(This is a very delayed post.) If you have read my previous post, I spent 10 days in Korea on a study trip and really really enjoyed my time there. It didn't really feel like a study trip though. It felt like I was on a holiday with friends hahaha. Anyway, during the trip, I got very close to four lovely girls: Valencia (my roomie), Clare, Constance and Isabelle. We can get angsty or restless at times, but at the end of the day, we were really happy with each other and the trip. I miss korea so much :(
On Day 7, after visiting the Korean Film Archive and Korean Academy of Film Arts, we were given the chance to go to Hongdae Shopping Street. The first thing that came to our minds were... STYLE NANDA and 3CE. So we immediately went there first. It was quite deep inside Hongdae but with the help of Valencia, we managed to find it. The clothes were so expensive so I didn't buy anything. I bought a lip lacquer from 3CE because to be honest, there are so many other cosmetic brands with prices that are so much cheaper, but I wanted to give 3CE a go.
On Day 8, after visiting Chung Ang University (best university for media in Korea), we were allowed to go to Shin Chon University Street for shopping. We were really excited but sad because Valencia and I didn't bring enough money for shopping. But anyway, still bought many stuff from there because it was so easy to find decent clothing (better than bugis) for only 5000 or 10000 won which is about SGD$6 and $12. How awesome is that??
So after these two days, these are the stuff that I bought:
On Day 9, it was the shopping street we were looking forward to the most even before the trip: Myeongdong!!! I got so much stuff from there I swear. Every alley, there will be like at least 5 cosmetic stores. I love how cheap the cosmetics are in Korea. The only thing I hate about Myeongdong is that the promoters tend to go overboard and pull customers in. Like, they literally pull. I find it really rude but I guess sales competition is really high there that's why they tend to resort to these tactics.
Anyway, after all the shopping, this is the final picture of everything I bought! Including snacks and merchandise!
For cosmetics only:
The Koreans are really generous with their samples and sachets!
Skincare products
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Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off - about 6000-8000 won
Nature Republic Hawaiian Fresh Clay Pack (mask) - 10000 won
Tony Moly Blackhead Steam Balm - 8800 won
Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack - 2 for 12000 won
The Face Shop the Smim eye cream - 33000 won
Nature Republic Original Power Refirming Ampoule (serum) - 9900 won (amazing price)
The Face Shop Green Tea Serum - 12900 won
Second row from left:
Etude House Pearl Sheet Mask and Etude House Aloe Sheet Mask - 9500 won (20 sheets)
Sheet masks samples - free
Etude House Rice Ceramide set includes toner, emulsion and cream - 13700 won
The prices for Etude House prices are really awesome, they are super affordable!
Make-up products
First row from left:
Etude House eyebrow pencil in brown - 4000 won
Etude House pencil eyeliner in brown - 4000 won
Etude House pencil eyeliner in black - 4000 won
Etude House lipliner in dark red - 2000 won
Etude House lipliner in red - 2000 won
Etude House Mascara for curl - 4000 won
Aritaum Full Cover Concealer Stick - 7000 won
Aritaum Full Cover Concealer Cream - 6000 won
Skinfood Aloe BB cream - 12000 won
Skinfood Black Egg Pore Gel Base - 7000 won
Nature Republic Aloe Vera Moisture Mist - 5600 won
Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura Make-up Mist - about 8000 won
Second row from left:
Too Cool For School BB cream Travel Size - 4000 won
Tony Moly Eye primers - 3000 won each
Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bars - about 4000 won each
The Face Shop My Lips Eat Cherry Aqua Tint in Juicy Red - about 4000 won
Etude House Dear My Enamel Gloss - about 5000 won
3CE Lip Lacquer Dahlia - 18900 won
3CE Lip Lacquer Desert Flower - 18900 won
Nature Republic By Flower Essence - about 5000 won
Nature Republic Hawaiian Fresh Pore Pact SPF 25 PA++ - 8800 won
That's all for cosmetics!
My top 5 buys would be:
Aritaum Concealer Cream, simply because the coverage is really really good. Its really full coverage in a big tube.
Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura Make-up Mist because I don't think my skin could have survived without it during the trip. It not only sets the make-up, it hydrates the skin without ruining the make-up too.
Nature Republic Hawaiian Fresh Clay Pack because it just smells so good despite its weird colour and having clay in it. I haven't tried it but I hope I will not be disappointed!
Nature Republic Original Power Refirming Ampoule (serum) simply because of its price. 9900 won for a refirming serum is really awesome. I actually got this for my mom. But the price is really great and affordable for such a great product.
Lastly, all Etude House products are amazing because the price is super cheap! Look at all the make-up product prices! Especially when you have Etude House outlets in Singapore, you can really compare the prices.
However, I sort of regret getting the 3CE lip lacquers. I don't know. I really love the colours and all but the staying power is really bad. Like, it fades off in patches and at the end of the day it will look horrible. So, if you're a lazy person like me, I suggest you to purchase their matte lipsticks rather than their lip lacquer. For the price of 18900 won, it's really not worth to me. I really wish I could go back there and purchase their blood red matte lipstick instead of the lip lacquer :< but oh well.
Anyway, I was thinking if I should do a clothes haul for this trip but decided to do a beauty one first because it's Korea where cosmetics are like everywhere.
Really really miss Korea right now. Ladies, I really urge you to go Korea for shopping at least once.
Great places for shopping: Myeongdong, Hongdae, ShinChon University Street (tons of cheap clothes and socks), Insadong (traditional stuff and souvenirs) and Dongdaemun which we couldn't go unfortunately.
I enjoyed writing this post, hope you enjoyed it too :)
Cheers,
Yun Rong ♔
