The main jar and refill of d program Skin Repair Cream EX both contain 45 g, but they do not come with the same container. If this is your first purchase, or you do not have the matching EX body, start with the main product. An older Skin Repair Cream jar needs a separate check: Shiseido says the EX refill physically fits, but does not recommend that pairing because the contents differ.
I’m Irene. This guide starts with the exact Japanese product name, then explains which container to buy, how to replace the inner cup and where the cream belongs in your routine. It covers Japan’s Skin Repair Cream EX, not the three colored lotion and emulsion lines. Products with similar names in other markets are not assumed to have the same formula or interchangeable containers.
Information checked: November 11, 2026. This is a guide based on Japanese official instructions, not a hands-on product review.
Identify the Japanese main jar and replacement cup
The full Japanese name is ｄ プログラム スキンリペアクリーム ＥＸ. It is a Japanese quasi-drug (医薬部外品), positioned as a cream for sensitive skin. Both formats below launched in Japan on October 21, 2026.
Main product: outer jar and cap included
スキンリペアクリーム ＥＸ
45 g
JAN: 4514254232491
Reference retail price: ¥3,960, tax included
Choose this format for a first purchase or when you need a replacement EX main container.
Refill: replace the inner cup
スキンリペアクリーム ＥＸ（レフィル）
45 g
JAN: 4514254232606
Reference retail price: ¥3,630, tax included
Look for “つけかえ用レフィル,” a replacement refill. It must be fitted into the matching EX body before use. The lower price does not make it a complete jar.
These are official reference retail prices; store prices may differ. The 45 g figure is the weight of the contents, not proof of a complete container or compatibility. Check the full EX name, the refill label and JAN before paying.
Physical fit does not settle the old-jar question
Shiseido makes a specific distinction for this refill: it fits inside the previous Skin Repair Cream main container, but the company does not recommend that combination because the contents differ. Its instructions specify the Skin Repair Cream EX main body.
Do not turn this into a claim that the sizes cannot fit. Equally, fitting successfully does not establish that the two generations are the same product. The stated reason is the different contents; this instruction does not claim a chemical reaction or damage to the container.
- No EX body: choose the complete main product. Even if you own a jar at home, do not assume you can use the refill by itself on a trip without that jar.
- An intact, matching EX body: check the refill’s full EX name. If the insert no longer fixes securely or the cap cannot open and close properly, Shiseido advises buying the main product again.
- Only the old non-EX jar: do not treat physical fit as the manufacturer’s recommended pairing. Follow the specified EX-body requirement.
- Unknown version or a jar sold in another market: use the full name, barcode and container photographs to check with the brand. Cross-market compatibility has not been verified here.
For other refill formats, see the Japanese cosmetics main-product and refill checklist. Washing instructions and reusable parts from another product should not be transferred to this jar.
Fit the replacement cup before removing the seal
This process replaces an inner cup. It does not involve scooping or pouring cream into another container. First confirm that you have the specified EX main body, then follow the official order.
- Remove the main container’s cap.
- Release the old inner cup. Place a 10-yen coin or similar coin in the notch of the main body and twist gently to remove the cup.
- Insert the new EX refill. Place it in the main body and press it firmly down from above.
- Only after fitting it, peel off the entire seal. Take care not to cut your hand on the seal’s edge.
- Close the main container’s cap.
Do not transfer cream left in the old cup into the new refill. Do not peel the seal first and treat the loose inner cup as a complete jar. Replace the main body if the cup will not fix securely or the cap does not work properly.
Use a pearl-sized amount at the end of skincare
The Japanese directions say to use the cream morning and night, at the end of skincare. Take about one pearl-sized amount on a fingertip and smooth it gently over the face. The brand’s routine illustration places it after emulsion; that does not require everyone to buy or use every step in the range.
- Start with broad areas such as the cheeks and forehead, working gently from the center of the face outward.
- Apply an additional layer to areas where dryness is a concern.
- Use gentle pressing on particularly delicate areas rather than rubbing strongly.
“Pearl-sized” is the manufacturer’s guide, not a specified weight in grams or a pump count borrowed from another product. For the colored lotions and emulsions, see the three current d program EX skincare lines compared.
Separate the medicated actives from moisturizing ingredients
The cream is positioned to retain moisture, support the stratum corneum’s moisture barrier, and prevent dryness and skin roughness. The Japanese ingredient list marks two medicated active ingredients:
- Tranexamic acid
- トラネキサム酸
- Dipotassium glycyrrhizate
- グリチルリチン酸ジカリウム
Shiseido describes these actives in relation to suppressing inflammation and preventing skin roughness. Niacinamide (ニコチン酸アミド on the ingredient list) and ectoin (エクトイン) are listed among the other ingredients, supporting the product’s moisturizing and moisture-protection positioning. Xylitol also has a moisturizing role.
The official launch information additionally lists acne prevention and making fine lines caused by dryness less noticeable, with efficacy evaluation testing. The presence of tranexamic acid does not by itself establish a brightening or spot-removal claim for this product. Nor should niacinamide’s presence turn the dryness-related fine-line claim into a medicated wrinkle-treatment claim.
This Japanese quasi-drug skincare cream should not replace assessment or treatment needed for eczema, dermatitis or inflamed acne. Ingredient concentrations are not inferred from their order. For the full formula, use the Japanese product sources below; if the purchased pack has been updated, check its actual labeling.
Sensitive-skin testing does not guarantee no reaction
The manufacturer reports sensitive-skin patch, stinging and allergy testing, while explicitly stating that allergies, irritation and acne remain possible. Fragrance-free, colorant-free, ethyl-alcohol-free, paraben-free and mildly acidic describe the formulation, not a guarantee for an individual. Ethyl-alcohol-free does not mean that every ingredient chemically named an alcohol is absent; paraben-free does not mean entirely preservative-free.
Stop using it immediately if irritation, redness, swelling or itching occurs. Shiseido’s general advice for cosmetic reactions is to wash the product off with water or lukewarm water, avoid scratching or rubbing, and consult the store or the brand. Seek advice from a dermatologist if symptoms are severe. Do not continue through a reaction because a product is labeled for sensitive skin.
- Wipe the container opening clean after use and close the cap properly.
- Keep it away from direct sunlight and high temperatures. Stop use if skin abnormalities appear after sun exposure.
- Buy the main product again if the refill cannot be secured or the cap no longer opens and closes properly.
The final shelf check: match the full Japanese EX name, choose the 45 g main jar or 45 g refill, and confirm you have the correct intact EX body. When replacing it, remember: fit first, peel second, and do not transfer leftover cream.
Official sources and image credits
Checked November 11, 2026. Specifications, formula, directions and compatibility refer to Japan’s version. Formula and container equivalence with products in other markets have not been established.
- Shiseido Japan: Skin Repair Cream EX brand page: main/refill formats, old-container warning, ingredient roles, amount and routine order.
- Shiseido Japan official store: 45 g main product, J10602: full name, Japanese classification, JAN, full ingredients, directions and precautions.
- Shiseido Japan official store: 45 g EX refill, J10601: identity, JAN, matching EX body, old-jar warning, replacement order and no transfer of leftover contents.
- Shiseido release dated August 17, 2026 and full official PDF: October 21 launch, sizes, reference prices, positioning, acne-prevention and dryness-related fine-line claims.
- Shiseido: what to do if cosmetics cause itching or other reactions: stopping, washing off the product and seeking advice.
The Japanese EX product photographs in this article and its cover come from Shiseido’s official product materials and are used to identify the main jar and replacement cup. The container-choice and replacement diagrams are original editorial explanations based on official instructions, not official brand diagrams. Product appearance and printed labels have not been generatively redrawn. Direct photograph sources follow.
