Ask any beauty aficionado, what their favorite sunscreen is and more often than not the Biore UV watery essence will pop up. It's no secret that most Japanese skincare brands have my heart (along with Korean beauty products) - they just work really well for me. I'm an avid fan of the Biore UV watery sunscreen in the blue tube/bottle and can completely understand why it has cult status.

Why's to love about Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essense?

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It has a water-gel texture that's easily absorbed by the skin giving a natural, skin-like non-greasy finish (no noticeable white cast). It's also super lightweight, making it great under makeup or by itself.

Sometimes  though you want something different, you can't get a hold of the Biore sunscreen or for some reason it's not working for you anymore. Enter Village 11 Factory's Hydra Sun Fluid.


 
Biorè vs Village 11 Factory

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1. Bottle - Village 11 has a pump but there's a tendency to lose the cap as it can be easily opened whereas the Biore one comes in a squeezable tube and a harder bottle with a screw-top.
2. Scent - The Biore has this alcohol-scent to it while this one has no noticeable scent.
3. Texture - While similar, Village 11 is more water-gel-like than Biore. But both are runny.
4. Color - Biore is has more of a milky color that blends on the skin while the Village 11 is clear.
5. Availability - Biore is more easily accesible at most Watsons' stores while Village 11 you can only find online. I got mine at Mei Satsuki on Shoppee (they also have a Facebook!)
6. Price - Biore's 50g tube costs around P500 at Watsons while Village 11's 50ml tube is around P650. Not much difference really.

Get the Biorè if you like Japanese brands or if Biorè in general has worked for you (if certain brands already work for you my advice is to stick to it) but if you're sensitive to scents or don't like alcohol-smelling products get the Village 11 Factory instead or Face Republic's Super Screen Sun Gel! (Very similar to Village 11's. All in all, they work great on their own and under makeup :)

Which one have you tried? Are you a kbeauty hoe or a japanjapan one? I'm both if you couldn't tell already.


xx,
CJ

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This CC Cooling Cushion is specifically made for dry, sensitive skin that is prone to redness. So of course I practically ran towards this variant. There really isn't much in terms of coverage which is perfect for me and the texture is watery and thin.

Sheer coverage works best when you want to re-apply throughout the day. Most products that have coverage, I find tend to cake up and look like you have a lot of base on.


The Face Shop Miracle Finish line - CC Cooling in shade V203.



I'm a sucker for packaging so this black and gold cushion case is a+.
Priced at Php 1,095 it's a little more steep than what I usually get but I got this buy one,get one so it's a better deal.



It has this cooling sensation because of the 'Snow oil' that aids in calming itchiness and irritation. And that factor makes it a nice 'summer' or actually perfect for our Philippine weather. Full ingredients here.



The tone is yellowish and with a little olive.

You all know how I love me some KBeauty, and if the beauty community is to be believed, a lot of people here in the PH do to! We already have a multitude of physical and online stores to satisfy our "Kutis Koreana Beauty" cravings, a new addition to the list is http://www.beautylabwhitening.com/.

Hailing from Korea, Beauty Lab Whitening, as the name suggests is a clinic that specializes in simple and strategic whitening/lightening procedures for the face and body. The most famous one being the "Red light theraphy" wherein you put their product on your skin and you go into something akin to a tanning bed (but vertical?) called the R-630 Collagen Machine and yes, they use red light.

"R-630 COLLAGEN MACHINE - Activates the natural collagen cells in the skin. Gives the skin a healthy pink glow."

"The Beauty Lab program combines whitening treatment, R-630 collagen light, dead skin cells management, and home care for truly authentic and lasting white skin. Our patented technique is non-invasive, uses no oral prescriptions, and promotes natural beauty and a healthy lifestyle." - Beauty Lab Whitening/Suaviss Korea

"Our goal is to embue our customers with glowing skin that is not only immediately whiter but also healthier in the long term." - Beauty Lab Whitening/Suaviss Korea

What's better than KBeauty? KBeauty that uses natural ingredients! Here are some of the things I got from their shop.


Ordering experience

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It was as quick and painless as with other online stores I've used. One caveat is that you can't check out as a visitor- you need to register and make an account. This can be an issue to some.

Feeling good about my choices. I checked out. Then waited. But after a few days and the proceeding days after, they began to contact me thru text and call that my orders weren't in stock. After giving out alternatives I thought that was that but they contacted me again saying my replacements weren't in stock too.


Miffed, I agreed to just get whatever was in stock. The products finally got into my hands, a week and some change, after going to their booth (near my workplace). This all could've been simpler had the website been updated with their available stocks.




Goodies "Purchased"

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Cleansing water, Facial Lotion (2nd step) and Anti-ageing serum. All of which have some sort of lightening ingredient. The Facial lotion is specifically for whitening though.

I'm currently using the cleansing water (slippery and can't be used on the eyes but works pretty decent especially at its price-point! Doesn't leave my skin feeling dry too) and the facial lotion (lightweight and nourishing enough as a daily moisturizer for my somewhat dry skin)

Have yet to try the serum as I still have 2 open.

How many have heard of this treatment? Based on reviews and claims, effects are seen quite soon. As in after ONE session.


xx,
CJ

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You guys know about Althea Korea by now for sure. The online Korean Beauty destination has captured every Kbeauty enthusiast in the Philippines (and Southeast Asia!). Just in case you've been living under a rock here are some links (here, here and here) to get you acclimated to the wonderful world of Althea.

Althea finally released their own makeup brand, the first product being this Petal Velvet Powder made for all skin types and more importantly (to me at least) made from natural ingredients + CRUELTY FREE!

Claims :
- Translucent
- Controls sebum but non-drying
- Blurs pores and leaves a lightweight, smooth velvety finish
- Non-comedogenic
- Made from natural and cruelty-free ingredients

The main highlighted ingredient are "Althea seeds" which give hydration, sun protection and provides anti-ageing properties.

Full ingredient list : silica, mica, vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, methicone, hibiscus syriacus seed extract, hydrogenated lecithin, 1,2-hexanediol, glyceryl caprylate, maltodextrin, fragrance



Packaging is a simple and compact screw-cap lid jar. Not surprisingly, the puff included is very soft and useable. I would assume the people behind Althea know the woes of having 'trash' applicators included in the product.

Compared to another cult KBeauty loose translucent powder - Innisfree 'No Sebum Mineral Powder', this is priced at P220/3g while the Innisfree one is P260 (sale price)/5g. Althea's is cheaper but barely. For how much you get, it's more sound to get the Innisfree one.



If you want to try something new and if the added bonus of Althea seeds, sun protection and anti-ageing intrigue you Althea's might suit you better. Apart from the aforementioned claims, I don't see anything different from what they both hope to achieve, which is to set the makeup, control sebum and leave a silky soft finish on the skin.



Experience

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Ok I admit the price is up there for 3g but you really don't need much especially for these types of powders. Let's start with the aesthetics and other superficials. The packaging with the Althea branding is great. It's compact and the plastic material isn't the cheap kind. You know those types of plastic packaging that break easily?

The scent is very light to me. There is a noticeable scent but it's faint. As for the product itself, it sets the face well leaving my skin velvety smooth (true to the claim) but that's the case for most translucent 'silica'-y powders. I do like the added benefit of anti-ageing, sun protection and hydration (from the Althea seeds).

I can also commend the fact that it's non-comedogenic (my sensitive skin didn't break-out thankfully), cruelty-free and has ingredients that are natural. As for the oil control though, as someone who has dry skin my t-zone still oiled up. It didn't dry out my skin though and if you put a little too much it can tend to make your skin look REALLY dry.

Though it's nothing a little face spray can't fix. I wouldn't say it's the magical product for all oily-skinned people. It's a pretty great touch-up powder too because there's no colour it doesn't alter your face base.

Bottom-line: It's not bad. At all. The price is good. The product works sufficiently well. There's no white-cast that I can claim. But I wouldn't necessarily wax poetic about this powder.

Have you tried this powder? Have you tried any loose setting translucent powders? Share below!

xx,
CJ

PS. Thanks Althea Korea for sending this over and letting me try it!

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I believe it's safe to say that kbeauty has been cemented in the hearts of many in the beauty world. There's at least one kbeauty item in a beauty enthusiast's regimen. Be it skincare or makeup, we have all been converted to the wonderful world of Korean beauty and we don't mind one bit.