This news article and subsequent reviews were originally posted on Reddit (now deleted) on July 30 and August 1, 2019. I’ve replaced links with archive links if necessary (and available), added notes about discontinuations and reformulations, and made minor formatting changes and corrections, but otherwise haven’t done any editing or updating. Cleansers don’t get reformulated nearly as often or as drastically as sunscreen, though, so a fair amount of this may actually still be relevant, as long as the product hasn’t been discontinued.

Disclaimers (2026)

• This is all specific to the products as sold in Japan as of 2019 or earlier. What seem like the same products may have different formulations etc. in other countries (example) and in the present day, so make sure to double check specifically for what you would be buying. (And also, double check in case I got anything wrong or got different products mixed up or something.)
• I’ve added my usual disclaimer under all the ingredient lists, but take it all with an extra large grain of salt because this post was from before I learned more about ingredient names.

[News] Mochitto Awadate-Irazu face wash and Mochitto Kansou-Shirazu lotion to be discontinued

According to Ishizawa Laboratories’ official website, Mochitto Awadate-Irazu Face Wash Without Bubbling (also known as Mochitto Mochi Mochi Awadate-Irazu Face Wash Without Bubbling; RatzillaCosme page) and Mochitto Kansou-Shirazu Face Lotion Without Drying (RatzillaCosme page) will be discontinued at the end of August (“2019年8月末　販売終了予定”).

…I know no one has posted about the face wash for a whole year (and no posts about the lotion), and that most people probably won’t even know what it is, but I figured I would mention it anyway since I learned about it here. It’s a second cleanser that doesn’t require foaming up before use (it does produce a bit of foam on your face, but the point is that you don’t do it beforehand and can use it straight from the bottle). It contains a bunch of rice-derived ingredients and sounds incredibly hydrating in the reviews I’ve seen here.

I finally got a bottle of the face wash yesterday, only to find out about this. Personally I have to say I’m pretty indifferent, though, since I actually find my other second cleansers less drying, but anyway, just FYI.

[Reviews] Non-drying second cleansers from Muji, Chifure, Fancl, Mochitto (Ishizawa Laboratories), Sunsorit, and Curél

I’ve been trying out different second cleansers lately (first cleansers too, to a lesser extent), and thought I might share my thoughts especially since I don’t see most of these products on this sub. Most recently I got a bottle of the Mochitto cleanser (fourth product reviewed below), which I’ve seen rave reviews for on this sub as basically being the least drying cleanser ever. The Mochitto is now serving as a control in my very non-scientific study.

The premise: I have dry/dehydrated and sometimes sensitive skin, or maybe more like combination/dehydrated at the moment from my routine and the weather. I live in western Japan, which currently means high temperatures, with the highs around 36–37 °C (96.8–98.6 °F) these days, and high humidity (but not nearly as much as the rainy season, which is truly beyond humid). This also means I’m washing with soft water, which I’m sure makes some kind of a difference. I could probably benefit from using one of those ultra-gentle lotion-like cleansers, but I like to feel cleaner, especially since I sweat a lot in the summer.

Disclaimers: I apologize for any ingredient translation mistakes (and please let me know if you find one!). All prices are for purchases made within Japan and do not take any import costs or other mark-ups into consideration. Some of them might not be available outside of Japan, but I thought it might be interesting anyway for those of you who are living or traveling in Japan. And of course YMMV for everything.

Ratings: HG = holy grail, RP = would repurchase, WNR = will not repurchase.

In order of non-drying-ness (followed by two that I don’t have on hand and thus can’t rank):

1. Muji Facial Wash Gel (mild/moist) [discontinued]

• Product name in Japanese: 無印良品 マイルド保湿洗顔ジェル
• Link: Official website (link in Japanese)
• List price: 790 JPY for 120 g (6.583333333 JPY per gram) or $7.06 USD for 4.23 oz. Travel size: 290 JPY for 30 g
• Rating: RP, potential HG

Not to be confused with [Mild] Gel Cleansing, which is a first cleanser. I think this is a new product because I can’t find much information even in Japanese. It’s a clear gel that smells lightly citrusy. You are supposed to lather it up before using it, but it’s very low-lather and doesn’t get very foamy. It washes off easily and my face feels almost squeaky clean afterward, but it isn’t stripping like you would think. I do feel ever so slightly dry/tight if I don’t move on to the rest of my routine right away, but that goes for all four of these cleansers, and the least for this one. I finished the travel-sized tube and am now using the full-sized one. It’s marketed as containing Lipidure (polyquaternium-51), apricot juice, peach leaf extract, and sodium hyaluronate for hydration, and being artificial fragrance-free, colorant-free, mineral oil-free, alcohol-free, and paraben-free. (ETA that it does contain orange oil, so steer clear if you’re sensitive to it.)

Ingredients (my translation): Water, Oleic Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Propanediol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Juice, Prunus Persica (Peach) Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-50, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil

Disclaimer: I’m just a bilingual skincare enthusiast with no background in science. If you’re allergic to anything, double-check to make sure I didn’t get anything wrong.

2. Chifure Cleansing Foam (moist) [reformulated; likely minor?]

• Product name in Japanese: ちふれ 洗顔 フォーム しっとりタイプ
• Link: Official website
• List price: 460 JPY for 150 g (3.066666667 JPY per gram) or $4.11 USD for 5.29 oz; tax excluded
• Rating: Probably WNR unless I miss the foam

This is actually a great face wash if you’re looking for something really low-budget and/or want foam. It’s a white cream/paste that turns into a thick, super creamy bouncy foam (I do use a net for this; link for Muji but I’m sure they have something like it at Daiso etc. for even cheaper). My online research had me believing that foam = drying, which is what set me off on this quest in the first place, but this one is actually only slightly more drying than the Muji gel. It’s hard to find second cleansers that don’t have high lather because foam is popular in Japan—the creamier/bouncier the foam the better. Anyway, this one is marketed as containing amino acids for hydration and being fragrance-free, artificial colorant-free, and alcohol-free.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Glycol Distearate, Laurel Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Poloxamer 215, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Disclaimer: I’m just a bilingual skincare enthusiast with no background in science. If you’re allergic to anything, double-check to make sure I didn’t get anything wrong.

3. Fancl Deep Clear Face Wash Powder [repackaged; possibly otherwise still the same]

• Product name in Japanese: ファンケル ディープクリア洗顔パウダー
• Link: Official website (link in Japanese)
• List price: 1944 JPY for 30 single-use packets (64.8 JPY per packet, not sure how many grams per packet) or $17.37 for 30 packets
• Rating: Might RP

This is a new product, launched this May, and admittedly kind of hype-y at the moment. It’s a very fine black powder that comes in little creamer-like packets, similar to the Suisai face wash (which I’ve also been meaning to try but haven’t yet). It turns into a gray foam—I use the net for this too, make sure to place your hand strategically so as not to let the powder fall through (don’t make fun of me, it happens!)—but the Chifure is actually more exciting foam-wise. It’s one of those oxygen enzyme cleansers that are supposed to clear out your pores. I actually find Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil (my current favorite first cleanser) more effective on that front, but it’s nice to feel like I’m delivering a one-two punch. It’s also surprisingly non-drying for what it is. Pros: It’s a powder and it comes in single-use packets, which is great because I’m only using this maybe once a week and will have it sitting around for quite a while. (It needs to be used as soon as the packet is opened but lasts up to 3 years unopened.) This will also be convenient for short trips. Cons: Slightly expensive, more plastic waste. Marketed as containing oxygen (protease), charcoal, clay, amino acid-based cleansing ingredients, sugars, and hyaluronic acid, and as being preservative-free, fragrance-free, artificial colorant-free, petroleum-based surfactant-free, and chemical UV filter-free.

Ingredients (my translation): Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Mannitol, Sodium Cocoyl/Palmoyl/Sunfloweroyl Glutamate, PEG-75, Dextrin, Pullulan, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Myristate, Agar, Pyrophyllite, Potassium Myristate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Alpha-Glucan, Talc, Quartz, Sodium Laurate, Behenyl Alcohol, Potassium Laurate, Protease, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Sodium Palmitate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Stearic Acid, Potassium Palmitate, Lauric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Glycerin, Allantoin, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Iron Oxide

Disclaimer: I’m just a bilingual skincare enthusiast with no background in science. If you’re allergic to anything, double-check to make sure I didn’t get anything wrong.

4. Ishizawa Laboratories Mochitto Awadate-Irazu Face Wash Without Bubbling [discontinued]

• Product name in Japanese: 石澤研究所 もちっと 泡立ていらず〈泡立てないタイプの洗顔料〉
• Links: Official website (link in Japanese), RatzillaCosme
• List price: 1296 JPY for 180 ml (7.2 JPY per ml) or $11.58 USD for 6.09 fl oz
• Rating: WNR

This product will be discontinued soon, and it seems like practically everyone who knows what it is (granted, not a lot of you) is mourning over it. But as I said in that post, I actually find this to be the most drying of all these second cleansers. I was kind of shocked because I had such high expectations for this one. It was kind of hard to find too, even here in Japan. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, it’s a clear lotion-like cleanser that you can use straight out of the bottle without lathering it up first. It does produce a little bit of lather as you use it on your face. It’s advertised as mostly (97%) consisting of rice-based essence-type ingredients, being safe for babies, and being mineral oil-free, alcohol-free, colorant-free, and mildly acidic. Mochi mochi is an onomatopoeic word describing a soft, moist, bouncy texture (when used in reference to skin), by the way, obviously based on the food mochi. Same thing as mochitto and, probably most commonly, mocchiri.

Ingredients (my translation): Water, Sorbitol, Glycerin, PPG-9 Diglyceryl Ether, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rice Ferment Filtrate (Sake), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NS, Glutamic Acid, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Citric Acid, Serine, Threonine, Proline, Lysine, Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Betaine, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, PPG-4-Ceteth-20, Caramel, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Alcohol

Disclaimer: I’m just a bilingual skincare enthusiast with no background in science. If you’re allergic to anything, double-check to make sure I didn’t get anything wrong.

I’m sure the Mochitto isn’t drying as face washes in general go, but it really gave me perspective on just how non-drying the other ones are. I was kind of losing sight, almost like I was forgetting how it actually feels to be dried out by a cleanser, because my two previous second cleansers were non-drying too. I bought the cleansers above after running out of these so I’m not sure where they would go in the ranking (somewhere above the Mochitto, definitely), but in case anyone’s interested:

Sunsorit Skin Peel Bar: Hydroquinol [repackaged; possibly otherwise still the same]

• Product name in Japanese: サンソリット スキンピールバー ハイドロキノール
• Link: Official website (link in Japanese)
• List price: 5000 JPY for 135 g (37.037037037 per gram) or $44.67 USD for 4.76 oz; tax excluded
• Rating: Could be HG if it weren’t for the price

The Sunsorit bar soaps are very high quality. There are four different types, all containing AHA. The red version, Skin Peel Bar: Tea Tree with 1% AHA and tea tree oil, was one of the only things I used that really helped when I had my second bad round of acne in my early/mid-twenties. That one costs 2500 JPY, or half as much as this version (still pretty expensive, I know). The blue version (mild AHA) and green version (AHA) cost 2000 JPY. So this black version is especially expensive, but it also has the most different types of active ingredients. I think it’s the only one that also contains BHA in addition to AHA, and as the name indicates, it contains hydroquinone too. I never really cared about brightening in the past, but my face is currently darker than my body and I would’ve liked to try using this one for longer, but currently can’t afford it. There are mini sizes available too, by the way, which is how I tried this one. Note that these soaps melt easily, so you definitely don’t want to store them in your shower. It’s a good idea to cut off a small piece for use and to put the rest away in a dry, cool place. Also, there are places that sell it for much cheaper, but I suspect this product is expensive enough for there to be fakes, so make sure to read the vendor’s reviews.

Ingredients (my translation): Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Water, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi (Bearberry) Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycerin, Charcoal, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Hydroquinone

Disclaimer: I’m just a bilingual skincare enthusiast with no background in science. If you’re allergic to anything, double-check to make sure I didn’t get anything wrong.

Kao Curél Intensive Moisture Care Foaming Wash* [repackaged; otherwise still the same]*

• Product name in Japanese: キュレル 泡洗顔料
• Links: Official website, RatzillaCosme
• List price: None given; 1296 JPY on Amazon.co.jp for 150 ml in pump (8.64 JPY per ml) or $11.58 USD for 5.07 fl oz, 1026 JPY on Amazon.co.jp for 130 ml refill pouch
• Rating: Former HG, RP if my face freaks out and I need something super gentle

This one is actually also really good but I decided to try other products because of the foam thing. I think the Curél is probably the best choice for sensitive skin out of all the products I’ve mentioned. I don’t have it right now so I haven’t compared it with the products above directly, but I did use two or three bottles in a row. It’s one of those pre-foamed cleansers that are dispensed as foam from a pump. The foam is much less creamy/bouncy when compared to the Chifure and even the Fancl. It’s very gentle—I use a lot of Curél products and wouldn’t expect any less from them—and the ingredients are probably more sensitive skin friendly than the other products. It’s marketed as cleansing while protecting your ceramides, and being fragrance-free, colorant-free, alcohol-free (no ethyl alcohol added), mildly acidic, etc.

Ingredients (my translation): Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (active ingredient), Water, Glycerin, Maltitol, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Propylene Glycol, PEG-150, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide (A), Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parabens

Disclaimer: I’m just a bilingual skincare enthusiast with no background in science. If you’re allergic to anything, double-check to make sure I didn’t get anything wrong.