About namiloom

We're a married couple in our mid-40s, living in Tokyo. Both of us work full-time. namiloom started because friends abroad kept asking us to recommend Japanese skincare. And explaining it over and over in a group chat got old. So we made a website instead — one place to point people to.

We both write here, and we sign our names so you know whose experience you're reading. A total beginner's take hits different than someone who's just spent more years around this stuff.

Nico

I used to work at a Japanese cosmetics company. What that job gave me is a decent ear for the industry: which phrases on a box are just marketing, and which brands tend to undersell themselves instead of oversell.

I write a lot of the comparison posts, mostly because I've bought more of this stuff than Taro has. I've also ruined a good toner by layering it wrong. Ask me about it sometime.

Taro

I got into skincare in my mid-30s, and only because Nico wouldn't drop it. Before that, "toner" just sounded like fancier water to me. If you're a guy who's never touched a skincare product beyond bar soap, I was you.

I write the beginner posts, the ones aimed at men specifically — because most of what's written about Japanese skincare assumes you already know what a toner is for. I didn't. So I write for guys who don't either.

How we review products

• Most of the products we feature are ones we bought or already owned. We've never been sent products by brands.
• When we mention Japanese reviews (from @cosme, Amazon Japan, or Rakuten), we're summarizing the general reaction, not translating anyone's text word for word.
• We link to Amazon because that's where most of our readers already shop. Some of those links are affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure for the details.
• Every post is signed by whoever wrote it — Taro, Nico, or both of us.

Get in touch

Questions, corrections, or product suggestions? Reach out athello@namiloom.com.