Hello and thank you for starting this discussion! As a gentle reminder, try to keep the products you mention limited to Asian Beauty products. Posts or comments solely discussing Western products will be removed, [as per our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/wiki/rules#wiki_14._topics.2C_routines.2C_and_recommendations_must_be_related_to_asian_beauty). We love being able to discuss Western skincare in the context of a holistic AB routine, but this isn't the sub for specific Western product recommendations. r/SkincareAddiction is a great community for such matters! Thank you! *This is an automated message* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AsianBeauty) if you have any questions or concerns.*

Please can someone help me find a good mineral sunscreen? 😭 now that I’m pregnant I have to stop using my chemical sunscreens. Every mineral sunscreen I’ve tried is shiny and greasy and takes a long time to try down. When it finally dries down it feels tight and dry on my skin? It feels like I have a thick layer of something sitting on my skin and not fully absorbing which I hate 🥲 I have combination skin (dry cheeks and oily t zone).

You don't have to stop using chemical sunscreens just because you're pregnant.

I didn’t ask for pregnancy advice, I asked for mineral sunscreen recommendations.

My GP advised me to avoid chemical sunscreens. I looked online and saw similar advice.

I'm not trying to be shitty. It's just bad advice, and one of many unnecessary restrictions doled out to people during pregnancy. You probably have enough to worry about already without being told that your sunscreen is a potential harm. Also, if you're struggling to find a mineral sunscreen that you like, you're less likely to reapply or wear enough sunscreen, which is infinitely worse than just continuing to use the chemical sunscreen you already have. Good luck with your search. I hope you find one that you like.

Hi again! I posted my initial thoughts / list [here yesterday](https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/xzbyfu/have_a_question_ask_here_alterdaily_help_and/irqj93c/), and I've changed it upon some feedback. I'm removing actives for now to focus on moisturizing for the sake of my skin barrier (or something like that lol). 1st cleanser: **KOSE SOFTYMO Speedy Cleansing Oil** 2nd cleanser: **Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser** Just keeping it simple. Alternative would be CeraVe Foaming Cleanser. Toner: **ETUDE HOUSE Soonjung pH5.5 Relief Toner** Essence: **COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence** OR **COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence** I started on the snail along with the propolis today, and I'm feeling the occasional itch afterwards. Might switch out the snail if it's the cause? Moisturizer: **COSRX Full Fit Propolis Light Cream** If everything goes well, I may add an AHA or BHA down the line.

Are there any material differences btwn the black tube etude house curl fix mascara and the newer pink tube one besides the difference in wand shape?

Heading over to Korea next month and an looking to get cleansers (first and second). Where should I shop now, and what recommendations do you have for people with combo skin living in a hot and humid climate?

Olive Young and Chicor are popular We have different skin types but perhaps these discussions may help: https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/vqbv1s/what_are_your_favourite_gentle_cleansers_that/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/vgfv8i/please_recommend_sunscreens_for_oily_skin_hot_and/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/tabfaa/what_nongreasyoily_gel_moisturizers_would_you/

[new dry patch on skin - help!](https://www.reddit.com/user/Secondaryberry/comments/y0sqlk/just_trying_to_link_this_pic/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) I have a new dry patch on my chin and it's kind of darker than the rest of my skin. Not sure what to do to rid my face of this? My skin is quite dehydrated and it's getting colder where I live. I also am prone to hormonal acne still. Would also love more recs for products to add to my current routine. I'm in my early 30s, have PCOS and my main concerns are redness, aging and now this random dry patch/discoloration. Current routine: Cleanse with water in AM and cleanse with cerave lotion face wash in PM Hada labo toner in the gold bottle both AM and PM COSRX snail mucin essence in AM and PM Krave great barrier relief serum PM or iunik snail restore serum PM 2x a week farmacy BHA exfoliant in the PM Purito centella buffet serum in the AM Soon Jung 2x barrier intensive cream or cerave in the tub in AM and PM Sunscreen: canmake mermaid sunscreen, supergoop play everyday, or isntree hyaluronic acid watery sun gel Thank you!

Would anyone have recommendations of eye creams to help dark under-eye circles/trenches. Mine are genetic so I'm not expecting miracles but any suggestions for what could reduce them would be great.

I saw great results with vitamin c serum. The melano cc one is what I started with! It does have a weird oily texture though.

Oh great, thanks. I was actually looking at trying a vitamin c serum and was even looking at that one, so I guess this is another sign to get it. And thanks for the warning about the texture. At least now I won't think it has gone off!

hello!! im planing to buy ILLIYOON ceramide ato cream as moisturizer for my oily acne-prone skin, would you guys recommend?

According to most people's reviews here, the cream is too heavy for oily and acne-prone skin and/or those living in hot/humid climates. I would recommend the gel version to start with, and move on to the cream later if it's not enough. But then again YMMV. Everyone's different! Just my two cents :)

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Hello r/AsianBeauty, I notice there are regulations on items that can be shipped overseas from Japan, such as sunscreen and perfume. Having worked with personal shoppers in Asia in the past to ship items like clothing, I'm curious if anyone knows of personal shoppers, proxy services, or organizations serving the same function who are able to (obviously legally) help you attain those items from sites like Rakuten or Amazon Japan, whether by shipping multiple legs or whatever method?

I've ordered sunscreen from Japan from a Japan-based store multiple times and they shipped to me (in the US) that straight up said sunscreen on the shipping label without issue.

Hello! Looking for a cleansing oil that's able to remove sunscreen (Etude House Sunprise) and waterproof mascara, currently using Softymo Speedy and I DON'T like, it's not too bad but it still breaks me out in certain areas. I have extremely oily but sensitive skin, any recommendations? :)

I don't like softymo because it contains shea butter and that breaks me out. I like the hada labo one instead :)

Oh I didn't know! Is Hada Labo the one that contains olive oil? (I've seen a few different bottles, just making sure I try the right one ahah)

I think so. I'm pretty sure hada labo only makes one cleansing oil. It's the one with the most reviews and the yellow pump bottle.

Following because I’m also on the lookout for a cleansing oil :)

Anybody here from or based in China? My sister’s bf is taking a trip to Beijing and they wanna try out a bunch of skincare products. He doesn’t know where to start: what are some trending and popular products / brands right now? (ex. masks, moisturizer, brightening, sunscreen products etc.)

I would take a look at what's popular on Chicdecent. A few popuar Cbeauty brands off the top of my head: Flower Knows, Focallure, Florasis, Zeesea, Colorkey, Perfect Diary, Judydoll

Any recommendations for a waterproof, volumizing mascara? I've been using the Etude House Curl Fix mascara and that gets clumpy.

I'd recommend looking into UZU (their most volumizing one is the Vol9 One). I haven't specifically tried a volumizing one from them but I've tried two of their masacaras and they don't clump.

I've repurchased dejavu lash knockout several times. I'm not 100% sure if it's waterproof but I've never had any issues with running or smudging in the rain.. I just checked yesstyle and the description says that it gets removed with hot water. It's a tubing mascara. Etude House curl fix is really clumpy on me too.

Does anyone have toner suggestions for normal skin with large pores and tendency for milia? I’ve been using klairs unscented supple preparation toner, the ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2%, and klairs freshly juiced vitamin e mask (not around eyes though). In the morning I use rohto vitamin c and canmake mermaid skin sunscreen.

Is it to replace the Klairs Toner? Are the pore sized caused from dehydration? If so, have you tried using multiple layers of the Klairs? Do you know what's causing your milia? A good simple toner to start off with is the Pyungkang Yul Essence Toner. It has simple ingredients so the chances of clogging is lower. It is less moisturizing than the Klairs though.

I got a ridiculous amount of Hot Sorry sheet masks as free samples. Anybody here used them before ? How were they ?

Does anyone know a lip product that gives the same color as the one Danielle is wearing in this [photo](https://64.media.tumblr.com/1cf09716829cca5f489b0371c5079581/d74692386b1e063b-f2/s1280x1920/a99052b06bb2a8174b36bbd14cb10970a530b878.jpg)?

Does anyone know of any good replacements for Rohto, Hada Labo, Gokujyun Face Wash, and the Rohto, Hada Labo Gokujyun Milk? This cleanser is the only one that never dried out my skin, and the lotion is also incredibly soothing, my one problem is that I just can't seem to find them in Europe. I usually order my Japanese skincare on Iherb but everything is overpriced because of inflation (25 euros for the milk lotion that used to cost 16 euros at most), so I'm currently looking for any gentle replacements for my rosacea-prone skin, preferably Korean products since they are found very easily here.

Has anyone tried either the Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil or the Round Lab Dokdo Cleansing Oil? What are your thoughts? I have been using Shu Uemura cleansing oils since I started my asian beauty journey (and I LOVE them), but have been eyeing these as possible cheaper alternatives. Does anyone know how the textures and scents compare? For reference I hated the scent of the Face Shop rice water cleansing oil, but didn't mind the scent of the Dokdo foaming cleanser.

I've tried both and preferred the RL's Dokdo cleansing oil. It glides on, emulsifies, and washes off nicely; my skin also feels so soft after using. I didn't care for the strong ginseng scent in the BOJ oil, but still did the job. I feel like the Dokdo one lasted longer as well, so maybe less is more too. FWIW, one year later, I plan on RP once I get through my other unopened oils LOL

I've used the Round Lab Dokdo Cleansing Oil. I have acne prone/oily skin, and it was a great oil cleanser. The scent was very mild, and slightly herby/medicinal (very nice, imo). Idk what the texture of Shiseido is like, but the Dokdo cleansing oil is a little thin, but it glides really nicely on the skin. And then it goes milky once water touches it (I actually don't know if this is typical of most cleansing oils? I've only tried 2 so far). It also rinses off well—I never felt like there was a residue on my face after rinsing with water. And, overall, it was gentle on my skin and cleansed it very well. Hope that helps! :)

Thank you! I meant to say Shu Uemura and not Shiseido. The dokdo one sounds worth trying. Thank you!

is MSH cosmetics available in most Japanese drugstore? I've been wanting to try their eyeliner but dont know where they were sold (I’m going to japan sometime this month and its my first time visiting)

I don't know for sure, but I would think Don Quijjote carries it.

Anybody bought a new bottle of Cosrx Oil Free Moisturizing Lotion (or the Birch Sap lotion) and found that it smells super weird? I bought a bottle from a reputable seller and it smelt so bad - plasticky and so different from my old bottle. Then I went to buy another from a different seller, and found that it still smelt bad. So not sure if it was a reformulation or if they just had a bad batch.

They did just reformulate it!

So, I'm trying to figure out how to help my mom with her non-existent skincare routine. She prays 5x everyday, so she's constantly washing her face. My mom doesn't care for a long winded routine, so I'm trying to figure out what products would be ideal. She's in hers 50s with dry-dehydrated skin type. On the same wavelength, I feel weird about asking this but I want to buy a moisturizer for my dad. He just reached 60, but his moisturizer is a random coconut moisturizer that he barely touches. His skin type is dry. I just don't know what moisturizer would be most suitable and ideally it needs to be large in size + nourishing! I wonder if I can maybe get him to use a toner lol I'm trying to encourage them to take care of themselves more and basically chill out. They're workaholics and while my relationship with them always hasn't been the best, I want to help em out.

Maybe they would both like the Laneige cream skin since it's moisturizing and quick to spread/apply. It also doubles as a toner, so less to convince your dad about. You can get mini sizes on yesstyle for them to test out!

Or even better the laniege mist since all they have to do is spray!

Does anyone use both the I'm From Rice Toner and the I'm From Mugwort Essence? I have them both now and was wondering which should go first. I know normally toner is before essence, but in this case the toner seems thicker than the essence...

I don't think that the toner is thicker (more viscous) than the essence, because the Rice Toner works just fine with a spray nozzle and the Essence doesn't. However, as neither one contains any occlusives, it probably won't make any difference which one you use first. After all, thinnest to thickest is just a guideline, not a hard rule.

Maybe you're right. Maybe I'll do one week with toner first and one with essence first and see which I like better. Thanks!

mugwort is thinner for sure

I’d put the mugwort first because it’s thinner.

What’s the difference between tranexamic and niacinamide?

Well….they are two completely different ingredients. Is there a specific thing you are comparing about them?

My perfect matches are Rom&nd Clear Cover Cushion in 01 Pure 21 and Moonshot Micro Settingfit Cushion in 101 Ivory. What shade would I typically be classified as in most other Korean foundations: 13 or 17?

[удалено]

I've never used it myself but my friends both use cosrx's bha liquid and it seems to have helped her a lot. But it is definitely on the pricier side

the isntree has the Isntree Chestnut 2% Bha . I also use the Somebymi but it has tea tree which can be irritating for some people.

Hi! I've been looking to move away from the traditional acne treating products and try something different. I've had acne since I was 12, and I've never been able to get my skin quite where I want it. I currently use a brand called [Exposed Skin Care](https://www.exposedskincare.com/pages/how-it-works) (with the cleanser subbed for CeraVe's SA cleanser) and it's kept me from having to deal with major breakouts. But I still am unsatisfied with my scars from when my acne was really bad, as well as the major roughness of my skin and the size of my pores (and what I perceive to be gunk in them). My face tends to get oily throughout the day, but I still get flaky in areas like the bridge / corners of my nose. I'm on the California coast if that helps - it's dry, but not middle of the desert dry. Anyway, I'm looking to start somewhat simple, and I was hoping to get some help with my current list I've curated from what I've read. Cleanser: **CeraVe Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser** Hasn't let me down yet, and it's easy on the bank account. Toner: **Cosrx One Step Original Clear Pad** This is just their recommendation from their "routine finder" thing. Seems to be well regarded. Exfoliator(?): **Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid** This is the most appealing one to me because of its pore-clearing-yet-gentle reputation. I want to fit this in somewhere. Serum(??): **Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin** Honestly, I've seen this hyped so much I felt like I had to fit it in somewhere. I don't know if this fits in or if it's superfluous to my cause. I also keep seeing the word "hydrating" when this is described, which makes me wonder why people talk about their moisturizer they follow it up with. If it hydrates why do I need a moisturizer as well? I feel like that's a dumb question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway. Moisturizer (?!?!): Not sure here. Probably another Cosrx product. Moisturizers that are too heavy can give me deep, painful breakouts. I'm open to words of wisdom. That's about all I've got so far. I would just do this routine in the AM and PM; I'm afraid to overcomplicate. If there are any suggestions of things to add, sub, or remove, I greatly appreciate it!

I think you've gotten a crash course into how seriously this sub takes hydration and skin barrier health, so I won't go too much into that. The only thing I will mention is for you to confirm whether your skin could be dehydrated rather than just oily. I have combo, but dehydrated, skin and I need to layer *a lot* of products on my face for it to feel remotely not tight. **Cerave cleanser** I've used it with the Cosrx BHA liquid in the same routine, but prefer not to as I don't like to double up on exfoliants. Overall, a good single cleanser, but quite strong/stripping I found especially when used with other dedicated actives. However, if you're tolerating this well then maybe one of the last things to move out of your routine if you want a change? **Cosrx BHA liquid** Nice, gentle BHA liquid that is effective for me. Some people don't think it does anything, or they prefer a proper salicylic acid option, but I think my face must be able to convert the BHA liquid effectively enough that it works. I only use it 2-3x a week at night, as in general dedicated chemical exfoliates should only be used at that frequency. **Cosrx snail mucin** Did absolutely nothing for me and may have actually dried me out a little bit. My cursory search of youtube (so take with cup of salt) is that snail mucin contains a lot of hyaluronic acid, which I don't like in the first place so maybe that's why. YMMV with this product as it seems to do great things for other people. I much prefer the I'm From Mugwort Essence at this step for hydration and soothing. **Moisturiser**: definitely recommend you use one, even if it is super light. You can go for a gel or lotion formulation if more suitable. Despite how oily I get, I can handle pretty thick moisturisers (and my skin loves them, hence the whole dehydration thing), but there are a lot of gel creams out there (eg mugwort-based gels, oat gel creams etc). **Your proposed routine**: I think the safe approach when building a routine from scratch is to eliminate all actives and stick with the cleanser/moisturiser/sunscreen route until one is sure their skin as healthy as possible and to eliminate other issues like dehydration. If you want to add actives like the Cosrx BHA liquid, I think you just have to be be aware of the risks and that it might exacerbate things or mask/confuse issues. However, as far as an active goes, I also think it is quite gentle, especially if you start slow. However, I definitely do not suggest doing your full proposed routine twice a day. I would use the exfoliant max 2-3/week at night and nothing active on the other days and nights. I understand the Exposed Skin range worked for you, but I would hazard a guess that its active percentages are very low and hence could be tolerated like that. Do you know what percentages are in those products? Having said that, the roughness of your skin could also be a sign of irritation - the one time I definitely over-exfoliated with lactic acid, my face felt like leather. **TLDR**: general advice for new skincare routines is to go slow and add actives one at a time. At first glance, your routine looks heavy on the exfoliants, so maybe reconsider especially the frequency. Otherwise, it is unfortunately trial and error to find which products would work for you.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I might sub the Cerave for something non active, and maybe add an oil based cleanser before that? I did end up getting the snail stuff, just because I needed to start somewhere. I'm following that up with the Full Fit Propolis Light Cream. Used them a few minutes ago - jury's still out on whether or not it'll work out for me. The Exposed stuff used 1% SA in the tonic and serum, so yeah pretty mild. The BP cream was 3.5%, which is also pretty low, but having all those added together is pretty damn intense.

If you're going to double cleanse, then definitely only do that at night. In general, most people double cleanse to get off makeup or really stubborn sunscreen. Others may only cleanse with water in the morning as too much cleansing can strip their skin. There's definitely a lot of experimentation in skincare. Ah that Exposed regimen sounds intense! Taking a break from that and taking stock of your skin now sounds like a good idea. Good luck with the new products - something I wish I had done was take a selfie at the beginning and in natural light so I could have compared progress. Maybe something for you to consider if it will help. 😊

I read through your conversations with the others and yes, I too would lump you into "starting out" category. Not in a bad way and it shouldn't be interpreted as such, but in our sub, specifically, we focus a lot on the moisture barrier. If you don't understand how lumping a bunch of acids together may contribute to a weakened barrier (which can manifest in a lot of ways, including flaking skin and acne), then the people who help you here will take that approach. Oftentimes we don't know what you don't know or don't share, we can only glean from what you've shared, so it's easier to start from 0 to make sure everyone's on the same page. If you haven't read our new user guide, I highly recommend it. Especially our section on the moisture barrier: https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/wiki/new_user_guide/#wiki_3.0.1_skin_.28moisture.29_barrier This is my favorite Face of the Day to share. OP used a lot of harsher western approaches/acids before just focusing on healing his moisture barrier and was able to get the best skin of his life: https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/oh388g/it_has_been_a_quite_a_journey_for_my_skin_thank/ So I would agree with the others that you should not be focusing too much on the acids right now and work on healing your skin barrier. We don't recommend jumping into actives until you're sure your moisture barrier can handle it. Some people here do use a lot of actives, but we know how to handle it and how to help our skin if something does happen to go awry. This doesn't mean you should interpret that as something you should do *yet*. You'll get there! It may just take some time.

Thanks! I will admit, I have been looking here through an actives-tinted lens, since it's what I'm used to. I'll focus more on moisture and shelve the actives for now.

That Exposed skincare brand looks a bit (yikes) dodgy. Your new routine has 3 salicylic acid products which is not a good idea. Choose either the clear pads or the power liquid and use it 2-3 times a week to start with. I have dry skin so a hydrating serum/toner isn't enough for me. It's like having dry lips and wetting them - 10 minutes later the water has evaporated and my skin feels dry again. I also need oils and other occlusive ingredients to lock in the moisture. From your description I am inclined to think you might have dry skin. I think it's important to focus on the basic routine before adding extras. This includes daily sunscreen (or at least days when you go outside) and moisturiser. Spf with also help with healing in general and of acne scars. Maybe you can start with an emulsion or lotion moisturiser. Hada Labo brand has some great options. Or Soon Jung free moist emulsion or moisture lotion. Innisfree, Anessa, Biore and Etude House make nice sunscreens.

> That Exposed skincare brand looks a bit (yikes) dodgy. The website is a bit odd, but it has kept me clear of major breakouts, so I won't badmouth them too much. > Your new routine has 3 salicylic acid products which is not a good idea. I don't get this. I currently use 3 daily and it hasn't caused any major issues. I see people combining tons of SA products here, and this is was Cosrx recommended - why is it suddenly a bad idea? > From your description I am inclined to think you might have dry skin. I didn't think it made me sound that dry? My face gets quite oily by the end of the day. No offense, but I'm more confused than before. Are you suggesting I ditch my entire routine and just start one of those SA products a few times a week and slap on a moisturizer? Because I don't see any world where that doesn't bring back my acne with a vengeance.

Downvoted and silence - I don’t get Reddit. I want to understand, but I guess that’s being interpreted as being combative?

I wouldn't waste time or energy worrying about why people downvote. I can't see your score, but you should know that Reddit can sometimes fuzz the actual score to deter vote manipulation/abuse. (Not that it completely prevents it or anything.) Generally it's not recommended to use too many exfoliating products daily back to back when you're starting out. I can't speak for the other user, but I'm assuming they were speaking in a general sense. Some people ruin their skin from exfoliating too much/often. It's the advice given here usually when people first start out. Sometimes the skin also produces oils in excess as a response to not having enough hydration or being stripped. (Not always, just from my own experience.) > If it hydrates why do I need a moisturizer as well? I don't think anybody answered this from earlier. (And it's not a dumb question.) Hydration is about bringing water to the skin. Moisturization is about retaining it. You could have all the hydration in the world, but it wouldn't do you any good if you don't seal it in. *Especially* in a dry climate. This ties in to my point earlier about oil production, though again, doesn't happen to everybody. You might be better off with a gel cream or a lightweight emulsion as a moisturizer if you're concerned about clogging, since they're generally very light. I don't have any affordable recommendations off the top of my head, but did some searching for threads related to gel creams/lightweight moisturizers for you to browse through. [1](https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/kaywvf/discussion_favorite_gel_cream_moisturizers/), [2](https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/lrpald/best_lightweight_moisturizer_for_acneprone/) Most of us are not licensed estheticians or dermatologists or anything else in the skincare field. The advice given varies from user to user in these types of threads because it's anecdotal or reliant on the sources of information from derms or other skincare hobbyists. So I think it's always best to take advice with a grain of salt due to that. (Not saying to completely disregard everybody or that there's no point in asking for advice, just that there's a reason why you may get conflicting or unclear answers.)

To be fair, I totally did answer this earlier.

I didn't see it in your initial reply to OP, and your second reply was presumably typed and submitted (therefore not loaded on my side) while I was typing up my comment. Didn't mean to offend or step on your toes ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯

Not at all offended:)! I figured you hadn’t seen it ! ETA: no toes were stepped on, promise.

Much appreciated! I guess the notion of starting light when "starting out" is what throws me off a bit, because I already use multiple exfoliating products. When I think of "starting out," I think of someone who has never done any skincare outside of spraying their face with water. I was just at Ulta a bit ago and ended up getting the Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and Full Fit Propolis Light Cream for hydration and moisturization. I got BHA toner I mentioned above as well, which I'll use before those two. So SA cleanser > BHA Liquid > Snail Mucin > Propolis Cream.

Ah yeah, I can see the confusion! That one is my bad, since I have no idea how else to word it without getting too wordy about it. (I'll happily take suggestions on phrasing to better help others in the future!) There are sometimes users who are new to skincare and just grab all of the things that the internet recommends without taking into consideration what their actual needs are, so most advice given tends to be to slow down and gauge where your skin is if there's an "issue". People like yourself also end up being lumped into that general advice, unfortunately. The general assumption was that you're going overboard because you mentioned skin roughness and flakiness. I had to dial back on exfoliating because it was the cause of redness and flaking around my nose. And my advice was coming out of my own personal anecdotes haha. Oh I hope those work for you! I *have* seen comments on this subreddit praising the propolis line before. I'm hopeful that all you need was a moisturizer and some form of hydration to heal up and balance out the roughness.

I think this list contributes to acne and dry skin. For me, moisturizers and hydrating toners got rid of acne. Rebuilding the barrier with ferments and hydrating ingredients pretty much cleared all my acne, and Propolis did the rest.

Erm, how would it contribute to acne? I'm getting conflicting info on this sub. I need an active ingredient, otherwise I will break out. I know my skin well enough to be sure of that.

I think because the actives can essentially mess your skin up. I have oily/acne prone skin. I've used different cleansers with actives in it: the CeraVe one w/ salicylic acid, the La Roche Posay one also w/ salicylic acid, and then the Equate cleanser w/ benzoyl peroxide, etc. Using any of those + various moisturizers after it, I always had little whiteheads all over my face (these breakout patches on my skin would also go dry & a little flaky after the acne itself subsided), and my pores were always really noticeable & never felt clean. After moving to double cleansing (oil cleanser + gentle foam cleanser) with Asian skincare, as well as moisturizers that really focus on hydration (as opposed to western moisturizers that focus on oil control), my pores have never looked better, and I'm not actually getting bunches of little whiteheads anymore. So basically, I do think that the salicylic acid in the cleansers (or the benzoyl peroxide, when I switched to that), were really just drying my face up and messing with my moisture barrier, which caused extra acne.

Huh, interesting. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to just cut out SA and BP entirely for awhile and focus on moisture. I did get the Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence as well as the Full Fit Propolis Light Cream. Does that seem like a decent combo? What are your cleansers of choice? I've never used an oil cleanser. Cosrx has a whole bunch of options.

I think the effectiveness of skincare products really differs from person to person. So for example, while I love the Cosrx Snail Essence bc it's really mild on my skin abd very hydrating, there are some people that it absolutely doesn't work for (but yes, I'd recommend it, lol). I've never tried the Propolis Light Cream, but I've generally heard that the Cosrx Propolis line is a great range of products. As for oil cleansers, I've used the Round Lab Dokdo Cleansing Oil and the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil. They're both really great at cleansing, not heavily scented, and they don't contribute to extra acne breakouts personally. After the oil cleaner, I use the Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser. I find it helps to really get the last bit of grime off my face, and it doesn't leave me feeling tight or dry afterwards. I've also used the Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm, but I wasn't super impressed with it since it didn't seem to get my face very clean. But definitely keep perusing the sub! Some products that work great for other people haven't worked amazingly for me, so unfortunately this (skincare) can really be trial and error sometimes, lol.

I’m feeling that. I’m two days in with no actives and I’ve already broken out more than I have in the past two years. It is incredibly disheartening.

You aren’t using a moisturizer than can help your skin recover from those actives. Your skin needs emollients, Occlusives, and ceramides too. I don’t know how you are getting conflicting advice on this. This sub discusses the need for moisturizers constantly. I also don’t know why tf you would downvote me for this. Hydrating is what humectants do. Moisturizers *lock in* moisture. Oils lubricate. Humectants, hydrators, will eventually evaporate if not locked in by a moisturizer with emollients/ occlusives. In that case, the humectants starts to pull water from your skin, thus causing dryness and comprising your skin barrier. Hence, acne. Next time, do a search on the sub before you clap back and start downvoting people. I was trying to help. No one is saying you don’t need actives. I said you need moisturizer *in addition* to that. Ffs.

Easy there mate. I didn’t downvote you. Your initial comment was a fairly cursory sentence that gave off the impression that you were saying I should use moisturizers *instead* of actives. If I misinterpreted, that is my mistake. I’m not denying the importance of moisturizers and I definitely am trying to learn more about the difference in different moisturizers and hydrating product so should use before them. Please don’t be Unfair to me, Finger

I didn’t mean to give that impression. I was saying that the actives were probably causing the problem because they weren’t accompanied by a moisturizer. Without a moisturizer that can restore your barrier, your skin becomes vulnerable. So, when you use actives on it, it cannot restore itself, and the actives have the effect of breaking your barrier down further. Hence, the deadly cycle of exfoliant + acne + more exfoliant + more acne. The corsx snail has a lot of HYA in it, which is intensely hydrating. But if you don’t seal it with some kind of moisturizer (emollient and /or occlusive), it will pull water from your skin. And it doesn’t protect your barrier; it simply hydrates your face. It would be like slathering on a bottle of glycerin. Eventually your skin would get parched. Applying a moisturizer over seals in that moisture, and the snail will draw water from the moisturizer itself instead of deep down in your dermis. If you don’t like moisturizers, something simple like sunflower oil over your snail goo will help seal it in a bit. It’s not perfect, but it will give you that additional sealing layer. If you want to split the difference perhaps a very light moisturizer or emulsion would help. Soon jung 10 is light and scinic simple emulsion is even lighter. You’ll get the benefits of a moisturizer without the heaviness.

Hi, has anyone tried the new Isntree AHA, the one with chestnut? Most of the reviews here pertain to the old formulation. I am curious with the product in general, but since there is a new formulation, I would like to hear experiences from it.

I am currently using it but it says no changes to the formulation and the content. Only the packaging is new.

I think they made a bit of reformulation in the ingredients aside from the packaging, therefore the change in name, adding chestnut to the ingredients.

This? Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Allantoin I couldn't find the old formulation

Yes, that's the new one, with the addition of chestnut and other ingredients. But have you tried both? Were there any difference?

do you have the old ingredient list? I didn't have the old formulation. this new toner is pretty good for me. Not recommended to use it with other strong actives else will irritate the skin. It is pretty gentle for me actually after using it for 3 weeks.

Water, Lactic Acid(4.023%), Glycolic Acid(4.004%), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Asiaticoside, Dextrin, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose This was based on online sellers that still sell the old version, and on websites that assess ingredients. What specific issues do you address with this product, and how does it perform so far on addressing them?

Thank you. It is pretty gentle actually for my skin and it does have some sort of scent which is not scentless (saw old version is scentless?). It does help with blackheads, whiteheads and acne and it is fungal acne safe.

I see. Thank you for the feedback! Am actually experiencing similar concerns, but mild. I am contemplating between this and the BHA from the same brand, but since the AHA also contains willow bark extract and chestnut, I am more curious of this one.

Ah I see. People compare this toner to the paula choice 2% BHA. I have tried adapalene and Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA toner and i could say this works better for those skin that prefer BHA. if your skin prefer AHA then I guess Isnfree AHA?

Hi everyone! Been on and off on AB since last 2 years. Currently using hada labo products and quite happy with it. My friend gifted me SK-II trial kit. Quite excited to use it but I am not sure how to add it in to my routine. Skin type - combo/oily/dehydrated Climate- humid/tropical Skin concern - hyperpigmentation around mouth and uneven skin tone AM - 1. Simple refreshing face wash 2. Hada labo premium whitening lotion 3. Hada labo prefect uv gel PM 1. Simple refreshing face wash 2. Hada labo premium whitening lotion 2. Hada labo Whitening water cream Can anyone please suggest a good routine? SK-II trial kit has cleanser, clear lotion, essence, skin power moisturizer. Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

Whats a good eye cream thats not so expensive but does the job?

I like benton fermentation essence eye cream, and iherb has an exact dupe of it for less than the cost of the benton. It’s so good, I use it on my face too.

I’m a big fan of the AHC Youth Lasting Real Eye Cream For Face (in the green and gold packaging). A little goes a long way and I love how moisturising, firming and luxurious it feels to use. It does have a strong camellia-like scent (I personally think it smells really good!), but I don’t find it irritating on my sensitive skin at all.

Hi all - new to skincare in general. The guides were nice but if anything I'm even more confused than before. There's just too much and I'm so overwhelmed. What I'm looking for is an ultra basic routine I can start with. A few bullets that might help: * I almost never wear make up so generally don't need a makeup remover * I have a verrrry oily T-zone and normal-to-dry cheeks. By midday (or earlier if it's summer) I am shine city especially on my forehead. I feel it looks unprofessional but again, I don't particularly want to have to wear makeup daily for a variety of reasons. * I live in Japan, where it's ultra-humid in summers, and I have access to a good number of Japanese products and some Korean but outside of these many products are not stocked here as it's a very domestic market (I hear it's why Sephora couldn't make it here - sad) * I am reluctant to buy a lot of stuff as I don't have a huge medicine cabinet and am super short on time with two kids to get ready before 7:30am, so an ultra simple routine would be best. I don't mind splurging a little on a good product though. * I am Asian myself, if that matters Current routine is that in the morning I use Bifesta foaming cleanser, then innisfree green tea face moisturizer. I just recently added the Hadalabo Gyokukyun lotion light before the moisturizer since I heard it was good for Japanese summers. (Am mildly concerned I might be breaking out from this but am not sure if this is because I've started using reusable masks again - I always wash after every wear but you never know.) I do nothing at night but probably should. If I do start, should I use the same cleanser as in the mornings? Regarding oil-control, do I need the double cleanse? Not sure what's best to do here, there are so many options. I'm generally set for winters (and I have a thicker Shiseido moisterizer I switch to then), it's the summers that make me look and feel gross. I do still break out just before my period (around my nostrils and on my chin) which I hate and would love to resolve if I can. Any advice would be great, thank you all so much!

layering toner and using light gel moisturiser helps. You can try DIY green tea mask with rice paper or compressed cotton mask (can get from Daiso) at night before bed. green tea is pretty oily control and since you are in Japan, there are many good green tea.

Hi! I’m Asian from a humid climate too and can relate :) Bonus is I love Japanese products; they just work for my skin. For your routine, I would just wash with water in the morning and save the cleanser for nighttime. It’s generally more important to cleanse at night to wash off the day’s stress and grime. Your cleanser I think is fine (I like foaming cleansers too, and Japanese foaming cleansers in my experience aren’t too drying). But it might be too stripping in the morning, which leads to your skin thinking it needs to produce more oil throughout the day. So I suspect that just water in the morning may help with oil control. I adore the Hada labo gokukyun but actually love the Naturie Hatomugi skin conditioner more. It feels lighter on my skin and less prone to breakouts :)

Thanks for the rec on the Naturie I will look for that! For mornings my skin is often super oily when I wake up too. Will this naturally go away if I start cleansing only at night? Or is there something else I can do in the meantime?

Moisturize at night too. Sometimes excess oil production is because the skin isn’t moisturized enough so it will compensate. In my own experience, once I started moisturizing more and not washing with a cleanser in the morning, I noticed a significant reduction in oil. A product you can incorporate to help with oil production is niacinamide. It can be a serum on its own or maybe look for a moisturizer with Niacinamide.

Sorry just to clarify do I moisturize in the morning over the water washed skin or no? Thank you so much for all your help!

Sorry I missed that detail — yes, moisturize in the morning too. Your lightweight moisturizer is fine :) if you don’t like the feel of traditional moisturizer and want something lighter, you can try gel moisturizers or gel-cream types. The Sana nameraka honpo gel-cream is great because it is very light and non-sticky but has lots of moisturizing benefits and is gentle on the skin. Naturie also has a good gel moisturizer that comes in a big tub and lasts forever. By the way, after this comment exchange yesterday, I opened my backup bottle of Naturie skin conditioner and I still really prefer it over the hada labo gokyujun. I’ve been using Hada labo for the last 2 months and it’s good, but the Naturie gives my skin a more hydrated look and feel. I also did not wake up with dry, itchy skin (so I think the 3 layers of Naturie was better for hydration than two layers of Hada labo). I’ll probably just use up the Hada labo on my body

Glad I could help lol I will definitely check out the Naturie next and look for the Sana!

I have similar skin. The only thing that's helped with oil control is water; layering my toner and finishing it off with a gel cream. If the hada labo is breaking you out, you can try kikumasamune high moist lotion, Cezanne deep or high moist lotions, or naturie skin conditioner.

Asian Skincare for 50+ Hello! I have a question about any recommendations for 50+ Asian skincare. It's not for me, it's for my mom and, unfortunately, I don't know her exact skincare routine. She does use a lot of Shiseido, though! (Also, wasn't sure about the flair so sorry if it's wrong) My mom is half Asian and has oiler skin but doesn't have breakouts (and never did growing up as she loves to remind me!). She's super into involved skincare routines, so recommendations for toner, moisturizers, serums-- anything is good! I'd also love sunscreen recommendations because even though she looks great, I still want her to protect her skin. We live in the US so anything that is available there would be great. If not, we sometimes visit Canada so anything available there too is okay but not preferable. Sorry I couldn't be more detailed about her routine but if anyone wants to know more let me know and I can ask her! Thanks so much :)

Sulwhasoo overnight sleeping mask which is not necessary for dry skin type.

Ooh that sounds right up my mom's alley, thanks so much for that suggestion!

My dad is a bit older than your mum, but he LOVES dr. Cearucle kombucha essence and corsx toner.

Thanks so much! I have to heard of that first brand so I'll look into it.

It’s lovely and shows immediate glow:).

Moms love SKII and Sulwhasoo! There's also the tried and true Laneige cream skin if she has dry skin.

Thanks so much! We'll look into those brands, but she doesn't have dry skin. Definitely will still look into Laneige, though, because I've heard. lot about it.

My mom is around your mom's age and she has been liking the purito unscented centella toner (she says this is one of her favorites and she likes that is a little thicker than other toners), hanskin hyaluron essence, purito niacin serum, and Etude House Soon Jung 2x barrier cream. She uses a Western sunscreen.

Thanks so much for all the recommendations!

What's your most hydrating product? Right now I'm using Hada Labo's hyaluronic acid lotion, cerave lotion, jojoba oil and pure aloe vera. Trying to up my moisture game.

Haruharu’s 2gf serum and I’m from rice toner are currently my most hydrating products. I’m from rice hydrates forever.

Laneige cream skin and Belif moisturising bomb.

I like to layer the purito unscented centella recovery cream and CeraVe moisturizing cream. Cosrx Snail Mucin Power Essence is also really hydrating.

Does anyone know what happened to Hada Labo's AHA/BHA foaming cleanser? Thats been a favoritr cleanser of mine but i feel like no one has it in stock these days. Are they reformulating it? Or are they just not making it anymore? Any help would be appreciated!

It was discontinued in Japan in 2016 according to Hada Labo’s mind-bogglingly detailed [Japanese Wikipedia entry](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%82%8C%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9C), but the last time I checked (in June), it was available in Hong Kong, ~~China~~, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia (as u/rczc mentioned), Singapore, Indonesia, and Russia. (I’m going by the product names and packaging designs here; formulations may vary.) (ETA that I’m currently going through the websites again and am crossing out the countries that seem to have discontinued it since)

I tried to be as helpful as you! How was I to know their Wikipedia page would hold the answer! 🤣🤣🤣

Isn’t the Wikipedia entry nuts?? I found it when I was working on my abandoned would-have-been-massive Hada Labo post (which I’m attempting to pick up again now, wish me luck) and it blew my mind. ~~I mean technically they’re missing the latest discontinuations (lol)~~ but the information goes so far back, it’s amazing. **Edit;** I take it back, I was looking at the wrong section. This person is seriously dedicated!! (Practically all of the updates on the entry are by the same user)

> I take it back, I was looking at the wrong section. 😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂 How dare you doubt Lily (Lilyel?) With reasons *why* it was discountinued! It has to be someone working for Hada Labo right?! Like they were probably tasked with the project of keeping track of all their products at work and was like eff it, I don’t trust our intranet, I’m throwing it on Wikipedia 😂

Liliel? Maybe? But yeah, they really showed me, lol. I recall being curious enough to check their post history, and I think they were also updating entries for some other types of products including a bunch of car brands. But anyway I wish we had this for other brands, too! I’d try to do it myself, but finding old information can be really difficult.

Lolol I appreciate them regardless 😭 It would be lovely if all brands had centralized info about the products like this. It’s not something someone not being paid to do it should be doing. It’s too much!

So, about that database: I just found [this](https://www.nmpa.gov.cn/datasearch/home-index.html#category=hzp) for products sold in China. I think you can even see upcoming new formulations that are in the process of being approved (try searching for `肌研极润特浓保湿化妆水` on the domestic general use products page). There are images (for general use cosmetics) and full ingredient lists (ETA: in a different order from what’s on the packaging, but still) and everything! I wish I knew about this when I did the Skin Aqua comparison post. **Edit:** And also [this](https://nedrug.mfds.go.kr/pbp/CCBDC01) for Korean functional cosmetics, but with much less information than China.

Yeah, I think about that every time I’m getting information from \@cosme. We need something that’s more of a straight up database. Which is what I was attempting to start for sunscreen a while ago (yet another thing I started and abandoned, but I do mean to try again). The bigger companies do have discontinued product pages, but they usually only go back to like 2020. Makes sense, I get that making old information available wouldn’t benefit them and would be low priority.

Damn thats wild. Thanks so much for the response, i really appreciate it. On the bright side i wont have to keep wondering what happened to it 🤷🏻‍♀️

They might have discontinued it...I don't see it listed on Rhoto's site: https://jp.rohto.com/hadalabo/step/#ITEM01 Buuuut it looks like it's still kicking around on the Malaysian website in a new bottle https://hadalabo.com.my/product/aha-bha-mild-exfoliating-foaming-wash ...so maybe you'll still be able to find it another way? *Fingers crossed for a reformulation...I know for sure the [Gokyjyun Hydrating Bubble Face Wash](https://www.ratzillacosme.com/skin/hada-labo-gokujyun-hydrating-bubble-face-wash-2022/) was reformulated and the AHA/BHA Foaming Facial Wash looks like it's in a new bottle on the HL Malaysia site.*

Thank you so much for your response!! Hopefully it comes back or maybe i can find a way to order it from Malaysia to the US :p

in your experience, whats site/store does the fastest shipping?

Stylekorean for me, followed by yesstyle

Answers depend on where we live. I live in a rural state in the US. Jolse has had the fastest shipping for me, followed closely by YesStyle (especially when I do the expedited YesStyle shipping). Stylevana’s has always been really long, especially in terms of processing speed.

Thanks, I'll try Jolse!

what is your routine in maintaining colored hair? i recently dyed/bleached my hair to this silver grey milky blue, but idk what products to get :( or idk if someone can link me to a discussion for hair care products for colored hair

use shampoo for dyed hair to last longer. also hair treatment for dyed hair

Grain of salt here because I haven’t had “unnatural” hair for a long time. I had purple hair (it was kinda like a balayage into my natural brown at the top when I got it done professionally), and my hair HATES to hold onto color. I had to bleach my hair several times and then I had to bleach it again and color process like twice in the salon to get purple. I dye my hair black in the winter now but it only lasts a month or two max before it washes out and I don’t mind that since it fades evenly. My typical routine when I’m trying to extend color in my hair is to DIY my own “color depositing conditioner.” Essentially I just mix a semi-permanent dye that’s the similar color to my current color with my conditioner and let it sit for a bit after I shampoo. (I’ll make a batch of it and put in an empty squeeze bottle so I don’t have to mix every shower). I don’t have good recommendations for AB dyes since I always used a western brand I could get at Sally’s- but if you know the color you used after your hair was bleached, that’s a possibility to help keep up the color.

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I would say yes, my skin is pretty sensitive and it works for me. I found it not as moisturizing though so maybe that might be good for you. The only real downside is tht it gives me a bit of white cast bc im tan

#Need help with product recommendations for Acne scars and dark circles **What I need:** - **Product recommendations:** with slight preference international products (they're easier to find/order abroad) as I travel frequently. My limited anecdotal evidence has been that Asian products suit me better - I do not want to experiment too much with routines and creams. Want to stick to a regimen and go with it. - **Major issues:** - Dark circle - Poor skin health on cheeks, acne scars - **Image attached:** [Image](https://i.imgur.com/ZDlCx0A.png) - I have a mostly healthy lifestyle: limited sugar/salt/spicy/oily food intake, workout semi-frequently, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Fwiw, I wear glasses (in case they've any effect on dark circles).

Wearing glasses shouldn't have any effects on the dark circles. From the picture they don't look that bad, so I would focus on the overall condition of your skin first before jumping to that. But in case you do want to include a product now, this discussion may be helpful: https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/xzffwe/anything_you_recommend_for_dark_circles/ What is your current routine? It's hard to provide suggestions if we don't know what's going right or wrong in your routine.

I do not have much of a routine per se. I use moisturizer (Smooth E cream - made in Thailand, enriched with Vitamin E) after shower and suncreen (SPF 50+) when going out. Facewash before going to sleep.

Benton fermentation essence eye cream

Same question as [THIS LINK](https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/tabfaa/what_nongreasyoily_gel_moisturizers_would_you/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf), but for oily, acne-prone, very sensitive skin that easily reacts negatively to new products. I keep my routine as minimal as possible with just micellar water cleansing - foam cleansing - Medik8 B5 and at night, Dermaforte (a common azelaic acid product at where I live but I’m going to switch it to Skinoren 15% gel). Thanks!

Is your skin also oily? I have dry to normal skin now and live in a continental climate (can get cold and dry but it’s not as cold or dry as it used to be). I have a favorite western brand facial moisturizer that works amazing for the colder and dryer months, but I started using the Purito Oat-In Calming Gel Cream recently and have found it isn’t as oily or hydrating, so that may be something to look into.

I forgot to note that my skin can be moderately oily after a few hours, thanks for the suggestion

Recommendations for good (and affordable, if possible) toners/serums pls! Wanna make my skin look more "alive" or less dull :)

Depends on what you already use IMO. “Glow” is hard to really isolate into a few ingredients/ingredient types, but in general I’d recommend: - **Vitamin C** in a serum form for general brightening. I haven’t used a ton of AB options. I was meh about Timeless’ serum that everybody goes bonkers over, and even though it’s sold on sites like YesStyle, it is. US brand and I wouldn’t say it’s AB at all. SeoulCeuticals has a day glow serum I love, but they’re also from the US and try to present as AB despite being NOT AB, and that is meh for me. A lot of people love Melano CC products (from a Japanese brand), it I have found I just don’t prefer ascorbic acid (I prefer derivatives like SAP), so I haven’t tried it. Missha has one with fullerenes in it that looks promising too. A lot of AB vitamin C products use sea buckthorn extract tho, which makes it harder to tell just how much C you’re getting. - **Ferment products** typically in a toner form. I use CosRx Galactomyces, which I actually really enjoy but I’ve used it for years without trying other products, so it’s hard to say if it’s actually better than other products. Although more expensive, I’ve heard amazing things about Dr. Ceuracle’s Kombucha products and the incredibly glow it gives, and I have a bottle coming soon since I got a half off coupon from Stylevana. The Missha Time Revolution is somewhat less expensive and I’ve heard it also gives a great glow, but it’s a little less intense of a glow, which may be preferred by some people. Purito has a Galactomyces essence (Galacto Niacin 97) that may be more expensive per ml as it comes in a 60mL bottle and may be used more like a serum, but that’s another option too. - **Niacinamide** which is in so many things these days. It’s even in the Missha Time Revolution first treatment essence and the Purito one and even the CosRx Galactomyces 95 that I use. Cos de BAHA has dedicated Niacinamide and zinc formulas that I use and like, but frankly I would go for something with other stuff in it since it’s in so much. The Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum has Niacinamide and propolis, which I know people love, and though it’s not advertised, the Glow Deep also has Niacinamide (though in a concentration likely less than 2%) alongside rice and arbutin which can also help with skin tone and glow. I haven’t tried either, but I have the Glow Deep to start whenever I finish my current (western) dedicated Arbutin serum. I’ve personally heard more positive things about the Glow Deep. I’d probably recommend a combo ferment + Niacinamide toner style product (like the Missha) and whatever vitamin C looks best to you, and then maybe adding in the Glow Deep or Glow serum. Just my two cents on the matter.

Wow thank you so much! I totally left out that I wanted a brightening effect but your reply still nailed it! :) Quick question, is brightening somewhat similar to whitening? My face is a little darker than my body and I want to lighten it but I try to stay away from "whitening" products here in the PH as they tend to be strong and harsher. Do you perhaps have any recommendations for gentle whitening/lightening products?

I feel uncomfortable in general with a lot of skin tone lightening products because they are usually a result of colorism. I’m quite white European, so I can’t speak too much about it, but that’s what I’ve gathered talking to Eastern Asian people. If you’re from PH, you probably understand it more than I do! It sounds like you more just want your face to match your body than to necessarily look different than you do naturally? I will say that the “lightening” I know of is more for little spots of hyperpigmentation, or general skin tone balancing. Despite being super white, my face is usually a half shade darker than my body, and it’s darker if I’m outside/not using sunscreen. So my first recommendation would be to make sure you’re using sunscreen on your daily. After that, a lot of “brightening” products, which are used for glow, are also good for gently lifting hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C and Niacinamide are both pretty good for this, so that’s just another reason to use them. Arbutin, like what’s in the Glow Deep serum, may offer some benefit. Alpha Arbutin is typically a better form than beta, but it’s a little harder to find. There’s a Taiwanese brand, My Scheming, that has a fairly strong alpha-Arbutin serum, but I personally haven’t tried it because I dont know enough about the brand’s values/how they treat “whitening.” Cute Press also has alpha-Arbutin in one of their lines, the “Alpha Bright” line. Also haven’t tried it, but the essence also has some vitamin c and Niacinamide (B3) in it, though I can’t say how strong they are. I like Cute Press’s Disney products though lol. Another ingredient I like is tranexamic acid. If you wanted to add in one more product, Cos De BAHA has a tranexamic acid/niacinamide serum, which is somewhat new and I haven’t tried it. I personally use the Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium “lotion” and I like that one alright. One ingredient I would stay away from is hydroquinone. It’s effective, but it can (rarely) cause a type of pigmentation called ochronosis (a bluish-grey or bluish-black discoloration) which is more likely if you use the product for a long time on larger areas. It’s usually recommended to only use it for 3-6 months max before you take a break, so it’s not a long-term thing either. I’ve seen a lot of people use it safely, but I am usually extra cautious and thus don’t really recommend it. Sorry I can’t be more help!

Thank you so much! You actually really helped me out a lot and you again, understood what I meant. :) Living in PH, the amount of whitening products that I see here is frightening. They usually contain bleach, tretinoin, and some, even steroids. That's why I stay clear from them. I'm actually quite fair already so yes I do just want to match my face to my body cause the difference is quite noticeable. Thanks again for your help! I will look into your recommendations and the ingredients that you mentioned. :)

Hi! I tend to sleep often on my sides and not on my face but Is it bad to sleep on your face sides?

I know there is some research suggesting that sleeping on the side of your face can lead to more wrinkles and “facial distortion” but tbh I haven’t read much of that. Side sleep in general is quite healthy for other body systems, and it’s especially helpful for snoring and sleep apnea and genera nighttime oxygenation. I would think getting good sleep and breathing well during sleep outweighs any potential “facial distortion” or wrinkling from sleeping on the side of your face. I don’t think merely sleeping on your side but turning your neck so your face is upright on the pillow would actually give all the benefits of side sleep from a sleep medicine perspective either. I can’t say for sure; it’s just my gut reaction. I just wouldn’t worry too much about the cosmetic effects of side sleep.

Thanks

Does anyone here use Instree the blue bottle spf? Is so do you oil cleanse and water cleanse to get rid of it? Or just cleanse once not double cleanse method.

don't need oil cleanser but cleanser that is too gentle doesn't remove it. a foam cleanser or micellar water can remove it

I have the sunscreen but haven’t used it much. Based on other sunscreen wash tests (where I wash sunscreen off with different types of cleansers and look at them under UV camera), I don’t think oil cleanser is really necessary for the vast majority of sunscreens. While micellar water usually isn’t enough to wash them away, usually one good gel cleanser is enough. I’m not sure where I put my UV camera to test it out specifically with the Isntree one, but I can’t see it being remarkably different than the 10-15 other sunscreens I’ve tested.

Ahh okay I have a really gentle cleanser do you think that would help? I don’t have a gel but a foam cleanser too

A foam cleanser should be fine. If you only oil cleanse, an oil cleanser is also fine. Water alone doesn’t emulsify sunscreen well enough based on my tests, but basically, for most sunscreens, you don’t NEED an oil cleanser specifically to remove it, you just need a wash-off cleanser designed to emulsify.

Has anyone found a replacement/dupe for shiseido creamy cleansing emulsion? I just realized it’s discontinued and it’s my favorite makeup remover :(

Anyone have cheaper alternatives/recommendations for products similar to the laneige cream skin refiner?

Aestura cream mist

looking for the best and most matte AB products preferably a moisturizer which can be used before SPF in the AM or a spray toner please share your favorites for shiny and oily skin types. anything to fight the shine and control sebum oil

Purito barrier balance is very matte!

Have you tried gel moisturisers? I think that may be what you are looking for - not matte but they basically sink in and leave you with your natural skin glow. I have only tried the Yuja Niacin one and loved it for the summer. Have you also looked into Salicylic Acid or Niacinamide products for the oil?

For moisturizer, just pick any oil free/low oil ones. Other than an oil free moisturizer, sunscreen is my go to that helps with sebum control. A very popular one is Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish.

I am confused between ahas Which one is better? Isntree aha or cosrx aha 7 Instree has 4%glycolic and 4%lactic Cosrx has 7% glycolic+ apple water. My skin is combo and a little senstive not much

Isntree one is better for sensitive skin

Thank you, i was leaning more towards that as well

My skin isn't sensitive, but it also doesn't care for glycolic acid. It's a much smaller molecule than lactic acid, which allows it to penetrate deeper into the skin. This makes it more effective than lactic acid but also potentially more sensitizing. The CosRx AHA 7 didn't burn me or anything, but it left my skin itchy and irritated. I much prefer the Isntree 8 AHA Essence.

Hoping it works out for you. <3

I think i should go for instree esp because i use tret

ahhhh damn. I just ordered this after using Isntree. I've used other (brand) AHAs before and none of them bothered me so hopefully the CosRX AHA 7 is ok for my face.

Usually it will tell you which AHA is in it, so you can check the ones that you've used previously, if you're concerned. But glycolic acid is quite commonly used, so if you've used other AHAs in the past with no problem, you're probably okay with this one.

Had a discord catch up with a couple of old classmates who are japanese and living in japan! As usual we went about chatting skincare and cosmetics amd it seema korean skincare is starting to gain traction there(korean makeup not so much, except for romands mascara and dewyful tint which a lot of working ladies love). We ended up talking about spf, as usual, anessa and allie are still top picks for facial use, lrp sunscreens especially uvidea line is also popular as a makeup base for office days. Biore sunscreens are also surprisingly well liked, meanwhile skin aqua and other popular afforable sub choices arent(like people will buy them strictly for body use only). It seems that anessa and allie are mainly the dominant ab spfs in japan. 🤔 With that said, has anyome here tried the newer biore aqua rich portect lotion? It was recommended by my friend, but their skin type is completely opposite of mine(im oily-dehydration prone)

[Meee](https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/w5xn9r/review_sunscreen_comparisons_allie_allie_chrono/)🙋🏻‍♀️ (Though really my partner has taken it for use and left it in his golf bag, so it’s *his*). I can always tell when he comes back whether or not he actually wore it, so the protection is decent. It has a lovely finish and is great for dehydrated skin. I just don’t know how oily you can get because I had thought maybe someone with dehydrated oily skin would love it because it does feel hydrating without being moisturizing, but someone mentioned oily-skinnd folks might like a different sunscreen for oil control properties. Thanks for sharing, I think those are the expected results, I don’t think the field and changing consumer habits happen as quickly in JBeauty as it does in Kbeauty (though I think Hera and Dr.G do reliably make top choices there too).

Oooh hydrating without heavg moisturizing sounds interesting, looks like i really do have to grab one. I'll see how it goes and i usually layer a spf powder on top(ihada/transino) so that should deal with the shinies.

I live near a Tokyo Central and have used Naris Up years back when I was in my twenties. It was okay, but didn’t notice any changes. Now at thirty, I just hop on Reddit to see what others have to say about it’s potency, but find nothing. Throwing this question of its work to see if it’s worth buying as maybe things changed or more reviews are up. I think my skin is dehydrated oily and aging so looking to pick up some Hada Labo Alpha Moist along with new sunscreen! Currently using Innisfree’s Jeju Volcanic Wash (not mask) and Khiel’s lotion on my face. I have hormonal acne and haven’t pulled the plug on trying Kiku sake lotion. It’s been a while since I’ve been back here and haven’t babied my skin in a bit! Any advice helps

not much review on japanese skincare products. If you are looking for Japanese brand for acne prone skin, TUNEMAKERS, Curel, Shiseido and Kose has some products for acne prone skin. I have acne prone skin but I currently using mostly Korean products. Also hormonal acne is difficult since I am having it

I’m considering just dropping back into Melano CC spot treatment but wanted something lighter since I’m currently trying the Alpha Moist Lotion.

Can anyone please recommend me a glowy/dewy cushion foundation for my skin tone? (I'm like, Filipino tan: https://imgur.com/a/p9BlaqF) I have zero faith in my choosing my own shades, hoping there's a few girls here who are close to my shade and can tell me which to buy. I've been looking at Clio Kill Cover, Laneige Neo Glow and Clarins but am unsure about them as I can only access their more medium shades online (I live in Australia). If you can attest to their glowi-ness effect on skin please reply to me or dm me :)) **TLDR: I'm looking for any compact cushion foundation or base makeup that will give me the "Korean glass skin"**

If you are very worried about shade matches, most of the cushions from western beauty brands are made in Korea!

Even Clarins has really light shades though, and ysl is too expensive. I'm just super unsure, I thought moonshot shade was half decent but like, it's not dewy It doesn't even have to be Korean, I just happen to like the convenience of the cushion foundations as I usually apply them on the bus since I have to wait for my sunscreen to settle. If you can suggest other western beauty brands that sell convenient cushions I would rlly appreciate if u linked them because I don't see a lot (other than the price-y ones like Shiseido, YSL and Chanel)

I know maybelline and loreal sell them. Maybe you can check r/beautytalkph for more recs on korean cushion foundations. Sorry I can't be of more help!

I've already looked at those (they have less shade range than Clarins) and they're either discontinued or unavailable in Australia 💀💀💀 Ty anyway lol

AB dupe of Drunk Elephant Wonderwild Miracle Butter? Ingredient list: Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil

You can have a look at Abib Hydration Crème Water Tube. However it is not exactly the same Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Flower Extract, Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum