There are so many advances in skincare coming from Asia, primarily from South Korea and Japan. Compared to the U.S., they are way ahead of other countries in terms of research on anti-aging products. The only catch is that the ingredients used are a bit, um, “exotic.”

Snail Mucin – It is what it sounds like, the slime that comes from a snail. Don’t worry, it’s been sanitized in Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. 🙂

Advanced Snail Mucin Power Essence

You get over the grossness quickly when you see how this clear liquid makes your skin so much smoother and hydrated. It’s been touted in Asia for decades for its anti-aging properties. This is an essence, which is like a serum but lighter. Read here for my post on when to apply an essence. It’s been a life-changer for my dry skin.

Horse Oil – Yes, it’s oil made from the fat of horses (eek!). But it works fantastically well for calming irritated skin. It’s one of those ethical choices you have to struggle with: being an animal lover or using a product that makes you look young.

Face mask with horse oil

I used it in the form of a face mask when my face was feeling dry and eczema-prone. The Horseyu Hydrogel Mask took away the redness and made my skin feel plumped up and happy.

Donkey Milk – Yes, it’s the milk from donkeys. Who knew that you could milk a donkey? 😛 Like goat or cow milk, it has healing and hydrating properties. But donkey milk is supposed to be even better than cow’s milk, with more vitamin C, which is good for brightening and preserving skin. I found this Donkey Milk Skin Gel Mask Aqua hydrating as expected, but definitely with a more skin softening effect. Some have found that it helps with skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne.

Donkey Milk Face Mask

Fermented Rice Bran – I wrote about this magical ingredient in my post about the luxurious SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. It has “Pitera,” which is the miracle anti-aging liquid that sake brewers found preserved the skin on their hands. Besides making your skin so smooooth, the fermented rice bran in it has been proven to keep age spots away too!

Placenta – Don’t think too hard about this one or you’ll never try it. I tried this one from Japan, which has an extended piece to cover your neck as well. For best results, you probably should wear it when you’re lying down, as the neck piece droops down otherwise.

Unless you can read Japanese, you can’t really figure out what the exact ingredients are…I suspect that it’s made from the stem cells of sheep placenta. The verdict: it was comparable in helping my skin feel plumped up and smooth.