Japan is full of products designed to make hot, humid summers a little more comfortable. One that caught my attention recently was Bioré’s cooling body wipes, which claim to make your skin feel 3°C cooler after wiping.
I found them while browsing a drugstore in Japan and decided to buy a pack and try them myself.
What surprised me most wasn’t just the initial cold feeling. The cooling sensation stayed on my skin much longer than I expected.
Here’s what they were actually like to use.
What Are Bioré Cooling Body Wipes?
These are Japanese body wipes made by Kao under its Bioré brand. The package I bought contains 20 large sheets and is labeled “-3°C,” referring to the cooling sensation after wiping the skin.
Each sheet measures about 23 × 20 cm (9.1 × 7.9 inches). The package describes them as thick, large sheets designed to wipe the whole body, remove sweat and stickiness, and leave the skin feeling refreshed.
The version I tried is fragrance-free, although I noticed a light mint-like scent when I first opened the package.
What the Sheets Feel Like
When I opened the package, I noticed a light minty smell that reminded me a little of Mintia, a popular Japanese mint candy. It was noticeable to me when I first opened the pack, but it wasn’t strong.
After wiping my skin, I could only detect a faint minty scent if I put my nose very close to my skin. About a minute later, I couldn’t really smell it anymore.
The sheet itself is about the size of a regular wet wipe, but it feels slightly thicker and noticeably softer. It holds plenty of liquid without being so wet that it drips.
How Cold Do They Actually Feel?
The cooling effect was stronger than I expected.
The moment I wiped my skin, it felt very cold—but not in a painfully icy or shocking way. It was simply a comfortable, refreshing kind of cold.
After that initial sensation settled down, the areas I had wiped continued to feel cool and tingly. My skin also felt dry and smooth rather than sticky.
Five minutes later, I could still clearly feel the cooling sensation.
What surprised me even more was that after 10 minutes, the cool, tingly feeling was still quite noticeable on my skin.
One sheet was also enough for much more of my body than I expected. I used a single sheet on my neck, both arms, stomach, and back, and it was still usable throughout.
For me, that makes the large, thick sheet one of the most practical features—not just the cooling effect.
What I Liked — and What to Know Before Buying
What I liked most was the balance between strong cooling and comfort. It felt noticeably cold as soon as I used it, but I didn’t find the sensation painfully icy or overwhelming.
I also liked that the cooling feeling lasted. Even 10 minutes after wiping, I could still feel a noticeable cool, tingly sensation on my skin.
The large, soft sheet was another plus. One sheet was enough for my neck, both arms, stomach, and back, and my skin felt smooth and refreshed afterward.
There are a few things to keep in mind, though. If you don’t like menthol-like cooling sensations, these may feel stronger than a regular body wipe. And although the package is labeled fragrance-free, I personally noticed a light mint-like smell when I first opened it. In my experience, the scent faded very quickly.
Who I Think These Are Best For
I think these wipes make the most sense for hot, humid days when a regular wet wipe doesn’t feel refreshing enough.
They could be especially useful after walking outside, commuting, sightseeing, outdoor activities, or anytime you feel hot and sticky but can’t take a shower right away.
If you’re visiting Japan in summer, this is also the kind of inexpensive everyday product that can be easy to overlook in a Japanese drugstore—but genuinely useful once you try it.
Where I Found Them in Japan
I found these Bioré cooling body wipes in the summer cooling section of a drugstore in Japan, alongside other products designed for Japan’s hot and humid weather.
At the store I visited, one pack was priced at ¥398 before tax (¥438 including tax). There was also a promotion offering two packs for ¥700 before tax (¥770 including tax).
Prices and availability can vary by store and season, so I’d treat this as an example of what I found locally rather than a standard price across Japan.
Can You Buy Bioré Cooling Body Wipes Outside Japan?
Availability outside Japan can vary, especially because cooling products like these are often seasonal.
If you’re traveling in Japan during the warmer months, I’d recommend checking drugstores and other stores that carry Japanese personal-care products.
For readers outside Japan, I’ll add reliable online buying options here when I find sellers I’m comfortable recommending.
My Verdict: Are Bioré Cooling Body Wipes Worth Trying?
After trying them myself, I can see why cooling body wipes are such a practical summer product in Japan.
What impressed me most was not simply how cold they felt at first, but how long the cooling sensation lasted. Even 10 minutes after using one, I could still clearly feel the cool, tingly sensation on my skin.
I also liked the size and softness of the sheet. One was enough to wipe my neck, both arms, stomach, and back, and my skin felt smooth and refreshed afterward.
Would I use them again? Yes—especially on a hot day when I’ve been outside and want to cool down and freshen up without taking a shower.
They’re a simple product, but exactly the kind of everyday Japanese find I created Japan Shelf Notes to share.
Product Details
Product: Bioré Cooling Body Wipes (-3°C)
Brand: Bioré / Kao
Contents: 20 sheets
Sheet size: 23 × 20 cm (about 9.1 × 7.9 inches)
Made in Japan
Purchased and tested in Japan
Note: I purchased this product myself. This review is based on my personal experience using the product. Cooling sensations can vary from person to person.