The world of Japanese skincare is vast and full of amazing options from a huge variety of brands. However, one that we at MiauMall have fallen in love with is a brand named FANCL. So, today, we want to take some time to introduce this amazing and popular J-skincare brand and give you our own FANCL recommendations!
Read on to learn more about this brand and get some recommendations on where to start on your FANCL journey!
What is FANCL?
If you like Doraemon, you may have seen that FANCL has a collab with Doraemon that features original packaging! Image via Instagram
Before we get into the products, we want to tell you a little about FANCL. FANCL is a Japanese company based in Yokohama that focuses on cosmetics and health goods. In Japan, you can’t walk into a drugstore without seeing their products, whether it be amazing skincare, great makeup or among the wall of supplements.
Their name may sound like an abbreviation for ‘fun uncle’ in English, it’s actually an abbreviation of the company’s original name Fine Chemical (fain kemikaru). But, they also like to say that it’s an abbreviation of the phrase fuan wo keru, which would literally translate to “kick away anxiety.”
FANCL is also responsible for the popular weight loss support supplement CaloLimit, which can be found in any drugstore here! Image via Instagram
The company started in 1980 (officially established in 1981) and has been making additive-free skincare products and makeup ever since. In fact, that’s one of the things that helps to set them apart, especially as early adopters.
What also set them apart was their vial-type packaging that made it easy to use their products to the last drop. While 1980 seems kind of late for that kind of idea, it was actually revolutionary in the cosmetics world!
They’re also the parent company of the popular brand ATTENIR, which is their more luxurious brand that creates both cosmetics and clothing at reasonable prices!
Attenir is probably best known in Japan for their Skin Clear Cleanse Oil, which is currently the #2 most popular cleansing oil on @cosme and was 2024's best cleansing item! Image via Instagram
Why do we love FANCL?
There are many reasons to love FANCL, but we’ve narrowed our own reasons down to three: quality, formulas and affordability. These three things work together to help FANCL stand out in both the Japanese market and our eyes.
All of their products have amazing quality and work great, and like we mentioned before, all of their products are additive-free yet still highly effective. Plus, they come at a great price point that means that you (and us) don’t have to break the bank to reap the benefits!
FANCL has also made some really cool choices in terms of sustainability that make this brand a leader in the cosmetics industry! Image via Instagram
Plus, they’re also both cruelty-free and are one of the cosmetics brands that are leading the way in reducing plastic use! In fact, their bottle packaging uses recycled plastic and both recycled and plant-derived plastics for the caps. Plus, for those living in Japan, they also offer a recycling program for empty containers which are then used for local Yokohama projects, including recycled flowerpots and elementary school environmental activities!
FANCL Recs
Now that you know why we love FANCL, it’s time to get into the recommendations! Here are five items that we ourselves have tried and love, complete with where to find them on our site!
Mild Cleansing Oil
FANCL's cleansing oils are both really popular on Japan's @cosme cosmetics rating site! The Mild Cleansing Oil was the #2 (2022) and #3 (2023) best cleanser and is still now sitting at #6 (with the black version sitting at #8)! Image via Instagram
This is one of FANCL’s most popular products in Japan and abroad and it’s no wonder why. The Mild Cleansing Oil is the perfect combination of highly effective and easy on the skin.
It does a great job of melting away makeup, from foundation and shadows to lashes and lips, while protecting moisture in the skin barrier. Many even report seeing a decrease in the appearance of fine lines caused by dryness!
We also have to give a shoutout to the Black & Smooth Mild Cleansing Oil, which uses charcoal and other ingredients that give the oil a black shine. This one is great for clearing up blackheads and has yuzu rind oil and rosemary oil for a great smell!
Facial Washing Powder
This face wash foams up so nicely when you lather it and feels just like this on the skin! Image via Instagram
FANCL’s Facial Wash Powder is another super popular item that we loved more than we thought we would. As the name implies, this face wash comes in the form of a tube of powder.
Combine some of the powder with some water and start whipping it together with your hands, a net or a sponge. You’ll end up with a luxuriously fluffy foam that does a great job of cleansing the skin and pores and dealing with oil and blackheads.
However, much like the cleansing oil, it still protects the moisture in the skin’s barrier, which actually helps the skin to absorb toner and other skincare products after!
The Clear Up Foaming Wash is also a popular option for teens that’s made more for clearing skin and acne. Plus, it comes with a foaming pump. Meanwhile, the Deep Clear Washing Powder has charcoal which is great for lifting impurities out of pores!
Moist Refine Lotion & Emulsions
The Moist Refine series has been a popular FANCL product ever since its debut!
Moving on to two (four based on how you look at it) products that we love. The Moist Refine products are great for providing moisture to the skin, preventing issues with fine lines and discoloration caused by dryness. The “lotion” toner is made to penetrate deep into the skin and provide tons of hydration.
Meanwhile, the emulsion jojoba oil and other moisturizing ingredients that wrap around the skin to maintain hydration and fight dryness. Together, they make for a powerful combo!
Both the lotion and emulsion come in two types—refreshing/nourishing and moist. The refreshing type is perfect for oily skin while the moist type is made for regular, combination and dry skin.
Sunguard 50+ Protect UV
If you're looking for a reliable mineral sunscreen from Japan, this is a great option that we think you'll love! Image via Instagram
You know we love Japanese sunscreens, and one that doesn’t get as much love as it should overseas is FANCL’s Sunguard 50+ Protect UV. This UV care product is a mineral type that provides the max level of protection at SPF 50+ PA++++.
As a mineral sunscreen, I was worried that it would leave a whitecast, but actually, its formula lets it melt into the skin along with any fear that it would leave a white film. Much like the other products, it doesn’t have any additives, including fragrance, so it’s great for most skin types. You can even use it under your makeup!
Deep Charge Collagen Drink
You can actually get your collagen fix in a variety of forms and flavors from FANCL! Image via Instagram
Like we mentioned, FANCL is also in the supplement game, and this is definitely one of their most popular (at least on our site). The whole Deep Charge Collagen line is made in the FANCL lab to provide moisture and bounce to the skin from the inside out with the power of collagen.
It’s not only effective (as it’s absorbed better than putting it on the skin), the drink is also popular for how easy it is to drink. It has a tasty fruity peach flavor that is best chilled and enjoyed after a shower or bath. Their jelly type, tablet type and powder type are also great options. The powder is great for mixing into drinks or dishes like soup.
Honorable Mention: Multivitamin Supplements for Series
This line stands out among their supplements for how they work by gender and age group! Image via Instagram
We get it. You can get supplements anywhere, with so many companies flooding the market. And while nothing replaces a balanced, nutritious diet in getting all you need, supplements can help to fill the gaps in your diet. That’s why we really appreciate FANCL’s “Multivitamin Supplement for” line.
This line has a variety of products that are based on both age and gender. What FANCL has done is looked at the nutrients that men and women of various age groups need and are often lacking, like zinc, maca and natto kinase for men or collagen, iron and soybean saponin for women. One bag contains 30 days of daily supplements, with everything you need for the day individually packaged within.
FANCL also has a line called Torio that is made up of two balancing products that moisturize and brighten! Image via Instagram
Looking to try some of these products for yourself? Lucky for you, at the time of writing, we’re running a whole sale on FANCL products on our site! And even if you’re reading this after the sale is over, you should still check out our FANCL section for amazing skincare and supplements that are plenty affordable!
Check it out by clicking the image below!
