K-Beauty Magic: My Top 10 Asian Skincare Products


In case you didn’t know, Korean skincare and beauty products are AMAZING. They’re generally affordable, and they work. Since moving to Asia, I’ve slowly stopped bringing over or importing my American go-tos and have discovered more and more Korean (and other Asian) products that I prefer way more! Here are my current Top 10.

(Note: I purchased all of these myself, except for one gift from my husband, and currently own and use all products pictured. None are sponsored.)

(Another Note: I've included links for those brands that have English websites [click on the brand name]. Many of these products can also be found on Amazon or other third-party sellers.)
  

TONYMOLY: I’m Real Sheet Masks (South Korea)

While I've enjoyed every mask I've tried from TonyMoly, I’m obsessed with these two in particular from the “I’m Real” line: Avocado for Nutrition and Rice for Clear Skin. As someone with an ongoing struggle with adult acne, this rice mask calms down my face unlike any other product or medication I’ve used. The avocado moisturizes without making me breakout (plus my non-acne friends also swear by it). Leave on your face for 20 to 30 minutes of bliss.


TONYMOLY: Dust Out Multi Foam Cleanser (South Korea)

I love using this face wash to remove makeup, pollution, dirt, etc. It leaves me feeling so clean!


WISHTREND: Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash (South Korea)

This might be the most expensive item on this list, but this face wash did wonders for my skin. It’s a powder that you add a little (very little!!) water to create a paste that gently exfoliates your face. And it really does smell like green tea! The bottle pictured is empty, as I’m trying to finish up some other face washes before buying more of this one, but I seriously miss this product.


ETUDE HOUSE: Precious Mineral BB Cream Matte (South Korea)

Goodbye, foundation! I will never use you again! Most Asian makeup lines/stores don’t carry foundation anyway, it’s all BB cream. Unlike some American BB creams I’ve tried, where you can’t tell you’ve put anything on your face, this one provides great coverage. I currently have a multiple bottle stock in the lightest shade (because I’m quite pasty). Many Asian cultures prefer the dewy (AKA shiny) look, so I get the matte version.


ETUDE HOUSE: Lip & Eye Remover (South Korea)

While the poor English translation might insinuate otherwise, I still have my lips and eyes. This makeup remover works really well at a fraction of the price I would pay for, say, Sephora.
  

TROPICANA: Virgin Coconut Oil (Thailand)

I’ve both imported this one from and bought it in person in Thailand. Coconut oil has a lot of wonderful uses, but I primarily use it as an after-shaving moisturizer (calms razor burn for real) and eye makeup remover. During the winter months, I run the bottle under warm water to soften the oil into a dispensable liquid.


MINISO: Hello Kitty Double-head Eyeliner (China)

Don’t be fooled by the Hello Kitty reference or the fact that this is the cheapest item on the list -- This black, liquid liner is the best! The pens are precise and easy to use, and it doesn’t move all day. This is the most affordable liquid liner I’ve found that can compete with the humidity of south-China summers.


HEROINE MAKE: Long & Curl Mascara (Japan)

This one was given to me as a gift, and is the most waterproof mascara I’ve ever used! I can nap, cry, sweat, leave it on for the next day if I want. Doesn’t smudge, doesn’t move. Makes it look like I actually have eyelashes and not blondish wisps. The only challenge is taking it off.


THE SAEM: Jeju Fresh Aloe Soothing Gel (South Korea)

Back home, I only used aloe vera when sunburnt, but now I use it almost weekly as a moisturizer because aloe is dang good for your skin, it’s gentle, and it helps my acne rather than enraging it. I like this brand because it has the highest percentage of actual aloe in it (99%) that I’ve found so far, and the product itself is clear, not green, meaning it doesn’t contain unnecessary dyes. Plus, it’s from Jeju Island – who doesn’t love Jeju?


INNISFREE: Eco Safety UV Perfect Waterproof Sunblock with Sunflower Oil and Green Tea SPF 50+ (South Korea)

Innisfree is another popular Korean skincare brand, but I haven’t settled on many favorites from them. While this one is a bit of a splurge considering it’s sunblock, and not a huge bottle, it works very well in keeping my white face white and not lobster, and even does decently under makeup. If you know Asian cultures, you know they usually prefer lighter skin and shun the sun – They know what’s up with sunblock.

Have you tried any of these? What Asian skincare and beauty products are your favorites?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Flirting with Chinese Guys

Image
When you fall in love with someone from a different country, you soon realize that other cultures have different ways of showing romantic interest and love. Their flirting can feel strange or even be a turn off at first, but the deeper you dive into another’s culture, the more you acclimate to and appreciate it. A random Asian guy, courtesy of the public domain. The first thing that struck me when I was dating my now-husband (as I’ve mentioned previously on this blog), was the NAGGING. Or what I perceived to be nagging. Such as: Have you eaten yet? Did you take a nap? Wear more clothes, it’s cold out. Drink more hot water. Don’t drink that! Cold drinks are bad for your health! Go to bed earlier. Exercise more. No ice cream when you’re on your period!! And on and on… As you might notice, most of these statements are related to Chinese standards of health and wellness. I had a quite negative reaction to this form of attention, because 1)...
Read more

The Celebrity Effect: Being a White Foreigner in China

Image
As I walk down the street, heads turn. A woman coming out of a shop does a double take. A group of older men, resting in the shade, openly stare – and keep staring. A student riding a bicycle is so distracted he nearly causes an accident. A mother nudges her kindergartener, saying, “Look, a foreigner! Practice your English. Say ‘Hello!’” The child looks up at me, entranced, silent. “‘Helloooooooo!’” coaxes Mom unsuccessfully. A man waiting for the bus casually lifts his phone – I know he’s taking a photo. Strangers come up to me and offer teaching or modeling jobs. Sometimes someone is gutsy enough to ask to take a photo with me, instead of just sneakily doing it. Whispers of “So tall!” and “So white!” echo as I make my way through the mall or to a table in a restaurant. It’s just a normal day as a foreigner in China. And I am not exaggerating. There are certain places where it’s heightened, such as tourist spots crowded with people from all over the c...
Read more

Planning a Chinese/American Wedding

Image
Exciting news!! I got married!! In two countries! It was crazy! Ahhhhh! I would like to share some of my experience and advice after pulling off weddings in China and America. If you’re getting serious with someone from outside your culture, or if you’re just curious, I hope this post is satisfying! My main advice for those who are probably going to do this in real life is… Repeatedly discuss these two very important questions with your significant other: 1. What are the normal engagement and wedding customs in your culture/family? 2. What engagement and wedding customs do you personally like and want to do? I wish that my husband and I had discussed BOTH of these questions more frequently and earlier on in the wedding process. We did get married, so it all worked out, but there might have been fewer surprises / awkward situations / frustrations if we had communicated more. (I feel like that sentence sums up intercultural relationship...
Read more

Relating with a Language Barrier?? [Ask a Cross-Cultural Couple]

Image
When I started dating a Chinese guy, and then got serious with that guy, some friends and family back home asked, usually in a hushed tone, “But how do you communicate ?” What does that mean, "someone who speaks your language"? With my dismal Chinese and his intermediate English, it was a legitimate question. The first few times we hung out, my now-husband kept a dictionary app open on his phone (despite having studied English in school for many years… but the effectiveness of language education is a different topic). We recently discussed the issue of the language barrier with some of our friends who are also in cross-cultural relationships. Some of the other couples are like us, where one partner uses their native language which is the other’s second (or third or fourth or fifth) language. This gives one person a natural advantage in communication. For some of the other couples, neither partner can speak the other’s first language, so they u...
Read more

Moving Home?? [Ask a Cross-Cultural Couple]

Image
“So, when are you moving back home?” I get this question fairly frequently, and people ask my parents a lot! I think the motivation behind it is mostly innocent curiosity, so I’d like to share a bit here about my life in China and how this particular inquiry comes across.   Shanghai Skyline with Slight Smog   “When are you moving back home?” reflects an American approval of the gap-year (living abroad for a year, usually between high school and college), but a strong, strange feeling towards long-term life abroad. When I (or my parents) answer with a brief comment about me living in China for a long time, it’s usually followed by, “I could never do it! That would be so hard!” Sure, long-term living abroad is hard. Especially the first year, though the experience is largely determined by the amount of local language you know going in and what kind of community you’re going into. For me, I’m approaching 4 years in China and I’ve built up the support systems ...
Read more

Adventures in Asia: China Travel Tips

Image
If you can read this, you probably need a visa. After several friends and family members visited me this year, I thought I’d share some basic tips for those who are curious about life in China or plan to visit this amazing country someday soon! PART I: TIME & MONEY Although China is a huge country, the whole thing runs on Beijing time. There are no other time zones. Money in China is called RMB (which stands for renminbi), yuan, or kuai. You may be able to use your card at an ATM in China to withdraw cash, but it probably won’t work in restaurants and shops. It’s always best to exchange money in a bank (back home or in China), though the airport will do the job too. No need to tip. You can often haggle for a lower price in smaller shops and markets. Start really low and don’t feel bad if the seller acts insulted. Pretend to lose interest and leave the store if they won’t come down – they will once they realize they might lose the sa...
Read more