Asian Beauty/Skincare

[CestLaVie]

I'm excited to have bought my first oil cleanser - KOSE softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

Now to wait until September 21....
lol

[August Blooms]

I just read this whole thread since I’ve got some birthday money I want to spend on skincare. Taitai had got me curious about Asian skincare since she’s been grossing out our BMB with tales of her snail masks. I’m a sheet mask convert and am looking to up my skin care game.

I have very sensitive skin, large pores and redness (maybe roseaca?) I’m also getting light brown spots on my forehead nose and cheeks that I suspect may be from my lack of sunscreen usage. And of course fine lines.

My current routine is wash face with water in the am, moisturizer and a sunscreen if I’m going out.

Evening routine, cleansing oil (Canadian brand), Face wash- Philosophy Purity, eye cream and then Cerave PM Facial moisturizer or Biotherm Aquasource. Sometimes a sheet mask. I just found a Biotherm toner I was gifted and Vitamin C serum that I had hiding too.

I’m almost out of my facewash, I’m low on my Cerave and not crazy about the Biotherm. How can I tell if the Vitamin C serum has gone bad?

So far sunscreen is 100% being purchased.

[Taitai]

Aug 28, 2018 19:59:33 GMT -6 August Blooms said:

I just read this whole thread since I’ve got some birthday money I want to spend on skincare. Taitai had got me curious about Asian skincare since she’s been grossing out our BMB with tales of her snail masks. I’m a sheet mask convert and am looking to up my skin care game.

I have very sensitive skin, large pores and redness (maybe roseaca?) I’m also getting light brown spots on my forehead nose and cheeks that I suspect may be from my lack of sunscreen usage. And of course fine lines.

My current routine is wash face with water in the am, moisturizer and a sunscreen if I’m going out.

Evening routine, cleansing oil (Canadian brand), Face wash- Philosophy Purity, eye cream and then Cerave PM Facial moisturizer or Biotherm Aquasource. Sometimes a sheet mask. I just found a Biotherm toner I was gifted and Vitamin C serum that I had hiding too.

I’m almost out of my facewash, I’m low on my Cerave and not crazy about the Biotherm. How can I tell if the Vitamin C serum has gone bad?

So far sunscreen is 100% being purchased.

@augustooms Heeeeeyyyyyyy! So happy to see you over here!

To your question about the Vit C - it depends on what type of Vit C ingredient is being used to determine whether it has gone bad. If it’s L-AA (ascorbic acid), the product has oxidized if it’s orange. That means you shouldn’t use it. If it’s an ascorbate (there are like 7 types of ascorbates used in skincare, which are derivatives of L-AA and are more stable), then it might be okay if the serum is colored, because ascorbates are more stable and not as prone to oxidation. Like, my EL advanced night repair has ascorbate in it, and the serum color is light orange. I’m not worried that it’s expired, however, because I know that is what the normal color of that serum is AND it uses a stable form of Vit C.

Also, most Vit C serums (and other skincare) expire after being opened for 12 months, and they have a shelf life (unopened) of 3 yrs past the manufacturing date.

In terms of your issues, I think Vit C will definitely help with the light brown spots and the fine lines. Niacinimide and retinoids can also help with that. Hyaluronic Acid can keep your skin hydrated, so it looks more plump and minimizes lines. Ceramides are good for red/dry/sensitive areas.

Daily facial sunscreen use will also help prevent future damage- so good on you for picking some up.

If it was me just starting out, I’d go for an L-AA serum and also pick up a BHA to help get the gunk out of your pores. The Cosrx BHA blackhead power liquid is popular, because it’s more gentle than the typical salicylic acid used by Paula’s choice and other western brands. Klairs makes a 5% L-AA serum called Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop - my sister loves this one (the 20% L-AA that I use is too strong for her).

www.amazon.com/KLAIRS-Freshly-Juiced-Vitamin-vitamin/dp/B010FOFSH0

www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Bha-Blackhead-Power-Liquid/dp/B00OZEJ8R8

Acids (L-AA and BHA) and retinoids can make redness worse, so I’d probably avoid putting those on your red or sensitive/dry areas. Something soothing to help with the redness and repair your moisture barrier in that area could be a ceramide product. Dr. Jart makes one that is very popular on Reddit AB. I haven’t tried it, but it’s on my wish list. Dr. Jart also makes a ceramidin serum and a cream, which people like. I bet Sephora would give you a sample to try of them, before you purchase.

www.amazon.com/Dr-Jart-Ceramidin-Liquid-Ounce/dp/B00AMANH58

Hope that helps! I think in the beginning, there is a lot of trial and error to see what works for your skin. Everyone is different!

[imapenguin]

I have not read the whole (or even most) of this thread, but I’ve been slowly working my way through it during nighttime feedings and picking up nuggets dropped in other threads. So maybe this has been mentioned, but I discovered my target has a little K-beauty section when I was picking up some masks to gift my sister along with her facetory subscription. I was in a little hurry today, but I’m excited to go back and look closer!

[Taitai]

Aug 23, 2018 21:07:06 GMT -6 Taitai said:

Aug 23, 2018 11:23:53 GMT -6 allisong said:

Lots of questions, sorry. Does anyone use that Wish app to buy any skincare items?

<snip>

Finally- check out the AB section of your Target. When I was last back in the states, I was shocked by how many differs brands and options they had! I enjoy the my beauty diary sheet masks and some of the Mizon products (all in one snail repair cream) that Target carries. Target also carries some stuff from Whamisa, make p:rem, LJH (have heard awesome things about the vita propolis serum ampoules), missha (time revolution night treatment is popular), and others.

Target even has a little “create your own routine” online guide, which I think is neat:

www.target.com/c/korean-beauty/-/N-aj060

imapenguin Welcome! We were actually just talking about Target - they have a surprisingly good AB selection at a lot of stores. I want to pick up the LJH propolis ampoule the next time I’m back in the states.

Happy to see you around here!

[August Blooms]

Ok so my first order is in...

I got the Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence sunscreen, Cosrx BHA Blackhead Powder, Innisfree Jeju volcanic pore clay mask, and from Sephora the Dr Jarts Ceramidin liquid. I’m going to go in store to get a sample of it.

I think I’m most excited about the sunscreen.

[beesquared]

Aug 30, 2018 8:04:16 GMT -6 August Blooms said:

Ok so my first order is in...

I got the Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence sunscreen, Cosrx BHA Blackhead Powder, Innisfree Jeju volcanic pore clay mask, and from Sephora the Dr Jarts Ceramidin liquid. I’m going to go in store to get a sample of it.

I think I’m most excited about the sunscreen.

I use all of those items except for the Dr. Jarts. They are staples to me- not fancy but deliver results.

[Taitai]

Aug 30, 2018 8:04:16 GMT -6 August Blooms said:

Ok so my first order is in...

I got the Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence sunscreen, Cosrx BHA Blackhead Powder, Innisfree Jeju volcanic pore clay mask, and from Sephora the Dr Jarts Ceramidin liquid. I’m going to go in store to get a sample of it.

I think I’m most excited about the sunscreen.

Very strong first order - I hope there are a lot of wins in this one for you!!! Let us know what you think once they arrive.

Also, have you ever tried Japanese sunscreen before? If not - excited for you. When I first used the biore UV aqua rich, I was like - whoa.

[beesquared]

@karenwalker you should try the cosrx pha! I haven't yet, but it's on my list when my current bottle of AHA runs out. I love everything cosrx except the honey ampuole- that made be breakout like crazy. The all in one Snail is really nice, but heavier than the Snail 92. I like it at night because I don't need to worry about absorption before I apply make-up.

[beesquared]

FYI- the code BEAUTYTAP15 will give you 15% off of any full priced items. I just broke my no buy but it was totally worth it!

[August Blooms]

beesquared That’s good to hear, I don’t need fancy just results.

Taitai I’m so ready for Japanese sunscreen to change my life. I used a physical one on my face but there is no way to layer it, I’ve had zero success with finding a good one. I’ve got it hyped up I hope it lives up to my expectations.

[Taitai]

August Blooms I think you’ll like the Japanese kind. If the Biore doesn’t do it for you, Make P:rem also has really good ones. They have chemical (my preference) and physical ones that are AB faves.

sakura I’m loving the Mizon AIO snail repair cream. 💕 it goes on so soft and it’s not as heavy as the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream I was using. I still adore the Joseon, but I think I like this Mizon AIO stuff even more! Mine says black snail on the jar - is that different from the regular one?

beesquared @karenwalker Sulwhasoo on sale huh? Must.be.strong.

[emma]

Aug 28, 2018 19:38:42 GMT -6 CestLaVie said:

I'm excited to have bought my first oil cleanser - KOSE softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

Now to wait until September 21....
lol

That’s the one I use and I really like it!

[emma]

Taitai I have a The Ordinary update for you! I’ve been using the Salicylic Acid, 5% Retinoid, and Lactic acid for a week and I really like how bright my face is looking. They are a little oily but sink in ok, overall for the price I’m definitely sold

[Taitai]

Sept 1, 2018 22:30:32 GMT -6 emma said:

Taitai I have a The Ordinary update for you! I’ve been using the Salicylic Acid, 5% Retinoid, and Lactic acid for a week and I really like how bright my face is looking. They are a little oily but sink in ok, overall for the price I’m definitely sold

Do you use all of these each day, or do you alternate? I’ve never used retinoids before, and I’ve been told to start slow, depending on the concentration. I probably will get all 3 and maybe start by alternating the BHA (salicylic acid) and the AHA (lactic acid), and then maybe start the retinoid like 2-3 times a week until I can get up to every day use. Does that sound doable?

I also do Vit C (L-AA 20%) every day, so I guess I don’t want to burn my face off my doing all of those at once, YKWIM? 😅

[emma]

Taitai I use all each day. I use the salicylic acid AM and PM and the other 2 PM only. I’ve had no reaction at all but I used to use the EU version of Proactiv which is salicylic acid instead of benzoyl peroxide so I know my skin can handle it

[CestLaVie]

Have you guys ever used the wine app vivino? You take a picture of the label and it brings up the price and rating and you can review and rate it and make notes for yourself.

I find myself wishing such an app existed for sheet masks!

[Taitai]

Sept 2, 2018 18:44:06 GMT -6 CestLaVie said:

Have you guys ever used the wine app vivino? You take a picture of the label and it brings up the price and rating and you can review and rate it and make notes for yourself.

I find myself wishing such an app existed for sheet masks!

This is your million dollar idea! I would love an app like that.

[sakura]

Aug 31, 2018 20:47:08 GMT -6 Taitai said:

sakura I’m loving the Mizon AIO snail repair cream. 💕 it goes on so soft and it’s not as heavy as the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream I was using. I still adore the Joseon, but I think I like this Mizon AIO stuff even more! Mine says black snail on the jar - is that different from the regular one?

Yayyyy!! I’m glad you love it as much as I do! It makes me feel validated in my love of the stuff 😄 I’m pretty sure the black snail is a different product from the regular AIO, but I’m not sure what makes them different.

I’ve also been using Mizon snail gel cream after the AIO, but I think it’s overkill now that my skin has recovered from breastfeeding.

[sakura]

I just started using the Mamonde petal spa cleansing oil this week. It doesn’t seem to be breaking me out, which is always my biggest concern. That said, I’m not in love with it. It doesn’t have as much slip, or doesn’t “melt” the way the Banila CIZ did, so it requires a bit more pressure (not sure if that’s the right word) when massaging it into my skin. It also has a very strong rose scent. It’s like being attacked nasally by an old woman’s floral sachet. The biggest con for me is that it is leaving my skin dry and tight after cleansing.

It does clean my face and take make up off well, but I’ll be moving on. I may not finish the bottle 😬

I think I’ll try the Heimish cleansing balm next. I’d love to stick with Banila CIZ, but the price has increased too much since I started using it, I just can’t justify the price even though it’s true love 😭

[Taitai]

sakura Bummer about the mamonde rose cleansing oil! I’ve heard good things about Hemish. Finding a good oil cleanser is soooo hard. I’m still irked that my favorite Skinfood black sugar one is nowhere to be found. The Sum:37 rose cleansing stick is also gone everywhere. Whyyyyyy 😫 At least it’s not breaking you out - that’s the woooorst.

Also - good to know about the Mizon AIO having different versions. I think I am going to just repurchase this black snail version, because I love it so, so much. I’ve noticed a marked improvement in my skin since only using it for a week. So happy with it.

[sakura]

Sept 3, 2018 7:34:58 GMT -6 Taitai said:

sakura Bummer about the mamonde rose cleansing oil! I’ve heard good things about Hemish. Finding a good oil cleanser is soooo hard. I’m still irked that my favorite Skinfood black sugar one is nowhere to be found. The Sum:37 rose cleansing stick is also gone everywhere. Whyyyyyy 😫 At least it’s not breaking you out - that’s the woooorst.

Also - good to know about the Mizon AIO having different versions. I think I am going to just repurchase this black snail version, because I love it so, so much. I’ve noticed a marked improvement in my skin since only using it for a week. So happy with it.

Now you’ve got me thinking I should try the black snail cream!

[cagoldi]

Costco has some K beauty on their website now. My H just got me a set called Case Full of Seoul that has 11 products. Normally $149 but currently on sale for $119. I'll review the items once I've had a chance to use them.

[Taitai]

Sept 5, 2018 23:00:17 GMT -6 cagoldi said:

Costco has some K beauty on their website now. My H just got me a set called Case Full of Seoul that has 11 products. Normally $149 but currently on sale for $119. I'll review the items once I've had a chance to use them.

Awesome!!! I would love to try out a set like that - sounds fun.

sakura You should definitely try the black snail one! It’s only $15 on amazon too! (Normally $25). The jar looks like this:



www.amazon.com/MIZON-Black-Snail-Cream-Ounce/dp/B00B4PWEJU

[Taitai]

@karenwaller Thanks for the reviews! I’ve heard of those 23 yrs gold masks and was curious about them. Might need to try them out!

Soooo glad you are loving snail. It’s the best!

[Taitai]

I’ve almost used up all of the Advanced Night Repair that was gifted to me last Christmas, and I’m really looking forward to trying out a bunch of samples I got off of Amazon for the Sulwhasoo Ginseng capsulized fortifying serum. Fifty Shades of Snail loves it, and my skin generally loves Sulwhasoo Ginseng stuff, so I am extremely excited to try it out.

A full size of that serum is way too expensive (in my opinion) to be using on the regular, so I hope I just end up really liking it...and not falling in love with it 😅. Time will tell!

[August Blooms]

Ok so I’ve been using some of the products I’ve picked up and I’m still eagerly awaiting on my Japanese sunscreen to arrive.

I’ve used the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power 3 times and so far so good. I have super sensitive skin and got a bit of a breakout like @karenwalker.

I got the Dr Jarts Ceredimin toner from Sephora but wasn’t sure I was going to keep it. It’s great if your skin is on the dry side. I used the sample for a few days and then went back to my old one and it completely dried me out. So it’s a keeper.

m.sephora.com/ca/en/product/ceramidin-tm-liquid-P434364

I also picked up the Dr Jart charcoal sheet mask during the sale and it was ok but not worth the cost

m.sephora.com/ca/en/product/pore-minimalist-black-charcoal-sheet-mask-P386840?skuId=1622372

Finally I picked up an Oh K! Bubble sheet mask at the local drug store (Shoppers for all the Canadians) and I really liked it. It was around $5-7

www.influenster.com/reviews/oh-k-bubble-sheet-mask

The Innisfree Jeju volcanic clay mask arrived this week so I’ll probably try it on Sunday night.

So since I’ve been following the AB routine consistently my skin looks noticeably better and my pores look smaller. Now if I could just find a way to decrease the redness.

[Taitai]

August Blooms Awesome! I’m glad you like the stuff you’ve tried so far! Redness is a really hard one. The AB subreddit had a good summary of products that are good for redness. Top ingredients to look for are:

Niacinamide
Aloe
Snail
Ceramides

www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/4v2uii/best_products_for_common_skin_concerns_series/?ref=search_posts

[Taitai]

🍍 🍊 Fineapple 🍍 🍊 Welcome!! The great thing about AB, is that the products are really reasonably priced, and you don’t need to spend a ton of $$ to get results.

So for enlarged pores, do you use AHA or BHA right now? If not, I’d recommend a daily BHA to start with, which should help clear out your pores and minimize their appearance. The thing about pores is that it’s not really possible to physically shrink them, but - keeping them clean and the sebaceous filaments cleared out will really help to minimize their appearance. Below article outlines a way that works (for me) to clear my pores. If you don’t end up getting “grits” out, that’s okay. Not everyone’s skin responds to skincare/methods the same way.

fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/03/28/how-to-shrink-pores-temporarily-plus-3-pore-myths/

For a BHA, I recommend the Cosrx blackhead power liquid. It has great reviews, and it’s a gentler - but still very effective - formulation that shouldn’t be too harsh on your skin. You don’t have to put it all over your face - you can just put it on areas where you have large pores. People also put it all over their face, but it can dry out dry areas, so just keep that in mind.

www.amazon.com/Cosrx-Bha-Blackhead-Power-Liquid/dp/B00OZEJ8R8

Another thing that will help with pore minimizing is to double cleanse and use a clay mask to help suck the dirt/oil out of your pores. I only do the clay mask like once a week (if that), because I find it can cause redness for me. If you’re not familiar with double cleansing as a concept - below is a good article that explains why it’s good for one’s skin. Basically - use an oil cleanser first to break up and remove sunscreen/makeup/whatever that has built up over the day. The oil cleanser should be one that emulsifies easily when it comes into contact with water - meaning, it breaks up and rinses clean without leaving much of an oily residue behind. Then, use a low-ph gentle water soluble cleanser to totally remove all the oil from your first cleanse.

www.snowwhiteandtheasianpear.com/2014/08/skincare-discovery-cleansing-part-i.html?m=1

For double cleansers that get the job done, I like below:

Oil cleanser - Kose softymo speedy oil cleanser

www.amazon.com/KOSE-SOFTYMO-Speedy-Cleansing-230ml/dp/B000V2FBAQ


Water Soluble Cleanser - Cerave gentle foaming cleanser

www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Foaming-Facial-Cleanser-Washing/dp/B01N1LL62W

Clay mask (if you don’t already have one):

www.ulta.com/egg-white-pore-mask?productId=xlsImpprod14431261


For evening out skin tone and getting rid of spots/hyper pigmentation, I like vitamin C serum. Vitamin C is generally really good for your skin, and it’s one of the few things that scientific research has shown to make a difference in evening skin tone and promoting collagen growth. So it can’t hurt. Niacinimide can also help to even skin tone.

For Vit C, I like mine to be strong, so I use a 20% L-AA serum (T’iam). It is too much for some people, however, so another popular option is Rohto Melano CC. Klairs also makes a 5% L-AA that is more gentle and people tend to like:

T’iam:
m.ebay.com/itm/TIAM-My-Signature-C-Source-30ml-O-S-T-Original-C20-Pure-Vitamin-Serum-/111115643456

Rohto:
www.amazon.com/Rohto-Melano-Intensive-Anti-Spot-Essence/dp/B0188CAZKQ

Klairs:
www.amazon.com/KLAIRS-Freshly-Juiced-Vitamin-vitamin/dp/B010FOFSH0

The last thing I recommend for everyone is SNAIL. My skin loves it, and I put it on my face twice a day (morning and night). It’s great if you have any trouble spots pop up, or if you feel like your skin is dry/needs some extra repair. Cosrx makes a great snail serum - hiiiighly recommend:

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PBX3L7K/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1537021344&sr=8-2&keywords=cosrx+snail&dpPl=1&dpID=31Eehhkb2aL&ref=plSrch


Order of using stuff. Okay - so here is the order you should use this stuff in. If you are going to use a clay mask, you can do it right after your double cleanse and before you put on the Vit C or BHA.

1) Oil Cleanse

2) Water Sol Cleanse

3) Vit C serum

4) BHA

5) Snail

6) Moisturize (whatever you are using is fine - as long as it doesn’t break you out now).

7) Sunscreen (if morning)

I like this Japanese one —>
www.amazon.com/Biore-Watery-Essence-Facial-2sheet/dp/B071JXTP42

ETA - sunscreen is important, because BHA is photosensitizing. So, if you use a BHA and then don’t use sunscreen, you can unintentionally do more damage to your skin/make it age faster/increase your risk for skin cancer.

There are a lot of other things you can do - like adding a hydrating toner before the snail, and adding a moisturizer or cream after the snail, adding AHA/retinoids....and more. But I don’t want to totally overwhelm you, so I’ll stop here. Lemme know if you have questions!

One last article to read that kind of sums up the Asian skincare philosophy is below article:

fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2018/06/03/5-step-k-beauty-skincare-routine/

[cagoldi]

Just popping in to say that if I hadn't mentioned it already, the CosRX hyaluronic moisturizer has become a HG product for me. I swear I feel like a super model when I wake up after putting that on before bed.