We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—the world of Japanese skincare and makeup is huge! However, when you scour J-beauty communities, one brand comes up all the time as both a gateway and a staple for many J-beauty enthusiasts. Today, we’re taking a look Canmake, a brand that has become a hit in the Japanese beauty world!
Read on to learn a little about Canmake and to get product recommendations to start (or continue) your J-beauty journey!
Who is Canmake?
If we had to describe Canmake's aesthetic in one word, it would be 'kawaii'. Image via Instagram
Canmake is one of the brands under the Ida Labo (Ida Laboratories Co. Ltd.) group, standing out as their most popular brand both in Japan and overseas. And it’s no surprise why. Canmake was started 40 years ago with three ideas in mind as the base concept: cuteness, reasonable prices and high quality.
That means that their cosmetics products are made for the kawaii aesthetic and with high quality formulas that won’t break the bank. These three ideas make this the perfect brand for young women in Japan. In fact, their largest demographic is girls ranging from high school age to young women in their mid-twenties, a group who generally try to save money on their skincare and makeup and love the kawaii aesthetic.
A lot of people online really love their nail polish too, even saying it dries faster than other brands! Image via Instagram
However, overseas it has become a popular, affordable J-beauty brand that creates products that have become both staples and gateways for many women worldwide!
While Canmake is often known as a “drugstore brand” (it is available at any Japanese drugstore), it is still a great option for those exploring the J-beauty world. And honestly, even for us living in Japan, we have a deep love for Canmake, with some of their own products being staples in our skincare and makeup routines.
That’s why we think we’re qualified to give our own recommendations! Speaking of…
Canmake Product Recommendations
Mermaid Skin UV Gels
This viral product has been featured all over Japanese sunscreen enthusiast pages, with two in particular being popular overseas. Image via Instagram
The Mermaid Skin UV Gel is just one of those skincare products that gets brought up in any conversation about Japanese sunscreens. It went viral on social media a while back for both its name and the mermaid-like finish (for which it gets its name), and it very quickly became part of people’s routine.
The Mermaid Skin UV Gels all feature an amazing, moisturizing, watery (in a mermaid-like way) finish with plenty of UV protection, being the maximum strength in Japan (SPF 50+・PA++++). They also have various tints to them that help in color correcting skin concerns like redness, dullness or dark spots.
The most popular overseas tend to be the Clear UV Gel (free of color and suitable for any skin color) and the CICA Mint Green UV Gel (great for redness and dullness with plenty of moisturizing CICA).
Canmake Cream Cheek
One of the things that stands out about Canmake is the cute yet simple packaging that is totally in line with their aesthetic. Image via Instagram
The Canmake Cream Cheek is another great addition to their whole lineup and has gained a lot of popularity here and overseas. This is a cream gel type blush that has plenty of moisture while melting into the skin and leaving a smooth, silky finish. The color range is made to create a natural blush effect and comes in both matte and shimmer shades to fit the look you want!
The Glow Fleur Cheek is also a popular powder option with both matte and pearl options in one palette. Even though it’s a powder type, it’s known to melt into the skin like a cream type.
But many Canmake fans tend to prefer the Cream Cheek over the Glow Fleur. Personally, we think it depends on what you want, whether you want a single cream blush or a multi-color powder blush that you can apply accordingly.
Quick Lash Curler
This mascara is often brought up on online J-beauty spaces for its effectiveness and length of wear! Image via Instagram
The Quick Lash Curler is another simple yet effective favorite among both our staff and plenty of people on social media. If you’re looking for long, curled, beautiful lashes, this is a great, affordable option.
This “mascara” can actually work in three ways, fulfilling the role of a mascara base, top coat and mascara. And it’s great for getting a long-lasting curl and is really easy to build and layer. Some even say you can skip the eyelash curler!
This product has been so popular and effective that they’ve made quite a few variations of this product to suit your lash needs. And although they have other mascaras, the Quick Lash Curler is still the one everyone talks about.
Creamy Touch Liner
Fun Fact: Many Japanese women tend to use brown liners and eyebrow pencils for a soft bit of color without harsh lines. Image via Instagram
We’re going to stay on the eyes for one more entry. The Creamy Touch Liner is Canmake’s most popular liner for two reasons. People love the vibrant, long-lasting color on this creamy liner. The other reason is the precision you get with the 1.5 mm wick, helping you to achieve the eye look you want. And once it dries, you’re set for the day with little to no fading.
The only drawback for us and every fan of this product is that once you twist the wick up, there’s no putting it back in, so be careful when you use it.
Stay On Balm Rouge Tint
This product is well-loved for how buildable it is, so you can get subtle color or color that pops based on what lip look you want! Image via Instagram
Last on our list is probably Canmake’s most popular lip product, the Stay-On Balm Rouge Tint. This product sits comfortably in the middle of a lip balm, a lipstick and a lip tint with aspects of each. The Stay-On Balm Rouge Tint has the moisturizing power of a lip balm, the color of a lipstick, and the sheen of a lip tint or gloss. Plus, it's got UV protection for your lips!
One great thing about the color is that it isn’t too bold when you first apply it, but you can build it up for more and more color without it feeling heavy, making it perfect for a YLBB look. That buildable color and the way it fights dryness is what really attracts people, especially overseas, to this amazing tint!
Honorable Mention: Marshmallow Finish Powder
This product is also a favorite for many for its amazing soft finish that ties everything together! Image via Instagram
We couldn’t finish this blog without at least mentioning the Marshmallow Finish Powder. This finishing powder is made to take away any stickiness or unwanted shine with a silky, soft finish that also covers pores and color spots. It’s not heavy either, so it feels natural and light both on the skin and in appearance.
It also has a variation known as Abloom. This version has five colors in one compact, allowing you to choose the colors to create the perfect finish!
Honestly, there are so many other amazing products that we can talk about, but we like to keep things short and simple (relatively). Image via Instagram
If you’ve never given Canmake a try or are looking for your first J-beauty product to try, these affordable options are a great place to start! And the great thing is that they’re all available here at Miaumall! Shop Canmake here!
