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!

Marking place to read later!

EXCITED

Hello!
Wondering if any of these are suitable for rosacea? I have to avoid anything with oil because it gives me spots. I love the sound of the snail products and sleep masks - because my skin could do with some hydrating & plumping!! -does anyone know if these would be suitable?

Ciao from an airport terminal that is half burned down... People are wearing face masks that are not S&B related... Who knows when we'll depart so I'll do a few links if I can.

Cindy I have rosacea (in remission now thank God) and I'm pretty careful with my face. No oils, ever, avoiding excessive washing (hot water and temp changes are my triggers) and hot cloths and abrasive exfoliants. The Mizon stuff has been perfect on me so far - the snail, starfish and good night stuff I linked to before. They all are subtly perfumed, but that does not seem to be a problem for me. I have erythema type rosacea and look like Rudoph the Raindeer in winter but these products suit my skin so far. Patch test, start slowly and don't do any major changes to your routine. There are many subtypes of rosacea and multiple triggers so everyone is a bit different.

I ordered some mascara the other day and got sent two sachets of Korean stuff but have no idea how to use it or if it's good? Anybody used it here?

It's Puritan pore strip ex blackhead and it's a black sticky lotion.

Sorry I meant LaBette not Cindy (scrolling links on the phone) with rosacea advice. This Mizon intro kit is full of great products, I've tried every single one and they are really nice - wearing starfish cream right now under Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream. They can be found for much less on eBay but if you are impatient or deserve a treat, these ship faster

Ooh Lj how exciting - does this MUA info help?

I received my first sheet masks as freebies (now I know why - they are the gateway drug) and they languished in my bathroom for a while because everything on the package was in Korean... Then I read some ITG posts and realized I was missing out big time...

If the stuff is gunky I'd put it on my nose, leave it for a bit. Some of these harden to a gummy strip and can be peeled of, others might be wash off type. Part of the fun is that every product is a surprise...

Ohh excited by this thread! Place marking to read later (and no doubt to spend some money) - fancy that intro kit that you posted Frugal.

Ohh - I'm off to Singapore soon so shall look out for these products...
Also - my local 99p store has the Nutrogena dry touch sunscreen SPF 30, and Asian coppertone UV creams SPF50 / PA +++ including a BB cream and body milk (60ml) three for 99p!! Great for days out

Ooo I'm excited to try it now!!

Just found this - coppertone products at 99p store are Japanese:

www.cityscape-bliss.com/2012/08/coppertone-for-99p.html?m=1

Bit scared to try this one

Idle time at the airport is toxic for my wallet - found a lovely bomber jacket at Pinko and a lovely new tea fragrance (this summer's Aqua Allegoria). Buying nothing!!!

Here is a great EU-based BB cream shop, have used them and liked the products.

Envying everyone who gets to travel to Asia! About 200 Japanese and Korean tourists are going to fly towards the North Pole with us and ladies in theirs 60s and 70s have fantastic skin and very few wrinkles. Would love to talk beauty with them!

FrugalFashionista - not anymore. I now live in Melbourne. :) But I still see Neutrogena here. My favourite though is the one with SPF 110 age shield, but that's just available in the US, I think. And I've finished my last bottle. I have never tried the LRP Anthelios, but I have the stick which I was supposed to use to reapply sunblock. But I'm too lazy and have never gotten around to even opening the stick. The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer is nice, too. :)

I'm currently using the Freshel moisture lotion (hyaluronic) as the step post cleanser but before moisturiser.

I use a sleeping pack after as moisturiser - skin has never looked better.

Sunscreen is either biore or sun play. All Japanese brands.

Freshel is a cheaper line by the manufacturers of Kanebo & they have a make up line which I've tried some samples from called Kate.

To the poster who is going to Singapore - for drug store or Boots / Superdrug equivalents - check out Watsons & Guardian.

Sasa also good for Jap / Korean stuff & you'll find Korean brands like Innisfree, Face Shop etc have their own shops in malls.

I'd like to try the snail stuff and I read something about bee venom - anyone tried these and would recommend brands etc?

This is a terrible, terrible thread. It was bad enough on the CH one, but I really do need to step away now before I buy even more. Trouble is that the Korean products seem such good value vs. the stuff CH recommends at £20+ a pop.

Agree that this is an awful thread

Have just ordered some missha bb cream

Any other recommendations for a newbie?

Terrible terrible thread should have had a after it. I am thoroughly enjoying it!
I will not buy any more recommendations (ehem).

DH supplied me with a few products from his trip to Korea and I am now hooked!

I tried this mask last night and wow my skin afterwards was amazing it does warn you not to use if you have any bee allergens.
i also have some radiant lace hydrogel masks to try, peripera lip glosses (lumi pang and peris ink) which are really great, smell delish and stain your lips. I had loads of samples of radiant CC brightening cream and V-V vitalizing serum from Banilla. and goodal moisture barrier cream.

Frugal I buy most my products from Beautynetkorea as they have free postage but I do also buy from cosmetic-love, honest skin and Ebay.

m0gz I also had awful hormonal spots on my chin that would take ages to go and left scars. The only thing that worked for me was LJH Tea Tree 90 essence I have had no breakouts since using this, for me it was truly a miracle product.

There is lots of bloggers that review Korean beauty products but my favourite is Fanserviced-b, she buys all her own products so you know her reviews are all honest.

So many good suggestions on this thread... Think I'll buy the intro kit by Mizon as I've heard so many things about the starfish cream. Thank you for the link Frugal.

I really love the Skin Foood black sugar mask, just makes the skin feel extra clean and gets the gunk out.
I'd also recommend the peach toner from the same brand, helps to restore pH levels as it is slightly acidic and counteracts the alkaline nature of the exfoilator.

Does anyone have any recommendations for essences to use after toning. Finding it hard to find a watery, brightening essence that doesn't break out my skin.

I've just happened upon this thread whilst 5 week old ds is asleep on me..I need to have nicer skin, and some of this stuff sounds fab! I've started browsing eBay but theres just so much our there. I've got combination/oily skin with lots wrinkles appearing (I'm 37, I blame Dd and ds) and horrible enlarged pores on my chin and newline, round my nose etc, often blackheads which won't shrift and some cystic acne. I've very pale skin too. Currently I just use coconut oil to remove make-up, a hot cloth cleanser most days and a bit more coconut oil to moisturise, although for a while I used a bha toner from Paula's choice and it seemed to work well. However I'm now on mat pay and just cant afford to spend loads on my skin, some of the products sound like they might fit the bill if they last a while too, I'm not sure about snail and starfish extract though!

It sounds like lots of us have come to Asian skin care products through having the same kind of issues with our skin.

saranghae on the CH thread someone was raving about Benton snail bee essence (cheap on ebay)...

Has anyone been brave enough to try the 'placenta' themed products? Does this refer to actual placenta? Or stem cells maybe?

I wonder whether Koreans or Asians more generally agree that the products are superior or whether they buy into a French/European skincare craze...

I'm Asian and would always have bought into European / American skin care brands or high end Japanese (Shiseido) until the last couple of years.

And I'm really impressed by the high street Korean / Japanese brands I've tried.