Korea Archives - Kpop Korean Hair and Style

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid Review+BHA Benefits

February 13, 2017February 12, 2017 by ulee

Hey everyone! I’m back with another Korean skincare product review. This week’s star is the extremely popular Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid.

Seem familiar? It’s all over the K-Beauty world right now.

Why BHA?

Before we get into the review itself, let’s go over a few of the benefits of BHA, as well as get rid of some of the common myths that seem to surround this mysterious chemical.

BHA stand for Beta Hydroxy Acid. Unlike its water-soluble sister, AHA, BHA is a oil-soluble chemical.
The most commonly used BHA in skincare is Salycic Acid, which derives from willow bark
BHA does NOT increase sun sensitivity
Unlike most claims, Salycic Acid works in a similar way as AHAs do, by thinning the skin layers in order to let out trapped skin cells. The difference? Since Salicylic Acid is oil-soluble, it’s able to penetrate into the oiliest part of you pores

CosRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid REVIEW:

Ingredients: Salix Alba Bark Water, Butelyne Glycol, Betaine Salicylate, Niacinamide, 1,2 Hexandiol, Arginine, Panthenol, Sodium Hyluronate, Xanthun Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol (CosDNA)

Claims:

Reduce formation of blackheads/excess sebum
Hydrate the skin
Fade Hyperpigmentation
Whiten/Brighten the skin
Prevent acne

This product has 4% Salicylic Acid, which is surprisingly high, especially for a Korean brand. Korea has strict regulations on the ingredients that are used in facial products, so BHAs, AHAs, and anything of the like are a relatively new factor in the KBeauty world.

Texture: It has a watery, slightly oil-like feeling. The oily-ish feeling doesn’t bother me too much, and it goes away after applying my ampoules.

Scent: Not a particular smell that I can notice. I’m not terribly sensitive to smells, so if it does have a scent, it doesn’t bother me.

How to Use: BHA is a chemical exfoliant, so like Vitamin C, it works best when the skin is at a low pH. I use a low pH cleanser, which is conveniently also from CosRX, but if not, its best to use a pH-adjusting toner before you use the BHA. But in all honesty, there isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t be using a low-pH cleanser.

Results:

I mentioned before in my previous post that the C20 serum is my all-time favorite product, but I think I’ve finally moved on and found a new life-saver. From my first try, I could tell that the Blackhead Power liquid delivered all the things it promised-hyperpgmentation, blackheads, whiteheads, closed comedos, and just the overall texture of my skin. While greatly reduced, I still usually had at least 1 or 2 outbreaks every week when using the C20 serum, but with the BHA liquid, that number’s changed to about 1-2 a month! Another thing I love is how non-irritatable it is to the skin. My skin doesn’t tingle or sting when applying the BHA.

Yet another plus- if you’re on a tight budget, this definetely will work for your skin and you wallet. For around 18 dollars you get 100ml of product. Trust me-this lasts forever. I’ve had mine for about 1 month, and it barely looks like anything’s been tapped out!

Rating(Out of 5): 5. This is my new favorite product that I’ll be shoving into all my acne-prone teenage friends’ faces, and I doubt anything will be able to beat this product for a long time. If you’re struggling with breakouts, this product is a must-have. Even if you’re not, any hyperpigmentation that’s been left from previous acne breakouts will be healed with this as well.

Interested in buying the CosRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid? It sells for $18.25 at amazon.

Hope everyone enjoyed the review on the CosRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid! Next week’s update will be on Mizon’s Intensive Repair Snail Ampoule. Have a good day, and try this out for yourself!

REVIEW of OST Original C20 Vitamin C Serum+Benefits of Vitamin C+Klairs vs C20

January 21, 2017January 4, 2017 by ulee

Hello to our wonderful viewers once again. Today, we’re going to be adding a new part to our website, which is KBeauty! KBeauty, particularly its skincare, has been recieving praise from beauty experts and skincare-addicts all around the world. It’s inexpensive, effective, and uses new ingredients that are hard to find in the Western-skincare world. Plus, the packaging is adorable!

For the first KBeauty post, I’m going to give a review on the OST C20 Pure Vitamin C Serum. (One minus of kbeauty products are the ridiculously long names) But before we get to the review, I’m going to give a quick introduction to my skin type. Whoever said that all Koreans have naturally great skin, I think I’m here to prove you wrong. I have slightly sensitive, typical teenage skin, which is more combination than completely oily. I had a lot of acne in the forehead area, PIH(Post-Inflammitory Hyperpigmentation, aka acne scars), and I also wanted to brighten my skin a bit.

I had just learned of chemical exfoliators and the benefits of Vitamin C, and the C20 Serum seemed like the most popular choice. People seemed to be showering it with praise, so I picked up a bottle on for about $13 when it was on sale, with the regular price being $16.40, on amazon. The new, updated version is about $23, but for me there isn’t much of a difference in results.

Ingredients: Water, Ascorbic Acid, Ethanol, Sodium Lactate, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosa Davurica Bud Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Sodium Hyaluronate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan, PEG-180, Gluconolactone, Beta-Glucan, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil,Zinc PCA, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ubiquinone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben. CosDNA analysis.

Water is a filler ingredient, so it’s a bit dissapointing that it’s at the top of the list. Ascorbic Acid is the from of Vitamin C being used, and the concentration is 20%, as the name suggests. Anyone allergic to alcohol or any of the essential oils shown below would want to use the upgraded C21.5 Serum, which has less harmful ingredients for a bit higher price.

How Care for C20: The one downside of the serum is how high-maitinence it is. It should be kept in the fridge, away from sunlight, and usually only lasts about 3 months before it oxidises. Once it turns orange, or oxidises, the serum is basically useless.

How to Use: After using a low-ph cleanser, or using a ph-adjusting toner, apply all over the face and wait for 15-20 minutes before putting anything else on. If you have any “first essences,” you’re going to ignore the “first” of the name and put it on after the 20 minutes is up.

Keep in mind, in order for chemical exfoliation of the vitamin C to work, your skin must be at a ph of 5.5 or lower. We may have a post on PH levels and how to create your skincare routine around it, but as for now, keep in mind that you need to use a cleanser that has a PH of 5.5 or lower, or you have to use a ph-adjusting toner. I use CosRX’s Good Morning Gel Cleanser, which I like and will probably do a review on later. As for ph-adjusting toners, I’ve heard that Mizon has a good one. However, you really should be using a 5.5 ph-level cleanser in the first place, if you don’t want to damage your skin’s lipid barrier.

Also, it’s best to use it only in the PM, since Vitamin C makes your skin photosensitive. And THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT is that you always, ALWAYS should wear sunscreen, but especially if you use a Vitamin C serum. If you don’t wear sunscreen, your skin will quickly rid of any benefits it could give you. This goes for any vitamin c serum.

Results

If I were to pick one product that transformed my skin, I would probably pick this serum. I’ve ordered 3 bottles, and I don’t know what I would do without it. This is super effective on PIH, so anyone with acne scars, this is the one sole answer. My acne has also been under control. Whereas my forehead used to be a battle ground, now I usually only have one or two flare-ups every week. My skin has definetely brightened up a bit too. The only thing I would recommned is always using a moisturizer, since only putting on this serum would probably be too drying. It doesn’t do a ton for blackheads, so if blackheads are your main problem, I would advise looking elsewhere.

C20 vs Klairs:Which One?

I just wanted to add that another very popular vitamin C serum is the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop Serum. I used this one before I got the C20, in fear that the high concentration of Vitamin C in the C20 would irritate my skin. I have to say, in my personal experience, I found much better benefits from using the C20 serum. The Klairs was 15% less Vitamin C, so there was less benefits, but I also didn’t really like the texture of the Klairs. It was a very greasy feeling, so I hated wearing it in the morning. Some describe the C20 as having a tacky feeling and having it hard to have their foundation stick on, but it didn’t really affect me since I only put it on in the nighttime, and because I don’t usually put on makeup. If the texture is the problem, I’m pretty sure that the new C21.5 serum is made for those who feel that it’s too tacky. Those with extremely sensitive skin might want to opt for the Klairs.

Before and After Photos:

Although the after photos are much later, I acutally saw results after about a week, or maybe even less of using it.

As you can see, my forehead wasn’t a great sight, and it doesn’t feel nice knowing that you have the Civil War raging on your face. Here’s a photo I took after I used this serum and updated my old skin routine. I kid you not, I didn’t photoshop the photo. Such a drastic change, right?

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

The results that I got from the serum definetely were able to meet my expectations, and it’s done wonders for my skin. The only complaint that I have is the fact that the Vitamin C isn’t as good at keeping blackheads at bay, and the fact that it has a limited shelf life. Other than that, I love it. It’s cheap, effective, gave quick results, and it’s a multi-tasker. Anyone with troubled skin, or skin that needs a little brightening, this will be you next 필수템(Pil-soo taem), or must-have item.

1MILLION DANCE STUDIO FASHION-May J Lee and Sori Na

January 21, 2017January 2, 2017 by ulee

Most Hallyu fans have probably at least heard about 1Million Dance Studio, and maybe have even seen a few of their popular videos. If not, I’ll fill you in. As you’ve probably guessed, this is a dance studio based in Seoul. The studio burst in popularity in the fall of 2015, when a choreography for 5th Harmony’s song Worth It was released. Since then, the small studio has been bursting with popularity, with over four million subscribers and 73 million views on their most popular videos.

Today I’ll be briefly going over one of the outfits of May J Lee, the creator of the famous “Worth It” choreography that shot the studio to fame.

This outfit was worn while she was featured in one of Lia Kim’s choreographies for Dawin and Silento’s “Dessert.”

As seen above, her outfit is pretty simple, as most of the 1Million crew’s outfits are. They seem to favor the Adidas brand quite a bit, so they may be sponsored by the brand.

The sweater is Adidas’ Retro Gold Cropped Pullover Hoodie, which sells for about $60.

As for the leggings, I don’t know what exactly they are, but they could be any old pair of leggings. Instead of finding the exact pair of black leggings, I decided to add in a pair of leggings that Sori Na from 1Million wore during her choreography video for iKon’s “My Type.”

The leggings are probably also from Adidas. These are the Adidas Originals 3 Stripes Leggings, selling for about $35 at various different sites.

That was the review for today! I hope everyone enjoyed the review, and if you were wondering about any other of the 1Million member’s outfits, comment a request below!

2017 Korean Fashion Trend-The “Daily,” or Modern Hanbok

February 6, 2017December 24, 2016 by ulee

If you’ve ever watched a historical Korean drama, like Moon Lovers or even the recent drama Hwarang, you’re probably quite familiar with what a hanbok is. Hanboks are a type of traditional Korean dress. Although there are also hanboks for men, we mostly refer to the hanboks meant for women. This hanbok style is the 2017 Korean fashion trend that’s in these days!

Here’s an example from the many traditional hanboks of IU during her drama, Moon Lovers.

Most Hallyu fans seem to be in the know of traditional hanboks. As beautiful as they are, they’re a bit of a hassle to wear for your everyday life. That’s when “daily,” or modern hanboks come into play.

The modern, or daily hanbok is a hanbok, only with some modern fixes added to it in order for it to be more comfortable for daily use. They’re often a bit shorter that the full-length traditional hanboks, made with different materials, rather than the usual silk, and have a wider variety of patterns. Check out a few of the “Daily Hanboks” forming the 2017 Korean fashion trend below!

Adorable children’s models are trying out the 2017 Korean fashion trend as well!

We can be sure that we’ll be seeing more of these kinds of modern hanboks in 2017, as well as variations to the already creative style. It’s only a matter of time before this style sweeps through the streets of Korea!

Jun Ji Hyun-“Legend of the Blue Sea” Episodes 5 & 6 Coat Fashion

January 21, 2017December 11, 2016 by ulee

Unfortunately, since I’ve been busy with upcoming tests and projects, I haven’t had a ton of time to update. So yes, it’s proabably long past the 5th and 6th episodes of the drama series, but I saw a couple outfits from episode five that caught my eye, or that were just intersting. I decided to just join episodes five and six together for a review-And this time, only coats. You don’t mind, do you?

From what I would recall, Shim Cheong found this coat in some sort of dump. Well, if you had hopes that

EPISODE 5

From what I would recall, Shim Cheong found this coat in some sort of dump. Well, if you had hopes that since the coat was found in a filthy place in a drama, it would be cheap in real life, I’m sorry to inform you that is not the case.

LANVIN Long Chalk Coat-Around $3,350

Don’t expect a whole lot of cheap options from any of the episodes. Stars like Jun Ji Hyun are rarely seen filming in something that costs less than a thousand dollars. Reviews like these are made, not for viewers to go and buy the exact same thing, but to see a general idea of the fashion trends going on and how you can personalize that.

From what I’ve found, this coat is part of the MIU MIU 2016 Fall/Winter Season. It doesn’t look like it’s really up for sale anywhere, but I’m sure that there’s plenty of other brands that make coats similar to this one.

This coat/cardigan is also from Miu Miu. Considering how it’s most likely from a recent collection, there isn’t a set price tag on it yet.

Top Coat- STELLA MCCARTENY ‘Edith’ Coat-$1,010.80

Under Coat- STELLA MCCARTENY Oversized Wool Blend Tweed Jacket-$1,520

That’s the end of the coat review for episodes 5 and 6! My personal favorite is the brown-orange Edith coat, since I prefer more simple designs. Which coat was your favorite? Comment below!