I have tried my very best to not have multiple posts on the same destination but seems like I can't help but open another post on my upcoming trip to Seoul. There were lots of requests on Seoul itinerary and since I am planning a trip to Seoul with my mum soon, I thought I should dedicate a post on this.
Usually if I am in Seoul visiting my bf, we don't prepare itinerary for obvious reasons. In addition, we usually drive around places so I don't really have much information on public transport. This time round is different as I will be travelling with my mum without my bf and doing all the touristy stuff.
We are planning to have our haircut, perm and colour there (it has been a long time since Korea hair salon has been highly raved about but it took me years to finally visit one). In addition, my mum also intends to make another pair of glasses in Korea (which is significantly cheaper than in SG). It will be a relaxing trip and we will base ourselves in Myeong Dong. We intend to visit Express Bus terminal underground shopping (Goto mall and also the new Enter6), Naksan Park, Sky Park, Namsangol Hanok, Lotte supermarket, Namdaemun, Edae etc.
Stay tuned for updates!
Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Buying Winter Jacket in Korea 2016 (Sale + Recommendations)
I have been eyeing Korea's winter jackets for quite some time. Winter in korea can be really chilly thus getting a good down jacket is quite important. That is also the reason why I think Korea's jacket can be trusted when it comes to keeping warm (and staying trendy). Some of the popular brands in Korea include North Face (Mcmurdo series) and Discovery (Milford series).
I went for a winter jacket hunt when I was in Korea in early October. I believe this was the best time to get good deals for winter jackets, many of the jackets (usually past models) were on sale. A good down jacket should be water resistant, light but still thick enough to keep warm, wind resistant, comes with hood and last but not least, fashionable and stylish enough.
I had set my eyes on Mcmurdo from North Face and have been searching about it online for the past 1 year. I have no doubts at all about its quality. This costs KRW 420,000 at Gimpo outlet mall, original price is around KRW600,000. It is definitely above my budget but my bf said it's cheap going by Korean's standard. True enough, I do see a couple of people buying it.
Decided to also check out K2 and Black Yak, both are well known Korean brands. I think those below ranged from KRW 300,000 to KRW 390,000.
These were of good quality as well but the design, cut and colour did not capture my interest as much as Bean Pole's. And so.... both me and my bf bought the super cheap camel coloured jacket from Bean Pole! Happy and contented. Love the colour and how the collar/hoodie fur stays up, shielding the neck from the cold.
By the way, I got my jeans from Uniqlo at Myeongdong, it seems like slim boyfriend fit is the trend in Korea in Autumn 2016.
Hope this guide will help you make a decision on Korea winter jacket investment.
Refer to my Recent travel to Jeju post for a photo of a coat I got from Korea (from a brand called Soup).
I went for a winter jacket hunt when I was in Korea in early October. I believe this was the best time to get good deals for winter jackets, many of the jackets (usually past models) were on sale. A good down jacket should be water resistant, light but still thick enough to keep warm, wind resistant, comes with hood and last but not least, fashionable and stylish enough.
I had set my eyes on Mcmurdo from North Face and have been searching about it online for the past 1 year. I have no doubts at all about its quality. This costs KRW 420,000 at Gimpo outlet mall, original price is around KRW600,000. It is definitely above my budget but my bf said it's cheap going by Korean's standard. True enough, I do see a couple of people buying it.
Since I was already at the outlet mall, might as well check out more options. The Bean Pole jacket got me wavering. I have never seen such nice camel coloured jacket. The fur doesn't look too shabby and the jacket is light and comfy. This jacket comes in 6 colours (black, navy, red, green, light blue, camel). Originally selling for KRW 418,000, it was going at KRW 209,000 (after tax) while I was there. A bargain too good to give up on. Tax can be refunded at the airport.
Decided to also check out K2 and Black Yak, both are well known Korean brands. I think those below ranged from KRW 300,000 to KRW 390,000.
These were of good quality as well but the design, cut and colour did not capture my interest as much as Bean Pole's. And so.... both me and my bf bought the super cheap camel coloured jacket from Bean Pole! Happy and contented. Love the colour and how the collar/hoodie fur stays up, shielding the neck from the cold.
By the way, I got my jeans from Uniqlo at Myeongdong, it seems like slim boyfriend fit is the trend in Korea in Autumn 2016.
Hope this guide will help you make a decision on Korea winter jacket investment.
Refer to my Recent travel to Jeju post for a photo of a coat I got from Korea (from a brand called Soup).
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Seoul Summer 2016 - Latest Trend and Tips (Sheraton Walkerhill, rash guard, grapes, sparkling water, lotte duty free shopping)
The bf made a reservation at the Sheratin Grande Walkerhill hotel. For those familiar with kpop, you will know that many Korean artistes choose to hold their wedding here, at Astons house.
I had very high expectation of this hotel but was quite disappointed. There are still some pros about this hotel.
Our booking was at Douglous house which had a separate check-in area. The hotel receptionist was waiting at the lobby door and guided us on the hotel facilities and services. The check-in process was smooth and at the end of it, the bell boy helped us with our luggage. I would say that the service here is top notch.
The room is clean and comfortable however, the toilet is a little dated. They had free flow coffee at the lounge.
There are two pools, one indoor and one outdoor. We went to both but only managed to snap photo of the indoor one. If you are not a hotel guest, you have to spend more than SGD100 to get in to their outdoor riverpark. It consists of a lazy river (water is quite still though), a jaccuzzi (crowded), kids pool (with slides and all) and a main pool (filled with people playing beach balls). It was the worst pool I have ever visited and until now, I can't comprehend the high entrace fees. Worst of all, if you need to use the sunbed, you need to pay krw50,000. We had no choice but to place our belongings on the floor beside the sunbed. We got out in less than 30 minutes and headed to the indoor pool which was much better. But the pool was quite small and we were under the watchful eyes of hotel staff who had to explain the rules (if you are not swimming, keep to lane 1 etc) to every guest entering the area.
Summer is a good time to enjoy a dip in the pool. Almost everyone had rash guard on and many shops (including major brands like SPAO, who r u, 8seconds etc) were selling them as well. Got mine from who r u at krw29,000. Supposed to protect you from the harmful uv rays. I didn't stay in the sun long enough to test it out but feels great to have those belly fats covered.
Next, we visited one of the wedding venue, vista hall. There were many curious couples there. Without any deco, the place looked so average, different from their advertisement photos. The view from the ballroom was great though - overlooking han river.
Most artistes had their wedding at Astons house, outdoor wedding venue. Couldn't access the area, drove through the place instead and snapped some photos of their villa.
Our booking was at Douglous house which had a separate check-in area. The hotel receptionist was waiting at the lobby door and guided us on the hotel facilities and services. The check-in process was smooth and at the end of it, the bell boy helped us with our luggage. I would say that the service here is top notch.
The room is clean and comfortable however, the toilet is a little dated. They had free flow coffee at the lounge.
There are two pools, one indoor and one outdoor. We went to both but only managed to snap photo of the indoor one. If you are not a hotel guest, you have to spend more than SGD100 to get in to their outdoor riverpark. It consists of a lazy river (water is quite still though), a jaccuzzi (crowded), kids pool (with slides and all) and a main pool (filled with people playing beach balls). It was the worst pool I have ever visited and until now, I can't comprehend the high entrace fees. Worst of all, if you need to use the sunbed, you need to pay krw50,000. We had no choice but to place our belongings on the floor beside the sunbed. We got out in less than 30 minutes and headed to the indoor pool which was much better. But the pool was quite small and we were under the watchful eyes of hotel staff who had to explain the rules (if you are not swimming, keep to lane 1 etc) to every guest entering the area.
Summer is a good time to enjoy a dip in the pool. Almost everyone had rash guard on and many shops (including major brands like SPAO, who r u, 8seconds etc) were selling them as well. Got mine from who r u at krw29,000. Supposed to protect you from the harmful uv rays. I didn't stay in the sun long enough to test it out but feels great to have those belly fats covered.
Next, we visited one of the wedding venue, vista hall. There were many curious couples there. Without any deco, the place looked so average, different from their advertisement photos. The view from the ballroom was great though - overlooking han river.
Most artistes had their wedding at Astons house, outdoor wedding venue. Couldn't access the area, drove through the place instead and snapped some photos of their villa.
Our room came with free breakfast which was good and had great variety but still lost out to Conrad and Shilla.
If you are in Korea for summer, you have to try their grapes. One box like the one below costs krw9,900. It's seedless and really sweet. We usually eat the grapes without the skin; only popping out the flesh.
My other loots(honey butter chips, honey butter almond, market o cheese chips etc) from the supermarket. Stay away from the churros almond (bottom right).
Another trend in Korea is carbonated/sparkling water, to drink and to rinse. Due to its slightly acidic properties, it is said to be good for the skin and scalp. Many beauty programmes are introducing it as facial/scalp wash for detox. The brand below is quite popular in Korea, selling at krw1,000, cheaper than perrier.
If you are in Korea for summer, you have to try their grapes. One box like the one below costs krw9,900. It's seedless and really sweet. We usually eat the grapes without the skin; only popping out the flesh.
My other loots(honey butter chips, honey butter almond, market o cheese chips etc) from the supermarket. Stay away from the churros almond (bottom right).
Another trend in Korea is carbonated/sparkling water, to drink and to rinse. Due to its slightly acidic properties, it is said to be good for the skin and scalp. Many beauty programmes are introducing it as facial/scalp wash for detox. The brand below is quite popular in Korea, selling at krw1,000, cheaper than perrier.
After so many trips to Korea, found out that I have been purchasing cosmetics via the wrong channel. I used to purchase cosmetics off shelves in Myeongdong but the Lotte Duty Free app has changed my perception of duty free shopping. Lotte duty free shopping app is not just about purchasing products tax free. The discount coupons and discount events can reap substantial savings. Link to English version.
How cheap is it? Using the Laneige purchase below, waterbank gel cream is sold at KRW 37,000 and waterbank essence is sold at KRW 40,000 on Laneige official website. However, Lotte duty free is only selling it at KRW 29,886 and KRW 30,996 respectively, almost 20% discount. Other brands might have even higher discounts.
How cheap is it? Using the Laneige purchase below, waterbank gel cream is sold at KRW 37,000 and waterbank essence is sold at KRW 40,000 on Laneige official website. However, Lotte duty free is only selling it at KRW 29,886 and KRW 30,996 respectively, almost 20% discount. Other brands might have even higher discounts.
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| From Laneige website |
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| From Laneige website |
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| From Lotte duty free app |
After you make your purchase, follow the instruction and collect it at the airport (after clearing immigration). Your products will be properly packed into a bag and once your number is called, the bag will be handed over to you. Simple and cheap. Be sure to click on every event to get discount coupons.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Must Go/See/Visit Places in Seoul
There are lots of travel guides on Seoul but here is a summary of a list of must-visit places in Seoul. The reason why I am excluding an itinerary is because the places are well within reach of subways and one can plan based on the subway maps depending on their personal preferences (shopping? sightseeing? etc).
Shopping:
Myeongdong (cosmetics and clothes)
Yeongdeungpo Underground Mall (sheltered thus good place to shop if raining)
Seoul Bus Express Terminal (underground shopping)
Ewha (University shopping street, mainly clothes and bag)
Hongdae (University shopping street, mainly clothes and bag)
Dongdaemun (open till late but I don't like shopping here as you need to haggle)
Namdaemun (more like a marketplace, for getting cutlery, souvenirs, idol stuff etc)
Lotte Supermarket at Seoul station (Korean groceries)
Sightseeing:
Nami Island
Namsan Tower (near Myeongdong)
Gyeongbokgung (near Gwanghwamun, rent a hanbok nearby and you can enter for free)
Cheonggyecheon stream (near Gwanghwamun)
Yeouido (good place to catch fireworks festival and cherry blossoms)
Banpo bridge rainbow fountain (take a cruise from Yeouido)
Gangchon rail bike
Activities:
Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa (jjimjilbang located at Yongsan station)
Lotte World (theme park located at Jamsil station)
Yongin Everland (theme park located at outskirt of Seoul)
December/January is a good time to head to the ski resort in Gangwondo. You can consider Vivaldi ski park http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=266845. This ski park offers night time ski, good quality snow and the slope side condos are fantastic. It also offers free shuttle bus services for foreigners, from Seoul.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Korean Cosmetics Comprehensive Buying Guide (From Get it Beauty and more)
I love Korean cosmetics because they are good and cheap. However, there are just too many brands and new products that I don't even know where to start. There are many vlogs and posts about Korean cosmetics review but I am sceptical about those. The reviews might vary due to individual skin condition as well as experience with other beauty products. Then, my bf introduced me to the popular Korean variety show called Get It Beauty.
It seems like Koreans themselves faithfully follow the information provided by this variety show. When you visit pharmacies or cosmetics shops in Korea, you will see some products proudly bearing the Get It Beauty label. These are products that shops would want to display at the most prominent spot. That forms a guide for me when choosing Korean cosmetics. It is hard to visit shop by shop to locate the get it beauty tags. I get my information from http://getitbeauty.lifestyler.co.kr/getitbeauty.
The category to carry out blind test on are selected based on latest Korean trend. From around 130 products that are sent to the show, 10 will get selected by 3 professionals. Out of the 10, 5 will get selected based on online reviews and blind tests by 10 other professionals. The ranking of the top 5 products will be based on the aforementioned (online review + feedback from 10 professionals) together with feedback from hosts and participants who are invited to the show. Quite a stringent process I would say.
For those of you experiencing a hard time choosing Korean beauty products (like me), fret not, this is the complete guide for your daily routine. This is the one stop guide as I will update information as and when. The information below (in sequence based on the Korea skincare routine) are extracted from Get It Beauty website. If you have any queries, feel free to leave a comment.
1. Cleansing
Cleansing water
I was told that one of the secret to Koreans clear skin is due to the use of cleansing water. It functions as both cleanser and make up remover.
Ranked number 1 is none other than Dr Jart + dermaclear micro water. I have tried both Dr Jart+ and Bioderma (ranked number 3 and slightly cheaper than Dr Jart+) cleansing water. I prefer Dr Jart+ as it really clears up my skin, brightens it and keeps it moist. Use a cotton pad to soak up the mineral water and give your face a thorough wipe.
I am introducing the product ranked number 2 on get it beauty. It is the Happy Bath (Korean brand) Soap Berry Bubble Foam. The reason I am introducing number 2 instead of number 1 is because of the price. This only costs SGD15 or less (during promotion) whereas the product ranked number 1 costs more than SGD30 (Hera cleansing moose). Of course, go with the product which brings the most value for money (anything that makes its way up to the top 5 list on get it beauty website are worthy to consider).
Powder wash
Powder wash is supposed to clear out dirt from your pores. I have not tried it before but will get my hands on one once I get the chance to.
Ranked number 1 is Orbis Powder Wash (have not heard of this brand before).
This primer (Apieu's Start Up Pore Primer) is the cheapest and still managed to top the rank. Primer will help to smooth out the skin to create the flawless look.
8. Concealer
Not a Korean brand this time round but it shows that the blind test is fair right? Ranked at number 1 is none other than Maybeline New York's Age Rewind Concealer. Good news is that you can get this in Singapore!
9. BB Cusion/Foundation
BB cushion is a product that is reviewed by many. I have tried out Laneige (I believe most of us started with this brand), Espoir (Clicknetwork says it is used by Korean air stewardess but I have yet to verify), IOPE and LUNA (water essence founpact). Each has its pros and cons and I will use it based on the climate. If I am in Singapore, I tend to prefer Espoir. If I am experiencing winter in Korea, I will go with IOPE or LUNA.
My skin tone is a Laneige no. 21 and also 21 for IOPE and LUNA. For Espoir, I will choose petal colour.
Ranked at number 1 is Hera's UV Mist Cushion which I will also try out one day to find out why it is ranked higher than IOPE (ranked at number 3).
The recent episode introduces Etude House's stick foundation which has a wider range of colour to cater for shading, blusher and highlighting. The effect is quite subtle and natural. This costs KRW12,000 won.
10. Eyeliner
The only Korean brand (most affordable) that made it to the list is Banila Co's So Wonder Smooth Gel Eyeliner.
I had a huge problem with eyeliner as I have oily lids. It will almost always smudge (whether it is gel type, pencil type or liquid type). Finally found a saviour, Espoir Bronze Painting Waterproof Eyeliner which costs around KRW12,000. Do check it out, I found this recommendation from Naver, a list of eyeliners that will not smudge no matter how hard you cry.
11. Eyebrow
The first 3 costs more than SGD25 and Peri Pera's Feel So Good Cake Eye Brown only costs around SGD10. I have been trying to find this for the longest time, gave up (can't find it on peri pera website as well so my verdict is that they have stopped production) and bought Etude House's eyebrow powder instead which is ranked at number 5.
If you are interested in eyebrow pencil, can try out Skin Food's Choco Powder Eye Brown Wood Pencil which is ranked at number 4 in its category of pencil eyeliner.
Saw this interesting Etude House eyebrow tint which has a surprisingly good effect and review (contrary to lip tattoo). This tint works like a tattoo and produces very natural brow. For girls with dark coloured hair, I will recommend using grey brown colour (no. 3). This costs only KRW8,500.
It is said to last for 3 days to a week. You can apply and leave it on overnight. Peel it off the next day and tada! Will try this soon, am amazed by the result.
12. Mascara
The review of this mascara from the host of the show is very promising. It is highly rated for its ability to hold the curl. I can't wait to get my hands on this in May. Ranked at number 2 is Missha's Super Extreme Powerproof Mascara (Volumizing Curler).
13. Highlighter
Highlighter can accentuate certain features of your face and is usually applied on the T zone, under the eyes and on the chin. Ranked at number 2 is The Saem's Saemmui Luminous Multi Highlighter (02 Gold Beige).
14. Blusher
Surprised that Etude House is able to make it to the top 5 list for so many products. Ranked at number 1 is Etude House's Lovely Cookie Blusher (11 Peach Chou Wafer).
15. Lipstick
There are quite a few ranking for lipstick and I am just getting information for the latest blind test which is comparing the rose coloured lipsticks. Ranked at number 1 is Missha's Signature Dewy Rouge (PK02 Rose Geranium). From the reviews, it seems like the smell of this lipstick is pleasant and it doesn't stain easily. I am not a fan of rose colour thus will try out either the Wink Bunny or Desert Coral tone.
My personal recommendation is Mamonde Creamy Lip Tint that is endorsed by Park Shin Hye. It comes in a variety of colours and keeps the lip moist. I can't say that it doesn't stain your cup but minimal staining as compared to the rest. Traditional lipsticks have some sort of chemical taste but this has none and costs only KRW8,000.
16. Make-up Fixer
After all the effort to get your make-up done, how do you ensure that it stays the same for the next 24 hours? The answer to this is make-up fixer. Ranked at number 2 is Too Cool For School's Perfect Day Make-Up Fixer which costs KRW12,000. Ranked at number 1 is So Natural's All Day Tight Make-Up Setting Fixer at KRW15,000. I have not come across this brand before so thought finding it would be a challenge.
17. Hair Essence
After towel drying your hair, it is recommended to apply essence to the tip of your hair. Ranked at number 2 is Tony Moly's Make HD Silky Argan Oil.
That's all for now..
It seems like Koreans themselves faithfully follow the information provided by this variety show. When you visit pharmacies or cosmetics shops in Korea, you will see some products proudly bearing the Get It Beauty label. These are products that shops would want to display at the most prominent spot. That forms a guide for me when choosing Korean cosmetics. It is hard to visit shop by shop to locate the get it beauty tags. I get my information from http://getitbeauty.lifestyler.co.kr/getitbeauty.
The category to carry out blind test on are selected based on latest Korean trend. From around 130 products that are sent to the show, 10 will get selected by 3 professionals. Out of the 10, 5 will get selected based on online reviews and blind tests by 10 other professionals. The ranking of the top 5 products will be based on the aforementioned (online review + feedback from 10 professionals) together with feedback from hosts and participants who are invited to the show. Quite a stringent process I would say.
For those of you experiencing a hard time choosing Korean beauty products (like me), fret not, this is the complete guide for your daily routine. This is the one stop guide as I will update information as and when. The information below (in sequence based on the Korea skincare routine) are extracted from Get It Beauty website. If you have any queries, feel free to leave a comment.
1. Cleansing
Cleansing water
I was told that one of the secret to Koreans clear skin is due to the use of cleansing water. It functions as both cleanser and make up remover.
Ranked number 1 is none other than Dr Jart + dermaclear micro water. I have tried both Dr Jart+ and Bioderma (ranked number 3 and slightly cheaper than Dr Jart+) cleansing water. I prefer Dr Jart+ as it really clears up my skin, brightens it and keeps it moist. Use a cotton pad to soak up the mineral water and give your face a thorough wipe.
Bubble cleanser
Bubble cleanser are known to be gentle to the skin. I have sensitive skin and my personal experience with bubble cleanser is that it is soft to the skin and does not rip out the moisture from the skin layer. My face usually feels scratchy and looks red after using normal cleanser but not with bubble cleanser. This can only be used for normal cleansing and cannot double up as make up remover.I am introducing the product ranked number 2 on get it beauty. It is the Happy Bath (Korean brand) Soap Berry Bubble Foam. The reason I am introducing number 2 instead of number 1 is because of the price. This only costs SGD15 or less (during promotion) whereas the product ranked number 1 costs more than SGD30 (Hera cleansing moose). Of course, go with the product which brings the most value for money (anything that makes its way up to the top 5 list on get it beauty website are worthy to consider).
Cleansing oil
I am not a fan of cleansing oil but for those of you out there who is interested in it, ranked at number 1 is Etude House's Real Art Cleansing Oil Moisture.
Powder wash
Powder wash is supposed to clear out dirt from your pores. I have not tried it before but will get my hands on one once I get the chance to.
Ranked number 1 is Orbis Powder Wash (have not heard of this brand before).
2. Toner
The second step after face wash will be toner. Ranked number 1 is Tony Moly's Floria Nutra Energy Toner. I would like to give this a try, currently I am using Innisfree's Olive Real Skin (slightly cheaper) which is ranked at number 3.
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3. Face mist
It seems like alot of people have issues (from comments in the website) with the smell of this face mist which is ranked at number 1. This is Mistian's Facial Mist. Surprisingly, Innisfree's Green Tea Mineral Mist which is ranked at number 5 (same price) has received better comments. I am also using the Innisfree mist which feels refreshing but I prefer Nature Republic's Bee Venom Mist (able to reduce redness).
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Update:
Based on latest blind test done, Skin Food's Black Pomegranate Essence Mist top the list. This mist has volumizing effect which improves skin elasticity and is said to be good for oily skin type.
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4. Sheet mask
I know I skipped a few steps in between (wasn't able to find the ranking for essence though). Ranked at number 3 for moisturizing mask is Banila Co's V-V Elastic Bio Cellulose Mask Sheet. Ranked at number 1 is Lancome which costs above SGD120 for 6 sheets (definitely not for me).
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5. Moisturizer
Can't believe that The Face Shop's Mango Seed Facial Butter beat belief's Moisturizing Bomb to claim the number 1 spot. I am going to try this some day too. The blind test was carried out over 12 hour period to test which product is able to provide a lasting moist.
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Gel type
If you prefer something light, go for the gel type moisturizer. Ranked at number 2 is none other than Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream EX. Ranked at number 1 is SU:M37 waterful timless water gel cream which costs more than SGD80.
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6. Sun care
I seldom use sun block as I tend to apply BB cushion which functions as a sun block as well. Ranked at number 1 is Dr G Brightening Up Sun SPF42 PA+++.
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7. Primer
This primer (Apieu's Start Up Pore Primer) is the cheapest and still managed to top the rank. Primer will help to smooth out the skin to create the flawless look.
8. Concealer
Not a Korean brand this time round but it shows that the blind test is fair right? Ranked at number 1 is none other than Maybeline New York's Age Rewind Concealer. Good news is that you can get this in Singapore!
9. BB Cusion/Foundation
BB cushion is a product that is reviewed by many. I have tried out Laneige (I believe most of us started with this brand), Espoir (Clicknetwork says it is used by Korean air stewardess but I have yet to verify), IOPE and LUNA (water essence founpact). Each has its pros and cons and I will use it based on the climate. If I am in Singapore, I tend to prefer Espoir. If I am experiencing winter in Korea, I will go with IOPE or LUNA.
My skin tone is a Laneige no. 21 and also 21 for IOPE and LUNA. For Espoir, I will choose petal colour.
Ranked at number 1 is Hera's UV Mist Cushion which I will also try out one day to find out why it is ranked higher than IOPE (ranked at number 3).
After trying out Hera, Laneige, Espoir, IOPE and April Skin, I think April Skin's BB cushion best suit my skin type. The #21 shade perfectly matches that of my skin (I usually use #21 shade for other brands as well). It doesn't cake up or make my face appear shiny at the end of a long day.
It seems like stick foundation is getting popular too. Using a lighter or darker shade, stick foundation can provide highlighting and shading. Ranked at number 4 is A'PIEU's Smart Speeder Stick Foundation (only comes in 2 colour).
The recent episode introduces Etude House's stick foundation which has a wider range of colour to cater for shading, blusher and highlighting. The effect is quite subtle and natural. This costs KRW12,000 won.
10. Eyeliner
The only Korean brand (most affordable) that made it to the list is Banila Co's So Wonder Smooth Gel Eyeliner.
I had a huge problem with eyeliner as I have oily lids. It will almost always smudge (whether it is gel type, pencil type or liquid type). Finally found a saviour, Espoir Bronze Painting Waterproof Eyeliner which costs around KRW12,000. Do check it out, I found this recommendation from Naver, a list of eyeliners that will not smudge no matter how hard you cry.
11. Eyebrow
The first 3 costs more than SGD25 and Peri Pera's Feel So Good Cake Eye Brown only costs around SGD10. I have been trying to find this for the longest time, gave up (can't find it on peri pera website as well so my verdict is that they have stopped production) and bought Etude House's eyebrow powder instead which is ranked at number 5.
If you are interested in eyebrow pencil, can try out Skin Food's Choco Powder Eye Brown Wood Pencil which is ranked at number 4 in its category of pencil eyeliner.
Saw this interesting Etude House eyebrow tint which has a surprisingly good effect and review (contrary to lip tattoo). This tint works like a tattoo and produces very natural brow. For girls with dark coloured hair, I will recommend using grey brown colour (no. 3). This costs only KRW8,500.
It is said to last for 3 days to a week. You can apply and leave it on overnight. Peel it off the next day and tada! Will try this soon, am amazed by the result.
12. Mascara
The review of this mascara from the host of the show is very promising. It is highly rated for its ability to hold the curl. I can't wait to get my hands on this in May. Ranked at number 2 is Missha's Super Extreme Powerproof Mascara (Volumizing Curler).
Highlighter can accentuate certain features of your face and is usually applied on the T zone, under the eyes and on the chin. Ranked at number 2 is The Saem's Saemmui Luminous Multi Highlighter (02 Gold Beige).
14. Blusher
Surprised that Etude House is able to make it to the top 5 list for so many products. Ranked at number 1 is Etude House's Lovely Cookie Blusher (11 Peach Chou Wafer).
15. Lipstick
There are quite a few ranking for lipstick and I am just getting information for the latest blind test which is comparing the rose coloured lipsticks. Ranked at number 1 is Missha's Signature Dewy Rouge (PK02 Rose Geranium). From the reviews, it seems like the smell of this lipstick is pleasant and it doesn't stain easily. I am not a fan of rose colour thus will try out either the Wink Bunny or Desert Coral tone.
My personal recommendation is Mamonde Creamy Lip Tint that is endorsed by Park Shin Hye. It comes in a variety of colours and keeps the lip moist. I can't say that it doesn't stain your cup but minimal staining as compared to the rest. Traditional lipsticks have some sort of chemical taste but this has none and costs only KRW8,000.
16. Make-up Fixer
After all the effort to get your make-up done, how do you ensure that it stays the same for the next 24 hours? The answer to this is make-up fixer. Ranked at number 2 is Too Cool For School's Perfect Day Make-Up Fixer which costs KRW12,000. Ranked at number 1 is So Natural's All Day Tight Make-Up Setting Fixer at KRW15,000. I have not come across this brand before so thought finding it would be a challenge.
17. Hair Essence
After towel drying your hair, it is recommended to apply essence to the tip of your hair. Ranked at number 2 is Tony Moly's Make HD Silky Argan Oil.
That's all for now..
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