Seoul Searching | 7 Must-See Spring Festivals in Korea.

Traveling to Korea but couldn't make it in time for the cherry blossom festivals? Don't fret! Springtime in Korea isn't just about cherry blossoms. In fact, the country hosts a cornucopia of festivals all throughout the months of April and May - some celebrating the (other) flowers in bloom, while others celebrating culture, arts, and even food.

Here is a guide to some of the best festivals that will make your spring trip to Korea even more memorable. If you're visiting the country during these times, do seek them out and enjoy the spirit of rebirth, renewal, and rejuvenation, which is exactly what spring is all about.

Goryeosan Mountain Azalea Festival (April 13 - 21, 2019)

Goryeosan Mountain Azalea Festival.

Goryeosan Mountain in Incheon earned the monicker 'pink mountain' because in the spring, it transforms into a stunning beauty carpeted with vivid pink and magenta azaleas. This mountain is one of the most popular destinations outside of Seoul, attracting more than 400,000 visitors each year.

During the Azalea Festival, several walking/hiking courses are offered to visitors, all between 1 to 2 hours long. You'll walk through a myriad of pink and purple flowers to reach the peak of the mountain, and get to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the West Sea and a glimpse of the North Korean coastline.

To get to Goryeosan, take the subway to Sinchon on Line 2 and leave exit 4. Go straight for about 260m to arrive at the bus stop in front of Arteon. Take bus 3000 for about 2 hours to Ganghwa bus terminal. From the bus terminal take bus 1,23,25,27,30,32 or 35 and get off at Dolmen Square. Follow all the hikers to Goryeosan

Taean International Tulip Festival (April 14 - May 12, 2019)

Colorful tulips at the Taean International Tulip Festival.

Hailed as one of the top five tulip festivals in the world, the Taean International Tulip Festival showcases over 1.5 million tulips from over 300 different species, as well as beautiful displays of spring blooms such as lilies, pansies, daffodils, lupine, and canola.

This festival is recognized by the World Tulip Summit Society and takes place at the Korea Flower Park a 30-acre flower theme park where you can walk among gorgeous spring flowers and enjoy the beautiful glow of the Taean sunset.

To get there, head to Dong Seoul Bus Terminal and take an intercity bus to Taean. From Taean Intercity Bus Terminal, take a village bus bound for Gomseom and get off at Morenon Bus Stop.

Royal Culture Festival (April 27 - May 5, 2019)

Gyeongbokgung Palace at night.

One of my favorite cultural festivals in Seoul, the Royal Culture Festival is the perfect opportunity for tourists to learn more about Korea's royal palaces and delve deeper into Korean culture. During the festival, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine are open to the public for free, and host an array of cultural programs, performances, exhibitions, and experience zones. Some of these palaces will be open until night time, though the special evening admissions come with a small fee.

Promotional poster for the 2019 Royal Culture Festival.

This year's Royal Culture Festival promises to be a very exciting one as it aims to present Korea's rich history and culture through state-of-the-art technology. A special augmented reality (AR) game will be available at Changdeokgung Palace during the nine-day event, while Gyeongbokgung Palace will host a performance chronicling the Gyeonghoeru pavilion’s construction process using 3D technology. And for the first time since the festival's inception, Gyeonghuigung Palace will join in the revelry and will host traditional dance performances using robots.

Locations and how to get there: 
Gyeongbokgung Palace - Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3) 
Changdeokgung Palace - Take Bus 100, 102, 104, 90S tour bus or 91S tour bus.
Changgyeonggung Palace - Take Bus 100, 102, 104, 90S tour bus or 91S tour bus.
Deoksugung Palace - City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1 or 2)
Jongmyo Shrine - Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 3 or 5).


Lotus Lantern Festival (May 3-5, 2019)

Lanterns in Jogyesa Temple.

A prelude to Buddha's birthday, the Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeong Deung Hoe) is one of the most celebrated events in Korea. It's also one of the oldest festivals, with a history spanning over 1200 years. Originally an event with Buddhist significance, this occasion has now become a cultural festival celebrated by everyone in Korea.

Traditional lanterns in various colors, shapes, and sizes are hung all over downtown Seoul, and both Bongeunsa and Jogyesa temples host various cultural performances for locals and tourists to enjoy.

Photo credit: Korea.net.

The highlight of this festival is the Lantern Parade, where thousands of lanterns illuminate the metropolis and create an illusion of stars streaming through the milky way. In the previous years, more than 300,000 Koreans and 50,000 foreigners have participated in this event, and is said to be the biggest of its kind in the world.

To get to Bongeunsa Temple, take Samseong Station (Line 2) Exit 6. Walk straight for approximately 600m, and turn left. Walk straight for approx. 150m to arrive at Bongeunsa Temple 
To get to Jogyesa Temple, take Jonggak Station (Line 1) Exit 2. Walk straight for about 200m to arrive at Jogyesa Temple.


Boseong Green Tea Festival (May 2-6, 2019).

The picturesque hillside of Boseong.

Boseong, an idyllic town in South Jeollanam-do, is said to be the birthplace of the commercial tea industry in Korea. It accounts for 91% of the total green tea production in the country, and is home to the nation's oldest tea plantation.

In the spring, these seemingly endless fields of green welcome visitors from all over the country to the Boseong Green Tea Festival, a celebration of the town's booming green tea industry and rich cultural heritage. Various programs and workshops are scheduled during this five-day event, but the hands-on activities such as picking tea leaves, making tea, and preparing green tea snacks are the real crowd favorites.

How to get to Boseong:
From Seoul Express Bus Terminal, take an intercity bus to Boseong (보성) or to Gwangju (광주). From the Boseong Bus Terminal, take a Boseong-Gunhak (보성-군학) route bus to Daehan Dawon (대한다원). From Gwangju U-Square Bus Terminal, take an intercity bus to Boseong (보성).


Hangang Seoraeseom Canola Festival (May 11-16, 2019)

A sea of yellow at Seoraeseom Island.

The canola flower, also known as yuchae, is one of the spring flowers that represent Jeju. But that doesn't mean these dainty yellow blooms can only be found there. Sure, Jeju Island is home to the longest-running canola festival in the Korea, but you don't need to go that far just to see the canolas.

At Seoraeseom Island, a small (artificial) island located between Dongjakdaegyo Bridge and Banpodaegyo Bridge, you'll find canola flowers blooming in full glory by mid-May. The Hangang Seoraeseom Canola Festival is held around this time, and gives visitors the opportunity to capture beautiful memories of spring. During the festival, visitors can enjoy many photo zones, culture and art performances, and hands-on activities all over the island.

To get there, take Gubanpo Station (Seoul Subway Line 9), Exit 2. Go 370m towards the Olympic-daero Highway. Follow the street signs for Hangang Park to arrive at Banpo Seoraeseom Island.

Seoul Grand Park Rose Festival (May 25 - June 9, 2019)

Roses in full bloom.

Seoul boasts of not one, but two Rose Festivals in the spring - the Seoul Rose Festival held in Jungnang-gu, and the Seoul Grand Park Rose Festival held in Gwacheon. I have attended both festivals during my previous trips to Korea, and although they're both fun, lively, and lovely, I prefer the latter in terms of diversity of species, available facilities, and the size of the area.

The Seoul Grand Park Rose Festival usually kicks off in the last week of May until the first week of June, and is held at the botanic garden of the Seoul Grand Park. Visitors will marvel at the beauty and splendor of more than ten million roses sprawled across the 10-acre garden. Workshops, concerts, and cultural events are some of the highlights of this annual event, and these activities are all free of charge.

At least year's Seoul Grand Park Rose Festival.

To get to the Seoul Grand Park, take exit 2 of the Seoul Grand Park Station (Line 4).

Ready to experience the beauty of spring? Which festivals are included in your itinerary?

Spotlight | Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer.

If you've been following me on social media, or have been following this blog, then you probably know that I'm a fan of all things Korean - pop music, dramas, variety shows, food, and most of all cosmetics. I reckon it's this great fondness for Korean beauty products that landed me a stint in Althea's Beauty Ambassador Community. I was over the moon with excitement when I learned that I've officially become an Althea Angel, and even more so when I received my Welcome Gift from Althea with these lovely surprises inside.

Yay! Welcome Gift from Althea! :)

One of the (many) things that I love about being an Althea Angel is getting first dibs on new products and Althea exclusives, such as the Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer.

Real Fresh Skin Detoxer set.

A collaboration between Althea and Get It Beauty, Korea's number one beauty show, the Real Fresh Skin Detoxer is a 2-in-1 cleanser pack that deep cleanses the skin while boosting it with an array of nutrients. It comes in two variants - Rose and Green Tea.

Green Tea and Rose.

The Rose Variant contains natural extracts from the May Rose which bloom once a year in Grasse, Southern France. These roses are then handpicked to create this special formula that soothes, smoothens, and deeply hydrates the skin. This product also contains real rose petals which gently exfoliate the skin and gives it a sweet and subtle fragrance.

English text on the side of the box. Everything else is written in Hangul.

Contains real rose petals. :)

The Green Tea Variant, on the other hand, is made with Green Tea goodness from Jeju Island. This product is formulated with green tea extracts and finely grounded green tea powder that are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to help purify and brighten the skin. Each tube also contains real green tea leaves which exfoliates and leaves the skin with a nice, refreshing scent.

English text on the side of the box.

A closer look at this green tea goodness.

To use these products, simply apply a generous layer onto your face and leave it for ten seconds. Then add a little water and massage in circular motions before rinsing off. The Rose variant is recommended for morning use, while the Green Tea is recommended to be used at night.

Green Tea (left) and Rose (right).

I've been using both products for a little over a week now, and I love how my skin feels squeaky clean and super smooth after every wash. Both variants are gentle enough for daily use, but I prefer using the Rose on a daily basis (the scent is definitely a pick-me-upper in the morning) while the Green Tea as a twice (or thrice) a week deep cleanser. I also prefer applying a thin layer on my face, as the texture of both products are already thick to begin with. If you have sensitive skin, you'll be glad to know that these cleanser packs are hypoallergenic, and they're cruelty-free, too.

Bare-faced, after-shower selfie. :)

Even greater news - the Real Fresh Skin Detoxer is now available on the Althea website! They're currently sold as a set for Php 1100 - eligible for free shipping to the Philippines! :)

Spotlight | Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Skin.

I have a growing fondness for green tea-infused skincare products, which stemmed mainly from my continued use of Innisfree's Green Tea Mineral Mist. I love this product so much that I decided to try the other products from Innisfree's Green Tea line and incorporate them into my daily skincare routine, starting with the Green Tea Balancing Skin.

Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Skin.

It's actually a toner, made with green tea and green tea seeds from Jeju Island. It's rich in minerals and amino acids that give nourishment to the skin and keep it moisturized. It also contains betaine, a natural moisturizing agent derived from amino acids, which provides intense moisture for combination skin to restore its natural balance.

Balancing = for normal to combination skin.

And much like any other Innisfree product, this toner is made with organic ingredients, and free from these five harmful ingredients - parabens, mineral oil, synthetic colorants, animal material, and imidazolidinyl urea, an antimicrobial preservative that acts as a formaldehyde releaser.

Product description at the back of the box.

It's also packed in an eco-friendly box, another trademark packaging of Innisfree.

Hangul text on the side panels.

As for the toner itself, it comes in a 200 mL twist-top bottle. Nothing fancy with its packaging, but I do find the debossed text on the bottle cap quite pretty. 

Twist-top bottle.

This toner, however, has a pretty unusual texture. It has a bit of viscosity to it, but it's neither sticky like gel-type toners, nor is it watery like most liquid toners. To apply, simply pour an adequate amount on your palm (two to three drops will suffice), and pat it on your face. No need for cotton pads!

Has a fairly wide opening on the bottle.

I love how this toner has this sort-of cooling effect on the skin. It's easily absorbed, and does not leave any sticky residues behind. It smells wonderful, too! Its scent is a mixture of green tea and zesty citrus notes, the kind that perks you up on lazy Monday mornings. 

Can you see the toner on the palm of my hand?

In terms of effectiveness, this toner does a good job of moisturizing my skin and keeping those pores and blackheads at bay. I started using this product two months ago while I was still in Korea, and my husband would compliment me every so often that I need not put on makeup since my bare skin looks healthy and glowing. I guess it's the antioxidants working wonders for my skin?

Three different lines for different skin types.

Well, if that's the case, then I certainly got my 14000 won's worth. I wouldn't mind spending a few more bucks for the rest of the products in the Green Tea Balancing line if it means having healthy, glowing skin. :)

Spotlight | Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist.

After having discovered the wonders of face mists about a year ago, it has become a habit to bring a bottle (or can) in my purse wherever I go. My current favorite is the Green Tea Mineral Mist by Innisfree.

Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist.

A brand made even popular by its endorser, the Prince of Asia Lee Min Ho, Innisfree also takes pride in being one of the most environment-friendly skincare brands in Korea with the use of organic ingredients for their products and eco-friendly materials for their packaging.

A product of Jeju Island! :)

Case in point, the 4-Free system, as indicated in this Green Tea Mineral Mist. The 4-Free system means this product is free from these four ingredients are harmful to the skin - ethanol, artificial dye, animal material, and mineral oil.

4-Free System.

Now here's a brief description of the product which I stumbled upon on the web:

"Enriched with Green Tea and Green Complex from Jeju island, Green Tea Mineral Mist revives dry, stressed skin by supplying abundant moisture. Formulated with moisture from our freshly-squeezed green tea, this hypoallergenic and ethanol-free facial mist instantly replenishes moisture to your thirsty skin."

Made with organic Jeju green tea.

Grown in healthy, volcanic soil, the green tea from Jeju Island is known for its pure quality and its richness in amino acids and minerals that help keep the skin hydrated. In addition to the organic green tea water,  this product also contains panthenol which encourages cell growth and the production of moisture.

Green Complex.

To use, hold the can a few centimeters away from the face, then spray with your eyes closed. Afterwards, gently pat your face for better product absorption.

Spritz!

I love the cool, refreshing feeling I get each time I spray this mist on my face. And I love how this product leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth afterwards. It's light and non-sticky, and the scent is amazing, too - fresh and sweet, yet very subtle. 

A spritz or two to get me through the hot summer day.

Spray this on your bare face to give your skin a nice, healthy glow. Or you can spray this over makeup for that instant dewy effect on the skin. And because the product dries quickly, you need not worry about your mascara running or your foundation caking. 

Here's how the product looks like when sprayed on the skin.

And how your skin looks like afterwards.

My only gripe about this product is the nozzle. It doesn't spray as fine as other face mists that I've tried, and the nozzle is a bit hard to control. I usually end up with a bit of white residue on my face, but nothing a good pat (or a dab with a tissue) can't fix.

What I love:

- Handy, travel-friendly packaging.

- Made with natural ingredients.

- Chemical-free.

- Light and non-sticky.

- Easily absorbed by the skin.

- Makes the skin feel cool and refreshed.

- Moisturizes the skin.

- The scent.

- Hypoallergenic; safe for sensitive skin.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

-  The nozzle is a tad difficult to control.

- Not locally available, so I purchased mine online.

After spraying my face with some Green Tea goodness. :)
Products Used:
FACE: Etude House House Beauty Shot Face Blur,
The Saem Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 CC Cream,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
K-Palette Real Lasting Micro Eyeliner in Black,
Forever 21 Love & Beauty Eyeliner Pencil in Brown,
Missha Viewer 270 HD Lash Curl Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: Laneige Silk Intense Lipstick in Beige Chiffon.

The Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist comes in two sizes - 50 mL and 150 mL. I bought my 50 mL can from Kkochipida for only Php 195. I'm thinking of buying asking the husband to buy the bigger size next time, and I reckon it won't be long before I do he does. I checked the price on Emart, and the 150 mL bottle sells for 11000 Korean won (around $10 or Php 450).

Are you a fan of face mists, too? Which brand is your favorite? :)

Project BB Cream | Innisfree Eco Natural Green Tea BB Cream.

I was on the verge of purchasing a new BB Cream over the weekend, after having received gift certificates from one of my favorite online shopping sites. However, the penny-pinching side of me suddenly remembered that I still have a few BB Cream samples in my makeup stash, all waiting to be tried. Thus, I decided to save the gift certificates for a rainy day and just make do with what I have right now.

And with that, I give you my review of the Innisfree Eco Natural Green Tea BB Cream - the 14th BB Cream that I have tried since I started this blog (in 2011) and began my love affair with Korean makeup brands.

What I have is the 4mL sample size, which looks like this.

Innisfree Eco Natural Green Tea BB Cream.

This BB Cream comes in two shades, #1 Bright Moisture and #2 Natural Moisture. This one is the latter.

Mostly (as in 95%) Hangul text at the back.

Go for the full size and you get a 40 mL plastic squeeze tube, which look like this.

Full sized tube, 40 mL.

While there's mostly Hangul text at the back of the sachet, the description in front is enough to give you an idea of what this BB cream contains and what it does.

'Enriched with Green Tea seed oil from pure Jeju Island. Green Tea revives dry, stressed skin by supplying abundant moisture."

And as you can see, it has SPF29/PA++ - a pretty decent SPF number for me. Now here's how the product looks like.

A few dots of the BB Cream at the back of my hand...

The shade has yellow undertones, and is a lot lighter than what I was expecting, considering this one is the 'darker' shade among the two variants. Kinda reminds me of Skin Food's Good Afternoon Honey Black Tea BB Cream - perhaps the palest shade of BB Cream that I've tried.

Spread it evenly... (left side without BB Cream, right side with BB Cream)

The texture, however, is thick and it's a bit tricky to blend. Squeeze out too much and you'll get a slight grayish cast on your face. But with the right amount and proper blending, you'll get light to medium coverage that's good enough to cover skin imperfections.

Wear time is okay - about six to seven hours with a primer on. I must say though, that I did feel a bit of oil in my T-zone by the fourth hour (I wear eyeglasses, take note) which I needed to blot off and dust with a bit of powder afterwards.

And voila, it adjusts to my skin tone nicely!
(Left side without BB Cream, right side with BB Cream.)

Now while I do love the dewy finish and the natural glow this product gives, I am not crazy about the scent. To be brutally honest, I abhor dislike it at the first whiff. It smelled funky, like some Oriental medicine or something, and nothing, I say nothing, like green tea. So for someone who hardly complains about the scent of makeup and cosmetics, this is a first for me. It wouldn't have been an issue if the scent goes away within minutes, but no, the scent lingers longer, much too longer than I would have wanted.

As for the price of the full-sized product (which I doubt I would buy anyway), it's quite affordable at 14000 Korean Won. That's around $13 or Php590 when converted. Unfortunately though, there are no Innisfree stores yet here in the Philippines. I do my Innisfree shopping online, or through the kindness of my husband who's still in Seoul as of this writing. :)

What I love:

- Contains green tea, which moisturizes the skin and delays skin aging.

- SPF29/PA++.

- Light to medium coverage.

- Dewy finish.

- Gives the skin a natural, healthy glow.

- Affordable price.

- Contains all-natural ingredients.

- Cruelty-free.

What you might not like:

- A bit tricky to apply.

- Oil control is so-so.

- The scent. Ugh!

Wearing my Lisa Loeb glasses. :)
Products used:
FACE: Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie Pore Cover,
Innisfree Eco Natural Green Tea BB Cream,
Missha Undereye Brightener.
EYES: The Face Shop Lovely Me:EX Design My Eyebrow,
BYS Waterproof Eyeliner, Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara.
CHEEKS: Human Heart Nature Perfect Glow Mineral Blush.
LIPS: EOS Blueberry Potion, Miners Matte Factor in Warm Red. 

Have you tried this BB Cream before? Do let me know if you have, and if you share the same sentiments with me. I'd like to verify if it's just my nose being overly sensitive to the scent, or it just really smells that way. Haha! :)

Spotlight | The Face Shop Green Tea Phyto Powder in Lip & Eye Makeup Remover.

After emptying my current bottle of makeup remover, I decided to visit The Face Shop here in SM San Pablo (oh yes, we have TFS here in the boondocks lol!) to see if they have a makeup remover that will perform just as good as the brand I previously had. I saw at least four different kinds of makeup remover in stock, but I settled for the Green Tea Phyto Powder for two reasons: 1) I like green tea, and 2) it's the cheapest among the bunch. Haha.

The Face Shop Green Tea Phyto Powder in Lip & Eye Makeup Remover.

Here's a brief description of the product, which you can read directly from the bottle.
"A lip and eye makeup remover with green tea which mildly and thoroughly removes super strong, water-proof makeup on sensitive skin around the eyes and lips without any stickiness or oiliness." 

Hooray for English text!

You know I'm a huge fan of waterproof mascara. (I actually wouldn't wear a mascara if it's not waterproof.) And this kind of makeup remover seems right up my alley. Plus it contains green tea, which protects the skin from sun damage and slows down skin aging.

Hangul at the back.

It has a dual-phase formula (much like my FOA Makeup Remover), so you have to shake it fully before you use it.

Dual-phase formula.

Apply a few drops on a cotton pad and place it on parts to be cleansed. Leave it on for a moment before you wipe it off. Then rinse with lukewarm water afterwards.

Comes with an easy-twist cap.

True enough, this product removes makeup pretty well. Even my hard-to-remove Fairy Drops mascara was no match for this cleanser. So yeah, taking off all that gunk on your face is just a breeze with this baby.

All that gunk on my face. :)

Don't expect it to smell like Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea, though. (Which I did. I was expecting a whiff of that oh-so-familiar green tea scent as soon as I opened the cap, but alas, there was none. Lol.) This product is fragrance-free, which is great for those who dislike overly-scented skincare products. 

What I love:

- Gentle formulation.

- Non-greasy.

- Non-drying.

- Safe for sensitive skin.

- Removes even the most stubborn, waterproof mascara.

- Affordable price - Php 325 (around $7) for a 100mL bottle.

What you might not like:
- None that I can think of. :)

Thinking of giving this product a try? Check out this list of The Face Shop branches to see if there's a store near you.