Tsujimoto Market: Our Guarantees
Description
Lebel Viege Medicated Essence, 100 ml — Japanese Quasi-Drug Scalp Essence for Thinning Hair
Overview
A 100 ml scalp essence from Viege, Lebel's professional line for mature hair, sold in Japan as a registered quasi-drug under the sales name Scalp Essence NY a. Three approved actives: dipotassium glycyrrhizinate for irritated scalp, Swertia japonica extract, and ginseng extract.
Two corrections to the previous version of this page. First, the ingredient listed as "Centilla extract" is senburi — Swertia japonica, Japanese green gentian — and not Centella asiatica; they are unrelated plants. Second, this is a quasi-drug, not a medicine: the distinction matters, and the approved Japanese wording is about supporting the hair and scalp you have, not about growing hair back. See also our Japanese haircare and Japanese serums.
Key Benefits
- ✓ Registered Japanese quasi-drug (sales name Scalp Essence NY a), so the actives and their approved wording have been reviewed by Japan's health ministry
- ✓ Three approved actives: dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, Swertia japonica extract and ginseng extract
- ✓ Salon-channel product from Lebel, a Japanese professional haircare house — this is not a drugstore line
- ✓ Light spray that absorbs without stickiness, so it fits a nightly routine rather than being skipped
- ✓ Supporting humectants: mulberry bark, bamboo, licorice leaf and seaweed extracts
- ✓ Shipped from our base in Kobe, Japan with tracking, in the Japanese domestic packaging
Product Details
| Brand | Lebel (Viege line) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Product type | Medicated scalp essence (sales name: Scalp Essence NY a) |
| Volume / count | 100 ml |
| Format | Pump spray |
| Sales channel | Professional / salon line |
| JAN code | 4952195625741 |
| Regulatory status | Quasi-drug (iyakubugaihin) in Japan |
Who Is This For?
- Scalps that feel tight, itchy or flaky, particularly from the mid-thirties onward
- Hair that has become finer, drier or lost shine with age
- Anyone wanting the approved Japanese scalp-care category rather than a cosmetic scalp tonic
- Daily home care between salon appointments, and after post-illness or postpartum shedding
- Not for you if you avoid alcohol in cosmetics — the formula contains both ethanol and anhydrous ethanol, plus menthol
How to Use
- Wash your hair as usual and towel-dry it so the scalp is damp, not dripping.
- Part the hair and spray eight to ten pumps directly onto the scalp, moving the parting so the product reaches the whole area rather than one strip.
- Massage in with your fingertips — not your nails — for about a minute, until it has absorbed.
- Apply this before any other leave-in product; oils and creams on top of it will block it.
- Do not rinse. Dry your hair as usual.
Frequency: Once daily after washing, or every evening if you do not wash daily. Scalp products in this category need three to six months of consistent use before a fair assessment.
Full Ingredients
Approved actives: dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, Swertia japonica (senburi) extract, ginseng extract.
Other declared ingredients: mulberry bark extract, bamboo extract, licorice leaf extract, seaweed extract, POE·POP decyltetradecyl ether, ethanol, anhydrous ethanol, butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, menthol, fragrance.
The correction worth spelling out: the previous version of this page listed "Centilla extract", which reads as Centella asiatica. Lebel declares senburi — Swertia japonica, Japanese green gentian — a bitter alpine herb used in Japanese scalp preparations and an entirely different plant. Note also that ethanol appears twice, in two forms, and that menthol is what produces the cooling sensation.
Cautions
- Contains ethanol (alcohol), which can sting dry or reactive skin — patch test first if your barrier is compromised.
- Contains menthol or mint oil, which can sting reactive skin — patch test first if your skin is easily irritated.
- This is a Japanese quasi-drug (iyakubugaihin): the active ingredients and the effect claimed for them have been reviewed by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Outside Japan it is sold as an ordinary cosmetic.
- Apply to the scalp only, and stop if the scalp becomes red, itchy or sore. If you are losing hair in patches or in clumps, see a dermatologist rather than continuing with a cosmetic-category product.
- Discontinue use and consult a doctor if redness, itching, swelling or persistent stinging occurs.
- Avoid contact with the eyes. If the product enters the eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water.
- Do not apply to broken, sunburned or actively inflamed skin.
- Keep out of reach of children. Store away from direct sunlight and high temperatures.
Package Contents
One 100 ml pump-spray bottle.
Shipping & Store Notes
- Ships directly from Japan
- Processing time: 2–6 business days
- Tracking number provided after dispatch
- Import duties and taxes may apply depending on destination country
- Opened cosmetics cannot be returned for hygiene and safety reasons
Authenticity Guarantee
Every product at Tsujimoto Market is sourced directly from Japan and verified for authenticity. We never sell fakes or grey-market goods. Each order is carefully packed in Kobe, Japan and dispatched with full tracking.
FAQ
Will this regrow hair I have already lost?
No, and any page that says otherwise is selling you something. A Japanese scalp essence in this category is approved to support the hair you still have — reducing itch and flaking, keeping the scalp comfortable, and helping existing growth stay in place. It does not restore follicles that have closed, and it does not treat androgenetic hair loss, for which there are actual medicines. If your parting is widening or you are shedding in clumps, see a dermatologist rather than working through bottles of essence.
What does "quasi-drug" mean on a Japanese label?
Quasi-drug (iyakubugaihin) is a Japanese regulatory category that sits between cosmetics and medicines. A product enters it by naming specific active ingredients at approved concentrations, and it may then state the effect those actives were approved for. It is not a medicine and it is not a promise of a result on your skin. Outside Japan the same product is normally imported and sold as an ordinary cosmetic.
Is this halal or suitable for vegans?
The declared ingredients are plant- and mineral-derived, with no animal components, so it fits a vegan routine. It is not alcohol-free, though: Lebel declares both ethanol and anhydrous ethanol, which is why the essence dries so quickly on the scalp, and some customers avoid cosmetic alcohol on religious grounds. There is no halal certification — Japanese domestic and salon products are rarely certified — so if certification itself is what you need, this product does not have it.
The packaging is in Japanese — how do I know what I am using?
The carton and bottle carry Japanese-language labelling, because this is stock made for the Japanese domestic market. Where an ingredient list appears on this page, it is translated from that labelling or from the manufacturer's own published data; where the manufacturer does not publish one, the ingredients section says so rather than filling the gap. Either way, send us a photo of anything unclear on the box after delivery and we will translate it, and ask us before ordering if you need the full label list first.
Will I pay customs duty or import VAT?
That depends on your country and on the declared value of the parcel, not on us. We ship from Japan with a correct customs declaration and full tracking; any duty or import VAT your country charges is collected by your local carrier or customs office on delivery. Check your national de-minimis threshold before ordering if you want to avoid a surprise.
