Obsessed with Asian/Korean stuff - taking your skincare to the next level!

[FrugalFashionista]

Asian and Korean skincare products seem to be a big thing in skincare and beauty right now.

Interested in the following?

• finding a great sunscreen
• tailoring a multi-step ritual to your skincare needs
• talking about geisha beauty rituals
• learning what snail slime, bee venom and starfish have to do with beauty
• plumping up your skin with sheet masks and sleeping masks
• experimenting with essences

Please come here and share your questions, experiences, links and best shopping tips!

Sakura loving your vlog language course idea! I've lived in quite a few different countries and I tend to learn vocabulary that really matters by reading chick lit and self help in the language I'm trying to learn. Good in Bed was fabulous in Portuguese, Bridget Jones really entertaining in Italian, but Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus in Russian is still way too hard for me

THanks for linking that new English blog with Japanese stuff.

I have then kin area evolution by a famous Japanese women who has Beene n the beauty business for yonks. She introduced the idea of the lotion mask.The book is worth it for that info alone.
There are sheets that split into 5 thinner sheets. You soak them in water, squeeze out then put your lotion etc on and stretch theme over your face. You can also put a shower cap over the mask ( nose and mouth holes cut out of course!)?this helps to make the mask even more effective. Apparently wrapping your faces no cling film is even better but I have had the guts to go further than the shower cap!
There are loads of you tube vids on the method. One girl makes her own lotion using watered down moisturiser. Since I am a cheapskate I might try that or just make up my own ha with the powder.
I have a feeling the lotions might be specific to Japanese skin care. The hada labo gets rave reviews everywhere.check out Make up Alley for reviews.
Once my sheets run out I will make sure I get bigger ones as I have to use more than 5.

Off that website this Damaska Rose Dew Oil looks fab., especially for moisturization.
(sorry I've marked this thread for my own benefit!)

Gah, auto correct drives me crazy. I meant skincare revolution.

This is probably the Skincare Revolution book bigbuttons referred to? Looks really intriguing, and so does Sakura's rose oil! I'm avoiding face oils atm as some seem to be acne triggers for me, but I love adding essential oils to my bath water. I have a small vial of Ylang-ylang from Muji that I really like - it's like a burst of sunshine!

Oh, talk about taking it to the next level. My Japanese SIL was shocked (shocked, I tell you) that I didn't do "patting" every morning and evening. I wasn't that bothered about skincare 10 years ago when she was going on about this "patting". Wish I'd paid more attention because she is 45 this year and obviously looks 15 years younger.
From what I can make out it is some sort of lymphatic drainage routine, but basically Asian skincare is a bottomless pit of mysterious knowledge.
Apparently it was the geishas who invented the face mask by placing herbs on a muslin cloth and steaming underneath so that the herbal properties were steamed onto their face-- and the herbs were altered and catered to each woman's specific skin type. Amazing.

Yes that's the book I have. It's great. Has lots of methods for actually applying stuff. I try to remember but in the mornings I am too rushed. I'll have re read tonight .

Okay, Sephora is definitely testing the waters in Europe with Korean stuff. I went on their Italian site to check the price of a perfume, and they were advertising Korean stuff and this kit on their front page! Hope they are rolling out more stuff like that, I would really prefer buying locally to mail order. The kit is a bit weird, BB and CC focused, with an emphasis on covering up, not treating the skin, but perhaps that it the way to go. After all I wouldn't be here if I hadn't bought that lovely Dr Jart intro kit at US Sephora

Sakura totally fascinating! Bigbuttons I saw a pack of 50 dry sheet masks on Amazon for less than $2 I should read Memoirs of the Geisha, but Reddit and blogs are taking up my evenings

What a confused day, have spent the best part of the morning queuing at the US Consulate to sort out our travel documents. A few elderly Korean and Japanese ladies were there too (I never understood why) and they had wonderful unlined skin

Bigbuttons I use this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DAISO-Japan-REUSABLE-silicone-moisturizing-face-mask-over-sheet-mask-2pacs-/301622058494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item463a135dfe
I think it the same concept as applying a shower cap but more easier.

Bigbuttons 50 Shades of Snail lists some Korean alternatives for Hada Labo lotion.

I am in hydration heaven, totally loving the new stuff. I'm going to slow down and savor these products, do a proper focused trial without ADHD switching around, probably with the Super Aqua trial kit first. Just have to google first to understand what each product does

Well, I have ordered the hada labo from Japan so here's hoping its as good as the hype, thanks bigbuttons.

Apparently you only need 3 drops of the lotion if you use the patting with fingers, whereas the sheets use a lot more? Is that why you wet them down first with water so they dont absorb so much product?

Are these the sheets you use bigbuttons ? :

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marusan-SELENA-5-Layers-Multi-layer-Cotton-Puff-Pad-80-sheets-/111303824882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ea3995f2

yes, those are the sheets. Mine aren't that particular brand though.
Thanks frugal I'll check those out

Vegan I am also interested in getting some Hada Labo after I've finished some of my current stuff - it sounds nice and lovely, ideal for sensitive skin.

Doing random links... Some science stuff today.

If anyone feels lost when people go technical talking skincare, here is a great glossary that explains some basic concepts. I found it really useful.
If you are puzzled about pH in skincare, here is a good intro. I'm still a bit skeptical but if you are getting breakouts or feel that your acid pads are doing nothing, paying attention to this may help.
And here is how micellar water works.

And a final link for the weekend - How to choose a skincare mask

here is a really good idea for customising you own dry sheet mask using ingredients you already have. I like the idea of mixing the lotion/serum in with the water before you soak the mask. I imagine it would be great to make a vit c mix and soaking the mask in or green tea/aloe gel etc

Okay, the New York Times has a story on sheet masks this week
Reading it feeling wiped out after a busy week, about to peel a pomegranate mask off my face...

Bigbuttons I love your DIY ideas! Have just realized that I could rinse, dry and reuse some of the sturdier masks.

frugal I had an inspired moment whilst in Aldi today. They sell super cheap serums which are highly rated. I bought one to use with my sheet masks. I know it's not strictly Asian skincare but it might well do the job. I then began to think of all the different things you could soak the sheet in.
What about natural fruit acids, glycerin, rosewater, your favourite creams watered down? I have a home made niacinamide serum which I could easily use along with home made vit c serum as a brightener.
I do love a bit of diy though

Sorry to be thick...what's niacinamide? (I'll be off to look it up ).

These diy ideas are fab!

I feel bad I have nothing much to contribute but I do appreciate all your links and ideas.

Lucysmam niacinamide is Vitamin B3 - when I went to school it was called nicotinic acid. If you have ever studied biochemistry, it is involved in some key oxidation pathways. That's why it's everywhere, it has a variety of pharmaceutical uses. In cosmetics, it is an active anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps to restore the skin barrier function: it is helpful in acne, hyperpigmentation, fighting oxidative stress, getting rid of dullness, antiaging... Here is a brief summary. And this week's news has an intriguing anti-skin cancer story. It is a really common active ingredient in my Korean products, and I think niacinamide sleeping masks have helped to fade my hyperpigmentation! The Asian Beauty bloggers are a brainy bunch, unlike any beauty blogs I've ever read, I would bet some money that quite a few of them have a advanced degrees in science, so I am totally immersed and learning a lot from what they are writing!

Bigbuttons that sounds brilliant! Today's sheet mask was a cotton one so I am now drying it, going to reuse it serum samples galore. Please give me a recap of your Japanese beauty secrets at some point...

Sorry if this is too heavy going. I need some R&R too so some eye candy here -

Cute overload

Some Fantasy Shopping in Asia

ha ha. I haven't got any beauty secrets I make it up as I go along. I take other people's ideas and run off with them! I am also reasonably broke so have to cut corners if I can. I basically look at the ingredients. In most they are pretty much use the same base ingredients .I realise I have ordered at least three different sleep masks. The first one has arrived today, hooray!

lucysmam I make my own nacinamide serum using b3 powder, water and I also add glucosamine (nag) which is supposed to help it all along. These are simply powders you buy. Dead cheap and dead simple to use.

Thank you both. I loaded up wiki but it was all formulas & my head went . I found an Allure and Paula's Choice page that were much easier to understand.

Frugal sciences weren't my strong point. I'm more the creative type.

I'm not sure if this peach and lily post has been linked already but I've just been reading it.

It goes through a basic routine and suggests products suited to each skin type along the way. Obviously it can be tailored to your own needs or wants but I thought it might be a useful starting point for anyone whose head is a bit frazzled by all the choices out there

Ok, Ladies..my Korean hylaluronic sleeping mask arrived today. It is a clear gel like substance. I mixed it with my moisteriser and put it on my face and chest. fingers crossed

Great link lucysmam

This thread is SO bad for my bank balance