Gmarket haul 15

I had a mini Gmarket Haul this week..............................after such a long long break.

Wanted to try the Sum37 Flawless Regenerating Line. It's the new luxury line from Sum37 launched in Aug 2012.
Gmarket had stopped all previous sample sales a few months ago, so samples were nowhere to be found. But they came back out a little while ago and so I went on a small spree.


Here's my mini haul:

Came in a smallish cardboard box. No dents this time. Gmarket seemed to have improved their cardboard boxes quality.



What's in the loot?
Hehe, couldn't resist some of the newly launched stuff like Sulwhasoo's Innerise complete serum.

Innerise corrects the skin's natural density, preventing ageing by beginning at its source. The anti-aging line will keep you looking young and refreshed. Notice small wrinkles on your face? Innerise line will rejuvenate your face (taken from sulwhasoo's website).
So are you intrigued  by the newly launched innerise serum?






Sulwhasoo's concentrated ginseng cream:

Small 5ml bottles and 2 sachets. Creamy and rich smell of ginseng... for my sister.







Restocked some Qi & Jin Eye cream:

Pretty heavy stuff. Best used at night. Sis likes the creamy heaviness of it and the strong herbal smell. It does have a pretty heavy herbal scent.





Sulwhasoo's Rejuvenating Eye cream from their basic line:

From the website:
"This age-defying eye cream revitalizes the delicate skin around the eyes, smoothing lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness with a potent blend of Korean medicinal herbs. Hydrating and smoothing, this anti-aging treatment restores radiance and vitality to the eye area. Green tea, pomegranate, and six-year-old Korean red ginseng fight free radical damage to prevent signs of age."





Sample packs of Sulwhasoo's infamous First Care Serum:

This is a must have on every korean woman's beauty table.
"Formulated to replenish essential moisture and nutrients and to boost the effect of every subsequent treatment. Milk-vetch, licorice, and dwarf lilyturf work synergistically to optimize the Korean herbal ingredients in the complete collection while deeply hydrating."
This serum has been reported to work wonders for any skin type and can be paired with any line/brand of skin care. It helps to regulate the skin to receive and absorb the rest of the skin care and that is why it is the first thing you put on after cleansing, even before your trusted toners.





Sum37 Flawless Regenerating Cream

Sum37 Flawless Regenerating Eye cream

Sum37 Flawless Regenerating Essence

The Flawless Regenerating Line is Sum37's new luxury line for anti aging launched in August this year. And it is the main reason why I had this haul. I am entering into the era where i am in desperate need for anti aging products.
The Flawless Regenerating line uses a special V.O complex which focuses on microbial fermentation of 5 beneficial microorganisms/bacteria which have been cultivated/fermented especially for the range of products. The line boasts skin improvement on tightening, clarity and transparency thereby promoting flawless skin with zero defects! The line aims to provide nutrition for the skin and improve moisturising capabilities.

The big regret, I was not able to get the accompanying toner and emulsion, which would have completed the set and satisfied my longing. I feel only half full .



Samples and freebies that came along with the mini haul:
Hera Homme multi BB................... for the boys

Wet tissue:

Snail sheet masks:

Sooryehan's Hyo Fermented cream sachets:

That's all for today, and i'll update on the Flawless Regenerating Line a few weeks down the road to see if it's any good on me.
I tested some the minute the haul arrived, and it seemed to be quite good, especially the cream. It is rich.

Remind me to update if I forget ;)

korean drama: full house 2

oh
No Min Woo drama!

yep that's right, currently started airing on 22nd october.

Just wanted to take a peek and found the trailer:



Er, No Min Woo looks entirely "plastic-ky" in the trailer, too fair, face too "hard" and "stiff".  Like too much botox or something

 Hwang Jung Eum looks T-errible! her hair is atrocious, and though she's supposed to be cute, i can't help it. She's just donwright crappy looking in the trailer. Her brows and hair, oh dear, i can't say anymore.

The only human looking thing in the trailer looks like its Park Ki Woong.


 Sigh, and i was so looking forward to watch this. Kinda lose my appetite after watching Hwang Jung Eum. I'll let the drama finish airing and give this a go anyway. I adored Full House season 1 with Rain and Song Hye Kyo. Let's see how season 2 will fare.
 However, it's already minus 50pts with Hwang Jung Eum's horrendous style in it.

Korean drama review: Haeundae lovers

I just finished watching Haeundae Lovers.......... and i got to say it's a cute and fluffy romantic comedy for those who enjoy cotton candy and teddy bears, which i do, and so i love the drama!

I enjoyed Kim Kang Woo's play in "Slingshot" and was looking forward to a new drama with him in it. Haeundae lovers fits the bill perfectly: a rom com with Chae Do Woo (Kim Kang Woo's character in Slingshot).


Starring:
Kim Kang Woo as NamHae, Lee/Yang Tae Sung

Yes yes that's right, he has three identities in the drama. Nam Hae, Lee Tae Sung and Yang Tae Sung.

I really loved him in "Slingshot" and majority of his dramas/movies so far has had him playing cold, aloof, steel-like characters with not much of a smile but a great body and intensely good looking.

In this drama, he made a 360 degree turn with a wacky and downright goofy character. At first, a cool and aloof prosecutor who is hated by people, he then loses his memory and turns into the cutest little NamHae who follows Jo Yeo Jung around like a little lamb.
Cute, real cute!

And in the drama, he throws away all that steel and ice image that he has been portraying over the years into this little adorable goofy. Check out some cuteness:

The "demon" hair while stranded in an island

Trying to wink seductively at Jo Yeo Jung

Playing little lamb with Jo Yeo Jung

Getting face acupuncture with cross eyes

Making faces and Jo Yeo Jung

Turning into ice in an ice room

Making kissy lips at Jo Yeo Jung

Trying to peek while Jo Yeo Jung baths

He is just the cutest little thing in the drama. Yep, and a big change from Chae Do Woo's psycopath character in Slingshot.
Gosh, I think the name Nam Hae is too cute.


Lead actress: Jo Yeo Jung as Go So Ra

Only watched her in "I need romance". I think she's really good here too. Makes a good pairing with Kim Kang Woo. Cute acting and pretty face.
Go So Ra is the daughter of a former gangster and lives to protect her 3 uncles and father with a mental ability of a 6-year-old. Her family hates prosecutors and tend to stay far away from them.
Lee Tae Sung tries to infiltrate into the family pretending to be a body-builder.
The scenes are hilarious and gets me laughing too much.


Other people in the drama:
Jung Suk Won as Choi Jun Hyuk

He gets to be the love rival of Kim Kang Woo.



Kang Min kyung as Hwang Joo Hee

A small bitchy role she has. And her skirts are so figure hugging you could tell her body measurements just by looking.
Also, her complexion is very so fair, like a white sheet of powder. Too white.



Nam Gyu Ri as Yoon Se Na

Gyu Ri plays Kim Kang Woo's wife who holds on to a marriage through a belief that making your spouse feel sorry toward you will be answer to it all. Quite a pitiful character who deludes herself too much.
Her choice of clothing looks highly uncomfortable. 4 inch heels and the shortest mini skirts.



The main theme motto for the drama is "This is the first time I've felt this way" 내가감정처음. The sentence is sprinkled throughout the drama and Kim Kang Woo has sole usage of it. The funniest moments comes when he uses it and man, do i laugh my head off!

 Here he uses the sentence to infiltrate into a drug association, mistaking Jo Yeo Jung as the middleman. He whispers it time and again to Jo Yeo Jung who has absolutely no idea why and thinks he is a pervert.

They get into an awkward embarrassing position as if filming for an erotic movie:

And ends up with a flexible physical kick from Jo Yeo Jung:

Haha, Kim Kang Woo does not give up and runs after her yelling "This is the first time i've ever felt this way"

This scene plus the comical background music is the best! I keep replaying it and get great laughs out of this. It is a little wacky and goofy, but hey, I enjoyed the wackiness.


The drama also ends with the same sentence, this time with Jo Yeo Jung acknowledging and kisses Kim Kang Woo:

Ah, and with Kim Kang woo, no doubt there'll be some body baring:

His physique is sooo good. And he goes into a messed up fight with the three uncles baring his top body all the time. Nice shot.



I can't help but notice, why does Kim Kang Woo look so skinny and thin in this drama? his cheeks are all sunken and his jaw bones are jutting out. There's not an ounce of meat left on that gaunt face.
Take a look at his "meatier" face in "slingshot":

Isn't it much more plumped. At least he had some cheeks in there. I wonder what happened to him in 2012, did he lose so much weight? was it necessary to lose those pounds?




I love this romcom and it's the best romcom for 2012. I've seen many comments saying that is all fluff and too goofy for their liking.
Take heart, only watch it is you are in for some real wacko moments.


Rating: 9/10.
This one is a keeper for me and will be replayed for all the silliness and laughs! Oh  and yea, nice OST too. Kang Min Kyung's "farewell" was good.

List of OST winners and losers (Korean dramas) 2010-2012

Winner: Midas  2011

starring Jang Hyuk, Lee Min Jung, No Min Woo.
OST very very well done and thumbs up to all the background music adding the perfect height to each and every scene.
I really enjoyed the drama as well. A very good corporate finance drama. A must for those with CF background.




1st runner up: Secret Garden 2010

"That woman" sung by Baek Ji Yong - won over so many hearts.
Wonderful song and lovely background music.



2nd runner up: Haeundae lovers 2012

Hello boy by Bebop is just great and Led Apple's smile again, both are very catchy and up beat songs.
Kang Min Kyung's farewell is very good too.
And the cute and funny background music whenever comical scenes come up is the best ever! I can't get over the tune in my head.
Great acting by Kim Kang Woo and Jo Yeo Jong. I enjoyed the drama a lot. So far the best romantic comedy drama for 2012. Definitely a keeper for 2012.




3rd runner up: Heartstrings 2011

I love the main song sung by Yong Hwa, the best in the entire series! Other than that, the rest were alright only, especially the ones sung by Park Shin Hye, did not really enjoy those.

Loser no.1 : My Princess 2011

The OST for this drama was downright disappointing. With such great stars/cast, they could've boost the drama with a fantastic OST.
Worst of the lot and worst of all dramas that i've ever watched.
Dr. Jin, which also stars Song Seung Hun, had some very poor background music as well, but there were some other song sung by Jae Joong that were good.

Korean drama: Ghost SBS 2012

Ghost SBS, 2012

This belongs to the crime and investigation genre, which i usually skim right pass. Hmm, however, not sure why, but i decided to give this a go and clearly it was well worth it.
The plot is so tightly and enthusiastically written, and each episode keeps you clinging to the edge of your seat, with extra strength magnets drawing you to watch the next episode and the next and the next........

This is really really good stuff! and i highly enjoyed the roller coaster cringing ride with lee yeon hee and So ji Sub.


Starring:
so ji sub as Kim Hyun Woo/ Park Ki Young

It's the first time i watched So Ji Sub though, i wouldn't say i'm highly impressed, but i am not deeply moved either. His acting was rather mediocre here but still, it managed to pull through. I don't know why, but i prefer Daniel Choi so much better. Daniel Choi was very much livelier and will have you bound to the screen.



Daniel Choi as Park Ki Young (legendary hacker)

Very good acting and great performance. Sometimes i wished it starred Daniel Choi instead of So Ji Sub as i find Daniel Choi's acting in this drama so much  better. Great hacker performance!



Lee Yeon Hee as pretty detective Yoo Kang Mi

Oh, she's a beauty! and i think she did well in this drama. Though there were no romantic relationships/lines in the drama, she played the role very well as a trusted and well able-d partner to Park Ki Young/ Kim Hyun Woo. Her role does not seem to be easily disposable and i applaud the script writer in weaving her character as a stand out without those pesky romance.



Kwak Do Won as the "mad cow"

Haha, this plump Ahjussi is hilarious to watch. He adds in the fun and furious factor and as his nickname is, a mad cow. Impulsive explosive bomb-like temper. An invaluable character in the drama!



Im Ji Kyu as Byun Sang Woo

Haha, this little guy, although playing a small-ish role in the drama as a colleague in the crime investigation team with rest, is the happiest to watch. I remember him in "the greatest love" as Cha Seung Won's cute and small manager and he did a pretty good job there too. It's hard not to notice him.



Lee Won Geun, one of the baddie hackers, a flower boy

Apparently , this little flower boy stirred interest due to his looks. And yup, he did look surprisingly "flower-boyish" in the drama. He also starred in the "moon that embraces the sun" as the younger Woon. He looked a whole lot better in this drama, very young and sweet. Hah, but looks sure can fool. He kills mercilessly in the drama and his evil smirks are a must see.



The biggest villain, Eom Ki Joon as Jo Hyun Min

Eeeeks, this guy does not have the "villain" look as far as i remember. In the past dramas like "dream high", scent of a woman, can't live with losing, miss ripley........ he had the good guy images. So this drama is a highly refreshing change from goodie to baddie. And yes, he did very very well. Fantastic performance. He played the character so well, deluded into his own revengeful world, he tries to protect his interests and destroys those in his way. The way he plays it, doesn't make you feel hatred toward him, nor would you want to slap him. You just kind of want to see more of him and those evil, wicked tricks of his. Good performance. Very well played.




Rating: 8.5/10 , a must watch!
(lowered rating as i must say, i won't rewatch it nor keep it)