Yes, I got another Althea Box. If you ladies aren't aware. My favorite shop for all things Korean Beauty, Althea Korea occasionally releases various themed beauty boxes.

This time I got the Althea Beauty Lifeguard Box. It is a beauty box curated especially for the summer to Keep your makeup on through all the Splashing, hot fun!

Whats inside the Althea Beauty Lifeguard Box ?


Tony Moly BCDATION OiOi Waterproof Cushion in 02 Warm Beige.  It is a waterproof cushion that has SPF 50+ PA+++ for Suncare, Anti-Aging, and Skin Brightening at the same time.

It claims to provide great coverage that adheres to skin all day. Also, contains sebum controlling powder to keep you oil-free.

I have been testing out everything in the box for the past week and I must say I'm really impressed with this cushion. I have combination skin with oily T-Zone and so far this is the longest lasting cushion I've tried.

What I like about it...
- long lasting, it lasts about 6 hours on me before it starts to fade
- gives out a semi-matte finish, which makes my skin look really smooth
- has awesome medium to full coverage, since it easily covers my blemishes
- I can honestly say that this is waterproof, since I did sweat a lot when I was running errands and this cushion, really behaved and didn't make me look greasy
- did not experience any allergies or irritation, when wearing this consecutively for 5 days

What I don't like...
- like all other Korean cushions this is one shade lighter on me. I think Warm Beige is the darkest one they have. So, I just thin this out when applying. It eventually blends in my skin tone after an hour or so.

My rating: 4 out of 5


VDL Expert Color Primer for Eyes in Serenity.  This eye primer is meant to correct any redness on the lids for a flawless canvas. It locks the eye shadows without needing to apply excess product or pressure and allows the eye shadows to show up vividly onto the lids.

So far, it really stayed true to it's claims. It works the way it is described. It made my eyeshadow look more vivid, did not crease and definitely stayed all day. The packaging is sturdy and really reminds me of the lip gloss packing for my Laura Mercier Lip Glace.

My rating: 4 out of 5


Milky Dress Barbie Make Mascara. Is an all-in-one mascara that claims to provides curling, volume and long lashes. It comes with a very pretty rose gold packaging that is lightweight. The applicator comes in a semi-elliptical brush, a C-Curl a brush the offers perfect curl and volume for eyelashes.

What I like about it...
- very affordable mascara that works
- pretty rose gold packaging
- love the thin curved applicator, which makes it easier for me to start on the roots of my lashes
- long-lasting, smudge-proof and does not flake
- definitely holds up a curl and gives excellent length and volume
- very easy to remove even with a cleansing water
- does not have a strong chemically scent

What I don't like...
- can be a bit clumpy and does not layer well. I would recommend this to those who have very sparse and short lashes since it really lifts the lashes well.

My rating: 3 out of 5


Wangskin Lip Tattoo Tint Pack in Pink.  Claims to keep your lips looking juicy and tinted all day. Best used when lips are looking too pale, lips need a moisture boost and when you need a long-lasting lip colour.

This product is actually very straight forward. You apply and leave it on your lips for about 15 minutes depending on how much you want for your lip color to look deeper. The consistency feels very similar to a normal glue, only thinner.

I used this twice already. I left it to dry for about 15 minutes on my lips then peeled it off. I was left with a beautiful pink tint and it definitely lasted all day. It did not even come off while I was eating or drinking and did not transfer onto my glass as well.

It does not leave my lips feeling dry but does not feel like it's giving my lips moisture either. Also, this did not sting my lips, which I'm very happy about. I like that it came with a squeeze type tube since I find that more hygienic.

My rating: 4 out of 5


What I like about it...
- it stayed true to its claims
- the sprayer gives off a really fine mist, making it easier to apply all over the face
- if used as a primer, it helps me apply my foundation smoothly
- does not feel sticky at all
- when I used it as a setting spray, it definitely helped my makeup last longer.
My makeup just stayed in place all day with no smudging even when I was already sweating.
- has a very mild fresh scent
- did not experience any allergies or irritation

What I don't like...
- can't think of any

My rating: 5 out of 5

Last August 4, 2017, I was invited to the the Launch of the Crystal Moist Skincare Line brought to us exclusively by Rose Pharmacy. This brand is created for the Asian Women aged 24-35 years old, who are beauty conscious, confident and who aspire to indulge in quality skincare products with promising efficacy to bring them youthful and healthy skin.

Crystal Moist is developed and made in Korea. It was first launched last September 2015 under the holding company of Guardian Malaysia.

Crystal Moist brings us two skincare range. Both of which are formulated with 3 key proprietary ingredients to help replenish and retain moisture and essential minerals required by our skin to maintain a healthy complexion.


The Crystal Moist Hydra ION+ range, brings perfect skin hydration. The moisturizing range is the essential hydrating skin care regime. It is aimed to replenish moisture to keep your skin refreshed and hydrated, leaving skin with crystal-moist complexion.


The Crystal Moist Bright ION+ range, brings perfect skin radiance. Empowered with Sea Shine from France and Floral-Bright Complex, this brightening range enhances skin tone and helps reduce the appearance of dark spots. Ideal for a crystal-bright complexion.


I was able to try out the Crystal Moist Hydra ION+ Moisturizing Travel Set. It came with the basic skincare needs for moisture. Moisturising Facial Cleanser, Moisturising Facial Toner-Balancing and the Moisturising Face Essence Milk.


The Hydra ION+ Moisturising Travel Set smells really nice. It is has a fresh mild scent.
The Facial Cleanser, foams up real nicely. It cleans very well and it does not leave my face feeling dry and tight.
The Moisturising Facial Toner, feels very mild as well. It does not sting and does a good job of keeping my skin well hydrated.
The Moisturising Face Essence Milk gets absorbed on my skin quickly. It has a light watery light texture leaving my skin well moisturized. It does not feel sticky as well.


Overall, it was a pleasant experience. I would definitely recommend this set for all skin types, especially if you are just starting out with your skincare routine. It's practical and basically what your skin needs.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Lamp Berger Paris is now in Cebu. Like my title says, it is a french brand. I was lucky enough to have been invited recently to the Lampe Berger Bloggers Conference held at The Pyramid, Cebu IT Park. I got to know more about the product and see a demo on how it actually works.

What is Lampe Berger?
The Lampe Berger is an innovative system that cleanses the air in your home and provides a long-lasting fragrance. The Lampe Berger features the AIR PR System 3C(R) burner which diffuses fragrances throughout the room.

It is one of the few technologies to offer real improvement in the quality of air in the room always attentive to quality in all its forms. Lampe Berger Oil Lamps started its history in Paris, France in 1898 in the dispensary of pharmacist, Maurice Berger. It is the first product ever invented to purity the air (with over 115 years of innovation).


Benefits of Lampe Berger
The Lampe Berger has an unrivaled purifying and fragrancing power. The Lampe Berger actually eliminates odor-causing molecules in the air through the process of catalytic oxidation. Increase oxygen level.

Eliminate bacteria, unpleasant odors of any kind such as cooking odors, decomposes second hand smoke and improve the overall air quality, leaving you refreshed and rejuvenated; effective insect repellent such as dust mites, mosquitoes, fleas, ants and other insects.


Not only does it purify air, Lampe Berger also decorates the home with exquisite designs to complement any decor. They also provide an array of purifying scents, each with unique aromachological advantages that improves health and well-being.

I have personally used Lampe Berger at my home, I got the Coffret Bingo Taupe lamp and the scent called Amber Elegance and it smells divine and very calming. Plus their elegantly designed lamps are eye catching. Definitely would recommend Lampe Berger to everyone, it's perfect for any room.

You can visit their online shop for more information http://lampeberger.ph/

follow them on Facebook - @lampebergerphilippines
Twitter and Instagram - @lampebergerph

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

If you ladies have been following me on Instagram, you'd know that I got this product last week and have been trying it out for the past few days. Althea Korea just released their very own product range, and they're starting off strong with the Petal Velvet Powder!

This debuting beauty is a translucent loose powder made from natural ingredients. It sets makeup and leaves behind a silky finish to the touch. Infused with oil from Althea seeds, this powder works to keep sebum production at bay without drying out the skin for a radiant, fresh look, all while giving out a gentle scent.


Inspired by Korean Althea petal, this petal velvet powder offers the skin a silky smooth finish. Its main ingredient comes from the Althea flower seed extract which is full of antioxidants that protect the skin's barrier from dehydration and invigorate the skin for a beautiful and flawless complexion.

It is made with micro-fine particles that minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines to reveal a flawless complexion. Its translucent qualities create a satin finish that mattifies without dehydration

What I like about it...

* very affordable, priced at Php210 only
* pretty packaging that every lady wants
* convenient for travel since it only contains 3grams of product
* the packaging comes with a puff and sifter for ease of use
* definitely feels super smooth on skin so it's very easy to apply
* It beautifully mattifies my skin, but does not leave my face completely matte
* feels very lightweight on my skin and  does not sit on my fine lines
* has a very subtle floral scent, it's almost unnoticeable
* does not leave a white cast in my skin
* did not experience any allergies or irritation.

What I don't like...
* does not have that much oil control, my skin easily oils up after 3 hours of wearing it on my t-zone. However, I would like to note that it did set my under eye are really well and it stayed longer on the under eye as well.

My rating: 4 out of 5


Overall, it's are a really good translucent loose powder for the price. It's great for setting my liquid foundation and locking it in place. I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for a smooth and lightweight setting powder without looking too matte, since this one gives out a really subtle glow.

You can buy this online at ph.althea.kr 

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

After sooo long of having these pretty blushes in my stash, I finally had time to take photos and swatches of my favorite cheek products from theBalm Cosmetics.

I've had these for a couple of years now and it still remains to be my favorite blush and bronzer to date. So, it's high time you find out why.

To those who are not aware, theBalm Cosmetics is a mid-range brand that carries a complete line of makeup, skin care, hair care and nail polish. All their products are cruelty-free and made in the USA.


Apart from the really eye-catching and beautiful packaging, what made me fell in love with theBalm Blushes is their formula and pigmentation. I've tried a lot of blushes from other brands but I always keep coming back to these products.

What I like about it...
* affordable, costs around Php900 per blush
* available at Beauty Bar and Sephora.ph
* really attractive designs for their packaging
* comes in a magnetic, lightweight cardboard material with mirror
* has a super smooth and fine texture which makes it very easy to blend
* has excellent color payoff so a little amount of product goes a long way
* can be used either as an eye shadow or blush
* stays long on my face, around 5 hours before it starts to fade
* unscented, at least none that I noticed
* no irritation or allergies experienced

What I don't like...
* it has fall outs but nothing too crazy

My rating: 5 out of 5


theBalm Bahama Mama is a matte bronzer that does not have any orange undertones. It also doubles as a perfect contour powder, neutral brow-filler and matte brown eyeshadow. I personally enjoy using this as a contour powder since it looks great on my NC35 skin tone. Nothing too warm and it does not look muddy on me.

theBalm Hot Mama is one of my favorite blush to date. It can be used as an eye shadow, blush and subtle highlighter. It has a pinky-peach hue with golden undertones that looks beautiful on a wide range of skin tones. I normally skip using a separate highlighter every time I use this since it gives off a pretty glow on my skin.


Both the Bahama Mama and Hot Mama have the same size and the same price. These two are a tad bit smaller, containing around 7 grams of product which is why they cost a little less compared to the other blushers.


theBalm CabanaBoy is a dusty-rose blush which I love to wear at night time. Its subtle shimmer catches the eye while plum undertones provide a glow that is oh-so-natural.


theBalm FratBoy is my all time favorite blush. It is also my most used blush among the three. This matte peachy-pink shade just gives the right flush on my cheeks making it perfect for everyday use.


Both CabanaBoy and FratBoy have the same size and price as well. It costs a little higher than the Bahama Mama and the Hot Mama since it contains about 8 grams of product. There is also DownBoy, however I didn't buy it cause it comes in a baby pink shade which does not suite my skin tone.


Here are the swatches of the three blushes side by side, so you ladies can see the difference. If you notice all of them are pretty and very wearable.

These are my favorite products from theBalm Cosmetics and I highly recommend them. I swear you wont' regret it.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

It is that time of the year again, when our favorite one stop shop for all things korean beauty is celebrating their birthday. Althea Korea Turns 2!!!

I'm sure you're all very excited to see what items I picked this time around. If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that I buy the Althea Box from time to time. So, I really just bought items that I needed at the moment and the rest are freebies and samples.


Here's the list of items I got, in random order:

Witch's Pouch Selfie Perfect Eyebrow in Gray Brown
Etude House Sunprise Watery Light Sunscreen SPF50
Aritaum Magic Contouring Highlighter
Beauty People Fast 10's Gel Liner Auto Pencil in Real Brown
Banila Co. Prime Hydrating Primer

Since it is Althea Korea is celebrating their second Birthday. They have prepared a lot of exciting giveaways for all of you.

Here's a sneak peak:


The First 5,000 customers will get the Limited Edition Althea Birthday Box design that looks like a cake! which includes a Birthday Kit and a Birthday sample pack for lucky early bird shoppers.


There will be Birthday Sales & Promotions for customers:
- 20days of Beauty Giveaway on @Altheakorea (Instagram)
- Althea Birthday Giveaway Festival for customers
(free products every other day in July to add into cart)
- Althea Beauty Box July - Birthday Makeup Box (theme) 3/7 released


Weekly Lucky Shopper Contest to win Althea credits


Instagram #AltheaTurns2 Contest - snap & show your decorated birthday box to win amazing prizes from Althea!


So what are you waiting for!?! This is the perfect time to shop for your favorite Korean Skin care and Makeup products.

You may visit their site HERE
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram

Enjoy Shopping!

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Yes you read that right. We were very blessed and lucky to have our first Cebu Beauty Bloggers Meetup at the Beauty Affair Face and Slimming Hub. We all got to experience different services depending on what our skin needed. In addition to that, we got to hang out with the gorgeous Owner Ms Reese Borromeo and fabulous Host Nico Ivan Velasquez.

Beauty Affair offers you the best facial care services with organic selection, whitening solutions and non-invasive body slimming procedures that makes use of the latest technology available in the scene. All services always come with touch from the heart coming from their professional line-up of beauty attendants who are there to make sure you feel and look good after every appointment.


The place has a really nice and calming ambiance. It was very clean and feminine. They offer a lot of skin care services as well as slimming services, thus explains the top of the line equipment they had. Despite the expensive equipment they offer their services at an affordable price.


One thing I noticed was that, their staff were friendly and personable. They wore genuine smiles on their faces which made me feel really comfortable and welcomed. Their Wifi is extremely fast too, which is a definite Bonus!

I tried their ELP Acne Laser Treament with Facial. I don't really have an acne prone skin, but I opted for this service since I had a some pimple spots on my face. This treatment, will help reduce pimples and lighten acne scars as well.

They first performed the facial procedure on my face and thoroughly cleaned it. Once done, they began the laser treatment then completed the service with a sunscreen.


Overall, it was a really pleasant experience. I even already plan to get some of their packages. Beauty Affair Hub is Hollie approved and would highly recommend this place for your facial care needs.

Visit them every Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 NN to 9:00 PM at the 2nd floor of the Alcon Arcade Building, F. Cabahug Street, Mabolo Cebu City. You can also reach them through 09772020598 or 09179789809.  You can find them on Facebook and Instagram

Ongoing Discounts

They offer a 10% discount to Hoteliers, BPO Employees, Residents of Mabolo Area and Followers on my Blog until December 31, 2017.

All you need to do is show them this blog post and avail your 10% Discount!

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

What it is:
A limited-edition blockbuster palette featuring cult-favorite blush and bronzers.

What it does:
Iconic Benefit Cosmetic blushes and bronzers rally together in this cheeky, must-have palette. The all-new GALifornia blush teams up with top players like Hoola bronzer, both original matte and lite, to warm up the complexion. Rock on with a rose-gold flush or baby pink pick-me-up. With five shades to flatter any skin tone, this Cheek Parade is sure to get the good vibes rollin’.

What it includes:
Full-size GALifornia blush (golden pink).
Full-size Hoola Matte Bronzer (natural bronze).
Full-size Hoola Lite Matte Bronzer (natural light bronze).
Full-size Rockateur Box o’ Powder Blush (rose gold with shimmer).
Full-size Dandelion Box o’ Powder Blush (radiant pale pink).
Mini natural-bristle powder brush.

Retail Price: Php 3,400.00 ($58 in the US)

What I like about it....
* value for money. I get five full-sized products for the price of two.
* has beautiful and sturdy packaging
* pretty shade selection
* comes with a free brush
* has a big mirror
* has a really nice citrus scent, not overwhelming
* excellent color payoff
* has a smooth texture and very easy to blend
* did not experience allergies or irritation

What I don't like...
* Some of the shades don't show up well on my NC35 skin tone
* a tiny bit powdery

My rating: 4 out of 5