Obsessed with Asian/Korean stuff - taking your skincare to level 4!

[FrugalFashionista]

Asian and Korean skincare products are a big thing right now. We love them!

Tailor your routine here!
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
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
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

Orders from outside the EU: £15 or less are VAT free!

Best blogs and other resources
Reddit Asian Beauty
Fifty Shades of Snail
Snow White & Asian Pear
Skin & Tonics
more resources here...

Vol 3 of this thread here, Vol 2 of here and Vol 1 here

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

Scrambled, what do you think of the Joseon cream?

I'm dithering between that, cosrx honey ceramide and Secret Key Snail Repair emulsion as an extra hydrating layer for days when my face is feeling particularly dry.

Busy day here so far - my evening routine (ish) will be happening this afternoon as it's dp's mum's hen do tonight & I don't think I'll be up to doing it all when I get in, after a few 's. I'm secretly glad they're mainly older ladies going a reasonable bed time is needed tonight as I have another cake to bake tomorrow morning.

Has anyone got a Korean / AB recommendation for under eye bags. Mine are dreadful atm. Looking for both skincare or cosmetic solutions (while I save up for surgery )

I really like the Joseon cream. It's a funny one as although it's a sort of thick, oddly stretchy texture I wouldn't say that it's very heavy. Moisturises well though, has an obviously brightening effect, and is very gentle and soothing. Hasn't broken me out or made me react in any way so far, and hasn't caused blocked pores. My skin feels really nice with it on too. I can't describe how, but maybe less...old?!

Grin, the last one I diy-ed was green tea with a couple of drops of tea-tree and a few drops of hada labo lotion in. The tea tree made it feel sort of 'fresh' on my face but it was refreshing and enjoyable.

You don't need much green tea though - I measured out 50ml of boiled water to steep a tea bag in then added the others & there was enough for two masks in there (could probably have done a third actually).

Milk & honey also nice & moisturising - you only need 20ml ish really of whatever more liquid thing you're using iyswim. Just rinse afterwards if you use proper foodstuffs!

Cucumber is nice and soooothing & pretty non irritating I think. You could use aloe sap if you have a plant I think - I'm going to get one at some point just to try it.

Green tea & snail serum (I bought a couple of cheap ones specifically for masking rather than branded ones).

White tea is meant to be good too but haven't looked into it to try yet!

There are some good threads for ideas on reddit - if I get chance shortly (when I catch up with myself ), I will link for you

That's a great list of DIY masks, lucysmam. Have you tried Matcha powder instead of green tea leaves yet? I've heard that it's easier to use smaller quantities and it's also great for baking with - I make Macarons and think it would make a lovely flavour, maybe with something fruity like sour mandarin or yuzu.

I haven't yet Scrambled, I bought the bags so have been using those up first. I could be persuaded to purchase some sooner though if it's good for baking with!

I forgot to tell you all yesterday - Savers have another 79p sheet mask in atm. It's an Azure International Spa Collagen mask.

I picked one up so my (probably) slightly hungover self will try it in the morning before cake baking and report back.

Btw, is anyone patch testing essences from new sheet masks before use? I've started testing behind my ears like for hair dye just in case after the Benton stuff didn't agree with me.

I've baked quite a bit with matcha powder, you can make cookies and marbled cake with it, but my favorite is matcha ice cream (made with Greek yogurt so it is technically a frozen yogurt - I actually came up with the recipe after eating green tea frozen yogurt in Pinkberry in NYC Koreatown! It is topped with cereal and fresh berries and deliciously tart and grown-up.) I won an ice cream maker years ago and am right now debating whether I should invest 15€ in replacing the freezing disc...

Thanks for that Frugal, I'll have a hunt for some recipes once I get these cakes and some clothes alterations for other folks out of the way

Replace the freezing disc btw - I fancy trying my own ice cream but it's toooooo labour intensive to have to keep whizzing it up lazy

Oh, I have a huge bag of matcha, keep meaning to do something with it!

Just popping in to say Hello, I've been painting the kitchen this week, the last room to be decorated since we bought this house (a do-er up-er) two years ago. I've painted every single room including ceilings and this one has just about finished me off, I am completely exhausted. However I managed to keep up the skincare routine everyday until last night when I flopped into bed without doing a thing.

Ive only had one parcel this week and that was a replacement snail gel, I'm particularly looking forward to the scinic honey. I agree about the speediness of Tosowoong delivery, love the little booklet and I'm very fond of their sheet masks which are fairly inexpensive if you buy ten.

Off to have a good mooch around reddit.

Hi Newsreader! That sounds like a lot of work, not surprised you're exhausted. Bet it looks great! Glad you love Tosowoong too, Newsreader, I'm very impressed with them right now. Itching to open the Bee venom essence but will resist for a week or so.

I've done my first sheet mask for a few weeks tonight. Tosowoong propolis. Lovely on, very good quality mask although a bit on the thick side, loads of essence (did my neck, décolletage, arms and feet too!). But again, another mask for giants. I know my face is on the small side, but surely it's not that small in comparison with Korean faces? Feel like a bit of a freak now!

So... Hera ultra moist UV mist cushion... I'm still lusting after it. Talk me out of it, please!

In other news, I have a cold. Boo

Oh, and I caved and bought the Sub-q eyes stuff. Weird texture but so far making quite a difference. DH told me I looked well rested. I definitely am not!

Sorry if this is self-evident but did you try Tosoowong samples first? Where could I get them?

I reordered Missha FTE yesterday so that was my Korean purchase for August. Before, I was tallying up other favorites - Laneige Multiberry Pack and sleeping pack capsules were really tempting but I have a big stash of sleep-in products already so cannot justify one just yet.

I am enjoying your purchases and explorations!

I have used the LRP Anthelios and hated it - it had a complete white cast on me and I am pretty pale skinned! It is also so claggy, I much prefer Biore.

The Big Test is over the next few weeks when I am on holiday, it's about 30deg there, so we will see how the Biore performs. It just sinks in do quickly, i hope it does what it says on the tube!!

Do take an alternative tried-and-trusted sunscreen for your face, wickedfairy. I don't think Bioré is very effective for me, sadly. I slather it on like crazy too, 2 layers, so it's not a question of not applying enough.

I'm off to the local 99p stores tomorrow so will look out for Coppertone in case I'm not allergic to it. It doesn't really matter if I am though, at 99p for 3!

Frugal, I've never received a Tosowoong tester. I just took a punt on the green tea sheet masks a while back as they were so cheap and had good reviews, and was so impressed that I thought I'd try out their other products.

Wicked I second Smeg's suggestion of a backup sunscreen. I never had any problems with Biore in Italy but I am pretty sun-avoidant anyway. I deeply disliked LRP though. I have liked Missha sunscreens, the pink one has zinc so an added physical filter. I've tried the pink and peach and both absorbed quickly - do note though that they both were perfumed.

Smeg good to know about TSW! Will consider them in Sept!

I didn't get round to posting last night before going out but some sheet mask idea threads from reddit

here

and here

I'm lacking the motivation to get anything done today - fortunately no hangover, just very very tired. The one thing I have done is my morning routine! I think I'm a tad dehydrated though -my face is very dry feeling Sheet mask and early night for me today.

Our bread machine broke ( as I had just gotten into it again) and while I was googling for spares or a replacement, I found a herbal compression heater. I've seen plenty of gadgets and bought many of them but this must be among the weirdest!

Nope, me neither Little