skincare

Summary

things I know about skincare & what works for me.

basics

I’m Asian and find that Asian (i.e. mostly Korean/Japanese) skin products work best for me. American/European brands tend to make harsher, stronger-scented products whereas Asian products are usually gentler and unscented/naturally-scented. If you’re starting out, I’d recommend trying both types and seeing which works best for you.

As such, most of the products listed below are

where to get recommendations

• r/AsianBeauty: when researching a new product, I typically check the top 3-5 posts about it and count the number of positive/neutral/negative comments to get a basic sense of how well-received it is.
• various skincare influencers (check multiple)

know your skin type

There are a lot of guides online (like this one) that go over the main differences between oily, dry, normal, combination, and sensitive skin. Many products are formulated specifically for a subset of these skin types, and you’ll get more targeted results if you search for terms like “best cleanser for dry skin” rather than “best cleanser”.

I have combination + acne-prone skin, so my primary goal/struggle is keeping my skin balanced and clear.

beware of scams

If you’re purchasing Asian skincare products online in the US, there’s a chance you’ll run into fakes (example). These are often hard to spot, and sometimes they’ll be nondeterministic since Amazon may pool inventory from many different sellers.

To avoid scams:

• Make sure the seller is the official brand store and not a 3rd-party reseller. (For example, here’s what the Round Lab store looks like- every Round Lab product you buy should have a “sold by” link that redirects to this.)
• Check the reviews to see if any mention receiving a counterfeit item.

order of importance

You don’t need all of the product types listed below, and if you’re new, resist the urge to try all of them at once! Introduce one new product no more than twice per month so you can evaluate its effects (or lack thereof) before deciding whether you want to continue with it or swap it out.

My proposed order of importance, from most to least important:

1. Sunscreen: if there is absolutely nothing else you take from this list, get sunscreen!!! and put it on every day!!!
   1. if you have darker skin you still need some, but it’s maybe 20% less important. E
   2. Even if you don’t want to think about skincare at all, you probably need to get one good sunscreen and stick with it.
2. Moisturizer: most of my skin problems prior to starting a skincare routine would have been quickly solved had I been using the right moisturizer.
   1. Ideally, your sunscreen should also be moisturizing, but having a dedicated non-SPF moisturizer for nighttime is great.
   2. Do NOT use body moisturizers like cetaphil/lubraderm on your face, since they’re far too strong and will clog up your pores.
3. Acne treatments: If you have acne-prone skin like me, you probably need at least one (possibly prescription-strength) treatment to apply several times per week.
   1. You should NOT apply acne treatments without first establishing a proper moisturizing/sunscreen routine, since most of them are harsh, drying, and cause your skin to get sunburned more easily.
4. Exfoliant: Something to remove all the dead skin/oil buildup can be helpful.
   1. There are many types of exfoliants (chemical, oil-based, scrubs…) that have different ranges of strength/harshness. I would recommend starting with a gentle chemical exfoliant and going from there once you figure out your needs.
5. Toner: extra nutrients to make your skin feel more gooder.
   1. There are also many types/compositions of toners. The general goal is just to get whatever makes you feel noticeably better, regardless of what “better” might mean.

my current routine

morning:

1. Daily: Soon Jung Whip Cleanser
2. ideally daily, but skippable if in a rush: Madagascar Centella Toning Toner
3. 1-3x/week: Neutrogena Stubborn Acne AM Treatment (2.5% benzoyl peroxide)
4. Daily: Madagascar Centella Hylau-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum
5. As needed: Mizon Snail Repair BB Cream #23

evening:

1. Daily: Dokdo Round Lab Cleanser (previously used the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser- would also recommend trying that)
2. Daily: COSRX poreless 2-in-1 power liquid (BHA toner)
3. Daily: COSRX Nourishing Rice Overnight Mask
   1. (this one feels a bit heavy, so i’m looking for a lighter nighttime moisturizer)

situational treatments

• COSRX Ultimate Spot Cream (for red spots)
• COSRX Master Patch (for acne)
• Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream (for extra moisture on dry days)

on the to-try list

things I want to try and/or are introducing slowly:

• oil-based exfoliant (Dokdo Round Lab Cleansing Oil)
• eye cream ??
• face masks?

tried and didn’t like

• COSRX Acne Blemish Spot Drying Lotion: super hard to apply, and it stings ??
• Maybelline BB Cream: super thick + applies poorly. It was $5 though so I guess I got what I payed for.
• COSRX Good Morning Gel Cleanser: felt a bit harsh for me; slightly chemical scent.
• COSRX propolis synergy toner: feels slimy and viscous; didn’t seem to have much effect.
• MISSHA Waterproof Sun Milk: has more oil of a consistency than I would like.