Seoul: The Beauty Shoppers Haven

Even if you’re not the type to go gaga over beauty products, I realized that coming to Seoul will whet your appetite for Korean-brand cosmetics.

I really had no desire to go shopping for makeup when I went to Seoul the second time around, but some of my girl friends had asked for favors, asking me to buy some Korean brand beauty products for them.

South Korea has a plethora of beauty products that have become well-known international brands. Even in Manila, some of their high-end and average brands have penetrated the Philippine beauty industry; some enjoying rave reviews in the United States, Europe and other Asian countries. It’s not surprising though, given the way the K-Wave wormed its way and established a niche in various parts of the world particularly in Asia.

Just the sight of these stores—The Face Shop, Etude House, Nature Republic, Laneige and many more—in Myeongdeong and other upscale walks like Gangnam makes me think, is it really worth buying the Korean brand?

Way back when I haven’t gone to Seoul, I’ve tried some Korean branded cosmetics that are sold in popular department stores in Manila. I tried a BB cream from Tony Moly. Prior to this, I bought a liquid foundation at The Face Shop, tried and found it unsuitable for my skin. Somebody also gifted me with a set of make-up essentials from Face Shop which included a lip liner, eye brow makeup, lip gloss which I gave away to some close friends.

When I went back last April with my mom in tow, I bought a few make up essentials for me and some for my friends.

I purchased a CC cream at The Face Shop for myself. It functions like a BB cream but promises to correct one’s skin color to make it look naturally flawless. Other shops also sell CC creams but I settled for Face It Aura Color Control Cream.

A friend requested I buy her Innisfree’s Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask.

Another friend requested the Face Shop’s Face It Collagen EX skin cover in NB21 color. It’s a two-way foundation.

I also purchased from the same store a Lip Care Cream in Mango Butter which dutifully paid attention to our lip care needs. It saved us from suffering furthermore from cracked lips during the duration of our stay in Seoul.

What I also like about shopping for cosmetics in this megalopolis is that for every big purchase you make, you get to receive freebies along with you.

At Innisfree, I got free samples of their Green Barley Clear Scrub and Green Barley Cleansing Cream. Had I got to try these immediately when I was in Seoul, I would have bought a whole pack.

Along with the cosmetics I bought at The Face Shop, I got 10 pieces samples each of Antevia Active Original Emulsion and Toner. The moisturizer was a winner for it addressed our dry faces brought about by Seoul’s cold spring weather. 

The next best thing I discovered about my beauty shopping adventure in Seoul is that I found the price more affordable here than in Manila. The mark up price of each Korean cosmetics tend to be 30-50 percent higher when you buy it here. But some friends actually told me high-end brands, like Laneige, cost almost the same here in the Philippines.

Promise, in my next trip back here, I will really do my best to do some more intensive cosmetic shopping, for myself and for everyone else.

Sighting Cherry Blossoms in Seoul

My mom absolutely loves flowers that’s why instead of buying her a dozen of her favorites, I decided to bring her to Seoul in a spring time instead on her birthday. Nothing beats the real thing and the fact you can touch and smell a lot of flowers real time is definitely a more fantastic experience than having a bunch of flowers thrust at you.

A friend who visited Seoul only recently convinced me to visit South Korea on an April. I remember being extremely jealous of her when she visited Seoul in 2012 and was able to see cherry blossoms in full bloom almost about anywhere while walking around the capital. The last time I was here, it was autumn and I was awed by the orange foliage that covered Gyeongbukgong and Changdeokgung–two of the famous palaces in Seoul. It was so much fun to capture sights of trees  changing colors as it is nearing winter season. That was October 2011. In April this month, I got to witness another charming side of Seoul.

After browsing several times on the Internet last year, I made up my mind to follow suggestions to visit Seoul during spring to catch the Cherry Blossoms Festival in Hangang Park in Yeouido Island. Suggestions say we shouldn’t delay our trip because anytime, the cherry blossoms may be gone any minute. I’m glad that when we finally got there, the cherry blossoms are still there in full bloom. There were no festivities in the area but the park itself was vibrant and lively and the crowd that filled Yeouido’s streets gave of an upbeat feel.

After exiting Yeouinaru Station, we strolled along the island’s vast riverfront park first which is ideal for walking, bicycling, and family picnics. One can rent bicycles to explore the beautifully landscaped park. We saw some typical office workers remove their shoes and dangle their dainty feet at the riverside while munching on some snacks and holding canned drinks.  Of course, we didn’t pass up the chance to get up close and personal with South Korea’s famed Han River. So my mom and I took turns posing for some pictures the same way the locals do.

It’s a nice place to stay and recharge. I would have loved to try a ferry ride but we couldn’t find the ferry terminal. We actually thought the Hangang Floating Stage was the terminal. But the park itself was splendid. We rested in one of the benches and had a nice bonding time, breathing in fresh air.

Our growling stomachs reminded us its past lunch time and brought us again to our feet. We didn’t bring any food or water with us. So we decided to find a nearby restaurant. There was one, but we didn’t like pastries. Then, walking a bit more, we found so many food stalls just along the walkways. I find it interesting though, that like in Manila, there are street vendors here. We find some selling popular street food like roasted squid, sausages, rice cakes, gimbap (traditional Korean rice rolls), corn, buko juice and so much more. Because we’re really hungry, my mom chose to buy the Korean sausages, which amazingly, was partnered with some crunchy fried chicken and potatoes. We took our humble lunch at a public terrace overlooking the river where some elder Koreans were lazily lounging.

After eating, we walked a little further and found another perfect recreational space: Yeouido Park…

We’re so lucky to find this spot in Yeouido. It is so wonderfully maintained that its no wonder why so many people from all walks of life are attracted to this spot and come here to enjoy a moment’s respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. Here and elsewhere, one can find lovely cherry blossoms. I saw some people around here  carry digital cameras and SLRs to take professional photos of the flowers and the park.

I’m glad I wore my favorite rubber shoes for this walk. The uphill climb can be tiresome, but I assure you it’s all worth it. Just the sight of cherry blossoms and other colorful flowers will remove any tiredness.

Sweet Seoul Spring

 

Oh my! Time flies so fast and I neglected to even post a miniscule event in my life this April. Indulge me. I had a few things to do this month. It’s my mom’s birthday and I’ve been agitated as it is, after deciding (since last year) that we will spend her birth anniversary one fine spring day in Seoul. After all, I promised her I would bring her there one day so she could get a glimpse of even this part of South Korea for once in her life and not just on cable TV.

 

 

As they say in travelogues, preparation is key. But nothing, absolutely nothing, prepared me for this, when just weeks before we were about to board our Cebu Pacific flight, rumors of impending war between the North and South Korea is teetering on the edge. I was almost about ready to cancel our flight and accommodations. But something inside me told me that I just had to go: nuclear war be damned. I just had to fulfill that promise. So even if My Mom was ready to give up her aspirations to go to South Korea, I made every effort to convince her to go and that its safe and nothing will happen. Just pray.

And so we did. And now we’re back. I’m glad we did not back down. I’m thankful God gave us enough courage to go forth. Life is too short to worry about such things. That’s  the reason why we have a God we trust.

The six days we spent here wasn’t enough. I would have wanted to stretch our vacation a week further except that I know it’s not possible. I miss a lot of things, the cold weather, the warm people, the cherry blossoms and tulips, the culture and the sights but I know I wouldn’t stop there. It only emboldens me to come back for another round to drink of South Korea’s wonderful sights and taste.

I say no to war,  cheers to life! Gunbae!

Korean dramas I watched in 2012 (2nd part)

I promised a second batch after writing the first part.

So here’s what other K-dramas in 2012 that’s most memorable for me…

8. Haeundae Lovers—is a rom-com about a state prosecutor who went undercover to infiltrate a family of gangster but met an accident, lost his memory and fell in love with the mob boss’s daughter.

9. Faith –I thought I’ve had enough of medical drama since I watched Surgeon Bong Dalhee. But this fantasy K-drama turns as back in time to the Goryeo dynasty. I watched it because of Lee Min Ho who plays the royal guard of King Gongmin of the Goryeo kingdom. He plays General Choi Young who time travels to modern Korea to kidnap a plastic surgeon and brings her to the old world to operate on the queen. As usual, they fall in love later on. There’s a male counterpart K-drama for this, Dr. Jin, but I haven’t watched it, and I think I’ll do so later.

10. The Equator Man (Man From the Equator)—starred Uhm Tae Woong (Queen Seon Deok, 2 Days & 1 Night) that’s why I decided to sit and watch this. It’s about two unlikely buddies who had a tragic and twisted fate that followed them from their youth to their adulthood. The betrayal, revenge and romantic plot made it an ideal drama for me.

11. Brain—another medical drama about top neurosurgeons battling out for success and fame. Professional jealousies in and out of the hospital make it an interesting drama.

12. Bad Guy (Nappeum Namja)—I watched it because of Kim Nam Gil (Queen Seon Deok). Though this SBS drama has been aired since 2010, I only got to finish it last year. KNG here plays the illegitimate son of a chaebol who was discarded as a child after the wife tampered with the DNA results. He came back years later as an adult, seduced the female members of the family and planned the family’s downfall. What I didn’t like about this is that it ended tragically and KNG was forced to cut filming because he was already being called to do military duty. Good news is, he’s now back in the entertainment industry.

13. Ojakgyo family—the best thing about family dramas the Korean way is that its witty and educational. Joo Won was again part of this drama and it was a refreshing role for him after a heavy acting in Baker King. It’s about four brothers living in a farm with their parents. The oldest is a physical therapist, the second is a journalist, the third a policeman and the youngest is a seasonal model and a playboy.  How they found the love of their lives is a must-watch. Check out too Joo Won’s chemistry with UEE but personally, I was more interested getting to see the romance develop between the second son, the journalist who fell with another competitive reporter.

14. My Husband’s Got a Family (You Who Rolled in Unexpectedly, Unexpected You)—is another favorite family drama worth watching. It’s about Yunhee, a TV drama director who thinks that marrying an adoptee is the perfect opportunity to free yourself from nosy in-laws. Everything is perfect until the day they found out that their next door neighbors were actually her husband’s real family. Now she has to deal with her father-in-law , mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law and three sisters-in-law who all rolled into her life unexpectedly. Watch it and think if it’s not as crazy as your family.

14. Rooftop Prince—this fantasy rom-com really had me rolling on the floor; another time travel K-drama, this time it’s about a Joseon crown prince who ended up in the modern world together with his closest entourage to find out about the mysterious death of his wife. But as the drama progresses, the crown prince eventually learns the truth about his wife and his sister-in-law.

15. Innocent Man (Nice Guy) –is not as innocent as it seem, nor is it as nice as you thought the characters would portray. It is actually a dark melodrama about love, betrayal and revenge. It’s about a promising medical student whose life suddenly turns for the worse after taking responsibility of his girlfriend’s crime. The girl becomes the mistress of a wealthy businessman whose at odds with his daughter. It’s the classic tale of a man seducing the daughter of his nemesis for revenge but a little twisted.

16. IRIS (1) – when it comes to espionage drama, K-dramas really nail it. Watch this one and it’s the closest idea you can get on the relationship between North and South Koreans. Stellar cast includes Lee Byung-hun whose now in Hollywood and Kim Tae Hee, Kim Seung Woo, Kim So-Yeon and Big Bang’s T.O.P. I’m now watching its sequel IRIS 2 also in KBS World.

17. Cinderella’s Step Sister—the title itself is promising. Two stepsisters whose personalities are extreme opposites finally battle their personal angst to resurrect the brewery left by their father. It was indeed a tear-jerker but I’m glad of the light and cute moments fused in between episodes. I still find that little brother of theirs so cute with his acting.

18. Jeon Woo Chi—I watched it because it has Cha Tae-Hyun (2Days & 1 Night) as its main lead. He plays the famous Taoist wizard who disguises himself as a wimpy reporter to pursue another bad wizard. He eventually becomes a Joseon hero after saving the king and the kingdom. The role is good for CTH because he is really a funny guy.

19. My Daughter Seo Yeong –just wrapped up recently but I was hooked to this poignant family drama. It portrays a woman’s broken relationship with her father. How she eventually learned to forgive her father, through the help of her husband and her brother is a good lesson to anyone wanting to forge a stronger daughter-father relationship.

I don’t think I’m stopping here ‘coz I know there’s a lot more good K-dramas that we could all watch this 2013. I’d just have to wait for all of that to finish. Then, maybe next year, I could round up all of the remarkable K-dramas I watched for this year.

Mango and Kesong Puti salad

I’m foregoing meat this week, or so I’ll try. I decided to come up with a salad I’m familiar with.  It’s typical of a green salad but I’m tossing in my favorite cheese: the local kesong puti  that I bought at the supermarket. It’s the Filipino version of a cottage cheese made from unskimmed carabao’s milk. I super like kesong puti because it’s not too salty. So for this salad recipe I made, I only tossed in half a cup of cubed kesong puti, slices of cucumber, lettuce, and diced ripe mangoes  and coated it in 3 tablespoons of my choice of balsamic vinegar dressing. After putting it all in a plate, I topped with ready-made croutons and viola! I have an Asian-inspired Mango and Kesong Puti green salad.

 

 

How I love staycation especially during Lenten season!

Getting armed with ARMADA

It’s getting hotter and hotter these days. Summer would have been fun if you can enjoy being exposed in the sun without fear of getting badly toasted. If it’s advisable to wear sunscreen during cooler days, it’s inadvisable not to wear sunblock during summer. As  they say, the best armor to shield our skin from the sun’s harmful rays is one good trusty sunblock. That’s what got me to buy ARMADA Face and Body Shield 60, by VMV Hypoallergenics.

 

I used to buy whatever sunblock is available at department stores. But last week, before I was scheduled to fly to Davao City, I checked out the 3-day sale at SM Makati  and decided to pick up a sunblock that I’ve been itching to try for quite some time now.

I’ve been using some of VMV products on an on-and-off basis. From their cosmetics to soaps, to toners–except their sunblock. But since I saw that almost all of their products have a 10-percent discount that day, I immediately took one and bought one sunblock in anticipation of the fieldwork I’m going to do when I travel down south.

I chose this over ARMADA Sport 70 which is ideal for those who are in extreme outdoor conditions, because it doubles as protection against skin darkening and melasma. There’s another one ARMADA Face Cover 30. Depends on one’s needs but my gut is telling me to go for my personal choice. Anyway, one popular fashion and lifestyle mag had rave reviews on ARMADA sunblock, hailing it as one of the best sunblock in the market. Their sunblocks are safe even for kids.

And I wasn’t mistaken. I’m not sure if the other ARMADA sunscreen products are as lightweight as the one I am using now. I hate sunblocks that gives off a sticky feel. It has no fragrance either and I love the fact that it is easily absorbed by my skin. Putting on make up is also much easier.

 

K-dramas that got me hooked in 2012 (1st part)

Alright, I know I’m blogging this late, but… who’s going to stop me anyway?

I’ve wanted to share about the latest Korean dramas I’ve watched. I just couldn’t find the time to do it last year here in my blog. Still, I guess, I can catch up.

Some of those I’ve watched are episode re-runs I watched at KBS World last year, while some shows I’ve watched are about to be aired or has been shown this year on various Philippine TV networks.

But let me talk about the Korean dramas that got me hooked last year…

1. Women of the Sun (Sisters In Love)—this 2008 Korean drama was replayed on KBS World in 2012. I found myself drawn into its plot because well…I can relate. It’s about a famous TV media personality who seems to be the most perfect woman you’d think she is. She has it all: education attainment, rich family, talent, looks and a hunky boyfriend. But behind the beautiful face is an insecure girl afraid of losing her parents’ trust and because of a terrible deed she had done to her five year old sister whom she abandoned at the Seoul Central Train station when she was 13 years old. How they met again and under what circumstances was a frightening maze of emotions especially for an adopted girl. But the end of it was beautiful, depicting two sisters’ desire for revenge, love, family and ultimately, forgiveness.

2. The Bridal Mask (Gaksital)—oh , I watched this because of Joo Won (Ojakkgyo brothers, Baker King). And this did not disappoint me. I really like the way Koreans do historical dramas/movies. Gaksital is one of them. The Bridal Mask is about the hero/freedom fighter who emerged during the Japanese occupation in Korea.

3. The Princess’s Man—Let me just say I nearly had a heart attack when I finished this one. No kidding! This K-drama has all the elements: suspense, strong plot, good story line, romance and tragedy. Good thing the ending wasn’t tragic, or I might have launched an online protest campaign.

4. Moon That Embraces the Sun—another historical drama. It’s about a gripping love story of a fictional Korean king with a shaman set during the Joseon Period. I’m happy it has a happy ending.

5. Pink Lipstick—it’s about a woman who found out her husband had an affair with her best friend. The story is similar to My Husband’s Woman, another K-drama, but seasoned with a different twist. Wife finds out their adopted daughter is actually her husband and her best friend’s lovechild. After her divorce, she finally made up her mind to take revenge against them.

6. King Gwanggaeto—this lengthy historical KBS drama was at first difficult to watch. It’s difficult to remember the names of the numerous characters. But this is a good one, if you like to study Asian history.

7. Love Rain—got me enthralled, really. The first episode of this sweet melodrama was set in the 1970s when two college sweethearts first met in the rain and showed their love story. After a bittersweet parting, they meet again after many years, the woman, a widow, has a daughter, and the man is a divorcee, has a son. Their children fall in love with each other set in the backdrop of a modern Korea.

 

 

I’m not through yet…I’ll tell some of the others…on my next blog.