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.

Remember, orders of £15 or less are VAT free!

Thanks! I'm very pale and don't know if I'm cool or warm (god I need help) so swatching is of course always fun. Let's see if up I can find some samples of these!

I'm pretty sure I got sent a free sample of the Lioele banivani. If you want to try it pm me your address and I'll stick it in the post for you

Oh that's so sweet of you! I live in Sweden though so it's more of a hassle for you, but thanks so much! I'm hoping for free samples from my next Jolse order :P cosmetic love kept sending me Etude House blooming fit over and over, lol.

I know, I hate it when you get the same samples. I've got about a thousand samples of tonymoly panda hand cream!!

I have avoided sheet masks because they are quite expensive. But I ordered these which come in a baby wipe type box - 30 for £12

They are fab - especially for the price.

I also gave in an bought the cosrx snail muchin essence (mainly because I had itchy keyboard fingers and I'd tried a sample and it hadn't broken me out)

I was a bit underwhelmed, I was only using it at night as I didn't feel I had the time to incorporate it into my morning routine, and I have greasy skin so I was worried that would be a problem half way through the day.

Until one day I accidentally applied it in the morning. OMG it has totally plumped up my skin. I was worried that it was giving a few small pimples, but I suffer from acne anyway, and it seems to make my skin cycle through clearing the spots so much quicker. So I shall keep on with it and hope the spots improve.

Has anyone received and samples of the new line roseroseshop is launching?

Got an email about them today plus have read a couple of threads on AB reddit. There's some speculation that roseroseshop has partnered with Benton and this new brand Neulii is a rebrand of their products.

m.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/440fzx/neulii_by_roseroseshop_sample_offer/

Anyone have any more info or tried anything yet?

I'm really late to the party but have read off and on these threads.

Is there in a nutshell a list of stuff I need and cheapest place? Priddy please!!

Anybody using/ used the galactomyces essence? I've been testing samples of this and it turns milky/soapy looking on application until absorbed. Is that normal? Comes out clear and I've used it on a clean face

Chocolou better late than never! It's really hard to give recs for people because everyone reacts differently to products. If only a 'in a nutshell' list of stuff existed!

First step would be to work out your skin type and what your goals are. You can then search the HG thread on the AB subreddit for recs from people with similar types and concerns. And ask here too!

A good starting point for building a routine would be the following products:

Sunscreen
Oil based cleanser (for 1st cleanse to remove SS and make up)
2nd cleanser/AM cleanser (to remove any residue and cleanse actual face)
Moisturiser

Once you have a solid base routine you could then look to include essences/serums/ampoules that target your skin concerns.

The beginners guide on AB reddit is also really helpful. m.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/2jcss2/asian_skincare_101_a_beginners_guide_faq/

And of course feel free to ask us any questions!

HTH and keep us posted on any purchases and reviews!

Derek - I want to know more about those masks! Fab how? Tell me! Also I'm glad you got good results from the Cosrx snail goo - I was a bit meh myself. Can't say I notice much of anything? But nothing bad at least. Think I expected more miracles. I mean 96 % snail! I wanted skin like a month-old baby I did.

Just realised how long it's been since I was on this thread

mint, I'm really liking the 3w collagen emulsion. My skin doesn't really break out anyway, but I use this just before my sleeping pack and my face just feels silky. Nice light fragrance, too.

I just checked the prices for 3w at rose rose shop and I'm - is it always that cheap? Considering the eye cream and a couple of packs of sheet masks.

On the etude lash serum, I have as suspected failed to make its use a regular thing so can't really say much about it yet. Must try harder...

Also loving the Snail Bee essence.

AB is the best - I have been lucky with my skin anyway but have really seen an improvement since starting the routine. Recently turned 40 and kept getting compliments on my 'flawless' skin

Mint I use the cosrx galactomyces one. I have no idea if it is helpful but it is clear going on for me. I don't think I will rebuy it as I am not sure what it is doing but only time will tell.

I use the Cosrx Galactomyces essence too and I really like it. It goes on clear and stays clear for me too. I've been trying missha FTE though which the Cosrx is supposed to be a dupe of and I LOVE it. It's a lot lighter and gives a more brightening effect.

mint I really like beauty of joseon cream, it is a bit heavy for my oily skin but it's been keeping my winter skin nice and comfortable so far. Will buy a full size of this! It's fine under my Biore watery gel sunscreen. Also love the Cosrx honey ceramides cream - it's so nice and light it might replace my rosette gel as my ceramide cream. Curious as to why you didn't like it mint?

A bit meh about the mizon AIO black snail cream - I much prefer Cosrx snail AIO cream which I'll get once I finish these decants. It's lighter and sinks it so quickly it's perfect for oily skin.

I have a few products more to test - missha ampoule, Scinic Aqua and honey AIOs, and Cosrx rice sleeping pack.

Agree with tea, I'm really loving my routine. My skin is so fresh compared to how it used to be, I really don't need to wear foundation when I go out anymore. My routine could probably do with some paring down but then again I really enjoy having a wardrobe of skincare goodies to choose from every day.

The masks are really brightening, they (temporarily) remove redness.

I've put the snail mucin to one side for the moment until I can work out if it is causing the spots - a new one everyday at the moment. But they aren't hanging around like normal, so I just need to see what happens when I don't use it. It is a shame as it makes my skin so soft.

I googled the mask and they seem to get mixed reviews. Will save them as a maybe though! Temporary removal of redness sounds good to me! :D

I just got my Korean beauty box delivery
Quite impressed but a question... It has the Benton BHA toner in. I googled and there seems to have been issues. Would you use it or bin it? And has anyone tried it?
It also has a spray hydrogel mask in which I'm excited for!

Sounds like some of you have really nailed your routine! Would love to see what everyone's routine is at the moment.

I finish my mat leave next month and trying to workout a condensed weekday AM routine. But I can't! I need all my steps and my products!!!! (Is sheet masking at my desk acceptable...? )

Maybe the galactomyces essence samples I have are dodgy

mowglik the honey ceramide cream just didn't have enough ceramides in for me to love it. It only has one so I think the rosette gel (has 3) will make the biggest difference to my skin. Plus both the rice sleeping pack and the honey cream contain palm oil and I suspect it might break me out. That said, I do like the feel and wear of both products.

The mizon black snail has such a good ingredient list but I was a bit underwhelmed by it too. Plus it wasn't moisturising enough for me.

hollinhurst the benton incident was a while back. I think it only affected a small batch. I use the bha toner and have had no problems (assume you mean the aloe and bha one?). Please give us a review on the spray on mask. Sounds like fun! What brand is it?

Ah ok. Yes the aloe BHA one
Here's a pic of what I got and the spray mask - Google said it can be used as an essence so I presume I don't wash it off?

Just did a quick search on the RiRe spray. Apparently it can be used at any step of your routine. Think it works in the same way as a facial mist. You don't need to wash it off. I kinda thought it would form a gel pack for you to peel off! Ingredient list looks good though. And super convenient!

Out of interest how much are the beauty boxes and where do you purchase them from?

I'm quite excited for it! Run out of my black pomegranate hydrating toner so it should be a nice replacement
I think they're £18? Or you can get a sheet mask box
Link and review here http://whichbeautyboxuk.com/?p=10975

They look really fun, but 80% of products break me out, so it would be a waste of money

Keep an eye on their Facebook or Instagram maybe, they do "themed" boxes sometimes so one month it will all be body stuff/hand cream and another month it's all makeup
I don't buy when it's makeup generally but I'm quite interested if they do a body box

Helloooo, I'm back after a long period of lurking forgot my password.
I'm still pursuing the Korean routine and loving it, although I'm not doing it by the book as the sleeping masks and foamy cleansers break me out.
I don't want to speak too soon, but I have a routine that's working for now:
Cleanse 1: Emma Hardie balm (won't repurchase) or Bioderma Micellar water
Cleanse 2: A VERY weak hibiscrub solution (diluted 1:25). Any more and my skin would fall off, but it's really helping to keep my acne at bay. I still have a lot of scarring but it's going, with the help of:

Actives:
AM: Paula's choice resist BHA and azaleic acid treatment (LOVE this, it has got rid of my milia, stopped spots in their tracks and is working against pigmentation/scarring). Also has liquorice and adenosine in.

PM: Alpha H liquid gold night treatment (glycolic and niacinamide)

Then: either a sheet mask (MBD usually) or CosRX whitening power, followed by Mizon snail cream, and possibly Bioderma hydrabio light moisturiser.

If anyone suffers from acne, or pigmentation issues in not especially oily skin, I recommend trying the Paula's choice treatment above followed by lots of light moisture layers.

Keep hitting me with all your lovely Korean things, I am v tempted by the CosRX honey ceremides, but it has beeswax in which I think might block my pores..

Wombat tell me more about the PC bha and azelaic acid. Just had a look online and says it reduces red marks. As someone cursed with fair skin and red marks after breakouts does it really live up to this claim? Does it dry out the skin?

The CosRx honey ceramide cream contains palm oil too which I suspect has caused clogged pores on my otherwise smooth cheeks