Asian skincare

[NewOrleans]

This post was inspired by this reallllllllly interesting skin care blog toward the end of January randoms.  I have gone way down the rabbithole on Reddit reading about ph of skin cleansers.

Is Asian skincare superior? Thoughts? Knowledges?  

[centralsquare]

Hahaha, me too. And I ordered that stick cleanser bc, well, I online shop while I nurse. And at 3am lots of things make sense.

[sporky]

I don't know if it's superior for everyone, but I do know my skin has improved exponentially since I started using more Asian products and incorporating more steps into my nightly routine this year.

[greeneggs]

I bought that cleanser and love it. I feel like it does a much better job of getting my face clean than the CeraVe I had been using without drying me out.

I'm slowly wading into the concept but I haven't started a 10 step skin care system yet. I've started adding a few things here and there and I've noticed a big difference in my skin this winter. Right now I'm doing the double cleanse (DHC Oil and the rose stick) with a konjac sponge, which I love so much, the Pixi Glow Tonic, PC Resist BHA 2% Liquid, Benton Snail Bee serum, DermaE hyaluronic acid serum, and CeraVe night cream. It sounds like a lot but I don't mess with the wait times and get everything done in under 10 minutes. My morning routine is far less involved and usually is just the DermaE serum and CeraVe Moisturizer with a Japanese sunblock on days I'm going to be outside a lot.

[greeneggs]

Jan 18, 2016 20:56:14 GMT -5 operagirl said:

Interesting, greeneggs . Tell us about the Bentons stuff.  

I haven't used much true Asian skincare, but I just updated my spreadsheet and realized I do have a lot of nighttime steps, mostly due to layering oils. Sometimes I sub other products, but this is my current routine:



Eta: I'll be 65 next month, so you guys don't need as much, um, help. 

I've been using it for a couple of months now and I really like it.  I need less foundation to get my skin to look even because since I started it my nose and chin are getting less red and my freckles from the summer are slowly but very evenly fading away.  The only issue I have with it is when I have any breakouts I feel like it takes longer get rid of because it never gets all the way to a whitehead but slowly heals away.  The smell is awful but fades pretty quickly so I just try to not breathe through my nose while it's drying.  

[nursewife]

Jan 18, 2016 20:56:14 GMT -5 operagirl said:

Interesting, greeneggs . Tell us about the Bentons stuff.  

I haven't used much true Asian skincare, but I just updated my spreadsheet and realized I do have a lot of nighttime steps, mostly due to layering oils. Sometimes I sub other products, but this is my current routine:



Eta: I'll be 65 next month, so you guys don't need as much, um, help. 

Do you like the Sunday Riley products? I've been dying to try them out!

[calico]

I have very limited experience with Asian skincare items, but I agree with the blog when it said that they have superior sunscreens and are about 10 years ahead of western skincare. The masks I have used are really great, even a few of the "no name" ones I have tried. Really amazing stuff.
I'm still not sure about the 10 step business at night, but who am I to talk? I surely do not have perfect skin.

[MarmeeNoir]

Jan 18, 2016 19:41:05 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

This post was inspired by this reallllllllly interesting skin care blog toward the end of January randoms.  I have gone way down the rabbithole on Reddit reading about ph of skin cleansers.

Is Asian skincare superior? Thoughts? Knowledges?  

I know a bit about the acid mantle as it relates to hair. 2 of 3 types perm are either acid or alkaline The alkaline perm solution has a high PH and it breaks down the disulfide bond in the hair. The hair and skin are slightly acidic. If you use a skin product with too high of a PH it breaks the acid mantle and leaves your skin open to all sorts of shit. The closer the PH is to what's your skin, the less disruption.
Too low of a PH can also be damaging (which is how acid perms work).

PS: I love the smell of perm solution.

Fun fact: 10 years ago when we did the PH testing is Cosmetology school. Johnson's baby shampoo had the highest PH of what we had to test. It's not good for hair.

[mominatrix]

Check out the Laneige stuff from Target. It's very good, and it's... Yanno, at Target.

They have a trial pack, where you get travel sized bottles of each step to try.

Great for dry or normal skin. It's all about hydration, so maybe not the best for the oily.

[mabillon]

I've been building up to an 8-step routine at night (slowly introducing new products) for awhile and have been at all 8 steps for about 2 weeks. I think it's made a huge difference in my red cheeks and t-zone. I missed the link to the ph cleanser blog but am wondering if it's skinandtonic or Snow White...I've been researching and reading those too since I'm pretty sure my latest product is what's making me break out (an AHA/BHA foaming cleanser). Most of my products are Korean but not all. I control for my t-zone by using a separate serum right on that area while using a more hydrating serum on the rest of my face. Works well overall.

My Hada Labo drugstore sunscreen moisturizer is the best I've ever tried. SPF 50 and super super lightweight.

[winnieandwine]

I've started dabbling recently. mini-reviews:

Tony Moly Mask Sheet Set from Amazon (11-count)
These are...nice? No huge difference. They seem as moisturizing as some face creams I've tried and they don't make my skin look worse. I did not have the incredible results others have had, but I'd probably RP because they're cheap and face masks make me feel pampered. 

Tony Moly Brightening Eye Base: Fail. Feels kind of drying and can be streaky.



Tony Moly So Cool Eye stick - Nice and cooling. Feels refreshing on puffy eyes. Would probably RP.



LG Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick  - love. I didn't mind the rose scent, and this product was gentle on my skin. I was worried about it being in stick-form, but it did not seem to aggravate my acne. Will RP


[Benton] Snail Bee High Content Essence - NOPE. I have seen rave reviews, but this broke me out.



Kao Megurism - Lavender & Sage Eye Mask. So soothing! Doesn't have any effect on skin but feels lovely. 


Products I haven't tested enough to review:
Biore Japan-silky water re essence SPF50 + / PA ++++ 50g 

The Face Shop - Rice Water Bright - Cleansing Light Oil (I have two opened cleansing oils to get through first)

Cosrx AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid 



honestly, my favorite thing about asian products is that so many of them are available at such a low price point that I can sample many different items without investing $$$$

[maryanne]

I've been doing a multi step routine using mostly Korean products for the last 3 years or so. I tried it when I was in my 20s, but at that time felt like it was too many steps so I gave up. Also, there was no Internet shopping/e-commerce back then so the selection was very limited.

When I talk about Asian beauty products and routines I tend to get overly excited and rambley, lol. So, I'll just say that I love that there are so many product choices and most of them are very reasonably priced and they include ingredients and techniques that Western brands aren't into. I have an Instagram entirely devoted to skincare and most of it is Asian beauty, but I also really enjoy natural beauty products, too. I just really love skincare. I'm also Korean and grew up watching my mom do her extensive routines, so having my own extensive routine doesn't feel abnormal.

[winnieandwine]

maryanne I'm glad you posted. you got me started and helped me find the rose cleansing stick. just stalked your IG again and added Cosrx Low ph Good Morning Cleanser & acne patches to my amazon cart.

I'm also buying some pH strips to test my stash. aiming for <6 for my cleansers and I've also been trying to avoid silicones recently (hair/skincare/makeup) because I think they exacerbate my acne and mess with my hair.

[pixy0stix]

I bought the Tony Moly masks and eye brightening stick. The stick mainly because it's just so adorable. No reviews yet.

[greeneggs]

I tried the Tony Moly wine mask last week and other than the fun I had sneaking up on DH while wearing it I wasn't impressed. I'm in the pool a lot and it's hard on my skin so I'll keep trying them but any difference I saw in my skin after using it was gone in the morning.

I'm putting more effort into my skin care because finding foundation and primer that give me the look I want have been my biggest makeup challenges. I think I combination of adjusting my expectations and trying to get my skin at it's best might help that. It's also fun trying new stuff and most of it is fairly inexpensive.

[starlily]

maryanne

Eta: Never mind! I missed that you already got in here!

[maryanne]

Jan 19, 2016 12:05:10 GMT -5 starlily said:

maryanne

Eta: Never mind! I missed that you already got in here!

Haha thanks for tagging me! Tapatalk doesn't always send me notifications, at least not quickly. Does that happen to you, too? I just happened to see your post when I wandered back in here.

[ijack]

I just started a couple weeks ago thanks to maryanne and some other friends who swear by it. I'm struggling with the number of steps, especially in the morning because I don't have extra time to wait for all that stuff to dry on my face. But I'm still new enough that I don't know what works and what doesn't. I placed a bit order from jolse and it will be here tomorrow and I'm so excited!! It's hard to be patient when I'm used to things being delivered in 2 days. But my face is definitely softer and brighter, I'd love to see my wrinkles disappear soon

[maryanne]

Jan 19, 2016 12:30:45 GMT -5 ijack said:

I just started a couple weeks ago thanks to maryanne and some other friends who swear by it. I'm struggling with the number of steps, especially in the morning because I don't have extra time to wait for all that stuff to dry on my face. But I'm still new enough that I don't know what works and what doesn't. I placed a bit order from jolse and it will be here tomorrow and I'm so excited!! It's hard to be patient when I'm used to things being delivered in 2 days. But my face is definitely softer and brighter, I'd love to see my wrinkles disappear soon

Yay! That's very quick I'm so excited for you heehee.

What are you using right now, AB-wise? I'm super nosy when it comes to this stuff, as you already know.

[ijack]

Jan 19, 2016 13:18:07 GMT -5 maryanne said:

Jan 19, 2016 12:30:45 GMT -5 ijack said:

I just started a couple weeks ago thanks to maryanne and some other friends who swear by it. I'm struggling with the number of steps, especially in the morning because I don't have extra time to wait for all that stuff to dry on my face. But I'm still new enough that I don't know what works and what doesn't. I placed a bit order from jolse and it will be here tomorrow and I'm so excited!! It's hard to be patient when I'm used to things being delivered in 2 days. But my face is definitely softer and brighter, I'd love to see my wrinkles disappear soon

Yay! That's very quick I'm so excited for you heehee.

What are you using right now, AB-wise? I'm super nosy when it comes to this stuff, as you already know.

Nothing is AB except my masks because that's the only thing I can get local. Oh, that's not true - I'm using laneige water bank and loving it. But even with just having a routine morning and night has helped my skin.
My week old routine is in the morning fresh soy wash, pixi glow, PC serum, laneige water bank or FAB ultra repair cream, and heliocare 360. At night I double wash with TOTD and fresh soy wash, olga henriksen truth serum or ROC night cream, (maybe a sheet mask), and FAB ultra repair cream. I definitely need something to replace the PC serum (I'm not loving it and the step takes too long so I'm thinking something I can mix in with my cream) and will need a new cleanser soon (everything I have is higher ph).
OTW I have cosrx snail all in one cream, cosrx galactomyes, miss flower and mr honey oil, sleep packs, eye patches, bb cream, and more sheet masks.

[calico]

winnieandwine- tell me more about those eye masks. Are they single use? What are they for?

[winnieandwine]

calico
single use, individually packaged. they warm when you open them (kind of like hand warmers but obviously not as hot) and have a delicious lavendar/sage/rose scent. they block light well and stay warm for about 20 mins. I'll put it on at night if I'm feeling stressed/ anxious and often fall asleep before the warmth goes away. they come to about $1/each and would be perfect for travel, esp if you have trouble falling asleep in an unfamiliar environment. Im not sure about ingredients because I can't read the box, but I have very sensitive acne prone skin and these have never given me an issue.

[pantsparty]

I started one back during the summer. Current routines:

AM:
OST C21.5 vitamin C serum
CeraVe Foaming Face Wash
Benton BHA Skin Toner
COSRX A-Sol
Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence
Benton Propolis Soothing Gel
Biore UV sunscreen

PM: (my routine has changed lately since I added Curology prescription, I used to use AHA and BHA acid treatments every other night, but not right now as my skin adjusts)
Ponds Cold Cream (eye makeup remover)
Klairs Oil Cleanser
Tosowoong Enzyme Powder Cleanser
Curology prescription (every other night)
Benton Snail Bee High Content Skin
Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence
Holy Snails Shark Sauce
Missha Time Revolution Night Repair serum
Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream

Is this routine better than traditional western skincare? Well, I do think my skin looks better and is more moisturized. I have also noticed when I am breaking out, the zits go away much more quickly and so does the PIH. I don't sheet mask because I can't fathom adding even more time to my routine, LOL. I mainly started this routine to be a little more proactive in anti-aging, and I have some spots of hyperpigmentation spring up (prior to starting this routine). Those take a long time to address; my routine is definitely helping but it's not like they magically disappeared.

I order my products from Wishtrend, eBay and Amazon.

If anything, I think EVERY WOMAN should order the Biore UV sunscreen. It is a DELIGHT. Lightweight, provides superior protection. No more "white cast" or trying like hell to rub in your sunscreen! www.amazon.com/BIORE-Aqua-Rich-Watery-Essence/dp/B00THHOIE6

[pantsparty]

Oh, and I have maryanne to thank for dragging me into this!

[pantsparty]

Jan 19, 2016 12:30:45 GMT -5 ijack said:

I just started a couple weeks ago thanks to maryanne and some other friends who swear by it. I'm struggling with the number of steps, especially in the morning because I don't have extra time to wait for all that stuff to dry on my face. But I'm still new enough that I don't know what works and what doesn't. I placed a bit order from jolse and it will be here tomorrow and I'm so excited!! It's hard to be patient when I'm used to things being delivered in 2 days. But my face is definitely softer and brighter, I'd love to see my wrinkles disappear soon

A tip to make things move faster - squirt whatever product into your hands, briefly rub hands together, and then pat onto your face. If you just try to dab on the product, it will take longer to sink in. I kind of apply my products like this video. Go to about 3:00 in to see what I'm talking about.

[ijack]

pantsparty, I'll try that thank you! Also you do your vitamin C serum before you wash?

[pantsparty]

Jan 19, 2016 17:08:22 GMT -5 ijack said:

pantsparty , I'll try that thank you! Also you do your vitamin C serum before you wash?

Yes, I get up early to work out, so I apply it as soon as I wake up, leave on for 20 minutes, remove with a toner (I use Thayers witch hazel), work out, then wash my face and proceed with the rest of my AM routine.

[ijack]

pantsparty I tried the patting this morning and it was SO much quicker than the way I had been doing it. Thank you!

[pantsparty]

Jan 20, 2016 9:58:11 GMT -5 ijack said:

pantsparty I tried the patting this morning and it was SO much quicker than the way I had been doing it. Thank you!

Yay! I also mix some products in my palm before applying if the viscosity is similar, like serums and moisturizers. I'm all about the shortcuts!

[ijack]

Jan 20, 2016 10:29:14 GMT -5 pantsparty said:

Jan 20, 2016 9:58:11 GMT -5 ijack said:

pantsparty I tried the patting this morning and it was SO much quicker than the way I had been doing it. Thank you!

Yay! I also mix some products in my palm before applying if the viscosity is similar, like serums and moisturizers. I'm all about the shortcuts!

I did that today too!