2013 favourites

After writing over 50 posts, I have a whole 16 people following me :)! This may not seem like a big accomplishment, however I haven’t been actively trying to get followers so I think it’s pretty cool! Some of you lovely people, like me, love reading about different beauty products from around the globe, so today I will be sharing some of my favourite beauty products of this year so far.

1. Clinique anti-blemish solutions toner. I only started using toner this year and I’ve found it’s made a big difference. I explained in a recent post about how clogged pores can lead to acne. What I didn’t know is that even cleansers and other facial products can cause this clogging. Toners free up your pores and really let your skin breathe. Fun fact! I learned recently that vinegar can be used similarily.
2. Skin food foodtherapy stick perfume in Happy Vanilla. Aptly named, since whenever I smell it I feel soo happy :)!! I’m pretty bad at describing smells so you’ll just have to take my word for it – it’s amazing! It helps that it’s solid because with liquid perfumes I always spritz too much by accident!

HAPPY vanilla is right!

3. Clio twisturn liner in brown earth. This waterproof liner glides on easily but takes a lot to come off! I love the colour because it’s dark but not too dark. I’ve always been partial to brown – for years, I only owned brown eyeshadows.

Wow, I never realized how hard it is to take pictures of makeup!

4. Nature republic eco eye crayon in 1호 and 3호. I love these crayons because they’re super easy to apply and they’re so shimmery and soft. The lighter colour I usually wear in my tearduct and along the lower lash line (top pic). The goldish colour I wear on the top lid and sometimes below my eye as well (bottom pic). I don’t usually wear them at the same time cause it’d be shimmer overload!!

Part of my pre-makeup routine!

5. Tony Moly Panda’s dream dark eye corrector. To be honest I was first attracted by the panda on the packaging. How cute!? After a few weeks of using it I did notice a difference in my dark circles! I assume that it’s just a whitening agent, which is contained in a lot of Korean cosmetics, but it does help to concentrate it on the areas you want whitened!

scrub-a-dub-dub

6. My final favourite product (for today’s post) is the Innisfree green tea lip scrub. I never thought of exfoliating my lips before and it’s definitely working! This lip scrubber is more like a brush with plastic bristles. The liquid inside reminds me of vegetable oil… takes yucky but it does the job! I’ve only been using it for a week and my lips have never felt better :)!

These have been my favourite products of 2013. I bought them all in Korea but I think you can buy most of them worldwide. ‘Like’ if you liked this post and want to read more beauty-related blogs!

shopaholic’s paradise

It’s been a while since my last post so I was trying to think of a new topic when it hit me…. I haven’t done a post about shopping!!! :O!
How could I have deprived you of such a post for so long!? Most of you know that shopping has become an addiction of mine this past yeat, and those of you who have come to visit me know why! Shopping (for me) is so abundent that I can’t step out my door without being tempted.

Just. Walk. Away. Haha no chance.

I have to specify “for me” because I happen to be a) female and b) small enough to shop at most stores in Korea. The sad truth is that if you’re above a medium at home, you won’t be able to shop at stores where most of the clothes are “free” size. My feet are also juuust small enough to buy shoes here so shoe shopping is a pleasure for me, rather than the struggle most of my friends go through to find footwear.
Let’s start with my most-frequented shopping district, which is my home, Gangnam. Yes, most of my clothing comes from Gangnam station which makes me officially “Gangnam Style”!! ㅋㅋㅋ

With my Gangnam crew… hard to see but we’re rockin the horsey dance.

The subway station, like many in Seoul, is jam-packed with clothing stalls, jewelry, phones, cosmetics and the best konglish^^! Here you can find adorable dresses, sweaters and skirts on racks that will say ₩5,000 or ₩10,000 (roughly $5 or $10). This is my #1 downfall if I’m trying to save money. It’s just so easy to slip a green bill out of my pocket in exchange for a panda bear sweatshirt.

₩5,000 animal shirts for people?!

Gangnam is also great for brand name stores as the retailer will usually put a really BIG store close to the station. Super fun stores like top ten, innisfree, giordano and kyobo have huge stores along Gangnamdaero.
If you keep going along that main road you’ll get to Sinsa which hosts the famous Garosugil. I mostly go to Garosugil when I want to hit up Forever 21 but there so many nice places along the street. It’s the best place to go if you want to see some funky chic street style. I’m not sure how it magnetically draws in all these super hip people, but everyone there looks like they walked straight off the catwalk.

Looks like I’ll have another reason to visit!!

Myeongdong is a great area to go if you want the (shopping) comforts of home. Tourists and locals alike flock to this shoppung district for stores like h&m, zara, mango and forever 21. The street shopping is really fun here too, if you don’t get carried away by the crown before you have time to look at a booth.

The fun and occasionally offensive hat selection.

Another thing I love about Korea… girls actually wear stuff like this!

The fourth and final area I’m going to write about is Insadong. It’s very different from the shopping I’ve mentioned because it’s not only girlie stuff. Insadong is the best place to buy souveneirs, art, antiques and handicrafts. If you’re looking for a break from the bustling, plastic-surgery ad-strewn streets then head over to Insadong for a different cultural experience.
There are so many more great shopping spots (hongdae, dongdaemun, yeongdongpo etc.) but you get the idea! Oh I almost forgot! The best thing about buying cosmetics- free samples!! Lots of them! I have more free samples than i know what to do with, but they sure come in handy for travelling and to have in my purse!

A small selection of the free samples. FREE ^^

I also have an over-flowing closet… most of my hangers are doubled up, but I do donate clothes every so often.

My closet… never too old to have boy band posters, right!?

So there you have it. Confessions of a shopaholic in Seoul!
Like and comment if you want to hear more about fashion and shopping! ♥