Yes ladies, you read that right! I haven't posted a haul in a really long time so I got really excited to share with you my Korean Skincare Haul!

I have been obsessed with trying out different Korean Skin Care products from the most popular brands recently. So, I got a little too excited when I found an online shop for all things K-beauty that is locally based here in Cebu City.

You can find them online at https://gobloomandglow.com/ and they also have actual stalls at the Emporium located in V. Rama and the one in Norkis Cyber Park. They also have a stall at the Concept Cove located in Redemptorist Plaza here in Cebu City.


So on to my haul! I got several Hello Skin Jumiso sheet masks. I just thought their lady drawings are too cute to ignore and I'm so happy I did. These masks are wonderful and they work really well. Plus you will have an idea when to use the masks because of their drawings. LOL

Next are probably the best sellers online. I repurchased the Heimish All Clean Balm. It's my favorite makeup remover to date. It removes absolutely all makeup including the most stubborn waterproof makeup I have in my stash. And I like that I can simply transfer the balm into a tiny pot when I bring this with me on my travels.

Then I also got the Klairs Supple Preparation Toner, which is perfect for mornings since it is really very mild and hydrating. I would highly recommend this for those with sensitive skin as well. I got the small size bottle since I will be bringing this for travel as well.

And I got another toner which is the COSRX Two in One Poreless Power Liquid. I haven't used this toner yet but I've read awesome reviews for this product. So, I'll use this next when I run out of my current toner.


I also got the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch and the COSRX Clear Fit Master Patch. The difference between the two is that, the red patch can be left overnight over my pimple bumps. While the black patch are so much thinner and clearer so I can wear it out during daytime.


Lastly, I got the COSRX Blackhead Remover Mr. Rx Kit for my nose.

Overall, I'm quite happy with the shop's service and they shipped out my items right away. I got my package the next day.

Find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gobloomandglow/ and
on Instagram as @gobloomandlgow 

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Hey ladies! I've missed you. I hope you still keep reading my posts. Anyway, I've got another exciting new product for you all. Get It Beauty, Korea’s no. 1 beauty TV show, has recently collaborated with Althea Korea for this new product.

To make a healthy beauty life, Get It Beauty creates a new beauty ritual with Althea. Created to suit the hectic schedules of modern urbanites, this product harnesses the goodness of nature and translates into freshness and vitality for the skin.

The Althea x Get It Beauty REAL FRESH SKIN DETOXER is essentialy a daily 10-second wash off mask that you can use day and night.


It comes in two variants.

Real Fresh Skin Detoxer in ROSE: for Refining
A rose-infused facial mask that would suit your morning routine to strip away dirt accumulated overnight to reveal a healthy glowing skin.

In the morning after you wake up, this product helps to protect and balance the pH levels of the skin, evening out the skin's texture for perfect makeup application.

Real Fresh Skin Detoxer in GREEN TEA: for Purifying
Infused with purifying green tea extract, it helps to soothe and refresh tired skin after a long day outdoors.

At 10 pm, the time skin cell regeneration is most active, the product boosts the skin's natural regeneration process by ensuring the skin is purified and ready to rest.

I posted a first impressions video on my Facebook page, you can check out on the link below.



How To Use It:
Treat it like a gentle mask pack for your skin. It's super simple!
1. Strip off any makeup left and let your skin dry.
2. Apply a generous layer of the Real Fresh Skin Detoxer to your face and let it sit for 10 seconds.
3. Wet your palms and gently massage your face. The water from your palms will mix with the product and cause it to bubble up a little like a facial cleanser.
4. Rinse it off with water before completing the rest of your skincare routine.



Overall, both products are really good and mild enough for daily use. The Rose variant is perfect for mornings, since it feels so much milder and feels more hydrating. This is actually the first rose scented product that I actually liked. It smells really good too. 

You can get the Real Fresh Skin Detoxer Set at the Althea website HERE.

The Green Tea variant, is intended for night use since it works more like a deep cleanser. After a long day's work, it makes my skin feel squeaky clean yet doesn't leave my skin feeling dry. Also, I noticed that this one bubbles up more compared to the rose variant.

It's been a successful collaboration with Get It Beauty! And did you know that K-pop star Jeonghwa from the group EXID is also a fan of the product? Check out the video below!


Enjoy ladies!

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

It's been a while ladies! A whole lot of things have been going on with me and barely had time to do any posts. I'm trying to catch up with some back logs and so I'll try to post as much as I can.


Anyway, I had a chance to join one of Mark Qua's workshop at Rustan's Cebu last May as he launches Laura Mercier's newest lipstick line, the Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick. He's always fun to watch and I never get bored listening to him. Plus I always learn something new in terms of technique every time he comes to Cebu.


After the event, I got gifted with four shades from the Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick line and a sample tube of the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish. (thanks to Rustans The Beauty Source)
I've been testing these out for over a month and I can say I'm quite happy with it.


Modern matte lipstick so seductive in colour, touch and texture the sensation is irresistible. Mattifying powders and silky conditioners envelop your lips in the softness and comfort of velour. A collection of 24 vivid shades provide intense color with a dramatic matte finish. The sleek slimline design applies with precision artistry.

Extreme Colour
Intense pigment-rich colour delivers full-coverage intensity in a single stroke. Our highest pigmented lipstick.

Extreme Matte
Innovative mattifying powders enriched with silky conditioners create supreme comfort in a matte finish, that doesn't feel drying and resists cracking.

Extreme Control
Slim precision bullet allows formula to grab and glide over lips, defining and filling in one seamless stroke. Built-in shaper customizes tip for precision lining and detailed filling. Ideal for creating edgy effects and everyday extremes. No liner needed.

24 Extreme Seductively Matte Shades


What I like about it...
* very convenient and easy to use since it is in pen form
* comes in a twist type tube and elegant packaging like always
* comes with a sharpener at the bottom
* excellent color payoff, one swipe is all I need, then I spread it all over my lips
* it is very matte, but very comfortable on my lips and not drying at all
* lasts for a good 2 to 3 hours on me
* feels velvety smooth so it applies easily
* feels very lightweight on my lips, you won't feel like you're wearing lipstick
* unscented, it has no distinct smell at all
* comes with a wide variety of shades
* I did not experience any allergies or irritation

What I don't like...
* a bit pricey for only 1. 4grams of lipstick

My rating: 4 out of 5

Althea, your one-stop online shop for absolutely everything K-beauty, has finally launched its very own product line! First to be introduced from this highly anticipated label is the Petal Velvet Powder, a mattifying, translucent powder that sets makeup and leaves behind a smooth, silky satin finish.

The latest release from the Althea label is one that addresses a common problem faced by millions of Althea's fans. They don't know what specific steps and procedures to complete the Korean skincare routine, when in reality it shouldn't be a difficult process at all.

Althea strips down to the bare essentials with this new skincare line. Bare Essentials focuses on skincare fundamentals and drops all the non-essentials. These thoughtfully crafted products give the benefits of the infamous 10-step Korean skincare routine, rolled into 3 quick and easy steps.

These new beauty hybrid products pack a double punch too. They're products that nourish the skin while leaving it looking bright, glowing, and beautiful. With clean, minimal, yet effective formulas, these straightforward products epitomize simple perfection and deliver maximum results with minimum effort.


Packed with soothing Ice Plant and detoxifying Lemon Myrtle extracts, this cleanser is densely filled with micro capsules that burst upon contact with water to gently cleanse, exfoliate, and detoxify skin.

Review: I have been testing this out for the past two weeks and I really enjoyed the minty and refreshing feeling this cleanser gives. It cleansed my face really well without leaving it tight and dry.  It has a very mild scent too which is a plus for me.

My rating: 4 / 5


Both a hydrating toner and a primer in one, the Primer Water contains patented dewdrop technology that gently fills the gaps between pores and allows hydration to penetrate deep within the layers of the skin. Made with Snow Lotus extracts, this skincare heavy hitter has an incredibly smooth and silky texture that enhances the skin's natural glow.

Review: This one's rather interesting though. It's really hydrating and does serve as a good primer since it made my face feel really smooth, making it easier to apply makeup after. Unlike other watery toners that I'm used to, this one has a gel-like consistency.  It's very mild and absorbs easily on my skin. I really don't feel like this did something to my skin. However, I would highly recommend this toner to those with dry skin.

My rating: 3 /5


This non-oily, quick absorbing formula harnesses the power of Trehalose, an ingredient found in the cactus plant that prevents its moisture loss, to provide the skin with 24-hour hydration. This ultra nourishing wonder cream is also rich in antioxidants derived from green tea seed oil, and helps to promote collagen regeneration using Baobab Tree extracts.

Review: It's a really lightweight moisturizer that does an awesome job with leaving my skin well hydrated overnight. It does not feel sticky or greasy at all, as it absorbs quickly on my skin. When I wake up in the morning, I noticed that my skin feels really soft and looks healthy all over.

My rating: 4 / 5


All of their products are very affordable considering that they are hypoallergenic and would suite all skin types. I feel that this would make a great skincare set especially to those who are just starting out a skincare routine.

Althea is giving out an additional 10% off with a free special edition mirror if you purchase now. So head on over to www.althea.kr today!

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Hey ladies! I've missed you all! It has been a while since I posted here in blogsphere. But I just thought this one's worth sharing.

I recently had the pleasure to work with the Kanebo Cosmetics team. It's the first time I've experienced a counter takeover for a few hours. Where we offered beauty consultations and free makeover. It was such a fun experience and I got to find a couple of products from Kanebo that I fell in love with during the few hours that I played with their skin care and makeup.


 I posted about the event all over my social media sites. In case you missed it, here's the e-poster they made for me.


I also had an FB live while doing a fresh day time makeup for a friend. I first asked her what her plans where for the day and what look she's going for. She came in literally bare-faced and just wanted to have a polished look for the day, since she's just going to do errands.



Anyway, I made up a few others who wanted to me to just fix their brows and was just honestly glad they were happy with how their brows looked.


For those who are not familiar with the brand. Kanebo is a high-end Asian cosmetics brand. They are the leading producer of high-quality cosmetics and skincare, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Fun Fact: Kanebo is the first maker of powder foundations.


These ladies really helped me a lot during the event. I asked them about their best sellers and found that their Skin Care line is what their customers comeback for. I've seen first hand on how wonderful the effect is of their skin care. They had a loyal customer who repurchased a ton of skin care, she was in her late 50's but her skin is absolutely flawless, soft and smooth. I was amazed on how lovely her skin looked. I honestly thought she looked like she was in her mid 40's.


I really loved a lot from their makeup line, especially their primers and foundations. But these two above are the products I really think are worth trying. Will post reviews soon.

Please do visit their official website  https://www.kanebo-global.com/global/en/
to know more about the brand.

Follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kanebo.global.ph
and on Instagram @kaneboglobalph

Until next time.

Cheerios!

***Hollie***
 

I am truly excited to share with you all that Rivecowe is now available in Cebu. You read that right, Rivecowe is a Korean Cosmetics brand specializing in Good Base Make Up. As per the official Korean distributor here in PH, it is Pronounced as "Rive-koi".

What sets them apart from the rest of the K-Beauty brands is that they use 8 special herbs in all of their products. Here's a list of all eight herbs and what they use it for.

Lavender : Anti-Inflammatory
Rosemary : Prevents aging, Anti-Bacterial
Thyme : Antiseptics
Mint : Anti-Inflammatory, Refreshingness
Borage : Anti - Inflammatory
Sage : Whitening, Sterilizing
Jasmine :  Improve Skin Elasticity
Chamomile :  Moisture, Antiseptics


They had a workshop here in Cebu last November and I got the chance to learn more about their product and was lucky enough to try some. Here are some of the products I tried.


Bubble Mask Pack - This is the first time I've used a mask intended for deep cleansing. It's really fun to use. You just apply it like you would using a normal sheet mask. After a few seconds, it starts bubbling up making my face tickle. I really like that it removes makeup residue then leaves my face feeling very hydrated and moisturized at the same time.


Chiffon Lipstick - I think the name is really fitting for this product. I got the shade No. 6 which I would describe as a peachy nude brown color. It reminds me of my Mac Lipstick in Mocha. The lipstick is highly pigmented, applies smoothly, feels lightweight and gives a velvety finish. It does not have any weird or strong scent as well, which is a plus for me. It's stays for a decent couple of hours on my lips until I eat or drink.


Flexible Liquid Brush Pen  Eyeliner - This has got to be my favorite liquid eyeliner to date. I really like the brush pen applicator of this eyeliner as it allows me to create thin and thick lines. It's very black, glides on nicely and stays all day. It is waterproof. Fade, melt, crack-resistant.


Correction Convenient Cream ( CC Cream) - This is formulated for Normal Skin. It claims to improve skin texture and give a finished makeup effect. It is for whitening, anti-wrinkle and has SPF 43 PA+++ .  I have used this as base, it does a great job of giving me that dewy healthy looking skin. However, I still prefer to set this with a translucent powder to minimize the shine on my T-Zone.

Overall they offer really high quality products for an affordable price.

You can visit them on Facebook Rivecowe PH Official
and their Official Website https://rivecowe.com.ph/
and get to know more about their products and prices.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

It's time again for another Mascara Round Up! I really enjoy trying out different Mascaras because I have been searching for an HG Mascara for the past couple of years. I even go as far as ordering drugstore mascaras that aren't available locally. Would you believe that I even searched what's the popular mascara in India? LOL... You can check out my previous Mascara Round up HERE.


First up is the Loreal Hydrofuge Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara. The only I reason I got this, is because Jaclyn Hill really swears by this mascara. True enough, this one rocks! It gives me that instant volume, lift and length that I want from a mascara. It doesn't smudge and it doesn't flake. It stays all day.

I tested wearing this mascara during Jiu Jitsu training and it didn't move! It's a bit drier compared to other mascaras but it does that trick. This one's hard to remove with just my ordinary makeup remover. I find the cleansing oils works well with removing this.  The only thing I noticed with this is, my lashes gets a bit sticky when it gets really wet.

My rating: 4 out of 5


Next is the Loreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara. Yes, you read that right! I got my hands on this cause I ordered it from the US (not available locally) And I'm really glad I did. I just found my HG waterproof mascara! It really lengthens, lifts, volumizes and separates my lashes well. It doesn't clump!

I swear this one does not move whatsoever.  It doesn't smudge, smear or flake. It even stayed during my Jiu Jitsu training. I had about 5 rolls and still nothing happened (which means I'm very sweaty and about to die...LOL), my mascara was just there. It can only be removed with my Heimish Cleansing Balm. That's the only downside with this mascara. I had a hard time removing it with just a micellar water makeup remover or a cleansing oil. If that's what you are looking for then you'll love this!

My rating:  5 out of 5

Next is the Maybelline Lash Discovery Waterproof Mascara. I ordered this together with my Loreal mascaras. I got this because of Emily Noel on youtube. I was looking for a mascara that was perfect for my lower lashes and so I read a couple of reviews that this does a good job with lower lashes.

The lash wand applicator is so tiny that I had high hope for this. However, it was fail for me. I tested it about three times but I find it hard to apply on my lower lashes. Probably because my lower lashes are short and a bit sparse? this mascara just look like dirt on my lower lashes. Not really sure what I'm doing wrong. However, as for the formulation, it's actually pretty good. It doesn't smudge or smear but it flakes through out the day. Also, the since the wand is so tiny it reaches the roots of my lashes very easily and give my lashes instant volume.

My rating:  3 out of 5


Next is this Delia Cosmetics Keratin Lash Max Volume Mascara. It was gifted to me (blogger perks hehe) and it's made in EU. By the looks of the wand, I thought this would work well too. However, this one's a total fail. The formulation is just too wet so it takes a long time to dry and barely does anything for my lashes. It simply coats my lashes and looks well defined, but that's it. It barely adds volume. Did not notice lengthening and does not hold the curl of my lashes. It just has a pretty packaging cause it's metallic purple. LOL

My rating: 1 out of 5


Lastly, here's the Miniso Long-Lasting Curling Mascara which I bought for only P99 pesos at Miniso (Miniso is a Japan based low-cost retailer and variety chain store) in Robinson's Place Manila. Obviously, I did not have high hopes with this mascara. I just bought it cause I liked the shape of the wand. Honestly, it's a decent mascara. The formulation is a bit wet and slightly sticky so when I was testing this out, I had to remove the excess on the tip, otherwise it would be a big mess. It's not waterproof so it really tends to smudge after a couple of hours on me. It does a decent job of volumizing my lashes and holding up my curl but it doesn't lengthen. Other than that, this would be suffice if you just want to go out on a quick errand.

My rating: 2 out of 5


If you're curious, these two are my favorite HG mascaras to date! The Loreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara and Benefit Roller Lash Mascara. I didn't include the Benefit Roller lash in the Round up because I plan to buy the full sized version and probably make a separate in-depth review for it. But just so you know, the Benefit Roller Lash is my HG Everyday Mascara.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Yes ladies, you read that right! if you're a fellow beauty enthusiast and you love nails then you'll surely be thrilled to know that the Gelish and Morgan Taylor Matadora Collection is now available in Cebu.

Here’s a fact—in the Philippines, nobody knows how to do fiestas better than the Cebuanos. Their celebrations are always next level grand, colorful, and lively. And their citizens are always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that festivities, whether big or small, are always held with a dash of homage to their strong Spanish background.

Perhaps this is the reason why the world’s leading gel polish brand, Gelish ®, and sister company Morgan Taylor, decided to choose the Queen City of the South as the point of entry of their Fall 2017 collection into the Philippines. Aptly named “Matadora”, the collection is inspired by the rich and vivid culture and scenery of Spain—expressed in lavish fall tones of purple, navy and reds, as well as pops of other shades that are meant to transport you to the streets of one of the world’s most romantic destinations.


Gelish® and Morgan Taylor’s Matadora collection has six new beautiful shades, including:

Olé My Way - described as a Navy Blue Shimmer
Danced And Sang-ria - is a Vampy Purple Creme
All Tango-d Up - is a Deep Red Creme
Don’t Break My Corazón - described as an Orange Red Creme
Mauve Your Feet - described as a Mauve Nude Creme
I’m Drawing a Blanco - described as White Shimmer


I had the chance to experience both the Morgan Taylor and Gelish polishes from the Matadora Collection at Salon de Rose in SM Seaside Cebu during their launch.

I chose the Morgan Taylor Ole My Way shade for my nails then the Gelish Ole My Way on my feet.

I was amazed at how opaque and long lasting the Morgan Taylor nail polish was. It lasted for almost three weeks on my nails without chipping. And to think, I do daily chores at home, like washing the dishes and doing a bit of laundry. I also do Jiu Jitsu every night, which requires a lot of tugging and pulling and my polish is still intact! Definitely recomended!

Both Morgan Taylor and Gelish®’s version of the Matadora collection are available in Cebu and other parts of the country, first, through Salon de Rose’s 29 branches, including SM Seaside, Ayala Center Cebu, SM Cebu, Tabunok Cebu, Cybergate Cebu, Abreeza Mall, SM City Davao, Centrio Mall CDO, and Festival Mall Alabang. For more information about them, you may visit www.salonderose.com, or like Facebook.com/salonderose.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***