Espera.

Hey folks!

Sorry for the absence, my luck with the internet hasn't been quite well, and I've been busy battling the winds (you ain't taking me down that easy!) and just setting my feet into the whole school groove, on top of adapting to my life here.

Sorry. 

But my internet in the house is now set!! So I have no excuses (when I'm home)! But if I am absent, it's because I am either around town exploring, studying, or working (hopefully!! I'm awaiting good news!). It can be any one of those, of I could be busy collecting some fun, cool, Kim-styled ideas to talk about. So do check in with me once in a while! Unlike many of the amazing bloggers out there who posts something on a really regular basis (hats off to them man, I'm telling you, that is major major hard work + talent right thur), I will only post something when I feel like the post is ready to see the world. Like this one!

Something has caught my attention of late, and I feel the need to talk about it.

To all those of you whose interest lie in a good lipstick, or for those of you whose significant other is, I've got something that will tickle your fancy! Well, more like, I'd like to share with you a story about a lipstick that I think will soon replace my MAC purchases:

I really like the MAC lipsticks. They're highly pigmented, stays true to the color of the lipstick (what you see is what sticks to your lips), and most importantly, the matte effect is just on point. But I mean, since it's MAC, as great as the quality is, it comes with a price tag that I don't put it as priority. Also, I notice that the lipstick dries my lips out pretty quick. After a day long of wearing it, my lips start to chip, so I have to apply lip balm before I apply the lipstick, making the matte effect much to be desired.

But then yesterday on my quest to find shoes, we walked into

And being bored, I decided to just check out their lipsticks. The magic word is "Matte". So I just picked up the first color that I saw titled "Wild Rose". what a good choice. I love the smell of roses (my mom has a rose branch and the roses smell delightful), and the color was a nice shade of dark coral + pink + red. And so the guy working there urged me to try it (and so did my friends). 

Here is the end result (taken approx 2-3 hours after application) with no filters/ editing (not that I edit my face anyway... *looks slyly away* HAHA filters!) 

Approx 2-3 hours after application, with no lip balm

My lips by then were still surprisingly pretty smooth, with no need for lip balm, the way I do with the MAC ones. I actually really hope someone from MAC is reading this right now, so they can improve, cause I've been going to them for a while, and I hope they take constructive criticism. (: Just my two cents!

Anyhoo, I decided to Level UP...! By showering with it on!

It stayed pretty well! Right?

(again no editing, you can see my pimples *GASP*)

But of course, by then a lot of it has come off, and also when I drank, the lipstick started just powdering off onto the rim of my cup. 

Uh... I have no photos for this one... Sorry. Got carried away with getting ready for bed I actually forgot. But yeah, the lipstick started sticking to my cup, but it was powdery, so washing it didn't require extra attention... aka, easy removal! YAY! It worked the same with remover (baby oil cuz I actually haven't bought remover, and I brought this from home home).

So it is quite safe to say that I.... really like this lipstickkkkkk! My friends have been asking me if I'm ever gonna get it. To be honest, I really like it. But unfortunately, I'm on severe budget here. Seriously. Sidenote, I've been vegetarian here for the most part cause veges are the only things I can actually afford... So, for now, no... I'm not gonna get it. However, I would HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY! ACUTELY (haha acutely) recommend this beautiful beautiful lipstick! And ESPECIALLY with the dry winter weather (my hands are all red and cracking from the cold!) 

If, like me, you like the matte effect, without having to dry your lips out, and still have the lasting effect, oh boy. You're in for a wonderful wonderful trip! (: Also, after looking it up, I learnt that Espoir is French for hope, and can also mean promising, or up & coming! Hey, with this amazing lipstick, it's not surprise! I saw quite a few Sold Out items. So they're definitely doing lotsa stuff right! Lipstick is one of them HAHA.

But for now, Espoir, if you're reading this, know that you have a major fan! (: 

Okay shall end this here tonight. Right now. 

Love,

Kim

RM75/USD25 Passport Photos, Anyone?

Yesterday, I got my photo taken (I say passport photo cause it's that size, BUT I was about to have it taken Korean Passport status, which I will address later) for my Alien Registration Card application.

So of course, in any photo, you want to hide any large & tiny flaws, so you seek the professional help of who I call (and all of us know as), Make up. With the help of my friend, make up, I head out to the studio with an appointment already set up. I get there, the whole place looks super pretty, as if it were a smaller version of a studio for weddings  (I was so distracted by him taking photos of a girl who was also taking profile sized photos I forgot to take pictures of the place).

The atmosphere in the studio was pretty lively, with people moving around, and  music playing and another person editing the photos. Then I was told to "get ready" at the make up table that was located in the corner, equipped with hair spray, combs, hair ties, and a shit ton of mirrors.

As I was already ready to go, I just sat there watching her shoot. The photographer was really animated as he was giving directions to her. She kept laughing from being so amused. The shoot was fast, but boy did they take a lot of photos. She also took quite a lot of time picking the photo of her choice...

Eons later, she's finally out, and it's my turn. The photographer was super down to every littlest detail, fixing my hair with the comb, holding up the mirror to ensure my hair is properly arranged, so meticulous! I guess that's why my wallet has a big hole in it now. 25,000₩ for all this, and of course the said energy and amusement as the photographer directs your shoot. Everything ended in 15 minutes. The photo taking, the selection (where he narrows it down to 4 main photos and you pick the ONE. HAHA what is this, SayYesToTheDressPhoto?). Afterwards, I was out. Super efficient.

\Later in the evening, I was emailed the soft copies of the photos.

Before I go on, allow me to say, that no matter where you go in Korea, they photoshop ALL your photos like this to make you look flawless and perfect. (I blame the workforce requirements for judging a book by it's cover but that's for another day) AND SO, THIS IS ALL VERY NORMAL IN KOREA.

My verdict?

HOLY COW. 

Imma quote Cindy Crawford: "I don't look like Kimberley Ng*"
*names have been edited to fit the article.


Prepare yourselves...

WHUT?

Talk about Photoshop. I can't even. Now I know why they charge you so much for a friggin passport photo. Golly gee. 

Was it worth it? 

I don't even know. I don't think that looks like me. That looks like a digital version of my doppelgänger. But man, what an experience!