スキンケア用品
sukinkea yōhin
The English phrase skincare products is translated into Japanese as スキンケア用品 (sukinkea yōhin).
The term refers to cosmetics and treatments used to maintain and improve the health and appearance of the skin. In casual conversation or when browsing beauty sections, Japanese speakers often omit the word for 'products' and simply use the loanword スキンケア to refer to the entire category of skincare.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of the katakana loanword スキンケア (sukinkea), meaning 'skincare' and the kanji word 用品 (yōhin), meaning 'goods' or 'supplies'.
Which one should you use?
However, 製品 often carries a slightly more industrial or manufactured connotation.
How do you pronounce it?
sukinkea yōhin
Did you know?
- Many スキンケア用品 in Japan are categorized as 医薬部外品 (iyakubugaihin), which means 'quasi-drugs'. These products contain active ingredients that provide a specific effect but are sold as cosmetics rather than medicines.
- While スキンケア用品 covers general care, Japanese has a specific category called 美白 (bihaku), which translates to 'beautiful white'. This refers to brightening products designed to reduce pigmentation and create a more translucent complexion.
- In Japanese beauty culture, skincare is often divided into 導入液 (dōnyū-eki), or 'booster lotions'. These are used before any other スキンケア用品 to increase the skin's absorption of subsequent products.
Examples in context
- ドラッグストアにはスキンケア用品がたくさんあります。doraggusutoa ni wa sukukea yōhin ga takusan arimasu.There are many skincare products at the drugstore.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are shopping at a drugstore.
- 蓮 Ren結衣、何を探しているの？Yui, nani o sagashite iru no?Yui, what are you looking for?
- 結衣 Yuiいいスキンケア用品を探しているんだけど。Ii sukinkea yōhin o sagashite iru ndakedo.I'm looking for some good skincare products.
- 蓮 Renこのブランドのものが人気らしいよ。Kono burando no mono ga ninki rashii yo.I heard things from this brand are popular.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう、蓮。見てみるね。Arigatō, Ren. Mite miru ne.Thanks, Ren. I'll take a look.
