Hera Black Cushion

Aug13

#Kbeauty !

HERA BLACK CUSHION in N21 (Vanilla)

Finally i got my Hera Black Cushion 3 weeks ago and have been using it for almost 2 weeks.

Here is my honest review!

I really like the packaging alot. It looks very classy and it kind of resembled the YSL cushion.

Black casing with gold rims.

The cushion pad quality seemed to be better and improved.

There is also the HERA logo embossed on the cushion.

Packaging and casing was great but the most important thing is the coverage and texture.

It was marketed to be light weight , brightens the skin , matt and lasts longer as per their website (Click HERE)

Here are my reviews after 2 weeks of use :

Coverage : Light but full. It does brightens the skin. I am using N21 (Vanilla).

Dewyness : It is quite matt and if you have dry skin , you may want to apply moisturizing primer before using this cushion. Sometimes when i am in the aircon room for too long and my skin felt dry , i have to spray facial mist first before touching up with the cushion else very hard to blend.

Lasting Power : Yes it does last quite long and i do not need much touch up except when i wiped my mouth after meals.

What i like about this cushion : it really helps to brighten up my skin. It looks more luminous and it really lasts longer esp in the hot weather these days.

Should you buy ? : Yes ! It works well in our summery and hot humid weather. You do not need to worry about your base make up melting away. But if you like this cushion and yet find it too matt like me , try applying moisturizing primer first.

This is also something i got and waiting to arrive too ! Shall review once i got my hands on it and tried for at least a week !

Dec7

Missed the LIVE telecast of Legend of the Blue Sea so i think i have to wake up early to watch the uploaded version at 6am !

So sad…the lipstick used by Jun Ji Hyun in the drama was SOLD OUT !!!!!

These 3 Hera lipsticks were SOLD OUT. Which means have to wait for 2 more weeks or so for the stocks. I asked my MIL and Bro in law for a favour to keep a look out. I like the RED more actually.

Pink one – Rouge Holic #147 and Serum Glow #1

( she mixed these 2 colours )

She is using Rouge Holic #333 here.

Btw , i just finished my vaseline body moisturiser and recently got the Face Shop Fresh Milk Cream moisturiser. I LOVE IT. Review later…after 1 week of use then i review.

Smells really like milk powder. It contains fresh milk from Dae Gwang Ryeong mountain in Korea. Well known for the high mountain goats’ milk. Goats were fed more fresh and green pastures so the milk produced supposedly to be fresh and of high quality. It reminds me of the taiwan sheep farm i went to earlier this year lol.

Dae Gwan Ryeong Sheep Farm : http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264615

Just received my pictures from my photographer for my wedding in Korea. If you are interested in taking your wedding pictures in Busan studio , drop me an email at peonykissblog@gmail.com so i can link you up. Full translation throughout the shoot with a minder accompany , album sending to SG , transport to and fro studio , concierge service , deposit placing with studio to secure your shooting dates and dresses etc and liasing and translation of requirements of selected photos for editing to studio.

If language is a barrier for you esp when you want them to do your style of edits and does not want to be short changed during shoots (didnt get what you paid for or promised) and want a peace of mind and would like to opt for this concierge service , drop me an email so i can link you up with the concierge with the selection of studios.

The studio i went to is the best in BUSAN and one of the best in KR with celebrities doing their shoots there too.

2 months liao..omg time flies man…i wanna travel back time ! Click to view enlarged photos !

Review : My Favourite BB Cushions

Oct31

#Kbeauty Time !

Back from Korea for 2 weeks already but i have yet to sort out my cosmetics and skincare. So i decided to spend my Sat morning to pack and sort them.

I used to hoard and buy alot of Korean cosmetics when i first got to know and try them. I don’t know but maybe that time i am curious and want to try as many and also i seldom travel to Korea so i thought i should buy more at once and stock up since they are much cheaper there ( 30-50% cheaper to buy in Korea than SG ). But since now i go there twice a year , i don’t hoard or stock up that much already. They update their product range every season and there are always new products and new colours. I used to stock up alot of one thing and when there are new colours or new products launched, i regretted getting many of one kind because i need to use finish before i change. If not very waste money leh.

But there is one thing that i will really stock up no matter what …..guess what ?
BB Cushions !

I use them everyday and i touch up maybe once or twice a day especially after meals. So one refill can last me only 1 to 1.5 months. And there are different kinds of cushions for different days and depends on my skin condition on that day.

I just sorted them in a tiny box and also according to the expiry. All cushions in this box were bought this year and expires till end of 2019. You can find the expiry and manufacturing date at the back of the cushion.

The different brands im using now :

From left to right..

Age 20’s Essence Cover Pack 3 X ( no 21)

Hera UV Mist Cushion Ultra Moisture ( no 21 )

Pony Effect Everlasting Cushion (Ivory)

Laneige Whitening BB Cushion (No 13)

Iope Moisture Cushion (No 21)

Leaders Insolution Cushion (No 21)

Pony Effect Everlasting Cushion in Ivory

Usually i use this on days when im wearing bright red lipsticks. Because this cushion makes my skin looks really fair which compliments with my red lipsticks. Also it will make your skin looks alittle “oily”.

Reviewed here before : https://peonykiss.com/tag/pony-effect/

Age 20’s Essence Cover Pact 3X in No 21.

This is a new cushion my MIL bought for me. It is a 3 in 1 kind of cushion which include sunscreen , skincare (essences) and bb cream. I was told that this is the IN thing among youngsters now so my MIL ordered a box of cushions + refills + serums + liptints for me. I have not done a review yet and shall do one for this one.

The one below is a new one. The one im currently using and kept in my bag looks already cui because i have been using it for 2 weeks already. I really like it ! It is really moisturising. I can feel the moisturising essence on my skin when i pat it on my cheeks. My skin doesn’t feel dry nor does this cushion cakes. Lasting power is good because if i were to top up , i will look every fairer. Unlike a cushion , it is a abit pact like.

Price : Not sure how much it costs since it was my MIL who bought for me.

Coverage : 8/10

Dewiness : 8/10

Moisturizing effect : 9/10

Lasting : 8/10

This is suitable for daily use for all skin types.

This is the pact which im using now. There is a dent on the left side was because i thought it was “spongy” so i pressed very hard with my fingers and it kinda “cracked”. The red and white ones are essences from what i know. It is not powdery not creamy. It is like a balm. Feels good and smells good also. I have been using this for 2 weeks already ! I used it in Korea to when the weather was abit cold and windy. My skin still felt moisturised and the coverage on my skin doesn’t crack from dryness either.

Really nice ! you should get one to try !

Hera UV Mist Cushion Ultra Moisture in No 21

One of my Holy Grail . This cushion is super moisturising and suits when you travel to cold country. I use this one days when i have really dry skin. But i don’t really use this one very hot days because it will make my face look very “glossy” when i perspire.
I had done the reviews for this couple of times already.

One word review this time : BUY!

Reviewed here before : https://peonykiss.com/2014/12/04/10588/

Laneige Whitening BB Cushion in No 13.

I have not done a review for this too.

To be honest , i am a little disappointed with this. I bought it because of the cute cover and was curious about it since i saw the advert everywhere. It is very drying and though i bought it a shade lighter ( no 13) than my usual shade which was no 21 , it doesn’t really ‘whiten”. I will use this probably when days are very hot because it is quite matte actually. It oxidizes pretty fast also.

Price : KRW 26,000 after 20% discount off ARITAUM

Coverage : 7/10

Dewiness : 5/10

Moisturizing effect : 5/10

Lasting : 6/10

Leaders Insolution BB Cushion No 21.

Will review about this next week. Have yet to open ! Need to use at least 2 to 3 times before reviewing. Will compare with Hera’s Ultra Moisture cushion in next review.

Iope Moisture Cushion in No 21.

Will review about this next week. Have yet to open ! Need to use at least 2 to 3 times before reviewing. Will compare with Hera’s Ultra Moisture cushion in next review.

To be honest , i am tempted to try out the Semi-permanent make up BB cover procedure at Lee Na Young Aesthetics Clinic which is a new Korean aesthetics clinic in SG but it is quite pricey. Heard the aestheticians and director/doctor is a Korean lady and quite pretty. Abit tempted to go for it because seems interesting and convenient that i do not need to put on any bb cushion after going through this treatment. The bb cushion is temporarily inked to your skin just like eye brow embroidery. But the pricing hor…hmmm….read that the results will last about 4-6 months.

It is 12 am now. Need to go for a good sleep and prepare for tomorrow’s challenge !
Review more again ! Ahhh im still waiting for the photos taken on my actual wedding day in Busan.

The studio said need 1 month ….. ok lah..if they do swee swee for me then 1 month of wait is worth it.

Before i say good night…

Something to let you dream of tonight.

Tonkatsu + Kimbap rice + Fried Dumplings for KRW 7000 only !

At this in Haeundae Busan. Cannot remember where already. It was a random Ahjumma restaurant selling Kimbaps , Ramyeons and Tonkatsu…was tempted by the picture menu on the wall and we walked in to order this.

So shiok lor !

Aug2

Hello ladies ! Well , i receive couple of messages and emails to request for more blogging updates.

I realized that my blogging frequency kinda reduced by 50% ? Instead of 4 posts a month , it dropped to 2 posts a month. Well , kinda busy these 2 months. Plus my health was not really good in a point which is also something i want to share with everyone later. I will try to share at least 4 times a week here.

Its been 2 months since we moved into a rented apartment. Life was good. Felt like home though it was rented. Lol now i worry about moving to a new place if we were not to renew our rental here next year. Because there are so much to move and pack ! I really can’t wait to apply for his PR so that we can apply for housing here , settle down and start a family.

1 more month to our ROM in SG and 2 more months to our wedding in Busan. Friends and family members will be flying over and alot of accommodation arrangement to do. MIL sold off her hotel inn and franchised a BBQ restaurant. If she still have the inn it will be quite easy to house everyone because the location was very convenient. MIL’S apartment in Busan will only be ready in 2018. Next time my family members and friends can stay there if they travel to Busan.

So do i feel excited about our wedding ? ehhh to be honest , both of us don’t feel that yet.

Because we both felt like we were married already. After work , i will come home to do the laundry , cook if i have time and if it is not too late and i do grocery shopping every sunday.

Here’s what i prepared last sunday.

Korean Ginseng Chicken and Salad ( diced apples , lettuce , chia seeds , bavarian sausage and oriental salad sauce.

Took 1 hour to boil the ginseng chicken and while it is boiling , i will prepare the salad. So took about total of 1.5 hours to prepare.

Korean ginseng chicken is pretty easy to cook. Sounds and looks difficult but very easy.

All you need is…

1) 10 cloves of garlic ( do not minced it or chop it ! )

2) Ginseng and some herbs

3) Lots of red dates , i put about 18-20 small red dates.

5) Whole chicken (washed and with head and feet removed .

I trimmed off the fats and take away some skin ( not fully ).

6) 1 teaspoon of salt

7) 1 whole onion ( chopped into half )

Firstly , i boil a pot of water and add in some kelps. Let it boil for about 15 minutes.

In another pot , i lay the seasonings ( Onions , red dates , ginseng , herbs and garlics ) at the bottom of the pot and then i will put the chicken in nicely. This is so that one side of the chicken do not get burnt. This is also so that the seasoning will not all float to the top.

Add 1 teaspoon of salt.

Turn on medium heat for about 30 minutes to cook the chicken and after that i switched to low heat for next 30 minutes.

When i switched to low heat , i will transfer the cut the ginseng chicken into 4 parts and transfer the chicken and soup into the Korean stone pot. The stone pot helps to keep soups and stews hot because it retains heat. I prefer buying the matt ones.

Because my chicken was too big and i can’t squeeze into the largest stone pot that i had, so i cooked the ginseng chicken in a normal non stick pot and transfer it to stone pot.

It is pretty easy. Just throw everything into the pot and let it boil on medium and low heat and ready to serve.

So how about the dipping sauce ?

All you need is just salt + black pepper. Yes that’s right.

Saw the little dish that is between the salad and ginseng chicken ? That is the dipping sauce.

*
Salad was pretty easy.

I bought lettuce and cut them into bite sizes. Cut green apples and diced them.

Add chia seeds and sausage.

I bought Oriental Salad Sauce from a Koryo Mart in Telok Ayer street. The sauce is very nice and im going there to buy more bottles back !

Yumms

That was our Sunday’s dinner !

Well , i have invited some friends over for dinner and BBQ. I think the main focus was my skin care and make up collection in the room.

Here’s a “view” of my daily facial care routine.

Here’s what i keep in the toilet. Didnt include my cleanser in this photo though.

But below are what i used to remove make up and apply right after my shower.

From left to right :

After shower care :
1) Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

2) CNP Laboratory Invisible Peeling Booster

Make up removers :

3) Biore Cleansing Water

4) Biore Jelly Remover

5) Maxclinic Oil to Foam Vit C Cleanser

Well , i usually remove the make up with Jelly remover because it is very gentle and i do not need to tug with cotton pads. I use the cleansing water only if i tightline my eyes with eyeliner or remove stubborn mascara.

The oil to foam cleanser was mainly to remove the BB cushion creams. Because it changes to foam after lathering with water , it does not give that oily feel.

Because i triple cleanse my face , i will buy mild cleansers so that i wont dry out my skin.

This are my serums and creams which i kept them in basket.

Sulwhasoo Essential Water , Hera Cell Essence , Leaders Vit C Capsule Serum , Bioderma Hydrabio Serum , Hera Waterin Gel Serum and CNP Propolis Energy Ampoule.

The Sulwhasoo set was a gift from Mil’s friend who works for Amore Pacific. I actually prefer the Hera ones which i used previously compared to Sulwhasoo. Well perhaps because im still trying to get used to Sulwhasoo right now.

I switch between Bioderma and Hera’s hydrating serum. Texture are the almost similar. Hydrating effect for Bioderma is slightly better but takes a longer time to absorb than Hera.

I like the Propolis Energy Ampoule from CNP. It is good and can see the brightening effect after few days. This is my 2nd bottle already. I switch between the CNP ampoule and Leaders Vit C serum depending on what kind of hydrogel or sheet mask im putting on that day.

CNP Laboratory is a Korean brand and available in SG’s Watsons and Guardians. I suggest you go to the bigger Watsons and Guardian outlets to buy because they have a bigger range. The small outlet ones have very limited products.

You can buy them from Olive and Young in Korea. But the bottles are very heavy.

Here are my emulsions, moisturizers and overnight treatment/creams.

Overnight mask from Sulwhasoo , Anti aging treatment from HERA , Moisturizers from CNP Lab and Primera and Emulsion from Sulwhasoo. I don’t use 2 moisturizers and 2 overnight creams of cos. It will be too much on my face. My Primera moisturizer is finishing soon so im switching over to CNP after that. I use the anti aging treatment on weekends and the clarifying mask from Sulwhasoo on week days.

Of cos , not to forget your eyes !

Waterin eye serum from Hera. I love this alot ! This is my 5th or 6th stick i think in 2 years. I use this day and night.

So i guess on average i apply about 8 products each time in the day and 9 products each time at night. If i were to include my 3 steps cleansing , that will be 11 – 12 products ( excluding sheet masks ).

It really takes alot of time and discipline to do so !

If you were to ask me to review and if the products above are worth buying ?
Yes they are !
I have reviewed everything before except for the Bioderma Serum and CNP Lab products. Will do so next time round !

Oct17

K-Beauty time.

Im gonna introduce these 2 items that i just bought and have been using them for a 2 weeks already. I am not blogging from home now so i did not manage to take real life pictures of these 2 products. So , i grabbed the product pics from google.

These are the first 2 products i am going to review. More to review soon 🙂

1st item was from HERA.

Hera Essential Mousse Treatment.

I really liked it alot because my skin looks more radiant after a week. It is to be used as the last step of your skincare.

1) Shake it well

2) Squeeze a 20cent coin size onto your palm 3

3) Apply it all over your face and massage for better absorption

“Essential Mousse Treatment is a nutrient-rich, mousse-type, anti-aging solution with light, fine air bubbles that leave the skin feeling refreshed. Skin-vitalizing ingredient (Epi-Vitalizing Cycler™) is absorbed fast into the skin to help the skin absorb skincare products used in the previous step of the skincare routine and deliver essential nourishment.

Massage the skin with carbonated bubbles to improve the elasticity of the skin and stimulate blood circulation.

With simple massage using fine, sparkling bubbles, you can get skin that’s firm and supple. Plus, massage using fine, sparkling bubbles simulate the circulation of the skin results in glowing, smooth skin tone.

Effective and fast formation of moisture field – you can see and feel the effect.

Essential Mousse Treatment is absorbed fast into the skin without leaving a residual feeling to form a shield of moisture on the skin and keep the skin healthy by relieving skin stress.”

One reason why im slowly introducing anti-aging products into my usual skincare routine was because im turning 30 next year and it is time i should “anti-age” my skin. To be honest , i really like this product alot because like what HERA’s website describe it “glowing , smooth skin tone”. I can see glowing and smoother skin tone after 2 weeks of usage. I apply it 3 times a week before i go to bed.

The price tag comes a little pricey at about KRW 50,000 for a small bottle but i think it is worth it. I will buy the 2nd bottle next time.

2) Mise En Scene Curling Essence 2X

I just did C-perm and you know most hair stylist will tell you that C perms are easy to maintain. Well , i don’t think so. In fact the Korean stylist told me that the easiest and simple perms are the hardest to maintain because they straighten out easily if you do not know how take care.

The first thing i did after the perm was to look for curling serum or essences. After some recommendation , i decided to get this from Arituam. You can buy it from Lotte Mart or Olive and Young too.

Price tag at KRW 10,000.

I really like this essence alot because it holds my curls very well !

Since im back in SG , i have to wake up at 8am and go to work at 830am. So there is no time to blow dry and twirl my curls properly. I just squeeze a 20cent coin size onto my palm and “scrunch” my hair. The curls looks bouncy and it creates some volume. If i want it to be slightly wavy (natural) , i scrunch my hair with the essence and then let the hair run through my fingers to the hair ends so that the curl looks more wavy.

It is a curl enhancing hair product. I regretted buying only 1 tube. Should have bought the 3 for KRW 20,000 set . Lol.

It has a nice scent too. If you have curls or perms , this is one product you should get to hold and enhance your curls. I think that’s why it was named curling essence 2X. It does enhance my curls.

Here’s how my curl looks like 10 days later i did the C-curl + wave perm. I like it like this more natural and wavy. I spent an hour twirling and blow drying to create this neat wave.

3) Babor Ampoule from Aeon Medical and Aesthetic Clinic.

My skin wasn’t as dry as my last trip to Korea in April. Partly because i applied hydrating ampoules often and i also mask my face often to prevent dryness. The ampoules from Aeon Medical and Aesthetic clinic was nicely packed in a metal casing to prevent breakage.

The first thought and impression people had was that ampoules are very sticky. That is the reason why some make up artists i know doesn’t like to use ampoules on their clients.
But well , things have changed now. You can find ampoules that are easily absorbed and more efficient. It no longer leaves a very sticky and gluey after feel anymore.

This ampoule from Aeon absorbed into my skin pretty fast and my make up stays even longer. This is something i will get before my trip to Korea again in Spring. It is available for purchase at their counter. You can give them a call 67332002 to enquire. There are several ampoules available to suit different skin types.

Of cos , the first thing i did after my Korea trip was to go for facial.

Due to climate changes and also the bad haze in SG , my skin felt abit dry after i came back SG for a couple of days.

So i made an appointment with Aeon Medical and Aesthetic Centre for laser toning treatment ( for lighten my skin tone) because i was exposed to the sun in Busan. The sky was so clear over there and i realized my skin tone looks abit darker.

My favourite laser toning started and i also met Dr Kim.

We had a good chat about all things Korea and also the Angela (aesthetican) asked about my skin condition and if i experienced any dryness lately before they start the laser toning.

The laser toning session ended in about 15 minutes before i went back to the medical treatment room for post care treatment (masking). I heard from Dr Kim that Aeon is expanding and you can look out for body contouring services soon. Can’t wait to see what are the services available once it is ready.

i had eyelash extensions done in Korea and this extension was still so full and luscious even after 1 mth.

Tadahh..after the 1 hour treatment. Ha..my eyelash extensions done in Korea are still so luscious and thick after 1 month.

It is only KRW 50,000 for unlimited mink lashes.

Call 67332002 to make an appointment at Aeon Medical and Aesthetic Centre or you can give them a call to enquire on the services available.

If you are traveling to somewhere cold , you can try their ampoules. They work pretty well for me and help to “lock in” the moisturize and my make up stays.

Jun5

K-beauty time !

But before i start , i would like to ask Singapore travellers who are travelling to Korea to be extra careful due to the MERS outbreak in South Korea right now. It is kinda serious because Korean news site such as Naver have been reporting and updating the cases on Korean internet and news channels. It is Middle East Coronavirus . Many South Koreans were infected with the virus. You can read HERE for more details. Bring a mask just incase the situation worsen and who knows by then it will be difficult to find masks if you need. So please be vigilant and becareful. Read up the red-flagged area in the cities you are traveling to.

Ok..back to K-beauty time.

Now , people don’t go for thick foundations , eye make ups that looks like as if you are going for a wedding dinner or a fashion shoot or too glossy lips. It is about going natural. A Korean make up artist told me that now people don’t show off their make up skills by applying bold colours or thick eye make up anymore. It is how you managed to make it as if there is nothing applied except a simple eye shadow and eyeliner even though you actually put on a lot of make up . And at the same time , still makes your eyes look naturally attractive. It is to create a “as if i didn’t put on make up” look. My make up artist Yoona Han is really good at that. She is a Korean.

I took quite long to master this kind of skill. Sometimes , people asked if i put on make up and that means that day’s natural make up is successful because they don’t know if its make up or not. Im not perfect yet though because i do have my “failed days” which usually happens when i did not have enough sleep and my skin was abit dry so the make up doesn’t set properly.

This is not the first time i have blogged about Korean air cushions. I blogged about the top 3 air cushion brands which i used before over HERE.

If you do not know the history , AmorePacific ( a South Korean beauty company ) was the first in the world to invent the air cushion foundation back in 2008. Brands such as Iope , Laneige , Hera , Sulwhasoo and many others are under Amore Pacific wing. The first air cushion invented in the world was Iope Air Cushion which is still a popular choice among the locals. If you go to any public toilet in Korea , you will see most girls’ make up pouches contain the Iope Air Cushion. Now everywhere in Korea , you can find air cushions everywhere. It is very convenient. There is no need to bring a beauty blender , foundation brush and your bottle of foundation which can be heavy and cumbersome. The air cushions are very compact , light weight and the foundation soaked in the cushions can last you about 2 months. All cushions comes with a refill when you buy it in a box. Iope is available in Lotte Mart or Aritaum. The sponge also helps to blend in for a natural finish.

I tried using Iope before but personally i feel that it is not that moisturizing and the colour runs abit beige on my skin which doesn’t really suit. Hera suits my skin tone better and it gives a more dewy look on my skin as compared to Iope. Iope is good but just that the colour doesn’t work on my skin. Just like how Sulwhasoo’s air cushion colour looks orangey on my skin tone.

So , best is to try the colour first before purchasing and not just buy because you think that all air cushions under Amore-Pacific should the same.

From my personal experience , the Iope one looks abit beige or yellow on my skin , Hera one gives a more radiant pink tone but the Sulwhasoo one makes my skin looks abit orange.

Ive been using Hera for the past 2.5 years and im now a big loyal fan. Hera is not available in SG but i heard it may come into SG. But still i prefer to buy them in Korea because it is cheaper , tax refundable and also more and generous samples.

I had 3 different types of air cushions from Hera.

1) The normal and original one

2) Summer Long Stay

3) Ultra Moisture

Yes there are currently 3 types and each for different season.

The Summer Long Stay version is for hot and humid Summer weather whereas the Ultra moisture is for winter.

Im using

1) N21 for the normal one

2) C21 for Summer Long Stay

3) N21 for Ultra Moisture

Well here’s my review.

The Summer Long Stay version has a better and thicker coverage ( C stands for Cover ) and indeed it doesn’t melt on my skin despite the hot and humid weather which is why im switching to the Long stay version now because May and June gonna be very hot and humid. The make up stays and i only need to touch up once.

Coverage – Good coverage 9/10

Finish – Slight dewy 5/10

How long does it last – I only touched up once 9/10

The Ultra Moisture version was supposed to lock in moisture and at the same time prevents your foundation from caking. I blogged about it HERE before. I used it during my Spring trip to Korea back in March which was few months ago. My make up did not cake or look dry because of the cold weather. Instead , this cushion sets in properly and smoothly.

This was taken when i was in Busan during Spring. It really sets in nicely. But i won’t suggest using this during hot and humid weather. I tried it last week and it made my face looks oily. I guess it works on people with dry skin better in SG’s humid weather. But at least now i have an air cushion which i can use when i travel to cold countries.

Coverage – medium 7/10

Finish – Dewy (8/10)

How long does it last – I touched up only twice so i will give it 7/10.

The normal version is for everyday use or maybe on mlid weather conditions. This one works better on normal SG weather. I use this everyday but i realized i need to touch up alot when the weather gets very hot and humid. But it is ok if im indoor. Good thing about this is that it gives a dewy finish without looking too oily. Looks natural too. It evens out my skin tone.

Coverage – Medium 7/10

Finish – Dewy

How long does it last – I touched up frequently so i will give it 5/10

In summary , you can buy these 3 versions . Use the normal one on daily basis , Long stay if you are going out for activities or beaches etc , Ultra moisture when you are traveling to cold countries of if you have dry skin. One thing i like about these cushions are that it comes with SPF50. YAY to sunscreen ! I didnt get really burnt when i apply this UV mist cushion.

Hope this helps !

I got a new primer and concealer from Tarte and i love it. Gonna review and share it soon !

Jan2

Happy New Year !

Wishing all of you a great and blissful year ahead. Hope 2015 will be better for me too 🙂

Well , its K-beauty time again. This time is about Cleansing.

There are several types of cleansers – Foam , mousse , gel , oil and milk.
Each catered to different skin types.

These are the ones that i am using. Im actually using the Cleansing Foam but it didnt arrive on time so im currently using the Mousse (sample bottle).

I go through a triple cleansing step ( if i have make up on ) or a double cleansing step ( no make up ). Im not a dermatologist or an expert but these are my personal opinions and steps which i have been using for very long time.

Before the real cleansing starts , i will remove my make up thoroughly using a gentle make up remover.

I hate those that needs a cotton pad and you need to tug here and there. Im currently using Nature Republic’s Magic Remover. Instead of using cotton pads , i will squeeze some onto my finger tips and massage around my eyes and entire face gently with my finger tips for about 2 mins and rinse it off. The make up came off quite fast and gently. This helps to remove the “first base” of make up.

2nd step , i remove the “2nd base” make up with cleansing oil. If you think that using a make up remover is enough , you are wrong esp if you are someone who uses waterproof make up. The cleansing oil helps to remove and melt away your foundations, blushers etc. Im using Innisfree Jelly oil and the Hera Cleansing Oil. I uses the Hera Cleansing Oil after my photoshoots because of the thick make up . On normal days where i put on only simple make up , i uses the Innisfree one. I massage the oil around my face for a good 2 minutes. Slowly i can see the oil turns “white or cream” which means my foundation is coming off. And then i rinse it off with water and pat my face dry with a facial sponge.

Next step is the REAL cleansing step. I prefer using foam actually because it makes me face feels clean. But i ran out of the Hera Cleansing Foam so im using the mousse ( sample bottle ) for the time-being. I use the foam/mousse in the day time. I use a foam maker to foam the cleanser before rubbing it around my face gently with a facial konjac sponge or facial mitten. The foam actually made the skin brighter.

I use HERA White Program as my night cleansing foam because it comes with tiny beads. It mildly exfoliates my skin and remove all the impurities.

I massage the cleansers gently for a good 3 minutes before i rinse it off. Just because it contains beads does not mean you have to scrub your face very hard. You are cleaning our face, not the toilet floor. So BE GENTLE !

After that i will rinse it off with water and pat my face dry with a towel or facial sponge.

So , my cleansing regime is a triple cleansing step 2-2-3 minutes. Total 7 minutes.

After cleansing , we put on all our lotions etc.

When i first started my skincare routine , it was only the 3 steps – Cleansing , Toner , Moisturizing step. Very easy and just 5 minutes. But now i took about 15 minutes and apply more than 6 products in the day and up to 12 in the night. My make up table was filled with facial products.

Now , we have so many products in the market promising us several benefits for our skin.

Serums , Emulsions , Water , Toner , Essences , Oil , Creams etc etc.

So how do we differentiate what are they for and which one should go first ?
Just remember , always go with the one with lightest texture first and creams should be the last !

Some Korean brands named their toner as Water , Refiner , Toner or Lotion.

So how do we know what are they ?

Here we go…

1) Toners.

They are often named as Facial Mist , Skin Refiner, Skin Balancing/Moisturizing Water , Skin Softener, Lotion or just Toner.

Basically you pour abit onto a cotton pad and wipe it across your face. The textures for toners are very light and mostly watery. This should be the first step after cleansing. The more moisturizing ones are usually quite heavy in texture and longer time to absorb.

2) Essence

Watery and light texture and this is usually applied after toner. Essences usually have a specific treatment which helps in whitening , brightening , pore tightening etc.

3) Serums

They are thicker in texture than Essences because of the high concentration of ingredients to target a skin concern. Mostly very gel-like textures.

3) Emulsions

Often termed as lotion or emulsion.

It is a form of light moisturizer and it should be applied before the main moisturizer. It is thicker and slightly creamier than the Essences and Serums.

4) Moisturizer

Often termed as Creams or Gel-Creams/Gel

Gels are the least creamy/oily followed by Gel Cream and then Cream.

Textures : Gel < Gel Cream < Cream

Personally i prefer the Gel cream types because it is not oily and not too light. I find the gel ones too light and “evaporated” too easy.

5) Ampoules

Very high concentration and usually are for hydrating purposes. During wedding make up , the MUA usually will ask if you want to add on ampoule before putting on make up. These ampoules helps your make up to stay fresh longer. Ampoules are light in textures and are usually sold in individual tiny bottles.

In short , here is the common sequence for putting on your skincare products.

Sometimes i switched the steps depending on the texture of the product.

The basic one which i did in the day :

1) Cleansing ( usually 1 step cleansing minus the cleansing oil and make up remover because i do not have any make up on )

2) Toner

3) Essence

4) Serum

5) Emulsion

6) Moisturizer

I have a more intense one for night. If im targeting on whitening/hydrating , all the products used below are usually from the same range.

Night

1) Cleansing (see above 3 steps cleansing )

2) Toner

3) Eye Gel

4) Essence

5) Serum ( 1 or 2 types of serums )

6) Ampoule ( if my target is whitening , usually i just put 2 serums and skip the ampoule )

7) Sheet mask/Hydrogel Mask

8) Emulsion

9) Gel-Cream Moisturizer

10) Hydrating/Cream/Whitening Cream/Sleeping Pack

Quite alot right ? Lol. Bo bian , if you want good skin..you have to do it.

Be gentle and not rubbing or scrubbing the products onto your face ! If you are still confused , just go from the lightest to heaviest texture.

Have fun and stay pretty !

Dec15

My K-beauty – Masks and overnight packs.

Call me crazy but i apply overnight packs / sheet masks everyday.

I put on sheet masks twice a week and the rest of the week are for overnight packs/night cream.

HERA Filler Ampoule.

On really dry and rainy days , i will apply this because it is very hydrating ( note ..abit sticky ) . It is rich in Hyaluronic acid which holds to the moisture strongly and leaves your skin feeling hydrated, reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps to improve radiancy.

Sometimes i have soo many skincare products ( for hydration , whitening , brightening , anti aging etc ) that i have to write on a piece of paper and stick on my wall with the step by step and products to use. It is a good option if you are traveling to countries during their winter season. Because you skin can get abit dry and these ampoules do help to lock in the moisture. May feel abit sticky when used in SG’s weather but in winter season , your skin really feels hydrated and “normal”.

After photoshoot , i will use whitening ( esp for outdoor shoots ) , hydration on rainy and windy days , brightening , whitening and light hydration during hot sunny days etc.

Another overnight mask which i always use if i sleep late or when my skin feels dull and dry. Texture is abit oily / creamy but it is an overnight mask and supposed to last you the entire night. I like this because i woke up with radiant skin and i will use a hot tower to pat the excess off my face the next morning because cleansing.

Not a sleeping pack but a night cream to me. An anti-aging and brightening cream. Skin does brightens up the next day and i really love this. Abit creamy or oily so i used it as the last step and went to sleep with it.

Sheet masks. I got alot of them from Korea during the 1+1 promotion. over 300 pieces and they last me for 2 years already. Most of them are from Missha , Nature Republic , Hera and Sulwhasoo.

I am also using the Cell-Derma T-laser Hydrogel mask which Oppa’s mother bought for me.

This is the Cel-Derma T Laser Hydrogel mask . I kept it in Oppa’s house which i will use when i stay over

It was ranked the No 1 hot selling hydrogel mask in Korea. Indeed , it really hydrates my skin and i love it ! If you are heading to Korea, you should try this Hydro gel mask. One thing i like about hydrogel masks compared to sheet masks is that it sticks on to the skin really well. It is very “wet” and i will squeeze out the excess serum found in the packaging and apply onto my neck area. Don’t know how much it costs and where to get it since it was a gift from Oppa’s mum. I shall ask her where to get it. Love this hydrogel mask.

These are the masks and overnight packs i use daily.I even put on sheet masks or the overnight pack ( sample size ) when im on long haul flight ( of more than 4 hours ). Before putting on these masks / overnight packs , you need to cleanse your face really well. Shall blog about the cleansing part later.

Im always recommending and reviewing about ladies stuff.

Here is something for the guys, at last !

Archules

( www.archules.com )

Archules is the first hybrid online shoe store in Singapore, where their customers are able to select two sizes of the purchased shoes from their website and these two sizes will be delivered by their in-house personnel to try out in the comfort of your own home. You know , sometimes you may wonder size 40 or 42 fits you better. Archules understands their customers and hence they provided this unique service. Archules’s aim is to provide quality and handsome shoes for the Singaporean men. Their shoes are European-styled and prices are affordable. as such our shoes are European-styled and prices are affordable.

Oppa opted for the Normandy loafers in Antique Chestnut with lambskin lining.

I was surprised by the quality of the shoes. Looks very sturdy and made of premium Cowhide leather.

It also comes with a set of accessories such as polish and a shoe brush.

Archules will give you a rebate of $25 for every shoes purchased after the 12th Dec.All you have to do is just have to post a pic of your newly purchased shoes with them wearing the shoes or just the shoes alone and #Archules on your social media such as instagram or facebook to get the rebate. After which you just simply have to email Archules (givingnsharing@archules.com) with photographic evidence and the amount will be credited to your account.

At the same time, Archules will be donating $5 to a charity organization for each shoes purchased.

Buy a new pair of shoes , receive a rebate of $25 for your next purchase and at the same time , you also play a part in donating to charity. CNY is just around the corner in 2 months’ time. So guys , if you need a pair of good shoes , you know where to go !

It is the season of giving. So let’s shop and do some good !

www.archules.com

Dec4

It is K-beauty time !

Something new in the market for a couple of months already.

HERA UV MIST CUSHION – Ultra Moisture.

It is HERA’s newest formula for Korea’s cold and dry Winter climate.

One thing i love about Korean beauty products is that they are always churning out new formulas , technologies and techniques. They seem to know what the girls want.

Hera have the normal UV Mist Cushion (for normal days) , Long Stay UV Mist Cushion ( for summer ) and now the Ultra Moisture ( for winter ). Different cushions and formulas for different weather and climate conditions.

Colour of the cover differs from the rest. It is slightly greyish-purple.

I can’t wait to try this which my Korean friend gave me. It costs KRW45,000. Im using Cool Vanilla ( N21).

It is supposed to give you glowy and dewy skin. I am still using my normal pack and can’t wait to use this after finishing the current one. I don’t just open and do a review like that lol. Because once i open it , i will use it.

You know , when you push the cushion aside ( not only Hera , but other brands as well ) , you will see all the cream at the bottom. So when i keep my cushion , i put on the table upside down so that the cream will flow to the top of the cushion when i open. Some people mistook that BB cushions dry up too fast and abit dry to the skin. But if you were to put it upside down when you keep it , the cream will flow to the top of the cushion so that when you use it , you will get to squeeze more of the cream out onto the air sponge and it will not be too dry. I can use one refill for 3 months because i use it everyday.

Anyway , here is what the HERA UV MIST Ultra Moisture promises its users.

Can’t wait to try this.

I have a total of 3 different types of BB cushions from Hera. The normal one , summer long stay and ultra moisture. Now that i have a normal and summer long stay one opened , i alternate between these 2 depends on the weather and activities i will be doing that day. If the weather is really hot and i will be under the sun for very long , i will use the Long stay version because it stays on and doesn’t melt. For casual day out , i use the normal UV mist. Weather is kinda dry and rainy these days and i can’t wait to try the Ultra Moisture to see how it is !

Have a good mid week !

Oct23

There are many people i know heading to Korea to see the beautiful and colourful autumn maple leaves.

Well , decided to blog about a list of things you should buy if you are going to Korea.

Below was a picture of me and my other 3 girlfriends’ luggages when we went to Korea for the first time back in 2012.

We went with one and came back SG with additional luggages , boxes and more and more hand carry bags.

So how did we went with only 1 but came back with erm… so many ? Well , we spent more than sgd800 per pax at Laneige in Myeondong and they gave us a free luggage each ( The ones with polka dogs , mine is the pink one in the picture ). That was for my 1.5 years of supply of facial care and it came with generous supply of samples which in fact tempted me to get more of their newly launch products. Only you can buy 3 items in Korea and get alot of samples. Hera was more generous when i bought my first set of facial care. They gave me like 4 sheets of the white program masks and REALLY ALOT of samples. Not that i am a cheapo for the samples but these samples are convenient for my travels and it actually tempted me to get the full bottle of product instead and now i am a big fan. My friend’s sister used to send me new samples that last me 1 month and i love the results and ended up buying the full bottles and stock up on a year’s supply.

I don’t like how some counter ladies in SG were abit stingy with it when you ask for few more sachets and they look at you like as if you are some cheapo who want freebies. Maybe they have their reasons for doing so because there are really cheapos doing that but not all are so cheapo okay. There are genuine buyers like me.

It doesn’t make sense you see , your products claimed that with continuous use for 14 days , you will achieve radiant skin. But how can you expect your customers to see the results by giving one pathetic sachet ? Tell me how can you convince your customers the product is good with just one sad sachet and expect people to spend money on the full bottle ? To be reasonable , you should give samples that last at least for 3 days to be able to convince consumers how good your product is.

Ok back to the list of things you should buy in Korea !

1) Korean beauty make up

Nature Republic, The Face Shop, Etude House, Innisfree, Tony Moly, Holika Holika and Missha.

Reason why you should buy the make up products is because they are cheap and good. Korean ladies are very good with “natural make up look” so most of their products are not very pigment heavy. The colours are light and refreshing. They like to play around with lip colours so you can see a range of colours for the lipsticks.

Because they are cheap , you can buy many colours and have different looks. I usually shop off the city area because there are some outlets with 1+1 deal meaning buy 1 get 1 free ( usually for masks and lipsticks ) and some have up to 50% discount for make up products. I got my masks , make up and some accessories from the boutiques off city centre and i get to enjoy 30-50% discount or 1+1 deal. But this depends on your luck because sometimes they don’t have such promotions. Usually there are such deals at theend of each season . But the thing is that you don’t get to enjoy tax refund. But i think i saved more with those deals than the tax refund if im getting hell lot of them.

Can’t decide to get a lipstick in Pink , Coral or Red ?
Just get all 3. They will probably cost less than sgd20 for 3. If there is any 1+1 or discounts , you save more.

2) Amore Pacific Brands.

Beauty is important in Korea and girls there do take extra time and care to maintain their looks and skin.

Brands such as IOPE , Laneige , Sulwhasoo and Hera are under Amore Pacfiic. They do have a house brand too.

You can buy Laneige , Sulwhasoo and Hera at any Lotte Department store or Shinsaegae Department store in town. They are available at the airport as well.

Iope is available at Emart , Lotte mart and Aritaum.

If you a big fan of these brands , there are few reasons why you should buy in Korea ..

1) Cheaper than SG and there is tax refund.

2) Brands like IOPE and Hera are not available in SG.

3) Generous samples

4) These products works on my skin very well.

Below were my buys from Laneige back in 2012 when i was still using their products before switching to HERA. I was given a free luggage and hell lot of samples for purchase of SGD 800 and above. It filled up that entire luggage.

I bought home 1.5 years of supply of facial product.

I have since switched to HERA and because it is not available in SG and i have to really stock up .

3) Aritaum

You can find brands like IOPE , Laneige and Mamonde in Aritaum. I love Aritaum make up produts because they are cheap , nice colour and pretty good.

See the crayon lip tints and crayon eye shadows ? They were going at 1+1 for KRW 6,900. It is cheap and can’t decide which colour to buy ?
Just get all lah !

You can find whole range of IOPE products in Arituam. I have been to Korea 4 times but i have not seen any Iope boutique before.

Even blushers come in the form of cushions.

4) BB Cushions and CC creams

Korea is the mother of all BB and CC Creams.

And now the BB Cushion and CC cushion for easy application !

My favourite goes to Hera UV Mist Cushion and Hera CC cream. Iope is another popular choice among the locals.

They come in various shades which suits Asian skin tones. It costs about KRW 40,000-KRW45,000 and it comes with a refill pack.

5) Facial masks

Again not only being cheap is the reason but they have lots of selections for different skin types. It also work very well in hydrating the skin.

I bought like 300 over packs to last me 1.5 years. Instead of keeping them at room temperature , i kept them in the fridge so that the sheets remains moist and preserve the essence on the sheets.

My favourite brands are from Missha and Sulwhasoo. I bought 300 packets of Missha masks at 1+1 and each was KRW 1000-KRW3500 depending on the type of mask. The hydrogel ones are more than KRW3,000.

You can buy from the boutiques at Myengdong ( for tax refund ) or Supermarket such as Lotte mart and Emart. Usually the ones at Myeongdong does not have discount or 1+1 promotions. I realized it on one of my trips. I was helping friends to buy Missha masks and got some from the boutique at Myengdong and i swept up all the green tea stocks available at their boutique ( about few hundred pieces ) and i have to go to else where to get the remaining. So i went somewhere and i saw a Missha at subway underpass and saw that there was 1+1 promotion ( no tax refund ) . So you have to work on your maths to see which one is cheaper and you save more.

6) Seaweeds and snacks.

You can buy Korean snacks from Emart or Lotte Mart which can be found at departmental store. You can find your favourite and delicious and cheap Korean snacks there. I always buy a trolley full and bring it back to SG. They don’t give you plastic bags so bring your own HUGE bag or you can use the boxes found near the cashier to wrap up your shopping.

However , if you prefer a bag , you can pay for a paper bag. I dont recommend that if you have TOO many things because it breaks quite easily.

7) Kimchi and side dishes

Seriously , you can never get them so tasty in SG.

I never buy Kimchi in those aluminum packages and instead i bought those homemade ones because they are much tastier.
You can buy them from Emart or Lotte Mart. Be sure to wrap them up properly and suggest to send it back to SG in a box or else the Kimchi juice might leak and stained your clothes and the smell may linger on your clothes for a while.

8) Made in Korea apparels

Myeongdong , Dongdaemun , Namdaemun , Hongdae , Ehwa , Garusil Gil etc

Just to name afew , there are the popular places among tourists.

I skip on Dongdaemun and Namdaemun because some are china made and very platinum mall Bangkok like pieces. And are very overpriced. The ahjumma there are not very friendly. I deal with a supplier from Namdaemun before and they are really rude.

I only shop in 2 local boutiques at Myeong dong because they sell their own labels and design their own means there is quality control. And the apparels are priced tagged.

Try to bargain when you are buying. Some shops don’t indicate any price tags and i usually avoid those unless i really like the item and find the price reasonable. I was quoted KRW 32,000 for a skirt and a friend was quoted KRW 18,000. The salesman must have thought i am a tourist and don’t understand Korean and when my Korean friend asked for the price again , she was quoted cheaper ( almost half the price ). The salesman must have thought we were not friends . But i understand what the price he quoted to other person in Korean.

So for those shops that does not have any price tags on their apparels , do try to bargain.

9) Cute and little accessories such as stockings , socks and samsung mobile covers.

I get all my winter, spring and autumn stockings from there because they are very cheap and good. You can get a winter stockings/leggings with fleece for KRW5,000. That is why i can still wear skirt with the stockings in such cold weather.

They have tonnes of cute little stocks with ribbons and prints at KRW 1,000 each ! Some were going at KRW 800. Samsung mobile covers are cheaper there. I got one for my cousin from Korea for her Note 3 at like SGD 20 cheaper ?

I got my stockings and leggings from Ah jummas at the road side stalls. Or you can get from shops that sells those cute little socks and hair accessories.

******

Happy shopping in Korea and worry about overweight luggage ?

One tip is to send all your shopping buys back via EMS Korea to SG.
It takes 3 working days. Meaning if you send it out on Monday , you will receive it on Wednesday.

I sent 500 pieces of Missha masks to my friend from Korea ( helped her to buy..you see im such a good friend haha , carrying 100 pieces each time x 4 trips is really not easy and super heavy ) and it costs about KRW 34,000. It is cheaper than paying for extra baggage weight.

And i buy my Hera skin care products from the airport duty free. There is one counter which carries the full range. Hera bottles are made of glass and very heavy. Definitely going to add weight onto your luggage. So i will buy at the airport and hand carry up to the plane instead to save on overweight baggage fees.

Well , have a good time and happy shopping !