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

999 replies

FrugalFashionista · 08/05/2015 18:45

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
daftyburd · 24/05/2015 23:14

I got a timely email from Nectar about transferring points to eBay vouchers. So I did. I have ordered some mizon starfish cream, plus mizon snail recovery gel and Benton snail bee masks. I can't wait to be paid next week!

Lucysmam I use tretinoin. Read up a lot before I started using it. I started weak with 0.025% every few days. Make sure I use it long after my face has been cleansed at night. I had very little peeling and no redness. I upped to 0.05% and now upping again. I use nearly every night now as I must have skin like a rhino. Skin looks great. My cheeks glow as if I am wearing highlighter and pores appear smaller. I always wear sun protection on face anyway as my mum had a rodent ulcer in the 80's and drummed into me the importance of sun protection!

whitecandles · 25/05/2015 02:13

I live in Korea. My current favourite is Etude House. Their sheet masks are great (the smile wrinkle pack actually gets rid of my wrinkle! How????) and I use their BB cream, again the anti wrinkle one.

Their avocado seed hair pack is also great.

There is a volcano mask pack from, I think, Innisfree that is really good. Innisfree also do a nice oatmeal sleeping mask.

I've heard Tony Moly mascara is good but not tried it. And Missha serum also.

One of the best things about living here is all of the cosmetics! When you buy in store, they give you tons of free stuff too.

FrugalFashionista · 25/05/2015 06:31

I couldn't resist, I put on some Laneige White Plus sleeping pack from a capsule last night after the fabulous Laneige cream. The sleeping pack capsule is one of the more futuristic products I've tried, a soft white creamy core surronounded by a gelatinous clear capsule, they are mixed together before applying. It feels like vanilla ice cream on your skin and my skin is fabulous in the morning. Smooth, soft, without any residue or stickiness. Sorry about sounding like a broken record...

Laneige is one of the top-of-the-line alternatives, so these pods are quite expensive. But these are just fabulous, so they will be on my dream product list for sure.

OP posts:
FrugalFashionista · 25/05/2015 07:55

White how fabulous! I really wouldn't mind a trip to HK or Seoul right now! Enjoy!!! And thanks for the great tips!

Dafty the points will go a long way, as many really good products are quite inexpensive!

I've been using my Missha BB cream sample, I decanted it into a small foundation sample pot and am only half way through it although today is my third day. Very little goes a really long way.

Wombat very happy to hear how great your skin is looking. You've worked really hard for it and getting such nice results must feel really nice!

Bigbuttons yes makeup is much more fun now that the canvas is in a great shape. I find I need very little to get optimal results.

Midlife I order things from abroad all the time and have had very few disappointments - mainly if Italian customs interfere Ebay and Paypal are quite safe, if something does not show up you can ask for a refund.

OP posts:
lucysmam · 25/05/2015 08:38

Frugal, that sounds amazing! Unfortunately Laneige is out of my budget Sad

I've been alternating the Daiso sleeping pack with good old Nivea on a night & my face looks smoother and feels softer.

Even dp commented yesterday and he doesn't normally notice these things unless I point them out.

bigbuttons · 25/05/2015 08:45

Yes it's out of my budget too Sad

LittleMysMoominMamma · 25/05/2015 09:11

Mid, I haven't ordered from this particular seller before but I've already had shipping confirmation, so that's a good sign.

Like Frugal, I have bought thousands of quite a few things from sellers in different countries, and only once have I had a problem with a seller in the US, got my money back via Paypal. I do always look at the feedback scores though, and make a judgement on who to shop with from there.

TheWombat · 25/05/2015 09:23

Love the new name LittleMysMoominMamma, I still love to read those books, they are comfort food without the calories!

Ooh frugal the laneige white plus stuff looks fab, but pricey. Tempted by a trial kit I found on eBay for £8..

Still struggling with hormonal breakouts, but I doubt any skincare in the world will change that. Humph.

Swallowedbyasnake · 25/05/2015 09:41

Thanks for the reddit link on haircare Frugal after lots of reading have ordered Tony Moly Angel Glow Ring hair mask and Kao Essential Hair Damage shampoo and conditioner. I also accidentally ordered some DHC deep cleansing oil, Mizon snail recovery gel cream and Étude collagen eye patches oops! (Although still cheaper than the Dr Organics snail gel I nearly bought in Holland and Barrett for £20)

m0gz · 25/05/2015 10:11

The gelatine experiment worked. However, it did look like I had put footner on my face as the gelatine started peeling off! I saw mention of snail face masks in Holland and Barrett on the amazing faces thread so I'm going to try and get some today.

Wombat my acne is definitely hormonal. A low carb diet and a proper skin care routine is helping massively. I'm also going to get some vitamins, fish oils and zinc today as that also helps.

I was looking at some su:m37 products yesterday. I ruled out trying the eye cream due to the cost and dissapointing reviews but I'm tempted by the balm cleanser stick. However, I'm still nervous about spending so much (to me) on one product. I feel like I've wasted so much over the years on products that have been hyped up and done nothing good for my skin.

lucysmam · 25/05/2015 10:12

ooooh, different Coppertone sunscreen today. Perfect UV Cut Milk SPF 50. It's smoooooth and silky going on and has vanished straight into my skin.

Never thought I'd enjoy testing out suncream Grin It always seemed a bit of a chore & I bunged on whatever was available but now I'm quite enjoying it.

Dp's just rung me from work. The missed parcel on Saturday was his, not mine Sad He's had an email saying they'll attempt to redeliver today so looks like we're staying in .

The girls are still lounging in bed so I'll do some reading before deciding what else to put on my ebay order...maybe some more sheet mask ingredients and eye masks.

The effects of the eye masks were short lived, my creases are back. It'd get quite pricey using them every night too so I'm going to look for a natural/diy alternative and just use these a couple of times a week.

Playthegameout · 25/05/2015 10:21

Had a bit of a go at some diy ideas yesterday while recovering from a hangover, a salicylic and vit c peel, rice water toner and cucumber whitening mask. I was really impressed actually! Skin is beaming today and my delightful spot scars do look less red. Might work as a put on while waiting for a delivery.

m0gz · 25/05/2015 10:28

How did you do the vit c peel Playthegameout?

Lucysmam, Google gelatine eye masks for a good diy option. I'm really liking the coppertone sunscreens :)

lucysmam · 25/05/2015 10:32

Thanks m0gz will have a look Smile

Playthegameout · 25/05/2015 10:47

m0gz I followed this www.delightedmomma.com/2012/04/skin-care-tip-of-week-diy-salicylic.html?m=1
Sorry I can't make it clicky on my phone. It was mild but still had a definite exfoliating effect and my skin felt great after. I didn't experience the stinging she mentions, more of a tingle.

Playthegameout · 25/05/2015 10:49

Ooh it is clicky ! That's my achievement of the day !

lucysmam · 25/05/2015 11:09

Ladies I need help...8yo dd1 has a couple of proper white headed spots. Any idea what's gentle enough to tackle them?

I suppose now's as good a time as any to start her on skincare . I knew it was coming (she's developing breasts) but thought we had a while yet Confused

Playthegameout · 25/05/2015 11:40

Eek not sure what to suggest as her skin will be so delicate at that age. Since I started ploughing through the reddit and blogs I've found using coconut oil is making a big difference as a cleanser. I also steamed my face in green tea and mint (asda tea bags). No idea if either would be suitable. I have horrible skin but it is massively improved thanks to the thread .

lucysmam · 25/05/2015 12:02

I have no idea either but my dad just left me to it when I started getting spots & I looked bloody awful and felt shit so don't want her to end up the same.

I don't want to plonk chemicals on at all if it can be helped.

grrrr

lucysmam · 25/05/2015 13:04

I've been googling...very unhelpful Hmm Plenty on rashes/nits/whatever else but nothing useful for spots.

LittleMysMoominMamma · 25/05/2015 15:05

Wombat the books are amazing, years ahead of their time. Im trying to engineer a trip to Moominland for my 50th birthday next year Grin

Frugal which of the Laneige creams are you using? I could really do with a good overnight moisture boost, I wondered if the water sleeping pack would be hydrating enough for me?

TheWombat · 25/05/2015 15:16

LittleMysMoominMamma there is an actual Moominland? My world had just shifted a little bit on its axis. I think I might even cut down on sheet masks if it meant I could go there!

Lucysmam your poor DD. 8 yo is so young to have to deal with spots. Hope you find something gentle and effective. Have you considered one of the all natural fresh face masks from Lush? No strong chemicals and you could maybe do it together and make it into a pamper routine to share. The lettuce one has worked well but gently on my spots in the past, I think (sorry, can't remember the name of it).

Had a slight melanoma related wobble today. Not sure why - think it's just sunk in a bit more this weekend. I did buy a FABULOUS hat yesterday in the sale: it has a very wide bri, Joan Collins would be impressed!

LittleMysMoominMamma · 25/05/2015 15:19

Wombat indeed there is, its in Finland (of course) and it looks wonderfully strange Grin

FrugalFashionista · 25/05/2015 15:30

lucysmam I don't know, my DC are not old enough, perhaps a gentle cleanser (micellar water and cotton pads?) as a first step? Then later if it looks that she needs something else perhaps something like LRP Effaclar Duo for salicylic acid.

I received my Japanese sunscreen and the Innisfree red wine sleeping pack today!
Am very excited! Also found some MBD masks, can't wait.

Moominmamma I have only tried a single-use sleeping pack capsule sample from this Laneige line. It's too pricey for daily use but was great fun to try. Wombat will try another Laneige soon (the Water EX?), hers has received great reviews and is on my to-try list. I have several different sleeping packs (Dr Jart, Mizon, Missha Super Aqua and now the Innisfree) and they all are quite similar in principle but differ a bit in how moisturizing they feel and how they are 'flavored'. Mizon is the least rich (a faintly frangrant white cream), Laneige felt the most luxurious (like whipped cream or vanilla ice cream), Dr Jart is herbal and green-brown (a gel texture) and Missha is snail-based (a fluffy white paste that smells of cucumber and jasmine). I love them all and like to switch them around because they feel a bit different. All suit my skin really well and I wake up with smooth and glowing skin after each one. I've never been able to use rich night creams, they give me spots, so have fallen in love with these. But they may be an unnecessary luxury if you get good results with regular creams.

I wanted to try Laneige because many say that it is some of the best Korean skincare brands. The parent company, AmorePacific is a really big corporation: Etude House, Innisfree, Aritaum, IOPE, HERA and Sulwhasoo are a part of if, and they also currently own Annick Goutal and Lolita Lempicka perfumes! I think so far differences between Mizon (budget), Missha (midrange) and Laneige (perhaps a bit more expensive) have been really small, so Korean budget options seem really stellar too.

OP posts:
FrugalFashionista · 25/05/2015 15:35

Wombat I'm sure the hat looks stunning on you! Just hoping everything goes really well!

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