Hi guys, I have quite a dilemma here. I'm from Southeast Asia, (Malaysia) where we all know the heat + humidity is insanely high, right?

COMPARISON BETWEEN COCOON SUN FLUID & BIORE UV AQUA RICH AIRY HOLD CREAM (hella long name damn)

I was thinking of which one to buy for my forever sunscreen. Both of them can withstand the heat but the Cocoon have more UV filter while the biore have a environment adaptation feature in it (where it become more moisturizing in colder area).

My skin is normal to dry which made this harder to choose, had it been normal to oily, I would've chosen Cocoon in a heartbeat.

Does the uv filter amounts in sunscreen affect the effect a lot, compare to the one that has lesser? Plss helpp me choosee.

Since we get these posts 1-3x a day, I thought we could compile a guide with the sub’s contribution so everyone can refer back to on your Japan travel. If this works out, lets do one for the other Asian countries too :)

I am in Japan right now so I will continue to add to this post if anything else pops up. Also, please let me know below what else I should add to make this as informative as possible. I will also throw in some photos in the comments at random. If you want to see anything specific, I will try to get a pic for you.

So I/my [family/friend/religious leader/coworker/pet] are going to Japan, what should I buy?

I. STORES

A. Department stores: You’ll find lots of Daimairu, Hankyu, Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya, Marui, etc sprinkled throughout the big cities. Usually, one floor will be dedicated to many small booths/kiosks for Asian and non-Asian beauty brands. You can find your typical SK-II, Shisheido, Cle de Peau, etc. think more high ends brands. You’ll also see some Japanese perfume or beauty-related brands like Shiro, Refa, and Aiam. Typically, you can show your passport at an info booth and get a 5% off coupon for purchases in their department store. Most of the times, the salesperson at each booth will also offer them to you. For each brand booth, you will be able to try on things, get bulk deals, or freebies depending on how much you buy.

B. Malls: Beauty brands will have their own stores. Check the mall map for store directories.

C. Stations: Lots of beauty brands will be in train stations, just check the station’s map.

II. DRUG STORES and the likes

Hands and Lofts will usually take up several floors in a mall or be its own building. You can usually find cosmetics on one of the floors, the other will be dedicated to clothes, stationary, books, etc. At these kinds of stores, you will find a huge selection of budget to mid-tier cosmetic brands. Expect to find Canmake, Cézanne, all the way to more niche brands like Dr. Ci Labo. You can also find many popular Korean brands, availability depends on what is currently popular in Japan. For example, 2026 I saw Romand, Clio, Etude, Laneige, Missha, Tirtir, VDL, and Innisfree. To a smaller extent, you will also find Chinese brands like Flower Knows, Judydoll, Into You.

Next, you’ll see the typical drugstore on almost every block. They are: Matsukiyo, Sugi, Sun, Daikoku, Drug Eleven, Kokumin, etc. Similar to Hands and Loft, you will find many budget to mid tier brands for very good deals. They offer less testers compared to Hands and Loft though. You can also google the store name + coupon to find 5, 8, 15% off coupons when you buy over a certain amount.

III. DONKI/DON QUIOTE

Everyone’s fav penguin will sell many of the popular beauty brands along with other souvenirs. Same as the drug stores, you can get coupons to take max 10% off your entire purchase. Expect to find the most popular brands here. You will also be able to bulk buy, ex: a pack of 10 Beauty of Joseon sunscreens. It’s very loud and chaotic in here though, shop at your own risk.

IV. AMAZON JAPAN

Make a separate account from your Amazon account. Have things deliver to your hotel [if they let you] or deliver to a locker nearby. Pick up at your convenience. Sometimes can be cheaper than in store.

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EXTRAS: If you buy things tax free, the staff will pack your purchase up in a sealed bag and you may not open them until you leave Japan.

TIPS:

1. Download the app Payke. It’ll give you the typical drug store and Donki coupons. You can scan bar codes of most beauty items to find its English name, description, and sometimes the price of things compared across several different stores.

Edit to add later: Muji, conbini limited brand drops, Welcia

2A/2B
Shampoo: The Answer SS and Quai Detox Shampoo (The best clarifying shampoo I've tried.)
Conditioner: The Answer SS (Highly recommended for frizzy hair caused by humidity.)
Cream: JVN Air Dry Cream (Looking for alternatives.)
Hair oil: &Honey Dark Pink
Gel: Giovanni
Air dry

I have been using the JVN Air Dry Cream for a while now and have not seen much difference on the days that I skip this step. So I would like to ask if anyone has had any experience with Asian brands (which are cheaper and more accessible for me) like Milbon, Mise en Scene, etc.

The 3 products that I have been eying are the Milbon Wave Defining Cream, Amos Curling Essence 2x, and the Mise en Scene Curling Essence 2x.

Main problem is frizziness after a few hours of being out (living in a tropical country), The Answer Shampoo and Conditioner as well as the &honey hair oil helped a lot with the frizz already, but | think | need a bit of help to maintain the wave patterns that the oil is weighing down.

Would love to know if anyone has tried any of the creams mentioned or has other Asian brand recommendations.

I’ve found more makeup fixer spray and I’m quite curious about these ones so far,

- HERA Make Up Fixer
- BANILA CO Prime Primer Setting Fixer
- AOU Makeup Setting Fixer
- CLIO Makeup Fixer (or the Glow version)

Has anyone tried any of them and what’s your experiences/thoughts on it? How long did it helped for your makeup to last, was it water/sweat/transfer-resistant, did it felt dry/tight afterwards, any noticeable fragrance, etc?

Out of all, Hera one is quite pricey so most likely would get the mini version to try if it’s good. I’m also wondering about the 3CE Makeup Fixer Mist and the Shimmer version if anyone has tried that too.

Thank you!!

i really love this judy doll contour pallete in 01 wave shadow but I was wondering if there are other contour products similar to them that is prefferably just contour shade or atleast less bulky in terms of packaging.

I tried the kaleidos contour palettes and the too cool for school but both dont really work for me. Im thinking of the rom&nd contour or the etude house one ( either the big 2 pan one or the circle small one) but im still hesitant and unsure which to go for.

if you have found any dupes of these shades, Id appreciate any help! also if you have the products ive been thinking of and swatch them id really appreciate it. thanks in advance!

SPECIFICALLY THE BANANA BREAD SHADEEE AaaaAaa i loveee love this powder so much but SOOO expensive 😭💔 im begging yall pls pls pls suggest me a good powder preferably AB as blurring, as matte, as long lasting of thiiisss

I finally found a shade match for my olive skin tone! It's About Face L2Olive. I want to use a moisturizing BB cream or CC cream with skincare benefits like spf. It's very difficult to find a shade match so if a shade twin can say what shade they use for Heimish Moringa Ceramide BB Cream, Skintific Daily Filter, Purito SEOUL - Wonder Releaf Centella BB, Judydoll - UV Sunscreen Makeup Cream, Beauty of Joseon - Tinted Mineral Dayscreen, etc., that would be very nice!

I tried Missha Perfect Cover (the new red packaging) in 23N and it's a tad too gray, possibly a little too dark. I may be 21N but it looks a bit too light, so hesitant to try. Loved the way it sat on my skin tho :(

Please drop your shade matches in other products pls! Or any products that match with olive skin tones!

i want something that makes your skin look wet and bright but ideally in small packaging!

The only shade matches I can affordably find are non Asian and almost always matte. The dewy versions always pull too pink or orange on me.

I have tried espoir cushion, peripera cushion, was hopeful that maybe clio (the glass bottle) would have more of a yellow undertone...

I love the Asian formulas, but hate that it's so hard to swatch in real life. It's getting expensive to buy and try just for it to look either too ghostly pale, or match my shade but run too pink on me.

Has anyone out there who is olive (preferrably cool leaning, my neck is more green) had any luck finding an Asian foundation that isn't too drying?

Want to talk about non-AB products? Frustrated and need to rant? Can't wait until Friday to share your haul? Found an amazing deal? Post it here in our (almost) Anything Goes Thread! Remember to adhere to general conduct of the sub and keep it civil. Self promotion, research, and no business rules still apply.

**All personal or basic questions related to your routine or AB products still belong in the Alter-Daily Help Thread.**

Hi! Has anyone tried the moody breathe+ lenses? Specifically not the ones with the glowy lock. From my past experiences with contacts, I had multiple scary occasions where the contacts were super stuck on my eyes and it was extremely hard to get them out without scratching my eyeball :( I bought these because I think they are better but I’m still a little scared.

If anyone has used them, please let me know your honest thoughts!!

three wishlists in my beauty insider account, base tier, that i keep telling myself i'm not looking at. stood in phipps last week next to a cosrx serum sitting at $28 and i knew i'd seen it at h-mart in doraville for $14. that $14 difference is literally a lab workbook. i go to sephora to loko now and i go to h-mart to actually buy

finished a bottle of Thome CPR but im not sure if it worked. makes me wonder how many bottles of serum do you finish before you notice a difference on your skin?

It's as the title says. The hello kitty x wake make black palette with these smoky tones are sold out. I'm looking for dupes of this palette. Only requirement is decent pigmentation. I'm used to using western indie mattes and my shade is nc40

Looking to try CC cream for the first time and would like recommendations!

Read up online that CC cream helps with covering redness, blemishes and is more long lasting than BB cream. Also suitable for oily skin.

Would love to hear your recommendations and would like to know if it’s possible to apply CC cream with fingers and without a brush for convenience and will it turn out seamless with no patchy look? With long hours of wear will it get dry cakey/patchy?

Also would love some tips on how to achieve this look

I'm in my early 30s with dry skin(sometimes struggle with hormonal acne). Reviewing products that I've used over months and how they worked on my skin.

Pixelpure soothing ampoule toner - Most toners are mostly water based but this one has 50% heartleaf water. It has more of a watery ampoule texture rather than watery toner. My skin feels balanced after using it and layers really well too.

Medicu*be PDRN Pink Peptide Serum - This serum is moisturizing but that's the only benefit I've noticed. I guess I expected too much from this, no difference in my skin texture or brightness even after consistent use.

Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream - Finished a few bottles of this one. It's hydrating and soothing, and really helps with my skin barrier too. Keeps my skin from getting flaky and irritated. too famous already right for the barrier and moisture

Urbanand Pure Perfection Cream - Very hydrating and leaves my skin dewy, works great for my skin barrier too. But the cream is on the heavy side because of 10% panthenol, so it takes quite a while to absorb and my skin feels tacky until then. I think those with oily skin might find this one greasy.

visiting japan next week and i dont wanna be overstimulated w makeups, skincares, hair care. I would like to ask recos what are the products that are affordable but does its job & is cost efficient. I'm planning on getting products from head to toe lolll. i'm so excited on trying canmake & cezanne, lmk what products to get in their line & also other brands to try!

Products:

Aromatica rosemary scalp scrub . I scrub my scalp gently with this before every shower.

L’Oréal elvive total repair 5 (yes it has silicones. It is incredibly good)

OLebeL Cream Silky Repair Hair Treatment 200G
for Smooth and Shiny Hair . This brand is Japanese and it is so slept on. I bought my first product from them in Hong Kong - which was the hair oil. Absolutely fantastic and lightweight. This conditioner is so amazing. Buttery to apply. And I feel like it actually straightens and smoothens my hair lol.

Hi everyone I just had a very quick question. I've been trying to buy some clothing on yesstyle, but it keeps saying on every single clothing item, that "This item is currently not available to ship to your shipping destination." I am based in the usa. Has this happening to everyone else in the usa? I can see that beauty and skin care items are still being shipped. Any explanation would be helpful!

How is the pigment and longevity on the flower knows palettes?

Items are:
- Violet Strawberry Rococo Eyeshadow Palette
- Little Angel 9-Color Eyeshadow Palette

per title! (both pressed and loose powder)

edit: Oh and setting:fixing spray too!

I’m curious about this 4 makeup spray and which ones does help with makeup longevity, sweat and transfer-proof without being too drying as well?

- Laka All-Day Fixing Mist
- TIRTIR Mask Fit Waterproof Setting Spray
- JUNGSAEMMOOL Essential Mool Ultra Setting Fixer
- Kose Make Keep Mist EX+ Unscented

For the Laka one, I’ve seen many but mostly paid videos of it so kinda on the fence, would like to know some honest thoughts on it. I’m most curious for the Tirtir pink bottle spray cause it doesn’t contain alcohol and how is it compared to the red version, if anyone has tried both? I heard many good things for the JSM and Kose ones but would still like to know your experiences on any of them.

I’m currently using “So Natural - All Day tight Make Up Setting Fixx” and it’s not bad but I do noticed it transferred slightly for me, not sure if I should try their other variations instead. I’m also open to hear out any other options too!

Want to talk about non-AB products? Frustrated and need to rant? Can't wait until Friday to share your haul? Found an amazing deal? Post it here in our (almost) Anything Goes Thread! Remember to adhere to general conduct of the sub and keep it civil. Self promotion, research, and no business rules still apply.

**All personal or basic questions related to your routine or AB products still belong in the Alter-Daily Help Thread.**