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BB Creams (And a Giveaway!)

If you are Asian, there's a very good chance that you already know what BB Creams are — after all, they have been all the rage in Korea, Japan, and China for the past few years. So if you're familiar with BB Creams, please feel free to skip the next section.  :-) What is a BB Cream? BB Cream, or Blemish Balm Cream, first originated in Korea when a famous actress underwent laser skin surgery and used a German formula of concealer+regenerative/protective cream during her recovery...

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The Preggo Chop

Being pregnant, it is not uncommon to have days when you feel utterly unattractive. Even if you have been through it before like I have, the insane amount of changes to your body makes you feel out of control and continually self-conscious. Perhaps that is why so many pregnant women choose to make drastic changes to their appearance (mainly, in the form of their hair)? Last weekend I visited my favorite salon for a trim...

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The (Incorrect) Western Interpretation of Asian Plastic Surgery

A few days ago, CNN Asia posted a video and an accompanying article titled "Plastic surgery boom as Asians seek 'western' look" which tells the story of Lee Min Kyong, who opted to have Asian blepharoplasty — otherwise known as double eyelid surgery — at the age of 12 in order to "westernize her eyes." This really pissed me off. As I have written in the past, I am well aware that East Asia has a disturbing rate of cosmetic surgery. I also believe that many people who choose to go under the knife are — in my opinion — too young to make such decisions. But I wasn't pissed about this. I was angry at CNN's assumption (and the resulting skewed report) that...

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When “Healthy” Equals “Fat”

I myself have not been to Korea in a while, but I have plenty of friends and family members who visit regularly, and can confirm the fact that Korean girls hardly ever participate in sports, and would rather go on extreme diets than exercise to lose weight. In fact, aside from low-intensity workouts and stretches, Korean girls are discouraged from exercise in fear that they will become too muscular, and thus be called "fat." Yes, you read that correctly. In Korea, having defined muscles = fat. And if you can believe it, the direct translation of the word "healthy" — 건강하다 — actually has negative connotations. Because when someone tells you that you "look healthy," it really means that you "look bulky." Or,...

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