Korean skincare

[Mummabear04]

I know I should probably post on beauty but slow boards and all...

Does anyone use Korean skincare products? I'm really interested to find out if they are as good as people say, what brands are best and if they really do help with anti aging (I'm late 30s and need some help!)

Please tell me everything!!!

I definitely would not underestimate the impact of stress. It honestly can really affect your physical health. Sometimes I actually think that less make up can look better. I quite often have puffy eyes and I find that if I try to cover them up they look worse.

Does it actually work? It has such mixed reviews online!

I've actually been thinking about getting a supplement for skin! I have a healthy lifestyle, I eat well and exercise regularly but I inherited bad skin so it's always been a problem for me since I was like 11yo.

I just can't do the snails!!!! Haha!

Yes. I'm 43 and it's changed my skin completely. Hyperpigmentationn gone. The best things for your skin though are going to be regular hydration and raw fruits and veggies.

I use reedle shot every 10 days. I use rice toner. SPF every single time I leave the house. I do a rich night cream and occlusive step with oils or a mask.

I use chatgpt to build my regimen. It recommends products in the price range I set and we build in the steps together.

I saw results within 3 weeks. It's also a lovely way to do self-care and pampering.

Yes, it has worked very well for me. I’m in my late 40ties.

@Zov The big reason why Asians overall often have better skin is their policy in staying out of the sun. I’m am born in the UK but never go out without a hat and wear sunglasses all the time even in winter. There is also a theory about the amount of sinew offal type stuff eaten.

I can’t use any fragranced face products as they give me a rash, so the stuff I use is very expensive. It means I rarely use make up. I just use moisturiser twice a day. I’m in my fifties and many people comment on my skin but it’s mainly genetics and just staying out of the sun.

I’ve used Korean skincare for about 10 years. In those days I used to get it delivered direct from Korea via EBay. I think they offer excellent value and are generally very high quality. You can check brand ingredients on the incidecoder website. Boots have quite a wide range of the more mainstream brands.

my routine staples are clean it Banilla, a cleansing balm, cosrx Good Morning gel cleanser, Hada Labo hylauronic acid, Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream. I also use sheet masks a couple of times a week.

tkmaxx always have a selection in too these days.

SPF options are also very good too.

I’ve been using it for a few months. I like it because, as I understand it, it’s very good if you have sensitive skin and that’s certainly been the case for me. No strong smells, all feels very gentle.

I use Skin 1004 cleansing oil and foaming cleanser, and Torriden collagen moisturiser. Both from Pure Seoul (Skin 1004 is widely available though). Just bought an eye cream yesterday.

The staff in Pure Seoul have been very good, didn’t push the fabled 10 step routine at all (the girl who served me certainly thought it was unnecessary), and helped me choose my eye cream.

Yes I use that too, it's very good.

Have you had any reduction of the hyperpigmentation using these?

So my skin is combination and sensitive with hyperpigmentation and acne scars.

I like the Skin1004 cleansing oil
Round lab creamy cleanser/ skin 1004 poremizing cleaning foam
Haruharu eye cream with bakuchiol.
Im from rice toner or haruharu back rice toner
Glow deep serum by beauty of Josean. It has arbutin which helps reduce the appearance of my marks. So I look for this ingredients if trying new serums. Corsx do one with arbutin which is on my list to try next. Niaciminide doesn't work on my marks.
As I am sensitively to retinol, I use wishtrend night cream with bakuchiol 2x a week at night. This is an alternative to retinol.
Skin 1004 probio- cica enrich cream

Skin 1004 hyalu- cica water fit sun serum is my go to facecream with spf as its not oily.

My skin is definitely more sensitive as I had an allergic reaction to trentonin which left me with more marks on my face. I was using it to reduce previous marks! Korean skincare has helped me repair my skin barrier. I like the price point too.

My marks have definitely faded. I also have freckles too yay! And have seen them fade or disappear all together.
I have alway used eyecream at night but not have a proper skincare routine as such. I used to use facewash and moisturiser and that was it. I'm 40 this year so decided I need to start being proactive about my skin.

I haven't tried the travel set. I really like the brand and so have kept coming back to try more of the range. Its definitely a range i repurchase over and over again The travel set would be really good to buy and try and see how you get on with ingredients. I'm off to buy it lol.

PRP does not ‘lift’ sagging skin. It does, however make the skin look more plump and radiant.
So - given what you said about stress and bad sleep - I’d start with the obvious.

Also - you didn’t mention if you supplement hormones. That also massively affects the way skin ages. I can clearly see it among my friends - the ones on HRT have better skin.

@Zov I like to think of it as me time. It takes 10 mins at night. The
Korean skin routine is 10 steps with a face mask sheet as well which I don't bother with. I look 5 years younger at least and always get told I don't look like I'm approaching 40 which is always nice to hear.

You sounds like you have the same skin as me - acne scars and freckles! Very excited to try the travel kit. Will let you know how I get on!

Please can someone explain the sheet mask popularity to me?

I got given one on my birthday and it said in it that it had more than a bottle of serum infused in the mask

Well, that seemed like a total waste of a bottle of serum. I managed to keep it on for five minutes. It just felt really slimy and nasty.

I don't currently use serum by the way, but I think the average bottle is about 20 mL and this was more!

But then I hear from other people that sheet masks are amazing. I had a look at boots and they do have things like aloe vera et cetera, but is that actually worth it?

Scientifically, what's the value of the sheet? Surely there's no difference between that and just applying a good cream? Or is there?

thanks.

I couldn't answer scientifically, but I do feel they give my skin a lovely glow. I leave them on for 15 minutes, you do get used to the feel of them. You can also make your own, using whatever ingredients you want.

Theres a book i got on my kindle called the Korean skincare bible, its fab! Really explains the process for each step and gives recommendations for different brands/products. When I first started using Korean skincare I just bought a load of stuff, not knowing what each item did. This book really why they do each step and the science behind it. Similar yo the caroline hirons book but not as in depth

Interesting chat. I used Korean skincare for a while a couple of years ago and whilst I liked some products, I don't think they're necessarily better than any other creams and serums.

I actually think that what is important is consistency.....so doing your skincare routine day in and day out, over years and finding the right ingredients that suit your skin.

Koreans have a big skincare culture and prioritise looking after their skin and staying out of the sun as a PP said. In Japan too you will see lots of people carrying umbrellas on sunny days to protect their skin from UV rays.

My routine now doesn't use any Korean skincare, only because I've found products I like from other brands. If you're interested though then there are often whole Korean skincare sections in TK Maxx and Boots.

My routine (slightly oily skin, late 30s) is:

Morning

Cleanse with Micellar water
Vitamin C serum
L'Oréal Revitalift SPF 50 (this works as my day cream and I find I don't need a separate moisturiser.)

Evening

Cleanse with a foaming cleanser
Apply toner (either an exfoliating acid toner or a soothing one on alternating nighs)
Nivea Bakuchiol serum (like @AlhambraQueen my skin doesn't tolerate retinol but Bakuchiol is a natural alternative.)
Nivea Hydra Gel night cream

It sounds like a lot written down but it probably takes 5 minutes a day in total and my skin looks much better for it. Plus I enjoy doing it and view it as a bit of me time.

Why don’t you try some beauty boxs? I signed up for glossy box this year, I choose this one as it was cheap. As someone who has been oblivious to skincare and makeup for almost 50 years I had no idea what I was doing. Through the monthly boxs I’ve tried various products I’d never heard of, it gives you and opportunity to try before you buy really. I got a Byoma (Korean) Retinol oil in this months box which I used tonight and ooo it was so nice on my skin. Anything I don’t use my DDs take or I regift. There are a few box options out there.

i also started following beauty content makers, I started with Nadine Baggot as well are close in age, she dose lots of videos with other experts in the shops, by watching her I’ve started following other content makers and most importantly found I’m actually learning about products and ingredients and enjoying it.

Following !

Very good info thanks

Did you have to pay customs charges from yesstyle?

@Keffert no