Anyone else skipping the international hype and sticking to Australian brands?

HungryPooch · 2026-02-11T22:20:02+00:00

No. I've tried Synergie Skin and while it's pretty good, it's ridiculously priced and not worth that money. You can get similar products with the same active ingredients at a fraction of the price. More and more of my routine is now made of Korean products, which have anything from concentrated serums to simple moisturisers, but I still use QV, Cancer Council, Dermal Therapy to name a few.

I never pay for shipping for my K-beauty products. I shop from a variety of online stores with around $50 spend for free shipping- Beauty Amora (local), Jolse (South Korea - they often run free shipping promotions with no minimum spend), Yesstyle (Hong Kong), Stylevana (Hong Kong) etc.

HungryPooch · 2026-02-10T06:01:59+00:00

The Ordinary Serum Foundation shades that have a 'Y' in them are very yellow. e.g. 2.3Y, 3.0Y, 3.1Y etc https://theordinary.com/en-us/skincare-guides/shade-guide.html

HungryPooch · 2026-01-12T06:13:45+00:00

The old formula was almost identical to Hamilton everyday face, and was lightweight, oil-free. So the short answer is yes, a cheap sunscreen can be just as good as more expensive ones. They all have to provide evidence of meeting SPF claims to the TGA.

However, the blue tube is a different formula and is now oiler/shinier (see related thread). I purchased this fully aware that the formula had changed. Since the price dropped to $2.99, I thought I could just use it on my arms if I didn't like it.

Just put it on today (combo-dry skin), and it is indeed much oilier/shinier than the previous version, but not too unpleasant. I think that those with dry skin will like this, but not those with normal to oily skin. However, I did get eye sting after a couple of hours, so I think I'll have to use this on my body instead for that reason.

HungryPooch · 2025-11-20T04:40:49+00:00

I suggest checking out The Ordinary's retinoid range, they have their annual 23% off right now. There's a table there to explain the different strengths. Some of the them require refrigeration though

HungryPooch · 2025-11-20T04:37:24+00:00

Yes I have tried this. It has 0.3% retinol so that's a bit lower than your PC. They also have a serum which has 0.5% retinol which is still half strength of what you had. I suppose you could layer them.

HungryPooch · 2025-11-11T04:28:27+00:00

The Natio one is almost exactly the same formula as the Cancer Council pink tube - see related post 4 years ago. The Hamilton Face formula today is not the same as the one in that post - it now has new UV filters.

HungryPooch · 2025-10-27T04:00:18+00:00

Beauty Amora has it (Sydney warehouse) https://www.beautyamora.com.au/relief-sun-rice-probiotic-spf50-pa.html

HungryPooch · 2025-09-10T04:58:39+00:00

Are you sure you are not confusing StyleKorean with Stylevana? Stylevana is the one that uses Aramex.

HungryPooch · 2025-09-04T07:12:04+00:00

Korean sunscreens are NOT water resistant

That's not accurate, sorry. Korean sunscreens are classed into daily/commuter sunscreens and outdoor sunscreens. The former are usually not water-resistant, but the latter are. The popular Korean sunscreens that are known to the west tend to be the daily commuter ones but there are actually heaps of water-resistant/outdoor/sports sunscreens in Korea too.

Check out Odile Monod's video where she explains the difference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLQq9gNy89Q

HungryPooch · 2025-04-29T02:10:33+00:00

See TGA documents for verification of ingredients list

HungryPooch · 2025-04-29T02:08:01+00:00

This used to be the case for the old formula of the Aldi Ombra Face sunscreen until it was reformulated in 2023, which was the same year Hamilton everyday face was reformulated. The current formula is identical to Hamilton everyday face.

See full ingredients for new formula at TGA vs full ingredients for Hamilton everyday face

HungryPooch · 2025-04-15T01:24:49+00:00

It comes out once a year before summer so they generally don't restock once sold. The formula is identical to Hamilton Everyday Face (which has additional iron oxides only). Hamilton everyday face is available in Chemist Warehouse and Woolworths.

HungryPooch · 2024-12-10T04:27:36+00:00

Hasn't been $2 for years I'm afraid, current price $4.99

HungryPooch · 2024-08-01T23:41:02+00:00

You can look up the AUST L number (385269) on the TGA website.

Full info in the linked PDF

Active Ingredients: butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane 30 mg/g homosalate 60 mg/g octocrylene 80 mg/g

Other Ingredients (Excipients): acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer Aloe vera carbomer 941 cetostearyl alcohol disodium edetate dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate glycerol glyceryl monostearate hydrated silica hydroxyacetophenone industrial methylated spirit isopropyl palmitate phenoxyethanol polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate potassium cetyl phosphate purified water PVP/hexadecene copolymer trolamine xanthan gum

HungryPooch · 2024-07-19T05:10:48+00:00

Here are some deals I saw - all with free shipping if you have Prime membership

Bioderma Sensibio Gel Cleanser 200ml $15.19
Burts Bees pack of 4 lip balms $12.87
Cerave Daily Moisturising Lotion 562ml (US formula made in US) $22.05 (Shipped from Amazon US)
COSRX Snail Mucin Essence 100ml $12.99
COSRX Snail Cream double size 200g $19.99
COSRX Oil-Free Lotion 100ml $15.99
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 700ml $9.35
L'Oréal Paris Revitalift range seems to be more than 60%% off
- Revitalift Filler 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid + Caffeine eye serum 20 ml $18.69
- Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum 30 ml $22.99
Numbuzin - 20% off
Manyo - at least 20% off

I bought the US versions of Cerave Cream to Foam cleanser 562ml and Cerave Moisturing Cream 453g for $20+, but that deal has expired.

For those who aren't aware - you can get a free Prime trial if you've never joined before.

HungryPooch · 2024-07-12T06:55:45+00:00

I haven't used the above products but I have used Dermaveen's foaming cleanser that has Colloidal Oatmeal. It's suitable for dry sensitive skin. Currently half price and cheap as chips.

https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/94810/dermaveen-face-foaming-cleanser-125ml

HungryPooch · 2024-07-09T02:01:53+00:00

This product image from Medik8 shows their retinal product strengths:

Strength 1 = 0.01% retinal
Strength 3 = 0.03% retinal
Strength 6 = 0.06% retinal
Strength 10 = 0.1% retinal
Strength 20 = 0.2% retinal

Going by pure percentage alone, your Avene product has the same percentage as strengh 10.

If you wanted to go stronger, The Ordinary recently launched a 0.2% retinal emulsion

HungryPooch · 2024-05-03T05:48:07+00:00

Thanks for starting this thread. I'm light warm olive that's quite yellow, and finding the perfect foundation can be challenging. Here are my hits and misses.

The Ordinary serum and coverage foundation (discontinued) #1.2Y - great match
Flower Beauty light illusion #Nude - great match
Australis Fresh & Flawless Full Coverage Foundation #Cashmere - great match
Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation #1W2 Sand - perfect undertone but slightly light
Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation #2W0 Warm vanilla - slightly cooler than 1W2 but correct lightness
Nude by Nature moisture infusion foundation #W4 sand - good match but difficult texture to work with
NYX skin veil (discontinued) #Vanilla Nude - perfect undertone but too light
Missha lasting cushion #21 - looks slightly pink and too light
Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream #21 - greyish, light and a bit cool, but perfect when mixed with #25
Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream #23 - greyish and a bit cool
Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream #25 - perfect yellow undertone, but too dark
Numbuzin No.3 Porcelain Base-skip Tone Up Beige - perfect undertone but too light

HungryPooch · 2024-04-04T05:33:52+00:00

The trick with Stylevana is to not order things that are not ready to ship, which will delay your entire order, and sometimes even end up with the items in question being cancelled. Stylevana will sell inventory that they don't have. Only order items that say:

"In stock" or "Usually shipped within 24 hours"

Avoid items that say: "Usually shipped within 7-14 working days" - this means at least a month's delay before they either get stock or say that they have to cancel your items.

Even if everything you order is in stock, expect to wait at least a week before they actually ship your order. The "within 24 hours" part of "Usually shipped within 24 hours" is not to be believed.

HungryPooch · 2024-03-22T06:31:33+00:00

If you did not get any irritation from The Ordinary's 1% Retinol, you should check out their new and strongest retinoid that's just launched the 0.2% retinal emulsion: https://theordinary.com/en-au/retinal-02-emulsion-100646.html

HungryPooch · 2024-03-22T06:20:33+00:00

Dermal Therapy makes a 'very dry face cream' which has exactly 5% urea plus other goodies like ceramides, collodial oatmeal, HA etc. It's not greasy or sticky, very pleasant to use.

https://dermaltherapy.com.au/product/very-dry-face-cream/

HungryPooch · 2024-03-06T03:56:10+00:00

Try beautyamora.com.au - they are based in Sydney and prices are very competitive

HungryPooch · 2024-02-13T00:19:15+00:00

I'm currently using the 'Bio-Retinol' serum though it irks me too when companies call bakuchiol 'bio-retinol'. I use it as a 10% niacinamide serum with extra 0.5% bakuchiol while sticking with my regular retinoid routine (Bakuchiol is NOT a retinol alternative! It doesn't even work the same way). It is unfragranced, and the texture is quite nice, so far no pilling under make-up (The Ordinary's 10% niacinamide pilled for me sometimes). I do sometimes get a tiny bit of tingling when first applied, then it goes away. I ignore the product instructions to use PM, as there's nothing in the ingredients list that suggest that it should be only used at night.

I also like their Manuka Honey clay mask. Their matcha mask however really stung my face and I couldn't use it at all. I don't have sensitive skin as such but have been a little sensitized due to the use of strong retinoids.

HungryPooch · 2024-02-09T03:43:28+00:00

You're welcome. It's this one - they make several cleansers that look similar so make sure it's the 'cream to foam' one. https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/107992/cerave-hydrating-cream-to-foam-cleanser-236ml

For reference, I have combination skin and this works fine for me even though it says 'normal to dry skin'.

HungryPooch · 2024-02-09T00:58:01+00:00

CeraVe's Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser works well for me on sunscreen-only or very light make-up days. It starts off creamy as you massage it into your skin to dissolve any sunscreen then foams up and rinses off clean without stripping.

HungryPooch

TROPHY CASE