Hello! I would like to know any Japanese skincare products that worked effectively on you hence, you can vouch for—be it sunscreen, cleanser, moisturizer, vit c, serum or anything. Drop it here! 😊

Your tried and recommended Japanese skincare products

….that do not break the bank.

Hello! I’m looking for US skincare product suggestions (or anything widely available in the US),  that you have proven effective and budget-friendly. Please drop them here—cleanser, serum (RETINOID or AZELAIC ACID please), moisturizer, sunscreen, any!

P.S. I have tried some products from CeraVe (tagged) and I liked them!

I want to know what else should I try.

Your tried and recommended US skincare products

Hi guys, drop here please your tried and tested effective Azelaic Acid OTC products. I’m currently using Cos De Baha’s which I’m liking so far. I’m nearly done with the 30mL bottle and would like to check other ones out there. I’m from Asia and I mainly purchase skincare products via e-commerce site like Lazada. Hope your reco is available not just locally from your part of the world. Thanks!

Your recommended Azelaic Acid product

Konnichiwa! ✌🏼Planning to visit Tokyo soon so I’m listing down Japanese-made skincare products found in drugstore or supermarket. Please drop your recommendations here and why you like them so much—cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, what have you! Tips in which store to particularly get them will be highly appreciated. Arigato! 😊

Japanese skincare recommendations

Hello there! I’m looking to get my next retinal skincare. I’m currently using Beauty of Joseon Eye Serum, and I’m eyeing Dr. Different Vitalift-A for long now. Have you tried any yet? Which product is effective for you?

Retinal product suggestions

In this hot humid region where I live (30°C up), this creamy sunscreen leaves a sticky feel and slightly moist appearance on my skin right after application. Though a layer of powder could compensate for it, it’s an added step. I still and highly prefer a finish that would feel smooth after applying, and as if it’s barely there over time. But this is still recommendable to those who have normal to dry skin type and those who stay in a temperate, cool climate.

🌾 A creamy organic sunscreen containing 30% rice extract and grain fermented extracts that provide moisture and nourishment to the skin as the brand claims. SPF- and PA-tested.

📦 Packaging. In a screw cap tube similar to most toothpaste packaging. Easily dispensed. Note: Packaging could get smeary with residue of the product in hands as you replace the cap.

🧴 Key Ingredients & Benefits. Rice & grain fermented extracts that are rich in vitamins B, C, E, amino acids, and minerals to help moisturize dry skin.

💧Form & Fragrance. White cream with moderate consistency, without fragrance but with a mild scent.

(Tested in a tropical, hot, humid region)
🙋🏽 Experience. Many have this as their HG. First tried this when I asked for some from my sibling who truly likes and repurchases this product. My initial impression was that since it has rice ingredient in it, it would feel or leave a powdery effect because that’s how rice grains are to touch. With actual use, this is rather the opposite, it’s moist. Does not leave white cast, does not clump, does not sting the eyes, isn’t sweatproof or waterproof, a moisturizing sunscreen.

💲 Price. ₱598 ($10.80~) per 50mL tube in Lazada PH. Buy during double day or pay day sales for discounted price or rebates.

(Not a sponsored post. Bought it from my personal pocket.)

None to report. Just a note, this might be enjoyed more by those in tropical to moderate climate. Those with dry skin types in a cool, chilly region might prefer thicker consistency.

(Not a sponsored post. Bought it from my personal pocket.)

#pickyreview #gopicky #isntree #isntreeph #skincareph #skincare

👑Holy Grail moisturizer!

🧴 Key Ingredients & Benefits. Five types of
Hyaluronic acid, which are composed of small, medium and large molecular sizes help maintain the necessary moisture for skin by preventing evaporation of moisture; with calming ingredients like Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract.

💧Form & Fragrance. Non-sticky gel cream texture, fragrance-free. Clinically proven hypoallergenic, non-irritating.

📦 Packaging. Transparent plastic squeeze tube; utilitarian packaging in that you always know the level of the product inside, not leaving you guessing if it’s time to cut it up to finish the last blob. 

🙋🏽 Experience. I initially bought a sampler size (15mL) to try this out because, although not expensive, this is not the most afforable moisturiser out in the market. That aside, I liked using it the first time. It’s enjoyable to apply, cool to dab, smooth to wear (an online personality described that their skin just drinks it, I agree), dries up normal to a little moist only, suits the hot, humid climate where I live. So when Lazada PH, an e-commerce site, had great deals I checked out its full size (100mL), and have loved using it since. I liberally apply this non-sticky, lightweight gel cream in the evening right after getting out of bath followed by retinoid. I like bringing it to travel since I don’t have to fuss more than I need to when I have this, and it works effectively well for me. Will surely repurchase.

💲 Price. ₱581 ($10~) per 100mL tube as posted in Isntree PH official store in Lazada PH. If you buy from the platform, wait for pay day or double campaign to get it at a markdown price.

However, I could not tell for certain that it worked effectively for me, in combination with all the other products I used, because I was waiting for days of ‘glow’ but I guess did not really pay me a visit. From prior observations I should not rely on niacinamide alone to pull it off and begin trying some other actives. 

One more niacinamide product to try from a bunch out there.

🧴 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬. 60% propolis extract (which, interestingly, is an ingredient collected by bees from tree buds to seal and varnish honeycomb) to address visibly large pores and inflamed skin; 2% niacinamide to keep the skin moist and to help control sebum secretion; and I did not expect it also has is 0.5% BHA, a very mild exfoliant to help clean pores.

▫️𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦 & 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. Out of the bottle from the dropper the consistency is pretty thick it bubbles up as you dispense it. No detectable scent which is one less risk of irritating the skin.

🙋🏽 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. Got hold of this first Beauty of Joseon product I tried out of heeding attractive user reviews. I wanted to address skin dullness. Applying it leaves the skin moist to slightly sticky as it dries up. In the duration of my usage, it did not irritate me.

💲 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞. I time my skincare purchases during sale events so I was able to get this Korean product for ₱425 = $8 on Shopee, originally $17.

• Stings the eye when put around the eye area
• Something to take note of by sensitive skin type, it has a pretty strong fragrance.
• Scooping the cream using hands in this type of package can contaminate the product. It isn’t that hygienic.

🧝 Claims. Enriched with SPF 30 benefits, this nourishing cream moisturizer helps protect the skin daily to promote a plumped and moisturized complexion; for dry, oily, combination skin types.

📦 Packaging. A cloudy blue circular plastic jar, does not come with a spatula.

🧴 Key Ingredients & Benefits. What it calls hero ingredients include broad spectrum SPF 30, hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide. Formulated without parabens, formaldehyde, hydroquinone, phthalates, sulfates, and substances restricted by authorities in US & Europe.

💧Form & Fragrance. White cream of light consistency with pretty strong, fruity fragrance.

(Note: Tested in a tropical, hot & humid region)
🙋🏽 Experience. I was looking for some recommended products from the US and had originally requested for the line’s moisturizer product, and got gifted with this moisturizing sunscreen instead. After months of using this, I have just learned that this was “made in China, designed in the USA”. Applying it needs a little work for the initial white spread to completely blend in. It doesn’t leave a white cast which is good, and settles in moist. Thanks to its ‘hero ingredients’, the moisturizing effect is observable. But much to my need (see opening note) that I wear it only indoors. It isn’t water- nor sweatproof. Desirable for users in moderate to cool climates.
 
💲 Price. $11-13/1.76 oz (50g) on Amazon.

(Not a sponsored post.)

But I have observed no notable difference yet. It may still be early to tell. Nevertheless, I enjoy the experience of having it in my routine. Will share more as I continue using this in the coming weeks.

#pickyreview #gopicky #haruharuwonderpicky
#skincare #skincareph #PHA #exfoliant

[Update] Week 3 of using it, every 3 nights, I noticed changes in that it subtly smoothens my area of concern. My sebaceous filaments in the nose area, although not rid of yet, are not as prominent as a few weeks back. Way to go.

🍊 HARUHARU WONDER CENTELLA 3% PHA GENTLE LIQUID EXFOLIATING SERUM 🟧

I received this product for free from Picky and HaruHaru Wonder in exchange for my honest review.

🤚 Claim. Gentle pore-refining solution for all skin types. A natural, vegan blackhead solution for sensitive skin using hypoallergenic next-generation PHA ingredients.

📦 Packaging. Lovely recycled carton packaging printed in color with soy ink. Has braille in it. Product in cylindrical plastic bottle. Period after opening is 12 months. Product expiry in two years.

🧴 Key Ingredients & Benefits.
• Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) fruit Water 10% – recharges skin with vitamin C to maintain a bright and glowing complexion
• Gluconolactone (PHA) 3% – exfoliates and cleans pores
• Centella Asiatica Extract 9,000 ppm – reduces skin irritation and soothes skin
• Anti-Sebum P – provides pore and sebum care to remove excessive shine

💧Form & Fragrance. This clear liquid has faint orange scent that’s almost impercetible.

🙋🏽 Experience. This arrived in the mail a little less than 2 weeks back so I was only using it for around the same period. Did a patch test right away, twice in 2 consecutive days and was gladly without negative reaction to it. 

I regularly exfoliate and have been using BHA serum 2x a week to target sebaceous filaments on my nose area. It’s a work in progress and my receipt of this polyhydroxy acid (PHA) product—although gentler and sloughs off only the skin surface compared to chemical exfoliants AHA and BHA—came timely to test if this works to help address that issue. I use this every 3 days after cleansing in lieu of BHA for now, spreading it across the face with my hands like how I would a toner which has similar liquid consistency. I make sure to apply moisturizer afterward to protect against likely drying, and also, sunscreen to protect from sensitivity. 

💲 Price. Available in the US for $19.60 (sale) originally $28. On YesStyle it costs ₱1,213.49 (30% off) = $21~. Visit @haruharuwonder_official IG page to know where you can shop for their products. 