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!

I think I looked at that in an "ooh, I like the apple" kind of way Amazing. I'll go back and have a proper look rather than an 'it's all so pretty, I want it now' look. Thanks

ohwhatfuckery I buy from eBay and always use these sellers in Korea: Sing Sing Girl, Ruby Ruby Shop, F2plus1 or BelloGirl. I've been ordering Korean products for a couple of years now and these sellers have always had good prices and never let me down. Do be prepared for a 2-3 week wait for stuff to arrive though.

I've just had a look on my eBay watch list and it totals over £100 on Korean skincare alone. I was quietly buying stuff for the last couple of years and now I've found my fellow obsessives I'm discovering more and more.

I hate you all

LucysMam Its about £6 and a little goes a long way, I've had mine for months!

Amazing, I told dp earlier that I needed X, Y and Z...I will add Z1 to the list

Off the back of this thread, I've been reading up about the fucidin cream I'm using on my cystic acne too. I first got it for impetigo but when I went back to the (skin specialist) gp, she said because we had had approx 6 tubes of fucidin between us (me and 2 dd's) I may as well make use of that because it would stop any bacteria spreading.

I can't find much info other than it's an antibiotic and shouldn't be used on a single area for more than 3 weeks at a time...I'm pushing it there a lot because I didn't know

I'd use it lightly LucysMam but I've slapped it onto cystic acne before and its been fine!

I also went through a 2year on and off faze of developing allergies to various eye makeup that gave me huge exczema type flare ups on my eyelids ( Been diagnosed with early onset menopause and on HRT and haven't had a single issue since my oestrogen levels were sorted..could be utter coincidence but the flare ups were when my oestrogen was in free fall)

I (daughter of a family with several medics) quite happily lied to the pharmacist that I needed 0.5% hydrocortisone for a bit of leg exczema

I'm also wondering what I'll do when I run out and have no cystic acne...that'll be a year or so off though

Damn you all.
I've just ordered a holika bouncing bb cream, a trial set of something I can't remember, but it's got gold and caviar in and zombie cc cream, for shits and giggles. Ok I've restrained myself-i want the snail cream and about 20 lipsticks. But it's a start. A start on the road to bankruptcy.

OhWhat... need a zombie link please

Can't link as my iPad hates me, but look for welcos merit. The one with the eye cream I'm watching-stupid auction, but I bought a tube I think from ruby ruby. The gold and caviar schizz is Skin Food.

Today, I discovered Tony Moly banana hand lotion. So cute! Comes in a banana shaped bottle and smells yummy.

Etude House eyebrow pencil is also good.

Ooh loving your finds and little parcels everyone. I may need to try those eye liners - my Urban Decay one is total rubbish, it is all over my face in warm weather.

Today testing a sample of Missha First Treatment essence. It is almost like water, with a pleasant light smell, absorbed quickly.

The Bioré Aqua Rich Watery Essence sunscreen is my favorite sunscreen at the moment. It goes on exactly like a light moisturizer, in a blind test I wouldn't be able to tell that it is a sunscreen. Great protection and no breakouts and zero greasiness, no white cast. The Missha sunscreen feels just as good on my skin but its fluid consistency is slightly more difficult to handle. Both of these sunscreens feel better on than Neutrogena Clear Face and all three are leagues better than the euro facial sunscreens I have tried. All seem noncomedogenic, I haven't had breakouts while using them.

Today's base makeup is Missha BB cream from the cushion. My first makeup in my teens was a powder compact so this feels like going the full circle. Using it feels pretty much like a powder compact except that the product is slightly damp. The cushion was intuitive and easy to use and had instructions in English. I got a nice sheer coverage, no streaks, but had to blend my lipline with my fingers. It's easier to do a really sheer base with this than a brush or fingers, and I was quite happy with the coverage. Shade #21 seems right for my skin, applied more heavily it might be a tad dark but as a sheer layer my face matches my neck. I think the thing about cushions is that they are quicker to apply and more portable than BB cream tubes. However, the compact is quite bulky, the size of a Lily Lolo full size mineral foundation jar, so this is not necassarily something that you can slip into your evening clutch. And if you want really full coverage, BB cream from the tube is a better option.

Thank you Frugal and lucysmam for your very helpful replies! I have hoisted in the idea of sleeping masks for long haul flying, and will risk the derision of DS and DH!! Good to know that some of the loved products here are likely to be available in Singapore.... and I presume there will be local dupes and brands too.

ooh I'm looking forward to tonight's sheet mask already! We're taking the girls to their favourite restaurant for lunch & my head's frazzled already with the excitement

Am liking the combo of the COSRX bha and the snail gel - they must be working alongside each other. I look quite bright and bushy tailed this morning despite a few 's last night whereas normally I'd have at least a couple of spots to show for it.

Frugal, I like the sound of the liners too - have four in my bag to work through first though so they'll be on my Christmas list for dp along with lots of other stuff.

I really do recommend the liners. Colour is beautiful and it literally did not move all day until I removed with klorane that night (and even that was quite difficult to do). I'm going to order more colours today. I've tried lancome, Chanel, urban decay, Estee Lauder double wear, ysl along with all the usual budget ones, no7, rimmel etc and none have come close to these!

Sorry if anyone has asked this already but is there an eye cream for dark circles anyone can suggest?

I've been using the Mizon wrinkle sleep mask for a few days and I'm impressed!

After a few days I've decided that the Benton snail bee essence followed by the Missha Time Revolution long name ampoule is what is making the difference. My number elevens are plumped out and blurred as are my forehead grooves and the crows feet.

I was in a restaurant until late hours last night and forgot to put on the Missha Time Revolution Eye Serum before bed. My eyes looked puffier and undereye darker this morning, not sure if I should blame Ethiopian food or the lack of sleep and the lack of Korean miracle drops Still don't know whether the serum is actually doing anything - am very skeptical - but I am genetically programmed to get crow's feet, so anything that might help with them is worth a shot. I have used a few samples of the Missha Longer Name Ampoule and it does not break me out, so might give it a go sometime in the future.

My replacement for the shipping mistake arrived today from Missha Germany. Missha packaging is quite luxurious, the Super Aqua Water-full serum looks very impressive, and I also ordered the smallest size of Missha First Treatment essence (spray format!) to try it as a part of my morning routine after washing my face and before suncreen. I got eight new Missha samples so I am pretty much drowning in stuff right now. But have to say that I just love these products so much, they suit my skin and are such fun to sample!

A tough work week will be over tonight, and our lovely guest is leaving, so I am going to pamper my face with a lovely sheet mask!

Cresset most of the sleeping masks are actually transparent when worn - not a Psycho mass murderer face like a sheet mask - so nobody will know. Some hot shot LA stylist/ makeup guru wears them always when he is flying, and I found the Dr Jart product that was my first sleeping mask from the Jenna Lyons interview on ITG on my trip to the US.

XiCi

Wombat- I must be in a minority as I find liquid gold does jack all for my skin. I too am realising maybe I need to add in a BHA for my pores and subaceous filaments, hence me ordering the CosRx BHA power liquid.

I've ordered the Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly in shade 2. Reading reviews the shade 1 is quite pale and very yellow. I've read it's more of a semi matte finish than other glory BB creams.

That makes me list of things on the way to me
Biore Aqua Watery 50spf stuff
Benton Snail Bee Essence
cosrx BHA power liquid
Holika Holika Aqua jelly petit BB cream

I don't actually have any sheet masks but need to stop shopping. Id love to try out My Beauty Diary apple and Black Pearl ones but don't want to buy a whole box of each and they are quite expensive to buy individually.

I thought I had my skincare routine sussed after the CH thread but no, I started on this one! I've spent the best part of a month following this (although, luckily not too much money).

Would you be so kind as to look over my routine? I'm a little stuck...Sorry, it's a long one...

AM -
Cleanser - Cetaphil
Toner - was Clearasil but couldn't deal with the alcohol. I'm now using Paula's 2% BHA which is fine if a little greasy on my skin. I ordered a small bottle so need a replacement and the CosRx BHA power is cheaper and looks good. I'm starting to think that Paula's isn't an acid toner but an essence? If so, what do you recommend as a toner?

I'm using SR Vit C but I've just received the Timeless Vit C serum - does this go on after toner? 'Snow White and the Asian Pear' says Vit C then BHA then AHA (actives) then continue with routine. As I don't know if Paula's is a toner or essence I'm, again, lost

Ive ordered Mixon First Essence and Hado Labo lotion and Mizon Snail Repair - I'm like a child at Christmas, waiting for the Postie

Is AM cleanse, acid tone, Vit C, BHA, First Essence, Hado Labo, Snail Gel, sunscreen?

PM - same but double cleanse adding Body Shop camomile.
No Vit C.
Retin A

Is this cleanse, wait, Retin A, wait, then continue with routine?

Baala the Asian beauty bloggers use a slightly different terminology so comparing CH instructions is a bit confusing sometimes. Here is a good guide how to get the most out of acids. Reddit Asian Beauty has a thread where people fine-tune their routines. What I enjoy about these routines it that they allow you to listen to your skin and add or decrease steps depending on what feels right. So there is no one correct routine, just whatever works for you and whatever your skin needs! Some bloggers either pH adjust or wait for 30 minutes between cleansing and using acid pads, I think trying the waiting times first is a good idea and then you can see whether making them shorter or eliminating them altogether makes a difference. My skin would not be able to take acids twice a day (twice a week is more like it!) but it might suit you really well! And yes, Vit C may go in before acid. Some people with sensitive skin may experience irritation because the Vit C is quite acidic per se and can irritate some, so they should proceed more slowly. And apparently you should not use products with niacinamide or active peptides simultaneously with Vit C.

I think all this is a bit trial and error, my routine is still quite simple (am: water cleanse, 1st essence, sunscreen, BB cream, pm: double cleanse, AHA/BHA if using, serum if using, lotion or cream if using, eye serum, sleeping product) but I am getting great results (my main goals: staying acne free, well hydrated and reducing hyperpigmentation). Do we have anyone here who has a longer am and pm routine?

Amazing I have ordered the snail bee essence from Jolse, but it hasn't arrived yet. Very much looking forward to trying it!

The house is clean, children are home, our guest is gone. After a busy week the idea of curling up on he sofa with a sheet mask and a good book is just really, really appealing!

My watery Essence sun screen has arrived already! I highly recommend the eBay seller I got it from, really speedy delivery!

Oh my god I finally made it to the end of the thread!

Thank you, it has taken me two weeks to get here but in that time I have become a devotee of all things snail and starfish and sleep masks and just ordered a load of sheet masks and my skin looks AMAZING.

Mizon apple peel stuff is my favourite along with the star fish eye stuff (such an unusual texture but seems to have taken 5 years off my crepey fine lines around my eyes). Treated myself to the star fish sheet mask as well and as I have a sleep over of 6 12/13 year old boys tonight, I am looking forward to locking myself in my bedroom with wine and a good book and a startling shaped mask. Ahh I am poor but happy

So best sunscreen is Neutrogena? So far the one I am using is the only downfall in my blissed out skin, our local boots is tiny!

I love science and skin care. Happy days .

urgh, I'm having a dither...I have just over six quid ish to spend...do I order the COSRX BHA or appletox & flutter my eyelashes at dp or behave & find something cute that appeals

Our Primarni didn't have sheet masks in but I did find a cherry shaped lip balm for all of a quid...it has glitter in though so may end up passed on to the girls.

Oh my god. This thread is epic. Where are you all buying your stuff from? Which eBay sellers are trustworthy please? I need some animal extract skin care, pronto.

Repeating the Biore Watery Essence SPF 50 sunscreen link Wombat posted in the beginning of the thread, I ordered using this link, it was shipped from Japan, really superb stuff, the best facial sunscreen I've tried so far. Neutrogena and Missha are good too but this takes the

MrSlant I'm glad to hear and super intrigued, and planning a similar evening. Have just done an Innisfree Shea Butter mask. A creamier essence, smelled really nice!