Review: Tony Moly Berry Lovely Girl Tip Concealer

Good morning everyone! It's a bright and sunny morning right now here in the Philippines and I really wanted to go out. I can't believe rainy season is already coming very fast. We are already experiencing rainy nights.

Anyway, I have been testing out a concealer that I got for a couple of months now. I just wanted to be sure that I have used it a lot before I do a review so I waited until I used up a lot ^_^

I am gonna review Tony Moly Berry Lovely Girl Tip Concealer in Shade #1.

I got this for around Php200 only so I am very happy with the price. It comes in a lipgloss like container and it has a doe foot applicator. 

Here is what it looks like on the skin when swatched...

After blending a little...

 How it looked like on my eyes without any brightening undereye powder on top of the concealer.

I LIKED THIS because:

- It is very affordable and available locally.

- Shade#1 is perfect for brightening my eyes. I can also use this to highlight my nose bridge coz it looks natural when blended.

- Coverage is buildable without any caking. I love that I can layer this product on my undereyes and it won't crease or cake.

- I can use this for touch ups too during the day. If my eye makeup smudges, I can just wipe it with a tissue and then apply this to make me look fresh again.

- I can even use this as an eyeshadow base. I don't know how it prevents my eyeshadow from creasing easily too. Even if it doesn't make my eye makeup stay put the whole day like an eyeshadow primer does, at least it helps my e/s adhere to my lids better on days I don't like to put up a fuss on my look.

- It doesn't settle on my lines even if my eye area are dry. My sister can even use this (she doesn't like putting anything on her undereye coz it settles on her fine lines) without any problem.

- You only need to use a small amount everyday. I have this for more than 3 months now and I still have a lot of products even if I use this everyday.

- It doesn't turn my undereyes blue! That's my problem with yellow-toned concealers, it makes me look bluish because I'm acidic but this doesn't oxidizes on me so I am so happy.

CONS:

- None!

- It might be too light for very dark circles coz this is not a thick and opaque concealer...but since I prefer brightening them than totally concealing, I don't mind it at all. It might just be a con for some.

OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5.

I super love this concealer! I think I found something that I can use for a long time. 

WILL YOU REPURCHASE? Definitely! I might check other Tony Moly concealers too coz I wanted to try a more opaque concealer for days that I really have dark circles to cover.

TIPS:

- It is better to use a small amount at first and just build up the coverage gradually.

-Using a blending brush like MAC 217 for applying this product creates an airbrushed effect.

- Always set with a powder to make it last a lot longer.

What about you? What's your HG concealer? And have you tried Korean brand concealers too?Let me know in the comment box below ^_^

Drama Review: Rooftop Prince

Hello everyone! A rainy afternoon to you all. This is kind of a long overdue review because this drama have ended last week and I was able to watch the English subbed version this Saturday. I just got busy with my dad getting injured during the race this weekend so I was unable to post until now.

Anyway, let's go back to the purpose of this post. I am gonna share my thoughts about the Korean drama Rooftop Prince.

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Comedy, Historical 

Episodes: 20

Air Time: Wednesday, Thursday

Broadcasting Network: SBS

Broadcasting Period: March 21 - May 24, 2012

Casts:

Park Yoochun as Prince Lee Gak / Yong Tae Yong

Han Ji Min as Park Ha / Bu Young

Jung Yoo Mi as Hong Se Na / Princess Hwa Young

Lee Tae Sung as Yong Tae Mu / Moo Chang

Lee Min Ho as Song Man Bo

Jung Suk Won as Woo Yong Sool

Choi Woo Shik as Do Chi San

Summary:

This is a time-travel drama which also involves reincarnations.

Joseon Era (18th Century) - Crown Prince Lee Gak lost his Crown Princess Hwa Young and he believes that she was murdered.  He gathered 3 warriors (Song Man Bo, Woo Yong Sool, Do Chi San) to help him investigate the case. During the investigation, they were hunted by a group of bandits and ended up disappearing.

Seoul (2012) - The Prince and his 3 warriors appeared on the rooftop apartment of Park Ha. After they realized that they jumped 300 years to the future, they concluded that they were sent there so that they can investigate the death of the Princess. They attached themselves to Park Ha because they don't know anyone except her since she's the first person they met and she is very nice.

Park Ha grew up in the US because she was adopted after she lost her memory due to an accident when she was only 9 years old. She came back to South Korea because she found her biological father after searching for a long time. She reunited with her dad's 2nd family but her step sister Se Na didn't like her at all.  She took care of the 4 strangers that appeared on her rooftop apartment and thought them how to survive the present. They became great friends and she believed that they came from the Joseon Era.

MY THOUGHTS on the drama Rooftop Prince:

I watched this because of two reasons: (1) The main character is played by Mickey Yoochun of JYJ and (2) it is a romantic comedy. I really loved Mickey because aside from being a great singer, he is also a great actor. He already have won awards for some of his dramas but my favorite would be Sungkyukwan Scandal and he played a noble of the Joseon era too...He was so good there and I really believed that he would do great in this new drama...and I'm not disappointed :)

This drama made me laugh, cry and fall in love with the characters all throughout. It never had a dull moment and I love the writer and director for that. Everything is well written and well executed. The comedy parts are not awkward because it feels so natural. I believe Mickey is meant to play this kind of roles.

I also commend how the love between the two lead character Lee Gak and Park Ha evolved from irritation to being actually in love with each other. There's no such thing as love at first sight in here which made it really realistic. And as an audience, it made me feel the emotions more when they finally realized that they will get separated anytime because of their situation. 

The distribution of scenes and the character development are also superb. Each of them have their own moment to shine. I specifically love the Joseon Power Rangers (that's what the fans call them hehe) because those three warriors are so fun to watch while they are trying to adapt in this new world. 

Here's a clip of their first day in the year 2012...you can watch it in Youtube with English sub...just click CC and choose the language ^_^

*SPOILERS alert!*

The ending...I don't know what to say. It is sad but funny at the same time. I guess it gives a complicated feeling but since it was done great, I did not get put off by the ending.

I am sad that Lee Gak and Park Ha can't be together because they are living 300 years apart but I still hoped it is possible. I love that they got "married" before Lee Gak disappeared and went back to Joseon because it made their relationship's ending beautiful. 

I cried during this scene because just after this kiss, Lee Gak started to disappear and Park Ha was left alone with no other memories like pictures coz those disappeared too :(

Prince Lee Gak ended up alone because he stayed in love with Park Ha...he also learned that Bu Young loves him but they can't stay together because she's dead.... while Park Ha ended up with Yong Tae Yong who got revived from being in a coma (I guessed this because their meeting is the last scene).. I guess it is still a realistic ending...

But I laughed during the scenes when the 4 Joseon Power Rangers got back to their era and they learned that even though they lived a long time in the future, they were just missing for one day in their time.My favorite part is when the three warriors brought with them things from the future like mp3 players, beer and candies. I actually laughed that after solving the murder case, the three warriors set up a small cafeteria that sells omurice only. They still love the omurice made by Park Ha and they eat it whenever they miss her ...and they used their knowledge too to earn money at the same time ^_^ 

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5 -

I still can't get over the fact that they didn't get to stay together hehe

WILL I RECOMMEND THIS? Definitely! This is the best Korean drama for the 1st half of 2012. Also, after watching this, definitely check out Sungkyukwan Scandal too if you haven't watched that yet.

Thank you for dropping by! Until my next review ^_^

Drama Review: Fashion King

Happy Friday everyone! 

Fashion King has already finished airing this week and it's time to make a review on this drama :)

Genre: Drama, Romance

Episodes: 20

Time Slot: Monday-Tuesday

Broadcasting Network: SBS

Airing Period: March 19 - May 22, 2012

Main Characters:

Yoo Ah In as Kang Young Gul

Shin Se Kyung as Lee Ga Young

Lee Je Hoon as Jung Jae Hyuk

Kwon Yuri as Choi An Na

Summary: The story evolves around the life of these four young people in the fashion industry.

Kang Young Gul started as a vendor in Dongdaemun market but has a natural talent for designing. He doesn't have any dreams for his future until he met Lee Ga Young.

Lee Ga Young comes from a rich family and her mother is involved in fashion designing but she was orphaned at a young age when her parents died in an accident and all their riches were claimed by one of her mom's employee. She grew up dreaming of becoming a famous fashion designer and since she have a natural talent, she was able to get a full scholarship for New York Fashion School.

Jung Jae Hyuk is a second generation owner of a fashion enterprise. He is the only son of a business magnate and he struggles to make a name for himself in this industry because of his parents' high expectation. He is in love with his ex-girlfriend Choi An Na  but suddenly losses interest in her when he met Lee Ga Young.

Choi Anna is a fashion designer who started from the bottom as a clerk in a boutique and she was able to climb up the ladder and was able to work under a very famous Italian designer in New York. She was in love with Jung Jae Hyuk but their love story was prohibited by Jae Hyuk's parents.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS DRAMA

- The actors and actresses are great. Even Yuri who is a newbie in the acting world had done justice to her role. They were able to portray the emotions of each characters perfectly that if they cry, I cry too.

- I won't deny it, but I'm a fan of Yoo Ah In since I've watched him in Sungkyukwan Scandal. I really watched this because of him and I was not disappointed with his acting. I just don't like his role in this drama.

- I really loved the complexity of the story and that you can't predict what the ending will be. This is also a new one for me coz this is the first time I watched something that evolves in fashion.

- I love the outfits hehe. It makes me want to go to Dongdaemun to shop clothes and shoes ^_^

*warning: spoilers alert!*

WHAT I HATE ABOUT THIS DRAMA

- Okay, I really hated this drama starting the 17th episode. I actually did not watch episode 17, 18 and 19 because I hated where it was going. And I think I made the right decision because when I watched the last episode, it just made me a little angry.

I don't know what the writer is thinking but why did he made a nonsense ending? I mean, the story started really good and I enjoyed every bit of it until the time wherein Young Gul and Ga Young started dating. I can't believe the nerve of Young Gul and the stupidity of Ga Young.

- I also hated the repeated conflicts. It's like I'm watching a cycle of violence wherein it keeps on repeating endlessly:

Young Gul fights with Ga Young/Young Gul gets into trouble --> Ga Young goes to Jae Hyuk for help --> Jae Hyuk helps Ga Young --> Young Gul becomes okay and orders Ga Young to leave Jae Hyuk --> Ga Young hurts Jae Hyuk and leaves him in the air to come back to Young Gul --> repeat.

See? This happened around 5x? throughout the drama. I actually got tired seeing Jae Hyuk getting used and getting hurt...I don't like Young Gul too coz he's very overbearing and always gets Ga Young into trouble. I also hated the fact that Ga Young doesn't have a spine and always follow Young Gul even if it's wrong. She doesn't have a voice and will. I actually liked Anna's character more because she knows what she wants and stands up for it.

And the ending, what the heck?! Young Gul was killed and that's it? He lived a very hard life since he was abandoned by his parents and he dies alone and hurting still? What kind of a lead character is that? I had hoped that the story would be like a Cinderella type story and he will become rich and successful and will live happily ever after. I just didn't expect that he will become so cocky and overbearing once he got famous and then will get bankrupt and killed. He even left Ga Young hanging 2x and he still has the guts to say he love her? I don't think so.

The only happy ending among the 4 main character is Anna who reached her goal to become acknowledged as a fashion designer. Well, I guess Jae Hyuk is happy too coz he was able to get Ga Young to come with him to New York and they became a couple. 

OVER-ALL RATING:

Acting-wise: 5/5

Storyline: 2/5 - Just because it got boring and irritating towards the ending. 

WILL YOU RECOMMEND THIS DRAMA? If you want to see fashionable clothing, then yes, watch this. If you are a fan of SNSD and would love to see Yuri acting for the first time, then watch this because she did great. If you are looking for a heavy drama that will make you cry, yes, watch this coz the actors are great and you will definitely feel the emotions. BUT if you are like me who likes happy ending, then no, skip this film. It is not a happily-ever-after type.

What about you? Have you finished watching this too? What can you say about it? Did you like it or hate it? Share your answers in the comment section below! I would love to know what you're thinking ^_^

American Idol Finale Season 2011

May 24, 2012 - 8:00am (Philippine Time)

A very eventful date for all Filipinos because for the first time one of our own is competing for the title of American Idol Season 11. A lot of us are watching the live telecast here in our country. I myself is not a fan of American Idol but because of my dad, I woke up early just to see who will win.

Jessica Sanchez is a 16-year-old half-Filipino, half-Mexican girl with a very big voice. She almost got evicted from the show for Top 7 elimination night but was saved by the judges (they used the 1 save option per season) so she was able to participate in the competition and I'm glad she reached the Finals. She have proved to everyone in the world who follows American Idol that she has the talent and she can sing.

Finale Highlights: I really love the duet of Jessica and Jennifer Holliday...It's so great watching the original version of "And I am Telling You, I'm not going" and I am so proud that Jessica was able to perform beside her idol and she performed at par with Jennifer.

I can't find a video of that performance right now so I'll just show a link when Jessica sang this song during the Top 4 elimination round :) (I promise to upload another video once someone uploaded a footage on YT hehe)

I know deep in my heart that she won't be able to win the title even if she is a great singer because it is American Idol and a lot of Americans will vote. Asians are still a minority in that country and AI is a people's show and the results will always be based on what the people want. I know a lot have been disappointed with the result but I had expected it...although I still wished she won because she deserves it.It is still a title for a well known show.

BUT I know that a lot of music producers are rejoicing because Jessica Sanchez lost the competition. A lot of them are already showing interest of offering her singing contracts and are just waiting for the end of American Idol before they start convincing her. And I agree on one producer when he said, "Jessica Sanchez is too good for American Idol." I really believe we'll see more of her because she will release great songs in the future. Also, basing on the reputation of American Idol, I guess not being part of the winners is better for her. Just look at Adam Lambert as an example. He is the first runner up but he's more popular that the winner. A lot of the AI winners are not doing that good compared to the other finalist they competed against. 

So let's just take this loss as a great stepping stone for her coz she became famous and was able to showcase her talents all over the world and this will give her more opportunities for the future ^_^

What about you? Did you watched the Finale too? :)

Review: Etude House Petit Bijou Body Lotion

Hello! 

Do you love getting freebies with your purchases? I am! I love free items where I can try new things that I won't think of getting myself and then ends up loving it. Well, that is the reason why I love going to Korean beauty stores because a lot of them give out freebies (oh not everyone gives free samples here unlike when you go to Korea wherein all the stores give them out, but there are some ^_^) to try out.

This next product that I am reviewing is a sample I've been given last year. It just took me so long to do a review because I ended up reviewing other things instead. It is Etude House Petit Bijou Moisture Body Lotion in Cotton Snow. 

 It comes in cute white packaging with pastel-colored letters and pictures for babies. The product comes out like a white lotion and its consistency is like any other regular lotion.

According to this blog I read, Lotus Palace, she said that Petit Bijou Line is designed by Espoir Pink and is:

"The range is free of sulfates, parabens, soap, dyes and alcohol. It contains hyaluronic acid, milk protein and chamomile. The products are dermatologist tested." 

Check out her page to see the picture of the actual size of the product and the ingredients list. I only have a sample and there is no information on my tube so I can't tell you guys about it.

This line comes with a body wash, body lotion, intense moisturizing cream and edts ^_^

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS:

- I super love the scent! This Cotton Snow variant smells like a freshly bathed and powdered baby. I swear, after you applied this to your skin, you will definitely keep on smelling yourself :)

- The scent lingers for a couple of hours especially if you used the body wash that comes in the same scent.

- It is perfect for our weather because it is very light and non greasy. I can use it on very hot days and I will not experience feeling icky. 

- It gives just the right moisture for my skin type. 

- It comes with  a body wash and edt so you can definitely layer in the scent so it will last a lot longer.

- Available locally at all Etude House stores.

CONS:

- If you have very dry skin, I don't think this is enough moisture for you.

- If you hate powdery scents, you'll definitely hate this.

OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5. I can't think of one thing that I don't like about this product.

WILL I BUY THE FULL SIZE? Definitely! I will also buy a full size body wash and EDT hehe... I really love smelling like a baby plus it is meant to be for sensitive skin which is perfect for my skin asthma ^_^

What about you? Have you tried any other scent from this line? Which one would you suggest for me? Do share them in the comment section below!

Thank you for dropping by. Till my next post, bye! ^_^

Random Ramblings +

Hello! I woke up early today feeling energized so I took that as a good sign that everything will go well today for me :)

WARNING: Very long post ^_^

I'll start my rambling with a great news. My sister Mei (our bunso) became the face of the advertisement for the bank she is working at, the Philippine Business Bank. The company released full page advertisements on different major newspapers (e.g Inquirer and Philippine Star), Chinese newspapers (e.g. United Daily News, World News) and business papers (eg Business Mirror, Business World) nationwide. And being a proud ate, I wanted to share them with you all. Here's a shot I took from one of the newspaper I bought yesterday.

Isn't she pretty? My sister wanted to be a model and I'm so happy for her that she was able to achieve her goal even if it's just once. But I am still hoping she'll get a lot more opportunities like this for her in the future. Hopefully with pay haha ^_^

Another thing that I wanted to share with you is this:

When I got home the other day, I found these two cute puppies inside my Boston Terrier's cage.

And here's how our conversation went:

Me: Who owns the puppies? Why do we have puppies inside the cage with Kim?

My dad: Bigay ni Tito Edgar mo. Akin yung isa, tapos kay Inggo yung isa iuuwi sa probinsya. (They're from your Tito Edgar. One is mine and the other is Inggo's and he will bring it home with him in the province.). 

Me: Okay. But Pa, we already have a lot of dogs, so why did you accepted them?

Dad: I don't have a guard dog in the shop. I only have two left coz I don't count Nobody anymore. (Nobody is the name of our dog who got distemper. You can guess where his name came from - Yeah, the famous Wonder Girls song haha ^_^)

Me: They're still young. They shouldn't have been separated yet from their mom.

Dad: They're already 2 months and can eat. YOU should get the vet to give them vaccines.

Me: Nyah! I don't have extra money right now!

So to make the long story short, I lost the argument haha. I can't do anything about it anyway coz when my dad wants something, he'll get it regardless. And I lost again coz even if my dad says he owns the puppy, I'm still the one who will take care of it. 

But the funny thing is, yesterday when I bathed the two and brought them inside the living room to play with them, my dad saw that the one meant for his crew is very friendly so I told him that the other one is more sociable than ours. And guess what he told me..."Let's keep them both." Haha I knew he would say that after the puppy went after him and make "lambing" and everything. 

I am in love with these puppies too coz they are so adorable (well, except when they keep on crying when I place them back on their temporary cage - a very big dog carrier..the one for my Labradors) but I can't help thinking to myself, "You need to work harder. You need to earn more. You have a lot to feed once they grow bigger." Anyway, that's life and I take everything in stride coz God has plans for me ^_^

The third thing I wanted to share with you all which made my day today is...BIG BANG is coming here in the Philippines!!!!

Yay! I just saw an advertisement that Philippines is gonna be included in Big Bang's 2012 Asia Tour. I am so happy that I might smile the whole day hehe. I will definitely not miss this and I will start saving for the ticket starting next month. I think since according to the schedule we will be the second to the last country they will go, hmmm the concert will be held around the early last quarter of this year. I still have time ^_^

And the last thing I wanted to ramble about is the drama Fashion King.

Okay, I have said before in one of my post that I am watching this Monday-Tuesday drama right now. It is still ongoing so I can't make a review yet. I still don't know how many episodes this will air coz it doesn't seem like it will end anytime soon. It is now currently airing episode 18. 

Now, here's the thing. I so love all the actors and actresses. They are great in every aspect and can really show the emotion of the characters they are portraying even without any dialogue. BUT I am now getting tired of watching the 2 lead characters, Young Gul and Ga Young. Kang Young Gul who is played by Yoo Ah In is such a jerk and a pushover and only thinks about himself while Lee Ga Young who is portrayed by Shin Se Kyung is so timid and always follow whatever Young Gul wants. It is okay at first but it is already episode 17 and she's still doing that? I don't think someone can be that stupid and naive. I wanted her to be smarter and she should stand up on what she want and not just follow the man she is in love with. 

Okay ,so I'm ranting right now. I'm still on the fence if I will continue watching this drama or not. I really am just getting frustrated with the recurring drama in the show. I hated the cycle that they are practicing with the crisis and whatever. So, yeah.

To all my readers who have reached until this point, thank you so much for being patient. I know it is a very long one and it might not be interesting to a lot of you but thank you still for dropping by and checking out my rambling.

Have a nice day everyone! Bye! ^_^

Review: Etude House Skin Malgam Toner in Smoother

Hello everyone! I am back with another skin care product review and this time it is a toner from Etude House. I have already used up half the bottle of this product and I apply it 2x a day since I got it last March 2012.

Etude House had launched a new line of hypoallergenic skin toners called Skin Malgam. Malgam is a Korean word that means cleanliness, clarity and purity. This toners are meant to promote clean, clear and pure complexion with moisturizing and pore cleansing formulas. (info found on the box of the product)

This line of toners have 6 variants that will fit normal, dry and oily skin. They also have a moisturizing serum for all skin types under this hypoallergenic line.

I got the variant for oily, acne prone skin which is called Smoother. Skin Malgam Smoother is an exfoliation toner that contains alcohol for disinfecting the skin...or so the speaker at the Etude House event last month said hehe ^_^

 

 This bottle contains 250ml of product and it comes in an opaque plastic bottle.

You can click the picture to see the ingredients list but the first ingredient is water and the second is alcohol.

 Also on the box, it is stated that this toner can be used 4 ways:

1. As a regular toner

2. As spot treatment - you just put some product in a piece of cotton pad and place that on the problematic area and wait for 30 mins.

3. As a refreshing spray.

4. As a mask to be used once a week.

Of course, I was talked into about getting the mask tray so I can try if this will work great as a mask. 

 You just need to get one piece and put it on the tray. Pour around 15ml of product on the sheet. You will see that it will expand quickly like so.

You will then spread the mask sheet soaked with the product and put it on your face like so.

WARNING: scary! 

I suggest you avoid placing it around your eyes coz it might sting and dry the sensitive skin of your eyes. I got this based from experience.

Wait for 20 minutes before removing the mask. And here's the finish result.

I have not noticed any redness or irritation after the mask. I will discuss the effect on my review.

PROS:

- This is hypoallergenic.

- Cleanses very well. I really love toners that cleanses my skin thoroughly.

- Doesn't sting. Even though this contains alcohol, I have never experienced any stinging on my skin.

- The packaging is very nice. I love that it is not a brittle type of plastic and it doesn't spill if  bring it on trips.

- It helped in smoothing my skin. I have a lot of small bumps on my skin before I used this and it is now gone after 1 month of continuous use.

-  I believe it helps in controlling any breakouts because I did not get any acne or pimples even during my period.

- I love the fact that this line of toner can become essence mask too (the moisturizing variants)

- I love how my skin feels cleansed and refreshed after use.

- I like the scent too. Very very mild and fresh.

- Available on any Etude House store.

CONS:

- Can be a bit drying sometimes because of the alcohol content.

- Do not use the Smoother toner as a mask coz it is very drying especially around the eyes. My skin became wrinkled after I removed the mask sheet so I did not repeat it to test any effectiveness. I think it is better to use the moisturizing variant for mask use instead of this one.

- This is not suitable for someone with normal to dry skin. I have combination-oily skin and my cheeks became a drier with this. CHOOSE THE RIGHT VARIANT FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE.

OVER-ALL RATING: 4/5 - I love how this cleanses my face from dirt and oils that I accumulated throughout the day. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and primed for moisturizer.

WILL I REPURCHASE? I might try another variant to compare. I wanted the one for normal skin if it would work great on me too since I have combination-oily skin. But if I would not like it that much, I will repurchase this for night time use and the variant for normal skin during mornings :)

TIPS:

- Choose the best variant for your skin type.

- Don't forget to apply moisturizer after toning.

- Use just a small amount of product...just enough to wet a cotton pad and not soak it.

I am looking forward to getting the moisturizing serum under this line. I wanted to try it since I am oilier this summer and my current moisturizer is becoming too heavy for me now.

Thank you for dropping by! ^_^

Drama Review: K-pop Extreme Survival

Hello everyone! Okay, so remember my post about the new dramas I was watching? This drama is one of them and it has come to an end last week, sadly. 

Title: K-pop Extreme Survival / K-pop Ultimate Audition

Genre: Musical, comedy, cross-dressing

Episodes: Supposedly, this was meant to be 16 episodes but I don't know what happened that it ended at 14. That is the reason why I just did the review now and not last week coz I am  hoping that it will still have  16 episodes. 

Broadcast Network: Channel A

Broadcast Period: March 19 - May 1, 2012

Air Time: Monday - Tuesday @ 8pm

Synopsis: This is a story about Ji Seung Yeon (Go Eun Ah), a great pianist who wanted to do hip hop music. She is a tomboy and was able to join an audition to become a K-pop star. The catch? She needs to stay as a boy in order to stay in the audition because the winner of the event will be part of a famous all-male idol group, M2.

Kang Woo Hyun (Park Yoo Hwan) is the charismatic leader of M2. He hides his bad attitude and selfish personality from fans through his killer smiles and gestures. He is conflicted whether to stay in M2 or go solo because he doesn't like to be part of a group.

Kwon Ji Woo (Kwak Yong Hwan) is the best friend of Ji Seung Yeon. They grew up together and are very close. He is very shy and have a strong stage fright even though he is a very talented singer. He always depended on Ji Seung Yeon ever since they were children and that is one of the reason why Seung Yeon needed to stay in the competition until the end...to give strength to her best friend so he can reach his dream of becoming a singer.

And the other important roles in this drama are the M2 Junior members. This consist of 8 members including Ji Seung Yeon and Kwon Ji Woo.They are the contestants fighting for the spot in the M2 idol group.

You can check the complete info about this drama in D-Addicts. Just click here.

If you want to check this out and watch it with English subtitle, just click here. That is the site where I watch my Korean and Taiwanese dramas. I so love Kimchidramas,net hehe ^_^

If you want to check my initial impression on this drama, feel free to click on this link ^_^

Now, moving on to my actual review. 

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS DRAMA:

- It has a very light story line and has very few drama scenes. So it makes me feel good after watching an episode and I keep looking forward to the next one.

- It is comedy so there's a lot of  laughter and fun scenes. Even the "romantic" scenes between the two main characters is fun to watch.

- I think the casting team really did a great job in choosing these actors for the role. Everyone is great and they really portrayed their role very well.

- I love the soundtrack! My favorite is the one called "Stand Up". It is sang by the M2 Juniors and it has a great meaning and the melody is catchy. Check it out below. I chose a video that is English subbed so you can see the lyrics too ^_^

- The other supporting characters are great too. I can't believe that they were able to find great actors to be part of this drama. Even the idols like Kevin (ZE:A), Tagoon & Maeng Se Chang (BoM), and Kim Eun Jung (Jewelry) did great.

- The cast are either idols themselves or siblings of an idol so it is a great combination in my opinion because they are talented in the first place and they have personal experience of being/ or being related to a Kpop idol. They can really show the feelings and hardships of becoming an idol in the Kpop world. Very authentic information.

- There is character development with everyone. It is not just focused on the main characters. They allotted one episode per member of the M2 Junior, the administration and of course Woo Hyun and In Young.And after the series, as a viewer, I was able to get to know them all a lot better.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

- The ending is so bad! Since this is meant to be a 16 episode drama, I think they squeezed 3 episodes into 1. Episode 14 is so all over the place and it really feels rushed. I was unable to see any closure in the different conflicts that happened in episodes 12-13. 

There is no closure in:

1. How did the fans reacted when they knew Ji Seung Yeon is a girl?

2. Did the CEO and Team Leader Han ended up together?

3. What happened to M2 Junior members? Did they debuted?

4. What happened to Ji Seung Yeon's career?

5. What happened to Sunny Entertainment after the scandal?

There are a lot of unanswered questions because the ending, Episode 14, is  so rushed. I really don't get it why they needed to cut 2 episodes when it is already ending. If they really needed to cut 2 episodes off, they should have started compressing the story starting Episode 11 so that they can still finish with a complete story.

Aside from the ending, I love this series. I think acting wise, this is better than You're Beautiful. Although the two dramas are quite different, I just loved the fact that everyone here can act. Soundtrack wise, I like You're Beautiful better coz there's a lot more songs that I loved. So if you like YAB, check this out too coz you'll probably like this too ^_^

- I can't find  good English subbed videos. I think each episode was subbed only 83-90% unlike other Viki subbed videos that every part and dialogue has subtitle.

OVER-ALL RATING: 4/5 - If only the ending is right, I would have given this a higher rating. I really enjoyed watching this drama until Episode 13. Very fun and light and is really a feel-good drama. The characters have chemistry together and is really believable that they are a couple.

If you wanted something that is not full of crying and tragic problems, then I suggest you try checking this out.

Till my next post. Thank you for dropping by. Bye! ^_^

Review: Revlon Lip Butter

 Good morning guys! I know that Revlon Lip Butters have been around for a couple of months now and a lot have already reviewed this product and I'm super late already but since you can never have too much opinion about a certain product, I decided to still put up a review on this one ^_^

I only have 2 colors and I got it from a fellow Girltalker for a discounted price (I think I got it for Php350 each and it was only used 2x...so it's a great deal since lipsticks can be sanitized anyway). This sells for Php500+ in the mall :)

I am going to show you Lollipop because I don't have Candy Apple with me now. My sister loved it that she just carry it around in her kikay bag everyday hehe. I think I was just able to use it for a couple of times when she wanted to use a pink lipstick instead of a red one.

I have already used this a couple of times when I remembered to take a picture a month after I purchased it so it is only 90% full in this picture. BUT is it really just this small inside? I was kind of disappointed that it only contains a small amount of product inside and that's the reason why I did not purchase more.

The packaging is a pretty quilted design plastic lid and a silver base. The color of the plastic lid is almost the same shade as the lipstick inside and it also have a clear top wherein you can see what shade it is without opening. This made it very easy to find among a bunch of other lipsticks.


Here's a swatch on my lips. It is a little brighter in person because I think the lighting washed out  some of the color. And you also need to take into consideration that I have naturally pigmented lips so it affects the color too :)

And here it is when I used it in a tutorial before.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS:

- Very moisturizing for a lipstick.I have dry lips and this doesn't need any lipbalm base for me to be able to use it coz it is moisturizing enough for me.

-. Very pigmented and opaque. I can have a bright colored lips with just one swipe. Or for a more natural look, I can just dab it and blend with my finger.

- Cheaper than MAC and other higher end brands that gives the same color payoff. Sometimes I like this better than my Lancome ones.

- Smells good. I really hate lipsticks that smell like old makeup so this is a plus for me.

- Very user friendly. You don't need to open this up in order to see the color inside because you can just base it on the lid color and you can also see through the clear plastic on the top of the lid.

- Very nice on a vanity. You don't need to store this upside down like other lipsticks for you to be able to see the label. This is also perfect in lipstick organizers coz it has a stable base so it doesn't wobble.

- Available in all Revlon stores in any department stores.

- This line of Revlon Lip Butters contains a wide variety of shades from nudes to dark to bright. You can definitely find something you'll like.


WHAT I DON'T LIKE:

- It doesn't stay that long on my lips. Like any moisturizing lipsticks, this only stays for an hour or two depending if I am eating or drinking. SO frequent reapplication is a must.

- Can leave your lips patchy if you ate in between application so you need to check your lips every now and then so you can blend it again with your finger.

- I think P500 for something that only contains a small amount of product is a little con for me. This lipstick requires frequent reapplication and I can use the whole lipstick quite easily in that case. But I guess they still wanted to make this "affordable" so they just did that.

- This melts so easily. My lipstick always feels so soft when I tend to bring it along my trips. So DO NOT leave this inside the car!

- The case push up product on its own. I experienced that whenever I bring this around, the lipstick always go up until the lip even if I didn't twisted the base earlier. I don't know how it happens but maybe the base is a little loose.


OVER-ALL RATING: 4/5. I definitely love this! I now have an alternative for my favorite Lancome moisturizing lipstick.I love that I can just use this without worrying of my lips drying out. If it only fades prettily, I will definitely give this a higher rating ^_^

WILL YOU REPURCHASE? If I find a shade that I like, then I will buy again from this line ^_^


FINAL SAY: This is more of a moisturizing lipstick than a tinted lipbalm, in my opinion. Others may say otherwise but I think this lacks enough moisture to be called a lipbalm.

Girls, what's your favorite shade among the Revlon Lip Butters? DO share them in the comment box below so I can check it too!

Till my next post, bye! ^_^

Movie Review: The Avengers

Hello everyone! 

I'm back with a movie review. This is a very anticipated movie of the year because 1) It is a very famous comic book and 2) It contains a lot of famous super heroes. You might have watched this already but I was unable to watch it on its opening week because there's too many people in cinemas so I just waited for a good weekday to watch it with my bf who is a fan of this comic book.

I haven't read any kind of comic books like Marvel so I don't actually know anything about this film except for the things my bf told me...I just knew a couple of the main characters because they are famous like Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America. I technically watched this with no expectations whatsoever so my review will be based on how I've seen the movie by itself and not as a fan of the comic book series.

Here's a little synopsis by IMDB for this film:

"Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army."

 I LIKED THIS because:

- The special effects are so cool! I loved the war scene where the army of Loki was destroying Manhattan. Everything looks so real. I really wanted to watch it in 3D.

- The fact that I am familiar with a  couple of the characters is a plus coz I didn't get lost on who is who.

- Out of everyone in the Avengers team,  I really enjoyed watching Thor and Captain America again. I have this crush on these two coz they are so gorgeous and sexy. Definitely an eye-candy haha ^_^

*look at those muscles...I sound like a pervert haha sorry*

- For someone who doesn't know anything about the story, I did not have any problem with understanding the whole story so I guess even those who are not fans of the comic book will enjoy this film.

- I loved the sporadic humor in this film. I was able to laugh every now and then especially with the antics and dialogues of Iron Man and Hulk.

- The actors are all great. They really delivered every lines beautifully. Hats off to all of them even the extras.

CONS:

- Nothing! I love everything... I hope it will have a sequel ^_^

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5 - Definitely a must see movie! I can't wait to watch the individual films of these superheroes. I will probably watch Captain America first because of Chris Evans hehe. I will also re-watch Thor coz I was distracted when I watched it in the cinema with my little cousins so I didn't get to enjoy it. If you haven't seen this yet, I definitely encourage you to go buy a ticket at your favorite cinema and watch it with your friends. I really hope I watched in 3D to enjoy the CGI and special effects more hehe =)

Till next time, Bye! ^_~