All things K-Beauty!!

[sabrinas]

For those who don't know what this is, it stands for Korean Beauty!

Honestly, I'm surprised I don't see even more stuff posted about K-Beauty as it seems to be taking over right now.  I hear nothing but good things about their skincare, makeup, etc!

I recently got the Amorepacific cream as a 100 point perk and am really liking it for daytime moisture (although I think it may be better in the summer as I still feel a tad dry), and I hear good things about the Chosungah22 products which Sephora carries!

I also recently made a giant order through a Korean retailer called Jolse, can't wait to get my stuff!

Do you guys love K-Beauty? Do you have any reviews of stuff you've tried? I'm hoping to get this moving and that people will post in here regularly about skincare and cosmetics from Korea!

[prti]

@unfungirl I'm sorry you had to experience 5 cystic pimples. It's certainly not fun at all.

I'm currently trying to find a good vitamin C serum or anything that fades acne scars. I am now using Drunk Elephant's C-Firma but it sadly does nothing for me right now 😞 Other vitamin C serums (Timeless, OST C20, Ole Henriksen, Clinique fresh pressed) don't work for me either :S 

I found out that the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch (an alternative: any hydrocolloid bandage) and the COSRX BHA helped with my cystic pimples significantly. It took me about a month or so to finally get rid of my cystic pimples. 

For exfoliation, I am currently using FAB radiance pads and sometimes the COSRX AHA liquid. I tend to reach for the FAB radiance pads so I'm unsure if I like the COSRX AHA liquid. I gave away my SR Good Genes and DE TLC night serum to my family because I don't think my skin can tolerate harsh chemical exfoliation :S

[unfungirl]

oh, and i got a sample of the ML clean dirt and problem solver- in just 2 days it's really shrunk the cysts big time! it's like 203939 dollars for a full size, and the samples go a long way, so i plan on reordering some more!

[unfungirl]

any pimples are no fun @prti!! i've gotten spoiled as my skin has been pretty clear the past few years.

i hated the DE firma c- it broke me out hardcore. i'm on the hunt for a good vitamin c serum too! i was looking at the OST C20- why didn't it work for you?

i have tried the ole henrickson, paula's choice, ordinary, deciem hyalamide, and more! but nothing i loved.

good genes has been my go-to chemical exfoliant for awhile, but i feel it's just done as much as it will do. i just ordered the odacite p+g after hearing many good things about it! i will let you know how it works for my hyperpigmentation.

thankfully my skin isn't too sensitive to chemical exfoliants as long as i don't overdo it.

[prti]

@unfungirl DE C-Firma also broke me out a little in the beginning 😞 Luckily I only got red spots that disappeared within 2 days. I just find that the OST C20 doesn't have any effect on my hyperpigmentation. I guess my hyperpigmentation may be hard to treat. I remember that it took me 6 months to get rid of a dark spot on my forehead :S

I'm currently doing the 7-day Clinique Fresh Pressed (10% vitamin C) "challenge." I'm on my 6th day and I see no noticeable difference so far 😞 

[unfungirl]

@prti  i don't think any vitamin c serums have done much for my hyperpigmentation 😞

i didn't notice a difference until i started using good genes/PTR retinol! i will keep you posted on the odacite! i also ordered the missha time revolution ampoule 🙂

[Anonymous]

I guess one if my biggest pet peeves is how some Youtubers (ie Tati Westbrook) portrays some Kbeauty items. I can still remember the many times she simply disliked or talked bad about an Asian beauty product because she wasn't even using it correctly. Like I get how snail essence sounds ew but she has no idea how much benefit the thing has. Many times she just uses stuff totally wrong then say something is gross and uploads bias opinions because she has a large following here in the US. For example, the Dr. jart masks she reviewed are actually very amazing. 

Ugh sorry for my rant but that woman just irritates me sometimes. So ignorant IMO.

[Anonymous]

I agree. While I like watching Tati, I usually ignore her kbeauty videos and others as well. I feel like they're trying to capitalize off of the "weird" or "foreign" aspect of a beauty industry who's been here for awhile.

[Anonymous]

Yes I agree. I feel very uncomfortable watching it and I feel very angry how the comments were reacting like agreeing with her biased and foolish views. That is racism in another form.

[sabrinas]

@Anonymous Ive noticed this too! I was nervous to try stuff because of that but after reading through Reddit I was like hmm, maybe thatll work for my skin.

I kid you not that Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley, Caudalie, Clarins, Origins, etc. all did nothing OR terrible things to my otherwise normal/slightly dry and flakey skin. 

I tried some sulwhasoo, cosrx, tosowoong, tony moly and omg... I think the sulwhasoo seriously transformed my face (becauase most of my routine is their brand). I havent gotten any zits or any flakes on my face anymore. It has been miraculous, I actually wake up and think holy crap how is my face so clear, and my dermatitis cleared up too!!! Ill post before and after pics later of my cheek dermatitis. 

[dizd]

Ugh get ready for a 7-month late long rant but I am SO glad you began a thread on KBeauty that led into Drunk Elephant discussion. I once used AmorePacific (enzyme treatment and gel moisturizer my faves - oil and treatment cleansers were ok and still use their expensive but oh so worth it tinted moisturizer) & my skin was amazing! Amazing! I mean dewy perfectly balanced plump perfection. I then - because of price- jumped on the Paula’s Choice/Beautypedia bandwagon which had terrible things to say about amorepacific that I got freaked out and even threw away my remaining product (omg!). She is anti-fragrance and says the alcohols are doing underlying damage to skin. Went all in with Paula’s Choice - which is good, works well, no bad reactions. But everything she stood for (no eye creams, simple routine, doesn’t have to be expensive) seems to be falling by way side she has SO MANY products that I have drawers full (aha Lotion, aha gel, aha liquid, BHAs etc etc) and am like why did I fall for all of this - she launches so many new products ugh!!! So I didn’t feel glowing and amazing but thought maybe cuz I hit my 30s but decided to try something else. Switched to Drunk Elephant. Let me tell you - I had been using DE CFirma for a while and it was fine but sticky and not amazing and oxidized in a couple weeks (for that price?!!) but nothing special yet I went all in. Holy cow - went from 37 who looked 10 years younger to looking at least 10yrs older and my eyes!! Puffy almost swollen shut scaly rash and looked 70+ in my eyes. I’d post a pic but am ashamed - that’s how bad it was. I wrote them (as I purchased most products direct from DE) and awesome customer service - issued a full refund (talking $255) but wanted me to keep products and continue to try. We emailed back and forth and I suggested introducing one product at a time and they said no, they want people to go “cold Elephant” cuz their products work together etc. besides my eye issue my skin was dry and drab and dull and horrible. Back to Paula’s Choice. Few months later still had all these beautifully packaged DE products so I just tried again -SAME THING. Eyes swollen and dry drab skin. Ugh. I just want my beautiful amorepacific skin back!!! I’m actually going to see an allergist Friday to see if perhaps I’m allergic to the Marula oil (I have no other nut allergies) or metals — there is copper in DE eye serum. But forget Beautypedia and all her scare tactics against alcohol and fragrance because my skin has never felt better than it did with AmorePacific. (Any thoughts on this regarding alcohol and fragrance inclusion in skincare or even makeup products? I almost wish I had never read up on any of it!) Because of high price tag I may try the sister brand Laneige. I had to dig very deep online to find any negative word on DE (which made me think I was crazy and not doing something right) but glad I found this thread!! Forgive my rant. I’m going to keep reading now for more k-beauty suggestions. I am intrigued by posts on Innisfree and may look there. 

[unfungirl]

@sabrinas i just make a big order from jolse and picked up a few sulwhasoo sample kits, so i'm glad to hear that! I've broken out a lot from DE and felt like caudalie/origins/clarins did nothing at all for my skin 😕

[Anonymous]

DE broke me out really badly, the TLC night serum gave me deep pimples around the chin area and I almost never have reaction to products. I haven't started Sulwasoo yet cause it is like La Mer or Le prairie level in korea I want to save it when I'm like 30+. Cosrx is pretty great I've never tried Tosowoong what products do you recommend?

[MissPuff]

What have you tried from sulwhasoo and cosrx that you love? I'm always looking for something new 🙂

I think my favorite take away from kbeauty is the emphasis on layering and all the essences and hydration. I've had great results from a lot of the blithe products, love 🙂

[sabrinas]

@MissPuff This is my current routine (and remember, I have pretty darn normal skin with slight flaking on my temples/forehead, and small pores, and the only time I get oil is in my tzone and its usually just a bit in the summer.  I also tend to have a few zits randomly every week or two):

Morning:

- Sulwhasoo snowise cleanser

- Sulwhasoo first care serum

- Sulwhasoo balancing water

- Sulwhasoo hydro-aid moisturizing cream

- Sulwhasoo rejuvenating eye cream

Every other day I will also incorporate some of the Tosowoong propolis ampoule between the serum and balancing water step.

Evening:

- Sulwhasoo snowise cleanser

- Sulwhasoo first care serum

- Sulwhasoo balancing water

- Sulwhasoo firming cream ex

- Sulwhasoo rejuvenating eye cream

Every other day I will wear a random sheet mask (I like Tosowoong, Cosrx, Dr Jart, Etude House).  I apply the sheet masks after my serum and balancing water.  Then when I remove the sheet mask I just let the essence absorb, and will follow with my firming cream.

On random days when my skin is either irritated or just needs extra love, I will wear my Cosrx overnight rice mask.  I use this as the last step after my balancing water application, and I wake up with baby soft, bouncy skin.

Once a week I will use my Dr Brandt microderm scrub (not k-beauty but just throwing that in there).

A couple times a week I will apply my Cosrx snail mucin between the serum and balancing water step.

I know the order may seem weird (I listed them from first step to last step, minus the eye cream since I usually apply that first), but Sulwhasoo's balancing water is more of a gel texture and they specifically say it does NOT get applied first, but after your more concentrated products like serums, ampoules, etc.

[MissPuff]

Thank you for such a detailed response! Is there any fragrance to the sulwhasoo? I've been eyeing the first care serum for a bit...

I love sheet masks! I don't think the essences are necessarily that effective/potent, but the hydration alone is worth it 🙂

And I know everyone is all about the snails these days, but I haven't quite gotten there yet 🙂

[sabrinas]

@MissPuff Yes! They do have a scent.  It's very herbal smelling.. Like herbal medicine.  I smell a lot of pine and spices in mine lol, nothing too offensive but it's definitely there.

[prti]

@Anonymous I think I'm fine with Tati but have you seen Caroline Hirons' post on snail essence? She lost me as a reader (not that she cares anyways).

And don't get me started on Tatcha...ugh...

[Anonymous]

Tatcha is whatever just overpriced good product. I get them when there's a promo going on but will never dish out my money for the full size.

[Anonymous]

Tati is dramatic. I don't trust woman giving out skincare tips when they actually get botox on the side lol! Her skin also don't look the best without makeup it is droopy imo so I never minded her skincare anyways. She does decent makeup reviews and I watch those but I just wish she could just shut up about Asian skincare when she clearly has no knowledge about them.

I love Gothamista on YT. A true expert! Lovely woman, very knowledgable and pleasant. You should check her out!

[bonafide11]

I agree - that's why I prefer to read reviews on Kbeauty by people who actually use (and understands) Kbeauty on a regular basis. 

I'm a fan of Caroline Hirons because she's a great resource in general but yeah, that post on snail essence was unnecessary especially when she didn't present many facts to back up her statements. I know it's her blog and she has the right to express her opinion but that was just too rant-y.

[Anonymous]

I love k-beauty! And it's a lot more affordable too! I've been hoping to try Son & Park's beauty water and now that its on Sephora I guess I have to get it. 😉

I shop at Memebox a lot for all my k-beauty needs, or sokoglam! Some fave k-beauty products of mine are the:

-Banila cleansing balm: it really melts off all your makeup! and the packaging is way too cute.

-Elizavecca bubbling clay mask: this can get really messy because it's hard to wash off, but it's super fun because it's carbonated so it bubbles and fizzes on your face!

-Its Skin babyface brow pencil: love the angled pencil, and it never smears. 

-Innisfree sheet masks

-Too Cool For School art class by rodin bronzer: really natural glow and not muddy at all.