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

994 replies

FrugalFashionista · 04/06/2015 17:37

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?

Please come here and share your questions, experiences, links and best shopping tips!

Vol 1 of this thread here

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16
FrugalFashionista · 16/06/2015 08:16

My skin is dryish and I use sheet masks about every two nights and sleeping masks every night. It is very hot around here so sheet masks feel lovely after a long day. When I was visiting up North, I realized they would be quite a different experience in a cooler climate, so not sure how often I would do them there. Weekly perhaps?

Poppy the Fresh balm is beeswax-based so that's a thumbs-up from me. Fresh products have quite a following in the US, I think it is a combination of attractive packaging, lovely scents, good positioning in places like Sephora, and the prices are about right - it's a treat but still within reach.

I'm using a jar of mineral makeup this week. Biore sunscreen is an excellent base, fast drying and not sticky.

DD2 developed a strep throat infection last night, so I have cancelled my clearout and work plans to be in full childcare mode today. Our nanny was supposed to have a minor operation yesterday, it was cancelled and she had to run around the hospital all day trying to understand what went wrong, shocked and angry and miserable. Finally they told her to come back early this morning to reschedule, so she is there now, fingers crossed. Friends and colleagues have explained that this type of confusion is normative in public hospitals, someone we know had to show up at the hospital three times before the procedure actually took place. Our nanny told that there were twenty people there yesterday, many with cancer, frantically looking for the surgeon trying to find out whether they were going to have their operation or not. I promise to never moan about my parcels any more, those are really minor inconveniences...

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FrugalFashionista · 16/06/2015 08:23

I had my first AB dream last night! I was on a 24-hour trip to Tokyo with my father (he used to work in Japan). We were about to leave for the airport, and I had to tell him to wait because I needed to rum to a dimestore to buy mascara, Hada Labo and sunscreen Wink Totally gutted when I woke up right after the checkout Grin

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ScrambledSmegs · 16/06/2015 10:03

Frugal that sounds pretty tough - I hope your DD feels better soon, strep throat is nasty. And your poor nanny! Fingers crossed for her that she gets the operation rescheduled with not too much trouble.

I'm glad to head that Biore works well with mineral sunscreen. I would hate to have to give up my Lily Lolo, it doesn't cope well with LRP Anthelios at all.

I received a few parcels this morning and got very excited about the largest one... until I realised it was a mug I ordered for DD2 to have her milk in! She is a babyccino fiend. The smaller ones were the Hado Labo lotion and a tea tree essence that someone (Wombat?) recommended on here as THE BEST essence for acne-prone skin. So really looking forward to trying those.

ScrambledSmegs · 16/06/2015 10:04

lucysmam for you and your DD Grin

lucysmam · 16/06/2015 10:25

What was the link Scrambled? It says it can't load it Sad

Tell me more about the tea tree essence, please Smile

Frugal, your poor dd Sad , I hope she feels better soon. And your nanny, I'm Shock at the thought of having to chase down a surgeon to see if your surgery will be scheduled for that day. Love your dream though Grin

I saw some Burt's Bee's lip balms (are my apostrophes in the right place Hmm ) on ebay for 99p the other day. Might order one at the end of the week...am really looking forward to having some proper spends and I'll not just randomly spend it this time either...it will be useful stuff Grin

I'm going to make a cucumber and vitamin c sheet mask soon to go in the fridge for later on. I'm back off to school for Race 4 Life shortly and then we have Brownies/Rainbows later on so I'll enjoy that and a Wine afterwards along with a bit more of my book and probably some more AB related reading.

ScrambledSmegs · 16/06/2015 10:27

Just realised I haven't posted my routine yet - mainly because I'm introducing products slooowly so I can judge how my skin reacts to them, hence not much AB in there. At the moment this is how it looks.

AM - Su:m 37 rose cleansing stick or Body Shop Aloe Face Wash
Dab of LRP Effacler Duo where needed
Body shop aloe eye serum
Ren Evercalm serum
Ren Clarimatte moisturiser, not on T-zone

Extra steps in the PM - Emma Hardie balm or Body Shop Camomile cleansing oil for first cleanse
Muji sensitive toner or moist toner (I like the moist toner v much, I splash it on like a lotion, no cotton wool pads)
Mizon snail gel
Mizon Good Night sleeping pack every other night.

I also do a sheet mask ever few/couple of evenings and am thinking of upping my sleeping pack to every night because my skin seems to be drinking it up. I genuinely thought my skin was really oily for years, but maybe it was just massively dehydrated and was trying to make its own moisture! I still get a little oily around the t-zone towards the afternoon, but it's not as bad as it used to be and the no-sebum powder takes care of that.

However sadly I think I'm going to have to drop the snail gel. My skin doesn't like it - it makes my skin feel dry and tight when I use is, and I'm getting spots. I don't normally have issues with silicones so I don't think it's that. I's doing a fantastic job of healing my burn marks though (enthusiastic but clumsy cook) and DH's poor hands that have been wrecked by climbing. So not all bad!

ScrambledSmegs · 16/06/2015 10:41

lucysmam oh no! Maybe it's your browser? I'll put another link down below and see if it works. It's a bit of K-pop for you.

ScrambledSmegs · 16/06/2015 10:42

The essence is LJH Tea Tree Essence 90, and seems to be massively popular with Memebox customers. I wish we could get Memebox in the UK, but happily for my wallet it's not here yet!

Blog post from fanserviced-b.

I bought it via eBay from a company called unique4u.net, but I can't find the listing anymore. However you can go to their website and order from there although it's not quite as cheap as I remember. I have a Discount Code, if you type in Smart at the checkout you get 10% off your order. Shipping was reasonable too.

lucysmam · 16/06/2015 10:54

That one works - I'll show dd1 later on, she'll be most impressed with their dancing Grin

Thanks for the essence info - it sounds good! Will do some more reading tonight about it.

ScrambledSmegs · 16/06/2015 11:07

Found them! Thanks to Reddit AB for confirming they're legit too. They're known as blueprint21 on ebay, and their service is good (about 10 days to receive a package). Also low shipping prices.

Blueprint21 on Ebay

I think their prices are lower on eBay because they apply the discount code pre-listing.

ScrambledSmegs · 16/06/2015 11:28

Oh dear, I feel like I'm spamming this thread today. But look! Look at these!

Animal sheet masks

I would LOVE to buy these. I could put them on and play with the DDs. Dress-up and skincare in one. Bonus!

lucysmam · 16/06/2015 11:30

tomato got a crack and stitched itself back together link from reddit. Not exactly skincare but fascinating & wouldn't have crossed my radar before this thread!

Scrambled, animal mask stocking fillers! Grin I only need a couple of odd bits and the stockings are done so will add those to my list.

NewsreaderChic · 16/06/2015 11:32

Frugal I don't know how you cope, I'd hate to live somewhere so chaotic.

Nothing new for me today except two lovely new spots that arrived yesterday I haven't used anything new in the last few days so I'm hopping they're not a reaction to anything.

I was a bit bored yesterday and watched some old CH you tube vids including a couple on acid toning. She said that if you can feel a spot coming to give it a good buff with a BHA to prevent it getting any worse, I did that last night on these two new beauties and they're no longer sore and didn't get any bigger, so worth doing. Also by the by, she said BHa good for ingrowing hairs in the lady garden - she must pop by here frequently.

FrugalFashionista · 16/06/2015 11:33

Lucysmam my first thought was whether the tomato used snail gel Wink

Nanny is back.
The saga continues...

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Phantomquartz · 16/06/2015 11:55

Scrambled - I succumbed to the berrisom animal masks - they're great fun.

Out of interest - which is the best place to buy for free samples?

lucysmam · 16/06/2015 12:03

Phantom, Jolse_cosmetics on ebay (poss lower case 'j') send a decent amount of samples with orders from them Smile

lucysmam · 16/06/2015 12:04

So long as it wasn't using my snail gel Frugal Grin Everyone here likes it...will need a second tube soon.

AmazingDisgrace · 16/06/2015 13:23

The Missha magic cushion BB arrived and I love it! It blends beautifully and is layerable so can go for a very natural (but better!) look or more coverage.

My routine is:
Cleanser (using up a Loreal one)
CosRX AHA/BHA clarifying treatment toner ( not a single spot since using this!)
Benton Snail Bee essence
Missha Time Revolution long name ampoule
Mizon snail repair eye cream or Mizon Collagen eye cream depending on how dehydrated my eye area feels
Mizon Returning Starfish cream (amazing stuff, makes my skin look more even and glowy without being at all heavy or greasy)

Sheet mask 2x per week. My favourites are the Face Shop honey one for a real glow boost and collagen for a good plump up

gertrudetrudy · 16/06/2015 14:56

Still eagerly awaiting my parcels. It's only been 10 days since I ordered but every day when I get home I eagerly expect wonderful presents. Alas not yet.

Where did people buy the Su:m 37 rose cleansing stick? I've been having a look and it seems a bit hard to find - on ebay it's £20 so might hang on for a bit.

Since ordering I've added a load of things to my list! I want to get:
An oil cleanser - probably the black sugar
Starfish Cream
Essence - no idea which one
Innisfree Anti-Trouble Mask
More SPF
A make up brush, I can't remember the name but it looks like a hairbrush almost.

Need to restrain. It's going to take me years to get through what I've ordered already!

MitzyLeFrouf · 16/06/2015 14:58

I've ordered lots of stuff and am getting despatch notifications. Can't wait for my swag to arrive!

gertrudetrudy · 16/06/2015 14:59

OOH also does anybody have any recommendations for eye cream?
I have a seriously sensitive eye area - most eye creams sting so I haven't been bothering. But they're looking a bit creppy and wrinkly now so I want to sort that out pronto!

mowglik · 16/06/2015 15:13

Received a few things today! Mizon good night white mask and mizon snail gel - can't wait to try out the gel have great hopes for it

Also received the missha perfect cover samples thanks newsreader I've got the #27 on and it's a bit dark, glad you had the #23 as well so will mix with that and see - not too happy with the coverage though so may not purchase this, glad I got to test it first!

I have a couple of samples I can send out as well if anyone wants them, a geurlain meteorites baby glow in 2/light and a étude precious mineral bb cream in #13

gertrudetrudy · 16/06/2015 15:21

Ah scrap that I reckon the Sum37 stick could be very acne triggering. Such a shame, I really wanted to try it and would be so handy for travelling. Awh well Sad

lucysmam · 16/06/2015 15:29

Well, it's turned into a beautiful day for Race 4 Life. All the kids did well - my smallest through a hilarious strop over the too bouncy bouncy castle Hmm

The Holika bb cream has held up well in the warm-ish sun...my eye liner otoh is melting off my face. Any recommendations for them? I seem to recall a few of you odering them on the first thread maybe.

Sheet mask is in the fridge, along with wine, for this evening.

I wouldn't mind an eye cream - just something to plump up a bit, nothing too hardcore.

I've been wondering about trying some of the unbranded korean stuff out there - obviously there are far fewer reviews to make a fully informed decision but I wonder if they'd be sort of like Poundland products - passable but not brilliant stuff iyswim. Might order something to see.

FrugalFashionista · 16/06/2015 15:57

Getting my daily dose of Reddit - here is a possible product for enlarged pores on the T zone.

DD2s antibiotics have kicked in -yay! But Nanny's operation has been postponed again, and there is no new date Sad We already looked into having it done it privately, but it would cost more than our car did. Next suggested strategy: pulling strings and bribing. Totally off my comfort zone Confused

I've had a schizophrenic day of housewifery (removed a grease stain from the carpet with a vacuum cleaner and cornstarch, made focaccia, ordered a HEPA filter, did three loads of washing...) and then tried to get back to work emails with very limited success. So enjoying the posts here and reading Reddit... And Lucysmam I'm also looking for a sweatproof eyeliner!

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