Tangled Musings

New Year, New Blog!

2015-12-31T22:33:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder, you can find the new blog at casualncouture.blogspot.ca. Happy New Year!

Etude House – Honey Cera Line Review

2015-12-30T03:21:00.000-08:00

Along with the Snowy Dessert collection I reviewed last week, Etude House also sent their new Honey Cera skincare line. The line boasts the use of honey to moisturize, ceramides to heal and repair the skin barrier so as to retain moisture, and immortelle flower essence to firm. The trial set includes a toner, emulsion, eye serum, and a cream.

Now, Korea's winter is a bit dry (not as dry as Calgary's, but definitely dry enough to feel and see a difference in my skin). Not only that, but the dermatologist put me on a super low dose of accutane again as he thought my topical retinoid was too irritating. So basically, I have dry skin, with a compromised moisture barrier. The Honey Cera line should, in theory be perfect for me.

And, on it's own, it almost is. With a few tweaks, it definitely works for my dry, dehydrated winter skin. Add some moisturizing serums, to the mix, and my skin feels comfortable all day.

The toner is quite watery, and to be honest, doesn't feel that moisturizing compared to the Hada Labo lotion. Now, that's not to say it isn't moisturizing. After a shower, my skin usually feels tight quite quickly. Apply the toner, and that tightness disappears and doesn't return for a couple of hours.

Glycerin is the second ingredient, explaining the immediate relief upon application. As you may know, glycerin is a humectant and helps to draw water into the skin, so it will also help dehydrated skin quite a bit. The formula also boasts honey, royal jelly, and hyaluronic acid (all hydrating ingredients). Ceramide 3 is also quite high up on the list of ingredients, so it's definitely a good pick to help strengthen the moisture barrier. It does contain alcohol, but it's so low on the ingredient list, it doesn't bother me at all. It's $19 US on etudehouse.com. I'll definitely be picking this one up when I'm finished with my current toner.

The emulsion is another great product from this line up, and I credit this as the reason my skin stays comfortable for a longer period of time compared to my regular routine. While all the great ingredients (honey, ceramide, royal jelly, and various plant extracts) are lower on the ingredient list compared to the toner, glycerin is still high up, as are fatty alcohols. The formula is quite... sticky? I don't know how to describe it, but if you remember how snail creams used to boast about being super stringy, this is the same, minus the snail. Once you pat it on and it absorbs (quite quickly), it doesn't feel like there's anything on your face. I normally don't use emulsions as I'm lazy, and use a heavy cream instead. However, the added step has definitely made a difference. The emulsion and cream from this line don't feel too heavy together, and I'm curious to see how well it pairs with my regular cream (currently the Guerrison 9 Horse Oil Cream). It's the same price as the toner.

The Honey Cera cream is a heavier cream, without feeling heavy. I'd say it compares quite well to my Belif Moisturizing Bomb. Slightly less moisturizing and slightly heavier feeling, but at nearly half the price, it's a good substitute (I use the same amount as I did with the Belif, a good finger full). This is full of more occlusive emollients including fatty alcohols and jojoba esters to help seal all the moisture from your previous steps in. It's really basic, but it does the job, which is all I need in a cream. It's $24 US.

Lastly, the trial set includes the firming eye serum. It's a super lightweight gel that sinks in quickly and leaves a bit of a shiny finish. It helps to hydrate my under eye area (which is super dry right now). I have noticed a difference in the dehydration lines underneath my eyes. Minus the one I always have due to a lack of aegyo-sal, this got rid of the rest completely. Mind you, they really only show up if I'm not using proper eye care, so I don't know how well this serum would perform on more stubborn lines. The serum uses glycerin to hydrate, and niacinamide to help brighten and improve elasticity. The full-sized version also has a metal applicator tip, which is nice to help massage the serum in and reduce puffiness. To be honest, I normally just use whatever serums and moisturizers I use on the rest of my face around my eye area as well, but this helps to reduce my concealer from sliding off (and my eyeliner from smudging and mascara from running, because heavy creams around the eyes will do that to your makeup). I think it's definitely more of a summer purchase for me, when smeary makeup is more of an issue.

Overall, this is a great, basic line, especially for the price. I think anyone with combination to dry skin will be able to use this easily (if you have oily skin, maybe just use the emulsion, rather than both emulsion and cream). You'll even get a bit of anti-aging care, given the royal jelly (it protects against sun damage) and immortelle flower extract. I'll definitely be picking the toner and emulsion up from this line as finish the samples.

Take a Cue from the Kids

2015-12-28T01:05:00.000-08:00

My students have some super cute style. I'm sure they pick whatever without much though, or their parents help (they definitely help when the girls have cute bows tied around their necks with their scarves). Anyways, a lot of my kids like to wear their skirts or dresses over jeggings or jeans. And maybe a sweater over the dress. We're getting to that magical four layers I need to stay warm, now aren't we? Hey, when inspiration hits, take note. Even if you are looking at six-year olds for fashion inspiration.

Back when I was in high school, I loved "Korean fashion." They were pros at layering (yesstyle.com even had a guide on how to layer like a Korean girl), and all I wanted was to be able to layer more than a tee and cardigan. I didn't really understand the concept of oversized or boyfriend-sized back then and I aimed to fit into extra-small everything. No wonder layers didn't look that cool on me. This time, I decided to do a 180. Oversized everything. Why? Because Christmas happened.

I took these right after Christmas, and to be honest, I normally wear this sweater and dress combo with skinny jeans. However... Christmas Eve cake with the school happened. And then Christmas dinner happened. Now, you might think oh, cake with the rest of the staff isn't that bad. One slice a person and all that. No. There were four or five cakes, and maybe 15 staff for the day. And we're talking 10-15 piece cakes. And I had to try every flavour. I have no self control. Fast forward to Christmas dinner. We ordered Korean fried chicken and pizza. Four flavours of chicken, and three pizzas. And don't forget, Korean pizza is weird. Some have kimchi, some have corn, some have potatoes. So once again, I had to try all the flavours of chicken and pizza. And then there was the bake-fest for dessert, and a tub of six flavour ice cream from Baskin Robbins.... I don't know how I'm not fat yet, but needless to say, I did wake up with major carb/booze face (as you might be able to tell from these pictures). Oh, and we get to do it all over again on New Years! Yay!

So, what I'm saying is, skinny jeans weren't exactly an option for me Boxing Day. So boyfriend jeans it was for these photos. And you know the food baby is bad when your boyfriend jeans are fitting a little snug. A higher heel would have looked awesome with this outfit, but unfortunately my shoe wardrobe in Korea is quite pitiful.

Finally, the blog's url will be changing as of January 1st, so make note! It'll be "casualncouture.blogspot.ca"

Sweater: Top Ten (similar here)

Dress: Zara (similar here)

Boyfriend Jeans: Gap

Boots: Sam Edelman (similar here)
Purse: Botkier (similar here)

Merry Christmas and a Bit of News

2015-12-24T20:42:00.000-08:00

Firstly, Merry Christmas everyone! This has been an exciting year for me with many new opportunities!

With these new opportunities, I'd also love to better the blog, especially the photography. I normally use a tripod and remote for my photography, and while it works, I'm not the best at it. In Korea, I have a couple of friends who are willing to take photos of me on the weekend, however I'm not sure how long we'll be able to continue that as contracts are anding and people are moving. I'll manage though. Worst that happens is I go back to the tripod (my usual location by the university is usually free of people and onlookers).

Secondly, you'll notice a few design changes. This not only has to do with giving the blog a facelift and rebranding, but to refocus myself, and have the blog more to my current fashion style. When I first created this blog, my personal style was very girly. While I still love feminine pieces, I find myself being drawn to cleaner, more minimalistic and neutral designs and colours. I want the design of the blog to reflect that.

Lastly, a name change. You may have noticed my social media handles changing to reflect this earlier in the year. Again, this is to refocus myself, as well as refocus and refine my style. I've decided to call the blog "Casual 'n Couture." Why 'n? Originally, I couldn't decide if I wanted to rename the blog "casual and couture" or "casual in couture." And would have been the most accurate choice to reflect my style (mixing more high end and trendy pieces with regular, everyday stuff), but in had a better ring to it. So I decided to mix it up a bit and use an abbreviated form of and, that would sounds like in. The url will be changing to casualncouture.blogspot.ca New Years Eve, so make sure to watch for it!

Etude House - Snowy Dessert Collection Review

2015-12-19T20:35:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I have some exciting news to share with you! I've been chosen to participate in Etude House's international blogger program! Etude House makes some of the best Korean roadshop makeup products I've tried (you can read my reviews on their primer and lip tint), and since arriving in Korea, it's been my go-to shop for makeup.

This month, Etude House sent me a few pieces from their Snowy Dessert Christmas collection to test and review, as well as their new Honey Cera collection. Unfortunately, the blush they sent shattered during transportation (despite the bubble wrap and paper fluff in the box), but everything else arrived intact and ready to experiment with. Etude House also sent a mini magazine full of makeup and skincare tips, and a guide to the best desserts in Seoul (so you can see, I'm excited).

Let's get started shall we?!

A full look using the Etude House Snowy Dessert collection. It's a bit washed out from the bright sun, but you can see a bit of pink on the eyes, and the pudding tint in a sheer wash on my lips. You can also see another full (more natural look) in my last post.

I'll start off with my favourite product – the Snowy Dessert Pudding Tint in grapefruit. I love a good lip product, and this hits all the sweet spots. Great pigmentation, long lasting, low transfer (it is a tint after all), and non-drying. My only complaint? Like a lot of lip products, it'll accentuate any dry flakes you have, so make sure to exfoliate first!

The pudding tint comes in four colours and one clear finish. They're super soft, and come with a spatula to help pickup and spread the product on your lips (but fingers work just as well)! While the spatula is great for controlling the amount of product you apply (I use it a lot if I only want a more natural but bright lip, or if I'm doing gradient lips), fingers are the way to go if you want the full pigmentation in the least amount of time. You can dab what's left on your cheeks as well for a healthy flush.

Play 101 pencils in #71 and #73, Pudding Tint in grapefruit

There were two Play 101 pencils included as well – I received the colours 71 and 73, both shimmering colours.

#71 is a gorgeous pink with gold shimmer. Think a pinker version of Nars Orgasm for your eyes. I've been wearing it everyday for a wash of colour on my lids and my co-workers love it. It's long-wearing, and doesn't budge once it's set.

#71 is on the left, and #73 on the right. You can see #73 is really close to my skin colour.

#73 is a light beige with shimmer. It's perfect as an all over base on the eyes, as well as to highlight the inner corners and "aegyo-sal" (that little fat pocket under your lower lashline. It's popular to apply shimmer on it here in Korea for a doe-eyed effect). This one doesn't show up on my skin too well (it's literally the same colour as me, except shimmery), so it provides the most subtle of highlights. I do like to use it to add a little bit of shimmer over other colours on the centre of my lid though., as well as to brighten my waterline. It's also great to add a subtle highlight on the cupids bow, since the pencil is so precise. Like #71, it's long-wearing and doesn't move around even after a long day (and on an oily lash-line).

Finally the ginger cookie blush. Ah, this is a sad tale. Etude House packed everything really well. The blush came in bubble wrap, in a box filled with paper tinsel. But apparently Korea Post is just as rough as Canada Post, and the blush was shattered when I opened it. It's so cute too! The blush is separated into two parts – a pastel coral (which works well as a highlighter), and a more burnt orangey gingerbread man. Swirled together, the two colours provide the most gorgeous warm winter flush. It's like summer for your face! My only complaint is that it fades after about four hours or so. It does seem to fade less quickly if I don't apply foundation (mine is fairly dewy as I have dryer skin, so matte foundations may work better with this blush).

Top highlighter on the left, bottom orange on the right)

You can find everything on Etude Houses's global shopping mall.

http://www.etudehouse.com/

Cozy Cuddles

2015-12-15T04:15:00.000-08:00

Photos by Joseph Wood

I am an infinitely lazy person. Weekends are do nothing days for me. I lounge around, and if I really feel energetic, I go for brunch at the local cafe (honey, camembert and olive paninis are amazing) to get some social interaction and hopefully get some reading and work done. Normally, I also make my friends take the blog photos after, so I have a reason to get dressed (it's cold, and getting out of my fuzzy pajamas isn't exactly high on my list on priorities).

Now, being the lazy person I am, and having most of my brunch crew out of town, last weekend, I decided the best thing to do was change out of my pajamas, into some not quite pajamas.

I wasn't planning on taking photos this week and decided comfort and warmth were my main brunch priorities. While this week has been exceedingly nice weather wise (yay, 5-10 degree days!), I'm starting to think I have Raynaud's disease, and have been taking extra measures to stay cozy. Suddenly having a toe turn white is not the most comforting thing in the world to see, so what better way to stay warm than to cuddle up in a fuzzy sweater and my favourite joggers?

Sweater: Forever21
Joggers: Greylin
Shoes: Charles Philip Shanghai (similar here)
Necklace: DIY (similar here)

Layer up

2015-12-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

I've discovered the secret to keeping warm in Korea.

Layer up, and layer lots (more than you think!). Seriously though, I end up wearing four layers (not including a jacket) if I really want to stay warm (bonus, four layers means I don't even really need a jacket). Light layers is the way to go so that nothing is bulky - everything underneath my sweater is super thin cotton or viscose. Looser clothing also works better at retaining the heat. A cotton tank, viscose blouse, long vest and a sweater to top it all off. On colder days, tights or leggings underneath jeans is a must as well.

While, I've had to wear leggings under jeans before in Canada, I've never really used more than two layers on my upper body. I recently had an open class though, and in the midst of my "I need to dress professionally but my school is an icebox" dilemma at 6 am, I decided to freeze and throw on my go-to business outfit with a tank underneath, as the blouse is a bit low-cut for Korean standards. Given the 0 degree mornings, I decided a could easily throw on my favourite sweater and just take it off when the time came for open class. At least I'd be a little warmer. And you know what, I wasn't a little warmer. I was a lot warmer. Like, no jacket needed in the icebox warm.

The combination only seems to work with the added blazer - I don't stay warm with just a blouse and sweater. The great thing is, the blazer just peaks out of my sweater to give a nice bit of colour. Longer vests or even chiffon trenches are also great to layer underneath sweaters as I'm finding out. They look great, and go with the loose, flowing aesthetic I seem to love so much. Now, to pick some up in every colour.

Sweater: Zara (similar here)

Vest: Forever21

Boyfriend Jeans: Gap

Purse: Botkier

Shoes: Enzo Angiolini (old, similar here)

Modern Retro

2015-11-22T05:38:00.000-08:00

This fall we've seen the return of 70's style. Suede (everything), a-line skirts (in suede, of course!), flared jeans and wide legged culottes, and all boots, whether they be just above the ankle or over the knees. I must admit, while I'm not a fan of mod, I am loving this retro revival. Paired with a classic turtle neck and Burberry trench, retro can easily be made modern.

Soft fabrics and a-line silhouettes are my absolute favourite, so these retro suede skirts are a no brainer for me. I've had to stop myself from buying one in every colour! Wine red?! Of course I want it. Forest green? You bet! Unfortunately, my wallet doesn't allow for a suede skirt in every colour, but when I saw this gorgeous rust red at Zara, well, I had to have it (it was a hit at Seoul Fashion Week, so obviously I chose well).

Speaking about budgeting, I'm at a crossroads. To celebrate lasting a year abroad on my own, I thought I'd buy myself an expensive gift. You know, designer expensive. So, I'm at a crossroads. I can't decide between a new purse (possibly a Chloe Faye?) or some Stuart Weitzman over the knees. Or, if I want to be practical and not fight with my camera all the time, possibly a Nikon D750? Decisions, decisions.

Jacket: Burberry (similar here)

Top: 3.3 Field Trip (similar here)

Skirt: Zara (similar here)

Boots: Asos

Autumnal Nude

2015-11-15T04:08:00.000-08:00

Photos by Mike Masulli and Joseph Wood

As my surroundings gain more and more colour, I seem to be losing it. With winter fast approaching, I'm drawn to lighter neutrals, stocking up on beiges, creams and blush. I suppose it's one way to deny the colder, greyer weather.

Layering is a must in the fall, especially in rural Korea! I swear, indoors is actually colder than the outdoors somedays. Buildings here don't seem to be well insulated (or at the very least, my apartment and schools aren't), and it's almost a daily occurrence for me to leave the school during lunch and marvel at the warmth of the sun. No need for a sweater outdoors. Indoors though? Give me five!

This oversized sweater from Zara is a fast favourite of mine (seriously, I'm thinking of buying both a grey one, and another in this cozy beige). The boxy, slightly asymmetric silhouette makes it great for layering over dresses, jeans, and shirts, and perfect for ondol-less rooms.

Sweater: Zara (similar here)

Dress: Urban Outfitters (similar here)

Shoes: Design Lab x Lord & Taylor (black version here)

Clutch: Coach (similar here)

Cozy in Lace

2015-11-01T04:30:00.000-08:00

Photos by Becca Ann

Hello from Gongju!

It's freezing here. I'm from Canada, and I thought I could deal with the Korean winters. Turns out I can't, because they're a lot wetter. The cold just clings to you and never seems to leave. As a result, I have a newfound love of knitwear – something I usually skipped in favour of a good wool coat back in Calgary.

Seriously, I'm super into hobo fashion thanks to the cold. But not really. Ultimately, I'm still a girly girl and I need a bit of femininity in my life. My bulky, oversized knits can easily be made feminine pulled over the shoulders, or in a soft, fuzzy knit. I love this Forever 21 sweater. It's a super soft, warm eyelash knit, that's reversible. I can have a v-neck or a boatneck sweater (and they both drape off the shoulders so nicely)! If you're in a more conservative work environment, opt for a round boatneck that's not quite off the shoulders to achieve a similar look. Paired with a bit of lace, and you have an ultra cozy, feminine look.

Finally, there will be some blog changes in the coming month(s). I'll be focusing a bit more on travel, and there will be design and name and url changes. I'll make sure to keep you updated. =]

Top: Forever21 (Korea only) (similar here and here)

Skirt: Astr (similar here)

Shoes: Design Lab x Lord and Taylor

Seoul Fashion Week Runway Review – Andy & Debb

2015-10-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

Designers Kim Seok Won and Yoon Won Jung designed an entire collection around golfwear. Golf. Seriously. And it worked. I liked it (I hate sports, and sportswear so this is a plus one in my books).

The collection started with classic golfwear with bold geometric prints and bright, sparkling collars. A multitude of textiles modernized the theme and prevented any boredom. Matte sequins, flowing chiffon, mesh, and leather, all provided an eyeful of stunning detail. Halfway through black mesh circle skirts and sweater dresses with metallic prints created a smooth transition into sports inspired 20's loungewear. Drop waist hems, art deco prints, and flowing robes with wide legged pants would please any aspiring Jordan Baker.

Golfing made chic.

Seoul Fashion Week Runway Review – J Koo

2015-10-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

Sports, lace, water colour prints. That's what J Koo was all about this season. Lace, frills and pleating were strategically placed to give a feminine, almost lingerie feel to otherwise sporty looks. Paired with oversized anoraks, soft jersey dresses and jumpsuits, the bustier details created a perfect balance between separate pieces as well a coherence amongst the rest of the collection.

Seoul Fashion Week Runway Review – Ultimo SS16

2015-10-22T03:27:00.000-07:00

Designer Kim Dong Soon of Ultimo proves fashion is all about the details.

The show started off with gorgeous feathered masks among sheer black tops with gorgeous beadwork, and ended with romantic sheer dresses and flowing chiffon skirts with soft floral prints (which could easily be layered over those gorgeous black tops from before). But not everything had such a romantic vibe. Ultimo quickly switched to summer themes reminiscent of a vacation to the white sand beaches of Cuba. Flowing ponchos, over-sized, western belts paired with pepper necklaces and bohemian tasseled blouses were all seen before Ultimo once again moved on to retro inspired work wear. Polka dots, swing coats and red leather detailing made this a memorable part of show, until once again, black and white romantic ensembles came out.

While every look was gorgeous on it's own, the collection felt more like two or three different collections stitched together. A few more transitional looks would have made the show amazing.

Seoul Fashion Week Runway Review – ROMANCHIC SS16

2015-10-21T04:09:00.000-07:00

ROMANCHIC... It almost sounds like "romantic" doesn't it? And let me tell you, the ROMANCHIC show was definitely romantic. All white monotone looks mixed with cotton candy pastels and bold coloured florals against a simple backdrop of black. Basically... all my favourite trends at the moment in one show. In other words, I loved it.

Despite the amount of ruffles, over-sized pearls, and and ribbon details, most of the looks managed to maintain an air of feminine minimalism. Long flowing pants and perfectly tailored (yet relaxed) crop tops or ruffled tunics were reminiscent of the cotton candy designer Choi Hye Jung loved as a child. While the collection and clothes themselves hit both notes of romantic and chic, the accessories were almost distracting and left something to be desired.

Blue and pink ribboned sweater with kimono sleeves? Yes please. Giant beads and ruffled shoes? No thanks.

Favourites from Paris Fashion Week

2015-10-06T06:24:00.000-07:00

Balenciaga - Photo from Style.com

Paris fashion week is definitely my favourite of all the fashion weeks. The designers create detailed, yet laid back outfits – most of which are totally wearable. This year, I'm all about sheer, flowing layers (aren't I always?), suede (my new obsession), and feminine, yet sporty looks.

Personally, Alexander Wang at Balenciaga does this best, and I'll be sad to see him go (isn't the dress above gorgeous?!). Balenciaga quickly became a favourite of mine with Wang at the helm, but I can't wait to see who picks up the lead next!

Chanel was also a hit with me this year. Lagerfield outdid himself with the airport theme – combining classic Chanel style with comfy flight wear. Patterned track pants or wide legged – everything was to die for. Definite must haves for those who travel a lot (ok, maybe just those who travel a lot and can afford Chanel).

Christian Dior - Photo from Style.com

Elie Saab - Photo from Style.com

Isabel Marant - Photo from Style.com

Stella McCartney - Photo from Style.com

Chanel - Photo from Vogue.com

Lemaire - Photo from Vogue.com

Balmain - Photo from Vogue.com

MacQueen - Photo from Vogue.com

Belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb Review

2015-09-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

Introducing my new favourite cream for sensitive skin – Belif's True Cream Moisturizing Bomb. Belif says this cream coats your skin in comfort, and they weren't lying. Belif uses simple ingredients and says it's uses a 150 year old processing method to create it's skincare goodies. How true this is, I don't know, however it comes with rave reviews from Korean bloggers and has been featured in magazines and beauty shows. My Korean friend says it's a good line if you have sensitive skin – kind of like Korea's version of Avene or La Roche Posay.

This is a great occlusive cream, that while being heavy and efficiently sealing hydration in, feels fairly lightweight on the skin. Despite it's heavier texture, it dries matte on me, and doesn't feel greasy at all. It's comparable to the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Deep Cream, but doesn't feel quite as lightweight once applied. At first they feel the same, however, I feel that the Belif is better for dehydrated skin, whereas the Innisfree is best for true dry skin types, as it leaves a slight oily feeling after.

The Belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb actually lessens my overnight oil production... the more I apply. When I first tried it out, I thought it would last forever, since it was heavy and I could get away with using a tiny baby pea-sized amount and feel properly moisturized. However I was a super shiny oil slick by the time I woke up. Okay, with this, a little goes a long way, right? Nope. One night I accidentally scooped too much out and decided to just go with it, as if I were applying a sleeping mask. And hey, normal, even slightly dry skin in the morning. A couple more nights of experimenting and now I'm using about two normal pea-sized amounts every night, in addition to my hydrating masks and essences.

Notable ingredients include glycerin, which is a humectant, and macadamia oil, which serves as a moisturizer and occlusive. It also has a ton of fermented ingredients to help brighten the skin and allow the ingredients to be absorbed better, as well as comfrey leaf to help detoxify the skin.

The cream has a slight gel texture to it – it's not super thick and creamy, but not a gel either. There's a light citrus scent that's pleasant and not overwhelming at all. It spreads and absorbs easily, leaving behind a velvety finish with no shine. This is perfect for girls who love matte skin rather than the dewy look.

I have noticed that as the weather get's dryer and dryer, I'm needing to use more of this cream. This may be because I'm not using a sheet mask everyday, or maybe it simply can't handle the change from summer to fall. Still, I find the Belif cream to be comforting to my dry skin, and does an adequate job at sealing everything in and keeping me relatively moisturized throughout the day.

I bought this for around $33 from 11 Street, but you can pick it up at Sephora for a reasonable price as well (because shipping from Korea will tack the extra on anyways)!

Pros:
Great for sensitive skin
Absorbs easily
Heals

Cons:
Unless you live by a Sephora that sells this, you'll have to order online

DDP

2015-09-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

All photos taken by Nam Hyunh

Hi everyone! Long time no see. Things have been very busy! I just moved to Korea a month ago, so pictures will be few and far between from now on as I don't have a remote for my camera anymore. Yes, I remembered to bring a tripod, and completely forgot the remote. Silly me. Luckily, Nam Huynh took these gorgeous photos during a weekend trip to Seoul to see the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

This is probably my favourite outfit that I packed from home. Truth be told, I'm in a bit of a style rut at the moment. My wardrobe is limited to a lot of basics, which... isn't really my style? You all know I'm not a t-shirt and jeans type of girl, and the items I love aren't exactly meant for everyday wear either (oh non-versatile pieces and short skirts, how I love you), let alone work. I just brought what I thought I could wear in a conservative professional atmosphere. In reality, the school I teach at is pretty laid back, and some of the teachers will just wear jeans and a t-shirt, but still, I've already been told I look "young" when I'm wearing a cute dress (ok, said dress might look like a British school uniform, but that's not common in Canada!), so I feel like wearing some of my skirts won't help that image. On the plus side, the kids like me and think I dress well.

Anyways, enough complaining about a lack of clothes. This is probably my two favourite pieces that I brought with me. The suede skirt and organza back shirt are both surprisingly versatile, at work as well as on my days off. I actually ripped apart an old shirt and redid the back after seeing one of Marissa Webb's designs. This is what happens when you're poor – you go on a DIY spree. But it looks cool, and is surprisingly versatile (unless you're in rural Korea, in which case one needs to wear a tank top underneath the sheer back, which definitely takes away from the look).

Top: Original from Old Navy, DIY

Skirt: H&M (similar here)

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Bag: Botkier (similar here)

Linked up with - Style Elixir - The Pleated Poppy - Momfluence -

Bird of Paradise

2015-08-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

Summer calls for bright colours, and I couldn't ignore this canary yellow dress from Zara during their spring sale. I was originally looking for a bright yellow skirt, but this has satisfied all my needs for the colour.

A bright, warm yellow is surprisingly versatile in my wardrobe. The key is to pairing bright colours with more brights is to match the underlying tones. This dress pairs best with warm, saturated colours, as the yellow is also warm toned and saturated. Or at least, that's the easiest way to pair this dress. I can't wait to winterfy this dress – it'll be a challenge, but I think it'll look gorgeous under sweaters.

Dress: Zara (old, similar here)

Shoes: Barbie by Townshoes (old, similar here)

Bag: Celine (loving this orange accented trapeze, and a similar Michael Kors here)

Linked up with - The Pleated Poppy -

Seattle-Vancouver Travel Diary

2015-07-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

Road trip! Warning, picture heavy.

My family and I decided to take out bi-yearly trip to Vancouver and Seattle a few weeks ago... namely because somebody needed to go and get a visa (I'm leaving in two weeks guys!). Anyways, as per any road trip, lots of food was eaten, lots of selfies taken, and more food eaten. PS, you should go all the way to the bottom for cute otter pics. I may have not taken any other pictures in Vancouver, otters are distracting.

Pike Place Market... oh god, all the seafood... And the chowder. Can I eat here forever?

My Dad insisted we visit the Utilikilt flagship store in Seattle. It's right by All Saints in downtown Seattle.

Road trip!

Starbucks Roastery. They have a lot of specialty coffees that you can't get anywhere else. Totally worth the trip (and you won't be waiting as long compared to the original Pike Place location).

Vancouver Boardwalk

Full post is here.

This frog will steal your soul.

Rose

2015-07-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before my love for blush tones this year, and these pants were instantly on my wishlist after I saw them on Chriselle Lim a few weeks ago. Luckily, they were on sale on Amazon, in my size (sort of), and my mom had a gift card she wasn't going to use any time soon (seriously, she took two years to use the last Amazon gift card she had). As I'm headed to Korea in a few weeks, I took advantage of asking for an early Christmas gift, and I had a nice little present waiting on my doorstep when I got back from Vancouver last week.

Now, I've looked at the jogger trend from afar, and even bought multiple pairs (okay, only one true pair of joggers, which don't fit my bum well at all, and are thus only worn around the house, and multiple tapered pants that I'm going to count as my baby steps into the trend). But these. These are me. I'm a bit of a girly girl, especially when it comes to fashion. While the blush pink is my favourite trendy colour, the bow really cinched it for me (ha, cinched, get it?). It brings a charming, more feminine look to an otherwise very sporty trend. I love it.

Top: Urban Outfitters (old, similar here)

Pants: Greylin

Coat: Nasty Gal (old, similar here)

Shoes: Steve Madden

Watch: Michael Kors

Linked up with - The Pleated Poppy -

Boardwalk

2015-07-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

Hello from Vancouver! Just some quick photos of the Vancouver Waterfront. I'll have a photo diary of my Seattle/Vancouver trip in a few days. Be prepared for a lot of pictures of jellyfish. (Because apparently that's really all I take photos of at the Vancouver Aquarium. Those, and otters.) I'm currently trying to pick and choose which photos to include in the next post. Apparently I took too many photos of animals, and not enough of anything else.

When I travel (especially for short periods of time), I tend to travel light. Really light. One backpack to last me two to three weeks light. As a result, my outfits tend to be really simple, and I layer as much as I can for the actual travel portion. A basic blouse and a pair of jeans are great starter points. They pair with nearly anything (especially if you choose neutral colours). A simple accessory like this leather twist headband adds a point of interest, and doesn't take up any room in my bag.

Top: H&M (old, similar here)

Jeans: Rag & Bone

Shoes: Aldo (old, similar here)

Bag: Botkier (old, loving this mint colored bag as well)

Headband: Richmond Night Market (similar here)

Linked up with - Cute & Little - Style Elixir -

Romping Around

2015-07-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

And back to posting outfits! As most of my friends know, I may have a slight obsessions with all things one-piece. Rompers, jumpsuits (okay, I don't actually own a jumpsuit, but only because I haven't one with the perfect fit yet and I'm too nervous to buy online), overalls... You name it, and chances are I'm lusting over it.

A certain friend thinks I'm childish.. or child-sized (seriously, I'm not. I'm almost 5'7"... almost). Really though, one-pieces and rompers are just super easy to wear, you can usually dress them up or down, and their just very chic. It's a smart choice for those as lazy as me in the mornings.

Speaking about being child-sized... I can't believe this is a 00 Petite. Seriously, it fits almost perfectly (arms are slightly tight unless I stand up straight), despite the fact that I'm no where near being petite. I thought with Marissa Webb designing for Banana Republic, the sizing would go back to relatively accurate (or at least somewhat close to standard designer sizing) rather than the vanity sizing that causes me to avoid Banana Republic. Nope. Still can't fit into anything apparently. Except petite stuff, but I don't necessarily want pants that are too short. Oh well. I will shop there for Marissa Webb, but I'll mourn over my lack of options for bottoms. I don't know how people skinnier than me shop there.

Don't know what I'm doing with my head here, but my legs looked long, so...

I am very obviously out of practice with using a tripod and remote, but oh well. I'll figure it out again soon... I hope.

Romper: Banana Republic (loving this military style too)

Shoes: Design Lab

Linked up with - More Pieces of Me - Michelle's Paige - DC In Style -

Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100 Ampoule Review

2015-07-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

As someone who constantly deals with dehydrated skin, I'm always on the lookout for good hydrating serums to add to my routine, especially ones that aren't going to break the bank (seriously, a very basic hyaluronic serum is at least $20/oz Cad). This is probably why I started to get into Asian cosmetics when I was 18 – everything was more reasonably priced, and they just seemed to work better.

The Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100 Ampoule is a no frills serum. It only claims to provide lightweight, yet lasting hydration, and it performs quite well at that. Because of how sensitive my skin was at the time I purchased it (acne, over-exfoliation, rashy and eczema patches), I was looking for some key ingredients including ceramides (healing) and hyaluronic acid (hydrating).

Notable Ingredients

Hyaluronic Acid: This atttracts and maintains water in the skin. It can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, making it a great ingredient for dehydrated and dry skin.

Copper Tripeptide-1: Increases collagen and elastin production and promotes skin regeneration

Cholesteral: Helps to restore and maintain the skin's barrier, maintaining normal skin function.

Ceramide 3: Helps to restore and maintain the skin's barrier.

Beta Glucan: Has anti-oxidant, wound healing and moisturizing properties.

Adenosine: An anti-aging ingredient that promotes collagen and elastin production, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties.

Full ingredients list here.

Performance

I bought this to provide extra hydration for my poor dehydrated skin around the same time as the Hada Labo Perfect Gel (it came in the mail about a week later). It too has hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help with my dehydrated skin, as well as anti-aging and healing properties to help with my acne and acne scarring. Mizon is known for providing quality products that are full of plant extracts (these often provide anti-inflammatory, brightening, and antioxidant properties), for a cheap price. I've actually used a few other products from them that I never got around to reviewing (namely their snail lines).

This particular serum is just a basic hydrating serum. It doesn't make any other claims, and for that, it performs its job well. Combined with the Hada Labo Perfect Gel, I almost had enough hydration to last a full day (assuming I was at home and not dealing with air conditioning). It's very lightweight and silky, absorbing easily. Seriously, my skin just drank this up and sighed happily, like it just had a sip of a well-made cup of tea. Like the Perfect Gel, I feel like this helped my skin to better retain moisture so that I wouldn't get that uncomfortable tight feeling, or overly oily (both signs of dehydrated skin) quite so soon in the day.

This isn't the best at "long lasting hydration" like it claims (okay it doesn't claim to be the best, but I've used better). Mind you, for half the price, I can't really complain either. It lasted about two months with twice a day usage (three quarters of a dropper each time).

For the price, I don't think you can get a better hydrating serum, especially if you're not in Korea. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'm always looking to try something new.

Pros

Cheap, unless you buy it from Urban Outfitters. I got mine for about $12/oz Cad with free shipping on Roseroseshop.com

Does what it claims

Not only hydrates, but as anti-aging ingredients as well (long-term benefits as well as short term!)

Cons

You'll need to wait in the mail for it (if you want it immediately, it's available at select Urban Outfitters stores for a very marked up price)

Hada Labo Perfect Gel Review

2015-07-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I'm back! It's been a nice hiatus, wrought with multiple skin rashes, acne, and allergies galore. But I look normal again, so here I am! So I've decided to write my first post about skincare (or maybe the first couple). A lot of you who know me in person know I'm the biggest geek about skincare, and it seems to have gotten worse (or better, if you like me rambling on about ingredients) after my latest little bought of skin mishaps. I've gotten a lot pickier with my skincare after having some sort of allergic reaction in March and April. I had a rash all over my hands and arms, as well as around my mouth. It took weeks to heal and multiple visits to the dermatologist, and it still likes to pop up now and again. For the record, I'm just super sensitive to alcohol in my skincare and prone to over-exfoliation.

Since my newfound love of ingredients lists and the beauty bloggers who post them, I've decided to follow suit in my reviews as well.

The Hada Labo Perfect Gel is one of the new products I tried that helped to get my skin back on track. According to Hada Labo, it's an all-in-one product, functioning as lotion, milk, cream, serum and mask. I personally use it as a lightweight moisturizer in place of the emulsion step in the "Asian skincare routine," and layer something slightly heavier over top. Other girls use it as their cream, or even a sleeping mask, so you can see that this truly is a multipurpose product.

Hada Labo is one of my favourite brands to use when my skin is acting up. The ingredients lists are always short, and focus on hyaluronic acid to help restore moisture to the skin. I'm prone to dehydrated skin due to my Retin A use, so Hada Labo is a lifesaver for me. I opted to get the Perfect Gel, as it not only had hyaluronic acid in it, but also urea (another great humectant) and glucosyl ceramide.

Notable Ingredients

Hyaluronic Acid: The perfect gel uses three types – hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, sodium acetylated hyaluronate, and sodium hyaluronate. They're all humectants, meaning they draw water into the skin and hold onto it. These are all low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, so they can better penetrate the skin compared to high weight hyaluronic acid, which just sits on top.

Urea: Another humectant, but unlike high weight hyaluronic acid, it can penetrate the skin. It also has gentle exfoliating properties.

Squalane: This is actually a part of the sebum our skin produces, and production diminishes as we age. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from olives (but can also be from shark liver or sugar cane) and has moisturizing, antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Glucosyl Ceramide: A glycolipid containing a fatty acid, glucose and sphingosine. Both orally and topically, it helps to restore and protect the skin barrier.

Hydrolyzed Collagen: Helps to add moisture and sooth the skin. Supposedly, it also helps to firm the skin, however multiple studies show that collagen particles are too large to penetrate the skin, and I don't know if hydrolyzed collagen makes a difference in penetrability.

The full ingredient list can be found on cosdna.

Performance

This is lightweight gel that absorbs into the skin fairly easily. I like to rub about a small grape sized amount in my fingers, and then spread it on my face, patting for a minute or until it's fully absorbed. I didn't experience any sort of stickiness with this, however others reported feeling sticky after using it. My skin honestly just absorbs anything as long as it's not straight up oil. It does leave an awkwardly shiny finish to the skin though. Not glowy like a face mask, just... shiny.

When I first started using this, I was dealing with a weird mouth rash (probably the result of over-exfoliation from Retin A, and a weekend spent outdoors in cold Edmonton with no lipbalm). This helped to calm the rash down more than the Avene Skin Recovery Cream samples I had. It definitely stung (nothing too bad) in that area though, which I'm guessing is because of the urea content. It also didn't aggravate the bad acne flare up I was also having at the time, as well as shrinking the eczema patch on my cheek bones. (Seriously, do you know how hard it is to deal with acne flare ups at the same time as a weird rash, and an eczema flare up on the face too!?) For the record, I have since learned that Vaseline is actually the best thing for any skin irritations around my mouth (I used it over top of the Perfect Gel), as well as getting rid of eczema patches.

Using this left my skin sufficiently moisturized for a few hours (ie. no tight feeling for about two to three hours). As I continued to use it, my skin would feel moisturized for longer. In other words, continued use allowed my skin to heal and better retain moisture. It also provides an immediate plumping effect.

For me, this wasn't enough hydration, and I needed to add a slightly heavier cream, as well as a serum for my skin to feel comfortable the majority of the day (and only when I wasn't in air con). I would highly recommend this to oily, or more normal to combination skinned girls (or men), or for those living in a more humid climate. If you're living in a dry climate and/or are using dehydrating products such as tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide, you might need to layer this with something else, or use something heavier.

This lasted about three months with twice a day usage (using a small grape sized amount of product each time).

You can also buy it on drugstore.com for a reasonable price.

Pros

· Reasonable price – it's usually $25-30 CAD.

· Minimal ingredients list meaning less chance of causing a reaction for sensitive skin.

· Lightweight, absorbed quickly, and plumps the skin

· Multiple ways to use it

Cons

· Difficult to find in stores. T&T carries a lot of the Hada Labo lines, but not this one. My friend actually gave me her extra one, and she had to order it from Rakuten. Ebay also has it for a reasonable price.

· Not enough moisture for me, but YMMV

Tony Moly Bcdation All Master Review

2015-03-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Tony Moly Bcdation All Master is an upgrade from the original Bcdation – a base product meant to be a BB cream, CC cream, and foundation in one. The All Master version has a higher shea butter content, meaning more moisture, and a dewier look as well as only coming in one colour meant to suit everyone.

This foundation is said to be "air light" while providing a perfect yet natural finish. Unfortunately, this only comes in one colour, and will not suit everyone despite claims. This works well for my skintone – almost a perfect match! For reference, I'm regularly a shade 21 in bb creams.

Now, true to it's claims, this offers amazing coverage! I can easily cover acne scars and bright red pimples with this, with little to no need for extra concealer. I do believe the coverage will vary in how you choose to apply it – a brush or your fingers will give you the best coverage, where as a sponge offers a more natural, thinner finish. Personally, I find the Bcdation to be too thick when I use a brush or my fingers, and it yields an unnatural, almost plastic-y finish (think Lady Gaga looking like a Barbie in Pokerface). My preferred method is to use a sponge, or even better, a cushion compact.

I use an empty cushion compact (in my case, the Innisfree Water Glow cushion after I used it up, but Missha sells an empty cushion compact case to use with whatever you want), take the sponge out, and fill it halfway with the Bcdation before putting the sponge back in. Voila – custom cushion pack! This provides the thinnest, sheerest coverage, and I go over any areas that need more coverage a second or third time. While the Water Glow cushion made it seem like you just washed your face, this can quickly make you look like an oil slick if you use too much, so less is definitely more with this product. Using the cushion method for a thinner application means this only lasts about five hours on my skin, but the more I apply, the longer this lasts. When I used a brush, this foundation lasted the entire day!

My only caveat with this product is that it's supposed to be hydrating... yet it sticks to my dry patches like no other after about two hours. To be honest, my dry mouth is pretty flaky, so I wasn't expecting miracles, but still... it's impossible to fix once it happens. All I can say is moisturize and prep well before applying so you don't get a bad case of the flakes. For the record, I've only used one bb cream/foundation that didn't catch on my dry areas and result in flaking, and a good primer will be a lifesaver if you encounter similar issues.

Lastly, this works well on my combination-acne prone skin, so don't be afraid of the vast amount of shea butter in this! I never experienced any breakouts or clogged pores from this, so it's definitely on the buy again list as far as foundations go.

You can find it for a very reasonable price on Amazon or ebay.