Obsessed with Asian/Korean stuff - taking your skincare to level 2!

[FrugalFashionista]

Asian and Korean skincare products seem to be a big thing right now - we are falling in love with quite a few things...

Interested in the following?

• finding a great sunscreen - here's a thread favorite
• tailoring a multi-step ritual to your skincare needs - here are the basics
• talking about geisha beauty rituals - you'll probably need to read this
• 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!

Vol 1 of this thread here

Thanks, Scrambled - hope you had a lovely birthday.

Frugal, tried my Missha cushion today and I'm very impressed with the mechanics of it; I was dubious but the patting/melting motion really works. I mostly use Lily Lolo and Anita Grant, but the cushion is fab for when I want dewy, light coverage. So tempted by the Laneige one too...

Tried the Hada Lado Super Hyaluronic Acid Foaming Wash (pump version) and loved it. To be fair, my skin seems to respond very well to anything with Hyaluronic Acid in it, but judging by all the reviews I read, I'm not alone in finding this amazing.

It's a bubble foam and a little goes a long way, I used it as a second cleanser in the shower last night and my skin felt very clean but not "squeaky" or stripped. Trying it tonight my my Missha white clay konjac sponge.

On other news, the Missha lip balm was rubbish . I must admit that I'm high maintenance when it comes to lip care and have been very disappointed with the AB offerings so far (lovely packaging but not amazing results, bar the Mentholatum brand). The search continues...

I am loving reading about the skincare routines and weekend testing! I tried another propolis sheet mask this morning (innisfree anti trouble) and it was LUSH. Very cooling, and my skin felt so hydrated afterwards. So that might be one for you to watch Lucysmam.

I am still not sure about whether sleep masks are right for me. My feelings are so far the same as Leelo and yazzy - I've tried the Laneige and Mizon abd want to love them - but so far I have just woken up with more visible pores, so skin looks more dehydrated if anything. Though that could partly be the Retin-A, but weirdly on the nights I've just used Retin-A and no sleeping mask, I've worked up with gloriously soft and improved skin.

I'll keep going I think and see what happens.

Just one thing to note - I used a ferrulic / glycolic treatment today and my skin feels rather burny now (not awful, just a tad flushed!) - so if you are using retin-a and actives, take it slowly!

I'll take a look, thanks Wombat, I'm flicking between here and reddit threads about it atm (while also moaning in chat about my biscuit dropping in my tea )

Should say as a PostScript to the above: I wasn't using actives and Retin-A on the same day or the same routine or anything. But I will step back further on the actives for now.

Has anyone used the Lioele secret pore bright gel foundation? I came across it during my eBay browsings.

Interesting Reddit discussion about preservatives, Benton has been mentioned a few times. I'm only half way through but thought some of you might find it interesting

Btw, has anyone clicked the snail link in the op recently...£16!!

I'm easing back on the acids at the moment Wombat - my skin got a bit shiny and tight,and I realised that I'd over-exfoliated it. Over-exfoliation gives me cystic acne too, which was nice Luckily my skin likes the AB products I've taken the plunge on so far.

I tried the Mizon sleeping mask last night and I did like it, although it didn't feel massively moisturising. But this morning my skin looked well-rested despite a broken night with DD2 and her cold, and after washing it felt soft and smooth. However I'd prefer something more moisturising for the nights when I need it. The Innisfree wine pack is one I'm interested in, along with the Lioele Waterdrop pack or the Laneige. Not buying for now though, one is enough for a month or so, to judge the effects.

lucysmam how much?! I got two tubes plus free shipping for £6!

Update on my Zombie bb cream. As usual a little goes a long way, it's pale but not too much, but the best thing? It's really waterproof, I was out in the foulness that was Norfolk yesterday and today and it does not budge until I cleanse it off. And it's factor 50(not much use this weekend). My holika wine mask is here and on, bit sticky feeling, but hoping for wonders. (Ha)

Hello, can I join you? I've been lurking (and buying stuff on eBay) and I'm hooked. The endless samples and little boxes are the stuff of a shopping addiction and I love my new routines (although they're a bit haphazard at the moment as I'm not quite sure what I'm doing).

Btw lucysmam, amazon sellers often use automated pricing so having a link on here and everyone clicking on it might be driving up the price. I usually find that if I leave something in my shopping basket for a few days before buying it, that the price comes down a bit (or another seller appears at a cheaper price).

I'm on a no buy apart from replacing empties. The good news is my cleansing oil is running out so I need to order some more. I can't decide if I should buy
Innisfree Apple cleansing oil
The face shop light rice oil
Banilla clean it zero.

My heart says Banilla but I'm worried it can sting the eyes a bit and it's the most expensive of the three.

I didn't know that Phantom! That explains why one of the sheet mask links in the original thread went from 2 quid to 200 when I went back to it!

I'll stick with ebay for it...can't go wrong at £4 ish a tube

Phantom welcome! Finding a routine that works is a trial and error process, at least for me. Go slowly and listen to your skin, everyone has slightly different needs and dislikes! Yes the price jumps happen if lots of people click the same link. None of the stuff I have linked to should be super expensive. I bought 20 Innisfree sheet masks for circa 25€ directly from innisfreeworld.com when they were on offer, so that's why I can do them several times per week.

Chester I am also doing the no-buy and it is really a good thing because I am focusing in depth on what I already have. I will replace indispensable stuff if I run out but right now it seems that I have multiples of everything I need on a daily basis. I get bored easilu so for me it's ideal to have two or three alternative products,mbut no more.

Another good radiance-boosting combo last night:
My Beauty Diary Hyaluronic sheet mask
Innisfree Wine Jelly Sleeping Pack
Misha Long Name eye serum
Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream

I'm getting used to having just good-skin days! It's warm and humid here, a bit like the rainy season in a tropical country, so this type of light layering works really well.

Wombat I get that ugly open-pore thing from some siliconey foundations, but for some reason sleeping packs do the opposite to me. I think this product family simply might not do much for you, but I am happy that the sheet masks work. I want to try those Innisfree honey masks whe it's time for me to buy some new ones, and also interested in the Scinic serum.

I need to get serious about doing a pre-move sortout and clearout. Trying to get it started this week, please wish me luck, it is an enormous task!

Sending everyone good parcel karma!

Innisfree still have a good sheet mask offer, typically the offer cover the cost of shipping. Would order if I wasn't on no-buy

Sorry about shocking typing and grammar today

Poppy the Hada Labo cleanser is on my list! Good to know about Missha lip balm. I'm very picky about lip balm too so won't waste my money!

So I've been doing this Korean skin for 3 - 4 weeks now. I'm mainly using the Missha aqua serum in the trial kit and I do like parts of it. I like the essence so I'm going to keep using that. Not so sure on the moisturiser.

I also use the Mizon snail repair cream which I like and although not Korean I've used the Caudalie SOS rehydrating serum which is magical stuff and I love.

I bought a Missha pomegranate sleeping mask which I've used the last couple of nights and it seems nice.

Every three days I use just liquid gold before I go to bed.

So I've been examining my skin more than usual in the last few days. I think on the "good" bits of my face, like cheeks my skin is looking brighter, more even toned. I'm not sure about the centre of my face; forehead, nose, chin - I am plagued with massive pores and these don't seem to be any smaller, and that part of my face is still quite rosy.

My forehead definitely doesn't feel like sandpaper any more and in fact my skin does feel really plumped up and hydrated.

Even better, last year I had botox for my 11s, it didn't work. I went back three times and it just wasn't for me, waste of money, and stuck with deep 11s. Looking in the mirror today while my 11s are still there they are most definitely not as deep.

I have developed a problem with itching along my jaw line, I've been using Avene Ciclafate cream which I use for my DCs dry skin and this seems to control it, but I'm not sure why I'm having this reaction. No spots though, just itching.

When I come back from holiday I will order the CorSX toners that people have been going on about and see if they help my open pore issue. But for the time being I'm content with how things are turning out.

I've had a lovely time trying out new products without breaking the bank, which is the best part of it all really.

My 'no spend' rule is tough right now because I really want a clay mask and an eye product. But I shall be strong (till next month...)

Poppy, about lip balms - I've never found anything that works better than Lansinoh, or the Burts Bees original lip balm for carrying around in my pocket. Boring but true.

Frugal, I'm incredibly jealous of both your fantastic collection of skincare products and your 'every day is a good skin day'! Send some my way please

Could I have some recommendations for eye creams/serums please? My main issue with my eyes is some fine laughter lines, and a slight hollowing now that I'm getting older. So I don't really need anything heavy duty but I would like something to make my eyes look less tired and slow down the advance of the crepey look.

I bought the Banila (the green one with resveratrol) and can confirm that it doesn't sting the eyes.

Just realised that looks like I'm begging for 'stuff' from you, Frugal. I'm not. I just want my remaining cystic acne and the HP left from previous breakouts to go away! It is, the new skincare is really helping but I want it to go faster. Good skin days for me too please!

However my skin is already looking so much brighter and clearer. I'm very impressed with Korean skincare so far, I think I'd love to try some more of the makeup too as the cushion has been a roaring success. What I would LOVE is some of the fantastic lip colours, like the incredibly vibrant violet colour Lisa Eldridge wore in her second Korean Beauty haul video.

But hey, that's for another month. I need to calm down on the spending. Really want the Innisfree Super Jeju Volcanic clay mask next, and a good eye cream - maybe returning starfish? Or snail? And some MBD sheet masks. And... and... and...

Oh god, it's an addiction, isn't it? I need help.

Brittany so happy about progress on your 11s! I think the BHAs may help with the center of your face. It's the only part of my face where I have visible pores, and 2% salicylic has definitely helped. Some of it is structural though, mine will never totally go away but they don't bother me now. Not sure what is causing the itchiness, are you sensitive to anything (hay, pollen allergies can crossreact with some cosmetics ingredients for example)? I get itchy eyes from an unknown cosmetics ingredient, I suspect bismuth or MI, thank god it's limited to some products only and is not present in my Asian stuff.

I haven't tried the Missha Super Aqua moisturizer yet. I have moisturizer phobia so I ran it through Cosdna and it looks there might be a couple of acne triggers in it. I've read a bunch of reviews too and some people seem to get spots from it. It is so humid right now here that dryness is not a problem, so I am happy with serums and essences.

I've been at this for a couple of months now, and here is my analysis of what has and hasn't worked yet

Favorite products: sunscreens, sheet masks and sleeping masks
Great products: serums and essences, BB creams, BB cushion, snail products
Not sure yet: cleansers, moisturizers and creams, eye creams, eye serum
Not arrived yet: snail bee serum, snail gel, no-sebum mineral powder, two COSRX products, mini sleeping packs
Not going to repurchase: Missha fruit sheet masks, Etude House Collagen line (just meh, prefer snails), Dr Jart Water-full BB cream (too sheer and the shade is a bit off), Lioele pink primer (I don't use primers)
Wish list: a konjac sponge, Scinic propolis serum, Missha longer name ampoule, more Innisfree sheet masks, possibly more MBD sheet masks, Laneige sleeping pack capsules, Laneige yogurt multipack, more AHA/BHA stuff, an eye pencil that is sweatproof (probably others too but these I remember off the top of my head)

Have just cleared out the freezer. It was less bad than I thought but his week's menus are planned around what I am defrosting...

I'm intrigued by the yoghurt you mention Frugal...shall be off to google shortly!

Brittany, it's like a tube of pringles, isn't it?! Once you pop...

Scrambled this has been a long process for me! My skin was so bad around Christmas 2013 (red and raw with perioral) that I wanted to wear a brown paper bag over my head. I eliminated everything for a while and in the slow reintroduction process realized that I don't need lots of products that I had been using. Going strictly oil-free helped me to get rid of the last jawline acne cysts. There were some nasty surprises, I realized for example that my concealer had some oils in it and when I covered up breakouts new ones popped up, and also that sunscreens and my liquid foundation and probably also moisturizers triggered some more. Getting that right required a few further iterations of tolerating a less-than ideal face. I still have some scarring to fade, and if I use products that are too rich, I get a few small whiteheads. I am sure you are moving in the right direction, but it has taken a long time for me too! Wishing you luck, patience and great progress!