The older I get the more minimal my skincare routine becomes: minimal number of products with minimal amount of ingredients. For me it’s about quality, not quantity, and the fact that my skin just doesn’t do well when I throw too many things at it.
So when I discovered the Japanese brand Tunemakers, I was immediately intrigued by their system.
Rather than create multiple product lines for different skin types, Tunemakers features 3 carrier products – a toner, a lotion, and a cream – plus a ton of booster essence that you can mix into the carriers or use alone to address specific skincare needs. It’s bespoke skincare to the core, because you have full control of the customization.
Tunemakers booster essences are also unlike your typical essence or serum. Each features just one active diluted in water, and at most include an absorption enhancer or preservative.
Yep, that’s it, no unnecessary fillers whatsoever, which means the products are also fragrance-free! Concentrate would probably be the more fitting term here, as each bottle has a higher % of actives compared to the average essence (or so the brand claims, sadly they don’t actually list the %).
Not going to lie, I was very tempted to buy a ton of their essences given the availability and lower prices in Taiwan, but I controlled myself and bought just 3 products total: Concentrated Moisture Lotion, Ceramide 200, and Licorice Root Extract.
Tunemakers Ceramide 200 review
Ingredients
Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycosphingolipids, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lysolecithin
Texture
Feels like water, but with a slight slip. Absorbs instantly leaving a natural finish with zero stickiness.
Where to buy
$29 on eBay; $27.80 on Kirie Station; $19.99 on Yami; $24.99 on TokTok Beauty
This is one of their best sellers and despite the name, it doesn’t actually include ceramides but a precursor of ceramide called glycosphinolipids/GSL1.
GSL itself is a lipid composed of fat and sugar, and functions similarly to ceramides in that it also repairs and strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier. Research showed that a 5% GSL solution can help reduce trans-epidermal water loss2! Hydrogenated lecithin and lysolecithin are there as emulsifiers, but also act as emollients and penetration enhancer to deliver the GSL deep within the skin.
While my skin barrier is no longer compromised, it never hurts to strengthen my barrier and keep it as healthy as possible.
I was using this before my Picoway laser treatment, and even though my skin looked red and splotchy immediately after the laser, the doctor noted that my skin would recover quickly because “it’s actually pretty healthy”. I can’t help but think the ceramide 200 is partly to thank for my quick recovery.
I love the simple ingredient list, how lightweight it feels, and how well it layers with other products. Most ceramide products can be heavy or oily, but this is neither, and why I’ll keep using it in my routine until kingdom come.
Tunemakers Licorice Root Extract review
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (licorice) Root Extract
Texture
Liquid has a brownish tint, but feels exactly like water and absorbs instantly.
Where to buy
$14.99 on TokTok Beauty, $21 on Amazon, Kirei Station,
Licorice root is soothing and anti inflammatory, which makes this tiny bottle perfect for acne and post-acne spot treatments.
It also helps reduce general redness, so I figured it’d be good to have on hand in preparation for my laser treatment recovery. While I didn’t actually get to use it for that purpose (the redness subsided before I got home), this truly works wonders on breakouts!
As soon as I spot any bumps I apply a dab of this and the next morning the spot looks less angry and inflamed. After dabbing the Licorice Root Extract a couple times the spot is pretty much gone, and the best part is it’s never irritating and it leaves no marks behind.
I’ve also tried using this on my nose when it was a bit red from me extracting sebaceous filaments, and the redness was gone by the next morning. For me this is a lovely product to have on hand in case of skin emergencies, and I love that it’s gentler than other breakout treatments.
If you have sensitive skin you can also try mixing this with your toner/serum/creams for an overall anti-inflammatory boost!
Tunemakers Concentrated Moisture Lotion review
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Honey, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium malate, Hydrogenated lecithin, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Extract, Glycosphingolipids, Soluble collagen, Lysolecithin, Malic Acid
Texture
Watery with a slight slip. Absorbs instantly leaving skin feeling smooth and soft without any stickiness.
Where to buy
$24.99 at TokTok Beauty; $30 Kirei Station; ~$35 at eBay
Tunemakers actually created this toner by adding in 5 of their own concentrates in the following ratio:
They also included vitamin c (in the form of MAP) for antioxidant and brightening benefits, while licorice root extract (reviewed earlier!) was added for an anti-inflammatory boost.
The toner itself is mildly acidic with an advertised pH of 5.5 to match our own skin’s pH level. The idea is to provide our skin with the essential nutrients it needs while still nurturing our skin’s moisture barrier, and I’m all for that!
Despite how lightweight this toner feels, it’s incredibly moisturizing, and its results are on par with my all-time favorite Klairs Supple Preparation Toner. While the Klairs toner also helps soothe the skin, the Tunemakers toner is better at nourishing and plumping the skin.
Given that my skin is no longer sensitive, I actually prefer the Tunemakers Concentrated Moisture Lotion a tad more for its anti-aging benefits. It’s also more expensive, but I’ve found that a little goes a long way, and my skin feels hydrated after just one application. I also love how smooth it instantly makes my skin feel, something even the Klairs toner couldn’t achieve!
- Packaging8/10
- Ingredients10/10
- Texture/Application10/10
- Performance9/10
- Price8/10
Usually I hesitate to recommend a product for all skin types, because everyone's skin is unique, but I'll make an exception for this toner. Unless you're allergic to any of these ingredients, I think this is a well-made product with great ingredients that will hydrate, nourish, and strengthen your skin. If you're overwhelmed by all the options out there and want a toner that kinda does it all (and does it well), this is definitely worth checking out!
Overall I’m really happy to have discovered this brand, they remind me a bit of Odacite but instead of oils they have concentrates of research-proven actives.
If you can read Japanese, I highly recommend browsing their official site for more information. There’s also a different site in Chinese if that’s your preferred language. I plan on trying their moisturizer and AHA toner next!
Article Sources
To keep my content accurate and trustworthy, I rely on peer-reviewed studies, articles from reputable academic institutions, and quotes from certified healthcare professionals to back my claims.
Schnaar, Ronald L., and Taroh Kinoshita. “Glycosphingolipids.” Nih.gov, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1101/glycobiology.3e.011.
DiNardo, Joseph C., and Michalun, M. Varinia. Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. United States, Cengage Learning, 2014.
Hi, I read elsewhere that “ceramic precursor” means the ingredient encourages the skin to produce ceramides. Do you know if it’s a specific type of ceramide or basically, all types of ceramides found in the skin?
The journal I referenced doesn’t say specifically which ceramides, just that the precursors are necessary for ceramides to build the moisture barrier. I’m going to assume it means all the ceramides found in our skin i this case!
Hmm that sounds good. Btw, did you start off with Ceramide or did you just jump into Ceramide 200?
I started off with the ceramide 200!
Hi Jenny!
Thank you for your useful sharing. I wonder that it is all fine if i use Tunemakers Ceramide 200 while i am pregnant. It’s so nice if you can help me with this doubt.
Thank you so much xoxo
Hi Mie! I’m not too familiar with pregnancy-safe ingredients but based on my limited knowledge the Ceramide 200 looks ok. I would definitely check with your doctor just to be safe though!
As I get older I noticed my skin isn’t as bright anymore – do you recommend this system for an over all brightness and eveness?
Some of the products in this system can help, but I haven’t tried those myself so I can’t say for sure. I actually wrote a post specifically about brightening here: My skin brightening routine: 4 products + 3 tips to get your skin glowing
This sounds lovely! Also, your photography for this post is beautiful!
xx,
Meredith
LATEST POST | INSTAGRAM
Hi Jenny! I’m tempted to try the Tunemakers Ceramide 200 after reading your reviews, it sounds so interesting and i wonder how should I incorporate it into my routine. Do you have any suggestions on how to use it and on the frequency of usage? According to how I understand it you’re supposed to use it before toner right after cleansing. I’m a little worried about overusing it. Also do you recommend using it before/after exfoliating with AHA? I love your content so much and really appreciate all the info that I learned from your blog!
Hi Rachel, thank you for the kind comment! The recommended usage is twice a day before toner and after cleansing, but if your skin barrier isn’t compromised I think once a day would suffice (that’s what I’m doing now). Due to its simple ingredients and lightweight texture it’ll be difficult to “overuse” it, so I don’t think you’ll need to worry about that :) If you’re exfoliating with AHA, use this after!
Ok I am hearing about these brand for the first time and I am blown away! Concentrated essence and boosters plus customizable options is what I am living for! My skin has a mind of it’s own, some days it’s dry and some days it decides to be oily! This custom option is great for people like me! Love the less ingredient list idea, I always prefer minimal skincare rather than slathering on 10 products and not knowing which one is working for me and which one really isn’t.
You got me all excited about this brand, thank you for introducing it to us! I am recently realizing there are hidden gems in Japanese skincare ranges but sadly no word out there! Like why aren’t Japanese skincare brands easily available?!
I am back after a month long hiatus, hope you’ve been well! Missed reading your posts! :)
xx
Ankita Bardhan | Real Girl Talks
http://realgirltalks.com/
Thank you Ankita, hope you’ve been well too! I agree, I’m not sure why Japanese skincare isn’t as widely available as Korean brands, they truly have some fantastic products and generally I prefer their minimal approach. Hopefully this will change soon and we’ll start seeing more Japanese brands on the market!
Really good ingredients lists…. I’m pretty impressed!
When are you going to get on the Ordinary bandwagon? :D
I know a lot of people like the Ordinary products for their price point, but I personally am not a fan of the CEO, so I won’t be purchasing the products anytime soon. I’ve tried products from the Hylamide range (I guess it’s supposed to be a step up from The Ordinary) in the past and they didn’t wow me either :/
I have not heard of this brand but it definitely sounds interesting and good. I will let my sister know about this since she can read the language. Pretty excellent rating, and understandable about the toner, or skincare in general for all types of skin. Have a lovely week. /Madison
A lot of Japanese brands are unknown outside of Japan…I swear they’re trying to keep all the good stuff to themselves! Jk, but it’d be great if this brand would one day expand their presence to the West!
I’ve never heard about this brand before but I want to try it now especially licorice root extract. I need to check their offer even if my japanese is pretty bad (I guess it’s a good moment to review my knowledge).
This brand is new to me. I don’t know much about skincare but I like the idea of a simple routine.
Jennifer | Mrs Q Beauty
This is definitely a great line for people who just want a simple routine with effective products!
Wow I love the sound of this system. Such a good idea! I’ll have to check out this brand. Thanks for the great recommendation as always.
https://amyevans.co.uk – Amy ????
I think they’re constantly adding new boosters to their line too. Hopefully they become more readily available outside of Japan soon!
This sounds like a very impressive line. The concept is great and I like the ability to customize the regimen based on your own skin needs. And my needs change over the course of each month. This is definitely something I’d really to try.
Janine
http://abeautifulwhim.com
XOX
The boosters come in small bottles too, so you don’t have to worry about trying to finish a ton of products before their best-by date!
I love Asian skincare products.. they are some hidden gems in there! http://thejourneyoflove215.blogspot.com
X
Yep, I feel like I’m discovering new products and brands everyday!
This product sounds really amazing! I’m actually looking for a product for my acne that isn’t AHA or BHA lately :)
xx Alyssa | STYLE VANITY
The licorice root extract won’t remove the acne, but it will help with the healing process to remove redness and prevent hyperpigmentation!
I have never heard of this brand before but from the ingredient list I am quite fascinated.
Btw, I love your blog design.
Shang J. | Beauterazzi
Aw thank you! I actually designed it myself :D
I am so new to both the brand and these skincare products, but your reviews always get me so excited! I want to try both products as they sound out of this world amazing. I also agree about a more minimalistic approach towards skincare regimen; I certainly need to audit mine that tiny bit! Great review Jenny :)
p.s. love the look of your website now – is it just me or you have changed something? In any case I am a fan! xx
Thanks Naya! I updated the design 2 months ago, but it wasn’t anything drastic, just a few tweaks here and there ;) So glad you like it!
Okay, this is a completely new brand to me but wow, the ingredient list is so short and I am really impressed. Sounds like a must try and the liquorice extract is the one that intrigued me the most. I wonder if Amazon.ca carries it or I’ll have to search through eBay.
ps: Did you change your blog layout?
Amazon carries a few of the brands most popular products (the toner and the ceramide essence are on there), but you might be able to find more on eBay. Good luck! And yes I updated the layout a while ago, nothing major though, just some tweaks here and there :P
Yes I am all about quality over quantity when it comes to pretty much everything these days and that includes skincare! It’s really much better to have a handful of products that are really effective and work well for your skin than thirty things that just work okay. The concept of Tunemakers makes so much sense especially since it comes with the option to customize based on one’s specific skincare needs. That’s very appealing in itself and to hear how the booster essences contain proven actives without the fillers makes me want to try this line now. Thanks so much for the introduction Jenny!
You’re welcome! I hope this brand becomes more popular in the west, I’d love to see more retailers carry their products!