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!

My condolences Amazing

I finally received my order from Beautynetkorea, nearly 2 months after ordering. Won't be ordering from them again! They posted it on 23 June, almost 2 weeks after I placed the order, and it's been in transit since then. God knows who their carrier is. It's gorgeous though so I kind of forgive them - the Peripera 'Ah! Much Real' cushion blusher in Lavender, a cool,very blue-pink. Amazing on pale skin, makes a lovely change from the usual true pinks you get in the West.

In contrast I received a bottle of the Goodal Waterest first essence from Jolse today too, which arrived less than 2 weeks after ordering. With 4 samples too! Including the famous Tony Moly Tomatox and Banana hand milks, which I really want to try . Although Dd1, 5yo, has currently nicked off with them for reasons I can't fathom, probably the pictures on the front - she can't even open ketchup sachets by herself so I think they're safe.

Thanks banana for the info re: Active Formulas. Aargh - so if it's limited who should I use if the product I want isn't there? Is there anyone redoubtable on ebay? Are there any other sites that are good? I don't want to buy any all in one kits, I just want to buy supplies and the occasional bottle but half the time I'm confused about what to get.

Doesn't help that my previous forays into DIYing were on the more hippy-ish side, so spent most of my time browsing G. Baldwin online. Competely different to now!

Sad news Amazing, I hope we offer a distraction.

Last nights cheapo sheet mask was MJ Dewy snail, bought on ebay at 99p for 3 and for that price it was good. Enough essence, but none left in the pack it felt lovely on, was a good shape and one of those with a nose flap which I like. I can't say I see any difference, but it felt good.

Sorry to hear of your loss, Amazing

I'm new to this type of skincare but have been lurking a little while and have finally started to receive goodies I've ordered. I've got my oil cleanser, and some sheet masks, waiting on loads of stuff to be delivered... I've received something today and I don't have a clue what it is! I'll try and post a picture, can anyone tell me what it is and where it fits in my routine please

Amazing sending you my warmest thoughts!

Korean stuff is a great distraction and soother, my situation is nothing like yours but I do feel that my Missha box helped me through a very stressful move. Our last big move was a trigger for an episode of depression for me (I got better but it took about six months). I've tried not to repeat past mistakes and so far it seems to be helping, but I firmly believe that snails, bees and Innisfree products have a major role in it

Our house is ready now, I am really enjoying the beautiful rooms and the huge kitchen. I get to spend a few days with DD2 before my work and her school start next week. We've done great things together, exploring the city and its playgrounds, markets and parks, even an island with haunted abandoned villas! Today we went to buy some Asian spices. I saw some mysterious Korean condiments too but couldn't figure them out. I am taking DC to the beach this afternoon. It is not super hot today but we can run around and play in the sand and have tea and cakes

Dangerous, it's the Hada Labo hyaluronic acid hydrating lotion toner. It goes after any active steps (vit c, bha, aha) and before the rest of your routine. The hyaluronic acid draws the moisture from your other steps to your skin. You need other steps after it, otherwise the hyaluronic acid can work the other way & draw moisture out of your skin and dry it out.

I really like it

Thanks. So I've got on order some retinA cream, would I double cleanse, then renitA, hada stuff, then essences and cream? I no not to retin a everyday, so on the days I don't retin a should I not use hada? Sorry for the questions it's such a minefield!!

I have no idea about the retin a, sorry. Sure someone else will though.

I think I read that you should wait an hour after the retin a, before applying anything else then use the HL and rest of your routine. One of the others will be better able to help with that.

I use the Hada Labo every day, after my active steps then carry on with essences/serums etc & then the rest of my routine. It makes my face feel ever so soft before adding anything else .

Ok, so if I don't have any active steps should I just use it after cleansing, before everything else?

Yep

Thank you!

Do we think snail gel on post waxed skin would be a good idea?! Tempted to do a patch test

I would Free, but I tend to be quite gung-ho about these things!

Dangerousmouse I use retin a, there's a school of thought that says you shouldn't put anything on your skin after it and another that says that's rubbish and so long as you wait a bit it's ok. I double cleanse and leave 30 mins before retin a, then if I have time I carry on the rest of my routine after a further hours wait. Sometimes I just slap on a moisturiser, depends on how tired I am etc.

I'd use snail gel after waxing without a second thought.

I think I'll give it a whirl. My skin is fairly robust. I am very PG (39 weeks on Saturday) and just had my pre section wax and tidy up ( was very necessary ) so was thinking I should be cautious.

Sorry to hear of your loss amazing

amazing so sorry to hear of you loss, look after yourself .

yes the holy snail water thing is pretty much the recipe I have been using, i have a slightly different version which doesn't use liquorice but uses another couple of ingredients. it's the niacinamide and glucosamine that are the most important.. I have done another shark sauce version and although it is less sticky than the first I find it heavy on my skin. The Liquorice is odd. You can kind of taste a sweetness if you use it.
I use active formulas if I have to, the are a uk based shop. the also sell some stuff on eBay but really hike the prices up on there..
They make their money on postage really, so I try and wait until i have a lot to get. I have recently wasted ALOT trying to get the shark sauce to work though

Just about to put on a Benton snail bee sheet mask! I haven't done sheet masks in a month so really looking forward to it!

Buttons hope next time is more successful!

scambled my goodal came today too! can't wait to see how we get along.
I stopped the retin A a week ago in readiness for travelling to Morocco on Monday.
Something is giving me random spots on my cheeks and chin which is really really annoying since I have been pretty much spot free since April!

Just received a lovely parcel from iamloveshop, ebay, it took about 3 weeks to get here and I didn't have to pay customs, even though it's over the limit iyswim.

So excited I have immediately dived in the bath to do a hyuralonic sheet mask which I have on as I type, door is locked so as not to traumatise the dc's!

Can anyone advise if my pm routine is in the right order now? I'm thinking.......

Rice water oil cleanse x 2
Nip & fab glycolic pads
Hyuralonic acid
Mizon all in one repair cream
Snail ampoule intensive serum
Mizon eye repair cream
Nixon recovery gel

Not sure I have the hyuralonic acid in the right place
The mizon products are in the order recommended on their webpage, but the cream seems to be in the wrong place to me?

Jocasta; you need a foaming or cream type cleanser, or micellar water as your 2nd cleanse to make sure that any residue from the oil is removed.

Snail ampoule goes after hyaluronic acid, then eye cream, then snail gel.

The general rule of thumb is thinnest to thickest consistency of products.

& don't forget your 20mins wait after using the glycolic pads.

(sorry for mini posts - my memory's awful & I can't scroll on app)