Spotlight | Avon K-Beauty Collection.

Annyeong yeorobun! (Hello everyone!)
It's been awhile since I last did a product review on this blog, let alone publish a beauty-related post. Mianhe! (Sorry!) The past few weeks had been extremely toxic for me, and I had no time to shoot product photos and take swatches of all these items in my 'to-blog' list.

Thankfully, our unexpected long weekend gave me the opportunity to take photos and swatches, and finally write about the Avon K-Beauty Collection. Yes, you read it right - K-Beauty!

Avon, the iconic beauty/household brand that most women (especially Filipinas) know and love, recently partnered with a top South Korean H&H (household & health care) company as part of its continued transformation and reinvention. The result? This new and offbeat range of beauty products straight from South Korea - the home of 'chok chok' skin, dewy makeup, and skincare innovation.

The Avon K-Beauty Collection.

I received this package several weeks ago, and I was very much impressed with the brand/PR's attention to detail. This package actually came in a lovely bojagi (traditional Korean wrapping cloth) for even more K-culture (more like K-drama) feels. I love it! The PR package resembled those gifts that Koreans receive during special occasions, like Chuseok or Seollal.

The Avon K-Beauty collection wrapped inside this bojagi.

Now here's a closer look at the Avon K-Beauty Collection. First up, the Avon True Color Power Essence Color Correcting Cushion. Avon totally nailed it with the long product name, haha! Korean beauty products are notorious for their ridiculously long, tongue-twister-like names, and this new CC cushion from Avon is no exception.

Avon True Color Power Essence Color Correcting Cushion. 

The Avon True Color Power Essence Color Correcting Cushion (Php 799) is a cushion compact infused with color-correcting pigments that target common complexion concerns (dullness, redness, uneven skin tone) for instantly improved, radiant skin.

A closer look at the Avon True Color Power Essence Color Correcting Cushion.

It comes in a chunkier-than-usual black compact complete with a mirror and a standard puff applicator. What's interesting about this cushion is that you don't have to use the puff to 'pick up' the product. Instead, you press the pan for the product to come out of those tiny holes. 

The puff applicator + the cushion pan.

The Avon True Color Power Essence Color Correcting Cushion comes in three shades - Light, Nude, and Shell. I find Nude to be the shade most suitable for my skin tone. It's light beige in color and has a cooler undertone compared to Shell. 

From L-R: CC01 Light, CC02 Nude, CC02 Shell.

This product has a sheer and lightweight formula and offers light to medium coverage. Keep it mind that CC's do not usually provide full coverage; rather they are meant to address skin issues like redness or sallowness, and for me, the Avon True Color Power Essence Color Correcting Cushion does exactly that. 

Bare face.

Wearing the Avon True Color Power Essence Color Correcting Cushion
in CC02 Nude.

All dolled up, with the Avon True Color Power Essence Color
Correcting Cushion as my makeup base + Avon True Color Dual Gradient Lipstick
in Mauve Maven on my lips.

I've been using this as my makeup base for the past few weeks, and I love its instant glowing effect on my skin! It does a good job of covering my skin imperfections, but still looks very natural on the skin. This cushion also offers sun protection (SPF 30 PA +++), which is a plus for me.

Also included in the package is the True Color Dual Gradient Lipstick, Avon's response to the ever-so-popular beauty trend.  If you're a fan of Korean beauty products or perhaps a K-drama addict, then you know that gradient/ombre lips hit the Korean beauty scene many, many years ago and has since gained popularity across the world.

The Avon True Color Dual Gradient Lipstick (Php 299) comes in five different shades, and I had the chance to try these three - Hollywood Red, Romantic Rose, and Mauve Maven.

Avon True Color Dual Gradient Lipstick.

Top shade - Hollywood Red, Bottom left - Romantic Rose, Bottom right - Mauve Maven.

L-R: Hollywood Red, Romantic Rose, Mauve Maven.

They're packaged in a black rectangular tube, and each lipstick is designed with a diagonal cut to help you achieve the gradient look with ease. The shades look promising from the get-go and you can definitely see the color contrast in the tube, but alas, that contrast is nowhere to be found once you swatch the shades or apply the product on your lips. 

Avon True Color Dual Gradient Lipstick in Hollywood Red.

Avon True Color Gradient Lipstick in Mauve Maven.

Avon True Color Gradient Lipstick in Romantic Rose.

If anything, the Avon True Color Dual Gradient Lipsticks are nicely pigmented, easy to apply, and are very hydrating. These lipsticks are infused with vitamin E, silk protein, and aloe extract to make your lips literally 'glisten with moisture'. I wouldn't recommend this product if you're a fan of matte lipsticks (with the exception of Hollywood Red, since this shade has a semi-matte finish), but if you're all for that creamy, satin finish, you might find this lipstick to your liking.

Finally, we have the sheet masks, all made with cutting-edge, top quality Korean ingredients. It's no secret that I'm a sheet mask addict, and I was very much excited to pamper my skin with these babies.

Avon sheet masks (clockwise from L-R): Glass Effect Hydrogel Face Mask, Jelly Kiss Lip Mask,
Cica Soothing Sheet Mask, Golden Shimmer Hydrogel Eye Mask.

The Glass Effect Hydrogel Face Mask (Php 149) is a thin, gel-like mask that promises plump and glowing glass-like skin. It's infused with Sugar Maple that enhances skin hydration and gives it a healthy glow in just ten minutes. I like the sweet and mild scent of this product, but putting it on my face was quite a challenge - the mask came in two halves, they don't fit quite well, and they felt clammy on the skin. 

Wearing the Glass Effect Hydrogel Face Mask.

The Cica Soothing Sheet Mask (Php 129), on the other hand, is a winner. Formulated with the legendary Centella asiatica (aka Cica plant), this product soothes, refreshes, and deeply nourishes the skin. It also contains lavender extract which has anti-inflammatory properties; peppermint extract which cools the skin and helps facilitate oil secretion; and rosemary extract, an anti-oxidant known for its anti-aging properties. It comes in a traditional fiber sheet mask form, and fits just right on my face. 

Wearing the Cica Soothing Sheet Mask.

Next we have the Golden Shimmer Hydrogel Eye Mask (Pho 149), perfectly-shaped eye patches in a hydrogel formula. This product contains hyaluronic acid which hydrates the skin and gives your undereyes an instant brightening effect. If you pulled an all-nighter, these patches will make your eyes look less tired and significantly better if you apply them first thing in the morning.

Finally, there's the Jelly Kiss Lip Mask (Php 119), which also comes in a hydrogel formula. Packed with manuka honey, and peach and nectarine extracts, this lip mask not only smooths and hydrates, but also makes your lips plump and fuller. It feels squishy and looks funny when worn, but hey, this mask works. :)

Avon sheet masks (clockwise from L-R): Golden Shimmer Hydrogel Eye Mask, Cica Soothing Sheet Mask,
Jelly Kiss Lip Mask, Glass Effect Hydrogel Face Mask.

The Avon K-Beauty Collection is available at all Avon outlets, the Avon online shop, and through your Avon lady. 

Which of these products are you excited to try? :)

CC Cream Chronicles | Laneige Water Base CC Cream.

As I have mentioned in my previous post, I'll be reviewing the Laneige Water Base CC Cream which I used for in this look. And so here it is, the first water-based CC Cream from the Korean cosmetics/skincare giant Amore Pacific.

Laneige Water Base CC Cream in Pure Beige.

According to the Laneige website, this product is a 'multi-function cream that helps you achieve moist and gorgeous milk-color skin'. And by multi-function, it means that you can use this not only as a makeup base but also as a skincare product. It moisturizes, brightens, and whitens the skin, evens out the skin tone, and gives sun protection.

Brief product description at the back of the tube.

The Laneige Water Base CC Cream is available in two shades - Peach Pink for those with light skintone, and Pure Beige for those with fair skin. It comes in a 40 mL tube with an easy-to-control pump.

Plastic tube + easy-to-control pump.

Pure Beige, which is the shade that I have, is a very light, fleshy-kind of beige. It does not have color capsules, unlike some of the CC Creams that I have tried. This product actually reminds me of The Saem's Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 CC Cream. Both CCs have the same creamy texture, the shades are quite identical, and their scents are a bit alike, too.

Pure Beige.

This CC Cream is very easy to apply, and is easily absorbed by the skin. Once blended, it has a lovely, iridescent finish that gives the skin a nice, healthy glow.

Blend, blend...

Coverage is sheer to medium, which is great if you don't want to look too made up or if your skin has zero to little imperfections. If you want more coverage, you can use this as your makeup base and wear BB Cream/foundation over it.

Left without CC Cream, right with CC Cream.

Here's how the product looks like on my face.

Bare-faced! Ugh!

Wearing Laneige Water Base CC Cream plus the usual eyeliner,
mascara, blush, and Korres Cherry Lip Gloss.

Gotta love that instant brightening effect! :)

What I love:

- Sleek packaging.

- Lovely, mild scent.

- Comes in two shades.

- Lightweight formula.

- Easy to apply and blend.

- SPF36 PA++.

- Stays on for about 6-8 hours.

- Instant brightening effect!

- No breakouts, no allergies, safe for sensitive skin.

- Price is still reasonable, considering it's an Amore Pacific product. 

I believe this sells for Php 1450 at Laneige stores here in the Philippines.

What you might not like:

- If you're looking for more coverage, this CC Cream alone might not do the trick for you. 

Are you a fan of CC Creams, too? What's your favorite? :)

Discovering Mary Kay.

Some two weeks ago, my friend Precious came over for a visit. Having been friends for almost twenty years, she comes to my place every so often (and vice versa) to hang-out, bond over food, and play with Yue -who also happens to be her godson.

This particular visit, however, was quite special. Because aside from the usual chatting and laughing and catching up with each other's lives, we also bonded over one of our favorite things - makeup. Precious has become a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant not too long ago, and she came with an array of Mary Kay products for us to play with.

Here are some of the products that she brought over that day.

Clockwise from L-R: Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set (Hand Softener, Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub,
Hand Cream), Lotus & Bamboo Loofah Deo Spritzer, Botanical Effects Formula 3 Hydrate, Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser,
Compact Pro Color Tiles, Mineral Powder Foundation, Lotus Bleu Nail Polish.

Satin Hands® Pampering Hand Set (Php 2,600)
An easy, three-step system that soothens, pampers, and protects the hands, this set includes the following:
Fragrance-Free Satin Hands® Hand Softener that helps maintain skin’s natural moisture. Use it on hands before washing, or anywhere else skin is dry.
Peach Satin Hands® Satin Smoothie® Hand Scrub cleanses and exfoliates.
Peach Satin Hands® Hand Cream provides instant moisturization that lasts up to 24 hours. It lasts even through several hand washings.

Lotus and Bamboo Loofah Deo Spritzer (Php 1,250)
Freshens and deodorizes the skin with the calming scent of lotus and bamboo. I fell in love with this product at first spritz.

Botanical Effects Formula 3 Hydrate (Php 850)
Formula 3 for Oily Skin provides hydration while helping control excess oil, leaving skin with a beautiful matte feel.

Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser (Php 1,175)
The TimeWise® 3-in-1 Cleanser combines anti-aging benefits, plus three essential benefits in one product to cleanse, exfoliate and refresh - revealing younger-looking skin. For those who are too lazy to go through the entire cleansing, exfoliating, and toning routine, this product is for you!

Mary Kay Timewise Liquid Foundation + Complexion Corrector CC Cream.

Matte Wear Liquid Foundation (Php 785)
Recommended for combination to oily skin, this product contains special microspheres that absorb oil and control shine without the heavy makeup feel. This foundation makes the pores less prominent and  leaves the skin with a matte finish.

Complexion Corrector (CC) Cream (Php 825)
This lightweight cream moisturizes and brightens the skin, covers blemishes and counteracts redness, and protects the skin from sun damage. Coverage is sheer, but works just fine if you want a more 'natural' look.

Mineral Powder Foundation (Php 850)
For those who prefer powder foundations over the liquid kind, this weightless skin-perfecting product blends easily and provides buildable coverage. It's a great finishing touch to the CC Cream, or you can wear it by itself for a more natural look.

Mary Kay Compact Pro.

Mary Kay Compact Pro (Php 1,500)
An all-in-one compact that keeps your color products and applicators organized. This comes unfilled so yes, the Php 1500 is for the case alone. You have to buy the makeup products separately.

My face became Precious' canvas that day, and here's the final product. Haha!
I now have a growing fondness for bronzers and highlighters, and I'm glad I learned a few contouring tricks from her.

Precious and I. :)

Have you tried Mary Kay products before? What are you favorites?  :)

CC Cream Chronicles | The Saem Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 CC Cream.

Ever since I saw this video clip on YouTube, I've always wanted to try The Saem's products. But I must admit, my curiosity for the brand was piqued mostly entirely by its male endorser, G-Dragon - who happens to be the leader of Korean super group Big Bang, and also one of Hallyu's most popular fashion icon.

Thanks to Ms. Magy of Kimchi Jib, I finally get to try something from The Saem. And one of their best-selling CC Creams, at that.

Move over, Jack Sparrow! :)

This, my friends, is the Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 CC Cream. It's an 'all-in-one, color control, oxygen aura cream' that functions both as a makeup and skincare product.

Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 CC Cream.

It's not just a makeup base. It also moisturizes, nourishes, and whitens the skin, conceals wrinkles and skin imperfections, corrects and evens out the skin tone, and protects the skin from harmful UV rays.

This CC Cream is made with the famous Tahitian Black Pearl - a rare gem that contains a powerful natural moisturizer, and proteins that strengthen and rebuild the skin. Also in this product are the Tiare flower (Tahiti's representative flower known for its beauty and fragrance), monoi oil (a 'sacred oil' in Tahiti that's loaded with protective antioxidants like vitamin E), and noni extract (a popular anti-wrinkle agent that increases the skin's production of collagen).

From Tahiti!

And I had to research all these things on the web, because as luck would have it, most of the literature in this product is written in Hangul.

This is the that side of the box where English text can be found.
Everything, everywhere else is in Hangul.

Hangul here, Hangul there...

Hangul everywhere! :)

Now here's a closer look at the product. I believe this comes in just one size, and that's 30 mL.
The jar is pretty quirky as it dispenses the product out of that black dot in the middle.

Quirky dispense mechanism.

Push it down, and the cream squirts out. Try not to push it down too hard or too abrupt, as it tends to dispense a lot of product that way. That's what happened to me on my first try, and boy, I sure got a lot of CC Cream.

Out goes the product!

As for the CC Cream itself, this is how it looks like. Unlike Tony Moly's and Etude House's CC Cream, this one doesn't have color capsules. It's just good ol' cream with a bit of pigment.

Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 CC Cream swatched.

And despite its creamy texture, it's very easy to blend, and is easily absorbed by the skin.

Blend, blend, blend.

When blended, it gives a nice, semi-matte finish. Not too dewy, but not matte either. But just the same, it makes the skin look healthy and glowing.

Left without CC Cream, right with CC Cream.

This is the third CC Cream that I've tried, and so far, this one gives me the best coverage. Plus, it stays on for about 8-10 hours, with very minimal touch-ups.

My fresh-from-the-shower, no makeup face.

Wearing The Saem Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 CC Cream,
plus the usual eyeliner, mascara, blush, and lip color.

What I love:
- The classy packaging, and quirky pump.
- Mild, floral scent.
- Lightweight formula.
- Easy to blend.
- Semi-matte finish.
- Adjusts to my skin tone nicely.
- SPF 50 / PA+++!!!
- Stays on for about 8-10 hours.
- No breakouts, no allergies, safe for sensitive skin.
- Made with natural ingredients.
- Paraben-free and mineral oil-free.
- Price is still within the affordable range (around 19000 Korean Won or $19), although this costs a teeny bit more than the other CC Creams I've tried.

What you might not like:
- Pretty reflective with flash photography, but that's expected since this product has a high SPF.
- Not available locally.

But the good news is, you can purchase this product online via the Kimchi Jib website. They're sold at a very reasonable price of Php 980 each, exclusive of shipping fee.
Make sure to like the Kimchi Jib Facebook page to get updates on ongoing sale events and promos! :)

CC Cream Chronicles | Etude House Correct & Care CC Cream.

So many things to blog about, so little time. Had a sudden influx of products for review this weekend, to which this blogger is grateful and happy.

But before I touch any of those packages, I wanted to do this review first. It's currently one of my favorite products from one of my favorite Korean brands, Etude House.

Etude House Correct & Care CC Cream.

Yep, it's their version of CC Cream. The Correct & Care CC Cream, to be exact. This product comes in two variants - #01 Silky and #02 Glow. This is the #01 version, which has a semi-matte finish. The latter, on the other hand, has a dewy finish.

#01 Silky.

In one of my previous posts, I've mentioned the difference between CC Creams and BB Creams. CC Creams function both as a makeup and skincare product. BB Creams, which offer more in terms of coverage, are more of makeup.

Multi-tasking 8-in-1 formula.

The Etude House Correct & Care CC Cream has several functions - it's a moisturizer, primer, concealer, sunblock, whitening, and anti-aging product all in one tube.

Pump it! :)

This 35 gram tube has an easy-to-control pump at the end of it. Its nozzle is so fine that it dispenses just the right amount of product with one pump.

A glob of white. :)

Like the Tony Moly Luminous Pure Aura CC Cream, this product is white with tiny speckles, otherwise known as 'color capsules'. Consistency is a bit creamier than Tony Moly's, but has the same lightweight, easy-to-blend formula. It also has a mild, pleasant scent which I've become really fond of.

Spread and blend. :)

My first stab at using CC Creams made me lower my expectation with this product (and CC Creams in general) in terms of coverage. CC Creams, after all, are meant to 'correct' your skin tone, not exactly 'cover' it. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that this CC Cream suits my skin tone nicely and gives me a better coverage than Tony Moly's. Of course, my dark undereyes are a totally different story - I still need a separate concealer for that perennial problem of mine. Haha!

Left without CC Cream, right with CC Cream.

The Etude House Correct & Care CC Cream comes in one size only (35 grams) and sells for Php 798 (approximately $20) each. It's cheaper by Php150 than Tony Moly's, but relatively smaller in terms of product size. Bought this at Etude House's Festival Mall branch, by the way.

What I love:

- Sleek packaging, pump is easy to control.

- Lightweight formula.

- Mild, pleasant scent.

- Easy to blend.

- Adjusts with my skin tone nicely.

- Gives better coverage than my other CC Cream.

- Semi-matte finish.

- SPF30 PA++.

- Stays on for about 8-10 hours.

- No breakouts, no allergies, safe for sensitive skin.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- Coverage is not enough for my dark undereyes.

Products used:
FACE: Etude House Correct & Care CC Cream, Missha Undereye Brightener,
Krave Luxurious Perfection in French Latte.
EYES: The Face Shop Design My Eyebrow, BYS Waterproof Eyeliner,
Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara.
CHEEKS: Skin Food Sugar Cookie Blush in Bebe Pink.
LIPS: Avon Ultra Color Lipstick in Dream Fuchsia.

I have another Etude House product that's due for review. Hopefully, I'll be able to post it within the week so please look forward to it! :)