My favorite K-Beauty online store turns ONE today!!! Let's celebrate with lots of promos and discounts. Shop at http://ph.althea.kr starting July 20 - 31, 2016 and take part of this fabulous celebration!

What's in store as #AltheaTurns1?

>> Limited Edition Birthday Box + DIY Party Kit
For orders placed on 20/7 onwards. While stocks last.


>> Free Goodies for first 1,500 shoppers
Full size beauty products. While stocks last.


>> Birthday Giveaway. Pick 3 Top Sellers for 100% REBATE!
Rebate will be credited into your account.


>> #AltheaTurns1 Instagram Contest
- Got your Althea party kit? Wish us a happy birthday with #altheaturns1 and stand a chance to win amazing prizes such as Macbook Air, Ipad Air 2, iPhone 6S, Galaxy S6 Edge, Canon EOS M10 Selfie Camera, Althea credits and beauty hampers from Althea!
- Prizes total worth KRW10,000,000 to be won.
- Contest starts from 20th July - 15th August, 2016.



If you're looking for affordable Korean beauty products, Althea Korea is where you should be at! They carry most Korean makeup and skincare product that are tried and tested by hundreds if not thousands of beauty bloggers in the Philippines and all over the world! I know I have a wonderful experience every time I go shopping at Althea Korea | Philippines.

Remember these?

This!!! 💕 Korean makeup and skincare from @altheakorea! 💕 Too bad my camera failed during my unboxing, but here it is... My haul from #altheaph!!! These came bubble wrapped for safety and got my 100% authentic goodies in excellent condition straight from Land of the Morning Calm. Even the box had no dents, so props to the Korean courier! 👍👍 Watch out for their grand opening launch promotions on February 15 and visit http://ph.althea.kr! 💕 #bastaigatsikat #korean #makeup #skincare #innisfree #skinfood #etudehouse #altheakorea #bbloggers #beautybox #beautybloggersph #pinkbox #kawaii #daebak #instabeauty

A photo posted by ✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Feb 9, 2016 at 8:21pm PST

Well, as you can see my latest purchase certain did not disappoint! These goodies may or may not be available here in the Philippines, but hey, where else can you get FREE SHIPPING when you purchase at least Php1,500 straight from the Land of the Morning Calm!!?  I buy most, if not all, of my eyebrow products from them.


So what are you waiting for? Join the celebration and don't forget to greet Althea Korea a very happy birthday!

I admit. I am a sucker for anything Limited and Special Edition. With Missha coming out with the super cute Line Friends designs, no doubt I was all over it. Hey, I use Line Camera for their kawaii stamps and frames! So anyway, I got the makeup cosmetics with Brown (bear) but there's also the ones with Sally (yellow chick) and Cony (female rabbit).


I've been meaning to get Missha 4D mascara for a while now but with my current stash of mascara, I keep putting it off. But this I just had to get... and boy, it is surprisingly good! Really good considering that I have non-existent lashes to begin with (hello, Asian genes!)


Benefits:
• Containing natural wax for soft application without clogging.
• Hypoallergenic formula.
• Long-lasting without smudging, as forming protective coat.
• 4D Brush Effect

💕 Tip: Curl your lashes first before applying and if needed, you can curl them again when the mascara is dry. It's amazing how it opened up my eyes. Lashes from zero... to hero in seconds! Ooh, how I wish I had those fuller, thicker lashes. Maybe I should get lash extensions? But for now, this will do.

Moving on... We have the Bloody Wine Matte Lip Rouge Lipstick that's supposedly matte but I found it really moisturizing and not the dry type. So maybe it flaked by the end of the day, but the color is super vibrant and even made my thin lips look full... and kissable. ;) Wa'y mopalag!


Benefits:
• Has SPF 17
• Clear HD pigmentation.
• Strong & Comfortable wearing with a single touch.
• Lightweight soft fit, matte texture spreads out lightly.
• Argan oil, and rose hip oil included.
• Airish Fitting Formula, Even Color Formula, Skin Conditioning Complex
If you're looking for a rich lipstick without the annoying shine but leaves your lips feeling supple, then this is something you need to try! It smells awesome, too! Something I can't quite place but definitely a good type of thing.

And then lastly, I got the Missha Water-Full Tint, Special Line Friends Edition, in Orange Juice. Okay, honestly I'm not the lip/cheek tint fan but this one swayed me just because it's perfect for those casual/daily errands where it's just ridiculous to be on full makeup buying groceries or withdrawing from an ATM. Can you spell F-R-E-S-H?

I'm still on a self-imposed makeup ban but this is an exception! What is? Well, I saw this really nice vanity case by Suesh at http://beautymnl.com while window shopping, or should I say, monitor shopping.


With too much makeup on my table, I've honestly run out of places to stash them. Which I think very well justifies my need to get this... ASAP!!! Also it's very hard to find vanity kits and makeup cases locally, so my best option is to buy online. I know these things are limited in quantity and very much in demand, so I went ahead to order it before it got sold out. Note: That was 5 days ago (if you count the weekend).

Ordering is easy as 1, 2, 3!

You simply add the item in your cart and when you're ready to checkout, you can input your shipping details. They deliver NATIONWIDE. They also have this box that let's you put in an authorized recipient's name and phone number just in case you're not there to receive the package. Awesome added security!


Then you choose your payment method with whatever's convenient for you and there are 4 options. You know what? I've been doing online shopping for a decade now and I seem to have developed a radar to detect legit and scam sites. A lot of my friends come to me before they buy something online and they ask, "Hey, is this site for real?" Even since I got scammed some years ago, I'm always wary of sites that only allow online payment transfers (you know, LBC Pera Padala, Western Union, GCash, Smart Money and the likes). That's a big red flag there. If an online store, in this case BeautyMNL, offers CASH ON DELIVERY or BANK DEPOSIT payment methods, it's a green light for me. Moreover, I prefer paying via credit card or Paypal, so that's a plus for me, too!


Then you get a payment confirmation in your email once your transaction goes through. And you can also track your order under your account at BeautyMNL.


And because I'm geographically challenged, I was expecting my order to arrive sometime around October 1st because of the long weekend, but lo and behold, it's here!!! It arrived today, the 28th of September!


Well, that was fast and I am totally impressed! Great job, BeautyMNL! I think LBC also did a great job packing up my order, so *clap*clap*!


Wrapped like a boss and after inspection, item has no damage! First time buyer here and they definitely made a good first impression. BeautyMNL isn't just an online shop that sells a curated assortment of makeup and skincare products from the most basic beauty staples to the elusive Moroccan Argan oil and Korean snail cream. BeautyMNL has an online magazine called Bloom, that "provides fun and insightful articles tailor-fit to the Filipina’s lifestyle, whether it’s finding a good sunscreen for Philippine weather or the best shade of red lipstick to match your skin tone." With the help of known celebrity gurus, BeautyMNL brings you tips, easy how-tos, and great beauty trends you can actually rock in the tropics.

So yeah, back to my order. It's a Pink Quilted Vanity Case by Suesh. I didn't expect it to be this big actually, even though the website clearly specified the dimensions. I suck at Math... so there! Nevertheless, they actually do have full descriptions of the listed products on the website. Well, I'm very happy with this purchase and here are some photos I took to preserve this unboxing moment.




It's so nice!!! It's perfect for travelling and perhaps I can start doing freelance makeup artist gigs (when I have the time) now that I have this additional vanity case to stash all my beauty weapons. All in all, I'm definitely going back to shop some more at BeautyMNL (soon after my beauty ban is lifted!) and I highly recommend you guys check them out at http://beautymnl.com!

I broke out like a b*tch the past few months, primarily because of my crazy hormones. I had a 60-day period (TMI!) and my adrenals have been out of whack. Due to all kinds of stress I'm dealing with, my skin suffered a whole lot... obviously. Which brings me to feature my latest acne skincare routine with Rucy's Vanity Foam Cleansing Green Tea, Acne Toner, and Acne Lotion.


It's not that all my other acne regimen aren't working but this time I wanted to try something new. So here's my personal review of this acne skincare routine.

RUCY'S VANITY FOAM CLEANSING GREEN TEA (Php 130.00) - This product is surprisingly mild. Maybe I was expecting something a little more "chemical" but considering it's main ingredient is green tea, it definitely exceeded my expectation. What I love about it is its cleansing power and of course, it does contain collagen! WOOT! I'm a huge fan of all things collagen especially now that there's no way to turn back the hands of time. Might as well try and stop aging early on and try to preserve whatever youthfulness I can. Accordingly, green tea extracts effectively remove harmful bacteria in your skin caused by makeup and environmental pollution. So this product does actually get rid of excessive oil and you know I am like a greaseball! It doesn't sting my face or anything like that even when my skin broke out.  As far as fragrance, I can't really tell because it's that mild for me.

RUCY'S VANITY ACNE TONER (Php 140.00) - First and foremost, NO STING AT ALL! In fact, because it contains tea tree and aloe, it has a rather soothing effect on my acne and very beneficial for its topical antiseptic and infection-reducing properties. It helps control inflammation and for oil-control, too. This toner is suitable for acne prone, oily and sensitive skin. Definitely something I would recommend for people out there who are suffering from breakouts and acne. Fragrance is also mild (if there is any at all!) so it shouldn't be an issue for anyone who wants an additional product to cleanse their face of impurities.

RUCY'S VANITY ACNE LOTION (Php 160.00) - This works perfectly with the acne toner with all the similar beneficial ingredients. I highly recommend using this as the final step of your Rucy's Vanity acne regimen to keep that acne at bay.

As you can see, these products are super affordable and definitely worth a try for those of you who are looking for a new acne skincare regimen and/or if your current products aren't working anymore. Sad to say, I've discovered something like my skin eventually gets "immune" to certain products if I use them for a long time, which is why I tend to rotate my skincare regimen every once in a while. These do have parabens in them but we know that cosmetics need that for shelf life. It's also not as bad as people deemed it is. Studies have already revealed the truth that "on a global scale, there has been an exhaustive degree of scientific and medical studies demonstrating the safety of parabens used in skin care and cosmetics. The tiny levels used in your personal care products are not harmful."

Alright, moving on. Here are some basic makeup and Korean cosmetics from Rucy's Vanity which I find essential for daily use.


RUCY'S VANITY WHITENING COLOR CONTROL CC CREAM (Php 320.00) - Comes in 2 shades, #21 Natural and #23 Oak. I always prefer CC creams over BB creams chiefly because of the "color correction". With all the redness and blemishes on my face, I could definitely get more from a CC cream over any BB cream. Also, a lot of BB creams broke me out. CC creams tend to be more forgiving on my skin. With all the benefits you can get like UV Protection with SPF 30 PA+++ (and don't get me started on sun care), anti-wrinkle and whitening effects, soothing the skin and evening out imperfections, and acting as a moisturizer and makeup base, I think this is something you should check out as well.

RUCY'S VANITY TWO WAY CAKE (Php 320.00) - It comes in two shades, #21 Natural Beige and #23 Dark Beige. Yet another affordable Korean cosmetic from Rucy's Vanity which I am loving to bits! I mean, come on, it's got a lid on the powder which prevents it from spilling should you happen to break it (though I don't see why you'd do that but hey, accidents happen!). The foam/puff that comes with it is small so you might want to use a brush for full coverage application instead. The foam/puff though is great for touch-ups. Remember DAB, NOT RUB! (Watch my Korean makeup tutorial video below and you'll see what I mean!) I'm using this as my go-to daily face power foundation now.

RUCY'S VANITY LIP & CHEEK RED TINT (Php 80.00) - For all lip/cheek tint fans out there, here's something for you. I love that it doesn't necessarily stain your fingers during application like most similar products do. It's not so sticky either and leaves a very pretty not so subtle tint. And yes, it's got green tea and collagen in it! Need I say more?

So there we have it, ladies and gents, for my Rucy's Vanity Korean Cosmetics review. Because I've reached 1,000 subscribers in my YouTube channel, I feel I owe it to my viewers and blog readers to give you a little something extra.

Korean makeup is love, don't you agree? Oops My Lip Tint Pack by Berrisom is definitely no exception because true to its claims, this lip product lasts amazingly for 12 hours! Don't you just love eating or drinking without having to worry about your lipstick smearing all over your face, or worse, get all patchy and gone by the time you take that last bite? It's also perfect for swimming as the lip tint doesn't rub off!


I received this set with 6 gorgeous colors from Bien's Beauty Bliss.  Oops My Lip Tint Pack by Berrisom is an authentic Korean product and the first and original lip tint tattoo. You can buy it for PHP 450 per tube or you can get it for a bargain by getting the whole set for just PHP 1,750 (roughly PHP 292 each!). The colors in this set include: Virgin Red, Vivid Scarlet, Lovely Peach, Pure Pink, Bubble Pink, and Sexy Red.

What I love most about Berrisom Oops My Lip Tint Pack:

• 12-hour lasting color (the lighter colors didn't stay as long though)
• 1 tube contains 15g of product
• It takes just 5 to 10 minutes to get a beautiful lip shade
• Acts as a lip exfoliator (when you peel it off!)
• Makes it super easy to create gradient lips
• Smells awesome!
• Lots of different colors to complement every skin tone
• Waterproof and great for all sorts of water activities
• Make out and kiss all you want! ^_^
• 100% authentic and imported from Korea

Now let me show you how truly awesome these babies are. Check out my photos below and find out what's my favorite color(s) at the end! Photos are taken under natural light during the crazy hot summer afternoons.

1. VIRGIN RED (Real Red) - Strong red color; vivid and bright red color


2. VIVID SCARLET (Refreshing Scarlet) - Attention-grabbing scarlet color; bright red color close to orange


3. LOVELY PEACH (Pink Orange) - Pure pink-orange color; coral orange that's slightly pink


4. PURE PINK (Lovely Pink) - Mild pink color


5. BUBBLE PINK (Cherry Pink) - More pink than the basic apple red


6. SEXY RED (Pure Red) - Burgundy tinted red color


It's not hard to automatically pick the best of the bunch. For me, I prefer the reds because I'm not much of a "pink" person really.



Nevertheless, depending on my mood for the day, I can also sport a pretty pink shade from my Oops My Lip Tint Pack (lip tattoo) set.

Wearing Oops My Lint Tint Pack by Berrisom in Pure Pink. Notice the shade is slightly different under artificial lighting.

I suggest not using this on extremely chapped lips because you might rip that dead skin off and I guarantee you that's gonna hurt! You can use a balm before putting it on but the color may be different than expected. Try exfoliating your lips first before using Berrisom Oops My Lip Tint instead.

Berrisom My Lip Tint Pack, so easy to use! Just peel after 5-10 minutes!

Well, there you have it, folks! You can get 6 beautiful colors for every day of the week. I fan my lips or stay in front of the electric fan to help it dry faster and minimize waiting time, but the peeling part is really fun and exciting! If you want a darker color, you can just use more product on your lips. The darker the color, the longer it stayed for me. Watch this video clip:

Press PLAY ▶️ I don't know about you but I find it liberating not having to worry about getting lipstick all over my face when I'm eating like a pig. 😜 More on this in full detail next week! 💕 In the meantime, i'll give u a clue. Check out @biensbeautybliss for the all original Korean Oops My Lip Tint Pack that absolutely does not smudge at all and is guaranteed to last 12 hours even after eating and drinking! 💋 #bastaigatsikat #berrisom #oops #lips #myliptintpack #korean #product #review #biensbeautybliss #bbloggers #beauty #instabeauty #makeup #instamakeup #bbloggers #beautybloggers #beautybloggersph #lotd #lipstick #liptattoo #hyperlapse

A video posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on May 29, 2015 at 3:12am PDT

So what are you waiting for? Check out Oops My Lip Tint Pack by Berrisom at Bien's Beauty Bliss on Facebook and Instagram. The store carries several other authentic Korean makeup including Pony's very own "SHINE EASY GLAM" eyeshadow palette in collaboration with Memebox. I'm gonna save up and get that one next! :)