Tsujimoto Market: Our Guarantees
Description
Kikumasamune Sake Makeup Remover, 200 g — Japanese Cleansing Gel with Sake and Amino Acids
Overview
A 200 g cleansing gel from Kikumasamune, a sake brewery in Kobe — the same city we ship from — which moved into cosmetics on the back of its own fermentation. Sake (fermented rice liquor) extract carries amino acids and ceramide precursors, and it is the base of the formula. The gel is weakly acidic, free of colourants and mineral oil, and it removes makeup and sunscreen while leaving skin less stripped than a foaming cleanser typically does.
Two things the previous version of this page did not tell you, and should have. The formula contains placenta extract, which is animal-derived. And it is built on sake, which is alcohol. Both matter to some customers, so both are stated here rather than left to the Japanese label. See also our Japanese cleansers and Japanese moisturisers.
Key Benefits
- ✓ Built on sake extract from Kikumasamune's own brewery in Kobe, not a bought-in fermentation ingredient
- ✓ Sake extract carries amino acids and ceramide precursors, which is why the gel leaves less of a stripped feeling
- ✓ Weakly acidic, no colourants, no mineral oil
- ✓ Generous 200 g at a Japanese drugstore price — enough for daily use without rationing
- ✓ Also contains glycerin, arginine, arbutin and mineral content alongside the sake extract
- ✓ Shipped from our base in Kobe, Japan with tracking, in the Japanese domestic packaging
Product Details
| Brand | Kikumasamune |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Kikumasamune Sake Brewing Co., Kobe, Japan |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Product type | Makeup-removing cleansing gel |
| Volume / count | 200 g |
| JAN code | See package label |
| Regulatory status | Cosmetic (not a quasi-drug) |
Who Is This For?
- Anyone whose skin feels tight and squeaky after removing makeup with a foaming cleanser
- Daily makeup and sunscreen wearers who want a large, affordable first-cleanse step
- People curious about Japanese sake and rice-ferment skincare, at the least expensive point of entry
- Also usable on the body to remove sunscreen
- Not for you if you avoid alcohol or animal-derived ingredients — this is built on sake and contains placenta extract
How to Use
- Use on dry skin, before water. Take a generous amount into dry palms.
- Massage over the face for thirty to sixty seconds, working over eye makeup gently and last.
- Add a little water and keep massaging so the product emulsifies.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, or wipe off with a soft cloth if you prefer.
- Follow with your usual water-based cleanser if you wore heavy makeup or a water-resistant sunscreen.
- Do not use it on the eye area if you wear contact lenses without removing them first.
Frequency: Once a day, in the evening, as your first cleansing step. There is no reason to remove makeup in the morning.
Full Ingredients
Components the manufacturer names: sake (fermented rice) extract, glycerin, arginine, arbutin, placenta extract, amino acids (including glutamic acid, arginine and leucine), minerals. Weakly acidic; no colourants; no mineral oil.
Kikumasamune does not publish the complete INCI list for this product online. Two disclosures the previous version of this page owed you: the placenta extract is animal-derived, and the sake extract means the formula contains alcohol. Arbutin is present as an ordinary cosmetic ingredient here, not as an approved quasi-drug active at a reviewed concentration — this is a cleanser, and a cleanser is on the skin for under a minute.
Cautions
- Contains animal-derived ingredients — not suitable for vegans.
- The formula contains ethanol (cosmetic alcohol), which some customers avoid on religious grounds.
- Keep it out of the eyes and off the lash line. Remove contact lenses before cleansing the eye area.
- 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 200 g tube or jar, as supplied by the manufacturer.
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
Does sake extract actually do anything for skin?
It has a plausible basis and it is not magic. Rice fermentation produces amino acids, organic acids and small sugars, and those are humectants — they hold water at the surface, which is why a sake-based cleanser leaves less of a tight feeling than a detergent-heavy one. Japanese brewers have used the association for a century and Kikumasamune's own fermentation is the reason the company entered cosmetics. What we will not repeat is the old line on this page about brewers' hands staying young: that is a nice story, not evidence.
Is this product halal or suitable for vegans?
The product is built around sake (fermented rice liquor) extract and also contains placenta extract of animal origin, so it is neither alcohol-free nor vegan. The product carries no halal certification — Japanese domestic cosmetics are rarely certified — so if certification itself matters to you, this product does not have it.
Is one cleanse enough, or do I need to double cleanse?
It depends on what you put on your face. For a light day — sunscreen and nothing else, or bare skin — this on its own is enough, and adding a second wash just strips you for no gain. For long-wear foundation, waterproof mascara or a water-resistant sunscreen, follow it with your usual water-based cleanser: an oil or gel step lifts those, a foaming wash then removes the residue. The rule of thumb is simple. If your skin still feels slippery after rinsing, cleanse again. If it feels tight, you have cleansed too much.
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.
