Traditional Korean Food - Fancy Style Photo Heavy

Today, I went out to lunch with my adjummas. I had met them when I first arrived in Korea and we still keep in touch. 

When I first heard that we were going to a traditional Korean restaurant, I was a bit hesistant. You see I am not the biggest fan of traditional Korean food. However, this time we arrived at a pretty fancy place and the some of the dishes were like none I've ever had before. Let's get this post started!

This is red bean soup - served in a small little cup, it had a small picture on it - which makes it oh - so - fancy as normally they don't have that there. The consistancy is porridge like and the taste is pretty mild - a common trait among traditional Korean food - and of course the natural sweetness of the red beans.

I'm actually not sure what this is called in English  but it's basically bits of pickled radishes in a sweet vinegary liquid.

Pine Mushroom Soup - it's slightly salty with two slices of very expensive pine mushrooms, a baby bak choi, and a slice of fish cake.

Again- I'm not sure what this vegetable is called. The adjummas told me this is an "edible plant". The texture is slightly chewy and a tiny bit salty.

Salad with Orange Sauce - you might think orange sauce is strange but it's not real orange. It's just got the perfect amount of citrusyness to it.

Chicken with ginseng sauce and side salad: Very tender roasted chicken miranated in a savory salty sauce. You can't really taste the ginseng at all. 

Salmon with Asparagus and Mushroom - I was really surprised when the adjummas didn't know what asparagus was. Apparently, it's not very common in Korea.

Smoked Duck - you're suppose to put it on a slice of radish and add in the spicy pickled radish.

Like This! - fold the radish and enjoy!

Sashimi With Gold - indeed this is quite fancy. I've never had edible gold before and after rolling the sashimi in the wasabi, I could not even taste it. 

Spicy Dabboki with Seafood

Grilled Shrimp on top of a Pineapple with a side of Potato Salad

Up Close

Hamburger Meat Patties with Savory Sauce, Sweet Corn, Potato Wedges, and Grilled Broccoli and Tomato

Crab Shabu Shabu

Neing Mein - cold noodles

Sliced Fig

The dinner ended with an Americano - with sugar because I am unused to drinking Americano straight up.

2 comments food, Korea, Korean, lifestyle, outting

Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off Review

I think this is if not the best selling and most well known Skinfood product - the Black Sugar Mask Wash Off. I would have to say I am really truly enjoying their skincare products at the moments, especially the black sugar line but their make up has been always been a bit of a let-down.

Since I'm not really a fan of super hyped up products, I put off buying this scrub for a while but now I really enjoy it. It comes in a simple white - clear tube with a twist off lid. I think this type of packaging is pretty typical for a Skinfood product. Their packaging always looks differently from the other cosmetic companies.

Claims:

"A mask that contains mineral - enriched Brazilian black sugar, and promotes smooth, glowing skin." 

Directions:

"After cleansing, massage onto damp face, avoiding the eye and mouth areas. To minimize irritation, add water or toner while massaging. Leave for 10 - 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water."

Performance:

At first I didn't really like this product. I thought it was over hyped and felt like I wasted my money... but then one day I used it again and realized that I've been misusing this product all along. Now, I absolutely love it. 

The mask is solid and hard in the tube, as you can see. I usually scrape off about a thumb size amount into my palm and add warm water to it while pressing down on it. This helps the sugar particles loosing  up and makes it easier to be applied onto the face. If you don't add enough water or loosen up the sugar with warm water, it can be really abrasive and damaging to your skin. After doing that, I gently spread the mask all over my face, avoiding eye area. I don't massage the sugar at this stage as I feel, it is still too abrasive. Then I wait about 10- 15 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. As I'm rinsing the mask, the gently massage my face. After I wash off the mask, my skin looks clear and bright.

What I love about it:

- it really performs as an exfoliant and as a mask 

- it makes my skin brighter, clearer, and softer

-  smells great - it has a sweet, lemony scent 

- it makes me feel totally relax

- affordable

What I don't like about it:

- the sugar can be a bit abrasive if you don't dilute it with water

Over all:

Score: B+

I really recommend this mask if you are looking for a good exfoliant mask but the sugar could have been a bit finer. For that reason I am giving this product only a B+. 

Leave a Comment exfoliant, Korean, mask, skincare, Skinfood, sugar

Gift

One of my friends is a soap collector. She bought me two soap bars.  They smell absolutely amazing and they're handmade with natural products. They're from a company called: SoapyGenie

Lavender Bed and Romantic English Rose.

Leave a Comment gift

Revlon Matte Balm Review in Standout

I know that the Revlon Balm Stains have been quite the rage in the Beauty Community - some saying that it is even better than the famous Lip Butters - which is why it was one of the first things I bought upon coming home to Canada.

After shopping around at Shoppers Drugmart and PharmaPlus, I noticed the Revlon stands with the new Laquers and Matte Balms. I did more research and discover that the laquers were quite a miss here in the community but the Matte Balms were worth the money. This is when I also noticed the shade in Standout. Many bloggers rave about this color as the perfect neutral red.

I've been a lover of red lips for quite a while now but I always have the most difficulty finding the perfect red lipstick- they always look too warm or too cool on my skintone. Many bloggers say that Standout is a neutral red which will suit most skin tone - thus I began my search for it.

For the first bit, I had a bit of trouble find Standout. Most stores didn't have it or it was always sold out. Although I rarely buy makeup at full price (I always wait for a sale - if I can) but when I saw it at PharmaPlus - I bought it right away at $9.99 CDN.

I can see why so many people love the Revlon Matte Balm in Standout.

Performance:

It is a perfect neutral red that is opaque and none drying.  It applies so easily and so smoothly. It's not sheer but if you want to build up solid opacity, you'll need to swipe it a few times. The color is buildable without clumping. Plus, the crayon form of the product allows me to have good control.  Although I have heard that many people are fond of the peppermint oil smell, I personally love it. It honestly feels just like a balm - not waxy but a bit slippery and moisturising. It doesn't feel heavy at all.

After eating and drinking, this will still stay on your lips but with less sheen and color as before. I do ind that the color sinks slightly into the lines of the lips but not noticabily. When that happens, my lips do feel dry. One thing to note is that the name of this is "Matte Balm" - it doesn't have that strong of a staining power as the Balm Stains. I find that the stain can remove with a napkin or so on. 

Although it is called Matte Balm, I find that it leaves a sheen - not gloss but just a sheen on the lips.

Score: A

I do really like this more than the traditional lipstick but you should definitely carry around a lip balm just in case. It feel moisturizing until the color and shine wears off. However if I had to choose between the Balm Stains and the Matte Balms, I'd chose the Balm Stains. 

Leave a Comment balm, lipstick, revlon

Missha Near Skin Firming Peptide Extra Vital Toner and Concentrating Emulsion Review

Hello there, today I'll be reviewing the two things I've been using lately: Missha Near Skin Firming Peptide Extra Vital Toner and Concentrating Emulsion.

Most of the time, I don't like doing the asian 7 - 9 steps of skincare each night, but when my skin was drying like mad near the end of winter, I decided to incorporate the steps of "toner" and emulsion. As you know, toners in Korea aren't the same as toners in Western cosmetics. The toners in Korea are meant more to be used to prep your skin by adding light moisture before your add your emulsion and cream, etc. whereas the toners from western cosmetic companies aim more as to cleanse your skin thoroughly before you add your moisturizer.

I tried the toner and emulsion from a sample  and I was so impress I literally ran out to a Missha store to get the full size. It made my skin feel very firm and really moisturized. 

Performance: 

Missha Near Skin Firming Peptide Extra Vital Toner 

The toner is a slight pinkish milky liquid that is just a tad thicker than water. When you press it into your skin, it sinks in immediately, giving the skin a very moisturized feeling. It has a soft rosey floral scent. 

Toner

What I Love About It:

- absorbs really quickly

- soft floral fragrance

- instant hydration

- definitely feels as if it has prepared my skin for the next skincare step

- stopper at the top allows for good precision when pouring the product out

What I Don't Love About It:

- heavy opaque glass bottle - it is impossible to see how much is left and also it can do some serious harm if you accidently drop it 

- expensive

Missha Near Skin Firming Peptide Concentrating Emulsion 

The emulsion is like a light pink lotion. It smells almost exactly like the toner. When you apply it on, it can feel slightly oily at first but after it absorbs, the skin looks moisturized but shine free. It sinks into the skin really quickly as well. It is hydrating enough that I don't feel the need to follow up with a moisturizer (but I do, because that's the way I roll).

Emulsion

What I Love About It

- silky smooth and very easily spreadable

- soft floral fragrance

- pump dispension

- very hydrating

- makes my skin feel smooth and firm

What I Don't Love About It:

- again, heavy opaque glass bottle - for the same reasons as the toner.

- expensive 

Overall

I find that these two items have been really effective for my skin which I'm really surprised about.  When I use the testers at the Missha stores, everything feels exactly the same. I'm glad that I tried this combo.

It made my skin really smooth without causing any clogged pores. The soft scent makes me feel feminine as well. I really enjoy it. When I use this combo, my skin feels really firm and hydrated. I think it is a product that truly works.

Score: A+ HG

I love this toner - emulsion combo. I love the scent, the texture, the result. It has truly made my skin feel hydrated even in the tough winter. I highly recommend it.

3 comments emulsion, hg, Korean, missha, skincare, toner