The advent of social media and the accessibility of travel getaways have led to a global surge in the demand for Japanese skincare and beauty products. Based on the premise that Asian skin has qualities distinct from any ethnicity, Filipinos started acknowledging the value of using brands for a youthful and glowing look.
Melding Tradition with Innovation
What makes J-beauty products stand out can be attributed to the culture and innate characteristics of Japanese people and how they remarkably balance age-old wisdom and breakthrough innovation. The use of natural and premium ingredients is complemented with technology and revolutionary formulations resulting in globally recognized J-beauty products.
Mentholatum’s cult-favorite J-beauty essentials now available in the Philippines
More than just its kawaii packaging and design, it is the quality, efficacy, and ingenuity that have endeared J-beauty to skincare-loving individuals. The good news is, you don’t have to ask someone or scour the streets of Japan to get your hands on these must-haves —including the well-loved Mentholatum products.
“Our products are available at brick-and-mortar stores as well as through e-commerce,” said Mentholatum Philippine’s Business Unit Manager Vince Marquez. If you are ready to load your beauty shopping baskets, here are some of the much sought-after Mentholatum products that are readily available in the country:
Selsun Blue
Perhaps one of the most popular anti-dandruff shampoos in previous years, Selsun Blue is touted to be the expert in scalp care. Did you know that it is the only dandruff treatment shampoo with the active ingredient Selenium Sulfide 1%, an antifungal agent that effectively relieves scalp itching, scaling, and dryness. It also improves scalp health, treats fungal skin infections, and reduces flaking, irritation, and redness. “Since it is an effective, shampoo, you only need to use it twice a week,” Marquez explained. Gen X-ers can attest to this legacy brand’s and so do the older Gen-Zs and millennials.
SunPlay and Skin Aqua
Do you love sunbathing, outdoor sports, and activities? Then you need SunPlay with the highest coverage of up to SPF130. This water-light sunblock is ideal for triathletes, sports enthusiasts, and outdoorsy people who are oftentimes directly exposed to the sun. For your normal daily grind, there’s Skin Aqua (with SPF 50) which is enough to hydrate, brighten, and moisturize skin while shielding it from UVA, UVB, infrared, and blue light.
Hada Labo
You want mochi-mochi skin? Step one, say hello to Hada Labo (or “Skin Laboratory”)! Did you know that the Hydrating Face Lotion has been Japan’s number one face lotion for 15 years, with one bottle purchased every five seconds!? It has five times hyaluronic acid that deeply hydrates and moisturizes skin, plumps up fine lines, and brightens even the most sensitive skin.“Hada Labo is perfect and simple, no fancy packages, and contains no mineral oil, alcohols, fragrances, colorants, or anything unnecessary that could potentially irritate the skin,” explained Jenny Orias-Arcellana, Business Unit Manager. Hada Labo is clearly the OG in skin hydration.
Mentholatum Acnes
For clearer, acne-free skin, there’s Mentholatum Acnes, an anti-acne skin care with Amino Acid, Vitamin C and 95%* pure Centella Asiatica (CICA) extract, world-famous for its ability to regenerate and restore flawless skin. Clinically proven to repair acne-prone skin and promote the fast healing of acne scars, Mentholatum Acnes’ Creamy Face Wash, Powder Lotion, and Oil Control Moisturizer are hypo-allergenic, anti-scarring, 100% soap-free and good for daily use. For isolated pimples, it is best to use the Spot Gel and Pimple Patches, which are made from hydrocolloid that draws sebum and fluid from the infected pores.
Mentholatum LIPCARE
A good balm is more than just a luxury, it’s a necessity. That’s why Filipinos are obsessed over Mentholatum’s Lip Therapy with a menthol sensation that helps repair and protect dry, chapped lips, relieves soreness and burning, and has superior moisturizing effect. The color-changing Lip Ice Magic Color, on the other hand, transforms lips into a naturally pink shade. There’s also the Lip Ice Fruity Strawberry with real fruit juice and SPF 15. This makes lips effortlessly fresh and natural looking, perfect for those selfies on your socials.
Rohto Eye Drops 
These Mentholatum brands are exclusively distributed by Cambert (Pilipinas), Inc.
Buzzwords and trends
Through the years, the world of beauty and skincare has had its more than fair share of buzzwords and trends that have kept people captivated, eagerly consuming what are the latest and most innovative products – from charcoal, aloe vera, vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to name a few. “The trends change every so often, depends on what you might call the “flavor of the month,” said Arcellana. “We notice though that consumers are now smarter and more discerning. They research before they purchase, aside from keeping an ear to the ground for recommendations from family and friends. Consumers are more aware of what they need, they know pretty much the basics and filter what they should and should not use. They know that if they apply too many skin care products and something goes awry, it would be hard to pinpoint what causes the problem.”
When asked what Filipinos are looking for in the world of beauty, it’s still brightening products, Arcellana said, based on research and anecdotal accounts. Hada Labo’s Premium Whitening Line is one of the highest-performing brands by Mentholatum and given the opportunity, the company plans to bring in more products, not only those that answer skin brightening demands, but other skincare lines as well.
Whether it’s a pioneering ingredient, technology, or innovation, there will always be new products that will embellish the shelves of department stores and e-commerce platforms. The key is to make sure that they are of the highest quality, effective, and safe to use. All Mentholatum products are designed to enhance one’s look, reflecting the company’s commitment to improving lives every day, one J-beauty product at a time.
Mentholatum products are available online in Lazada and Shopee, Watsons and TikTok Shop and in physical stores including Watsons, Mercury Drug stores, 7-11, and some SKUs can be seen in Landmark, Robinsons, and other leading department stores. For more information about these products, visit https://www.mentholatum.com/
ADVT.
This article is brought to you by Mentholatum.