A day at the Beach in Korea
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Lifestyle blog with business tips for creative entrepreneurs, bloggers, photographers. Korean beauty product reviews. Travel guides for Asia. Styled Portrait photographer in South Korea. Banting Recipes. Owning a dog in South Korea Brand photography for businesses. Creative headshots and professional portraits in south Africa. South African photographer
As with every other thing I have bought here in South Korea, the skin care products are packaged beautifully. Even the biscuits are individually wrapped here (a nightmare for the rubbish dumps ~ although recycling here is top notch). I was really good about not packing too many products for our move here. I 'held' back and only brought the bare minimum (a post on the 'bare minimum' to follow soon) and so was eager to try a new skin care range once we settled in.
My absolute favorite brand of cosmetics/skin care here in Korea is The Faceshop. I buy all my nail polishes there, as well as my concealer. They are currently having a massive sale in all stores (here in Korea...sorry everyone else!). I picked up a toner, moisturizer and 'oil free' setting gel. Mmm, setting gel? I hadn't heard of that before either, but I will explain here.
Chia seeds are becoming one of the biggest so-called super foods on the market. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and high in antioxidants, protein and fiber.I was unaware of these seeds seeing these products, and after all the research I've been doing, I'm on the hunt for them to ass to my cereal and smoothies in the morning.
Chai Seed Watery Toner
"A moisturising toner for hydrating inside the skin with organically grown chai seed"
I just love that description, for
inside the skin
as opposed to outside the skin :) Anyway, I use this after cleansing my skin, and either apply it with cotton wool, or using my hands straight onto the skin. Its light, removes makeup and oil from my skin, and leaves a light, summery fragrance that I can't quite put my finger on. Either way, its lovely and refreshing.
The back of the box describes this product as "a natural moisture drop absorbing moisture 10 times its own weight" how cute :)
Chai Seed Watery Lotion
A light, easily absorbed moisturizing lotion, perfect for hot summer days (and the 100% humidity here in Korea. Easy to blend into the skin, my oily/combination skin, and interestingly enough, I have been told that oily/combination skin still needs constant hydration. This lotion is light, doesn't leave my skin feeling sticky afterwards, and does a good job with maintaining a mate appearance for the first few hours of the day. It has been doing a much better job of reducing shine, while still moisturizing my skin, than my IQ Clear Start Oil Free Clearing moisturizer which really battled in the Korean humidity. I was left looking like an oily mess by 10 o'clock. I don' think this lotion will be enough when winter comes around though, but by then I'm sure I'll be on the lookout for something new anyway.
Chai Seed Sebum Control Moisture Control
"A moisture cream that replenishes skin with moisture while preventing excess sebum
Uses good seeds and good technology that make the extracts fresh and is also good for the environment
A clear, mild cream
Real oil-zero
Uses 100% chia seed extract instead of water"
Well that just sounds amazing right?! This clear gel is refreshing, and when worn alone leaves my skin shine free for just about the whole day. When worn with my foundation, my skin tends to shine up on my T-zone area. I usually carry my MAC Studio Fix powder to zap the shine in its tracks. But when worn without any foundation, my skin stays shine free all day...wonderful! Again, I love the product description on the packaging. Applying a gel is quite a different experince, and in the heat here, a very welcome one. My face feels refreshed, radiant and supple. And in true Korean style, you cant possible only 1 lotion type product. The trick (and they do have incredible skin and NEVER look their age) is to use all 8 steps in the range of products. I starting with 4.
Overall I have been thrilled with my purchases, all coming to W43 000 (R380) on sale at the FaceShop.
I'm after the Essence & Eye cream next.
Have you ever tried any Asian/Korean skin brands before?
{South Korea & Japan were the home to BB creams before the trend hit South African soil..these Koreans know their stuff when it comes to skincare and makeup!}
We have been in Korea for a little over 2 weeks now. If any of you have been following me on Instagram, you probably think that I have landed in an incredible world full of gorgeous stationery, makeup for miles, and pretty things everywhere I look. The truth is that there are a lot of things that go on in a day that are far from wonderful here. Arriving in Korea, and living here, you are emerging yourself in a culture so far removed from anything you will have experienced before. There are days when I question our lives here, there are days when I want to strangle some of my students and kick them out of class, days when I want to shake my co-teacher and shout at her to stop smiling at me when she doesn't understand a word I've said.
What starts to matter is the small things in life. The little old lady I meet on my walk to school. The small piece of shade I walk under for the last 10 minutes of my walk. The fan above me the staff room, and all the things my hubby does for me in the morning when we get ready for work. Our lives here, at least while we await our first paycheck, are very different from back home, not only do you start to appreciate things back home, but I've also grown to appreciate other South Africans so much more. Even though things can be pretty tough here (the language barrier has a lot to do with it, and the levels of respect in society - being able to give your opinion has become a luxury here) we have found every other South African we know to be very positive about life. Very rarely have we come across another South African who moans and complains about Korea. South Korea is our home, we are treated very well here, and in return they expect us to give our best in everything. It's a give and take situation, where a lot of other foreigners do a lot more taking than giving. I came across these 45 life lessons on Facebook today, they have reminded me of how we should try and live our lives, wherever we are in the world, and I wanted to share them with you...
Written by Regina Brett
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 50 this year, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Lovely, don't you think?
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The birthday girl and boy (who knew we would meet someone with the same birthday as Farmboy. Happy Birthday to you too Siobhan! |
Lifestyle blog with business tips for creative entrepreneurs, bloggers, photographers. Korean beauty product reviews. Travel guides for Asia. Styled Portrait photographer in South Korea. Banting Recipes. Owning a dog in South Korea. Korean jindo rescue dog. #CGScreative
I’m Roxy & I’m so excited that you’re here. Welcome to my {pretty} little corner of the world wide web.
CGS is a lifestyle blog, where I share all sorts of posts from pregnancy, to life with (3) babies on a dairy farm, to makeup & skincare reviews. I was also a #clothnappy addict, and always loved sharing tips and advice on how to start using cloth for your babes. I’m also very into making my own Kombucha and yoghurt, and I swear by a strict routine and no sugar or processed carbs in your little one’s diet…I share tips & recipes for how you can do the same. Finally, I also love sharing more about blogging & tips for running a creative business.
So get comfy, grab a cup of tea and & make yourself at home.
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