Deodorant in Japan and Makeup.jp

This came up on a recent question thread by BigfamJapan about things we do not buy in Japan. In my case, one of those things is deodorant.

One of the ways I get deodorant is to restock when I’m visiting my home country, Australia. Those little canisters can add up quickly in terms of weight and space in my suitcase, however, so it was quite a relief to discover Makeup.jp a couple of years ago. Originating in Europe, it ships cosmetics, perfume, hair and body care products, and even selected clothing and health supplements to other countries - one of which, these days, is Japan.

I am very satisfied with the range of brands available, which includes familiar products like Rexona, Dove, and Nivea, and the cost is quite reasonable, usually averaging somewhere between 400 and 800 yen. While this is a little more expensive than what I pay for deodorant in Australia, it ends up being less than what I’d pay for a lesser product here in Japan.

The shipping does take a little while, and my last order took nearly three weeks to arrive. Still, I think it’s worth it. I have tried to buy locally over the years, trying out various brands that people swore were effective, and I’ve just ended up disappointed, wasting time, money, and the products themselves. While I hope Japan does eventually jump a little more onto the antiperspirant bandwagon, I’m going to settle for importing something that works in the meantime.