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.

So the routine has made my cheeks radiant, my pores less visible....but my forehead looks like a teenagers again with cystic spots.

Aaaaargh. What to do?!!

Can you use a differentiated approach? Just start from scratch on your forehead and reintroduce gradually?

I've small kids and no time so I just slap everything on, but I think treating different areas of your face for different concerns definitely is a more productive approach. One day....

Thank you for the link. scadichick

I'm hooked! Ordered some TonyMoly sheet masks yesterday and I'm seriously considering the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery sunscreen essence - can anyone recommend a reliable source (eBay?) to get it from? Also, do I put this on top of my moisturiser and primer? I need to use some strong sunscreen as I'm using an overnight exfoliant with acids to get rid of my pigmentation/red marks from previous cystic acne.

I tried a sample of Lioele sunscreen this morning but it wasn't very easy to apply and I found it a bit difficult to put my foundation on afterwards, so hoping a more watery one like Biore will do the trick!

Ps. I love this thread!

I think most on here buy the Biore from Amazon, but if you want to buy it from ebay I've used the following sellers from Japan and had good experiences: nyankichi2009, lina_ogawa, japan-beauty-of-quality (got free bath salts). The first one was the quickest to send out and arrive. Alphabeautyuk (though confusingly not in the UK) is also highly regarded. A lot of the Amazon sellers are also on ebay under the same name. The only issue I've ever come across with a Japanese seller was one called pretty duck (they have a few accounts, always something duck) that said they were located in Japan but it was sent from Korea. Product was fine and legit though.

You put on SPF at the end of your skincare routine, let it dry and then start your make-up routine, in your case primer being the first step of that so the SPF would slot in between moisturiser and primer. Please note that the SPF factor doesn't necessarily make a sunscreen 'stronger', SPF50 merely adds between 1-2% extra protection vs. an SPF30. Regardless of strength factor you will need to top up every two hours if you're out and about in the sun. Also note that the Biore is not water, sweat, and sebum resistant so is fine for day to day use but not the best choice for extended periods outdoors especially when it's hot.

Botemp thank you so much! (off to e-bay to find the sellers you recommended).
Unfortunately (or fortunately for my skin) I'm not really outdoors much, save for a 10 min cycle commute
I know that the spf needs to be properly taken off in the evening but I'm not sure whether oil cleansing is for me. from the info I managed to get so far from other threads something with oil in it would be good as it would shift all the make up and spf at the end of the day and could be then followed by a foaming cleanser?
Is there anything Korean that you'd recommend?

Just received my Biore spf (repeat purchase) from ebay and it has come from Taiwan/China. Does this mean it is not legit? It looks identical to me. Is there a way of telling?

I honestly don't know ilovetosleep, popular products (especially expensive ones) do get faked in China unfortunately but I think it's more likely that you may have gotten an older version as it's been repackaged/reformulated in 2016 as most Japanese sunscreens are. This shows the more recent versions in a slideshow for you to compare. I only buy things from Taiwan to buy Taiwanese products and I'd never buy anything from China due to all the fakes. With Japanese ebay sellers I've never had real issues and usually pay a little bit extra to select the Top Seller accredited ones since they ship out faster or use airmail so they're here within a week vs. two.

Officially marushka82 the Biore can be washed off with a face wash (makes sense since it's not water resistant) so technically you wouldn't need to do oil cleansing if you don't want to. As noted above the Koreans and I have a hard time getting along, for oil cleansers I like Muji Sensitive Skin Oil Cleanser and the DHC Oil Cleanser (both Japanese and olive oil based). I'm only just trying out a foam cleanser (slightly acidic) and I'm getting on well but it's been days so far. The Hada Labo foaming cleanser gets recommended a lot though as a really basic one to try with the necessary low ph, no foaming net required, etc. A recent review of it is here.

Sorry that link for Biore doesn't seem to work well ilovetosleep, this should work better and simply look under description for previous versions in pictures.

Thanks for the pic Botemp. Very useful!

Bioré works well for me but if you are sensitive to alcohol, it is high in alcohol.

I think some Asian products are sold in neighboring countries (just as French pharmacy stuff is widely available in the UK and elsewhere in Europe and North America). So if the packaging looks similar, it is probably legit.

Busy days - still haven't gotten round to visiting the post office.

Hello! Reporting back on the CosRX rice mask- it is indeed lovely. Feels very soothing when you put it on and a major plus for me is that it has no fragrance (as far as I can tell, got a cold at the moment.) It does sit on the skin for a time so I need to apply a good 15-20 mins before bed so that it doesn't end up on the pillow. Unfortunately I have not yet woken up with cheeks you could bounce a coin off, but it does seem to have had an effect on my normally clogged pores and my skin has looked very clear the past few days.

The secret key sunscreen is actually pretty good for a cheapy, it takes a bit longer to sink in and feels slightly oilier so might be better for drier skin or as a winter option.

marushka I bought the skinfood black sugar cleansing oil after seeing some recommendations on here and I love it. Gets rid of waterproof mascara and washes off completely with water, also it smells like lemon meringue pie!

I can recommend the Banila Clean It Zero as an oil cleanser, it's solid in the jar so you won't end up with oily sleeves...

Does anyone know what type of Hada Labo does what? I mean there's gokujyun, shirojyun, kiwamizu, premium, moist and the milk... I get that kiwamizu one is the lightest, the milk is obviously the most moisturising and the shirojyun simply evens the tone, but I am baffled by the rest.

I've tried google (and failed) so is there any other option barring translating the original info? Though to be fair it would've probably been faster if I had simply done that in the first place...

scandi thank you! I saw it recommended somewhere but at £12 a jar didn't order immediately. Does the standard jar last for a while?
Now torn between that and skinfood black sugar recommended by LesIncompetents

I have the gokujyun, it is moisturizing, I think it contains hyaluronic acid.

I'm a tretty flaky mess at the moment, especially on the chin, but my whole face feels tight, which for me is an odd feeling, as I have very oily skin. Around the nose area I'm still oily, but cheeks & chin and eye areas are very dry & tight.
I'm using a first essence, snail mucin & snail repair gel in the am, and first essence, snail mucin, cereve moisturiser, Tony moly dream white panda cream & sleeping pack in the evening, with a sheet mask on the nights I use tret (every other night).

I'm still breaking out, I think due to a lovely holika holika primer &bb cream, so I don't want stop the tret.

Any recommendations for another moisturising step? I'm definitely sensitive to any oils.

Thanks for the update about the rice mask, ladies. It definitely goes on my wish list.

I started using the DHC oil cleanser a few weeks ago (thanks botemp ) and am very pleased so far. A similar European product could be the newish Caudelie oil cleanser.

Abecedario, if you sufer from any kind of acne I would check the Clarins stuff you are using and make sure that the INCI does not contain mineral oil, as is sadly often the case with Clarins creams.

Flaky skin, as far as I understand, is usually a sign of dehydration (so skin condition, as opposed to skin type - you can definitely be oily and dehydrated), which is lack of water, so introducing on the one hand acid toner (to get rid of dead cells) and on the other hyaluronic acid could maybe help.

scandichick the Mizon 8% is being replaced by a 4% version called Dust Clean up Peeling Serum. I'd link it but Mizon has provided no information on the page so far.

Cheshire you're lucky I still have it in my notes, it is as follows:

• Gokujyun Premium - Extra Moisturising

• Gokujyun - Highly Moisturising

• ES - For Sensitive Skin

• Shirojyun - Whitening Series (or Brightening for the PC police)

• Medicated Gokujyun - Acne

• Gokujyun Alpha Retinol - Anti-ageing

• Gokumizu (Kiwamizu) - For the body (I think?)

They're all HA based though, just slightly different with added benefits. The Gokujyun is the base line, I keep meaning to look into the Alpha line since it has Retinol (a 3D version, whatever that may be ) in it but haven't really heard much about it.

derektheladyhamster I've never used tret but was always under the impression you used it on its own or with a single layer of moisturiser only? Maybe the ladies on the revived amazing faces thread are of more help? If you're in need of hydration Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion is supposedly great but if you're lacking in oils but can't use oils it's kind of tough.

botemp Thank you, I reckon I'll go with the Premium in that case.

derek Hada Labo do a moisturising milk that doesn't have any oils, also would a mist work for you? It supposedly leaves makeup intact and you could have a little moisture boost. Mist

Silly question maybe, but are you drinking enough?

I don't know if you saw that, but it looks like L'Oreal has caught on with AB trends and is releasing their first cushion foundation - wonder what that will be like.
Apart from Missha, are there any Korean cushions you could recommend?

The Lumi one? I think that's been out for awhile and Lancome (also part of L'Oreal I think) has one for ages but supposedly the sponges holding the foundation aren't that great, the one in L'Oreal being the thing they insulate roofs with .

I want to try the AmorePacific one as it's highly regarded, I've found someone who sells a smaller deluxe sample of it on ebay but I have yet to figure out the right shade, and I'm interested in this Japanese one and I've been lusting after this one from YSL purely on the basis of packaging porn but since they all have fragrance in them I'm really hesitant to try. I was interested in buying a DIY kit to overcome the fragrance issue, but I've read a lot of advice against it on account of hygiene.

It's the nude Magique - so expensive at £14.99!!!
If I didn't know about cheaper (and probably better) Korean alternatives I would have probably forked out that much in the hope of achieving glowing and sheer skin :)
Thanks for the recommendations - will have a look into the Amore Pacific later on today!

Oh sorry, the AmorePacific one is actually one of the most expensive cushions out there. It's something like $60 on ebay. But AmorePacific make a lot of the cushions throughout all their brands, I've only ever looked at the more expensive ones to be honest . Hopefully someone else has better budget options for you.

marushka, my first Banila jar lasted four months I think, but then I don't have time to put on makeup at the moment so didn't use loads. I got the extra large version to replace it, since I know it works now. It's not the cheapest, though.

botemp, I saw that, I want the 8% AHA though! Must look into CosRX, think theirs is less too though. Or maybe the old line will be discounted

Amore Pacific have a patent on cushion technology, they're franchising it to some Western brands so might be worth looking into which ones before you buy. My only cushion is from Isadora (Swedish brand), so I've nothing to compare with.

Kiko have a cushion CC cream. Haven't tried it though, or any Kiko foundation for that matter, just remember seeing it in the store.

OMG that YSL cushion is pure packaging porn......

Just out of curiosity - how do you even go about trying to find a colour match for an Asian cushion? From the little experience I have (a BB a few years ago) the colors and especially the undertones are so different to what is suitable for "western" complexions.

By the by the new YSL Touché Eclat colors are totally different. Got a sample of my old/ current perfect match, and it's so orange