Asian skincare

[pantsparty]

Jan 25, 2016 17:49:47 GMT -5 greeneggs said:

Jan 24, 2016 19:49:39 GMT -5 @blueyes623 said:

pantsparty , I ordered the biore sunscreen...one for me and one for my mom. We always complain about white sticky sunscreen on our faces. Looking forward to trying it!

I just got mine and so far I like it.  I was appalled at how much the required 1/4 teaspoon really is and I felt like it took forever to soak in but when it did my face felt great.  I lost the dried out yet sticky feel I have after my moisturizer and my primer and foundation look fabulous over it.  After my primer and foundation went on it felt a little drying but I just got home after 4 hours at the zoo with DS and my makeup is mostly still in place.  

I've been on a buying spree with the Banila Clean It Zero and Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream set to arrive in the next few days and the OST C20 will get here eventually from Korea.  I'm considering getting the Goodal Waterest Lasting Water Oil and/or the Scinic All in One Ampoule but I think I'm going to slow down and let my newest products start working before I add new stuff.  

Hm, I don't know if I use 1/4 teaspoon? That seems like a pretty small amount, so probably? It does take a little longer to completely dry, but I usually apply it and brush my teeth and apply my eye makeup, so plenty of time to dry down . Biore also has a "face milk" version if the Aqua version is maybe too moisturizing. It's much more liquidy and has a drier finish. www.amazon.com/Biore-Perfect-Face-Milk-Spf50/dp/B00SM99KY8/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1453817810&sr=8-7&keywords=biore+sunscreen

[origami]

Jan 26, 2016 1:35:31 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

This post has been very interesting and sent me down the rabbit hole (I've checked out most of what's been posted). I'm still confused on where to start.  Right now my plan is to try the brand at target like mominatrix suggested (in fact I got a sample in my ipsy bag, so I've been all k-beauty for a week -lol). I can dig the philosophy, but the product choices are overwhelming and kinda weird and...unavailable locally?  Or expensive if they are available?  Confusing!

are you confused by which steps of the routine you want to try or which brands/products of each step you should buy? Or both. I was confused by both last week but now I have somewhat worked out the former so I can possibly help with that part. (Or Maryanne could im sure.) The latter I completely gave up on and just walked into random stores saying "I have X skin type and want Y product so what do I buy?" I would do the same in the US and just get whatever is sold near you. Or tell me what you need and I'll see if I can get some samples of it. They're good about giving away tons of free samples here.

[greeneggs]

Jan 26, 2016 1:35:31 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

This post has been very interesting and sent me down the rabbit hole (I've checked out most of what's been posted). I'm still confused on where to start.  Right now my plan is to try the brand at target like mominatrix suggested (in fact I got a sample in my ipsy bag, so I've been all k-beauty for a week -lol). I can dig the philosophy, but the product choices are overwhelming and kinda weird and...unavailable locally?  Or expensive if they are available?  Confusing!

I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed so right now I'm just trying to upgrade things I already have and know, like cleanser and moisturizer, and slowly add in more steps as I go.  I'm lazy as fuck and do not have the time or patience for a full on 10 step routine but the small tweaks I've added over the last few months have made a huge difference in my skin.  If you're going from a regular US routine (clean, treat, moisturize) I'd start with a double cleanse and good sunblock then start slowly expanding with new products and add or upgrade as needed.  I love the Fifty Shades of Snail blog and her guide to starting routines without spending a fortune are great.  Her Amazon shopping list post it awesome and does a great job of recommending products for all skin types.  

I feel like I need to put far more research into what I buy than I do for makeup because 1. it's more potent than makeup and 2. I don't have the luxury of Sephora and Ulta's generous return policies if I hate something.  Right now I'm just pinning up a storm of shit I want and reading reviews from bloggers with a similar skin type to mine.  I have dehydrated skin that oils up fast if I'm not nice enough to it so Fanserviced and Snow White and the Asian Pear are the ones I'm reading the most from.  I personally think that Snow White is a bit intense and possibly kadoodley crackers (multiple sheet masks per day sometimes) but she seems to really know her shit when it comes for products for oily dehydrated skin.

pantsparty, 1/4 tsp didn't seem like much until I measured it and Holy Mother of SPF, that's a lot of sunblock at one time!  I think I may to the Skin and Tonics method of two back to back applications to get the recommended amount.  

[pantsparty]

Jan 26, 2016 9:48:28 GMT -5 greeneggs said:

Jan 26, 2016 1:35:31 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

This post has been very interesting and sent me down the rabbit hole (I've checked out most of what's been posted). I'm still confused on where to start.  Right now my plan is to try the brand at target like mominatrix suggested (in fact I got a sample in my ipsy bag, so I've been all k-beauty for a week -lol). I can dig the philosophy, but the product choices are overwhelming and kinda weird and...unavailable locally?  Or expensive if they are available?  Confusing!

pantsparty , 1/4 tsp didn't seem like much until I measured it and Holy Mother of SPF, that's a lot of sunblock at one time!  I think I may to the Skin and Tonics method of two back to back applications to get the recommended amount.  

I am trying to picture 1/4 teaspoon and I swear I use more, actually. But in any case, I don't measure it out at all. I just make sure my face is sufficiently covered. Maybe you have a small face and S&T has a huge head? IDK? LOL.

[MrsAxilla]

Jan 26, 2016 9:22:30 GMT -5 origami said:

Jan 26, 2016 1:35:31 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

This post has been very interesting and sent me down the rabbit hole (I've checked out most of what's been posted). I'm still confused on where to start.  Right now my plan is to try the brand at target like mominatrix suggested (in fact I got a sample in my ipsy bag, so I've been all k-beauty for a week -lol). I can dig the philosophy, but the product choices are overwhelming and kinda weird and...unavailable locally?  Or expensive if they are available?  Confusing!

are you confused by which steps of the routine you want to try or which brands/products of each step you should buy? Or both. I was confused by both last week but now I have somewhat worked out the former so I can possibly help with that part. (Or Maryanne could im sure.) The latter I completely gave up on and just walked into random stores saying "I have X skin type and want Y product so what do I buy?" I would do the same in the US and just get whatever is sold near you. Or tell me what you need and I'll see if I can get some samples of it. They're good about giving away tons of free samples here.

Definitely products and where to get them.  I'm also not sure what skin type I have, besides old and wrinkled - lol.  I'm confused between dry and dehydrated (although I do understand dehydrated oily as one blogger described it because I used to have that, but somehow I corrected it).  I think I'm normal to slightly dry/dehydrated (and wrinkly.  Did I mention that?).  I started double cleansing because I had an oil cleanser and mild foaming cleanser on hand.  I definitely want (okay need) some actives or essences.  I was at Bed Bath and Beyond last night and they had trial sizes of a Japanese serum, so I picked up those.  I'm thinking of heading over to, uh, a concentration of Asian shops near me (not sure how else to describe that) to see what there is to see.  

greeneggs, I'll check out the Amazon list, but I'm impatient!  I have an ulta close by; do they have anything worth checking out?  We have Sephora, too, but it's farther away and a pain to get to.  

[greeneggs]

Ulta and Sephora have some online but their in store selections are pretty small. I popped into my local H-Mart a while back but was so overwhelmed I bought nothing. Now that I feel a little more confident in my choices I might venture back over again.

I totally get the urge to go all Veruca Salt on your skin! I'm slowing down a bit partially out of finances but also because I want to give my skin time to get used to all the new stuff as I add it in.

[pixy0stix]

Which Biore sunscreen should I be buying?

[sporky]

Jan 26, 2016 10:19:33 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Jan 26, 2016 9:22:30 GMT -5 origami said:

are you confused by which steps of the routine you want to try or which brands/products of each step you should buy? Or both. I was confused by both last week but now I have somewhat worked out the former so I can possibly help with that part. (Or Maryanne could im sure.) The latter I completely gave up on and just walked into random stores saying "I have X skin type and want Y product so what do I buy?" I would do the same in the US and just get whatever is sold near you. Or tell me what you need and I'll see if I can get some samples of it. They're good about giving away tons of free samples here.

Definitely products and where to get them.  I'm also not sure what skin type I have, besides old and wrinkled - lol.  I'm confused between dry and dehydrated (although I do understand dehydrated oily as one blogger described it because I used to have that, but somehow I corrected it).  I think I'm normal to slightly dry/dehydrated (and wrinkly.  Did I mention that?).  I started double cleansing because I had an oil cleanser and mild foaming cleanser on hand.  I definitely want (okay need) some actives or essences.  I was at Bed Bath and Beyond last night and they had trial sizes of a Japanese serum, so I picked up those.  I'm thinking of heading over to, uh, a concentration of Asian shops near me (not sure how else to describe that) to see what there is to see.  

greeneggs , I'll check out the Amazon list, but I'm impatient!  I have an ulta close by; do they have anything worth checking out?  We have Sephora, too, but it's farther away and a pain to get to.  

Some online retailers of AB products offer consultation on products. Peach and Lily is great about this. I've found that a lot of them are also very interactive on social media, especially Instragram. Specific companies are usually pretty good at answering questions too. I know CosRx will actually respond to Instragram comments about which products to purchase from their line depending on what you're looking for. 

[pantsparty]

Jan 26, 2016 10:36:29 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Which Biore sunscreen should I be buying?

If your skin is drier I would recommend the Biore UV Aqua Watery Essence (blue bottle). If it's oilier, I'd recommend one of the milk versions. This is a good summary: fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/09/11/shopping-with-fiddy-my-japanese-sunscreen-wardrobe-on-amazon-prime/

[mominatrix]

OMG, I thought that we had already discussed this here, but I think we haven't.


www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2016/01/the_10_step_korean_skin_care_routine_is_a_radical_act_of_feminist_self_care.html

[calico]

I see myself buying an assload of Japanese sunscreens in Feb, so that I can figure out the best one for my skin.

[sporky]

Jan 26, 2016 14:02:34 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

OMG, I thought that we had already discussed this here, but I think we haven't.


www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2016/01/the_10_step_korean_skin_care_routine_is_a_radical_act_of_feminist_self_care.html

Yeah, this article was skewered when it was published bc the author failed to actually contact several bloggers mentioned in the piece and completely misrepresented their beliefs and/or attributed things to them they had never actually said. It was a huge kerfuffle in the AB community. 

[maryanne]

Jan 26, 2016 15:53:37 GMT -5 sporky said:

Jan 26, 2016 14:02:34 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

OMG, I thought that we had already discussed this here, but I think we haven't.


www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2016/01/the_10_step_korean_skin_care_routine_is_a_radical_act_of_feminist_self_care.html

Yeah, this article was skewered when it was published bc the author failed to actually contact several bloggers mentioned in the piece and completely misrepresented their beliefs and/or attributed things to them they had never actually said. It was a huge kerfuffle in the AB community. 

Oh, yes... Ditto what sporky wrote!

Many ABers also said that the piece was basically a platform for the author to promote her friend's online DIY kbeauty-inspired shop.

[maddysmum]

I'm following along here.

I've struggled with my skin forever, making strides and then having setbacks (like this freaking winter - it's wreaking havoc on my skin!) and I'm also getting older. I need to start taking better care of it. I need a routine.

Any recommendations from those with dry skin for moisturizing products?

[greeneggs]

maryanne and pantsparty, and anyone who has been at this for a while, can we talk about wait times for acids and actives? I experimented with adding them into my routine last night this and this morning and I HATE it. My skin is slightly oily and dehydrated so from the second my face dries after washing it until long after adding my moisturizer my face feels dry, tight, and like it's one size too small and doing a 15 minute wait between my acids and Hylaronic Acid lotion makes it worse. Currently I'm using the Pixi Glow tonic as my ph reducing toner and alternating between the PC Resist 2% BHA and the 4% foam (considering Cosrx products when these run out) so I don't know if it's a product or method problem. Any ideas or advice?

[bl]

I ordered a bunch of stuff when this thread first got started and have been using some of it for about a week now.
Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick
Biologigue Recherché Lotion P50
PC 2% BHA Liquid

I kept my existing moisturizers and do either Belif Aqua Bomb or Josie Marin Light Argan Oil.
I also ordered the Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream and the Biore Aqua Rich sunscreen (am thinking I might need the milk version though since I am usually pretty oily).

I have been using the stuff that came in already since early last week and I LOVE it. I definitely broke out pretty bad over the weekend, but it has already mostly cleared up which my breakouts never clear up that fast. My skin feels much smoother and is producing way less oil throughout the day. I used to have to using blotting paper or put on some loose powder 2-3 times a day if I wanted to not be shiny. Yesterday on my way home from work I realized I had not done either and while not completely matte my skin was not near as oily as normal.

I am a fan so far, and can't wait to play around more and customize as time goes on.

[pantsparty]

Jan 27, 2016 11:25:31 GMT -5 greeneggs said:

maryanne and pantsparty, and anyone who has been at this for a while, can we talk about wait times for acids and actives? I experimented with adding them into my routine last night this and this morning and I HATE it. My skin is slightly oily and dehydrated so from the second my face dries after washing it until long after adding my moisturizer my face feels dry, tight, and like it's one size too small and doing a 15 minute wait between my acids and Hylaronic Acid lotion makes it worse. Currently I'm using the Pixi Glow tonic as my ph reducing toner and alternating between the PC Resist 2% BHA and the 4% foam (considering Cosrx products when these run out) so I don't know if it's a product or method problem. Any ideas or advice?

You should not add 3 acids at once! It took me well over 2 months to work vitamin C, AHA, and BHA into my routine. I added one at a time, starting with every third day, then every other, and finally every day. Even with the BHA and AHA, before I started using Curology, I only used those every other night. Too much exfoliation too quickly can be really bad for your skin.

Acids do need about a 20 minute wait time. The only acids I have used are vitamin C, AHA, and BHA. I use the vitamin C in the morning before I work out. For when I was using the BHA and AHA, I would remove my makeup, wash my face, apply a pH adjusting toner, apply the BHA, wait 20 minutes, swipe off with the toner, then apply AHA, wait 20 minutes, swipe off with toner. I did it this way because I don't want to have long wait times in the morning and I also have oilier skin, so the more that I put on my face in the morning the sooner my skin is going to start looking shiny.

[greeneggs]

The BHAs have been in my routine for over a year, I've been using the Glow Tonic for almost six months, and the Hyaluronic Acid is a hydrating serum/lotion, not an exfoliant. I've been engaging in chemical warfare on my face for over a decade so my skin is pretty used to the abuse and loves them. The problem is that my skin gets oily when it's too dry/dehydrated which is getting worse over the years and this winter getting my skin to feel hydrated has been next to impossible. I'm slowly trying to add in my hydrating products to solve that and try to keep the oil at bay. I was trying to fix it with oils and heavier creams without success so I'm hoping that moving to AB products might give me more options. I'm trying to figure out if there's a problem with either my cleanser or the balancing toner because this sucks. I did my morning routine around 8AM and my face still feels a little tight and dry.

[pantsparty]

Jan 27, 2016 15:38:10 GMT -5 greeneggs said:

The BHAs have been in my routine for over a year, I've been using the Glow Tonic for almost six months, and the Hyaluronic Acid is a hydrating serum/lotion, not an exfoliant. I've been engaging in chemical warfare on my face for over a decade so my skin is pretty used to the abuse and loves them. The problem is that my skin gets oily when it's too dry/dehydrated which is getting worse over the years and this winter getting my skin to feel hydrated has been next to impossible. I'm slowly trying to add in my hydrating products to solve that and try to keep the oil at bay. I was trying to fix it with oils and heavier creams without success so I'm hoping that moving to AB products might give me more options. I'm trying to figure out if there's a problem with either my cleanser or the balancing toner because this sucks. I did my morning routine around 8AM and my face still feels a little tight and dry.

What is your AM/PM routine?

[kristie]

Jan 27, 2016 11:25:31 GMT -5 greeneggs said:

maryanne and pantsparty, and anyone who has been at this for a while, can we talk about wait times for acids and actives? I experimented with adding them into my routine last night this and this morning and I HATE it. My skin is slightly oily and dehydrated so from the second my face dries after washing it until long after adding my moisturizer my face feels dry, tight, and like it's one size too small and doing a 15 minute wait between my acids and Hylaronic Acid lotion makes it worse. Currently I'm using the Pixi Glow tonic as my ph reducing toner and alternating between the PC Resist 2% BHA and the 4% foam (considering Cosrx products when these run out) so I don't know if it's a product or method problem. Any ideas or advice?

The second I get out of the shower/wash my face i use my ph adjusting toner and then put my PC resist 2% bha on. That way it has about ten minutes while I am getting dressed. When I do the Cosrx Aha whitehead liquid one I give it much longer (20-30 minutes), but I only do it a few times a week at night. Then I move on to my toner, missha first essence, etc....

While both actives they also have moisturizing ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, so I am surprised they make your face feel so dry. I have never had that issue. It might be that they are the wrong products for you, I'm not sure.

[hoteldweller]

While both actives they also have moisturizing ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, so I am surprised they make your face feel so dry. I have never had that issue. It might be that they are the wrong products for you, I'm not sure. [/quote]

I read somewhere recently that if you apply hyralonic acid in a super dry environment, that it actually sucks the moisture OUT of your skin...that's why it's important to follow up with a moisturizer. Could that be what's happening?

[greeneggs]

I did a bit of research, since I clearly have nothing better to be doing with my time, and started a two part plan to fix the dehydration issue and I think I'm making some progress. My face is feeling much better and it not as dry and tight feeling as it used to be. Last weekend I was out of town and didn't bring any actives with me at all so I could work on getting my moisture barrier back on track and I think it did a world of good to give my poor face a break from all the acids.

The first step is that I ditched the ph adjusting toner step because I think it was stripping my skin. I now keep an acids schedule and alternate strengths and formulas in the evenings only with only a 15 minute wait time. I'm still getting all the benefits of the BHA and AHA acids but by doing only one at a time once day I'm not drying it out with excessive use. This article gives a good explanation of why using a ph adjusting toner might be making the actives too strong and damaging to your skin.

theacidqueenblog.com/2015/12/04/skin-ph-and-urban-legends-an-argument-against-wait-times-and-ph-adjusting-toners/

I've also added in the Goodal Waterest Lasting Water Oil in the evenings after my actives and HOLY SHIT it's awesome.  Oils never played well with my skin but this just soaks right in and makes my skin feel like a baby's.  The rest of my moisturizers apply better over this and I don't have the feeling that I need to keep adding more to make my face feel right again.  This might be my newest skin care HG because it's just that good.  

[pantsparty]

Feb 8, 2016 10:35:39 GMT -5 greeneggs said:

I did a bit of research, since I clearly have nothing better to be doing with my time, and started a two part plan to fix the dehydration issue and I think I'm making some progress. My face is feeling much better and it not as dry and tight feeling as it used to be. Last weekend I was out of town and didn't bring any actives with me at all so I could work on getting my moisture barrier back on track and I think it did a world of good to give my poor face a break from all the acids.

The first step is that I ditched the ph adjusting toner step because I think it was stripping my skin. I now keep an acids schedule and alternate strengths and formulas in the evenings only with only a 15 minute wait time. I'm still getting all the benefits of the BHA and AHA acids but by doing only one at a time once day I'm not drying it out with excessive use. This article gives a good explanation of why using a ph adjusting toner might be making the actives too strong and damaging to your skin.

theacidqueenblog.com/2015/12/04/skin-ph-and-urban-legends-an-argument-against-wait-times-and-ph-adjusting-toners/

I've also added in the Goodal Waterest Lasting Water Oil in the evenings after my actives and HOLY SHIT it's awesome.  Oils never played well with my skin but this just soaks right in and makes my skin feel like a baby's.  The rest of my moisturizers apply better over this and I don't have the feeling that I need to keep adding more to make my face feel right again.  This might be my newest skin care HG because it's just that good.  

Interesting read about pH-adjusting toners. I wonder if this is skin dependent. I ran out of my COSRX AHA/BHA toner and although I have been using witch hazel, I noticed my skin is breaking out more. Although this may have to do with the COSRX toner specifically, not necessarily the pH-adjusting nature of the product. YMMV and all.

[MrsAxilla]

I've fallen hard down the rabbit hole! I need help!!! Please send free samples....maybe I can staple them together and climb out. Or just stay down here and use them all - lol.

[pixy0stix]

Feb 9, 2016 11:48:28 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I've fallen hard down the rabbit hole! I need help getting!!! Please send free samples....maybe I can staple them together and climb out. Or just stay down here and use them all - lol.

It rubs the lotion on it's skin...

[pixy0stix]

I bought the cleansing stick thing and the biore sunscreen. It should arrive Thursday.

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 9, 2016 12:04:33 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Feb 9, 2016 11:48:28 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I've fallen hard down the rabbit hole! I need help getting!!! Please send free samples....maybe I can staple them together and climb out. Or just stay down here and use them all - lol.

It rubs the lotion on it's skin...

...in gentle, upwards circles, avoiding the eye area....

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 9, 2016 12:05:33 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I bought the cleansing stick thing and the biore sunscreen. It should arrive Thursday.

I wish I could just GO somewhere to buy all the things!  Ordering and waiting sucks.  I'm digging in the back of my linen closet for stuff I can sub in till my packages get here. 

[maryanne]

Feb 9, 2016 11:48:28 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I've fallen hard down the rabbit hole! I need help getting!!! Please send free samples....maybe I can staple them together and climb out. Or just stay down here and use them all - lol.

Most of the Korean online shops do send out tons of samples, so this isn't entirely unrealistic haha!

[maryanne]

A new beauty boutique opened up in my neighborhood so I checked it out briefly. They're selling the Su:m37 Rose cleaning stick for $43!!! That's almost criminal lol.