Obsessed with Asian/Korean Beauty Products Vol 6

[FrustratedFrugal]

Past volumes here.

I tried to post on the previous thread and realized that it was full.

Anyone still around?

I have a parcel from Korea waiting for me at the post office. Can't wait.

This is the Hadalabo one, good price for 200ml too. I might give this a try as my Rice one is almost out. I love the Hadalabo Hyaluronic lotion. It's not fancy stuff but does a bang up job and you can buy refills.

I actually meant the Hada Labo Gokuyjun Foaming cleanser though the oil cleanser probably is of similar no nonsense stock. I'd agree with Lumpy that there is no need to be scared of oil cleansing. Don't know where this irrational fear stems from, oil dissolves oil, if you've ever seen a mechanic wash his hands with their oil cleansers you'll immediately understand the joy of oil cleansing, it's nothing to be afraid of and it won't make you oilier.

That Sulwhasoo cleanser actually got reformulated for the worse Lumpy right about the time I was ready to buy it, it's nowhere near as good as it was apparently with a higher pH .

That is kind of handy about the pH and wait times for the Vit C, though I don't generally abide by them and if I do it's like 10 mins tops. I don't see a significant difference when I do or don't do it but then I've never really tested it out for an extended period of time.

I saw that about the Sulwhasoo reformation, I'm gutted as it is so lovely to use. It honestly brightens my morning when I use it.

I have one left which I've self ph tested and it's the low ph version. I'm really happy with my Cosrx but the Sulwhasoo was special, not just nice.

I'm starting my routine early today as DH is out and DD is fast asleep in bed recovering from a school trip. I'm on step 4 which is my BHA, it'll end about 11 when I'm slapping Rosehip oil and Holika Holika red wine jelly on my face.

I'm just so damn happy with AB'ing, my skin has improved so much. It was never terrible, bit of hormonal acne, redness, minor aging etc.

Just now it's silky smooth, plump in a not "eaten all the pies" plump. Fine lines are reduced, or gone. Redness has calmed right down and I have a nice healthy glow.

Thanks for everyone on this and past threads, it's been a game changer for me.

I wanted to try the Sulwhasoo cleanser because it's SLS free which is pretty rare but was disappointed to hear that it's no good now. I do like my Kibiki foaming cleanser from Japan which is of a similar price tag and SLS free and foams up into the loveliest and softest fluffy green tea scented clouds but since I was never a user of foaming cleansers I have nothing to compare it to really (except milk cleansers and it does an equally good job, I alternate according to mood). I only bought it out of curiosity since AB seems so foam-centric and promised to be a different type of foaming cleansers.

I do like AB for its hydration focus which was something I was struggling to find in WB, but for some things like actives I'm more likely to stick to WB. I have yet to see a huge difference in terms of performance except when something doesn't work for my skin, it seems to react more fiercely than ever so I'm overly cautious now.

I'm just about to start my routine since it's a slow night and all is quiet for once, can't make up my mind whether to try the Klairs mask I recently bought or the Blithe Sea Cucumber one and after all our talk of snails I'm now wondering what the hell constitutes 'Sea Cucumber Extract', I fear some marine life has been harmed in the making of this product and it isn't a vegetable .

Thank you everyone :) I had some Amazon vouchers knocking about so I have bought both of the Hadolabo cleaners, the foam one (comes from Japan so not here for a while) and the oil one (I read the blog post and have decided to brave oil cleansing). Cosrx actives have also been ordered. Going to step away from shopping now for a while!

Cosrx BHA - should I be washing it off or just leave it to soak in?

risky - I use a ph lowering toner, then BHA and wait, then AHA and wait. I swipe it off with a pad before I start the rest of my routine, it just feels "right" to do so. I use other BHA and AHA's and always allow them time to work, but clean down before I hydrate.

Actives are an extension of cleansing so I like to draw a line under it before I start hydrating. You don't really have to but I find the actives still work and my whole routine feels nicer to do this.

After swiping it feels lovely to apply my first essence onto clean skin.

I've just left the BHA on, but the argument to remove it after it's no longer active and thus potentially sweeping away the then-loosened skin cells is valid. 8)

Re: the vit C - I used an L-asc powder from Tvål skincare tvalskincare.co.uk/en/vitamin-c.html but like I said, not underwhelmed but just whelmed. Didn't 100% feel like I wanted to repurchase but am now wavering again. Am thinking that a lot depends on the solution it's suspended in too and my solution was a spritz of toner so...

The Vit C powder looks interesting. I've just finished this one and I am a bit gutted it's run out as it's a joy to use, Instantly absorbed and it leaves skin silky smooth. Its a SAP serum but I'm feeling more confident about it now I've done a bit more research. The Foxbrim C serum was good too, as was the Oz Naturals one, which I got for free!

If you join their VIP programme you get free stuff if you review it on Amazon, I've had loads.

My BHA and Glycolic pads have finally arrived, yay!

I still can't do my 50 Shades SF clear out though as I'm waiting on my cleansing oil.

Can I have a preliminary play about though with:

1. Cleanse
2. Clay mask
3. BHA
4. AHA
5. Moisturise

??

And if so, where do I fit in my Retinol serum?

Thanks

I would cleanse, BHA (wait), AHA (wait), clean down with a toner or just wash skin and start clean. Retinol serum, then moisturiser.

You should probably alternate the bha and aha to start and see how it goes, so bha one night, aha the next, retinol every other night etc.

And yes, clay mask first once a week until you get the oil and can get 'em grits out!

Thanks Lumpy

At the moment I AHA morning and evening, Retinol every night and clay mask once a week.

I was thinking of BHAing once a week on clay mask night.

It seems a lot doesn't it? My skin seems to take it though so I'm not sure whether to calm it down or continue....

I use bha and aha everyday, alongside retinol and vitamin c, they are my main actives. I've also got an acid peel for mega aha ing which I use once a week.

That's why I love ABing as after all that I build up layers of hydration and seal them in with an occlusive.

I'm also falling in love with some other ingredients like licorice, green tea and ginseng.

Just listen to your skin, if it's too much it'll let you know!

Um, so apparently Jolse have a flash sale on this weekend runs away

Oh obviously that should be runs away

I feel foolish

I did the 50 shades pore reducing treatment last night.

I used BHA, clay mask, then cleansing oil and massaged. It didn't really make any difference

Downright is that the order you did it/ which she recommended?
I don't really have a pore "problem" but when I do clay mask my order is -
Double cleanse, clay mask (wash off with water), acid, spray, serum etc... Maybe try that? For me, at least, a clay mask is a kind of cleansing step.

Received my Mizon Ex eye cream, but haven't finished my current one so can't give an opinion yet.

In the endless search for the perfect SPF I ended opting for the Anessa Perfect facial uv to go along/ rotate with the Anessa Brightening Essense UV, as it again it does not contain too much silicone and I could not find another safe (for me) option.

Just saw that Anessa has released a UV spray, but haven't checked the ingredients yet and still have some of the Bioderma left, as it's been so rainy

That technique only really produces grits if you're properly clogged downright and sometimes the extraction part of it is delayed. I usually only have a bit of grits coming out the next time I oil cleanse. It's really targeted to SF though, rather than pores in general.

Aurora, I'm surprised someone is actually willing to ship an aerosol since it's not allowed anymore. I'll have a look though. The last time I checked with easypharmacie the Bioderma had come back in stock only to sell out again... Though they did have the LRP one now but I'm hesitant to try it on account of the fragrance.

My Naruko night gelly came in (within a week), the rest is still coming I hope. It's a little different than I expected as it's not really a sleeping pack and smells really strongly (natural rose fragrance) but my skin seems to be taking well to it, except there's not much moisturising happening so I'm using an oil on top of it. Strangely since introducing more AB products my skin has not turned it's usual slightly combo this summer, and after uncovering a few dry spots I don't really know if it's an improvement . As a result I'm delving back into AHA territory, haven't yet decided whether to try out NIOD's non-acid acid or finally manage to get myself into the DD shop for some p50. Decisions, decisions...

botemp maybe they can get away with it because it's like a water mist? Not sure... They had an older "perfect" mist version (now discontinued). I think this is strictly a mist of the "medical/ whitening" SPF I already have.
10 AB points for whoever manages to find the INCI list first!!

I hear you about the skin seasonal changes. Because of this crazy humidity we've been suffering my skin has turned slightly combination around the nostrils, which results is make up meting away... As a result I've reduced the amount of oil I use in the AM to one drop and massage it only on cheeks etc. See if that helps...

Looking for new sheet masks. I'm bored with what I have left! Thinking of My Scheming Chapter 4. Any opinions/ recs?

I looked for the INCI Aurora but could only find it in Japanese as picture, so if anyone knows Japanese . With any luck it'll show up on Ratzilla's site in the next few weeks.

I dunno those black masks feel more gimmicky than anything else to me. I can send you some normal My Scheming ones, I don't think they're all that spectacular but I've never bothered with many of the Koreans, they're just extra 'wet'. Don't really know why people enjoy very wet masks all that much... The silk material is nice though but I don't know if those black masks are silk ones.

Yeah, I also checked Ratzilla and it wasn't there yet.

Why don't you like wet masks? I like leaving them on for an hour or so until they dry, which results in quite a plumping effect.

I wasn't looking for a black mask per se just something I hadn't tried before, and was curious about the black pearl one, as I used to have a black pearl mask which was pretty amazing (not AB and very hard to get hold of, sadly...), and since the "chapter" includes three types of masks I thought it's a good way to try something new. What would you recommend that it rally WOW? I think we have simmilar skin, though mine is not as sensitive.

Lazy routine tonight, as I'm suffering from one of those annoying summer colds

Well maybe not 'wet masks' but 'dripping wet masks', the L'Herboflore masks were the worst in that regard, it ended up dripping everywhere while I furiously tried to pat it it in elsewhere and the packaging was still full of essence, it was just a giant sticky mess... I tend to think the ones that come with lots of excess essence just have a lot of added glycerin in them so fail to see the benefit and I'm still confused on the whole reverse osmosis myth if you leave masks on too long.

Aside from the Casmara masks the only WOW masks I've tried so far are the Lululun Red Prestige ones, they give a really nice lasting healthy glow into the next couple of days. I saw they recently shot up in the Cosme anti-aging ranking to 2nd place so it's nice to know I'm not the only one who likes them . They're cheap but not individually wrapped, which I prefer but know not everyone does. I also liked the Blithe Abalone mask (the Blithe Sea Cucumber was not v. impressive) but they are a bit pricier. Been meaning to look into hydrogel masks but the INCI usually turns me off with most.

I think the My Beauty Diary Black Pearl Mask is raved about repeatedly, can't remember why I disregarded it (probably fragrance), might be worth a look? I meanwhile have been eyeing overpriced sheet masks again (HAKU Melanoshield) that you need to warm up in bath water before use... on the plus side this time it's only €25 a piece .

Ah, I haven't encountered dripping masks yet, just meant normal, I guess. Re the reverse osmosis I just noticed slightly better results when I started to leave them on for about 45-60 min, or when you start to feel a dry patch on the mask, not when the whole mask dries.

I actually checked Lululun (the purple) but they have one paraben, which the My Scheming doesn't :(

What's Cosme anti aging ranking? Have I been missing something major???