I view that as a pro. Switching to Linux made it easy to quit that addiction lol.

It depends on where you live, I’m going to make an assumption you live in the United States. There are a few options for Korean products:

In person, I’ve seen limited products in Marshalls/TJ Maxx. If you live near a TESOLife they also stock quite a selection of Korean cosmetic products (lip tints, blushes, etc.) but not much Korean skincare and I don’t remember ever seeing any Korean sunscreens. Most of their skincare is Japanese (and where I purchase sunscreen if I can’t online; they stock my holy grail: Skin Aqua). I know they have a website, but I’ve only shopped there in person and haven’t tried online. Most Asian markets also stock some form of skincare/cosmetic products, especially places like H Mart or Lotte Plaza Market.

If you live in NYC, you can go in person to Senti Senti, they also have an online shop I’ve ordered from when I needed to order something quick back when they were known as oo35mm. I remember there was an Asian grocery market near their original location that had a whole floor dedicated to skincare/cosmetics but I’m blanking on the name right now.

There’s also Costco if you have a membership (check their online stock, it’s not extensive but sometimes it surprises me; no sunscreen though). Most Korean brands now have their own online storefront (but I do think the prices on Amazon is still cheaper, so it’s up to you if that’'s worth it). Granted their official storefronts in the United States won’t have the Korean version of their sunscreens. I’ve also been impressed by iHerb’s selection of Korean skincare, but I’ve yet to see sunscreen there.

Directly from Korea, there’s Olive Young and most shipping estimates are 5 to 7 days. There’s also Jolse, but I haven’t ordered anything from overseas since the tariffs have been in place so I couldn’t give you accurate time-estimates.

Overall, it’s pretty tough avoiding Amazon since most Korean companies usually sell directly through Amazon with deals that undercut even their own official website pricing (ex. celimax, S. Nature, Physiogel, haruharu). But I’m in the same boat as you in trying to avoid business like Amazon, but for now, I’ve simply reduced my consumption.

Sunscreen is always a tough one (one day we’ll get some new UV filters lol), and I mostly stick to my tried and true Skin Aqua sunscreens so apologies in advance for my limited knowledge of Korean sunscreens. Hopefully this helps!

Yeah, that video made me switch out the motherboard I was planning on buying for my next build

I love and hate this, it really managed to raise my blood pressure.

My guess is a card charge-back?

Ooo, thanks for the recommendation, that does appear to be what I’m looking for! Although I’m still hesitating as some reviews do say that you can still click the joysticks through the case which isn’t ideal :/

It seems silly, but that inner case is what’s really making me feel the FOMO, traveling with the current case is such a hassle. I hope they sell the case alone for current deck owners

I managed to get wifi on this long haul international flight and it sure made my whole 18 hour flight to hop in right as Ass-N-Titties was played. Gave me a great laugh, thanks for that person who suggested and you for allowing it 😂

Hmm… I guess mine would be niacinamide (as I stare at my Holy Snail’s Whale Shark and have a Geek & Gorgeous B-Bomb on the way 😅). Like, it’s nice, but at the same time I really don’t feel like this ingredient does much for me. I keep using it because it doesn’t hurt me, but I’m not sure if it’s just placebo at this point lol

If we could have flares in Lemmy, mine would definitely be something about hating jars 😂

We need to go a level deeper: a carving of you carving a pear from avocado seed on another avocado seed

I enjoy the texture of the Kose cleanser more since it feels thinner and easier to completely rinse off. I don’t mind the Hada Labo one and it does get the job done, but I find I have to work a little harder to both spread the product and wash it off.

I’m very curious about this Geek & Gorgeous brand. They seem to be fragrance/dye-free and very economical! In particular, I see that their Happier Barrier product isn’t in a jar and am off to purchase it lol. How are you liking their products so far? I feel you on the slowly introducing actives into your routine. When I first started tret, I was using it twice a week and still managed to end up with tret burns! These days I’ve cut it back to once a week at most and sandwiching it in between my other products.

Skin type: Dry, Sensitive

Skin goals: Keeping skin hydrated and moisturized; under eye lines and darkness; improving skin barrier to tackle more frequent tret usage; preventing irritation by sticking with fragrance- and dye-free products with low to no scent

Season & climate: Hot, humid, and the only season is summer (and maybe one week of fall every now and then)

AM:

• Cleanser: Usually just hot water and a face towel or Curel Foaming Daily Face Wash
• Prep Toner/Mist: Curel Deep Moisturizing Spray
• Hydrating Toners: Mix of Hada Labo Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Lotion Regular and Premium
• Actives (sometimes I skip this step): Melano CC Vit C or Holy Snails Whale Shark
• Emulsion: Mix of Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Hyaluronic Milk and Curel Moisture Facial Milk (Intensive Moisture Care)
• Eye Cream: CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream
• Moisturizer: Mix of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream with Hyaluronic Acid for Extra-Dry Skin (old formulation) and Curel Intensive Moisture Facial Cream
• SPF: Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Gel Gold SPF50+ PA++++

PM:

• Oil Cleanser: Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil
• 2nd Cleanser: Curel Foaming Daily Face Wash or La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser
• Prep Toner/Mist: Same as AM
• Hydrating Toners: Same as AM
• Emulsion: Same as AM
• Eye Cream: Curel Moisture Repair Eye Cream or Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Eye Cream
• Actives (sometimes I also skip this step): Prescription Altreno (at most, once a week) or The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA or same as AM
• Moisturizer: Same as AM or Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream
• Occlusive (when not using tret): Vanicream Moisturizing Ointment

Other:

• Quick Cleanser: Albolene Micellar Milk Face Cleanser
• Moisturizer I’m trying out: Aveeno Calm+Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer

General thoughts: For the most part I’ve been using the same products for years now and I’m mostly content with my routine.

I don’t care for foaming cleansers in general so I’m probably not going to repurchase my Curel one after I finish it up. LRP works fine, but I wouldn’t mind trying out other cleansers (I’ve been eyeing the new CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser).

The one product I am still struggling to find is a good fragrance/dye-free/low-no scent moisturizer for dry skin that doesn’t come in a jar (I hate jars so much 😭). I usually either decant jar products or use a spatula which is a nuisance but my brain won’t let me dip my fingers into a jar lol. The moisturizers I’m using so far are fine, but a little too light-weight or obnoxiously shiny (looking at you Aestura). So, if any of you know of any good moisturizers for dry skin that don’t come in a jar, please let me know!

I feel you on the shipping! My last StyleVana order took almost a month and a half to get to me 😭 Funny enough I’m currently looking at my own Hada Labo Oil refill wondering what I’m going to do with it now that Kose Speedy Oil Cleanser has replaced it for me 😅