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

Tried a ginseng sheet mask today. Although I liked the shape of the mask( better than the compressed ones) the effect wasn't as good( hydrating) as ones I make up myself. I'm pushing on with retin A every night now so need good hydration. It felt watery really!

Frugal thank you for the detailed review of your Missha cushion; I was totally sold and have a #23 on the way... as well as a IOPE

I've been using the DIVINE Japanese oil cleanser from FANCL forever (absolutely brilliant product) and have never found anything remotely similar, but feeling adventurous - does anyone know of a nice Korean balm or oil?

Bigbuttons because you already use Hada Labo you may not get that much extra mikeage from sheet masks. I have found HL to be a fab booster for not so special sheet masks. But I really think your DIY masks are probably better than most that you can buy.

Flossy I am not big on eye creams as they tend to give me milia but here is the Reddit HG lists.

Does anyone have balm recommendations for Poppy? XiCi did you have the famous cleansing stick?

Poppy, I've read good things about the DHC cleansing oil. Haven't tried it myself though

Back2T is right the Missha sun block spray I linked to must not be sprayed over the face, I got it wrong and should have ordered this one www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Missha-All-Around-Safe-Block-Whitening-Sun-Mist-80ml-/311130159540?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4870cd79b4

Thanks Back2T I think the one I have is carcinogenic if inhaled, so Ill have to leave it just for body use.

I have this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Innisfree-Apple-Juicy-Cleansing-Oil-150ml-Cleansers-/310706732884?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4857907f54 cleansing oil on its way to me, but I only ordered it last weekend.

frugal yes that makes sense, thanks.

What I am finding is helping my poor old dry wrinkly eyes is to put on haloxyl serum, followed by my diy eye cream which contains coq10 and matryxil and then sealing it all in with the holika wine sleep mask. I really do like this sleep pack more than my others. I even use it during the day under my eyes to help seal in moisture. I can't really afford some of the pricier ones liked on here, although I would love to try them out one day and see how they compare

Bigbuttons I love the red wine pack I have and I'm sure the Holika one is every bit as nice. Interesting about Haloxyl - happy that it is working for you.

Although I love my red wine mask I've actually been wearing the Good Night one for a few nights. It's the simplest one I have and I reach for it when I really want to focus on what is underneath. And vice versa, if I have put on a simple serum or worn a sheet mask, I might go for a more distictive sleeping product.

I am feeling that I am reaching a saturation point with these products. I have enough variety to keep it interesting, but do not believe that adding many new steps would change much. I have found several fabulous sunscreens and BB creams, and the cushion is super practical. The chemical exfoliants make my face look nice and glowy; using them sparingly seems right for my skin type. I am awaiting my Cosrx order but even if it never arrives I am quite happy with my Western alternatives. Figuring out hydration has helped immensely: I can add as many or as few layers as I need. I find sheet masks highly relaxing, I can get a similar plumping and level of moisture from other products, but I like the total relaxation I associate with a sleeping mask. I also believe sleep-in products are fantastic for my skin type: I get much better results from a thin layer of liquid moisture worn with a sleeping mask than a thicker cream. And the ritual bit is super nice - I have always enjoyed the ritual of putting on makeup, now taking it off is equally nice - very soothing and meditative.

I am in a very happy place right now... to everyone here for making the exploration process so enjoyable!

Poppy here is the Reddit HG oil/balm list! Quite a few of the alternatives are actually Japanese!

Just realised my routine is missing a foaming cleanser! Just been using dregs of an Olay one, but missing out on the kb vibe. What would you think to neutrogena sensitive face wash bar? Also saw a very cute net mop type thing, you use tiny bit of cleanser, squige it up and just use the bubbles. I reckon this can be made.
The holika petit bb is ace, and you need a tiny bit!

So my Corsx blackhead power lotion had arrived and the bottle had started to leak on the way over. Probably only lost 5% of it but still annoying.

On another subject hoe are you getting on with the OST 20 vitamin c serum. I've noticed I'm getting some orangey brown discolouration on the palm of my hand from dispensing it in the same place every day. I'm worried about it doing the same to my face.

OhWhat, I've ordered the Missha Green Tea latte foaming cleanser. It's not here yet though.

Chester, who did you buy it from? I read a reddit post this morning - Jolse replaced a COSRX product for someone where similar had happened. Might be worth a go

Bigbuttons do you get discoloration on your hands or nails from your Vit C ferulic serum? I hear it is a common side effect.

OhWhat I'd look into pH-balanced cleansers (ideally pH 5.5), they are the gentlest. I will probably give Hada Labo cleanser a try in the future.

Chester contact the vendor - CosRX packaging is faulty, this has happened to many people, they can put pressure on the manufacturer and in the meantime they are issuing refunds /replacemenets.

Our afternoon plans were cut short by a thunderstorm so I can have a bath and do a sheet mask...

Lucysmam- u ordered from iAmloveshop and have messaged them about it already. To be honest in not bothered about a replacement but a little bit of a refund in my PayPal account would be nice!

Frugal- I'm getting the discolouration on my hands. Need to inspect my face a bit more closely to check im not getting brown spots on there too.

Chester I was thinking that perhaps a more complex formula might help by making the product more stable and Buttons may have experimented with different formulations. I've also heard some people get yellow nails from Vit C. That is a nonnegotiable for me, I am a bit fussy about my hands - my face can go to hell, my hands have always been prettier

It's sort of putting me off ordering the BHA Skin Returning A-Sol tbh reading all these stories about leaky bottles in transport Any recommendations for something similar?

frugal no my c serum is opaque/milky white, there is no yellow/orange at all. One of the signs of oxidisation is the serum becoming orangey. However I make a new batch every 2-3 weeks so no chnace of that happening! (phew)
I think the shop bought serums use a different form of vit c, one that is supposed to be more stable over a longer time period. As far as I understand this compromises the effectiveness. Pleased be warned that I don't understand much! I do love my home made though, as you know!

sorry, realised I might not actually have answered your question! No,neither my hands, nails nor face have become orange/yellow discoloured through using my home made c serum!

that reminds me, ned to order some more diy supplies!

I've just bought these which I found in a shop in Chinatown.

Just put my first one on.

They're hyaluronic masks whatever they are!

Okay Buttons, that is very reassuring (I did a some googling and lots of people get yellow nails and orange hands) - hair coloring gloves and a dedicated brush for applying the serum are common interim solutions. So was your milky white formula the simple one or the ferulic one?

I know MN is full of Footner threads atm. Too late for me this summer but it appears to be an Asian thing originally. Got interested in it after my RL AB friend mentioned that she loved Korean foot masks and I saw one on the Missha site... Wonder how many foot fetishists frequent these threads - some foot porn here.

Viva I have those, they are great!

They're what I have Viva and they make my skin feel gorgeous - prepare to never look back