r/AsianBeauty

I think this applies to AB as a whole but I would really like to focus this discussion on scarring/hyperpigmentation and exfoliation.

Unlike western skincare, AB offers a LOT more for skin evening and scarring especialy

There's common knowledge is retinol/retinoid of some kind should be a pillar of your routine.

BHA or AHA is for exfoliating. But it is suggested to help with evening skin tone.

Vitamin C is known as a staple for scarring and works faster (apparently..?)

Niacinamide is in a lot of products and is suggested to help with skin evening too.

And then there's the newer stuff or stuff that's suddenly getting popular due to trends even if its been around forever

• azelaic acid is getting more popular due to trends and its suggested to help with PIE/scarring and overall skin tone evening.
• Alpha arbutin
• Rice..?
• There are serums or miscellaneous products I have come across as well for example Arencia Hysseop serum claims to help with skin evening.
• the list could go on forever.
• Arencia face washes claim to "clear pores" as do a lot of others

While it does stand that different products work differently for different people, I think the consumerist nature of AB has made it so that there is so much out there that claims to do a thing, we buy it, it somewhat works, we keep buying and buying, but really we haven't gotten the fundamental ingredients/products down for this skin concern. I'm not talking about HG vs non HG. I'm talking, I think we're missing what really should be done before we add stuff on. Or focusing on superficial products that sorta work.

Recently I got an azelaic acid for scarring. Apparently its a long game with this ingredient compared to Vitamin C for example. But it made me wonder hm is there something else I should have done before adding this seemingly "superficial" product? I already have a bit of a solid routine down - but it still needs tweaking and I've been thinking about all this in the process (for the record I already use a retinol and a semi effective BHA which needs to be replaced with something better)

Hi guys,

I am looking for a cicaplast replacement to save costs but I can’t - neither in the west nor in KBeauty or Jbeauty - find a better product.

A lot of Asian creams are great for calming and daily barrier support, but they’re not really built like Cicaplast. Cicaplast Baume B5+ is more of a derm-style repair balm: high-dose panthenol + madecassoside + zinc/manganese/copper + a protective silicone film all in one system.

Most AB products focus on being gentle and hydrating rather than combining multiple wound-repair actives at strong concentrations, so they end up feeling similar but not really equivalent in “repair power.”

Is there really no alternative to cicaplast? The closest competitor I found is cicabio….

Let’s say you randomly have a skin flare up but you have an event tomorrow or in a few days; or you accidentally messed up your make up but you have to head out soon; or your hair is looking insane? What are products you use that you can rely on to help those issues?

What is your skin type and why do you like those products?

I stopped getting lash extensions because the upkeep, cost, and damage just didn’t make sense anymore, especially since I mostly work from home and only need lashes for events or trips.

I’m looking into magnetic lashes as a reusable alternative and want something that actually looks natural and is easy to apply, even without much skill. Price isn’t a big concern since I’d rather invest in a high quality set that lasts and doesn’t feel heavy or fake.

For anyone who’s made the switch from extensions to magnetic lashes, what stood out as the biggest difference between average and top tier options?

Hello, does the Déjà Vu fiberwig tubing mascara have a dupe? I LOVE the finish of it, but it makes my lashes fall flat. And I’ve tried lash primers but I think the Déjà Vu mascara alone gives the look that I want, since the lash primer kinda makes the lash stay in place.

Please let me know if there’s a dupe, or any kind of mascara that gives off clean separated lashes for stubborn asian lashes.

Currently using cow body wash and I’m surprised how soft it made my skin, which I never knew was possible!

I exfoliate with a Japanese scrub cloth thing and I moisturize my body with Nivea nourished lotion for dry skin and hoping to find more AB recs!

Looking for body lotions (body moisturizers, but also ‘Asian lotions’ (watery toners) if they have transformed your skin to be soft and supple!

What’s everyone secret to getting soft nourished skin? Product recommendations please.

I’m on my feet a lot for work and am looking for any sort of peel, mask, lotion, etc. that help with calluses & softening the skin?

The question isn't which is better as a whole - to which I'd say AB.

There are some western products that are still very popular even among the AB community. And I wonder if they (and others?) remain to be more effective than AB or if there are AB products people haven't discovered yet that do it better. Sometimes its also just a standout product that doesn't do better but works really well despite western skincare overall not being as good as AB as a whole.

Very popular ones I see are:

Paula's Choice BHA - the closest competitor I've seen is BHA power liquid by COSRX but personally I found it not very effective

The ordinary glycolic acid - and a lot of other the ordinary products.

Claudalie serum is an honourable mention because its in its own category I think and can't be compared to a one AB category - but it seems to be a very effective product

Edit: Adding La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreen (sensitive eyes) - its been really good especially for my eyes, I previously reacted to the BOJ sunscreen and currently where I live many AB sunscreens are no longer imported due to SPF ratings being inaccurate.

The outcome will be different on each person, but I am getting the idea that the ones I mentioned do it better than AB, or are just up there in best skincare products regardless of place of origin.

Are there any other western products I didn't mention?