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LUSH Sweet Japanese Girl Cleanser for a Facial Treat

LUSH Sweet Japanese Girl Cleanser ($10.25 for 1.2 oz.) is quite possibly my favorite LUSH product of all-time. It’s a “facial massage and exfoliation bar.” I don’t really say it’s a massage bar (though you could, since it’s grooved), but I love it for how it hydrates skin with a buttery goodness feel while gently exfoliating. I prefer to use mine at the end of my shower, so my skin is warmed from the hot water; this product just melts into the skin. I rinse with splashes of warm water, then gently dab my face dry at the end. My face feels moisturized and so, so smooth. Just ridiculously silky soft!

Ingredient List: Fair Trade Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Palm Kernel Oil (Hydrogenated palm), Ground Almonds (Prunus dulcis), Ground Aduki Beans (Phaseolus), Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Juniperberry Oil (Juniperus communis), Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), *Citral, *Limonene, Perfume,.

59 Comments

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Ayo Avatar

Actually the cleanser was made by a japanese Lush staff
who was described as a “Sweet Japanese girl”
which is why it has that name.

Thal Avatar

I thought so too at first, but if you look at a lot of famous art out of Japan, there are a lot of images of Japanese women like that. So really just a reflection of Japanese art and not racism.

Thal Avatar

When I first tried the soap I was afraid it would make me break out. It has only been two days but no bad results yet. I am also using the Tea Tree Water with it like is suggested on the website so that might be why. A lot of things say that most cleansers are too dry even for acne prone skin like mine. Another soap you might try if you have acne or skin issues in general is African Black Soap.

Jean Avatar

… Now that is one product I will not endorse because of the offensiveness, along with OPI “Mi-So Happy.” What is it with Asians being fair game for racist product names and all sorts of other ethnic jokes?

Tara Avatar

…I am really amazed at the girls that say it is offensive. Look at the website blurb on the creation of the soap…

Quote – We hand make each one in a Japanese sweetmeat mould, it’s sweet little face with its chubby cheeks represents beauty. – End quote

The soap is not made to be offensive, nor is it offensive (and I can say that because I am Asian and it personally does not offend me). It is a stylized creation, and if you compare it to old silk screens and prints from Japan you would see their styled artwork in representing their faces is very similar.

Sorry but I just think in some ways people are far too quick to think negatively of things.

Brenda Avatar

I honestly don’t know why it bothered so many people, I’m Asian and I don’t think it’s racist. I honestly wouldn’t have guessed you were half Asian Christine, I was thinking more along the lines of Italian.

Jean Avatar

Eh, well, to each their own. I’m Asian, I find it offensive. Just because one member of a race considers something not offensive, does not make it so (and vice versa.) I have other minority friends who enjoy some reeeaaally disparaging jokes made at their expense. They say since it doesn’t offend them, it’s not offensive at all; my question is, can one person speak for an entire group of people?

Marcie Avatar

I picked this up monday during my lush haul. So far I’m a fan. I don’t have terrible skin by any means and actually when I attempt to wash my face with any products I usually break out. It hasn’t really been an issue, I just never used anything except an apricot scrub to wash my face. Although, now that I’m getting older I want to start taking care of skin more so to reduce any signs of aging. Luckily so far I haven’t had any issues with lush products breaking me out.

Originally I had picked up herbalism about a month ago. I’ve never really had a ‘skin routine’, so with that being said since its not ‘routine’ in my life, I’m surely one to forget. I also found that with the amount of time it took to mix the paste and clean up the mess, I found myself even more forgetful. I find SJG a quicker process, and easier to work with. The clean up is minimal and the clean up stays only on my face! Im no longer having to wipe spots of green out of my sink or tub! I also noticed the pores on my nose are smaller. I’m very hopeful for this product, and can’t wait to see the results within a few weeks!

Asta Avatar

The manager at my Lush store told me to stay far away from this one with my combo/acne prone skin. I’d be interested to know if it makes anyone break out.

For those who are saying it’s racist, it’s actually the top selling facial product by Lush in Japan. Don’t be so quick to judge.

Kat Avatar

I use it, but use the tea tree spray and it helps cut the oily feel down. I have oily and acne prone skin and it works so good. it also helps make my pores smaller!
There is also one called baby face that is good with out the roughness!

Kat Avatar

I use it, but use the tea tree spray and it helps cut the oily feel down. I have oily and acne prone skin and it works so good. it also helps make my pores smaller!
There is also one called baby face that is good with out the roughness!

Mai Avatar

In addition to those saying it is racist, here’s the quote from Lush.co.uk-

“Noriko from Japan invented this one. The mould she used is a traditional shape used in Japanese sweet making. So it is a Sweet Japanese Girl.”

claudia m. Avatar

I got it and hated it =(
it smells alright, felt ok while I was rubbing it on, but when i went to rinse it off, I realized it felt like I was rubbing my face with lard, ewwwww! and yeah, it broke me out BIG time >=/
I didn’t think it was racist or offensive, just creepy looking.

Ayo Avatar

For people who say it broke them out
it’s not supposed to be rinsed off with water
but wiped off with a hot damp towel
or with a cotton pad
and tea tree water toner.
so in that sense once you wash you’re done, no moisturizing!

Stephanie Avatar

for those of you that love this soap be warned its on lush’s retirement list so once your store is out its out for good for now. 🙁

Stephanie Avatar

One of the ingredients used is apart of an ecosystem for an endangered animal so in effort to perserve the ecosystem bye-bye to sweet japanese girl. thats what the sales associate told me.

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