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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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
lucysmam · 18/06/2015 10:52

Scrambled, a list is a good idea. Spreadsheets make my head go Confused but I do like a good list!

I've been taking notes in a shiny new book so will use the back of that.

NewsreaderChic · 18/06/2015 11:09

How strange, I was just thinking that I need to have a good think about what I've got and what I actually need as payday is approaching and if I'm not careful I'll over do the spending.

My Innisfree apple cleansing oil arrived, I squirted a bit onto the back of my hands (been reading to many KB blogs) and I have to say it smelt of chip fat! Ill give it a try tonight, but can't say I'm looking forward to it.

In the meantime I've been reading the Snail ladies blog and within it is a link to this sheet mask blog, for your delight cake-pie.com/sana-nemeraka-isoflavone-soy-milk-facial-lotion-mask-review/2770/. I've also got a sewing project I'm supposed to be doing .... In a minute.

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 11:33

I've had a mooch at yesstyle, free postage on orders of £22...but they don't seem to do the COSRX or Hada Labo I wanted or I'd have ordered from there just for a mini snail saddo Grin

Although, I would probably loose the snail to dd2's box of treasures. It's full of all sorts of bits and bobs she's collected.

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 12:19

Has anyone tried vanedo sheet masks? I'm thinking about ordering the pack linked to try a bit more variety in them.

ScrambledSmegs · 18/06/2015 12:20

Am taking a quick break while making lunch for DD2 and browsing the Etude house range on Yesstyle. Such lovely things. I really love the look of their sleeping masks - such a sweet idea.

Spoon!

Also the eye colour sticks, and the lipsticks, and... and... and I really need to save some money Sad

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 12:37

I like the look of those too Scrambled, soooo many cute things to be browsed Grin

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 12:48

Decisions decisions, shall I try the Innisfree sheet masks instead?!

I've whiled away the morning browsing rather than sewing or doing anything vaguely productive.

NoMoreMrRight · 18/06/2015 13:28

Hello all,

Very new to Korean skincare and still catching up with thread no.1 but I need help with something please ..... in search of a toner for my very dry, always red and prone to rashes (usually after eating a croissant/cake portion or two, strangely enough....) skin. It seems by reading your comments that the Hada Labo Gokujyun toner might be a good option but I can't find it stocked by the main websites, could anyone please link to a cheap/reputable seller on ebay perhaps? (had a look but so many variations, not sure which one to go for). Feel free to recommend any other toner that might work better for my skin type too Wink.

About to order a few things so will report back once they've arrived. Thank you!

ScrambledSmegs · 18/06/2015 13:50

Hi there NoMore and welcome! Your wallet will not thank you for joining us Wink. As far as Hada Labo goes I don't really have a clue, sadly. It's on my To Buy list, but I have another hyaluronic acid toner to use up first. So I'm very interested in finding a cheap reputable seller myself.

It sounds like you have very reactive skin too, although mine is the flip side and somewhat oily I think we both want to avoid stressing our skin out. Try avoiding stuff like SLS, silicones etc. You can check Cosdna.com to see if a product will contain ingredients that could irritate your skin. Hope that's of some help.

And lastly, broken record, but I find Ren Evercalm serum the business for calming my reactive skin. If you have a stockist nearby they're very generous with samples.

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 14:16

not at all skincare related but how cute is this candy thingy that came up in my 'you might also like' items!

NoMoreMrRight · 18/06/2015 14:25

Thank you Scrambled for the info, will definitely check REN Evercalm.

Still reading through the first thread so lots to catch up but I've compiled a list of products that could be good for my skin type (very dry, flaky, always red and prone to rashes)... what do you all think?

Toners: either Hada Labo or COSRH Skin Returning

Sheet masks: any highly moisturizing and good for redness, have found a few from Innisfree recommended and they're at a good price point so will be trying them.

Ampoules/serums: Missha Time Revolution Longer Name Ampoule, Missha First Treatment Essence

Under eye: Mizon Starfish eye cream

Sleep masks: Laneige Water Sleeping mask, Innisfree red wine sleeping mask

Moisturizer (needs to be good for both night time when not doing a sleep mask and as a base under make up in the morning; or should I be ideally having two different ones?): Laneige White Plus emulsion, Mizon Starfish Returning cream.

I won't obviously be buying all the above so need to narrow down big time, probably also getting samples first to see which works better for my skin. I like the idea of the Laneige White PLus Renew Kit that someone linked on the first thread so might get that one to try out.

Thank you in advance!

NoMoreMrRight · 18/06/2015 14:27

Lucy My DD (13) gets those sets from Amazon often with her pocket money; she's very creative and they do look amazing although half of them taste really weird and often end up in the bin!

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 14:48

oh, maybe not so good then. Although it says you need a microwave & we don't have one atm. Thought the girls might quite like them too.

I'm ordering the Hada Labo when dp's wages go in...geting impatient now Grin

NoMoreMrRight · 18/06/2015 14:52

I still think they're worth it, she usually has about an hour making them and she does love receiving the little parcels from Japan Smile. And they're super cute too!

Could I ask, which vendor are you using for the Hada Labo toner? So many versions of it....

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 14:52

Is it the Skin Returning A-sol you're looking at? I'm no expert but reckon if you have quite reactive skin, you'd be better with the hada labo. The a-sol is a bha which I think might be quite drying used every day on already dry skin? Someone more scientifically minded will know for sure though.

NoMoreMrRight · 18/06/2015 14:55

Yes the Skin Returning one .... thank you, will go with Hada Labo then (if I can ever work out which one is the correct one ... there's also an emulsion/cream, what about using both as part of my routine?)

I think I do need something with hyaluron with my dry skin......

ScrambledSmegs · 18/06/2015 14:55

But where are you buying the Hada Labo from lucysmam?

Grin
NoMoreMrRight · 18/06/2015 15:08

Scrambled Grin

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 15:46

Sorry! I'm back (went to school early on the great uniform hunt - dd1 lost a whole set on Tuesday Confused - we found it.

m.ebay.co.uk/itm/261931069763 link to the seller's listing I was going to use - they have 100% feedback. Just don't blummin' order them all & leave me with none Grin

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 15:49

The A-Sol might be ok used a couple of times a week but more could strip your skin's natural barrier if I understand right & leave it quite a sore/broken out mess Sad

leeloo1 · 18/06/2015 16:10

I tried a sample of the innisfree apple oil cleanser last night and my skin was painfully tight afterwards - even after layering moisturisers, it smelled v appley tho, like Apple sweets, def not chip fat.

My few orders from beauty net Korea -via eBay arrived fine, each with 2 samples, so def not always dodgy.

NoMoreMrRight · 18/06/2015 16:12

Thanks Lucy for the link. That's for the lotion though, will you be getting the toner too?

ScrambledSmegs · 18/06/2015 16:21

I'm pretty sure that is the toner, NoMore. Korean Beauty is different to western, 'toners' are supposed to put moisture back into the skin after cleansing, and prepare it for the layers of moisture that you're about to use.

Lovely Skin & Tonics post about Korean v. Western Beauty here.

JessieMcJessie · 18/06/2015 16:25

OK, I actually live in Asia and have completely avoided all the local brands for the last 6 years, till I read this thread. Ventured into my local Boots type shop today and had a quick look and recognised a few brands from here- bio essence, bioderma and hada labo. The hada labo packaging had zero English on it so I was none the wiser. What should I buy? I am looking for a day moisturiser, I have sensitive skin which is prone to oiliness in the T zone and despite being 41 I've got a few spots at the moment.
My usual go to is Olay regenerist serum if that gives any comparisons.

Ironically I about to move back to the UK after 6 years so Sod's law I'll get addicted to a local product :-)

Oh and there is an innisfree counter just outside my office. Until this thread I thought it was British, named after a Hebridean island or something!

lucysmam · 18/06/2015 16:34

Hello again, sorry yes lotion = toner. It gets confuzzling Grin