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!

Ethel Yes, I've tried the Hydraluron masks - they were my introduction to sheet masks in fact. They're nice and do make my skin feel very hydrated and soft but I wouldn't buy them again at that price point.

Missha.ee has sent me an invoice saying item will be sent once payment is received but I paid via PayPal at the checkout last night. Is this a standard email sent out which I need to ignore? Checked PayPal and they definitely received payment.

Thanks!

Cornwall, I have no idea, sorry. Someone will be along today who knows though

I'm adding the propolis ampoule(or rather, a propolis ampoule) to my list - at the bottom & will do some more reading first. Thanks for the links last night Wombat

THIS post on the Reddit AB sub is probably the most insightful thing I've read on skincare / beauty as a 'hobby' in a very long time. Bravo that man!

bigbuttons, you seem to know a fair bit about diy beauty...are tea tree and lavender a good place to start with essential oils to use on sheet masks (when they arrive)?

Cornwall I got that too when I paid with Paypal. In Northern Europe it is common that people pay via direct bank transfer: processing it takes a day or two, hence a separate message. You will get a separate shipping notice and tracking code, probably tomorrow.

Can I just say that I am in love with my BB cushion? I saw it as a futuristic novelty item, something that does not quite work, but has to be tested anyway. I have several decent liquid foundations, two jars of mineral foundation and several BB creams in my makeup cupboard, but the cushion wins every morning. And using foundation that comes in a pumpless glass bottle (Revlon I am talking to you) sounds a bit like going out to the woods to gather wood so that I can light the fire to cook our dinner

My sympathies to anyone who is struggling with acne cysts. I've struggled with acne since my teens. BHAs, micellar water and going oil-free have helped me enormously. Hope that new routines are helping you too!

I did a My Beauty Diary hyaluronic mask last night. It was really good, very wet and hydrating, and gave me plump and shiny skin (the latter might be a bit much for very oily people). A couple of hours later I slathered on some Laneige White Plus emulsion and what remained of the single-use Laneige sleeping mask. I think that for my skin type this was the holy trinity of skincare heaven - I have a hard time imagining that there could be anything better out there

Ethel the Hydraluron masks have ingredients that are quite similar than the ones I use. They are a convenient alternative for people who don't want to do mail order, but I do several sheet masks per week so trying to stay in the 1-2.5€ price range.

XiCi I am so happy that you found that lovely cleansing stick! It sounds absolutely wonderful! Enjoy!!!

Wombat thanks for the brilliant link!

The no no-buy June sounds a lot more fun than no-buy June But my Missha box is full of goodies now so I have to slow down and focus on testing the products properly!

lucy Lavender is a pretty safe oil to use, only a couple of drops though.
Tea tree is an anti inflammatory/ antiseptic oil, so would be good for acne prone skin.
What are you planning to mix the oils in to?
This morning I did a mask made of my DIY NAG serum and a cheapo serum from Aldi. Face feels lovely.
Still trying to decide if I 'need' an ampoule or not considering the fact that I have some powerful serums already. Also where will I fit it all in?
I'm still scratching my chin about how to fit my layering in with with my retin A.
Used a sample of the tony moly tomato massage mask. My God my face was as white as a sheet even after I rinsed it off! I looked like a ghost.

I bought some glycerine and green tea so was going to try the lavender in glycerine and tea tree in green tea (maybe with a drop of glycerine) to soak them into the sheet masks.

I'm going to experiment with the vitamim c serum too when my little bottle for it gets here.

Buttons Kerry from Skin&Tonics uses tretinoin - it sounds that she applies it on cleansed skin, waits for some time, and does the rest of her routine (read her post here). This would make sense for anyone who suffers from retinoid-induced dryness but not sure that is your case. I think you have a lot of great serums and hydrating ingredients and may need nothing further - unless there is some intriguing novelty item that you just have to explore! Your skin has already improved noticeably so now you are just maintaining the results and preventing further damage!

I've used the Missha First Treatment essence for a few days. I accidentally sprayed it on my lips and it tastes exactly like sake or mirin

Okay here's an explanation why FTE tastes like sake - wonder whether I should go for the real thing instead

Ok so I've done three nights of 5% vit c serum(home made)and I caught sight of myself in the mirror yesterday, my! my skin seems lots plumper and wrinkly bits under under eyes iyswim all smooth. I'm doing some rice water later. Just tapping my fingers till my parcels start arriving.

BigButtons I use my retin a after cleansing. I wait 10 mins until my face is really dry then pea sized bit of it. I let it dry and then moisturise. Others use it at the very end after moisture as they feel it helps spread the small amount better. It's your call really. It's marvellous stuff. I am on my periods with one spot, one spot only on my jawbone...that is healing already.

Wish my orders would arrive. I want my BB cushion and creams so badly. Saturday I did get an Etude House blotting paper compact and Iope lipstick. Nice lipstick which is very moisturising. Compact looks cute but no refills. Will buy cheaper blotting paper and fit it in as a DIY refill.

Thanks frugal and dafty*
I had a look at the link thanks and fished around for some more. There are so many different standpoints out there!
I have gone back to using tretinoin properly for about 2 months now. At first I had much peeling, like it came off in sheets!
I am using 0.1% gel. My skin seems adjusted now and I am moving up to three nights in a row with a night off(hopefully). On my previous nights off I would do my retins as usual. Now it's nearly every night I don't want to give up on the other products. Nor do I want to dilute the effects of the tretinoin!
So of I cleanse, tone, leave to dry, tretinoin and then leave an hour or so could I go on to complete the routine with serums/creams etc?
Tretinoin really is amazing

Yes you could try that and see how it works. People wait for 30 to 60 minutes between tretinoin and other things.

I am open to a tretinoin trial sometime in the future, but the potential peeling/purging phase feels a bit like putting Footner on my beach-manicured feet - so right now I just want to enjoy uncomplicated good skin

Totally different topic, but quite enjoyed this blog post that discusses European vs Japanese/Korean beauty ideals.

oh guys! I am delurking to say how much I am loving this thread and reveal how much I have spent so far...

Skinfood black sugar cleansing oil -awesome stuff! I have oil cleansed for ages (using almond oil) but this is lovely and the fact that it emulsifies is a revelation. It is so nice not to have wet muslin cloths all over the house and it will make travelling so much easier. Delivery took ages so I have already re-ordered along with the black sugar mask (as my husband kindly stupidly put me on his amazon prime account).

Biore SPF 50 watery essence. The best facial sunscreen I have ever used by far ( and i have tried a few as I am very fair, very allergic but have pores that are easily blocked). I am now slathering the DCs in it and have also already re-ordered so I don't run out.

Sentia - Vit C 20% and hyaluronic acid. Nice - better than the Estee Lauder brown bottle.

Holika jelly BB cream - on order but singsing girl is on holiday - sob.

Cosrx bha toner ordered.

Mizon - good night sleeping mask ordered, but will get the Dr jart one when in the US in a few weeks and can find a sephora.

But - please can I ask a question about the various snail gels/creams that are out there vs the returning starfish? What are the variants particularly good for? I note there is the snail gel vs the repairing cream vs the ampoule vs the returning starfish. I need a lighter moisturiser in the morning (currently using Dr Manuka blemish cream) and a better one at night (currently using Origins mega mushroom thing which was so expensive I have to finish it...). I would be very grateful if someone could advise on their relative merits?

Frugal I'm in the market for a cushion and was about to order the IOPE, but I'm using Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream No.23 and really enjoying it.

Is your cushion from Missha and do you recommend it? Also, can you refill it with other BBs?

Poppy I thought of ordering an empty cushion and filling it with my custom BB cream mixes, DIY instructions here. But then I saw a -50% offer on missha.ee and could not resist. The Missha Magic cushion is available in #21 and #23 and quite close to Perfect Cover in feel. The cushion gives a slightly sheerer finish, but it still covers my hyperpigmentation really well. Because of the sheerness, the shade 21 feels just right; the cushion shade is a bit lighter and warmer than regular Perfect Cover. I made a quick swatch, from left to right, Perfect Cover #21, Magic Cushion #21, Perfect Cover #13 (sorry about lamplight and my lizard hands). I haven't tried to pry the sponge part open to find whether I can refill this with my own mixes, but I think you can usually buy refills to cushions. IOPE sounds really great too!

Thanks talisin and frugal I went a bit mad with the Boots 3 for 2 and bought some but I'm trialling a new product in my regime at the moment so it'll be a week before I can try them.

Agree though, they are a bit spendy for regular use.

Silly welcome!!! I haven't fully figured out the various snail products yet. The Mizon AIO is a super-lightweight gel that I use when my skin feels irritated, but it is not a proper moisturizer. The Missha Super Aqua Snail trial kit has several different consistencies of snail products, the more fluid ones leave an almost lacquered glossy finish and they look very promising as a light primer/hydration layer under makeup. The Super Aqua Snail set has also a good moisturizer and gel-cream that really moisturize my skin. Mizon snail vs starfish: a very light gel vs a jello type product. Both are lightweight and quick to absorb, snail is good when my skin feels a bit ouch, starfish is more more perfumed and about massaging in the product and enjoying its texture. Starfish makes my skin silky and bouncy, both have more oomph when combined with a sleeping pack.

I'm still learning about layering, wearing four layers today (AIO, serum, essence, sleeping product). The trial kits (posted some links yesterday) are great because you can try a few different consistencies for a week (sometimes more) to see whether they suit your skin, which consistencies work best, and how many layers you need. So if you are looking for two different products, I would pick one of the trial kits and test it. Both Mizon and Missha kits have snail products.

Ethel those masks sound really nice, hope you will enjoy them when you are able to test them! I was a bit baffled when I tried my first ever sheet masks (both were also more expensive than the ones I use now, so I had a great start - not necessarily a bad thing ) but they really seem to help my skin.

I tried the Missha collagen sheet mask last week and it was really lovely! I tried the Missha red gingseng and snail sheet mask tonight and it tingled unpleasantly so much so I had to take it off after a few minutes and wash my face. My face is now quite red! Anyone else experience this?

Findingpeace how unpleasant, very sorry to hear that! I've never tried the ginseng mask but I remember that one of the bloggers had a similar sounding reaction. Allergy, irritation? Wash off the residue, if you have anything soothing that you know suits you (aloe gel, zinc cream, snail goo) put that on, maybe take an antihistamine if you have those? Hoping your skin calms down soon!

Blogger experience, ginseng mask.

Trying out a sample of the Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask (sleeping pack) tonight. Very pricey so probably not in budget to buy anytime soon. It smells divine. Will update tomorrow with results.

I wonder/hope these products are breastfeeding safe? Does anyone know what the dos/don't are around that?

Findingpeace I've not tried the Missha ginseng mask but have tried the The Face Shop Red Ginseng one and had no irritation at all. I can really recommend the Face Shop honey one though it's fabulous and really makes my skin glow (in a good way!)

I'm just starting to research cushion BB/CC now.

For anyone interested in sleeping packs, the capsule recipe ones are on sale on Innisfree - you can try various flavors in capsules, 6 for £9 (incl shipping). My favorite, red wine, is one of them, but they have lots of others too. These might work best for drier/dehydrated skin types, I wear them over a layer of serum, essence or cream or after a sheet mask.

God I sound like an infomercial... I like their sheet masks too, they are very fruity and fun but a bit on the sticky side and not as moisturizing as hyaluronic masks.

It's going to be record hot here today, when I opened the door to the terrace there was no fresh air.