From Manila with Love: korean skincare

image of a beautiful black woman with a towel on her haid and touching her bare face

Toners or 'skin', as labeled in some asian products, are always marketed as a must in your skin care regimen. You know how it goes, after washing place some toner on a cotton pad or your palms and gently pat on your skin. Not to be confused with astringents or those alcohol based toners that leave your skin feeling tingly, minty, tight and dry.

I admit I personally didn't see the importance of toners in my teens as I frequently forget to put it or just disregard it completely but they in fact do a significant difference to the skin. Let me break it down...

an image of a matte glass red bottle on a rug

Retails at ₱1,580.00/ 130ml

The skin has a natural PH level of 4 to 6 with the scale of PH ranging from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline). Healthy skin has a PH level of around 5.5 which is slightly acidic. Washing the face with your cleanser plus water skews that balance and makes it typically more alkaline so a toner's job is to 'balance' it out to it's natural level to make it radiant and healthy. So toners generally are *slightly* acidic to help re-balance your skin post-cleansing.

an image of a red matte glass bottle with korean ingredients on it placed on a rug

Use a toner. Periodt.

Similar to moisturizers, no matter what skin type you have, you should always use a toner. It maybe a little more tedious but it does help in establishing a healthy barrier and preps your skin to absorb the rest of your skin care.

There are many toners in the market that can cater to a lot of people but I generally prefer Asian or Korean made skincare. What I've been using lately is this So'Natural PH5.5 RED WATER TONER, which fits the bill EXACTLY. This toner has a unique red color and not just the matte glass bottle but the liquid itself. This is not a result from artificial colouring but from the natural ingredients it has.

an image of a hand with toner liquid in the palm

Ingredients :
Purified water, glycerin-26, glycerin, 1,2-hexanediol, butyleneglycol, methylglucose-10, sodium citrate, indian myrtle flower extract, indian myrtle leaf extract, xanthan gum, sheet Ric Acid, Betaine, Caramel, Daodium Sodium Dithia, Tea Tree Leaf Extract, Ivygod Fruit Extract, True Coral Horse Extract, Centella asiatica Extract, Lemon Extract, Green Tea Extract

Fun fact : This toner has an EWG GREEN rating, meaning that all the ingredients meet the strictest European Union's standard of acceptable health, ecotoxicity and contamination concerns. The labels properly state all of the ingredients and follow good manufacturing practices amongst other criteria.
See other products/ingredients that are RED, BLACK OR GREEN on EWG here.

Typically I pat this on my skin after washing my face or whenever I feel like my skin feels dry and needs a little boost. So far, I don't see any visible results from using this particular toner after 3 weeks of straight use BUT I do notice that my skin isn't as taut after washing and using this. I feel assured in knowing that I take care of my skin properly (as much as I can) and that it will pay off as I get older.

How about you? Which toners do you love using?

xx,
CJ

PS. Thank you SeoulUnni for sending me this to try!

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With 'Glass Skin' being the latest talk of [Korea beauty] town in terms of skincare, it's no surprise that affordable korean beauty source, Althea Korea came up with another addition to their line.

Makeup artist Ellie Choi shares her skincare routine to achieving clear, pristine, poreless a.k.a 'glass-like skin',

I've tried the whole line for about a month and I have to say this line overall is pretty good with one a particular standout I might add.

Skin type : Sensitive with dry cheeks, under-eyes and forehead.

Althea Korea, has been on a roll with their own beauty brand following a great response from their pioneer product - Althea Velvet Powder. Now they're delving into the world of skincare and tackling the laborious 10-12 Korean skincare routine. Their answer? The 3 step 'Bare Essentials' line.

Great makeup starts with great skin

As most makeup lovers know, great skin equals great makeup. There's no denying the satisfaction of playing with makeup and getting your face ready for the day but there's equally a satisfying feeling when you apply less or not to even wear makeup at all you know?

The 3 step line, aims to give a more streamlined easier approach to having Kbeauty skin without the intense multi-step regimen.

The product breakdown

Step 1 - Cleanse
Contour Cleanser - a rich and refreshing foaming cleanser that contains micro capsules to both cleanse and gently exfoliate away impurities while improving blood circulation for that V-shaped look.

Key ingredients:
Ice plant - Hydrates and calms redness
Lemon verbena leaf - Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to strengthen the skin

Step 2 - Tone
Primer Water - smooth, hydrating and ever so slightly balm-like, this bottle of wonder penetrates into the layers of the skin to plump them up, prepping the skin and making it a smooth canvas for products to come.

Key ingredients:
Snow lotus - Smoothens and brightens the skin while evening out its texture
Patented "dewdrop" formulation - Revitalizes the skin and provides immediate, effective moisture

Step 3 - Moisturize

Fixer Cream - powerful moisturizing properties are packed into this little jar that provides the skin with hydration for up to 24 hours for a fresh, revitalized complexion.

Key ingredients:
Trehalose - Powerful humectant that retains moisture on the skin
Wild Green Tea - Hydrating, skin soothing and pack with antioxidants
Baobab Tree Extract - Non-greasy moisturizing agent that helps promote collagen production

Thoughts / Experience

As you can tell, the whole line is about hydration and moisture as with most Kbeauty skincare regimen and I'm all for it. The key ingredients all promise moisturization and soothing which we all need regardless of skin type. What I like most about the ingredients are that they aren't that common. Everything was a new thing for me to discover and most of these ingredients are pretty natural/plant-based (no breakouts from me!). It's worth noting that the fragrance is listed at the very end. Three thumbs up for that.

The cleanser - is a typical foamy cleanser. The beads aren't harsh at all and the consistency itself is creamy and you really only need a small pea-sized amount because it lathers so well. After cleansing I don't find my skin feeling taught or dry. Would I buy it by itself? Probably not.

The toner - If you've ever tried Cetaphil or Galderma cleansers, you know the non lathering cream cleanser, the consistency and texture is similar to that albeit this one is a little more runny and not soapy feeling after wiping it off.

It's very milky and I do find it giving me a little more moisture after cleansing. I do really like this one. But the best one for me in this line is their...

The moisturizer - This one takes the cake. The cream itself is emollient but not oily or thick. It's like a gel-cream hybrid. So still light but it won't let you feel like you didn't put anything moisturizing on. It's very hydrating for me but I must say I only use it at night. If I do use it during the day, I make sure to use a small amount.

How much is it?

The price for the entire set is ₱1,341, which is pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Plus Althea's customer service is top notch from what I've experienced so far.

Out of all the 3, I would recommend the moisturizer. If only for the fact that it has Baobab tree extract - the tree in The Little Prince. I know, such a trivial thing but people go crazy over boxes of product so leave me alone! (Their minimalist packaging for their homegrown brand also stole my heart, just to add. Kbye)

Have you tried this yet? What do you think about the key ingredients?

xx,
CJ

Ps. Thanks Althea Korea for sending these over to try!

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beautylabwhitening product haul shopping experience

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

Apparently this treatment is quite popular in Korea i.e. celebrities i.e. IU.

They also sell what they use in their procedures and kindly asked me to try their online store + some of their products.

Photos from Beauty Whitening Lab's Facebook Page

BeautyLab Whitening's skincare products claim to never use pigments, artificial fragrances or other artificial additives in any of their solutions. So all products have 95% natural and 5% functional ingredients, (according to them) which maximizes long-term benefits while minimizing side effects.

"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

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"

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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