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

997 replies

FrugalFashionista · 14/07/2015 16:41

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
ScrambledSmegs · 22/08/2015 23:22

Hanbang mask done. Really nice. Good fit, loads of essence, smells great in a slightly fermented herbal way.

No niacinamide but skin looks good - calmer and well moisturised. Will leave essence on and see how I look tomorrow. G'night.

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 09:02

skin basics - skin cells post from reddit. This evening's reading for me Smile

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 09:48

beauty sleep article here some of you might find interesting Smile

ScrambledSmegs · 23/08/2015 10:32

Morning after review: I really like the medineal hanbang masks. The initial unfolding was a bit of a pain and I thought I was going to rip it, but that could be because I was tired and a bit cack-handed.

As I said above, the mask had loads of essence on it but strangely not much left in the pack. However instead of starting to dry out after about 20 minutes the mask was still really moist on my skin, I left it on for 40 and I could actually have wrung it out.

The essence was lovely and soothing, smells pleasant. Didn't irritate me. Skin is looking soft and dewy today, and a spot that was brewing has vanished, seemingly overnight.

It even fits pretty well, which is quite a huge deal for me because I haven't yet found a regular sheet mask that does.

Basically the only negative thing I have to say about this mask is that it feels a bit slimy when you get it out of the pack, I presume it's made out of some special substance that absorbs and retains moisture really well. However it feels good when on so I forgive them that.

Will definitely use again, is up there with my precious Benton sheet masks (dreadful fit but oh-so-effective).

mowglik · 23/08/2015 10:51

Thanks for the review scrambled would like to read more like that as I am trying to build up a collection of effective sheet masks. I really like this one too, I have the purple and green ones but have only tried to green one so far (think it is the troubled skin one).

I just tried the Benton snail bee essence mask yesterday and didn't like it much, the essence felt really thin and watery yet still sticky. I have another 3 of these so will give it another go since it seems to perform so well for other people!

In other news, I got this yesterday, been wanting it for ages and sold something on eBay for the exact amount so decided it was fate Grin. It smells gorgeous, the texture is a bit strange and strangely waxy, as if it's made from real beeswax or something similar (it's not). Tried it last night and skin looks good this morning post retinol, will do a mini review later this week

Obsessed with Asian/Korean stuff - taking your skincare to level 4!
lucysmam · 23/08/2015 15:34

Well, my search for an easily available BHA product in the UK has been pretty fruitless.

It looks like most that are easily available here are either not an effective % or ph, or both Confused

So, looks like it's either COSRX, or benton for the moment.

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 17:12

latest 50 shades reviews here It's a reddit post with three individual links. The bottom one is to the skincare gadget thingy linked ages ago in thread one (I think) that "reads" your skin.

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 17:44

Ha, someone's just suggested a Freederm product with niacinamide as the 3rd listed ingredient - checked the one and only review & it's from a reddit user (same nn) who I was discussing bha's with earlier.

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 17:45

Oh, and the gadgety thing isn't the one that was linked ages ago but is the same sort of thing.

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 19:48

Benton is out too - it contains 0.5% betaine sylicate at a ph of 6 ish (I think - was reading this afternoon). Anyway, not at the right % or ph to be a useful exfoliant. In which case, I'm not sure what it's actual purpose is.

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 19:48

the last 5 posts (now 6) are all from me Blush I have done other stuff today too, honest! Grin

ScrambledSmegs · 23/08/2015 20:30

If you stopped posting this place would be dead, lucysmam Grin

I'm completely overwhelmed with moving so may not be around much for a while anyway. I'll still pop in for a read though.

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 20:34

I will keep the thread going with my rambling on Scrambled Grin

FrustratedFrugal · 23/08/2015 20:37

We've had so many sunny days, I've spent every possible moment outdoors and on the beach, no time for skincare. I still have some Biore spf left, it has worked really well.

mowglik · 23/08/2015 20:40

The cosrx BHA is quite good, I use that one and prefer it to nip fab dragons blood pads i also have. It has a watery texture but can be a tad sticky so I do sometimes toner it off, but that may also be because I layer it over the OST vit C serum which is too sticky!

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 21:04

Oh, I didn't realise the NipFab Dragon's blood pads had SA in them! I shall busy myself looking those up once I read the 'lesson' from reddit I linked earlier.

AngelaRipp0n · 23/08/2015 22:44

I love the Cosrx BHa, I have loads of open pores and whilst nothing has yet been invented to close them the BHA really helps the appearance they've clean and no sF's to be seen. I use it daily and no bad reactions, but my skin is fairly non reactive.

lucysmam · 23/08/2015 23:04

I've been hunting for the amazing faces thread for a read but can't find it Confused

COSRX Blackhead power has been bumped up my list since I can't find anything stronger than the clearasil to buy here.

derektheladyhamster · 24/08/2015 10:41

I need some help with timings/order of applications. I can't commit to full AB as I have real spot prone skin and am skint, and the creams I am using don't cause breakouts, so I would like to incorporate them into my skin care.

Currently I double cleanse (at least I clean twice Grin) with: am hibi scrub & clearasil pads. followed by aldi serum, moisturiser then biore suncream.

Pm micellar water & hibi scrub. Duac (prescription skin cream) moisturiser.

My skin is quite clear (for me) at the moment, but I do have acne scars. I have some lowest conc retin A which I would like to incorporate - possibly instead of duac every other day. I also have some snail cream winging it's way from Asia, and have bought some hyaluronic serum.

Please could someone give me an idea how my new products could be added to my routine and also how long I have to leave between each product. I know that the retin A goes on 40 mins or so after cleansing and then wait until the next product goes on.

Morning routine needs to be fairly quick as I have to leave for work at 7.45 and am lazy so do not want to get out of bed too early

I am 42

Thank you!!

lucysmam · 24/08/2015 11:09

Hello derek Smile

Which snail cream have you got on it's way?

I need pen & paper to work out what order things should go (otherwise I end up making lots of teeny posts) but will be back.

lucysmam · 24/08/2015 11:28

Ok, I'm back.

First thought - is Hibi scrub an exfoliating scrub? If it is, twice daily may be over exfoliating therefore leading to a compromised moisture barrier and helping the acne along. So, may be worth dropping that and looking at an alternative double cleanse for the evening when you need something to break down the sunscreen and then wash away residue before applying other products.

Not saying drop it altogether btw, I still like a scrub every now & again but reducing use from every evening to maybe once a week has been a revelation for me!

I would definitely ditch in the morning - you're already exfoliating with the clearasil pads.

I'd do -

AM -

Rinse with water (you don't really get mucky enough overnight to scrub).

If you like the scrub, maybe a konjac sponge would be a good compromise. It leaves my skin feeling really soft without being harsh on it & there are no 'bits' in it iyswim to scratch my face. You can pick them up dirt cheap on ebay, don't have to buy the branded ones at all.

Clearasil.
Wait 20 so the salicylic acid can do it's thing.

Might be worth looking at a hydrating toner to go here as salicylic acid can be drying.

Moisturiser - unless your snail cream is something like the Mizon black snail AIO in which case it would replace the moisturiser.
Snail gel - has some occlusive properties because of the silicones so would help 'lock in' the moisture from your moisturiser.
Sunscreen.

PM -

Oil/balm cleanser (to break down the sunscreen) followed by a cream or gentle foaming wash (to wash away residue)

Duac + however long you need to wait - I'm not familiar with it, sorry.

Again, hydrating toner might be good here if the Duac is drying.

Hyaluronic serum.
Moisturiser.
Snail to seal in other layers.

Hth a bit Smile

lucysmam · 24/08/2015 11:29

Should have said as well, I'm not familiar with retin-a to comment about that. Sure someone else will be able to help with that though Smile

derektheladyhamster · 24/08/2015 12:17

Hibi scrub is not an exfoliating scrub, don't laugh but it's an antiseptic wash

great for acne

cheapest snail cream [[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nature-Snail-Face-Cream-Moisturizing-Anti-Aging-Cream-Care-Acne-Anti-Wrinkle-A77-/201359370322?hash=item2ee1f42852]

Thanks for the order, I would have probably put the snail cream in totally the wrong place!!

derektheladyhamster · 24/08/2015 12:18

snail cream

lucysmam · 24/08/2015 12:29

Aaah, I didn't know that! In that case, I'd still maybe drop it in the morning but keep it in the evening as a second cleanse.

I have that snail cream - I've been using it as an eye cream & it seems to be working well.

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