Life in Korea - Makeup Madness

The one thing I cannot stress enough of after living in Korea is the importance of beauty. I don't think many of the country understand how big of an issue beauty is in Korea. "In order" to be qualified for a job, many Koreans get plastic surgery and the most popular are the double eyelid and nose surgery. When applying for a job in Korea, a photo must be attached on the resume. That is how much they stress the importance of beauty. So where does that leave the rest of the world?

Many girls are always chasing the trend and always looking fashionable, wherever they go, no matter how cold it is outside. You can find girls in skirts, stockings, and heels on a cold winter snowy day. In addition to the dress code, makeup is a must. The concentrated area of makeup is the eyes and you can see that most Korean girls have eyelash extensions which is false individual lashes glued to your lash line to achieve a look of fuller and longer lashes. It definitely comes in handy when you are on a rush out of the door and saves on your daily makeup. 

In addition to having eyelash extensions, circle lenses is a big hit in Korea. Circle lenses are contact lenses which is an upgrade from color lenses from when I was in high school. Circle lenses are used by many Asian girls in order to have bigger, cuter, dolly eyes. In Korea, there are many different color, designs, and sizes for such contact lenses. I cannot deny the fact that I've been living in Korea so long that I've been using them daily as well. After moving back to America though, I have not thrown on a pair since I've landed. Still, it is something that is attractive every now and then for a night out, but it does put a bit of strain on the eyes. Although it is not recommended to be worn for more than six hours because of the size of the contact, many girls in Korea do it anyway. 

Makeup is also a big thing in Korea and there are hundreds of makeup stores in Korea. In fact, you can find two of the same store on one block. Makeup is that important in Korea! With so many choices and so many more stores that are still popping up, the makeup industry is continuing to grow. Cosmetics and beauty is not only important to women, but men in Korea as well. In fact, men sometimes spend more time getting ready than women. That explains their clear skin and why they are so fashionable here as well. 

Looking cute and fresh at all times is extremely important to Koreans. For this very reason, you will find mirrors everywhere in Korea. Train stations, elevators, hallways, and you will always find someone looking at themselves in the mirror. Guys usually fix their hair or check their outfit and girls are usually making sure their makeup is on point. When I say on point, I mean they will pull out a mirror in a coffee shop, restaurant, and on the train. It is not always a small pocket-sized mirror either. You will find girls with mirrors that they would use in the house. There is no shame in using a mirror that big or fixing your makeup in public.

For many, the extent of plastic surgery is considered necessary. In fact, with the Korean culture, many parents "gift" their daughters some kind of aesthetic purpose. I find it to be a shame when students as young as elementary schoolers are already talking the corrections that need to be done to their very own faces.

The culture does worry me from time to time, I know for sure since I have lived in Korea, there has been small changes that I have made to my daily makeup routine. My family has noticed the difference and labeled me as being "more Korean." There is no harm in that, but being aware and knowing how far it goes is extremely important for anyone living in Korea! Just be sure to look your best at all times because you will be judged. Luckily, Korea is a very fashionable place, accepting all sorts of styles which allows you to be as creative and unique as possible. 

Traditional Korean Eat - Sam Gyeop Sal (BBQ Pork)

Sam Gyeop Sal or Sam Gup Sal is a popular Korean type of BBQ, BBQ pork. The name comes from the literal meaning of three layered flesh because the fatty slices of pork belly shows three different layers. Thick, whole pieces of bacon-like meat is served raw for you to place on grill to cook. The grill differs from restaurant to restaurant which is usually a charcoal BBQ grill or on a simple metal pan. One thing to look out for is a place to drain out the fat and oils from the pork meat. Each restaurant has their own way of marinating the meat, but after whole pieces of the pork belly is cooked up, it is then cut into smaller slices to consume.

Like other kinds of BBQ meat, simply take a piece of meat, dunk into the pepper paste and enjoy. Many Koreans like to wrap it in a piece of green leafy vegetable (lettuce and or perilla leaf), add a raw or cooked piece of garlic, some cooked kimchi, and other random vegetables that are offered. In addition to the pepper paste, there is also other options of soy bean paste, and sesame oil (usually with a hint of black pepper and salt).

Nonetheless, Sam Gyeop Sal is one popular type of BBQ among locals and foreigners, especially with a bottle of soju, the traditional Korean way. You can of course enjoy Sam Gyeop Sal without the alcohol, especially with all different restaurants offering different ways to consume this popular pork. For the more popular and unique versions of Sam Gyeop Sal, the Jeju Black Boar is one thing that many Koreans crave. It is different in taste and texture, sometimes still cooked with the hairs of the boar. Without actually having to go to Jeju for this boar, it has been imported all across Korea; it just has to make it's way to America.

Anyone who is conscious of their health and do not want a slab of fatty pork, there are restaurants that cook up this meat with a separate layer to drain out the fat. There is surely an immense amount of fat that goes into Sam Gyeop Sal, but nonetheless there are plenty of ways to enjoy this traditional Korean eat.

Restaurant Review - Lombardi's Pizza

New York, NY 10012

Lombardi's Pizza 

32 Spring Street

(212)941-7994

http://www.firstpizza.com/

Lombardi's is a signature location being that it is the first pizzeria to open in NYC. Opened by an Italian immigrant who started the tradition of staple foods around the world, the restaurant has over 100 years of tradition since it first opened back in 1905. Unfortunately for that matter, the hype is only behind the fact that it is the first pizza restaurant which ultimately leads it to be the one tourist destination in Little Italy of Nolita. 

Known for their pizzas, it is a must order for anyone who fancies to try out the signature pizza. Being that Italian food is circled around a family tradition, Lombardi's Pizza bakes up a fresh humongous pie that is to be shared. The pizza is ordered to your liking, selecting your desired toppings. It is recommended to share the pizzas between a group, leaving room for the extra things on the menu. Although it is a limited menu, calzones are one of the favorites at Lombardi's Pizza for a stuffed filling that is jammed with melted cheese. 

For anyone going in a bigger group that fancies alcoholic beverages, the fresh sangria pitcher is probably the kicker of the night. There isn't much on the menu for drinks, but we can't say no to a pitcher of sangria! 

All in all, Lombardi's Pizza is honestly just a F-O-M-O. It is one of those things that you may regret not trying when you visited NYC, but there's not much to rave about there. Therefore, get it checked off that bucket list, but don't wait on a long line to do so because you might regret that one as well!

Hidden Treasures - Aux Epices

Aux Epices
121 Baxter Street
New York, NY 10013
(212)274-8585
http://auxepicesnyc.com/
Hours: 11AM to 10PM Daily

This hidden treasure is definitely a golden catch for amazing food along with great service. Located south of Chinatown, is it the one place that I can honestly recommend to anyone looking for good food and a good vibe. This small cozy restaurant is Malaysian infused French taken to a whole different level level. With a decent sized menu offering you all the good stuff from appetizers to desserts, this is the place to be.

One of the must orders, my personal favorite for starters is the extremely tender ribs that actually slides right off the bones. For anyone who is a clean eater and hates ribs for obvious reasons, this will definitely change the game for you. You will definitely be able to enjoy a nice rack of ribs, knowing you do not have to use your hand to eat! 

In addition to the ribs, the A La Plancha is another customer favorite with an amazing sauce that is perfect for a bread dip. Fish is the one recommendation for entrees which includes my all time favorite Ikan Panggang and the Tumeric Salmon, but of course there are a ton of other tasty dishes as well. The staff is always on point with their recommendations and will even offer the special lunch of the day which just might be Aux Epices' next upcoming dish to put on the menu. 

The one suggestion to make is to save room for dessert and order it ahead of time. Because desserts are made fresh and when ordered, the kitchen staff at Aux Epices must have sufficient time to prepare for it. Nonetheless, pastries and cakes are extremely fresh and hits the mark with it's French influences. The best part is probably it being served fresh and hot with the right touch of sweetness.

For bigger groups, be sure to make reservations ahead of time. With seating designed for pairs, the restaurant is able to cater roughly 25 guests at one time. The staff is extremely friendly in accommodating your every needs alongside a wonderful owner who actually interacts and eats with his guests. Providing superb customer service, you can feel good about every meal at Aux Epices. Within a second visit, the staff recognized me and soon lead me to become a weekly regular with the rib cravings and addiction to genuine customer service.

With a menu that is constantly updated and fresh new items, it is definitely a place that keeps you going back. Promoting a cafe, all hours of the day is a perfect time to visit Aux Epices for the amazing complements of food. 

Offering an online and call in delivery service, Aux Epices is one recommendation I stand by. It is the perfect place for a date night, girls night out, and even just a bonding session. With dim lighting and cozy seating, the atmosphere is just perfect for conversation without overpowering the table next to you. The friendly vibe allows for you to feed off of the positive energy that the staff fills the restaurant with.

My Current Obsession - Innisfree Eco Science Wrinkle Spot Essence Pro

One product that is a must rave is the Innisfree Eco Science Wrinkle Spot Essence (Pro with a vibrating head) for problematic wrinkles that are difficult to target. It is perfect for the eye area with circular motion to prevent wrinkles as well as decrease fine lines. Innisfree incorporates anti-wrinkle products into their cream and tops it off with a head that allows for extra vibration signals to concentrate on those problem areas. It is the perfect compliment of product and the mechanics to enhance beauty attributes for women of all ages. It is a kick starter to prevent wrinkles, yet also helps to reduce the fine lines that have developed over time.

For anyone who is busy on the go and wish for something that helps to reduce the time spent on wrinkles and such, the gentle vibrations cut the amount of time spent on caring for your problem areas. The micro vibrations are gentle on the skin and the smooth metal surface helps to glide the cream onto the skin without tugging too hard to cause even more wrinkles. This can definitely happen with those who are pulling on the skin too hard which causes problems rather than fixing any. 

If you are on a budget and trying to get more bang for your buck, definitely go with the regular spot essence. It is the same exact solution minus the metal vibrating head. In order to maximize the use of the vibrating head for it's price which is priced the same as the regular eco science wrinkle spot essence in most places, you can simply refill the pro with the cream and extend the value of your dollar that much more. The smooth metal head is extremely gentle on the skin and will make you want to circle around the problem areas that much more. Be sure to use it on a clean face to reduce the number of bacteria build up. This is definitely one product that is to rave about and a genius idea for anyone who is just in need of time or is just that lazy!