I’m a huge beauty nerd, so when I got my first 3b box I was beyond excited! 3b stands for Beauty Beyond Borders, a beauty start–up that allows you to sample Asian beauty products by shipping them directly to you. Ke Chen, founder of Beauty Beyond Borders, says that she’s been obsessed with Asian skincare since she was 12, and with good reason. Marie Claire estimates that Asia is 10–12 years ahead of the US when it comes to skincare innovation!
“My vision for Beauty Beyond Borders was one source where you can try, buy and learn about Asian beauty,” Ke told me. “In short, for the past 15 years I've fallen in love with products originating from Asia but didn’t have an easy way to trial or buy new products so I finally decided to change that.”
So how does 3b work? “We have a subscription service where new beauty enthusiasts can try Asian beauty samples and discover the magic themselves,” Ke explains. “For $12/month, subscribers receive four to five deluxe samples of the most clamored for, most coveted, cult beauty products from overseas delivered to their door. And if they like the samples they've received, they can buy the full–size products directly through us as well.”
Featured in my box were five products (with a helpful card explaining all the info about them, since most of them were in Korean). Using multiple products on your face in quick succession is never a good thing, so I did my best to space out which ones I tried when over a span of two weeks. I also got more than one of a few products seemingly at random, so I gave my extras to my friends Kiki, Anessa, Sabrina and Amanda, whose reviews I have also recorded. The more opinions (and skin types) the better. As Ke said, “Skincare is really about mixing and matching products to find the best routine for you—it's definitely part of the fun. The same way not all clothes are flattering on every body type, it's best to find skincare products that are particularly effective for your skin type. That's where it's especially great to be able to try samples of a product before committing to an entire bottle.”
The products are listed below in order of how they appeared on the 3b card, accompanied by the card’s info and our reviews.
Leaders Brightening Recovery Mask:
The claim: "This premium coconut gel mask contains Telangyn and Niacinamide to even out your skin for a glowing complexion. Remove mask from packing and peel off protective film from one side. Place mask on face and remove other side of protective film. Smooth mask to fit contours of face. Leave on for 20 minutes and pat excess serum into face and neck."
Since I have sensitive skin, I only kept the mask on for about 12 minutes. After I removed the mask, there was a lot of excess serum on my face, which I patted into my face and neck like the card suggested. After about 15 minutes, I felt super slimy so I went and washed it off. The next day my skin was RADIANT though! 9/10. Unfortunately, there was only one mask, so I couldn’t share the coco–goodness.
Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream:
The claim: "This luxurious cream is blended with potent Korean medicinal herbs to instantly firm and tone while stimulating collagen for a long–term lift. Adlay millet detoxifies and promotes elasticity with pomegranate, green tea and ginko fight free–radicals to maintain a youthful radiance. Swap this for your usual a.m./p.m. moisturizer."
Francesca: I didn’t try this one because of my sensitive skin. Moisturizers are always the trickiest, and I didn’t want to risk a reaction.
Kiki: Not too oily, nice scent.
Anessa: It smelled nice and it wasn’t too oily. It had a good consistency. My skin felt a little bit firmer, but not an incredibly noticeable amount.
Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Essence:
The claim: "Propolis extract is created by black bees and known as nature’s antibiotic. It’s anti-inflammatory, great for acne–prone skin and non–comodegenic (which means it won’t clog your pores). This essence boasts an impressive list of ingredients with 50% black bee propolois extract, 20% royal jelly extract and 10% royal black honey extract. Apply three to four drops after toning."
Francesca: When I first dropped it onto my fingers, it felt like hair oil, so I was apprehensive to rub it onto my skin. However, I can’t even stress how non–greasy it was. It really just makes your skin feel good.
Kiki: There was no scent, and it wasn’t greasy. It made my skin feel soft and firm. I would definitely use it again.
Dewytree Blackhead Out Nose Patch:
The claim: "Volcanic ash from Jeju island and charcoal extracts clean out any clogged pores and remove blackheads. Peel strip off plastic liner, wet nose, and apply strip to moistened nose. Let strip dry for 10–15 minutes and carefully peel off starting at the edges. Even if you don’t have blackheads, you can use this to clean out your pores!"
Francesca: I’ve never used a blackhead patch on my nose before, so I was excited to try this next product. I don’t think I wet my nose enough, but there were noticeably fewer blackheads when I removed it. I didn’t think it necessarily hurt when I took it off, but it definitely made my skin feel less clogged.
Kiki: It hurt to remove and I kind of felt like it ripped off a part of my skin but then I was really pleased with the results once I looked in the mirror.
Aritaum Fresh Power Essence Pouch Sleeping Pack:
The claim: "Honey is one of our top ingredients thanks to its anti–bacterial properties and skin–boosting antioxidants. This sleep mask is perfect for lathering on as your last step in your nighttime skincare routine and waking up with beautiful glowing skin. Rinse off in the morning. Each pouch can be used for two to three applications."
Francesca: This is the one I was most apprehensive to try, because I was nervous I would just be squeezing straight up honey onto my face and leaving it there over night. It smelled lovely, and the texture was not nearly as gooey as I would expect. It made my skin feel sticky once it dried.
Overall, I enjoyed trying the different products. What I was most impressed by was the no–fuss attitude to skincare—everything was made with natural ingredients and easy to use. When I asked Ke about the difference between American and Asian products, she told me that Asian skincare products are usually more gentle, which I noticed. “Asian skincare products also usually have gentle formulas that shun harsh chemicals and draw inspiration from the earth instead,” Ke explained. “Many products feature honey, rice, black sugar, aloe or ginseng as the basis of their formulas. Of course there are also more adventurous and innovative ingredients such as snail mucin and bee venom that deliver exceptional skincare at a fraction of the cost.” I don’t know how willing I would be to rub snail mucin on my face, but I definitely liked the honey featured in many of the products I got to try.
Ke also explained that another key difference between the American and Asian approach to skincare is that in the US skincare is reactive, not proactive. “In Asia taking care of your skin is a pleasure, not a task,” Chen says. “It’s a ritual, not a routine. It’s a luxury to be savored, not a chore to be completed. Skincare is not a quick rinse of your face in the shower and applying a cream as you’re climbing into bed. It’s a quiet unwinding at the end of a chaotic day as you come home to yourself. It’s something to look forward to. To indulge in. Skincare in Asia is an art form, a practice, of investing in yourself every morning and every night. Our goal is to help you build a skincare routine worth slowing down for.” Amen to that!
PSA: If you use code "UPENN" when signing up for 3B, you will receive a free bonus item in your first 3B box!
