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Spring Glow Up- Korean Skincare Forecast for 2024

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Reading Time: 2 minutes
Image show 4 different Asian women portraying their skin
Image source: Metry.Style

By Frances Ariole, Copy Editor | The Metropolitan

As the sun’s rays grow bolder and spring blossoms, skincare enthusiasts across the globe prepare their annual routine refresh. While self-care rituals are deeply personal, navigating the vast skincare landscape can be daunting.

This curated guide spotlights 5 trending Korean skincare products loved by both beauty influencers and everyday Koreans, offering a roadmap for both seasoned skincare veterans and curious newcomers.

Hydration Reigns Supreme: Korean skincare philosophies champion a plump, dewy complexion. Opt for hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and other moisture-rich ingredients to achieve that coveted glass skin look.

Layering – The Art of Optimization: Think of your skincare routine like a symphony. Koreans often layer thin, watery products first, followed by thicker, creamier ones for optimal absorption and benefit.

Sunscreen – Your Non-Negotiable Shield: Regardless of the season, sun protection is paramount. Invest in an SPF 30+ sunscreen with PA++++ for broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.

Now, Meet Your Starters:

1. Gentle Cleanse, Happy Skin:

  • Purito Deep Cleaning Foam: This vegan, fragrance-free cleanser removes impurities without stripping your skin. Green tea and centella asiatica extract soothe and calm, while tea tree oil combats bacteria and inflammation.

2. Balance with Toning Power:

  • Round Lab Dokdo Toner: Formulated with Dokdo seawater and hyaluronic acid, this toner balances skin pH and delivers moisture. Its refreshing and calming effect is highly loved.

3. Soothe and Repair with Serum:

  • Etude House Soon Jung Centella 100 Ampoule: Packed with 100% centella asiatica extract (Cica), this serum calms redness, soothes irritation, and strengthens your skin barrier. It’s perfect for all skin types, especially sensitive ones.

4. Lock in Moisture with the Right Cream:

  • Illiyoon Ato Concentrate Cream: Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, this moisturizer deeply hydrates and strengthens the skin barrier. It’s ideal for all skin types, especially sensitive and dry ones.

5. Shield Your Glow with Sunscreen:

  • Missha Aqua Sun Gel SPF50+ PA++++: This water-based sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection, high water resistance, and a lightweight, non-greasy feel. It’s suitable for all skin types, including oily skin.

Remember:

  • Prioritize hydration for a radiant, healthy glow.
  • Embrace the layering technique for maximum benefit.
  • Make sunscreen your daily non-negotiable.

Embrace the Korean skincare philosophy and unlock your most radiant spring self!

My Dead Frienemy Made Me Millions

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Reading Time: 2 minutes
Yellowface by R.H. Khang review

By Leah Moe, Entertainment Editor | The Metropolitan

Reading the contemporary book Yellowface by award-winning author R.H. Khang is like watching a 20-something white woman set her own life on fire. The story begins with Juniper, an unreliable narrator, celebrating with Athena, a Chinese American girl who has it all. Athena has book deals, M.F.A. programs, and now a deal with Netflix. Juniper contemplates their friendship, jealous of Athena’s success after her debut novel flopped. After a pancake-eating competition results in her rival suddenly choking to death. Juniper makes the split decision to steal Athena’s manuscript off her desk.

The reader is left with an entire book of Juniper’s murky justification of the theft. At first, Juniper dabbles with the idea of publishing Athena’s novel The Last Front in her memory but in the next breath explains, “I work so damn hard on it. I write every day from dawn to midnight.” Juniper’s strenuous efforts therefore meant she had a claim over the novel telling the story of the Chinese Labor Corps involvement with World War I. Heavy duty justification is needed when her pen name is changed from “June Hayward” to “Juniper Song” and when taking author portraits of when she was “extra tan.” She wasn’t trying to seem culturally ambiguous! She was simply trying to rebrand. June brings us through the epic success of her “reward bait” book— but the excitement of talking on panels and accepting numerous awards quickly sours when the controversy of plagiarism begins.

R.H. Khang’s book is an original representation of micro racism in the publishing industry. Although sometimes I craved more deviance from the main character, that might have given an excuse for some to rationalize their racist tendencies because “at least they’re not as bad as Juniper Song.” The focus on social media was surprising but also proved necessary to show the fragility of Juniper’s character. Social media defined the character’s mood, when the praise flooded, she was generous and happy but when the criticism came, she was cemented to her bed unable to face the world. The use of social media in this book also shows how Juniper never cared about being racially insensitive, she only cared about others’ opinions.

An important piece of this book is who has a right to tell this story. Is it okay for a white woman to spread the history of the Chinese Labor Corps or should it be saved for the veterans that went through it? Either way, Juniper never had that permission. This book showed the great power of the publishing industry to produce “the book of the season” and how there is no stability at the top. Especially, for those who steal a dead woman’s manuscript.

7 places to shop instead of Shein, Zara or H&M

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Reading Time: 2 minutes
We don’t own the rights to this image.

By Frances Ariole, Copy Editor | The Metropolitan

In this age of instant gratification, overconsumption, and willingness to sacrifice quality over quantity, subpar clothing has become the norm for the average consumer. The increased demand for the next hottest trend or outfit but at a cheaper price gave birth to places such as Zara, Shein, H&M, etc.  It would be hypocritical for me to demonize these large corporations because I, too, have succumbed to their allure, especially when trying to maintain a certain image on a tight budget—it’s essential to confront the uncomfortable truths surrounding fast fashion.

 I encountered numerous articles about sweatshops, underpaid workers, and less-than-optimal work environments associated with fast fashion brands. I was left with a sense of guilt surrounding these purchases that had a low closet life span and required repurchasing multiple times. I did the math already and investing in a quality piece always saves more money in the long run than repurchasing similar clothes every quarter. After the guilt passed, I found myself asking “Now what?”. I have been educated about these corporations so I can no longer blame blissful ignorance, but I am also not rich enough to hire a personal shopper or stylist to purchase pieces for me. After doing some homework, I was able to source some alternatives to these popular brands. These brands have timeless pieces and a longer closet life:

  1. Lioness Fashion: This brand boasts unique and stylish pieces at a price point comparable to Zara.
  2. Aritzia: Known for high-quality basics that last, Aritzia also offers a similar price range to Zara.
  3. Abercrombie & Fitch: The brand’s recent rebranding has yielded impressive denim and accessories for individuals who want to elevate their basics.
  4. The Frankie Shop: High-quality materials define this brand, making it a great choice for cozy sweaters, cardigans, and trench coats – perfect for Minnesota winters!
  5. Source Unknown: This brand caters to those who crave a luxurious look and feel. Their sweaters and outerwear are highly recommended.
  6. Nakd Clothing: A personal favorite, Nakd offers H&M-comparable prices, well-fitting bottoms, and stylish tops.
  7. Oak & Fort: This brand carries trendy pieces with a curated selection. Reviews praise their accurate sizing.

Some tips to remember when shopping:

–Focus on timeless basics: Opt for classic pieces that won’t go out of style, avoiding the trap of an overflowing closet filled with unworn clothes.

–Resist social media pressure: You don’t need every trendy item you see online.

–Embrace delayed gratification: Save up for that perfect piece instead of impulse buying.

–Utilize wishlists: Add items to a wishlist and wait. You might be surprised how your feelings about a piece change over time.

By making these conscious choices, you can cultivate a stylish and sustainable wardrobe that reflects your values.

Donald J. Trump Has Been Indicted

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

What That Means and What’s Next for the Former President

By: James J. Berreth, Government and Political Writer with The Metropolitan

(Pictured: Donald Trump and Stephanie Clifford aka. Stormy Daniels)

NEW YORK – Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on charges related to a $130,000 hush money payment made by Trump’s former attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen. Cohen himself was convicted of charges relating to this payment and was sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to pay a fine of $50,000. Later, Cohen is believed to have become the star witness for Alvin Bragg, the New York District Attorney (DA) for Manhattan, and his decision to bring the case to the grand jury. There are many questions left to be answered, and to get to the bottom of them let’s first provide some insights that may help everyone understand the complexities of this legal challenge.

What is a grand jury anyway?

In the State of New York, according to Article 190, Section 190.05 to 190.90 of the Criminal Procedure Law, a grand jury is formed from individuals on the same jury pool as in criminal court cases and are selected by the Commission of Jurors. The grand jury must consist of at least 16 jurors and no more than 23 and unlike trial jurors, there is no jury selection, extensive questions, and there is no judge involved in the proceedings. The prosecutor, witnesses, stenographer, and other jurors are the only individuals that may be present during the proceedings. Additionally, everyone involved in the grand jury is sworn to secrecy to protect the wrongfully accused from suffering any collateral damage, and to encourage those with information about a crime to discuss it openly with the grand jury. Once underway, the prosecutor is responsible for questioning witnesses and ensuring any questions asked by the jurors fall within the legal boundaries of the proceeding. Finally, in order to return an indictment, 12 of the 16 jurors must vote in favor of the indictment before returning it.

Who is Alvin Bragg?

Alvin Bragg is an accomplished litigator and the first Black man elected to serve as the New York District Attorney for Manhattan. A son of the Harlem neighborhood called Strivers Row; Bragg would graduate from Harvard in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in government. He would go on to earn his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School where he was an editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review and has served in government positions previously such as chief deputy attorney general for New York and assistant United States attorney.

In the short time period Bragg has served as DA, he has made headlines for several reasons including his decision to no longer prosecute certain low-level misdemeanors offenses like prostitution and fare evasion, amongst others. He also made headlines when he brought charges against former advisor to Donald Trump Stephe K. Bannon on charges of “two counts of Money Laundering in the Second Degree, two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, and one count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree” according to Bragg’s office. The belief is that Bannon initiated a scheme to defraud donors of $15 million by misrepresenting the need for the donation.

In short, Alvin Bragg has the type of resume one would expect from someone holding his position. Further, he has demonstrated a willingness to do what is necessary to hold even the most powerful to account.

What is Trump likely to be charged with and when is he likely to be charged?

While the indictment against Trump remains under seal and as such, the charges have not yet been made public, two sources with knowledge of the proceedings reported to CNN that there are 30 criminal counts, all relating to business fraud. If you recall, it was just last year that The Trump Organization, and its CFO Alan Weisselberg, were convicted of fraud and were subsequently ordered to pay $1.6 million in fines and serve 5 months in jail, respectively.

As for when Trump is expected to turn himself in, it has been disclosed that he will fly to New York on Monday, April 3rd to spend the night at his Trump Tower home before surrendering the following day at 2:15 in Lower Manhattan. As to whether Trump will make a spectacle of the proceeding is anyone’s guess, but if the rhetoric and misinformation he has used since the announcement of the indictment serve as an indication, Tuesday will be a day full of theatrics at the least.

As this case develops, we will strive to keep everyone abreast of the latest from this case in New York, the insurrection in Washington, stolen documents in Florida, and lastly, voter fraud and racketeering in Georgia. One could be forgiven for believing that Mr. Trump is set to have an extremely busy summer.