Gaining Support from People with Sensitive Skin: What Powers Does "yuskin sisora" Hold?

During this season when dryness is a concern, many people probably use low-stimulation creams or lotions to prevent skin irritation.

"yuskin sisora," which contains perilla leaf extract, is a skincare line created specifically for those with sensitive skin.

This time, alongside Takeyuki Nowatari, president of Yuskin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., let's delve into the brand's history while exploring the power of perilla.

The Current President's Atopic Dermatitis Sparked its Creation

The history of Yuskin is intertwined with the voices of its customers.

One day, a woman suffering from rough hands visited the pharmacy run by Nowatari's grandfather. When existing products were recommended, she left disappointed, expressing, "This is good, but it's too sticky." This led to the desire to create "a cream that effectively treats rough hands without stickiness," and thus, Yuskin was born in 1957.

"At that time, a yellow cream representing the color of vitamin B2 was quite rare; due to the unique scent of dl-camphor, people said it would never sell."

By regularly visiting pharmacies for explanations and persistently sampling, the product's benefits gained recognition, gradually expanding its reach. Considering that many pharmacies now stock the product shows how well it met user demands.

Yuskin Sisora (formerly known as Yuskin Cream S) was launched in 1993. It originated from the fact that Nowatari had suffered from severe atopic dermatitis since childhood.

"My skin was red from head to toe, and I scratched it so much that I ended up with scars. At that time, there was a lot of skepticism about alternative therapies and criticism of steroids, which troubled my father (the second president, Kazuyoshi Nowatari) significantly with thoughts of 'Isn’t there something we can do?'"

While his son's atopic dermatitis improved with age, the desire to help those suffering from allergies remained in his father's heart. He encountered a paper that stated "perilla leaf extract alleviates allergy symptoms"［1］.

Perilla has been cherished in Japan for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, often used as a condiment or garnish for sashimi. In China, red perilla is used as a material in traditional medicine.

"After reading the paper, my father negotiated directly with raw material manufacturers to create a cream incorporating perilla leaf extract, developing ‘Yuskin Cream S.’ It was the first cream in Japan that contained perilla leaf extract."

People with sensitive skin often face skin troubles throughout the year, such as pollen irritation in spring, sunburn and sweat issues during summer, and dry skin worries in autumn and winter. Among these, dryness can reduce the skin's barrier function, potentially leading to further skin problems.

The perilla leaf extract, which gently moisturizes the skin, was perfect for supporting its barrier function.

"For those with sensitive skin, preventing skin troubles is incredibly important. Therefore, in addition to perilla leaf extract, we included anti-inflammatory glycyrrhizin-derived ingredients and committed to a low-stimulation formulation that is fragrance-free, dye-free, and alcohol-free."

The cream containing perilla leaf extract spread through word-of-mouth, becoming a hit product, with the initial production of 100,000 units selling out within a month.

Reasons to Choose Yuskin Sisora

Even now, Yuskin Sisora has established an overwhelming position in the field of shiso-derived skincare.

"In our official shop, there are many customers who buy 5 to 6 bottles at once, as well as repeat customers. We also receive numerous letters of appreciation and requests to keep selling our products.

"Our company culture prioritizes the idea that 'it’s better to have 10 people buy from us every year for 10 years rather than 100 people buy 100 products in a single year.' We value long-term use by those who are struggling rather than a fleeting trend.

"However, we also want more people to know the benefits of shiso leaf extract, so we are developing new products as well."

Initially, only a cream was available, but now there are lotions for skin that tends to lack moisture, UV milk free of UV absorbers, gentle body shampoos, and in 2022, a face mask was also released.

The most popular lotion features a thick, non-dripping milky texture that makes it easy to apply when putting it on children. They always emphasize the user's perspective.

To this end, feedback gathered from user surveys and direct input at events is incorporated into product development.

The refill pouches for the lotion and body shampoo are products that emerged directly from the voices of users.

Furthermore, expansion beyond skincare items is also progressing.

"Although the ingredients are different from Sisora, last year, we released 'Shiso Candy' with added shiso extract powder. This functional food claims to alleviate nasal discomfort caused by pollen, house dust, and grime. It's received such positive feedback that people have called asking to buy it directly, so we are considering continuing its sale in the future.

"How shiso leaf extract affects the skin is still not fully understood, but we hope to share the power of this herb with many more people."

Yuskin Pharmaceutical continues to evolve by incorporating user feedback. We invite you to experience the power of shiso on your face and body.