What to Buy: Medicine and Beauty Products in Japanese Drugstore (Prices in 2025)
I bought some medicine and beauty products from a Japanese drugstore during my recent trip to Osaka in September 2025. In this post, you can find the prices and translated instructions of these products. Please refer to them as a general guideline because prices vary for different drugstores, and I am using Google Translate, and there could be errors in the automated translation. I’ve also included Lazada or Shopee Singapore links for price references.
I went to OS Drug in Osaka’s Kuromon Market, which is purportedly the cheapest place in town, or at least their price tags are generally lower than competitors’ tax-free products. Yes, the caveat is that they are not tax-free, and it is cash only. Moreover, the product search can be a hit-and-miss with OS Drug. I couldn’t find some of the products I wanted, so I bought them from Matsumoto Kiyoshi (signboard with the word “薬”) near the entrance of Kuromon Market, from Nippombashi Station Exit 9/10. It is beside this matcha shop where we saw a queue before opening and a sold-out sign by afternoon.
I wrote very detailed posts about the products found in Japan’s drugstores back in 2017. The product information is still relevant.
Related Posts:
- All the posts about Japan, including our fun at USJ!
- About the different drugstores in Japan: Drugstores in Japan (Part 1)
- Review of Products in Japan’s Drugstores:
Jump to the Relevant Section:
- Medicine (and medicated plasters for the muscles)
- Hair Products
- Beauty Products
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Medicine
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Painkillers (For Headaches and Menstrual Pain)
EVE products are painkillers for different pains: menstrual cramps, headache, toothache, sore throat, joint pain, muscular aches, nerve pain, backache, stiff shoulders, ear pain, etc. It also reduces chills and fever.
- EVE A – For menstrual pains and headaches, but can also be used for other aches.
- EVE A EX – For a higher intensity of pain.
- EVE Quick – Especially designed for headaches, but can also be used for other aches.
- EVE Quick DX – For more severe headaches.
- EVE Three Shot Premium – For various pains, particularly severe headaches, menstrual pain and stiff shoulder pain. If I am not wrong, this has the strongest effect of them all.
2 tablets per time, and it’s only for those above 15 years old. Avoid taking on an empty stomach. For more information, visit: www.ssp.co.jp/eve/en.
- Price: Varies, refer to photos below.
- Ref: Lazada SG
Muscle Aches
1) Lion Cooling Leg Gel Sheet (Kyusoku Jikan)
Paste the gel sheets on your aching legs to cool your legs through the evaporation of water. Apparently, it can stick to the leg through the night, but is still gentle on your skin.
2) Roihi-tsuboko Pain Relief Patches
These patches are for shoulder aches, back aches, bruises, sprains, pain in joints, muscular pain, muscle fatigue, chilblains, and pains caused by bone fractures. Remove the patches 30 – 60 minutes before taking a shower to avoid a burning sensation. Keep the product in its sealed bag to retain its quality.
The prices for the 156 pieces and 78 pieces are the same. The difference is in the sizes of the patches.
3) Doshisha Gorilla Grip Calf
My husband sent me this and told me I should get this for my frequently aching shin. But I thought it was an expensive muscle patch, turned out it’s a massager! Will probably get it on my next Japan trip, though the plug is different from Singapore.
- Price: ¥5980, after-tax ¥6578 (S$52, S$57.20)
- Ref: Shopee
Anti-Diarrhoea Medicine
During the trip, my daughter and husband had diarrhoea. The toilet trips came back every time the effects of charcoal pills wore off. When we ran out of charcoal pills, he got the anti-diarrheal medicine from a random pharmacy. We also got one for our daughter, good thing she had learned to swallow pills just before the trip! They worked so well for my husband that he decided to haul more of the pills back.
However, we couldn’t find the same one at OS Drug, and so bought another one that’s also recommended online. These quick-dissolving pills would be good for children who don’t yet know how to swallow pills, or for adults who don’t like to swallow pills. See below for the instructions. See the first picture of this section for their front covers.
For more details and recommendations, refer to this other post I wrote in 2017: travel.joogostyle.com/otc-medicine-in-japans-drugstores
Hair Products
Orbis Hair Mask
Orbis hair mask is apparently one of the trending products to buy at drugstores in Japan. So I got one tube to try, even though I have Fino and Tsubaki hair masks stocked up at home (got them before finalising my Japan trip!). I like the effects and scent of the Tsubaki hair mask (Pink Camellia) best.
Fino is another popular hair mask to get when in Japan. I stocked up on Fino at S$8 in Singapore, because it has been selling for more than S$10 these days, except on online stores such as Shopee or Lazada. But alas, during my trip, I saw Fino selling for 500 to 800 yen, depending on the pharmacy.
Yolu Hair Shampoo and Treatment
Yolu’s packaging attracted me, and after a quick online search, I found that it’s a popular and highly raved product. So I bought the shampoo and treatment of the Deep Night Repair series, and decided that the Calm Night Repair series might not be strong enough for my dry hair.
Bottle Price (Shampoo/Treatment):
- Calm Night: ¥1120, after-tax ¥1232 (S$9.80, S$10.70)
- Deep Night: ¥1200, after-tax ¥1320 (S$10.50, S$11.50)
Refill Price:
- Calm Night: ¥880, after-tax ¥968 (S$7.70, S$8.40)
- Deep Night: ¥960, after-tax ¥1056 (S$8.40, S$9.20)
- Ref (Bottle / Refill): Shopee / Lazada
For more recommendations of hair and body products, head over to travel.joogostyle.com/hair-and-body-products-in-japans-drugstores
Beauty Products in Japan Drugstore
Make-Up
I had a Canmake Cream Cheek Blush, and it’s small and easy to bring out. However, since I had to use my finger to apply it, it became a hassle for me. I had to wash my hands before and after application.
So this time, I got the powder blush version to put into my handbag and try.
- Price: ¥600, after-tax ¥660 (S$5.20, S$5.80)
- Ref (Powder): Shopee / Lazada
- Ref (Cream): Shopee / Lazada
Klook.com
Acne Cream
Towards the end of my trip, I had a big pimple on my chin, and I tried really hard to resist popping it. It’s timely for me to consider carting out a pimple cream. I did a quick online search and ‘Acneige’ came recommended, later, I realised ‘Pair Acne’ is also recommended. Other than creams, the two brands have face wash and lotion.
Acneige
- Price (Cream 18g, Lotion 100ml): ¥980, after-tax ¥1078 (S$8.50, S$9.40)
- Ref: Shopee
Pair Ance
Eye Cream and Mask
1) Eye Mask
Derma Laser Eye Sheet Super VCR (VC+Retinol) is a 3-minute eye mask which combines Vitamin C derivative and Retinol to target eye area concerns, such as fine lines, dark spots, and dullness. It worked visibly well for me, at least for my first try.
2) Eye Cream
I read good reviews of SANA Namerakahonpo Soy Milk Eye Cream on Reddit. Since it’s apparently affordable and effective, I decided to get them and try.
- Price (For Dark Circles): ¥748, after-tax ¥822 (S$6.50, S$7.20)
- Price (For Wrinkles): ¥880, after-tax ¥968 (S$7.70, S$8.40)
- Ref: Shopee / Lazada
Face Moisturiser
I quite like SANA Namerakahonpo Soy Milk Cleansing Face Wash and hence decided to buy all the related soy products to try.
- Price (Moisture Cream): ¥748, after-tax ¥822 (S$6.50, S$7.20)
- Price (Aging Care): ¥880, after-tax ¥968 (S$7.70, S$8.40)
- Ref: Shopee / Lazada
Face Care
I stocked up on SANA Namerakahonpo Soy Milk Cleansing Face Wash and didn’t pay attention to Cure Natural Aqua Gel because I have two bottles at home. However, I would give it a special mention here. I have not been able to find an alternative to this face exfoliator that is not abrasive. So if you are considering a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin cells, you might want to consider getting this water-based exfoliating gel in Japan!
SANA Face Wash
Cure Natural Aqua Gel
Face Mask
Read mixed reviews about this Keana Nadeshiko Rice Pack and Mask, although it is a popular product. Decided to get one each and decide for myself! Find out from their website how to use the rice pack and read more about the rice mask. I tried one mask sheet, and it seemed to work for my face. I felt my face glowing after use at night and the following morning as well.
- Price (Rice Pack): ¥1250, after-tax ¥1375 (S$10.90, S$12)
- Price (Rice Mask): ¥650, after-tax ¥715 (S$5.70, S$6.30); (Bundle of 3 – ¥1950)
- Ref: Shopee (Cheapest) / Shopee (Red and Blue Range) / Lazada (Mask)
For more recommendations, head to my other posts I wrote in 2017 about makeup and beauty products in Japanese Drugstores.
That’s all! Hope the above references helped you, and let me know of other must-buy products in the comments section below. For useful content like this article, visit joogostyle.com for travel, home, and baby matters.
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