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 !

Nov24

K-beauty !

Here’s something i got from Korea 2 months ago and i finally started using it after the Maxclinic one which i got in April finished up.

I used to remove make up with cleansing oil but i switched to Oil to Foam cleansing oil to remove my make up. This is used in the 2nd step after using the Biore cleansing water or Biore Jelly up remover to remove eye make up.

Cleansing = 3 steps for me and that includes thorough make up removals.

First step – Remove with cleansing water or make up remover

2nd step – Remove remaining make up with cleansing oil

3rd step – Foam cleansers.

I love how this cleansing oil turns to foam when you lather your face with water. I don’t like how oil cleansers are soooo hard to remove even with foam cleansers. Some cleansers are too mild and may take longer time or quite hard to remove the cleansing oil on the face. Or the cleansing oil is too oily and too strong for the cleansers.

So it is good to get oil to foam cleansers because they don’t leave that oily feeling and it removes your make up.

The Max Clinic one is good but not sold in SG. Blogged HERE before.

Because it turns to foam after you lather with water , it rinses off easily. YAY !

Im gonna stock on this ON: and Max Clinic ones on my next trip in March/April. I maybe going for a short 5 days in Jan to check on the wedd stuff. Got this at KRW 7,500 after 50% discount from OLIVE and YOUNG. Lucky enough to get this at 50% off because when i want to go back to buy another bottle to stock up , it was back to KRW 15,000 and so i didn’t buy.

Something you can buy and try as a 2nd step make up removal. Or if you are someone who puts on light make up , i think this one can remove your make up base well enough.

Im turning 30 soon and im slowly introducing anti-aging products to my skin. I have sooo many sample bottles of this AGE AWAY range from HERA that i think the samples alone can last me probably 6 months or more. Starting to feel old and can feel the skin is no longer like last time. A little bit different from 4 years ago because now i realized i need to maintain it quite abit more than before. I like this range alot. I haven’t gotten any breakouts yet (not pimple kind of breakouts but rashes). Because when a product is too strong or rough for my skin , rashes will start appearing and they are the abit painful and itchy kind. It will take 2 days for it to go away. But yay to this one.no side effects.

I think im like a K-travel guide. Friends often ask me where to go in Korea. Because they have been to Seoul soooo many times and they want to go elsewhere. They want to travel for 10 days.

Seoul , Jeju and Busan. These are the 3 popular places. To be honest , 3 days in Busan or 3 days in Jeju is not enough. If you have the time , 5 days will be great for you to comb the entire place and go to more places. Most people put a week in Seoul because there are more to see. Actually i find that Seoul is more for shopping. But if you want to have a rich experience of the culture , you can go to these places.

Gyeongju :

It was once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla and you can see many ancient and traditional Korean houses and palaces. Awesome place to go in Spring and Autumn because the trees , leaves and flowers blended in so well with the architectures. 2 days 1 night here will do.

Jeonju :

If you love bibimbap , Jeonju is the place you should try. Jeonju is famous for its bibimbap.

The Jeonju Bibimbap ! Jeonju is famous for its food. So remember to eat and eat and eat your way there.

It is about 5 hours bus ride from Seoul so it will take about 2 or 3 hours via KTX ?

Quite a small town so probably 1 day is enough. You should visit the Hanok Village. If im not wrong , you can book a Hanok stay there.

Tongyeong :

Tongyeong is located at the southern peninsula of South Korea. If you are a fan of K-pop star Song Joong Ki and you watched the movie Innocent man , you will know this place because it was shot here at Tongyeong at this place called Dongpirang. You can find alot of paintings on the wall and the shooting locations. Famous food here is the Ggulbbang ( Honey Bread ). Very cheap. About KRW500 per piece. 1 full day here will do and you can move on to other or take a ferry to Jeju.

Naejangsan :

Good place to go in Autumn is the Naejangsan. it is located at outskirts of Jeonju. You can find temples and beautiful waterfalls here. Don’t wear like me when you go there. I can’t climb up the mountain because of my clothes so i was only at the base. Just half a day here will do unless you want to do mountain hiking or trekking.

Jinhae :

1 day stay will do and you can move on to Busan from here.

Located an hour drive away from Busan. Famous place for its spring blossoms. Crowded with alot of locals during Spring. Best place i have ever been to in Korea in Spring. Super nice and even the mountains have “speckles” of white cherry blossoms. So nice ! I want to go back here again next year in Spring ! Cherry blossoms everywhere. This is the best place in Korea for cherry blossoms.

Gangwon-do :

Best place to go to during Winter because of its ski resots and the snow capped mountains. Damn cold. I have never been there but i want to !!! I was asking Oppa if i can have my honey moon here hahaha he wanted to faint already because i wanted my honeymoon in Jeju island and Gangwon-do !

There are other places also like Daegu , Ulsan , Gwangju and more….i’ve been to Ulsan and 1 full day there will do 🙂 If you were to skip Seoul , Busan or Jeju because you have been there many times , you can go to at least 7 cities for a 10 days trip to Korea.

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 !

Apr17

Finally i managed to get the Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer from my recent trip. I have been wanting to get this since beginning of last year but it discontinued in SG.

This primer helps to give a really dewy skin look. A short cut to dewy skin look. Instead of mixing your foundation with moisturizer , mist or facial oil , this gives you an instant dewy look. Not recommended to use this alone unless you want to look like as if you just finished a 2.4km run (without make up of course) or someone with super oily face.

This is to be used with a foundation or BB Cushion. It is not expensive. You can get it at KRW 14,900 .

I signed up for an Aritaum membership card using Oppa’s brother’s mobile no. I can’t seem to sign up with a Singapore mobile number but i managed to sign up with a Korean mobile number. With the membership , i can get to enjoy 10% discount off all purchases from Arituam , Innisfree , Etude house etc etc and cash rebate which later i can use the cash to discount from my purchases.

This is a short cut to create a “mul-gwang” aka watery/dewy face make up look.

I really love this because it helps my make up to main the dewy look even though the weather was cold and dry.

Here’s a picture of the back of my hand with no make up , moisturizer or anything. Just dry looking back hand lol.

Without Nymph Aura Volumer

Let’s try without the volumer. I applied the Hera Vital Lifting Foundation with a sponge on the left side.

This foundation is not very matte and it does create a sheer dewy look too. I don’t like to apply thick layer of foundation so here’s abit to show you the difference without the volumer and with the volumer. If you want to cover your flaws or pigments , you have to apply more of the foundation.

With Nymph Aura Volumer

Firstly , i apply a drop of the Volumer on the right side of the back of my hand.

Texture is like a balm. What i like about it is that it actually helps to keep my skin moist because of its balm-like texture and my make up doesn’t “crack” or become “cakey” in the cold, windy and dry season. It also helps to keep my base make up together.

I spread the volumer across my face with my finger tips.

After the volumer , i apply the Hera Vital Lifting Foundation foundation on top of the volumer with a sponge.

You can also mix the Volumer with foundation together and then spread across your face.

The website says the ratio should be : 1 volumer : 3 foundation.

But on normal days , i use BB cushion where the BB cream are set in the cushion and i can’t mix it together like how you can mix it with foundation. So i go through the steps below where i apply the Volumer first then my BB cushion on top. Because the BB cushion sponge may absorb abit of the volumer , so for this case my ratio was 1:1. I applied one coat of Volumer and 1 coat of BB Cushion.

Here it is..looks more dewy and healthy looking.

And here’s the difference. The picture on the right looks dark because of the shawdow. Ignore the shadow and just focus on the difference in the “dewiness” . If you want a more dewy look , just apply more volumer.

Managed to find a picture on my mobile. The day when i was still sick and on the way to the baseball game.

I applied the volumer because i will be sitting in the stadium , out in the cold for 4 hours. I applied the volumer and Hera UV Mist Ultra Moisture Cushion No 21. Looks dewy and healthy right.

Nymph Aura from Etude House comes in 2 types – One with Pearl shimmer and one without.

Im using the one without the shimmer (No.3)

There is a stick version but i don’t like that. Very hard to apply to the whole face but that one is good if you want to use it as a highlighter for your under eye , cheeks and T zone only.

This is something you should get for a short cut and secret to dewy skin look !

Mar2

Hi ~~

Well , today’s beauty topic is Sleeping Beauty !

Woken up by my Prince charming’s kisses every morning but this Sleeping beauty falls back to sleep after that lol. Too tired lah..every work till 2am.

So i went out on Sunday afternoon for lunch with my bf and his baseball team mates. Those who came for lunch were from Gyeongsan-do ( cities like Busan , Daegu , Gochang etc etc which is near the coastal area ). They speak in Gyeongsan-do dialect since they were from the same area. Only my bf and another Oppa speak with very heavy Gyeongsan-do saturi accent. That’s why I have to open my ears real wide and focus when they tried to speak in Seoul dialect to me which was what i learnt in school and my classes. It was a good practice for me because now i can understand abit of the gyeongsan-do dialect ( maybe 40% ? ). One of their wives had mul-guang 물광 injections done. She looks really pretty and young. What is mul-guang ? It means dewy look in Korean. 물광 주사 (Mul-guang ju-sa – Mul-guang injection ) is a kind of injection where the doctor injects hydrating skin boosters into your skin to create a dewy glow. The boosters locks in the moisture which creates the natural glow. I have not done it before and not sure how long it will last. If you are afraid of injections and yet want dewy skin. Then you have to be very discipline and keep your skin always hydrated with good products. Copy this 4 korean words into google search ” 물광 주사” and look at the images if you want to know more. Or these 6 Korean words “물광 주사 가격”into google search to see before and after pictures.

The weather was soo hot and im feeling very lazy. Oppa asked me not to put on any make up. He doesn’t like ladies with thick make up or overly done eye shadows and prefer natural looks. Good thing is that i always go for natural look make up so he seldom nag at me.

So i went out without make up and only apply sunscreen gel and tinted lip balm ( see picture below ) . Sun screen is a MUST ! Even though i don’t put make up but i will not skip my sunscreen gel. It is a water base and i love it alot. No grease and feels like applying serum on my skin. Got it from Missha for only KRW 2,500 during sales.

Heh heh..i don’t go out without make up just like that ok. Before going out without any make up , i will do an extra step of skin care and that is MASKING !

So let’s talk about masking.

There are many kinds of masks and packs in the market now.

There is the modeling pack. Where you scoop up the powder and put it in a bowl , add water , stir and mix , apply onto your face with a brush , wait for it to harden for about 20 minutes and peel it off.

I bought a bottle of Collagen Modeling Mask but i have not used it yet. Too lazy and find it cumbersome.

And then you have the sleeping packs.

Im currently using Laneige Water Sleeping Pack and Sulwhasoo Vitalizing Overnight Pack. The former is more for hydration and latter is for brightening.

Also there is the night cream. Im currently using Hera’s Cell-Bio Cream. It is more of a night cream to me because it is quite thick. I will apply and sleep overnight with it.

And then you have the sheet masks.

Im currently using Missha’s green tea and pearl mask , Hera’s white program masks , Cell-Derma T-laser Hydrogel masks and the new Korean Oriental Herb masks from Aeon Aesthetics and Medical Clinic. Just got them on CNY Eve. So cute the packaging. Comes in 5 different sheets for different skin conditions. They are made of Korean Oriental herbs.

Directions available in Korean and English.

Available for purchase in pack of 5 only.

Comparing Hydro-gel and Sheet masks , i prefer the sheet masks because they are soaked wet with the essences in the packaging. Whereas for Hydrogel masks , they dry up pretty fast if you don’t store and keep them properly. But of cos the fit for hydro-gel masks is better because they really stick onto your skin and face shape as compared to sheet masks. But Sulwhasoo hydrogel masks are the best because the gel masks are thin and really soaked wet with serum and essences ( but they are too expensive) .

I don’t recommend sleeping over night with the modeling pack and sheet masks on your face. It somehow made your skin feels dry the next morning. Well , i go to sleep with the packs or cell-bio night cream. I mask my face everyday lol. Yes..i have to if not i feel very…hmmm strange and “empty” like as if i missed out something. I even mask my face on the plane.
Besides applying on my face , i also apply on my neck and shoulders. But how to apply on your neck or shoulders when you are using the gel or sheet masks ??? well , there are always left over essences or serums in the packaging after you took it out. I will put on my hand in and feel around and then spread the essences and serums on my neck and shoulders and face.

If i applied sleeping pack or cream overnight , i will use a damp warm towel to slowly clean it off the next morning or do a mild cleansing with very little cleansing foam.

When you apply these overnight masks or creams , make sure you have enough sleep and have a good rest.

On days when i go out without make up , i will put on sheet masks first. After shower , i put on the sheet mask and then my normal skin care routine ( toner , essences , serums , emulsions and moisturizer ). The mask helps to brighten up my skin and so even though i went out without make up , my skin tone still looks even and nice. I will also put on lip balms. I dont want my face to look moisturized but yet my lips looks dry and chapped.

Sheet/gel masks aren’t only for night use. You can use it in the day also ! If i have any important appointments , dinners or occasion , i will put on sheet masks before applying my make up.

After swimming or under the sun for too long , i will put on aloe vera gel masks and then another layer of whitening mask. I don’t just apply the whitening mask right away because my skin flushes and gets irritated after being exposed to the sun for too long and whitening products are usually stronger and tends to dry up my skin. So before i apply any whitening products , i will first treat my skin and calm it down first with aloe vera masks or any moisturizing / hydrating cooling masks.

Some people have the wrong thinking that they should “salvage” their skin by applying whitening products first. Maybe it works for some people but i find it too harsh for my skin.

Hope this post helps to those who ask about masking/sleeping packs.

And yup , i put on masks/sleeping packs every night !

You should try to see if there are any improvement in your skin. It doesn’t just happen overnight . It takes sometime depending on your skin type.

Whatever works for me may not work for some people. Always ask for sample packs first ( at least for 3 times use ) !

And store your sheet masks in the fridge if you are not using them yet.

And here’s a bandage dress coming up soon on Agneselle.com !

I LOVE IT ALOT and im sure you will ! Something that you will always pull it out from your wardrobe and wear !

It is shoulder padded and had a unique side cut. My bf loves it alot and he said very very nice !

Sep6

Friday was a SUAY day. A series of freak incidents happened. Infact a total of 4 freak incidents happened within a time span of 4 hours before the photoshoot till end of photoshoot. I have never been sooo unlucky in my life before. Really suay siao.

Unlucky things aside.

I MISS MY OPPA !

Skyping everyda without fail. My body clock is abit haywired now. Sleeping from 4am-8am and then at night 7-10pm. So i can skype with him after his work. SG time is 6 hours ahead of Netherlands.

He seems to lose abit of weight but i lost and gained back !

Had photoshoot at Fresh Fruit Lab Cafe located at Changi Road (Near Kembangan MRT). It was owned by one of my long time blog readers. At first when i got to know about this cafe , first impression was a fruit cafe or a cafe which sells fruity stuff. But i was wrong. Lol. But the cafe do sell fruit juices and beers too.

Before the shoot start , Jaz (lady boss) served us some fruit teas and ice water. Interesting part is that the ice water is not just ICE + WATER. She soaked fruits such as cucumbers , lemons , strawberries and mint leaves. So it is actually very thirst quenching and refreshing to the taste bud after a heavy meal.

Another interesting thing is that you are drinking from a measuring flask , not a normal glass cup. Interesting concept.

Here’s our fruit teas.

After the shoot , Jaz served us lunches and we all love it .

Especially the Fish and Chips , Prawn Aglio Olio and Steak. You have to have these 3 dishes if you are there. I love the burger too but just that i have been eating toooooo many burgers lately so i didn’t eat much of the burger that day. I get abit scared when i heard the word “Burger” . I didnt take any pictures of the Prawn Aglio Olio because before i can whip out my camera , my dad already scooped up a big spoonful of pasta and prawns. Lol.

I have been shooting in cafes for the past 1 month and OMG i am gaining soo much weight from that. Some of the cafe owners not only provided me the space but food as well. Thanks for feeding me fat lol. And i can train my phototaking skills. I think my food photo taking skills improved alot liao leh.

Thick and juicy beef patty for the burger.

Thick and juicy steak.

Kinda curious , so i asked Jaz why is it called FRESH FRUIT LAB ?

Well , fruit elements are infused in the dishes. Such as fruit salad , ice water soaked with fruits and cold pressed fruit juices that are served in test tubes to clear your palates after your hearty meal.

The burger was served with fruit salads.

Salad for the steak was drizzled with some blueberries.

Fresh Fruit Lab :

Location: 351 Changi Road, Lor Marzuki, Singapore 419818

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thurs 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri-Sat 11:00 am – 12:00 mn
closed on Mondays

*****

I have bought 2 new HERA products last week !

HERA Vital Lifting Foundation and Essential Base

HERA Vital Lifting Essential Base

It contains sugar apple serum instead of water for effective lifting
Creamy formula forms moisture film to moisturize skin
Vital Color System brightens skin tone to express healthier skin
Hydrating ingredients relieve dead skin cells
Covers pores and wrinkles to soften skin texture.

HERA Vital Lifting Foundation

I love it because it has a very subtlly mild sheen to the foundation to give a dewy skin effect.

It contains sugar apple serum instead of water for effective lifting
Creamy formula forms moisture film to moisturize skin
Micro fine glitter gives natural soft sheen and luster
Cares wrinkle, elasticity, luster, skin tone, and skin texture

I already started using my bottle !

I have an extra brand new bottle for sale. My friendly supposedly to help me buy the essential base from HERA counter at Lotte Departmental Store but i think there was a language barrier between the counter lady and my friend. The lady gave her the foundation instead of the essential base. My friend never check and paid for it.

So i have an extra bottle of foundation. Price is KRW 55,000 (see 2nd pic below for the price indicated on the box) which amounts to SGD $70 (according to the credit card charge). If you are interested in buying it , contact me at dancingsugar@gmail.com. Selling at $70.

HERA Vital Lifting Foundation in Natural beige N21.

I am selling at SGD70.

Here are some upcoming items at http://www.agneselle.com !

I absolutely love this skirt. The material is sooo fab and luxe. I am very happy with my choice of fabric and i am starting on my fabric scouting again soon.

The Magenta crop top and skorts are coming up soon ! Crop top comes in Magenta and Navy. But i love the Magenta one the most !

It is 1am now and i need to skype with my OPPA !

Good night and have a good weekend !

Sep3

Agneselle.com is launching on 3rd Sept at 9pm !

Im gonna list some of my favourite.

I kept this dress in lilac and green. I paired it with sandals or my havi flip flops , carry a tote and ready to go out to meet my friend. The colour is vibrant and pretty so it doesn’t make me feel dressed up even though i am in flip flops. My favourite grab and go dress when i don’t know what to wear. Because the pastel colours are eye-catching enough and no need to spend alot of time to accessorize.

I am in love with white skirts especially trumpet skirts. It looks cute. The waterfall drape add in a little feminine and elegant touch to this skirt.

It is so hard to find the perfect ballerina neck basic top so i decided to make my own. I found it in some stores but the U neck is not wide enough. I kept them in all colours and they sure go well with any skirts ( printed or basic ).

Needless to say , racerback dresses are always a hit because it makes your shoulder looks slimmer. White and Pink are my favourite colours.

I think i have blogged before but i have many emails asking what kind of Hera products i am using and where to get them in Korea. You can get from their main flagship in Apujeong which is at Gangnam area. The flagship is big and there is their make-up academy. Near the huge MCM store and Givenchy store.

Here are my day care. Mostly hydrating range.

The Aquabolic range. There is the toner , emulsion , eye gel , gel serum and moisturiser. It takes the products to set for about 5-8 minutes before i can put on my make up . I like their hydrating range because of the texture. Not very creamy or oily. Rather smooth and glide on easily.

Night care. I have switched the whitening programe to the night because usually i am exposed to the sun in the day. So the whitening products are for the night. There is the toner and emulsion. Because whitening products tend to make the skin drier , after the emulsion , i will apply the Waterin gel serum and moisturiser from the Waterin range in the picture above.

Here are my essences and supplments. I switch and rotate them.

I apply them at night after my facial sheet masks.

The Cell Essence and Cell Bio Cream goes together. If i use the cell essence , the cell-bio cream has to be used together for an optimal result. The cell essence really brightens up my skin and even my cousins and friends love this product.

Sulwhasoo overnight vitalizing pack and whitening serum. I love the pack because i can see my skin looks radiant and clear after i woke up in the next morning. It is also hydrating and has a very nice Ginseng scent. Feels like in a spa.

Sulwhasoo products are expensive and i only buy their serums and packs.

As for cleanser , i am using Hera and Sulwhasoo whitening cleansers. The Hera one comes with small little beads and Sulwhasoo is more moisturising. For a better cleansing effect , i bought the cleansing glove from The Face Shop. Especially after my photoshoot , i need to cleanse my face and clean off all the thick make up.

Buying good products but you also need to take sometime to massage the products into your skin. Not just apply and smack them on like that. Usually i spend about 5-10 minutes applying them. Slowly massaging my face with the products and you can see that you skin looks better too.

Anyway , i hope this information helps those who are going to buy HERA products from Korea !