K-pop idol fashion trends for spring 2019

From K-pop groups successfully breaking into the western markets to beauty companies expanding their shade ranges for inclusion, last year was a stand out moment for all things Hallyu. It’s only right for fashion to be next. Korean idols are claiming their seats at the fashion table. Whether it’s turning heads at fashion week or collaborating with designers, idols have proven that being fashionable is a priority in K-pop.

Spring 2019 is here showing confidence is going to be the key to this year. Our favorite idols are exploring new sounds and re imagining the most popular trends of the season.

Neon & Pastels

Apink 'Percent' album teaser

These two trends dominated past seasons individually. Neon covered every moment of fall 2018; street wear, statement pieces, shoes all took their shot. The trend was also an essential part of music video backdrops and costumes. Now, neon remains on trend with an emphasis on greens, pinks, and oranges.  

Pastels are complementing neon this season to refine how daunting the latter can be.

This year pantone color-schemes mix and match the two offering ideas for jaw-dropping, on-trend monochromatic looks. When it comes to spring 2019, monochrome is making a bold statement by including past trends.


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Earthy Neutrals

In contrast to neons and pastels, earth tones are taking over spring. It’s simple but captivating, going against the Spring’s expected vibrancy. Neutrals aren’t making the biggest splash on-screen, but they are popular off-screen. Earth tones are an alternative for the warm days ahead for those not quite ready or wanting to make such a bold statement.

Neckties

Neckties seem a bit old-fashioned, but they add structure to any trend. There’s something timeless about them. They can be small and paired with a brooch for western vibes or big vibrant to set off a retro look. Most would grab a light scarf of spring, but neckties shake up the traditional.

Puffed Shoulders

‘90s nostalgia took its reign in 2018, but the ‘80s are claiming this year. Shoulder pads are making a refined comeback. They’ve become a popular trend for giving an illusion for broader shoulders. The trend is taking night looks to a new level.  

Craft Work

Andy Warhol’s Pop Art revolution transformed the way fashion is perceived causing the movement to be an integral part of craft work. The trend’s unconventional take grabbed attention on the runway.  Since then, everyone from Yves Saint Laurent to Jeremy Scott and beyond reference pop art in their collections.

Craft work is versatile. Crochet and lace are cool, effortless ways the trend is worn. Its simpleness is ideal for spring’s mild temperatures. Woven accessories, threaded embroidery, and eye-popping accents are options for those not entirely committed to the trend. The best part about craft work is its never ending possibilities.

Print Overload

Prints are making their rounds this spring with no mercy. This season the trend is going beyond stripes, polka dots and animal prints. Abstract prints paired with plaid or checkered prints are popular with our favorite idols.

Mixing prints is the base the trend. Don’t be afraid to pair animal prints with stripes. The bolder the better. There is power in wearing mixed prints.

Suits

There is power in a well-tailored suit. But this season, suits aren’t center around being formal, they are deconstructed and relaxed. Sports jackets and blazers are mixed and matched with clean or distressed jeans, while slacks are given more edge with bright sweaters. Idols add a little razzle dazzle with prints, neons and last fall’s trend of sequins.


Also on KultScene: K-POP UNMUTED: MARCH 2019 ROUNDUP

Chic Accessories

Elegance, whimsical and retro are making quite the impression when it comes to accessories among idols. Gloves are a current styling favorites along with ’80s inspired headbands. Refined accessories are a great contrast to spring’s flamboyant trends.

Spring has endless trends and our favorite idols are dominating them on look at a time. What fashion trends are you excited to try this spring? Let us know what your favorite K-pop trend for spring in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Last minute K-pop idol makeup looks for Halloween

Spooky season is at its peak with Halloween just around the corner. Some have perfected their costumes from head to toes while others have thrown something together last minute. Others are hoping to save it all with makeup. If you’re still on the fence about what to be or how to take your look to the next level, these K-pop idol makeup looks will inspire you. These makeup looks are simple, terrifying, and entrancing with something for every kind of Halloweener. Whether you’re procrastinating or just looking for an extra umph for your costume, these idol makeup looks are sure to cast a spell this Halloween.

Sorceresses, Vampires and Witches

Twice, Red Velvet, and Puer Kim put their own spins on these classic Halloween looks.

Puer Kim’s Sorceress look is worthy of all envy. She takes on the darkness of Halloween with jet black hair, black eyeliner, black lipstick, and an attitude that would intimidate every trick-or-treater.

Tzuyu’s vampire makeup is dark and bold with her eye makeup being the focal point to the look. Her red smokey-eye is captivating with hint of black in the inner portion of the outer third of her eye. The contacts complete the wicked aura Tzuyu exudes.

The ladies of Red Velvet are innocent in their outfits for Peek-a-boo, however, the same innocence is greeted with underlying sinister motives. Witches are often seen with heavier makeup, but Red Velvet dawn rosy cheeks and variations of red lips for a minimal look. The softness of their makeup paired with dark hair would bewitch anyone into their schemes.  


Also on KultScene: 5 SUMMER K-POP IDOL FASHION TRENDS FOR FALL

Ghoulish Misfits

Sometimes we just don’t fit anywhere no matter how hard we try, but SHINee and CLC stand-out for all the right reasons.

“Married to the Music” Rocky Horror Picture-like theme kept fans anticipating throughout the music video. SHINee’s odd hairstyles coupled with bold eyeshadows and eyeliner create an unconventional take on the popular misfit.

CLC were everything misfits should be during their “Goblin” era. From Sorn’s deep purple lipstick to Sunghee’s smokey red eye, their fierce, grunge looks could cow anyone.

Retros and Throwbacks

Classic winged eyeliner and shades of pink and red lips come together to keep traditional pinup vibes in Girl’s Generation’s put 1950s themed “Lion Heart.” The makeup is dreamy and feminine but don’t let their looks full you. They are capable of taking down anyone who’s crossed them.  

If the ‘50s are not your cup of tea, EXID throw it back to the ‘90s with “Lady.” Crop tops, overalls and bucket hats were signature items for the decade. EXID bring it all together with bright pinks and oranges as the main colors for their looks. Soft smokey-eyes, light eyeliner, stained lips effortlessly bring back the joy of the era. After all, the ‘90s were all about accessories!

Sirens

Known for beauty and melodic voices that lure men to their deaths, and Sunmi’s interpretation of a Siren is gorgeous. The key point in Sunmi’s “Siren” is experimentation. Bright winged eyeliner, glitter eyeshadow and candy-apple red lips are features to note. Do not forget your scales as the final touch.


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Voodoo Dolls

VIXX prove being Voodoo dolls are terrifying yet intriguing. Their look is masculine with contour emphasizing their cheekbones and nude lip colors for their lips. The eyes are once again the focal point of this look. Heavy eyeliner is applied to the bottom lid while white contacts covered with a black X cover their eyes sending shivers down the spine of anyone they encounter.

Food Galore

Orange Caramel became sushi for “Catallena.” Their makeup was just as jaw-dropping as their concept. The ladies easily matched their eye makeup according to their outfits. Vibrant eyeshadows and polka dotted eyelashes were keys to their transformation.

What idol makeup looks are inspiring you this Halloween? Let us know your picks and thoughts in the comment section below. Be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

5 summer K-pop idol fashion trends for fall

blackpink

via Cosmopolitan Indonesia

Summer is ending and for some of us fall is in the air. Sweaters and scarves are slowly making their comebacks. If you’re like me, you’re not quite ready for summer vibes to end. Our favorite K-pop idols have served major looks this summer as they gracefully navigated between various concepts and trends. Their style is coveted by many fans across the world. Honestly, who wouldn’t want to replicate swagger that oozes power, innocence or something in between?

From fierce to playful, there’s a statement accessory for everyone. Idols are at the forefront of fashion and inspiring us to be the best versions of ourselves no matter the season. These summer trends perfectly transition into fall and are a hint for what’s to come.

Bright Colors

Neon was an essential color in comebacks for this summer. Vibrant and cool, the hue showcased dominance in music videos and added a little flair to airport fashion. For fall, neon gloves and boots are a great addition to any wardrobe.

shinee fall trends bright colors


Also on KultScene: K-POP UNMUTED: GOT7’S ‘PRESENT: YOU’

Oversized Sleeved Shirts

From airport fashion to variety shows, shirts with oversized sleeves have been a staple piece for our favorite idols. Their size makes them cozy without being too stuffy making for fall’s warm days and crisp evenings. If you want to add a twist to an oversized button-down with oversized sleeves, try tucking in half of the shirt for work-ready chicness while remaining casual. This trends duality in masculinity and femininity makes it a fall essential.

Yuqi g idle fall trends

Bold Thigh-Highs

Thigh-highs are the last thing anyone would want to wear in the sweltering, blazing heat. However, female idols proved thigh-highs are an all-year-long staple. Red Velvet’s Seulgi and BlackPink’s Rose wore bold thigh-highs as the focus of their outfits. Rose’s floral booties and Seulgi’s bold blue made us green with envy as we watched them strut in confidence to beat of their songs.

red velvet fall trends

Sequins

Sequins have been a popular choice for idols this summer. BlackPink taught us unconventional ways sequins add edge to any outfit. Often perceived as feminine, sequins are the underdog in fashion. From shorts and rompers to crops and boots, idols show sequins can take the average girls night out outfit to new heights.

blackpink sequins fall trends

 


Also on KultScene: 10 SONGS TO GET YOU READY FOR DPR’S ‘CTYL 2018′ WORLD TOUR

Statement Jewelry

From Mamamoo’s Moonbyul’s squared royal blue earrings to G(I-DLE)’s Soojin’s oversized pearl necklace, statement pieces were all the rage this summer. They added a bit of quirkiness to the sweetest outfits. However, pairing different earrings together with your fall look will turn heads. Whether you buy a pair of hooped earrings at Adina’s Jewels or an old pair from a thrift store, earrings are in this season! Mismatched earrings provide a subtle fierceness. DIA’s Somyi captivated fans with her odd pairing of earrings.

moonbyul mamamoo fall trends

What are some fashion trends heading into to fall with you? Let us know your picks and thoughts in the comment section below. Be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

K-Beauty Review: Bomibox Subscription Box

A few months ago, we had a giveaway that featured a Bomibox and the K-beauty subscription box company was so sweet to offer one to Kultscene for a review. So here we are!

For this K-Beauty Review, I tried out Bomibox’s February box and not a more recent one. Why? I wanted to actually use the products properly before I gave my review, rather than just basing my opinion on one time use, so I took my time and slowly, slowly tried things out. (Sorry, I’m slow!)

Purpletale 5 Steps To Lovely Skin Complete Facial Solution

It includes a foam cleanser, an ampoule to layer underneath a sheet mask, a face cream and a separate neck cream. Seriously, it sounds absolutely wonderful. I tried them all one recent night after waiting months for a night of R&R to try, and here were my thoughts: The cleanser was a bit harsh, which foam cleansers in general are. I prefer powder cleansers in general, but it definitely cleaned away all the dirt and makeup of the day. The ampoule, which kind of smelled like those blow-up balloons in a tube that I used to love as a kid, definitely refreshed my skin. But prior to applying the mask, it didn’t seem like my face had really recovered from the harshness of the cleanser, which made me think that if I were to ever use the cleanser and ampoule as regular products, I’d have to include a mask nightly to ensure that my skin feels as pliant as I prefer.

Speaking of the mask, it was an interesting gel mask that was as thin as a typical cotton sheet mask so I was actually quite surprised when I put it on. I struggled with laying the two separate parts together, which really shouldn’t be a struggle considering that I’ve been masking for years. But I pretty much had to choose whether I wanted to join the two masks together on my cheeks by pulling the top half down and the bottom part up, losing moisture by my eyes and chin areas. I chose not to do that, so there was a gap on both my cheeks, which was odd. The moisture was great, though, so maybe my face is just too big or something for this particular mask. The face and neck cream were great sealants, and I’d definitely suggest them because I really enjoy heavy moisturizers like these for occasional use (see below). Neither were sticky, which was nice, though I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between the pair…
Overall: Good for a one-pack travel set, but I don’t think I’ll buy it again anytime soon because I struggled with a few parts and didn’t love the intensity of the cleanser.

Skinfood Peach Sake Toner

I had seen this a few years ago and wanted to try it out but never did, so here was my chance. I decided to try it at night only while I used a tea tree toner in the morning, since I really like feeling refreshed before going to bed and the peach extract smell sounded like the perfect thing. The extract and rice sake are meant to minimize shine and the appearance of pores, and I didn’t really notice anything much aside from a pick me up of the scent and refreshing moisture. But in retrospect I also didn’t freak out about my pore size so much while using it, so I’m wondering if the one-two punch of a tea tree based toner with this one actually did minimize the appearance of my pores.
Overall: Finished the bottle and can’t wait to buy another! Even if it has no real affect on pores, it’s like a candy pick-me-up in a bottle format for my skin.

Secret Key Snow White Milky Pack

I don’t honestly understand why anyone would ever use this. I’ve used Secret Key creams before, and this one smelled and looked like caked on sunscreen. The pack didn’t really wash off once I used it, leaving white residue. Which I guess is supposed to whiten your skin? I stopped using it after one use because it just confused me…
Overall: I gave this to a friend who is into skin whitening, but it definitely wasn’t for me.

Labiotte Mini Wine Lip Tint in Rose Coral

Wine+color=love. ‘Nuf said.

Labiotte Mini Wine Lip Tint in Rose Coral

But actually. I’ve mentioned these lip tints before in KultScene articles, because they’re really great and filled with color. You need to reapply them pretty frequently, especially if you’re eating, but even if they fade away a bit they’re still really lovely.
Overall: Color is pretty and subtle with a dash of pop, but it’s a stain that doesn’t seem to last as long as some others. I’m fine with reapplying, but that’s a personal preference.

Missha Time Revolution Travel Kit

This contains travel size bottles of the fabled Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence and the Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule. I know that everyone loves the essence, and I even bought a larger bottle to really give it a chance… But I haven’t really seen any noticeable change in my skin. That said, I also haven’t diligently been using it because it feels a bit too light and I’ve been using a heavier serum to offset the weird state my skin is in due to humidity and too much AC from New York’s summer.

The Night Repair Serum is similarly nice but… Not really noticeable? I assumed it’d be more viscous. Would have to get a bigger bottle to really see if it has any effects.
Overall: I’m still using the essence and like the feel of its rather light, watery consistency, so if I notice any changes I’ll update.

Skinfood Honey Lip Treatment

So… I was really excited because I used to use a honey bomb ampoule that was amazing (the Shara Shara one, it’s since been impossible to find) but this didn’t really smell or taste like honey. It was extremely sticky, but didn’t seem to moisturize my lips as much as I wanted. Unlike a normal lip balm, it seem to just coat my lips rather than actual moisten them. It was kind of weird… I tried it out for a while but eventually threw it away…
Overall: Not the best. Doesn’t really seem to rehydrate lips as much as just sit atop of it like sticky honey.

Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Mask

I really liked the honey theme, but this one, unlike the lip treatment, actually smelled like honey. Like, ready to dip the apple in the honey. It was a pretty basic cotton sheet mask otherwise.
Overall: Pleasant scent, pretty average viscosity and moisturizing effect. If I saw it, I would probably buy it because it left my skin feeling supple.

Polotam Water Gel Extra Force Brightening Mask

Honestly, I used this and it was like every other sheet mask out there. I didn’t notice any brightening, but it was nice as a moisturizing mask.
Overall: Basic brightening sheet mask. Not much else to say.

Sample: Polotam Deep Moist Cream

I actually took this one with me overnight and it was really nice and thick. I love the smell of it and the there’s a variety of botanical extracts including oak tree sap, rosemary, lavender, and eucalyptus to help hydrate, calm, and brighten the skin. I usually use gel moisturizers, but I could see this being ideal for the middle of a frigid New York City winter.
Overall: I may invest in a full-size of this in winter, but it’s honestly simply too dense for the summer in New York City.

Overall: Definitely a fun subscription box to try out, and I really enjoyed being able to try out a few things. The Skinfood toner is now one of my faves because of this box, but there are a few things that I felt I could either do without or didn’t really notice their impact. I also would prefer to see less of the brands I’ve already heard a lot about (Skinfood, Missha) but that said I really did enjoy getting a chance to try out some products that I thought I was familiar with but haven’t really given a shot to in the past.

The sample item was provided by Bomibox, but all reviews are based on the tester’s individual opinions. Email [email protected] for more details relating to sponsoring products and posts.

Have you tried, or do you want to try, any of the products that I received in this Bomibox? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

K-Beauty Review: Son & Park Beauty Water

Few K-beauty products are as hyped about as Son & Park’s Beauty Water. The clear toner in a sleek bottle has been touted as a magical toner, or cleansing water, that cleanses, soothes, and freshens the skin. The self-proclaimed “smart cleansing liquid” claims to exfoliate and moisturize skin at once, and make people “instantly feel how young and healthy your skin is.” The Son & Park Beauty Water contains extracts from orange fruit, papaya, willow bark, lavender, rose, bergamot, olive oil, and other naturally hydrating, brightening, and cleansing sources.

It’s a pretty straightforward product, as it’s essentially a really well-marketed toner with a key difference: toners typically balance pH that gets stripped from skin while cleansing while beauty water is more about refreshing the skin overall. The Son & Park Beauty Water is meant to help tidy up your face by refreshing your skin in one easy step rather than keeping around both a toner and an exfoliant. It styles itself as a primer of sorts for other products, and it does seem to help soothe the skin so that it is more absorbent.


Also on Kultscene: K-Beauty Review: Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

Pros

I really like the simplicity of it. The bottle is aesthetically pleasing, very modern looking, and clean cut. The actual solution itself is clear. It looks like water, and has a subtle, minty-citrusy scent. Pour a tiny bit onto a cotton pad, wipe it over your skin, and it actually lives up to it’s claims. Not that the Beauty Water is magical or anything, but my skin did feel smoother and more supple once I used it. I also noticed visible reduction in redness. (There was a bit of tingling the first time I tried it, but the second time I didn’t notice anything).

I decided to try it out to remove makeup, since people rave about the Beauty Water’s ability to remove grime with a single swipe. I wasn’t brave enough to try it out as a full cleanser, so put some lipstick and eyeshadows on my arm and did a quick eyeliner-mascara duo on one eye. And I was incredibly impressed. Not only did one little dab of the Beauty Water on a cotton pad clean the makeup on my arm, but it was also enough to clean my eye makeup. (Sorry– I accidentally deleted the photos!) Without any irritation or rubbing! As someone with major dry eyes, this is really important to me. I don’t think I’ve ever had a smoother all around cleanser. (That said, I’ve avoided micellar waters in the past and this has changed my mind for sure. If you have any favorites, leave a comment and I’ll check it out!)

Cons

I tend to use a witch hazel astringent as my toner, which is definitely stronger than this. The Beauty Water did exactly what it said, but I really like something that would make my face feel not only cleansed and smoothed, but also balanced. I still felt a bit greasy after I used it mid-day as a refresher, which isn’t really ideal, but that’s part of the Beauty Water’s properties, since it’s purpose is to hydrate whereas witch hazel tends to dry.

It’s important to note that the Beauty Water is particularly expensive for K-beauty, and usually is sold for anywhere between $20-35 USD. (I got it as a courtesy from Style Korean, where it’s sold for about $33.50.) That’s definitely a negative, but at the same time each use requires very little product and it almost entirely is worth the hype so I understand why people are willing to shell that out and it’s something I’m going to enjoy incorporating into my routine.


Also on Kultscene: K-Beauty Review: Heimish All Clean Balm

Overall Thoughts

It’s a simple product and does what it says. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest the Son & Park Beauty Water as a primary toner for people with incredibly oily skin, since it doesn’t seem to really help reduce oiliness. But if you’re looking for a product that will clean your skin and make it immediately feel smoother and hydrated, this is for you.

Did you try Son & Park’s Beauty Water? What did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

The sample item was provided by Style Korean, but all reviews are based on the tester’s individual opinions. Email [email protected] for more details relating to sponsoring products and posts.

K-Beauty Review: Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

After months and months of hearing about Neogen’s Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine, it was only a matter of time before I tried out the cleansing pads myself. Aside from being a fan of just about anything wine, the idea of a dual exfoliant pad intrigued me so knew that I had to get my hand on the Neogen product as fast as I could. As someone who gets semi-regular facials, anything in between that will help maintain the luster sounds worthwhile to me. To be honest, when the package arrived from Style Korean with my Neogen product, I stared at it for a while wondering, “will this live up to the hype?”

With its ability to scrub away dead skin and, supposedly, clean and tighten up pores through its combination of resveratrol and the pads’s dual textures– one side features an exfoliating gauze and the other has a soft cotton pad– this is the holy grail of quick fix skincare. Resveratrol, which is found in grapes and therefore wine, is naturally fermented and allegedly helps repair damaged skin and prevents signs of aging. Oh, and did I mention lactic acid and glycolic acid also help as chemical exfoliants?

Essentially, the Gauze Peeling Wine pads were touted as heaven’s gift to K-beauty.


Also on Kultscene: K-Beauty Review: Heimish All Clean Balm

Pros of Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

Exfoliating side, step 1

Definitely a step up from the cleansing pads I used in high school, which was the last time I attempted to use one of these one-stop exfoliating pads. The dual-sided cushion made the experience doubly fun, since it made the simple swiping a two-step process and made it feel like I was scouring then refreshing my skin. There was also significant visible dirt and and dead skin on the pad, which made it feel like the pad was doing a great job cleansing my skin. After rinsing off the excess moisture, my skin felt immediately softer.

Cons of Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

Soft side, step 2.

Call it whatever you want, this isn’t a Gauze Peeling Wine but, rather, Gauze Peeling Grape Juice. That doesn’t mean it particularly smells bad, but the initial smell upon opening the lid of the container is sweet, much like wine’s shameful younger sibling drink. Also, just a warning, don’t get too invested in the scrubbing step because the pad is small but it is strong and will rub your skin raw.

Just a note, if you order from Style Korean, the products come directly from Korea so some items, including this one, do not have English directions. I didn’t realize that I had to wash off the excess moisture, and was extremely uncomfortable while writing the review with a sticky face and neck before I rectified my mistake.


Also on Kultscene: 2016 Gift Guide For Lovers of K-Pop, K-Drama, & K-Beauty

Overall Thoughts on Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine

I love the fact that this is a quick, simple pad that exfoliates both mechanically through the pad and chemically through its ingredients. After one use, my skin feels supple and tingly, which is my sign that surely something is happening. Did it live up to the hype? Well, I definitely felt the effect of the product and didn’t notice any irritation. Neogen’s Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine has definitely made me reconsider why I haven’t been using cleansing and exfoliating pads all along.

4.3

Did you try the Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine? What did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

The sample item was provided by Style Korean, but all reviews are based on the tester’s individual opinions. Email [email protected] for more details relating to sponsoring products and posts.

K-Beauty Review: Heimish All Clean Balm

After I forgot to replace my near-empty bottles of the oil cleanser and eye makeup remover and opened up my medicine cabinet to find them both with hardly a drop left, I figured it was time to try the Heimish All Clean Balm. I’ve had my eyes on Heimish’s products for a while now so I jumped at the chance to try it. As a member of the Tribe, nothing is more heimish to me than my mother’s comfort food and the smell of chicken soup so a brand using the name, an Yiddish and German word that means “homey” or “comforting” had a lot to live up to. Luckily, after two uses of the All Clean Balm, I definitely became sold on what Heimish describes as the “clean and comfortable beauty” balm.

The product is meant to be a delicate cleanser that removes every bit of makeup and impurity while being safe for sensitive skin. According to Style Korean, the All Clean Balm all that’s meant to stay is hydration and from what I’ve seen, that’s definitely true. I tried the product twice: first on my face after I got my eyes and foundation done at a makeup counter earlier in the day, and then again on my arm when I tested out its ability to clean lipstick. After scooping a small portion out and rubbing it over my face/arm, the Balm became an oil that appeared to liquidate my makeup relatively cleanly.


Also on Kultscene: 2016 Gift Guide For Lovers of K-Pop, K-Drama, & K-Beauty

Pros

The All Clean Balm lives up to its name. It feels and smells clean. It has a gentle eucalyptus scent that reminds me a bit of menthol, but without the tear-inducing overwhelming factor, and a white appearance that reminded me of a translucent bar of soap. In its tub, the product reminded me of coconut oil or shea butter, which makes sense because both are included on the ingredient.

I was able to use only a single scoop to cleanse my whole face, despite the relatively thick makeup I was wearing, so it seems like the small tub can go a long way. The Balm seemed to sooth some redness in my skin, and made quick work of removing the majority of my makeup. After rinsing it off and then using my normal cleansing powder, my face felt smooth and not at all greasy.

Cons

On my first use, I felt that the Heimish All Clean Balm didn’t actually remove all of my eye makeup. I didn’t want to rub too much, and I was concerned about getting it in my eyes when it doesn’t technically appear to be an eye-specific product (although I read review after review that said it was safe). I haven’t worn heavy enough makeup since my first trial to warrant using it again, but there was definitely residual mascara. I wear pretty dark mascara just about every day, and a good all-in-one makeup remover seems like a dream to me but I guess I’ll wait and see. The second test, on my arm, literally turned the color to a gelatinous puddle and after I wiped it off that patch of skin was clearly smoother than the surrounding area.


Also on Kultscene: Stephen Alain Ko talks K-beauty chemistry & why there’s no magical skincare recipes

Overall

The Heimish All Clean Balm offered a painless experience at trying a cleansing balm, something I’ve never tried before. The product’s refreshing texture and the crisp scent were a pleasure to put near my face, and I thought it did the job just as well as my previous cleansing oil did but with the bonus that it felt more moisturizing. This is probably something that I’ll be keeping within reach for a while.

4

Have you tried the Heimish All Clean Balm or any other cleansing balm? What did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

The sample item was provided by Style Korean, but all reviews are based on the tester’s individual opinions. Email [email protected] for more details relating to sponsoring products and posts.

KBS K-drama designer Minjung Lee helps bring characters to life [INTERVIEW]

Minjung Lee Kdrama designer interview

Fashion plays an important part in Korean films and K-dramas—from the Joseon era girls who are free to roam in boy’s clothing to the newly rich women obsessed with name brand items—clothing defines and transforms characters. There may be a reason that so many K-drama plots, both contemporary and historical, feature makeovers. Nothing visually symbolizes change and new confidence quite like new and more flattering clothing. Costume designers know that costumes have a lot to say. According to designer Minjung Lee, no one should take costuming for granted.

The outfits are an essential part of historical Korean dramas, contributing to both character development and cinematography. Historically accurate costumes help recreate eras so vividly that viewers feel temporarily transported in time. Those are the clues that Lee seeks to express when she envisions drama costumes.

Currently a visiting scholar at UC Davis, Lee worked as a costume designer for KBS Artsvision for 10 years. She focused on costume design because of her interest in the history of Korean clothing, but also because she was fascinated by the psychology of fashion.

“I really wanted to read someone’s mind, to understand why they wore what they did,” Lee told KultScene.


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This vision to see clothing as a reflection of personality helped Lee create costumes for characters in a range of KBS historical dramas. From the royal robes created for Kim So Eun in Empress Cheonchu: The Iron Empress to Kim Hyun Joong‘s Inspiring Generation wardrobe, Lee researched and created authentic designs that helped bring the characters to life.

Lee’s first experience creating a costume did not live up to her expectations. It happened in middle school, when her class was planning a costume parade. She knew what she wanted to be but the costume did not exist, so she had to make it.

“I wanted to be a tree but then I thought, how do you make a tree? I had to figure it out, to find out where there were fabric stores in Seoul. My mother didn’t even know. It was my first costume and it was not very good.”

The tree costume, fashioned from nylon tent material, may have disappointed her but that did not discourage Lee from studying fashion for her undergraduate degree then going on to pursue a master’s degree in Korean costume and a PhD in the aesthetics of dress at Seoul National University.

“My mother wanted me to be a doctor, but my talents fell somewhere between the scientific and artistic,” said Lee. “I Ioved to draw but was not talented enough to be an artist. Nothing looked like I wanted it to. Textiles seemed like a good way to combine the scientific and artistic.”

Her university studies included dyeing, printing, design, illustration, and marketing. Lee became so interested in the psychology of clothing that she briefly considered a career in psychology. Then she received her first costume request: The priest at the church she attended asked her to make him an authentic Gogoryeo era (37 BC–668 AD) costume, because he was studying martial arts.

Fulfilling that request was a challenge for Lee, as much of the dress history she studied in the past had focused on Western fashion. So she took a class in Korean dress history but there were few illustrations of what Goryeo era clothing actually looked like. Descriptions of Goryeo period clothing was mostly gathered from tomb paintings and the rare intact clothes displayed in museums were those worn by nobles. Rare Goryeo-era artifacts were mostly stored in North Korea, and while Lee attended school even scholarly access was limited.
There was no way to know what colors people wore, or what patterns tailors used. Despite the challenges Lee was determined.


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She contacted the costume department at KBS and asked to visit their storehouse to see costumes of that period. They agreed. “They could have rejected me but they let me look at the clothes in their warehouse.”

Exploring the KBS warehouse was so much fun Lee decided not to major in psychology but take a course in 10th century history. She eventually she became a costume designer at KBS Artsvision.

“After I got acquainted with the people at KBS I knew I had to become a costume designer,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about being a costume designer, no idea what was involved, but I knew I had to do it. I thought if I can interpret raw data into costumes, it will be perfect.”

Part of the motivation was the clothing, but also because Lee herself is a fan of Korean dramas. “I love every kind of TV,” she said. For a decade she worked on a variety of dramas, set in different centuries.

Once she starts working on a drama wardrobe, Lee says it is an all-consuming process and that she can think of nothing else. After she reads the script, Lee begins to research costumes of the period and create a wardrobe that best portrays the characters. She researches textiles and pays painstaking attention to the details–from hats to belts to jewelry– that make clothes seem authentic. Based on her research, she also has to create a budget and stay within it, oversee the production of all the drama’s clothes, manage fittings, and supervise alterations that might be required while filming. After the drama is over, the clothes must be collected and catalogued before storage.

Her roster of dramas includes Empress Cheonchu: The Iron Empress (2007), King Geunchogo: The King of Legend (2010), which she won an award for, The Princess’ Man (2011), Jeon Woo Chi (2013) and Inspiring Generation (2014).

Despite the rigorous research that goes into costume design, some historically accurate details may not be appreciated by a drama’s cast or crew. When Lee’s research led her to design clothing with sleeves that passed the fingertips, the crew was not pleased.

“The staff got mad at me because the sleeves dragged and ripped off, so I had to shorten them,” she said.“[And] sometimes the actors do not feel the clothes are flattering so they have to be altered.”

After years of designing costumes set further in the past, Minjung Lee designed clothes for the 20th century historical drama Inspiring Generation, set during the era of the Japanese Colonial Rule of Korea (1910 to 1945). “The clothes in such dramas are more realistic since they are well documented,” she said. “It makes it less of a challenge, but easier to replicate.”

Lee also hopes to design costumes for films, citing The Royal Tailor, starring Park Shin Hye, as an excellent example of faithful costume replication. “The costume designer was brilliant, one of the best. I actually made my dream come true by pursuing textiles, but I want to be a designer like her. That is my ideal.”

The costumer has written about dress aesthetics in the era represented in Inspiring Generation in her PhD dissertation, “Dress and Ideology during the 20th Century of Korea,” where she examined the clothes and ideology of that time. She presented a paper “Fashioning identity and Ideology in Inspiring Generation” for a Fashion in Fiction conference and recently also spoke about the era at a Fashion Institute of Technology conference in New York.

Minjung Lee is currently living in the U.S. and taking a sabbatical from her design work while serving as a visiting scholar at the University of California-Davis in the Textiles and Clothing/Women and Gender Studies departments. When she returns to Korea in February, she plans to write more about the significance of fashion. “Academia does not always respect dress,” she said. “They take dress for granted and fail to see it in the social context in which it originated.”

What do you think of Lee’s take on K-drama fashion? What’s your favorite historical drama fashion? Share your thoughts about this article in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

K-Beauty review: It’s Skin Dust Defense Bubble Mask

It's Skin Dust Defense Bubble Mask

While I’ve done plenty of masking in my time I had never seen a bubble mask before, so was completely taken back by my recent experience with the It’s Skin Defense Bubble Mask. According to the package, the Dust Defense Bubble Mask “protects and soothes skin from environmental damage, and offers deep hydration.” Which meant… That it was essentially a cleansing mask?

Since I’m such a masking expert, I rarely take the time to actually read directions but I happened to glance at the Bubble Mask’s guide to skin perfection and noticed that these directions were a bit different because of the mask’s nature. Most sheet masks that I’ve used are meant to be delivering moisture and/or some sort of treatment to your face through the serum. It turns out that this sort of mask, since it’s cleansing (even though it doesn’t seem to imply that from it’s description) you’re not supposed to take off and then pat in the remaining moisture. Nope, you’re supposed to wash it all off, since it’s bubbly and supposed to have made your face dust-free.

Pros

BUBBLES!!!!!!! It felt like a full on bubble bath for my face. So much foam!!! I may or may not have cupped all the suds in my hand after removing the mask and played with them for a minute.

Finding Nemo Bubbles


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Okay, it may be a bit juvenile, but here’s what happened. When I opened up the mask I had two surprises: First, it was black. Second, it was soapy. Feeling a bit confused, and wondering how much more sudsy it could possibly get, I put the mask on. Ten minutes later, I glanced in the mirror and laughed at myself. It was like a Snapchat filter! The previously black surface of the sheet mask was absolutely covered in the white foam.

All the bubbles!

Looking super attractive with bubbles all over my face. It was thicker than it looks in the picture.

Cons

I always remove my makeup with a double cleanse before I mask, and this was no different. The only difference came after I removed the mask, when I realized my face felt raw. Because the Dust Defense Bubble Mask is essentially covered in soap, it seemed like it just cleansed my face again. I had to do some serious moisturizing post-mask, which I’m not a fan of. If I ever get another, I’ll likely do it first thing in the morning, so I don’t have to remove my makeup and will just use it to replacy my morning cleanser.


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Overall

I like sheet masks because I can write an article while putting something good on my face. I really wanted to like the It’s Skin Dust Defense Bubble Mask because I live in New York City and I feel like it ideally would be able to help combat the pollutants. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll use it again because it really felt like a cleanser and I don’t need to scrub my face raw. But it was a fun experience, so I may try other bubble masks in the future and see if they don’t dry me out as much.

It's Skin Dust Defense Bubble Mask
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Have you ever tried a bubble mask? What did you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

This review was not sponsored by It’s Skin, but KultScene is always looking for affiliate and sponsors, particularly for product reviews. Email [email protected] for more details.