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!

Wombat your pore regime sounds really great! I will probably do a clay mask on my nose, I don't really have a problem with pores but have found that doing one every now and then helps with product buildup.

Last night: a glycolic pad, a sheet mask, some Missha Super Snail Treatment (a wonderful hydrating liquid that gives my matte skin a glossy finish, really starting to love this, could use this as a stand alone product on weekends), an eye serum (the shipping mistake that I got to keep) and a sleeping mask. Lots of product for me but the results are really enjoyable. And no breakouts!!!

Poppy thanks for coming here! I have a backlog of cleansers so not up to speed on the new alternatives though I have lots of samples coming up. Lots of Asian Beauty bloggers like low pH cleansers so that might be worth looking into. I have a sample of Laneiges but have decided to postpone trying them until weekend, the sleeping mask really sounds like a treat!

Buttons Muse is one of my long-time fave bloggers - really good reviews. And I love the 50 Shades lady! Her blog is really an education, have learned so much about skincare!

Wearing my homemade BB cream again... determined to reduce clutter

Have read the thread with interest and have bought the C20 serum. I have used it three nights and feel it is a bit drying although I am following the instructions on the box. Is this normal and also what should I buy next snail slime?

bigbuttons Pore-cleaning 3-step treatment here: fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/03/28/how-to-shrink-pores-temporarily-plus-3-pore-myths/ I don't have a massive blackhead issue, but do end up with acne cysts and congested looking skin during my TOM, and have rather large pores. Can't imagine this will 'close' them, but my face looks a LOT brighter and other products go on like a dream afterwards..

Hello hattymattie I have just ordered the C20 so interested to hear this. I'm really hoping it helps to reduce the pigmentation I have from past breakouts. I heartily recommend ALL THE SNAILS, I'm using the Mizon snail repair cream (in a brown jar) which I bought from Cult Beauty but which is less than half the price on eBay. However I also love the Mizon returning starfish cream which I'd say is slightly more moisturising, but not at all heavy or oily.

Forsale the Bravura toner sounds lovely, I am tempted by a Ph-adjusting toner but have spent enough this week...

Hatty I'm still new to this but the combination of acid and good hydration has been really good for me (my skin is easily dehydrated too). I have snail slime in many products, the Mizon All-in-one snail cream is a really great product but I am also very impressed with the Missha Super Aqua Snail trial kit. There are five products in the kit (cleanser, essence, serum, moisturizer, cream) plus a pouch and a tiny sponge. I have a hard time picking a favorite product. I would recommend these for normal or dry skin or someone dealing with post acid/retinoid dehydration. Some of them leave a glossy finish so not suitable for anyone whose primary interest is mattifying. If you prefer just one product, I'd go for the Mizon cream - I haven't tried the gel but hear that it is good too.

My growing product hoard has reached a critical mass. I can no longer find anything because I have so much to fit in such a tiny space.

No nice shelving units in my rented house. So I have them in baskets.
I need to see things otherwise I forget they are there.
Since the Koreans seem to layer their skin products heavily I've just decided to do the same with mine. Using frugal's advice to go from light to heavy. I do the washing , acids, then it's everyman for himself. So I have one or more serums, then the hada labo, then snaily stuff, then oils, then sunscreen.

People in blogs seem to plot and plan and review. I have no idea what my skin type is, so I buy for combination/normal and hope for the best. I cannot judge on a daily basis whether my skin needs this product but not that one. How can people do that??( hats off)

I also have no idea what products my skin NEEDS in the first place. I do know what is good active-wise and I follow reviews on here. Whether I'm actually doing the optimum for my particular skin is highly unlikely!
All I know is I'm probably not doing any harm and am most likely doing some good.I think i've I worry too much I'll just give up!
So now I'm thinking "snail bee, lots of peeps have said good things about it. I don't know if I need it actually, but maybe I should just use it anyway"

I also need to up the strength of my glycolic acid toners. When I first used them they had a nice tingle, now, nothing. The clearasil and the Bravura calendula still have a tingle though.

Sorry I am rambling on, please fell free to go to the next post!

OK thanks people - I'm going to try the Mizon snail stuff and see what happens.

Buttons I enjoyed your thoughts. I do not totally understand my skin either but mine seems to come with a long list of do nots (do not overcleanse, do not overexfoliate, avoid sudden temperature changes, do not use oils, do not tan). These posts have helped me:

Which skincare i gredients do you need for your specific concerns

How to read the moisturizer ingredient list

I tried reading the ingredients and realized that Clinique Moisture Surge has the same main ingredients than most sheet masks - so it's likely to work for my skin but may be a bit pricey given that I might get the same impact from cheaper Korean stuff. On the other hand, someone who does not have time for sheet masks or hates mail order could just go and buy that Clinique cream and get similar results.

I tend to decide every day how much hydration I need. Last week up North I was exposed to freezing winds and the flights dried up my skin - bring on lots of layers and the heaviest duty moisturizers. Over the weekend it was super hot so I just wanted a sheet mask or a single dose of serum or a slick of essence. Now it's summery but a bit cool so I might use serum, cream and the sleep-in product. If it looks like a breakout could be emerging, I put on a dab of Effaclar AI (there are lots of intriguing Asian alternatives).

It's really easy to get carried away and end up with a glut of products. This may have happened to me too and a couple of parcels are still on their way or stuck at customs warehouses somewhere... But I'm now going to focus on testing the stuff I have and trying samples and trial kits and travel sizes, trying to figure out what suits my skin best.
Quite enjoying the process actually

Can any of you ladies recommend me some sheet masks please? it is confusing . I feel like ordering a few. I have oily but dehydrated skin that could do with a shot of hydration, and i feel like an ebay splurge!

In return may I recommend the Holika Holika bb cream. Ive been wearing it for a week now and it is long lasting, good coverage and it's cheap as chips

Aaaaagh why did I read this? I need nothing new and I tried so hard to resist but...
I am awaiting a Hada Labo sun cream, a Laneige pore reducing BB air cushion with refill and a TonyMoly panda eye stick.

Oh I've thought of another question. Can the sun creams be trusted to provide both uva and uvb protection? Im looking at a Secret Ket one, spf 50 and pa+++. Since im very fair and burn quickly, i need to be sure these creams really do both. I've not heard of the pa system before

I meant Secret Key

Coconut here is a review of Biore that has more info than you'll ever need. Yes they are broad spectrum. I use my Missha sunscreen in sunny Rome and it protects my super pale skin really well. I got a code from Missha Germany, 10% off with SUN, but the Japanese stuff arrives in about a week too - unless you are in Italy

I've really liked hyaluronic acid, aloe and green tea sheet masks. My Beauty Diary sheet masks from Taiwan are widely praised, I haven't tried them but Wombat just ordered some. My Innisfree mask order is in a customs warehouse somewhere My advice would be to order just a couple from wherever cheapest and most convenient to test whether you actually like wearing them. For me, they have replaced the glass-of-wine-after-a-long-day ritual - about the same cost, healthier and equally relaxing. Some of them don't do much, others plump up your skin and give you a glow.

Dafty wonderful things, hope you'll enjoy those! The panda eye patches are really cute!

PA rating system for sunscreen explained

Thank you for that frugal. I'll try any old make up but i take my sun cream very seriously!

Today I received a product I do not recall ordering in my excitement last week!

It's a Daiso Japan Hyaluronic Sleeping Pack. Looking at the blue starry packaging, I know the magpie in me was drawn to that & it looks lovely amongst my few lotions and potions.

I'd best have a look for some reviews for it.

Frugal and bigbuttons, I don't really understand my skin either, but I have been paying attention to s&b threads (particularly this one),trying to take better care of my skin, and using suncream every day, and it seems to be paying off.

I'm looking forward to the rest of my purchases now to try out

Wombat, sounds like a much needed splurge I'll look forward to seeing what you think of the products you've ordered.

And can you all please stop with the panda stuff! It's very tempting...as are the apples...and cherry lip balms and various hand creams in pretty containers

I ordered during my tea break at work. I ran out of my 99p Superdrug hand cream minutes later. I have been strong. I did not order a panda shaped pot of handcream.

Coconut, I bought MJCare Dewey day platinum sheet masks (think they were just under £2.50 for three) last week. Am not sure the one I used on Saturday did much but it was nice and soothing/cooling on my face after a busy day. Had I used my brain, there was enough liquid in the packet to get a second use from (soaked into a compressed mask) I think

You did well to resist dafty I might have to add something panda-ey to my shopping basket when I order my toner, just...because!

Lucysmam that's great! If the pouch has a lot of liquid in it, you can just wash the mask and put it back in there and get a second or even third wear out of it - I keep mine in the fridge.

Dafty sorry about confusing various panda products - and really respect your willpower!

This will be my final panda-themed link - the blog Sleepy Panda. A German girl who has studied in Japan, budget-oriented Asian beauty products. Her reviews are refreshingly honest - if it does not work, she will tell you.

Grrr! I never thought to wash and keep the original mask. Never mind, I'll know for next time, thanks Frugal.

Oh there is a Little Pet wrinkle mask for mouth lines. I don't even care if it doesn't work the packaging has a little wrinkled Boston Terrier like my boy

Well, according to Google, Daiso is the Japanese version of Poundland type shops & sells their own brand stuff.

All the reviews I've just clicked through seem positive so I'll try the sleeping pack tonight and see what the results are in the morning.

I'm off to look for the Muse blog mentioned upthread for a look around

lucy think i have that daiso sleep pack. it's fine. Nothing spectacular but absolutely fine.
I am still dithering re sunscreen. I so want the biore but the bottles are too small for the price.
Anyone got experience of other Asian sunscreens that are 'cheaper' but good.I have gone on a splurge of tony moly fruit shaped hand creams and lip balms.....The banana hand cream is for ME but the others I will put in my box of presents for others ( my excuse for buying and it was the shopping equivalent of going on a sugar binge)!!

I like presents big . You've actually solved me the problem of what to get my difficult to buy for sister there, thanks.

I have a question about the bb creams...how on earth do you work out what shade to buy?! I'm currently using a Max Factor foundation that is a touch dark for me and have another in my bag that is too light. I figured I'd use up the MF and kept the other for halloween for the girls faces.