Lunar New Year 2021

Can't visit your family this year for Lunar New Year? No worries! 

Celebrate on your own by:

Calling/video-chatting your family and friends

Watching Lunar New Year related videos:

Listening to Spring Festival music:

Happy Niu Year!

牛年快乐!

Purito Sunscreen Scandal Explained

Applying sunscreen is a vital last step of our morning skincare routines. But what happens when sunscreens don't protect as advertised? Cue the #purito sunscreen scandal of 2020!  

Many companies are re-testing their spf (sun protection factor) and updating the public (e.g. beplain). However, it's still important for consumers, like ourselves, to stay educated, so we don't get cheated. Below are a couple of my fave videos regarding this incident in case you haven't learned about it yet!

 The Director of the Korea Research Institute of Dermatology explains SPF testing (Turn on CC/subtitles to read English):

 

One of my fave and trusted Korean beauty Youtubers, @Soo Beauty 수뷰티 also researched and explained this controversy:

We'll provide our own sunscreen reviews in future posts!

January 2021 Skincare Empties 空瓶

My skincare empties aka 空瓶 from January 2021!

Most of these are Asian skincare products I bought in 2019 when I last traveled abroad 😅 These products took me a year to use, since a little goes a long way and I don't regularly exfoliate 😁

*Not shown are various sheet masks.

2020 Drama Recap

With COVID19 raging the world, quarantine mandates, and a strict work-from-home policy, I watched a copious amount of dramas this year!

1. Kingdom Season 2 - Sequel to 2019's hottest zombie show has more political intrigue and plot twists
   
2. The Bad Kids / Cat’s Cradle / 隐秘的角落 -  Criminal thriller that delves into human nature of adults and children (one of the best contemporary Chinese dramas!)
   
3. Go Ahead / 以家人之名  - Modern Chinese drama regarding familial relations, which made my ugly cry
4. World of the Married - A frightening tale of marriage and betrayal set in modern day South Korea
   
5. Uncanny Counter - Refreshing revenge story involving evils spirits, and the afterlife
   
6. It's Okay to Not Be Okay - Unique story set in a mental health hospital with lead actress frolicking in capturing outfits
7. Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty / 梦回大清 - Romantic Chinese drama where lead girl travels through time to the Qing dynasty, under Kangxi’s reign
8. The Great - Hilarious portrayal of Catherine the Great's rise to power
   
9. The Song of Glory / 锦绣南歌  - Revenge and justice are major themes in this historical drama that follows a Chinese military family
10. The Ghost Bride - A young lady  living in 1890s Colonial-era Malaysia receives a proposal to become the ghost bride of a a wealthy family's recently-deceased son.
11. Record of Youth -  Slice of life Korean drama starring the adorable Park Bogum before he leaves for military service
12. Black-ish Season 7 - Family sitcom of a Black family set in suburbs of Los Angeles
13. The Romance of Tiger and Rose / 传闻中的陈芊芊 - A screenwriter literally falls into her own story, and has to change the story to survive
    
14. Tale of the Nine Tailed -  Supernatural beings live among humans and help prevent disaster in South Korea
    

2019 Drama Recap

Sharing my favourite dramas/tv shows from 2019! They're listed from most fave to least fave of what I remember watching in 2019:

1. The Kingdom Season 1 -  Battling zombies in historical Joseon/Chosun dynasty
   
2. Joy of Life / 庆余年 / Qing Yu Nian Season 1  - Historic drama that follows a mysterious young man as he battles politics
   
3. Crash Landing on You (CLOY) - Gorgeous romantic leads with a comedic take on life in North Korea
4. Hotel del Luna - Supernatural drama set in a fancy hotel starring IU
5. Black-ish Season 6 - Family sitcom of the Johnsons, a Black family living in the suburbs of LA
6. Fresh off the Boat Season 6 - Last season of this family sitcom involving a first generation Chinese family
7. American Housewife Season 4 - Family sitcom of a white middle class family living among wealthy neighbors
   
8. Story of Ming Lan / 知否知否应是绿肥红瘦 - Chinese historical drama following a noblewoman's life
   
9. Search: WWW - Workplace drama starring strong female leads
10. The Great Show - Comedic family drama starring handsome
    Song Seung-heon
11. Her Private Life - Korean drama about being an older fangirl
12. Touch Your Heart - Cute romantic comedy starring Lee Dongwook and
    Yoo In-na 
13. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series -  Spin-off sequel of original HSM series, so it was very nostalgic for me
14. Coffee & Vanilla -  Love story with a 10 year age gap
    

2018 Drama Recap

I am well aware it's not 2018, but since we are still staying home so much in 2021, I wanted to share my fave dramas/tv shows from 2018. They're listed from my most to least fave of what I watched in 2018 (mainly Asian dramas)

1. Story of Yanxi Palace - Historical Chinese drama about revenge with vibrant female leads
2. Sky Castle - Modern day Korean drama with mesmerizing female leads and an unpredictable plot
3. Nirvana in Fire 2 (琅琊榜之风起长林) - Technically a 2017 drama, but finished in 2018, so I'm adding it here, because it's an excellent Chinese historical drama about family and justice
4. Fresh off the Boat Season 5 - Comedy involving a first generation Chinese family in Florida
5. Black-ish Season 5 - Family sitcom of a Black family set in
   suburbs of Los Angeles
6. What Is Wrong with Secretary Kim? - Korean romantic comedy starring Park Seo-Joon.
   

7. A Korean Odyssey - Modern Korean re-telling of the Chinese folklore "Journey to the West" starring Lee Seunggi
   

8. The Guest - Supernatural Korean drama
9. American Housewife Season 3 - Family comedy narrated by matriarch of a middle-class family living among wealthy neighbors
10. Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace - Same historic setting as Story of Yanxi Palace, but the costumes and props aren't as aesthetically pleasing