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!

The snail cream is also on my list, figure come winter or tomorrow the way the weather bloody is atm I'll want something heavier - anyone with oily/acne prone skin have it & would share their opinions on it

I know Scrambled, its weird but there's before and after photos and apparently it works. I doubt I'll try it though, that's a big leap of faith! Oh I had a test if TBS Camomile Cleansing Oil when I was in town on Sat... it broke me out, on my hand! how bizarre. Just goes to show what works for one, mightn't work for others. Now bear in mind I've horribly reactive skin so I'm an extreme case.

Yeap the 01 is aqua beige. It's the closest match to my skin I've come across. Really light and watery, I'd definitely recommend it over the Missha one anyway

I ordered 10 samples of the Benton Snail Bee Steam Cream from RubyRuby Shop for $4.60 so cheap enough to try out? I tried the original western steam cream and I broke out so not much hope. If I don't get on with them, I'll happily pass them on for you to try

Sorry scrambled looked at your post again and read it properly this time.

I think I'll order it and find out.

I'll go have a squizz Frugal thank you.

lucysmam - I found those Mediheal sheet masks on ebay and on koreadepart.com. You can get 3 different types from this seller for just over £6-

freya-net1996

...however I've never used this seller and don't know what they're like.

Oh, Frugal, what are you doing to me?! Just when I think I've got my new addiction under control you go and throw Instagram into the mix!

Off for a gander. I may be some time...

Oh, crikey Gertrude! I'm very glad that you didn't blindly follow my recommendation and buy it. Hope your hand has recovered a bit?

I hadn't thought to buy samples, but I really should, especially as I would like a really good eye cream. I'd love to try the Snail Bee essence too, although at this rate I'll still be trying out the products I have at Christmas!

I'm going to buy the Chizu Saeki book next I think. The patting technique that I've been using has been really good, I want to read more about this and change my whole approach to my skin.

gertrude I've been wondering about how to incorporate retinoids into my routine too, and read this today re acids and retinols (taken verbatim from skinandtonics blog):

'One word of caution – if you are using an over-the-counter retinol, you should know that no acids, including BHA, should be included in the same routine as your retinol product . The acids interfere with the conversion of retinol into all-trans retinoic acid, which makes the retinol ineffective. Instead, you can use BHA with your morning routine and retinol in the evening. This is not an issue with prescription retinoids..'

Ah it's fine now, just some red bumps that are gone today. I had a feeling though cause I react to everything!

I've read past posts of hours about the patting technique, sounds really interesting. Off down this rabbit hole I go...

Oh wow Mowglick thanks so much, I've been doing it all wrong! That's really informative thanks. I'm definitely just going to use BHA in the am so, up at the crack of dawn to begin layering

Scrambled, I bought that book last month - it's ok, basically recommends gentle approach to skincare. No rubbing and pulling of skin or harsh cloths, etc.

It wasn't quite the reveal i thought it would be. There are lots of massage techniques to try, which I am looking forward to (once I have the time to sit down with the book properly and follow the instructions)!

Thanks for the mask link Scrambled. I could find other Mediheal ones...just not those and they look good. I shall do more reading before buying!

This book on Asian Beauty is coming out soon too, I looks very promising! Skin & Tonics is behind it!

My chin is calming down. I skipped the lip balm, went back to BB cream and African black soap (+ starfish + Good Night avoiding the affected area), and my face is feeling normal again!

I can never see the pictures posted when I look at this thread on my phone, but I can on the pc.

Is it just me and my settings or is it to do with the app? Can the rest of you see the pics on your phone?

If you're using the app, you don't get pictures wicked There was talk ages ago when it broke for forever of a new one with pics but no sign as yet...

Morning ladies. I refuse to look at any more links. I will not buy any more products!
Can anyone give me some advice on shading of holika bb creams. I have the petit bb in clearing. I love it as a cream, great texture, highly pigmented, only need a tiny bit, however, it believe it has a grey undertone. It's fine when I first put it on, colour seems to match perfectly, but after a little while I look ashen, frankly, it makes me look ill.
Does anyone know if that is the case with all korean bb creams. I can quite understand that they are looking for a pale look. I have more of a yellow undertone I think. I am not matched with any western foundations. I am not really pale, although white skinned, I lean more to a warmer skin tone.
Is it worth trying any of the other holika petit bb creams or will the all be the same?
Thanks

I'm in the same boat, bigbuttons! My new mantra is 'I will not buy'.

My bb cushion also has a mildly brightening effect, however I don't think it makes me look ashy. Possibly it's that particular one for you? I was doing some reading around and apparently the Missha M Perfect Cover BB creams has a good range of shades, and is a more natural match for those with warmer tones in their skin.

Looking at swatches of all of the holika holika petit bbs, I don't know if you'll find a good colour match there sadly. They all seem very light. Your best bet may be the Watery one as it's the most sheer, but even then I think it would be too cool in tone.

I think you may have more luck with the BB Jelly from Holika Holika, in the darker (still very light) of the two shades.

Still working out Instagram btw

Skin looking good today though. I even took a selfie to remind myself that I can look ok, although DD2 decided to not so much photobomb me as totally push me out of my own photo!

thank you scrambled I will take a look at those!

Scrambled that's the sort of thing my dd2 would do if I took a selfie

bigbuttons, I have the same Holika bb as you. I've found it actually looks better after being worn a while. Although looking at Scrambled's swatch link, I think the watery one would have been a better match or the jelly type ones.

I'm a little bit pee'd off with my dp...had earmarked my last £3 for sheet masks from Savers if the two I got the other day didn't cause irritation or break me out...cheeky bugger's pinched it for pool/vending machine at work and only just told me! I'll have to order myself something online now...am not trekking all the way to the cash point up the road in the rain for the sake of £3

In other news, the hyaluronic acid serum I ordered for diy sheet masks has arrived...just need to work out what to put it with now - if I just use that, the little bottle won't go far at all

lucy naughty dp!

Soak your mask in a mixture of water and serum.

Thank you I shall have a look at the watery one. I have just got my colour back after being poorly. i don't want to look ill again!

OMG turns out I actually ordered the watery one on ebay AGES ago. I had completely forgotten,. See that's the problem with the long wait time. You think you've got nothing so order more, then you forget what you've ordered

He did sound rather sheepish when I told him that's why it was in a different bit of my purse General household money is always in the same place so why he went rummaging I don't know

Just plain old water? I shall try that tomorrow night after the Rainbows have frazzled my poor brain.

I spent last night reading about horse oil - sounds very good if you have dry skin that needs a heavy moisture kick...although the horse bit is a bit more ick inducing, to me, than the snails! Apparently it's been used for decades for various home skin treatments. one of the pages I was reading here.

I saw a horse oil handcream on ebay...

I don't fancy trying it on one hand...but I do on the other, just to see what it's like! Interesting stuff once you start looking at what you're using rather than just use any old thing.

bigbuttons, you need a lovely list or spreadsheet!

NOOOO spreadsheets are a bridge too far!!! ( I haven't got a beauty product problem ok?)

What I have been noticing is that if I use my PH dependent products properly. I.e give them time to work before putting anything else on my face that it makes a huge difference to the condition of my skin AND the effectiveness of other products. I thought I was using them correctly and I wasn't. Still they must have had some effect, just not the effect I am getting now!