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Obsessed with Asian/Korean Beauty Products Vol 6

468 replies

FrustratedFrugal · 25/04/2016 17:07

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. Grin

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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botemp · 10/05/2016 22:59

The original Hada Labo Gokujyun is a popular one holinhurst84. I have a slightly different version of it in the Kohaku Hada Moisture Lotion Moist Type (Amber), which I like a lot. The amber in it supposedly has anti-ageing benefits but it's a pretty low irritant formula that doesn't feel heavy. Review of it here but like all hydrating toners it's to add moisture (water ie. some plumping action) not oil. So if you're dry skinned due to lack of oils (not water) it's not going to do much I think unless you're also dehydrated. You'll need to follow up with an occlusive to seal it all in.

hollinhurst84 · 10/05/2016 23:01

I have a massive routine Grin part CH, part Korean. I had a tony moly one, bamboo I think and skinfood (maybe?) black pomegranate which was really nice
It's really just for the am when I use a lotion cleanser to take the last bit off and start adding some moisture in

botemp · 10/05/2016 23:08

Ah, well the Japanese ones are good if a bit unsexy without fancy flavours hollinhurst84.

I still go with a hybrid routine with a variety of products to pick and choose from by need and will continue to do so, I don't really see the point in obsessively following one thing/regime. I pick the best bits and combine them, currently been straying into a lot of Scandinavian brands too...

hollinhurst84 · 10/05/2016 23:20

Sounds interesting! That's one way I haven't looked yet, do they do innovative stuff or just really good products?

botemp · 10/05/2016 23:31

Kohaku Hada, Casmara or something else hollinhurst84?

hollinhurst84 · 10/05/2016 23:40

I'm leaning towards the hada one or tony moly goat milk... Tricky because I know the black pomegranate doesn't break me out but I want to try something new!
Although I have remembered I bought a kawaii panda box which is coming this month, let's hope it has a toner in Grin

hollinhurst84 · 10/05/2016 23:43

Oh and current skin routine - I had a huge acne breakout due to stress and it was the worst I've ever had so pared back a lot and now adding stuff back in

Am
Any lotion type cleanser
Hydrating toner
Bliss firm baby gel cream (adore and don't think I'll ever change!)
Biore watery

PM
Balm cleanser
Acid toner
Alternate nights retinol/LRP efflacar duo +
Bliss again
Innisfree red wine sleeping pack (adore)

Using the carbonated clay bubble mask which is a bugger to get off but I really like it. Also got some berry donkey milk(!) hand cream which is great, totally not greasy
My routine is a right mix of Sam bunting/CH/Korea/random

botemp · 10/05/2016 23:59

I love how we all forgot we ordered things... I know there are 'things' coming just don't ask me exactly what Grin.

Are you oily/combo? Kohaku Hada do a Fresh version in green for that. Same beneficial ingredients as the one I use, slightly different formulation (alcohol in it though). I'm inclined to think the amber one should work for oily/combo too though, I get slightly combo round this time of year and it hasn't screwed me over.

hollinhurst84 · 11/05/2016 00:01

More bizarre skin Grin
If I treat it as combination it has a hissy fit. Basically need to use hydrating stuff but nothing that might break me out so I avoid cocoa butter/mineral oil type stuff
I want the Missha essence still, had a sample and loved it

botemp · 11/05/2016 00:09

I go with irrational skin, tend to go from one to the other but thankfully never fall into acne, annoying breakouts in reaction to general dissatisfaction with a product after a random amount of time is the worst I have to deal with. I tend to treat different parts of my skin with different products. I fear I will never ever find a moisturiser to make me happy Sad.

I have the Missha FTE (the new intensive one which is supposedly not as good as the old version, never had the old one so I have no idea what I'm missing Grin) I tolerate it fine and it keeps skin very happy. I like it a lot, will definitely RP. Why don't you try that in place of a hydrating toner, it's plenty hydrating?

hollinhurst84 · 11/05/2016 00:25

Can I use it on a cotton pad though? I wasn't sure if that would be a waste. It's literally to wipe away any left over cleanser

CheshireChat · 11/05/2016 00:39

botemp you post on an active thread and then nobody else does.

botemp · 11/05/2016 09:50

Ah, so it's like talking to yourself CheshireChat Wink, I thought it was something technical, good to know the thread is here to stay.

You can hollinhurst84 but I just pat it in with hands, maybe a bit wasteful as a wipeaway toner. You basically want a nice flowery water sort of thing with hydration, really? I had looked into the Son & Park Beauty Water which has a bit of a hype around it but it feels kinda pricey and user reviews are mixed. It kind of sounds like micellar water with a bit of hydration to me. The Saem Healing Tea Garden Green Tea Cleansing Water came up as an alternative, also has tea tree in it so should be good against breakouts? Muji also do a good light toner in their sensitive skin series and is available in the eu/uk websites and stores.

hollinhurst84 · 11/05/2016 10:17

Pretty good description yes! I think I'm going to be patient and see what's in my kawaii box Grin and if not maybe order some samples, there's some of the goat milk on eBay and also a watery tomato or lettuce one

FrustratedFrugal · 11/05/2016 17:25

Hot in Hong Kong:

An Edible Nail Polish That Tastes Like Chicken

OP posts:
AuroraPolaris · 13/05/2016 08:36

botemp you are a fountain of knowledge! Obvs I rushed to the easypharmacie site, but the gold mask is sold out, sniff... I do have to make a big order from there, so might just wait a few days and see if it's back in stock, as I'm definitely into the "glow from within thing"!

Anyone have a good recommendation for Asian SPF50 for children? Obvs has to be water resistant etc. been using the kids LRP for a few years, as my eldest has slightly atopic skin and used to have eczema when he was younger.

Used my TonyMoly feet peel on Tuesday (did a sheet mask at th same time. Kids thought I went mad...) but still waiting for peeling to begin. I'll report back...

Also still extremely impressed with the Anessa Whitening SPF. It's so thin and definitely works as a moisturizer over serum etc. It's so thin that last Friday when I went to the beach it felt strange to use it for a whole day out, so went back to Avene, and I think that gave me a few spots! Just after one day! And I've been using that for years. So frustrating!

MrsUnderwood · 13/05/2016 08:43

Hello! Asian beauty noob here! Just dipped my toes in the water as was looking for a super pale foundation so ordered Killing Me Zombie. I like the colour and the texture but have noticed a few more zits than normal since using it, and my skin feels a little drier. Is this just my skin adjusting to the new product? I'm breastfeeding so a bit dehydrated anyway.

botemp · 13/05/2016 09:50

You dared to do the feet with this lovely weather we're having Aurora? Mine are still incoming (along with some other crazy body stuff will report back once I have it), I read up a bit and heard you have to soak your feet before and every night after for best results.

I want to try the goji and renovating one next from Casmara so don't buy them all up! There is an ebay seller in Cyprus that sells them too but the price is quite a bit higher unless you buy like 10 but shipping is free so if all you need is that it works out well. Incidentally I did find a couple of salons that sell it as a treatment here in NL for ridiculous markups.

There aren't many SPF50 for kids (I'm hesitant myself to use a chemical filter above 30 on kids, I guess the Asians feel the same) I thought there was a Nivea one but that was also around the 30 mark. There's a new one by Biore but is has mineral oil in it and was described as being v. similar to ordinary thick European style sunscreens. I did still have these two bookmarked from my research and both are marketed towards kids as well: Mama & Kids Perfect Sunscreen and Shigaisen Yohou UV Cream 4+. The latter should be easier to find though the former sounds like a nicer texture. Both are mineral sunscreens SPF50 appropriate for the beach type weather, sweat and water resistant. The Shigaisen requires an oil based makeup remover to remove so might be a lot of faff with kids? The Mama & Kids comes off with shower wash type cleanser.

MrsUnderwood unless something is an acid exfoliator where purging can be expected I'd stop using anything that's drying me out and/or causing spots. There's no such thing as adjusting to a new product, if the face is irritated it's not going to stop being irritated with continued use. Do give it another go in a few weeks time as other factors might be the cause of it, if the reaction is the same then bin it.

FrustratedFrugal · 13/05/2016 12:04

MrsU I think I got zits from Missha sunscreen (gone when I switched to Biore) and possibly also the green Dr Jart Water-Fuse BB cream, so it is possible.

OP posts:
AuroraPolaris · 13/05/2016 16:11

Haha, I was counting on the cooler weekend ahead and that's why I did it on Tuesday. From what I understood the soaking simply speeds up the process. Skin looks v cracked now, so wore my gold pool sliders w cool ankle socks today ;)

Yeah SPF for kids is problematic. When they were v young I only used organic mineral SPF but now that I have a pre-teen he refuses to put it on if he sees any trace of white film over the face. As it is I have to harass them non stop. They also do a lot of water sports in the summers so I need smg reliable... I have a relative who is a pediatrician and she also recommends LRP.

I'll let you know which Casmara mask I'll get though I'll probably only order a couple to first try and make sure I don't react to them.

SlinkyVagabond · 13/05/2016 16:31

Being off sick is bad for my bank balance! Yesterday I got a pink powder spot kit, holika jelly Bb cream, etude house princess jasmine nail kit, some peel off palisade stuff for around your nails and a 6 pack of peel off lip tint, all for dd who is a massive K soap and k beauty vlog fan.
I'm fancying the modelling mask.
And I've got a baby feet ready to try tonight!

botemp · 13/05/2016 19:03

Aurora if you're ok with the pre-teen using a formula for adults the Anessa Perfect UV Aqua Booster is the one recommended for if you're sweating, doing watersports, etc. It has a really interesting special technology that when it comes into contact with water it becomes even more effective. It's a chemical/physical mix in a milk formulation but I think there's no white cast.

Were you the one using P50 btw? I'm contemplating it at the moment and am curious after experiences. I'd always written it off as a glycolic which doesn't do much for me but came across it again when looking for a lactic acid toner. I'm hesitant as reviews are so mixed and all the faff needed to get it.

Oh, that happened to me not so long ago Slinky I ended up buying one of those brush mats to clean all your brushes on in the sink off of ebay, looks identical to the Sigma one but at a 1/4 of the price, was also the day I stocked up on weird body stuff. Who knew there were sheet masks for your lady bits? Didn't get those though...

AuroraPolaris · 13/05/2016 20:32

botemp yeah from spending hours on the ratzilla site I gathered that all SPF laballed perfect is very water resistant. I find the new shiseido technologies very interesting. The SPF I bought also has some new technology that ups the protection once exposed to sun. That is why I have slight doubts about regarding its water resistance (though she says that it is water, sebum resistent etc), just because it does not have the word perfect in the title.
As to my kid - like I said, he used to have very bad eczema which we managed to completely get rid of, so I'm very careful with what I use. They have never even used a normal child shampoo or wash/ soap only Weleda etc. the LRP sunblock was the first non organic super gentle thing I ever used on them, and I did it because they became very upset with the white cast of the other sunblocks, so the struggle to reapply was enormous ;)
But I know a few doctors that use the Pediatric LRP on their kids, so I decided to be OK with it.

Yeah, I was the one who wrote about the P50 which I think is absolutely AMAZING!!! Been using it for a few years. It does smell like ACV but that disappears very fast. You can buy it at Danny Diop's in Amsterdam (who has just moved to the J Obrechtstraat). He has (or had, not sure anymore) these very small bottles which he sold for around 17 euros I think, so you could try it out. I began with the P50 W and he told me to wet the cotton pad with a bit of water before putting the toner (so dilute it) for the first few weeks to build up resistance. After that small bottle of the W I immediately bought the normal one (he also stocks the V, which is in between qua strength). I use it very sparingly 3-4 times a week, but if I have a skin crisis use it twice a day followed by Clarins Lotus Oil and that ALWAYS saves my skin! Just be prepared that if you go there though they will be extremely nice to you, they will tell you that everything you are using is crap, and try to sell you ridiculously expensive French stuff and convince you you need a 500€ facial... And they also use the "I also use this" mantra, though the assistant always saying that has so many wrinkles (and she's my age - I asked her), I feel like telling her she should not be using that strategy ;)

Yeah, I agree that home alone on sick bay is very dangerous.... But OMG sheet masks for lady bits???!!??

Forgot to add re the foot peel that it's not kind to nail polish. So if anyone needs their polish to look nice the next morning wait with the treatment.

botemp · 13/05/2016 20:58

Yeah, I know they sell it at DD's, didn't realise they'd moved though. Just hate having to go there and hope they're not busy but mostly not looking forward to the you need x,y,z sales pitch that comes along with it. I think P50 is actually quite bargainous, I was looking at Paula's Choice and the P50 is cheaper per ml but I would like a travel size for trial first. I have been curious about their facials but I do wonder what warrants the extra high prices, I know he trained under Joelle Ciocco that does that weird technique where they stick their fingers in your mouth and massage, this would seriously freak me out though. I fear those facials also come with the you need x,y,z sales pitch...

AuroraPolaris · 13/05/2016 21:30

Yeah, I know I also hate having to go there, though DD is a very nice person.
Was there a few weeks ago for P50 and he told me I absolutely "need" this very expensive retinol, that mind you comes in a jar???
I do agree P50 is very cost effective as you only use a few drops each time otherwise you get very very red.
I can't remember anymore what I read about his facials but I think he does some special peels or some such. Mind you, he has really bad skin, so....

Personally I find that spending more on skin care and using masks and oils and doing lots of layering a few times a week works better than spending on a facial once a month and surely once in a while... But the. I've never had a 500€ facial ;)

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