Obsessed with Asian/Korean stuff - taking your skincare to level 5!

[FrustratedFrugal]

Are you curious about Asian/Korean beauty products?
Please join us and share your experiences and questions!

Check out past threads for product and vendor recommendations.

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Hi GrinAndTonic, thanks, feel like i'm falling deeper into the rabbit hole day by day

As well as he FTE, I actually have 2 x hado labos, one is the hyaluronic acid lotion and the other arbutin milk.

My skin is a little dry/dehydrated with patches of redness, the hado labo and the FTE are the only AB things i have right now, still impatiently awaiting a haul of sheet masks and snail gel and creams samples. Currently I'm using the nutriganics cleansing gel, then pixi glow tonic then i'd normally use serum and hydraluron and then cheapo aldi moisturiser.

I actually thought the FTE and the Hado Labos were the actives?!! is that wrong then?

Long time no see! I'm still using Dr Jart BB cream every day. I'm a bit too busy for a full routine these days, but Korean stuff is amazing.

Hi lelf79 - for application of the watery products I either use a few drops on my palm then pat it in or separate a cotton wool pad in two so it's thinner. This way less product is absorbed/wasted.

Fyi - actives are things like acids (bha, aha and vit c). These are ph dependant and some need waiting times. They go first in your routine before any essences (but after cleansing/ph adjusting toner).

Recent buys for me (think I went a little crazy over last month or so!)

Corsx blackhead lotion (want to compare to my PC bha 2%. So far like the texture better but not sure if it is as strong. Anyone else think that?)
Corsx nourishing rice sleeping pack(haven't used yet)
Joseon cream - love this for my dry areas. Will probably be a winter cream only though.
LJH tea tree essence OMG love the texture and feel of this! It is great at hydrating oily areas.
Goodall waterest oil - still early days but really helping with hydration.
Dr Jart premium firming sleeping pack - currently using mizon good night white so want to compare. V impressed so far!
MBD black pearl masks
Heaps of sheet masks and tony moly stuff from bitsandbobsofbeauty when they had their 50% sale. Not really impressed with tony moly products but love the packaging!
Mizon black snail AIO repairing cream (want to compare this to the normal one I have to see if it's better)
Mizon eye snail repair cream - have never really used an eye cream before so not sure if I like it yet or not!
DHC deep cleansing oil - this gets a lot of good feedback but is expensive so I bought a small bottle to try. So far so good and will still work out cheaper than my clinque cleansing balm!

Waiting on a parcel from roserose shop so will report back again!

Question - does anyone use retin a or retinol within their routine? I've started the skinceuticals 1% retinol and wanted to see if the AB routine helped the initial stages (redness, peeling etc). Or anything I should be avoiding in my routine?

Hi mintbiscuit, thanks for clearing that up.
I was given some liquid gold for my birthday, think thats an AHA but i wasn't sure if it would fit in with the FTE and Hado labo stuff.
Your routine sounds fab, i can't wait to get my hands on some snaily bits.
And i've heard very good things about the joseon , that one's definitely on my wishlist but i have lots of random pots of moisturisers to finish before i can purchase more. thinking of slathering them all over body to use up quickly Mint, where did you get yours from and how long did it take to arrive if you don't mind me asking?

Hi lelf79 I got my Joseon cream from Jolse. Arrived within the week! If you have dry skin would probably work well for you. I also have liquid gold that I use. I tend to use it every other night and sometimes just use that on its own after cleansing/ph adjusting for an intense effect. However sometimes I complete the rest of my routine after a 30 min wait of liquid gold (misha time rev FTE, rosehip/maracuja/green tea seed oil blend, Misha long name ampoule, Cerave pm facial lotion and Dr Jart sleeping pack).

Not sure if I will repurchase liquid gold (I'm an acid addict so thinking about a stronger product) but it could really help with your dry skin patches. Definitely leaves my skin super soft after use!

Grin is right about the cult. Once you get sucked into this there is no turning back! My skin has never been so healthy!

Can I just ask, the correct order of these?

Skinfood Lettuce and Cucumber and Watery Essence
Scinic AIO Honey Ampoule
Benton Snail Bee Essence
Benton HC Snail Bee Steam Cream

The Scinic is quite sticky so it seems a bit weird to put it on before the steam cream?

There are some amazing LJH bargains at the moment at HKC Plaza. For example Vital Firming Hydrogel Mask 5 pack is now £7 (was £23) and they do free international shipping. Also the tea tree essence is £9 (was £22) and the propolis ampoule is much reduced too. I bought 8 of the hydrogel 5 packs as Christmas presents. Hope they come in time! Oh, I nearly forgot, there is also a 10% code SB05000AID.

mintbiscuit i thought liquid gold was a "strong" acid! I've only used it twice in the last month in case my face fell off. It did make my skin really tingly when i put it on. The first time i didn't put anything on after and just went to bed and i got lovely soft skin in the morning. The other time i layered on serum and moisturiser but i didn't know you had to wait 30mins oops... Other than soft morning skin though, i haven't really noticed any difference i suppose i might have to use it more than twice to find out

I have been using rosehip oil on and off instead of moisturiser, it just seems to sit on my skin making it greasy and not do much else

Wow, delivery within the week sounds amazing, i've only ordered on ebay so far

Would anybody like to recommend an AB product for fading age spots acquired when i was young and foolish and patches of dark skin/scars please?

building I'm not sure how watery the benton essence is? I would be inclined to swap the scinic ampoule and benton essence around.

plasticbanana nooooo don't tell me things like this! I was meant to be on a no buy until after xmas! Although maybe I can justify more back ups of the LJH tea tree essence.....

lelf liquid gold is only 5% glycolic acid so safe to use 3 to 4 times a week if your skin is ok with it. You need to give it at least a month before judging results as that is the time it takes for skin cell turnover. Make sure you do wait 30 mins if you want to add anything after else you won't get full effect of the acid. Oh and oils should go on after first essence so they are close to the skin as possible. I know they can be thicker than serums/lotions so it doesn't fit the thin to thick rule but they help the following products penetrate the skin layers better. Always apply them to damp face (2 or 3 drops max) and lightly massage in. This way they absorb much better.

Re fading scars/pih you might want to try a Vit c serum. There is an AB one that a lot of people use called c20 by OST. It's a decent price, formulated at right pH to work and contains L Ascorbic acid as vit c which is better than other types. Only problem is vit c is very unstable and oxidises quickly on exposure to light/air so bottle needs to be kept in dark and cool. I keep mine in a box on the fridge. It has quite a high alcohol content and weird sticky texture but I only wear it for 15 mins to do it's work then wipe off and move on to other steps in my routine.

mint I use the skinceuticals retinol 1% and usually use it 2-3 times a week alternating with BHA/AHA nights. I haven't had any peeling or redness with it - skin has been a bit more sensitive but that may be due to using AHA more frequently too.

I treat my skin really gently the next day and use lots of hydrating essences plus LJH propolis ampoule which I love! I also use rosette ceramide gel which helps to repair the skin barrier

I really love the waterest oil btw and DHC cleansing oil is a staple for me (have oily skin)

My hyperpigmentation tends to fade during winter. I use the Missha First treatment essence spray, I think it helps. No retinoids here. I'm on a minimal routine, just micellar and black soap for cleansing, Nip+Fab glycolic acid pads a few times per week, and Dr Jart Premium BB cream in the morning to even out my skintone. I am on a hiatus with serums and various hydrating toners, I don't feel I need more moisture atm.

Mint I was given a Dr sebagh gift set for my birthday and it contained a vitamin c powder cream in a small test tube like thing. I haven't dared use it yet though... Is it safe to use the vitamin C after the liquid gold?

RE: Missha's FTE, i think it might be trying to give me spots
I've only used it this week and so far i've noticed one or two bumps around cheeks and jawline in the morning, otherwise rest of face seems smooth and soft. Could it be my skin reacting already? Anyone else had this

I was really tempted by delivery within the week so went on the Jolse website to browse, seems like they had a 15% promotion on across the website but the Joseon cream was sold out

lelf I can't give product recommendations as I can't think of any, but if you read the 50 shades of snail blog she mentions dark spot removal a fair bit.

mowglik I have been eying up the LJH propolis ampoule since reading Fiddy's reviews on it. I think you might have just enabled me....

lelf Dr Sebagh' s vitamin c is SAP form so a more stable form of Vit c that doesn't require a low pH to work (like L ascobic acid for does). The jury is still out on whether SAP is as good as LAA in terms of performance (I believe you need something like 10 times the amount of SAP to get same performance as LAA). However it should be more gentle due to higher pH so you could use after liquid gold (but remember YMMV!). However vit c is best to use in the morning as it has uv photoprotection properties. I tend to do vit c in the am and aha/retinol in the evening.

FTE gets mixed reviews. I don't think it gives me spots, but it smells like sake and sometimes I think it's just very expensive water. I got spots from COSRX stuff that was supposed to be noncomedogenic, so I guess everyon has different reactions.

It is below freezing around here, much nicer than gray rain,, but I can feel it on my face, it feels tight. So probably going to slap on a sleeping mask tonight.

Potentially stepping into a rabbit hole here, but I have just come across this thread and I would love to try some new skincare productns/ get a routine. I wonder if anyone could advise me?
I am almost 30, i do struggle with spots, my skin is combination and I am quite fair... is that enough for people to start recommending me their favourite items?
My ideal would be dewy, spot free skin! (I have just had my braces off and had cosmetic tattooing on my eyebrows and lips - slowly but surely hoping to turn into a swan!). Thanks in advance.

I'm fair, combo and occasionally spotty (which is hormonal). First 2 points below are crucial imo.

1. A good sunscreen and an oil cleanser to take it off. I'm loving the Hada Labo UV creamy gel spf 50 at the moment but lots of other people like the biore watery essence spf. But sunscreens are definitely one of those products where YMMV.

Re oil cleansers I've been using clinque cleansing balm (but ££). I'm also using DHC which I like (but still ££). There are lots of cheaper alternatives. A non AB cleansing oil a lot of people like on here is the Body Shop chamomile oil.

1. A good second cleanser/morning cleanser with ph of 5.5 or lower. The AB sub on reddit has a list compiled in a spreadsheet. Hada Labo cleansing foam is nice but can be a tad drying in winter. (I'm using a non AB cleanser - cerave hydrating).

Then you might like to find some all in one products (or you might be like me and love doing the whole layering thing!). I like the AIO mizon snail repair cream to balance out my skin and soothe it (esp if I have any spots). Not moisturising enough on own.

One product I am loving is the LJH tea tree essence (doesn't smell of tea tree at all!). Lighter than a serum but heavier than a watery essence it's hydrating but good for oily t zone.

Have a look at the holy grail post on the AB sub on reddit (sorry not sure how to do links). It's split into categories so you can see what products work well for people.

Maybe start off with something basic like: essence/hydrating lotion - serum/ampoule - moisturiser/emulsion. Then you can establish a baseline routine. Remember to introduce one product at a time though in case of any reactions.

Oh and of course have a look at the sheet masks recs. No AB routine is complete without them!

Finally, you may want to think about adding some actives into your routine in the future. BHAs are good for acne, blackheads etc and AHAs are good for fine lines, general exfoliation. Personally I think Western products are better in this area but Corsx are probably the most reputable brand in AB.

Crikey. Long post. Sorry. Let us know what you end up purchasing! I love a good haul post!

So, I am on holiday for 3 weeks which means I have loads of time in the morning for my routine, so I'm aha ing in the evening and bha ing in the morng instead of doing both in the evening. My skin is loving the long wait times. Which is great, but there is no way I can keep it up when term starts again 😢

Still since my skin has recovered from the disaster with the hado labo foam cleanser my fingers have been itching over eBay. I really need some essences, especially as my previously oily skin appears to be quite normal now! But I'm still very worried about ingredients, as I'm not 100% sure what has broken me out. Corsex snail muchin is the way to go I think 😁

I haven't posted in ages, but just checking in to say my Missha cushion went missing in the post and had to be re sent and I'm not getting on with The Face Shop rice ceramide cream; v heavily perfumed and not as moisturizing as I'd hoped.

I need something really rich, considering the Joseon one - what's the exact name?

Oh, and I ordered the Kawaii Panda January box. Couldn't resist...

I really need Korean skin care! I don't even know where to start though my skin has gone awful I look grey.

What's everyone's 5 faves please or Atleast recommendations? (There's an awful lot to read through on here)

ha ha Same i'm with you on that. I think i managed to read the first thread and the first page of this thread but decided enough reading, i need to get my hands on some this stuff asap so now i'm reading while i'm waiting for my haul
With regards to products, I think a lot depends on your skin type and what you need but everything i've read seems to be waxing lyrical about snail stuff

Tea* noooo, the face shop ceramide cream is one of the ones that i am waiting for and i actually ordered a proper full size and not a sample. I hate heavily perfumed creams on my face . Hopefully i'll see results and persevere with it. I had bought a much recommended serum from aldia while back but it was too fragranced for my face so i started to use it on the crepey skin on my bingo wings after a shower and amazingly its looking so much better. I'm actually using it on my neck now so i can gradually build up my tolerance for the scent and work my way back to my face...
I think the joseon is this one

I've taken myself and 2 DDs off to stay with their grampy for xmas so not at home to wait by the door everyday but my OH has informed me the LANEIGE Water Bank Moisture Cream, ETUDE HOUSE Moistfull Collagen Deep Cream, MISSHA Gold Snow Radiance Jin Cream and MIZON Returning Starfish Cream Samples and a couple of sheet masks have all arrived. I'm so excited especially about the starfish cream. I've read great things about that. Anyone tried it?

Obsessed by skinfoods platinum grape emulsion and tony moly make up!

It's just so much better than uk products!

Purchased a few things off style Korean website which seems to have good reviews from beauty bloggers!

Does anyone know if there's anything for random outbreaks of blemishes? I've never had them before now I'm 25 I think I'm getting teenage skin

same i had random breakouts after DD1, i'm not sure about Asian beauty products specifically but i found using an acid toner in my routine twice a day really helped clear mine up. I hardly get blemishes now save the odd one when trying new products looking at you FTE

Lelf I'll try an acid toner! Someone recommended Liz Earle and my skin has never been so bad and extremely sore so I've had to give it a miss.