Seoul Searching | Jogyesa Temple.

Buddha's birthday is one of the most important holidays in South Korea and is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. It usually falls on the eight day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, and this year, Buddha's birthday is today, May 3rd.

Last year, Yue and I had the chance to experience the festivities of this important Korean holiday during our first visit to Bongeunsa Temple. This year, we chose to visit another Buddhist temple in Seoul - the Jogyesa Temple, located just a few meters away from Insadong.

Iljumun - the one pillar gate of the Jogyesa Temple.

Temple run!

More of Jogyesa Temple after the jump!

Pucker Up! | Kiko Milano Luminous Chrome Lipstick.

Hello from Seoul!
We're back in South Korea, and here I am, blogging in the comforts of our living room while sipping a warm cup of yujacha (honey citron tea). I've been sneezing like crazy since we arrived yesterday. Spring sniffles, I reckon, so I opted to stay home - and get some writing done - for the time being.

And so today, I'll be featuring one of the few makeup items that I brought along. It's the Kiko Milano Luminous Chrome Lipstick, which Mum gave to me a few months back.

Kiko Milano Luminous Chrome Lipstick.

Kiko Milano lipsticks often come in quirky yet classy packaging, and the Luminous Chrome Lipstick is no exception. It comes in a black cardboard box, with the shade number indicated on the top flap.

Ingredients and product details on the side panel.

Shade number 707.

The lipstick itself is housed in an iridescent chrome tube with a metallic pearly pink base. The shade number is indicated on the bottom of the tube.

Shade number.

To open, push the barrel down to release the pink base. Then you pull the barrel to reveal the lipstick. 

Quirky packaging.

There are over 20 shades to choose from in the Luminous Chrome Lipstick line, and this one is shade number 707, otherwise known as Peony Red. It's a brightened berry red shade with a lovely, frosted finish.

#707 Peony Red.

I like its soft and creamy texture, which allows for easy application, and its lightweight, non-drying formula, which makes it very comfortable to wear. It's nicely pigmented, and you get a gorgeous pop of color with just one or two swipes.

Indoor lighting. Swatched once on the left, twice on the right.

Natural light. Swatched once on the left, twice on the right.

Staying power is quite impressive, too. It stays put for about 4 to 5 hours after which the color starts to fade from the center of the lips. For a lipstick that's worth £6.90 (around Php 450 or $8), I'd say this is a good buy - especially for those who are fond of frosted, shimmery lip products.

707 Peony Red when worn.

At present, Kiko Milano is available in 44 countries, including the US and the UK. In Southeast Asia, however, it is only available in Hong Kong. Still hoping that this brand will be available in the Philippines in the near future!

Products Used:
FACE: Beyond Alice in Blooming Skin Tone Sun Base,
Ever Bilena Liquid Concealer in Light,
Laneige Milkyway Fantasy BB Cushion Whitening.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Clio Kill Black Waterproof Brush Liner,
Clio Salon de Cara Backcomb Cara.
CHEEKS: NYC Cheek Glow Powder Blush in West Side Wine.
LIPS: Kiko Milano Luminous Chrome Lipstick in 707 Peony Red.

Seoul Searching | Hyundai City Outlets.

We visited Hyundai City Outlets last winter upon the recommendation of my Korean friend, Bong Sun unni, who owns the Filipino store in our neighborhood. Knowing my penchant for sneakers, she told me to drop by 'this new mall in Dongdaemun' where there's a crazy sale on shoes. And so off to Dongdaemun we did, with hopes of finding a pair of Jordan 11 Space Jam in my size.

Hyundai City Outlets.

Huge Christmas tree near the entrance.

Huge tops that kids can sit on and play with. 

More of Hyundai City Outlets after the jump!

Fashion Pulse | Spice Up Your Look.

When you’re trying to create, you can be bogged down by the sense that it’s all been done, and it pretty much has. However, originality can still come about when you take what you’ve seen before and combine it in new and novel ways. With that in mind, why not take one of the most inspiring and lasting infatuations mankind has ever had to inspire your new look? Why not use flowers to take your look to the next level? Flowers are beautiful and elegant, and there’s a reason they’ve remained a part of human culture throughout all of history.

Photo credit: Coco Rosa.

First and foremost, consider floral print. This is an easy way to make any outfit more interesting, as long as you don’t go into garish territory. Nothing spoils a look faster than trying to do too much. Avoid designs that are too “loud” or “busy.” Keep it simple. Find a pattern that consists of a small selection of prominent colors, such as an array of sunflowers, against a dark background. You can also consider a design that pairs flowers with bees or butterflies, both of which are striking insects in there own way and have a deep connection with flowers.

Another way to spice up your look with flora is by wearing flowers, themselves. Wearing flowers in your hair has a sort of whimsical and mystical feeling to it that it sure to make for a memorable look. You can also along the top of a tube top dress to create a floral border along the chest. There are a number of ways to incorporate flowers into your look, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Fortune favors the bold, as they say. And, whatever floral needs you may have, 1800Flowers can help you build your new look.

Big Win for Human Heart Nature's Anna Meloto-Wilk!

From its humble beginnings as a fledgling social enterprise, Human Heart Nature continues to grow by leaps and bounds - and rake in awards and recognitions along the way. Earlier this month, Human Heart Nature achieved another milestone as its president and co-founder Anna Meloto-Wilk has been named as the winner of the Global Beauty Industry Woman of the Year Award.

Anna Meloto-Wilk.

The Global Beauty Industry Woman of the Year Award honors female beauty industry professionals whose pioneering spirit, leadership and mentorship is shaping the future of the cosmetics and personal care industry. This award is given by Cosmetics Design, a London-based beauty industry publication led by award-winning journalists.

Winner of the 2017 Beauty Industry Awards!

Over 250 companies joined the inaugural Beauty Industry Awards, with Anna Meloto-Wilk competing against Sarah Champman, founder of Sarah Champan's Skinesis, and Nanette de Gaspé Beaubien, CEO of Nannette de Gaspé Beauté.

“When we started Human Nature, I never imagined that we would one day be noticed by Europe’s beauty industry giants! Since the beginning, our incredibly hard working little team just tried to stick to what we believed was right – loving the Philippines through our ingredients, loving the poor as a social enterprise and making safe, natural products affordable for ordinary Filipinos,” shares Anna.

“This award is proof that ‘Made in the Philippines’ can truly be just as good as ‘Made in France’ or ‘Made in the UK’ and I hope it will encourage other Filipinas to never give up on our country and our talented, heroic people.”

At present, Human Heart Nature is the first and only Southeast Asian beauty and personal care brand with products certified by the US Natural Products Association (NPA). It also holds the distinction of having the highest number of NPA-certified products in the world. Human Heart Nature is also the first Filipino cosmetic brand certified cruelty-free by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Congratulations, Anna! And more power to Human Heart Nature! :)

To know more about Human Heart Nature and their advocacies, visit their official website.