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!

[lucysmam]

Maybe not the honey bomb...I've just searched the one seller on ebay, on reddit (hope you get me!) & they are not sounding great. One person had a 3/4 full, leaky jar still in packaging & the seller (kim's trade on ebay) refused to accept that it was possible to happen during transit or that it may have been tampered with.

Narrows down my choices then unless anyone wants to chuck anything else into the mix for me to dither over

[ScrambledSmegs]

Oh yeah, I have the Cosrx Light Propolis . It's very good.

You don't get very much, however one drop does my entire face so will last for a while. But from what I've seen online the Shara Shara is better value for money (as well as being great, and smelling slightly of honey), so given the choice again I'd probably buy that one.

[ScrambledSmegs]

Ah, x-post! Ok, go with the Cosrx. Tis good, and makes you all glowy (not shiny) when you use it. I got mine from iamlove-shop, it came in at under £15.

Quick tip - use snail gel cream after your sunscreen, and your makeup won't slide off.

[lucysmam]

I think that's the cheapest one on there atm at just over £11 ish. Have stuck it in my watch list while I do some more browsing.

I'm also hunting for a light moisturiser and serum to give me a 'complete' routine and then I'm going to look at other items, so I can swap about as the mood takes me, and some novelty bits and bobs to try out (those will be based entirely on names/packaging)

[NewsreaderChic]

Oh hurry up pay day, you lot are seriously making me want to spend.

[ilovetosleep]

lucysmam I am having the same quandry as you. I think shara shara is the best, but seller sounds dubious. I am tempted next by the Scinic propolis 95 as it has lots of niacinimide too which I don't think the skinfood one does? Not looked at the cosrx one, will do that now :)

[lucysmam]

No, the seller doesn't sound good. It's a shame because I was pretty much sold on the honey bomb too.

I don't think the Skin Food has niacinamide - I wasn't specifically looking for it though so it might do...will go back for another look.

[lucysmam]

No, definitely no niacinamide in there.

[ilovetosleep]

There's also the Scinic honey all in one....

[lucysmam]

I haven't looked at that

[CornwallsFinest]

Wow, number 4?! I leave it for a week or so to stop myself buying anything and I've missed out on so much!

So, my skin must be more sensitive than I first thought. Benton Snail Bee and Placenta Cream is a no as I've reacted to both. If anyone would like them, you're more than welcome to cover costs of p&p and I will send them your way. Neither have much used out of them.

On the back of that, I've found I don't really use anything between my cleanse and snail gel (goes on before my sleeping pack). My skin definitively prefers the fewer step routine but I do feel it could do with extra hydration. I get on with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, any suggestions? I actually bought organic 99.9% aloe gel from my health food shop which I've been using between the cleanse and snail gel. It helps my skin with redness/PIE but I don't find it that hydrating!

I've just taken delivery of hada labo sheet masks so will try one out this evening. And a konjac sponge - anyone found they are much smaller than expected?! Mines tiny! I ordered from the UK.

Also considering the innisfree volcanic clay mask..has anyone used it?

[ScrambledSmegs]

Cornwallis I'm using the Goodal Waterest oil and really like how light and yet hydrating it is. My skin is pretty sensitive so very glad that I'm not reacting to it, bar a slight redness after application that fades in a minute or two.

I use it straight after cleansing, and apply my Muji moisturising lotion afterwards (not Hadalabo which is too slippy for me in this muggy weather). It seems to work perfectly although I'd quite like a first essence - am considering a fermented one like Su:m37 or the Goodal one, since I get on so well with the oil.

Maybe something to consider? It is very moisturising yet not heavy or oily - in fact I'd say it's more of a deep hydrating treatment instead of a traditional moisturiser. Some days I don't even bother with a moisturiser.

[ScrambledSmegs]

I also have the innisfree clay mask. It's very good at unclogging pores and clearing skin but a bit gritty so apply gently. I've seen bloggers and redditors comparing it to Aztec clay, and the latter seems to be more of a HG product. Not sure why. I like the Innisfree anyway! But it sure is pricey.

[lucysmam]

Cornwall, the Hada Labo lotion toner might be worth a look. Very short ingredients list skinandtonics review here, scroll down a bit to see them.

COSDNA info here. No triggers highlighted as far as I can see.

It's really lightweight! Four or five drops is plenty for a full face. & it's really moisturising. My face is lovely and soft after applying it

[AmazingDisgrace]

baggsy the Snail Bee Cornwall's if its still available?

[mowglik]

Cornwall try the hada labo hyaluronic acid lotion or an emulsion with HA and niacinamide (sorry don't know any off the top of my head)

[mowglik]

X-post with lucysmam! Also you can mix in serums or ampoules with the hada labo to give it an extra kick, just read that on reddit today and will be trying that today

[FrugalFashionista]

Okay, skincare can really perform miracles. Yesterday morning my face was feeling rough and tired and it felt that my skin might be breaking out and my lips were parched and cracked. This morning after letting snail bee and Innisfree red wine, Effaclar AI and beeswax lip balm work their magic overnight I woke to smooth skin and the breakouts had calmed down.

Have had a strange day, half of it washing ultra grimy windows, half of it dressed up having a work lunch in a trendy outdoor restaurant. I am really enjoying the area we have moved to - I saw two women with blue hair and and lots of sleeve tattoos, beards, man buns and trendy eyewear. Great food too.

Scrambled and others who are preparing to move, sending you lots of energy and stamina. Sorting through the belongings is the hardest and most depressing part, I still have some of it left as quite of a few of the storaged items seem totally redundant now. But setting things up is much more fun!

[lucysmam]

ooh, that's a good idea mowglik, wouldn't have thought of it on my own! You do realise I'll have to have a look for something to mix it with now

[lucysmam]

Frugal, what is a "man bun"?...the mind boggles

[mowglik]

Your propolis ampoule would be perfect for that, I am looking at the LJH propolis vs the scinic propolis vs miss flower and Mr honey essence oil

Choice choices..I want them all

[FrugalFashionista]

Man bun - seriously I saw some guys today who looked like that today, can't complain! Lots of longboards too.

[lucysmam]

Ah, ok...a man with a bun. I did wonder.

mowglik, it would indeed!

[lucysmam]

Seems a lot of us are looking for honey/propolis at the mo...there should be discounts for bulk buying

[CornwallsFinest]

Thanks Scrambled I totally forgot about my first essence! I use Tony Moly galactomyces 96.5%. To be honest, its like putting water on your face - no smell and no irritation. But I definitely think it contributes to my skin 'accepting' everything I put on after. I put it on within 30 seconds of cleansing as recommended on reddit.

I think I'll try the innisfree clay mask but I do like the look of the Aztec one!