Obsessed with Asian/Korean stuff - taking your skincare to level 3!

[FrugalFashionista]

Asian and Korean skincare products are big thing right now. We love them!
Tailor your multistep skincare routine here! (or see this pic)

Some of our favorite products so far...
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50 Sunscreen
Missha Magic Cushion BB Cream #21
Lioele Dollish Veil Vita in Purple
Holika Holika Petit Jelly BB Cream
CosRx Returning A-sol
Scinic Propolis Serum
Mizon Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule
Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail products & trial kit
Mizon Snail Repair Cream
Mizon Returning Starfish Cream
Mizon Good Night White Sleep Mask
Innisfree Wine Jelly Sleeping Pack
My Beauty Diary Imperial Birds Nest and Hyaluronic Sheet Masks
Innisfree Trouble Care Sheet Masks
Innisfree Real Squeeze Sheet Masks
Tony Moly Avocado Mask
Nexcare Acne Patches

Our favorite sellers:
UK-based Bits and Bobs of Beauty
EU-based Missha.ee, Missha.de
Korean Innisfree
On eBay f2plus1, sing-sing girl, Iamlove, blueprint21
Orders from outside the EU: £15 or less are VAT free!

Blogs and other resources
Reddit Asian Beauty, Fifty Shades of Snail, Snow White & Asian Pear, Skin & Tonics
more resources here...
Vol 2 of this thread here and Vol 1 of here

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

Well they're not particularly flexible (maybe I can make them thinner?), but the Sugru spatulas do work. I tested one on a pot of Benton steam cream and managed to get the last bit out. Whoop!

I shall make some more later, they don't take much Sugru at all so are v economical.

Pot was a tiny sample one, btw

Just in time a parcel arrived today with the Cosrx Aha/BHa toner. I followed BigButtons and started using the Bravura ginseng toner as a ph reducer this week, but it's not gone well for me. My skin feels very sore and is looking red, it's the only thing I've changed and this happened before which I thought was due to using too many new products at once. I Think I'll stop the ginseng and go back to waiting in between steps over the weekend and then try the Cosrx stuff next week. The wait times are a pain in the mornings.

Frugal are you moving to the UK?

Newsreader sorry about your face... i've had that too, hope it heals soon!

We are moving still further north... I don't think this is final, as we've lived abroad for more than a decade and in some ways I've become a permanent expat. Both DH and I love being abroad and we were just talking about our past moves and how unexciting this one will be in comparison. But it will be great to be close to friends and family and I love the idea of getting back to an office environment. I've mostly worked from home for four years and miss my colleagues - anyone stuck in a SAHM / bedroom office situation will probably understand why (I have just sorted out my home office, that's why I am thinking about work.) I have two work trips to the Mediterranean coming up in Sept and Oct so I will be back very soon.

I wanted to do a final walk in the center of Rome last night, but the Valentino open air couture show totally messed up the traffic. So I got nowhere. Not that I really need to do or see anything any more. Leaving on Sunday morning...

Looked in my local cheap shop (Boyes, for those in ne) and found this-2 nose strips, grape seed. Sheet mask and little bottle of serum, for a quid! By Skin Benefits (me neither) but it's korean!
I'm needing a toner, Ben using rice water and that's ok, but need to have a parcel on the way woukd like something better. Old, sensitive skin.

ooh, News, that sounds uncomfy

ohwhat, I had a look in my local Boyes the other week but they didn't have anything. I'll have a look again next week while I'm birthday present shopping.

I'll have to loo

I have no idea where "I'll have to loo" came from

My Aritaum sleeping pack pouches arrived earlier while I was out helping a friend decorate.

Not entirely sure I need them atm with it being warm so will keep them for future use. Manufacture date is recent (last month iirc) so they'll be ok for a while.

I'm still itching to try the Dragon Blood Essence...being good is hard! Think I need to work out a better system for ordering/testing now that I have a decent routine coming along so am going to have a think about that tonight.

I prefer pen and paper if anyone has any suggestions

oh dear newsreader. My skin seems to be pretty tough. It can take a lot before it grumbles. Yes stop the Bravura, it even tingles on my skin atm. go back to the wait times.

These Whamisa masks look amazing.

Has anyone tried Whamisa in general?

On the different note, I have my Christmas present sorted out - book written by the SkinAndTonics blogger!

The Mizon Snail repair gel arrived today. I'm not sure what it does or where in the regime it fits.

I only ordered it cos loads on here were raving about it

Also DS1 (16) has a crop of spots on his forehead and nose. He's using up my Vichy Normaderm night detox but I was wondering what AB product might help more? Would the CosRX Whitehead toner be OK? Any suggestions gratefully received. It's not acne really just zits.

Amazing, the snail gel is supposed to be a light moisturiser with skin repairing properties. I've found it very soothing, and helpful in reducing the redness of acne cysts. It's also light enough for my oily skin but might not be enough for drier skin types or winter iyswim(I'll find out when we get to winter if I need something heavier).

We've also used it on sunburn (me ) and grazes once they've started healing (dp falling off his new bike within hours of getting it - he was impressed so pinched my tube!).

If you use it on a morning, under sunscreen, be sure to leave it to dry properly (only takes a couple of mins to make sure it's sunk in properly) before you apply the sunscreen - I couldn't work out why mine was balling up as I put it on for a few days, turns out it's to do with the silicone in the snail gel.

I think Scrambled has seen good results from it too in healing her face after working out her wedding ring was irritating it as she applied her other products? I think it was Scrambled...

Almost forgot...I use it as the last step in my routine atm - am sure I read somewhere that it is occlusive so should go on top of any other creams etc you use (can't remember where though, sorry, I really need to start writing these things down for reference )

I never quite figured out mizon snail gel. It didn't do anyrhing noticeable to me and I never knew where to use it. But I will trynit again once I have got through my stash of new things to try.

Sorry to hear about all of you reacting to bravura. I have just had a bottle of ginseng toner delivered thinking it was going to be a gentle, alcohol free step up from nip/fab. Did it think it was so strong that even tough skin would be getting tingles buttons! I'm pretty sensitive and that's why I ordered it! Am a bit scared bow

Sorry typos!

Only posted once here I think but I just wanted to report back!

Ordered the CosRX Whitehead Power by mistake and it came a few weeks ago. Have only used it 3 times and the difference in my skin is visible (to me anyway).

I'm getting a bit wrinkly but have really oily skin and can get those big cystic spots on my jawline and also loads of blackheads and large pores.

The CosRX whitehead seems to have evened everything out, producing less oil and I have a bit of a glow! Only used it every couple of nights.

Now my CosRX Blackead Power that I meant to order has arrived and I'm wondering if the effects will be different? I'll give it a try tonight to see...

I have also started using CeraVe to wash my face - not AB I know - and I love it. Doesn't leave my face right at all and can use on eyes no problem.

Ooh and I meant to say I'm on a bit of a high today as for the first time since starting on this thread all those weeks ago, I think my skin looks pretty fab. Horrendous before make up but very good after a little cc and bb and under eye concealer. Tony moly pure aura is very nice but I do need a little extra coverage in certain areas. I'd definitely recommend it if you're not quite ready to go mke up free,

Oh! And also - do you all use a separate eye cream? I was looking about for one and read a bit on Paula's Choice that A separate eye cream may not always be necessary. Since reading this I've just used my Aldi serum up to my eyes and facial oil and I have to say, it seems fine...?

I will need to carry on a bit longer to see true effect but just wondered what you all use on eyes?

I went into town today and somehow () ended up in China Town and in the Korean shops on Little Newport Street. Everything was VASTLY expensive. I didn't buy anything.

Although I've also discovered Jill stuart makeup has sparkly packaging (although still a little plasticky) The shops also had all the History of Whoo lip glosses - although they were £20 each. I'm not sure if that still tempts you Scrambled.

I also had a play in the Muji in Selfridges with some of the skincare but was underwhelmed. I did buy some of the paper eye patches though.

ilove my skin is sensitive atm because of the near daily use of retin and daily am/pm use of of acids. Even the cerave cleanser stings my skin at the moment. I think the Bravura is very gentle. Certainly never had any issues with it and thought it wasn't strong enough infact.

Had to spend the day out in the sun yesterday at work (school). Had no hat or sunglasses as was dressed in carnival gear, slapped on lots of sunscreen, face looks red today. I think I will lay off the retin when i go to marrakech in August.

No, thanks anyway Phantomquartz! History of Whoo stuff is mega-expensive so £20 for a lipgloss is actually quite normal, but I think I'm going to try and curb my fancy packaging mania and buy more normal stuff for a while.

I got the Cosrx A-sol last week, tried it for the first time yesterday and am very impressed. I'm dabbing it on any cystic spots that threaten and it's really helping. Really want the Whitening Power essence now (it's been re-named Lucysmam, did you see?). I would really like to get the Blackhead one too, I rarely use the Paula's Choice one now because it feels so unpleasant and I have to wash it off or it gives me spots . I prefer to pat with a Clearasil pad, despite the alcohol content.

Muji skincare actually is pretty good, apart from the face wash which is high Ph. I like the sensitive toner and the Moisturising lotion which I use when I think my face feels dry as it's more moisturising than Hadalabo. Also, the sheet masks are not half bad. The fit is relatively good and the essence is gentle and moisturising. Doesn't promise to do huge amounts but still makes my face look soft and glowy afterwards.

Re: Mizon snail gel. I use it now because it's very good at healing acne scars from my recent bout of skin badness (yeah, that's a technical term, ok?) although it isn't a very moisturising product. I think I probably won't purchase it again as I prefer the Benton Snail Bee stuff. However DH has gone nuts for it so maybe it will become a medicine cabinet staple.

I have a cystic spot on the edge of my nose, on my socket line. I think Lucysmam and Frugal have had similar recently? I think I've realised what has been contributing to mine, if not causing it.

SUNGLASSES.

It's exactly where they rest on my face, I've got some blocked pores on the other side too. So last night I sanitised my sunglasses and my mobile phone screen (because face gunk). Hopefully that will help.

If anyone doesn't know, the quickest and easiest way to do so is put some surgical spirit in an empty spray bottle, give the items a quick spritz and leave to dry. It takes about 30 seconds to evaporate. I do it with my make up too.

Scrambled, that wouldn't even have occurred to me! But it makes sense.

I did see that the racist essence has been renamed Probably for the best really, it wasn't the best name.

My feet are almost done peeling I think. Heels are still quite hard/rough though My friend gave me some soap & glory cream for them yesterday so once they're done I'll slather them in that and see if they improve at all.