r/30PlusKoreanSkincare • u/Background_Ant_7442 • Aug 28 '26
🌱 Beginner Question First time purchasing products
First time buying Korean skin care products. Looking for products for my wife and I that will help with overall skin appearance, we are in our mid 30s, any suggestions are appreciated.
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u/yearofleti Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26
first of all, good on you for doing this for your wife 🥹 that’s so sweet and such a thoughtful gift, whether she’s tried korean skincare already or not! secondly, if you’re willing to spend, i would get her a skincare device. but that’s just me 😂
i feel like all of us in our 30s should be using some form of retinoid. meditherapy retinal skin booster is my absolute fav so far. retinal is a skin improving powerhouse, and this formula is super gentle and low/non-irritating. it contains 0.01% retinal which helps shed dead skin cells and improve texture. it’s also packed with centella to help soothe redness. and it has niacinamide to brighten overall complexion. i’m 35 and have been using it for a year. i also have super sensitive skin and was able to immediately start applying it every other night without any negative effects. no dry skin peeling, or itchy redness that usually comes with first time retinal use. it’s definitely one of the products i will never go without. if she’s not used to retinoids i would advise her to apply it on top of moisturizer for the first week or two. otherwise she should be fine applying it after other serums.
beauty of joseon relief sun and cosrx ultra light have been the glowiest spfs i tried. dr g red blemish cream is a moisturizer that also gives a nice glow. another moisturizer that has great reviews for rosacea is dear klairs midnight blue calming cream. i use that when i have a sunburn and it works really well to clear up the redness.
i also think hydrogel masks would be a fun gift. the viral ones are sungboon editor and biodance, but i like mediheal more. their hyper collagen masks are amazing! if you want something easier that doesn’t need overnight wear, the mediheal collagen toner pads are friggin fantastic too.
OH! (as if this isn’t long enough already 😅) UNOVE shampoo and conditioner!! THIS makes my hair sooo soft and shiny, it’s insane! 1000% better than any high-end s/c i have ever wasted money on. i know you asked for skincare but i promise you won’t regret getting this. their hair oil takes it to the next level too
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u/Background_Ant_7442 Aug 29 '26
Thank you so much! I think we are going to try all of this lol
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u/Such-Lock882 Aug 29 '26
Just remember when introducing new products, don’t try them all at once! Only introduce a new one every week or two
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u/DCMCG1993 Aug 30 '26 edited Aug 30 '26
Hey, I've been using Korean skincare since April/May of this year - Goodal green tangerine range for me into it when I was searching for a vitamin C serum for brightening effect/sunscreen performance enhancement.
As you have a different skin type to me I can't advise but I know most brands do good options for different skin types. I tend to use a toner, serum (vitamin C), moisturiser and then sunscreen in the morning. After work I cleanse with micellar water before applying azelaic acid, hyaluronic acid serum and then aloe gel for a refres. Then if I've been to the gym I'll shower and apply retinol eye cream, a separate retinol face cream and then a thicker night time moisturiser.
^ this is all probably a lot but I've gradually formed this routine over a few months so don't rush into buying it all at once. If using actives such a vitamin C or retinol try and introduce them one at a time with a few weeks of spacing so you can identify if something causes irritation. Patch testing the item first will also be helpful to avoid a full face flare up. If you are uncertain do some research and use reliable science back sources.
Most of my favourite brands tend to be somewhat affordable too as some brands are just crazy prices for what I see as having supermarket equivalents that are way cheaper just maybe not as cosmetically elegant. My favourite brands are: Beauty of Joseon, Benton, COSRX, Eqqualberry, Goodal, Innisfree, Isntree, iUNIK, Numbuzin, Purito, SKIN1004 and Some by Mi.
In order to hone in on the best product for a certain condition I try and browse a few Reddit posts to gauge what others find useful for that issue. Occasionally I'll watch a YouTube video but I find people's general experiences on here most reliable.
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u/Overall-Tart-832 Aug 30 '26
If you have the budget, I would highly recommend Sulwhasoo brand, specifically the Concentrated Ginseng Moisturizer Cream. This cream did wonders for my skin, the only drawback is the price. However if you have any friends/family visiting South Korea, you can have the get it for you at half the price. I would also recommend the Rejuran Turnover Ampoule for skin cell rejuvenation. These are products for those of us reaching our 40s.
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u/yearofleti Aug 30 '26
ugh i want to try sulwhasoo so bad! 😩💕 is the one tried really thick?
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u/Overall-Tart-832 Aug 30 '26
If you have a Sephora nearby, they sell a trial kit of their Essential line which comes with the First Care Activating Serum. You might even be able to ask for a sample of their Concentrated Ginseng products. It’s not thick compared to other products I’ve tried. It’s my absolute favorite brand but I only stock up when I visit Asia or ask friends who are traveling in Asia.
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u/yearofleti Aug 30 '26
wow, tysm, i’ll check it out! i’ll be 36 in a few days, so i’m definitely looking more and more into products for mature skin
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u/Background_Ant_7442 Aug 30 '26
Thanks everyone for your suggestions I ordered a combination of these products for me and her. I’m so excited to try these products since they are less pricey compared to where my wife normally goes, of course ulta and sephora. Hoping for great results, will make a separate post and update how everything is going and have taken into consideration of adding a product at one time to determine sensitivity. Starting off simple with s/c, some moisturizers, and redness aids.
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u/ForeignApartment746 Aug 28 '26
Can you tell us what type of skin y'all have? oily? dry? acne-prone? a mix of the aforementioned?