@rayliur

My exposure to K-beauty skincare brand Lagom started in 2021, when they were timidly trying to expand out of South Korea. Back then, they were barely making a sound in the U.S. market. I suspected that it’s because their brand identity confused U.S. consumers in the midst of a rise in K-beauty popularity in the early 2020s. This confusion, I suspect, came from their brand identity: minimalistic,…

Is Mixsoon's Bean Essence Worth the Hype?

It’s been two years since I first discovered Mixsoon and its bean essence. And while I posted an in-depth review a year ago, there was little to truly know about Mixsoon’s bean essence. Two years after its debut on the global skincare stage, and a wave of “going viral” on TikTok, Mixsoon’s bean essence is finally simmering down in hype. And I’d like to take this opportunity to sit down with this…

This article was published for EnVi Media (2023). Nineteen-year-old Chinese American pop-punk artist Kega (stylized as kega) is deeply immersed in his world of music. Though still quite young in the cut-throat music scene, kega has a knack for shutting out the noise in order to create his art. Perhaps that is why you can barely catch a glimpse of him on social media. Despite his young age and…

This article was published for JoySauce (2023). Korean beauty (K-beauty) has secured itself in the global beauty market over the last decade. Its skincare product consumers quadrupled between 2014 and 2018, and that was before a global pandemic that afforded the average consumer the time to indulge in a seven-step skincare routine. Initially a loosely kept secret among the Asian population, but…

This article was published for EnVi Media (2023). After taking the world by storm with her Little Mix sisters, becoming a mother of twins in 2021, and getting married earlier in June, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, known professionally as Leigh-Anne, is now her own artist. Shortly after the announced indefinite hiatus of Little Mix, best-selling girl group formed through English singing competition, The…

This review does not contain any spoilers. Now that South Korean television has been made more accessible to global viewers, I find it more difficult to come across drama series that really stand out. Recently, after finishing Korean drama series Moment of 18 (열여덟의 순간), I fell in love with K-pop idol-turned-actor Ong Seong-wu (옹성우). Naturally, I fell down a rabbit hole of Ong’s other projects on…

This article was published for EnVi Media (2023). New and hot subunit alert! SHOWNU X HYUNGWON wrapped up MONSTA X’s busy summer 2023. Formed in 2015, MONSTA X has established themselves as a formidable beastly idol group with “Love Killa,” “Shoot Out,” and “BEASTMODE” under their belt. The two rappers of MONSTA X successfully kept Monbebe (fans of MONSTA X) and new listeners glued to their…

You might know him from SQUID GAME, but he is more than just another eye candy. In my profile of Wi Ha-jun, we'll explore his breadth of works & outstanding performances. #WiHajun #Kdrama

Courtesy of Fantagio Entertainment. By the time I came across Ong Seong-wu’s breadth of work, he had already enlisted in the mandatory military training that is required of all South Korean men. What captivated me most about Ong is the impressive range of his career—and talent. As a member of the 2017 project K-pop group Wanna One, Ong has demonstrated his vocal abilities, with vocal clarity…

From LOVE TO HATE YOU to the upcoming film PAST LIVES, Yoo Teo celebrates his 20th career anniversary. Love to Love Yoo Teo's Past Lives. Read my profile of Yoo teo here:

After conquering the global stage, what's next for #KPOP beasts #MONSTA_X ? To begin, they'll be headlining the We Bridge Music Fest on APRIL 21! Read more about @officialmonstax here:

Artwork from Starship Entertainment (2021). The Genesis of Monsta X Formed in 2015 through a survival competition show, Monsta X quickly gained popularity with their undefeatable spirit, innovative choreographies, and talented members who continually contribute to the band’s sound at an early point of their career. Monsta X has gone through multiple tests of enduring the cutthroat K-pop…

A decade later, Mamoru Hosoda's WOLF CHILDREN remains to be one of the best #anime films.

Wolf Children (おおかみこどもの雨と雪) is a 2012 Japanese anime film, directed by Hosoda Mamoru (細田 守). Hosoda entered the animation industry after his fascination with animation legend and grandfather Miyazaki Hayao’s The Castle of Cagliostro. At the beginning of his career, Hosoda applied for a position at Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki’s famous animation studio that produced films like Spirited Away and My…

Innisfree's biggest facelift, featuring new faces, #Seventeen's Min-gyu and #Ive's Won-young, as spokesmodels!!! #Kbeauty

What do #PEAKTIME and #BOYSPLANET tell us about the harsh reality of #KPOP ? From Pentagon Hui's appearance on BP999 to Vanner's comeback of a lifetime on PEAK TIME, read all about it here:

This article may contain spoilers of the mentioned reality competition shows, Peak Time, Boys Planet, Queendom, and Road to Kingdom. Turning on the TV and tuning in on a K-pop reality show, the last thing I’d expect is to blow through an entire box of tissues. Since the success of K-pop idol group creation and project shows, such as Produce 101 and Girls Planet 999, along with K-pop…

THE HEAVENLY IDOL softly criticizes the hypocrisy and hysteria of the term idol and what life it has taken on since the birth of hallyu. My new column Begin & Binge is ready for #KDrama watchers:

Trigger warning: suicide. This blog may contain spoilers for episodes 1 & 2. I’ve kept a close eye on Korean actor Kim Min-gyu (also spelled Min-gue) ever since his role on the Korean drama series Because This is My First Life (2017). When his popularity skyrocketed during the premier of the hit 2022 K-drama, Business Proposal, I knew Kim’s career would finally take a sharp turn down the avenue…

K-pop idol, ASTRO member, and global heartthrob Cha Eun-woo is here to redefine the media’s perception of him through his rapidly improving acting skills. Read the full article here:

K-pop idol, ASTRO member, and global heartthrob Cha Eun-woo is here to redefine the media’s perception of him through his rapidly improving acting skills. Excitement builds as we receive the second part of Korean drama series, Island, in which Cha plays a young priest who slays demons. Currently, there are speculations that he is reviewing a new project with a crime-themed story, titled…