Refresh Your Skin with Japan’s Autumn Skincare Essentials

After steaming through the sticky summer heat and braving the intense UV of the sun’s harsh rays, it’s not uncommon for skin to feel exhausted at the end of the summer. Maybe you feel like your poors are huge, you can’t get rid of rough dead skin, or your makeup just doesn’t melt into your skin like you wish it would. If you’re feeling frustrated with your skin after months of sweaty summer weather, it’s time to give it an autumn refresh to face the coming season!

When pores expand, skin texture becomes rougher, and the overall effect can make your whole face look tired. If you let dry, dead skin cells build on top of that, it not only dulls your complexion, but also invites breakouts, and can even block the absorption of helpful skincare products, slowing down recovery. If this sounds familiar, then it sounds like your pores need a little attention, and your skin could use some thorough exfoliation. In Japan, some of the best solutions for these skincare issues can be found among the “pore care” products from Japanese beauty manufacturer BCL, including classics from the Tsururi brand, and professional peeling and exfoliation products made for home use from the Cleansing Research brand. Both lines have long been popular in Japan, establishing their lineups as true “pore care basics,” so if you want to refresh your skin after a long summer and give yourself the gift of clear and healthy skin this season, check out five of their most often-recommended items.

Top 5 Japanese Skincare Products for Large Pores

Say Goodbye to Blackheads: Tsururi Pore Cleaning Gel Series

Our first Japanese pore care favorite is a series of new and improved products from a long-favored series of Japanese blackhead removers, the Tsururi Pore Cleaning Gel Series!

If your past experiences with skincare products made to tackle large pores have left you disappointed, then you might not expect big results from any new product, or you might even be worried about irritating your skin! But the Tsururi Pore Cleaning Gel contains active protease enzymes that break down the blackhead buildup inside pores, as well as triple vitamin C, which refines skin texture and leaves it clear and bright. The formula tackles both pores and skin texture at once, and even works as a warming gel when applied to the skin. That means you don’t need to bother with the extra hassle of steaming your face and opening up your pores beforehand, making it easier than ever to give your pores the attention they deserve.

This season, you can also find the limited-edition Tsururi Pore Cleaning Gel Black in limited quantities on drugstore shelves, offering the same pore and skin texture effects with added charcoal to boost the absorption and removal of impurities. If you have oily skin, or you’ve had good results with charcoal-based products in the past, this might be the product for you. This limited-edition black gel will first be available in Don Quijote stores from October 2025, and then widely available in drugstores and other shops nationwide starting November 4th

The built-in silicone brush head found on products throughout the Tsururi Pore Cleaning Gel Series is especially helpful, helping the product to be much more effective than it would be just using your fingers. No need to buy a separate pore brush! After use, simply wipe the brush head with a tissue or cotton pad before putting it away. The light, compact, and carefully designed tube is great for home use and convenient for travel, so you can keep your pores clean and clear even on the go.

How to Use the Tsururi Pore Cleaning Gel Series
Turn the dial to “on,” dispense an appropriate amount of gel onto dry skin, and massage it in with the brush head. Rinse thoroughly with cold or lukewarm water. Turn the dial back to “off” for storage.

Perfect for Important Days: Tsururi Total Care Pack

Ever gotten ready for a big event, put on a full face of makeup to prepare for pictures, and realized your makeup just doesn’t look great because of your pores? On special days, a flawless base is a must, even the best efforts can fall flat without proper pore care.

To prepare your pores, you’ll probably reach for a sheet pack for your nose. But while people often think pore packs are just about pulling out impurities, proper pore care actually includes before-and-after attention too. The Tsururi Total Care Pack offers three steps in one: softening blackheads and loosening clogged pores, absorbing and removing impurities, and finally tightening the pores.

The pack includes three steps, and step one uses AHA and BHA to gently loosen dead skin and clogged pores, helping impurities come out easily. Step two uses clay and charcoal to absorb and root out all the impurities, giving you that classic, satisfying sensation when you peel it off! Step three contains vitamin C derivatives and herbal extracts to hydrate the skin while tightening enlarged pores, leaving skin smooth and refreshed.
Each of the sheets uses a different base, from rayon sheets that stick firmly to the skin, to black sheets that visibly show the clogs that have been removed from your pores, and even cotton sheets that gently blanket the skin – and all of them stay comfortably in place after being applied to the skin. If your pores are causing you trouble, use the Tsururi Care Pack the night before the big day, to keep pore worries to a minimum.

How to Use
the Tsururi Total Care Pack
Step 1: Place the first sheet on your nose and press lightly to adhere. After about 5 minutes, remove it, leaving the serum on your skin to absorb naturally.
Step 2: Remove the second sheet’s transparent film and apply it firmly to the skin with no air bubbles. Leave for about 10 minutes, then peel off slowly from the edges.
If any residue remains, rinse lightly with lukewarm water. Apply to slightly damp skin for enhanced adhesion.
Step 3: Place the final sheet over the treated area, leave for about 5 minutes, then remove and gently pat in the remaining serum to finish.

Japan’s Newest Cleansing Trend: Cleansing Research EXO Peel Maintenance Oil

Gone are the days of multi-step cleansing! Makeup removal and exfoliation can now be completed in just one step with the help of this modern formula, which combines cleansing, peeling, and hydration in one! This versatile product is the high-end Cleansing Research EXO Peel Maintenance Oil, the result of over 20 years of exfoliation research from BCL. It’s time to upgrade your daily cleansing routine into serious skincare.

This product contains common exfoliating ingredients like AHA, BHA, and PHA as well as the 4th-gen ingredient LHA! The “4HA peel” gently removes dead skin and impurities from pores, leaving skin smooth, while ultra-fine Materra clay particles absorb deeply embedded impurities for a refreshing, thorough cleanse.

Normally, exfoliation and deep cleansing can leave skin feeling tight and dry, but not with this product. The moisturizing formula removes makeup and impurities while keeping skin hydrated, using next-generation exosomes to add elasticity and moisture, so you won’t need to rush for toner right after cleansing anymore.

The Cleansing Research EXO Peel Maintenance Oil works as a daily cleanser, removes even heavy makeup, and doubles as a pore-care product to help prevent rough skin texture when you’re barefaced. The subtle floral fragrance even helps cleansing time feel like a soothing self-care ritual!

How to Use
the Cleansing Research EXO Peel Maintenance Oil
Take about three pumps of product, and massage onto dry skin to dissolve makeup thoroughly before rinsing off. (Make sure your face is mostly dry before use.)
*You may feel a warm sensation during use, caused by various ingredient and moisture reactions – this is normal and safe.

A Long-Term Skincare Bestseller: Cleansing Research Wash Cleansing N

Looking for another option to cut down on steps during your cleansing routine? If you can’t keep up with one cleanser for makeup, another for washing, and an added exfoliator, this next product is a long-time favorite in Japan that can provide multiple steps in one – the Cleansing Research Wash Cleansing N.

Often referred to as a “3-in-1” or even “all-in-one” cleanser, this product can remove makeup, cleanse skin, and exfoliate at the same time, making it a go-to option for busy people who still want to keep skin care in their daily routine. The scrub particles reach deep within pores to leave skin clean, smooth, and refreshed, almost like a massage. Plus, with AHA (malic acid), papain enzymes, and even kiwi extract, the formula effectively targets dullness, blackheads, and clogged pores.

Versatility is a clear highlight for this cleanser, often used at night for deep cleansing or even as a second cleanser, and in the morning as a light face wash. The fresh apple fragrance offers a bright start on early mornings, and a refreshing wind-down before bed, lifting your skin and your mood.

How to Use
the Cleansing Research Wash Cleansing N
To remove makeup or clogged pores, apply directly without lathering on wet skin, massage, and rinse off. For a lighter second cleansing or morning wash, lather with water, massage into the skin, then rinse.

Discover Japan’s Secrets for Silky Smooth Autumn Skin

After months of sweat, UV rays, and excess sebum on your face throughout the summer, leaving your skin unattended can easily lead to bigger problems in autumn and winter. That’s why the changing of the seasons is the perfect time to give your pores the tender loving care they need, and with just the five Japanese skincare products listed above, you can easily refresh your home routine without any complicated steps.

These Japanese skincare products can easily be found at Japanese drugstores and discount shops nationwide, including major chains like Don Quijote, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, and Sugi Pharmacy, as well as specialty stores like Loft and Plaza. It can be a hassle to pack your entire skincare routine in your suitcase when traveling, and cleansers are often tricky to portion out, so you might as well buy some new skincare products when you arrive in Japan! Try your new routine during your trip, and if you find a product you love, you can grab a few more before heading home.

Beyond the products introduced here, BCL’s Tsururi and Cleansing Research lines offer a wide variety of pore-focused skincare items. For more products and detailed information, see the official BCL website. Check out these pore care essentials during your trip to Japan to achieve smooth, radiant skin this season!

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