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

Which brand(s) of sheet mask is considered to be good quality? I think the ones i bought on EBay are a bit cheap and cheerful, so I'd like to try a proper one or ten.

Newsreader here is a great Reddit discussion on hydrating masks.

My (limited) experience:
MY Beauty Diary hyaluronic masks 'Pump up the jam' - great before parties and nights out, but I would get bored with having just this one option
Innisfree Real Squeeze masks - lovely slightly sticky realistic smelling fruity masks, not as plumping but very soothing and relaxing, lots of variety and the best fit so far
Mizon Hyaluronic Ampoule - extreme plumping and firming effect
Basic Missha masks - a bit meh, on the dry side
I have a few more expensive Missha masks but have not tried them yet.
Please do share other sheeg mask experiences!

PS Nanny was told to fast before coming to the hospital on Monday so fingers crossed!

Lucysmam I received a complimentary 'bubble maker' from Missha, it's just Konglish for a sponge

I had seen that Joseon dynasty cream a few times over the past few weeks - I have ordered it now, oops ????. It looks so pretty in that jar, I love the traditional advert and the write ups were ace.

I hope all my stuff on order comes before the start of Aug, when we go on holiday...

I got my order from Missha.de. I ordered loads of sample, some masks and some sunscreen (the pink bottle). The sunscreen goes on really easily and sinks in nicely, and it doesn't seem to irritate my skin (most of them do). I don't know how effective it is yet as it hasn't been that sunny.

I have tried two types of BB cream, and have decided that it's not for me. I had the same problem with tinted moisturiser years ago, it highlights the dryness of my skin and makes it look cracked, like a dry riverbed.

Over the next few days I'm going to try some masks (the pearl or the honey), and the marine stem cell eye cream. I have to do everything one at a time so that I know what I'm reacting to if I have a problem.

I have also decided that the Mizon apple scrub thingy isn't for me. I've tried it twice before bedtime and my face felt sore (but looked ok) all the next day both times. The Mizon snail cream continues to be a MARVEL, but I need more moisturising as well.

oh, I definitely don't need any more sponges. We're overrun with the blummin' things - my dad keeps buying them for us

Ooh Wicked that sounds fab!
BitterChoc your skin sounds seriously dry! Take it slow, but layering may be thing for you but it may also be that you have one of those structurally dry skin types that actually require ceramids or oils. If the snails are helping a bit that is already a good sign! I had the accentuating dryness problem with some longwearing foundations, they clung to dry patches, especially in winter. Non-AB but I found Eucerin 5% excellent for stubborn dry patches. Enjoy sampling!

I was just browsing the Korean Memebox site when I found this -

www.memebox.com/page/12558?

Stocking present for the men in your life?

skin18.com/1/product/promo-2016-06-freemask/ Free face mask offer...reads like all you have to do is review. Link is from the top of Reddit's AB homepage. I'm going to try it shortly when I get sat down - there are 1000 of them so hopefully plenty to go around crosses fingers

Wow Scrambled loving the before & afters! Also loved the K-Pop video yesterday. I mean, I want makeup and skincare tips from those guys My first contact with K-Pop was over a decade ago when I was staying in a windowless hotel room in Madrid (don't ask) - the tv there was locked to Arirang and we were totally mesmerized by the sugary love songs.

I am reading this novel right now - it starts in Flushing (one of the Korean-American enclaves in New York, we used to go to a restaurant there for excellent Korean barbecue and I also remember a huge grocery store with fantastic offerings) but I am right now reading a part where the main character is getting a makeover in a department store in Seoul.

Frugal - brilliantly helpful, I think I might just order one or two from each brand over the next few weeks and give them all a trail.

BitterChoc - I have a similar problem in that I've got flakiness post retin a that its highlighted when I put on bb cream. Today I tried using Lanacane which is basically the same as Smashbox primer, I put it on after my spf had soaked in and before a bb cream and it worked a treat. It may be that today was a fluke and there was no flakiness, so I'll give it a go again over the next few days. However it really did stop the colour of the bb clinging onto the dry bits.

Scrambled! I actually (well, dp) could make use of your link! He complained his nipples were rubbing on his t-shirt when he got sweaty...they just might solve that problem

I used my Missha Green Tea Latte foaming wash in the shower. It foams totally differently to what I have been using - definitely creamy lather rather than bubbles. Smells lush. And my face felt lovely afterwards, clean but not erm...stripped and squeaky clean aren't the right way to put it but I can't think of a better description. Much nicer than anything I've used before

I've been using the Lioele Waterdrop Sleeping Pack for the last couple nights from a sample I was given.

It isn't very good in my opinion, no where near as hydrating as the Mizon Good Night White one and my skin has felt a little dry todah. Also had a few spots show up on my jaw line. Only difference in routine has been the Lioele pack. One dies not recommend!

I do like the samples for the sole reason of products being a hit or miss and finding out what your skin does and doesn't like without spending £££.

It's quite a funny one isn't it? I would love to know what the baby's supposed to be saying.

lucysmam the Missha green tea wash sounds lovely! I've just started a new bottle of TBS Aloe wash (3 for 2 offer when I bought) and can't justify buying yet another cleanser though

Newsreader & BitterChoc - I've seen some BB primers around, in particular the Missha BB Boomer. It seems to do what the Lanacane did, but with a brightening effect and (I think) no silicones.

Right, I'm exhausted. Going to take the day off and go to bed. Fingers crossed DD2 is feeling better and sleeps through. G'night all.

Cornwalls I felt exactly the same about the Lioele water pack sample. It made no difference to my skin. The Mizon sleep one I tried was so much better. I am thinking of getting the full size on pay day.

I use the mizon sleep pack most nights. I adore it

Haha, I dread to think what it's saying...the name Mr. Nipple is bad enough! I'm just glad only I use my phone/tablet lately, some random searching going on.

I'm semi-compiling my list ready for Friday at the mo. Got as far as the Hada Labo toner and COSRX A-Sol then got distracted by reddit...Loving the haul posts.

I might leave it at those and just add a couple of non branded bits out of interest. Will also be adding some sheet masks, and randomness just to see what it is/does.

Maybe a Holika eyeliner too...it's actually quite a long list isn't it already.

hmmmm, Mr Nipple is not coming up on ebay or amazon...off to hunt them down

This is what Google images throws up when you type in Mr Nipple.

Half cute, half ick!

I really like the Mizon snail gel, eye cream and starfish cream I have purchased. The water sleep pack and water moisture samples I have tried I have liked. My skin seems to like this brand. Cult Beauty have a Mizon discovery kit for £38 but I can only find a blackhead kit on eBay. Is there a Korean website or a European one such as a Mizon version of Missha.ee that anyone can recommend?

Mitzy, will I need brain bleach if I load mobile to have a look?

I need bleach too - cannot un-see it!

I found from Mizon's pages an European seller, Korean Queens in Spain. They have a couple of Mizon products I don't have.

Hahaha Mitzy a nipple Dumbledore

Apologies for sullying this lovely tranquil thread with the wizard nipple!

(maybe don't load mobile Lucysmam, you'd need a lie down with a nice sheet mask afterwards)