list of 56

Under a Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notice (21 July 2011), cosmetics in Japan may only advertise effects from a list of 56 permitted claims (products marked 医薬部外品 / 薬用 are a separate 'quasi-drug' category that may carry additional approved claims) — "cleanses the skin," "keeps skin healthy," "protects against sunburn" and the like. Anything stronger — wording that implies a medical outcome or a fix for a skin condition — is outside the list. "Sensitive skin," meanwhile, has no medical definition at all.

So what the label mostly tells you is what is *absent*.

[Verify] Confirm the notice reference (薬食発0721第1号) before publication.

Misunderstanding 1｜"Free from" claims mean the same everywhere

"No added fragrance" (無香料), "no added colourant" (無着色) and "alcohol-free" (アルコールフリー) describe specific absences, not overall mildness.

Misunderstanding 2｜"Fragrance-free" means no scent

A product with no added fragrance can still smell of its raw materials. No added fragrance is not the same as odourless.

Misunderstanding 3｜"Non-chemical" means no chemicals

"Non-chemical" (ノンケミカル) generally indicates no ultraviolet-absorbing agents. It is not a statement about chemistry in general.

Misunderstanding 4｜"For sensitive skin" is a medical category

Surveys find over half of Japanese women describe themselves as having sensitive skin — but the term has no dermatological definition. The label is a positioning, not a diagnosis.

Misunderstanding 5｜A patch test is unnecessary if the label looks gentle

Labels do not predict how your own skin will respond. Test on a small, inconspicuous area first.

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Sources

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, notice on the scope of cosmetic efficacy claims (薬食発0721第1号, 21 July 2011)

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11120000-Iyakushokuhinkyoku/kesyouhin_hanni_20111.pdf

• Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Japan — glossary, "sensitive skin"

https://www.sccj-ifscc.com/library/glossary_detail/1465

• Japan Cosmetic Industry Association

https://www.jcia.org/

⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.

About this article

What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.

This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.

Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.

Cosmetics are not intended to treat or prevent any condition. If you notice any irritation, stop using the product and consult a dermatologist.

Sources

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