My Laneige x Lazada Super Brand Day Haul!

Laneige turned 25 this year! Yes, the world-renowned Korean cosmetics brand has been in the market for that long! To celebrate this momentous occasion, Laneige had a Super Brand Day in their Lazada flagship store.

This special event happened last June 25 (the brand's anniversary), with more than a dozen Laneige products on sale, some even marked down to 70% of their original price. They also offered special bundles at discounted prices, and even gave away free gifts to purchases worth Php 2000 and up. Of course, I am not one to miss this sale event, even if it meant staying up until past midnight and losing sleep, haha!

Here's what I got from the Laneige x Lazada Super Brand Day:

My Lazada x Laneige Super Brand Day haul, including all the freebies I got!

Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask

I've been wanting to try this sleeping mask ever since cica skincare products became all the rage, but I had to resist the urge of buying one since I still have a tub of the Lavender Sleeping Mask. Now that I've almost emptied that tub, I had the perfect excuse to finally try the Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask!

Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask, Php 1330.

A 'barrier-strengthening mask', the Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask helps reinforce the skin's natural resilience and calms the skin as you sleep. It's infused with the 'Forest Yeast cica', an ingredient patented by Amore Pacific that strengthens and regenerates the skin overnight. This sleeping mask also contains panthenol which soothes skin irritations, and shea butter which deeply moisturizes the skin and and creates a protective moisture barrier.

Laneige Essential Mini Bundle
A brand day exclusive, the Laneige Essential Mini Bundle consists of my favorites from Laneige's Basic Care line - five 25 mL bottles of the Essential Power Skin Refiner (Moisture) and five 25 mL bottles of the Essential Balancing Emulsion (Moisture). It also includes a 30 mL tube of the Moist Cream Cleanser and a pack of the Clear-C Water Pocket Sheet Mask.

Laneige Essential Mini Bundle, Php 550.

The Laneige Essential Power Skin Refiner (Moisture) is a moisturizing toner that provides deep hydration. This toner is perfect for those with combination skin and dry skin with flaky patches. Complementing it is the Laneige Essential Balancing Emulsion (Moisture), a lightweight emulsion that provides deep hydration to dry/combination skin.

The Laneige Moist Cream Cleanser, on the other hand, is a mild, cream-textured foam cleanser that cleanses the skin without making it feeling tight and dry. Hydrating and non-irritating, this cleanser brightens the skin and gives it a moist finish.

Finally, there's the Water Pocket Sheet Mask which provides customized skin care for each skin problem as the water pockets containing concentrated nourishment closely adhere to the skin. Available in several variants, the one that I got is the Clear C which contains superberry extract that has great anti-oxidant effects.

Laneige Two Tone Sheet Mask
Truth be told, I bought these sheet masks on a whim. I was supposed to purchase the brand day exclusive Water Pocket Sheet Mask Bundle (5 sheet masks for less than Php 200), but alas, they were sold out as soon as the sale started! I ended up buying the Two Tone Sheet Masks which were a tad pricier, but at least I reached the Php 2000 purchase requirement for the freebies (lol).

Laneige Two Tone Sheet Masks, Php 154 each.

The Laneige Two Tone Sheet Mask, as the name implies, is a sheet mask that comes in two colors and two parts - one sheet for the upper part of the face and another sheet for the lower part. This sheet mask comes in eight variants, each addressing different skin concerns. 

I got two sheet masks - the Moisturizing and Lifting Sheet Mask which moisturizes the dry T-zone and skin around the eyes and cheeks as it firms up the cheeks and the skin around the chin; and the Pore Care and Relaxing Sheet Mask which moisturizes, softens, and soothes the skin and its problem areas.

As for the freebies, here's the entire loot:

Freebies from the Laneige x Lazada Super Brand Day!

Laneige Basic & New Water Bank Refreshing Kit + sachet samples

This kit includes a 25 mL bottle of the Essential Power Skin Refiner (Light), a 25 mL bottle of the Balancing Emulsion (Light), a 10 mL tub of the Water Bank Gel Cream, a 10 mL bottle of the Water Bank Hydro Essence, and a 3 mL tube of the Water Bank Eye Gel.

The sachet samples include the following: Eye Sleeping Mask, Water Bank Moisture Cream, White Dew Tone-up Cream, White Dew Original Ampoule Essence, and Watery Sun Cream.

This set was given as a freebie to purchases made between 12am to 2am with a minimum spend of Php 1500. 

Laneige Thermos by TUMS.

I got another set of freebies because my final bill amounted to more than Php 2000. This set includes two more Water Pocket Sheet Masks (White Plus Renew and another Clear C sheet mask) and the limited edition Laneige Stainless Steel Thermos by TUMS. Among these freebies, I am most thrilled with the thermos, haha! 

Laneige Thermos by TUMS.

What have you bought online during the quarantine? Has the pandemic made you more reliant on online shopping sites or do you still go to the mall to buy stuff?

My Althea Lunar New Year Haul!

"I konmari-d my vanity dresser over the weekend," I told my sister, who came over yesterday to visit the kids.

"Oh, you watched the show?" she asked.

With a head shake and a finger wag, I replied, "No, but konmari is all over my Facebook news feed and I just did what everyone else seems to be doing. I needed space for all these beauty products that I'm getting."

"I stopped watching after the first episode."

"You didn't like the series?"

"I liked it. So much, that I ended up throwing half of my husband's stuff after episode one," she answered, before bursting into a fit of laughter.

My sister and I live apart so we don't see each other very often. But when we do, we talk about everything under the sun - from our married lives to our travel plans, to serious 'adulting' issues like life insurance and property investments, and of course, kikay stuff like upcoming makeup launches and the skincare products that I'm buying from Althea. Case in point, my latest beauty haul.

Ringing in the Lunar New Year with this haul from Althea!

Halfway through January, my Althea family sent me another surprise gift - $50 worth of Rewards Points credited to my Althea account. And with that, I was able to purchase all these without having to spend a dime. Awesomesauce, right? :)

Now here's a quick run-through of what's inside my Althea Lunar New Year box:

Laneige Essential Power Skin Refiner Moisture, Php 1100.

Laneige Essential Power Skin Refiner Moisture (Php 1100).

I received a complimentary travel-sized bottle of this toner when we visited the Laneige Flagship Store in Ewha last spring. Unlike most toners, the Laneige Essential Power Skin Refiner has a thicker, more viscous formula that deeply moisturizes the skin from the get-go.

The cold months usually wreak havoc on my skin, and this toner was quite the wonder worker. It kept my skin from looking dull and feeling dry, and you get soft and smooth skin in an instant. I just couldn't get enough of that 'chok chok' (dewy, bouncy, hydrated) effect from this toner so I decided to go full-size! 

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum, Php 1090.

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum  (Php 1090).

To complement the Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Lotion that I've previously bought, I got the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum which now comes in a new packaging. Not sure if they also changed the formulation, but I hope they did not because the OG formula is already hydrating and nourishing as is.

Mise en Scene Perfect Repair Serum, Php 400.

Mise en Scene Perfect Repair Serum (Php 400).

I've been using the same brand of hair serum for more than five years now, and giving the Mise en Scene Perfect Repair Serum a try is like breaking out of my comfort zone. I've read tons of positive feedback about this product, and I just had to satisfy my curiosity as to why they love this hair serum. I just hope the curious cat in me won't have regrets later on. 

Missha Superfood Apricot Lip Scrub, Php 240.

Missha Superfood Apricot Lip Scrub (Php 240).

Because we can't get enough of lip treatment products! Also, I was very much drawn to the packaging. Supreme vibes, yes?

Tony Moly New Pureness 100 Mask Sheet, Php 40.

Tony Moly Pureness 100 Mask Sheet (Php 40).

One thing I love about Tony Moly sheet masks is how they fit nicely on my face. I've tried the Snail variant of this sheet mask before and it was so damn good. Very moisturizing, and your skin looks glowing the morning after. Unfortunately, the Snail sheet mask wasn't in stock when I placed my order so I settled for the Hyaluronic one instead. I hope this variant will be just as impressive.

I have another beauty haul arriving in a few weeks. Should I take my sister's lead and konmari my husband's stuff as well? :)

Spotlight | Laneige Dream and Glow Lip Care Set.

Lip care products are staples in our household, and it's not just because of me. My boys also pay particular attention to caring for their lips, even more so now in this chilly, blustery, skin-drying weather. And so with our obsession with lip hydration and my penchant for limited edition/holiday collections, getting the Laneige Dream and Glow Lip Care Set while it was still available on Althea was the right thing for me to do.

Laneige Dream and Glow Lip Care Set, Php 1430.

A 2018 holiday release, the Laneige Dream and Glow Lip Care Set includes two full-sized tubes (10 grams each) of the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm and two travel-sized tubs (8 grams each) of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. Both the lip balms and the lip masks come in two variants - Berry and Grapefruit for the former, Berry and Mint Choco for the latter. I love that they included the Mint Choco lip mask - it's a rare variant available only in Korea.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks in Berry and Mint Choco,
Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Berry and Grapefruit.

The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is an overnight lip treatment that gently melts dead skin cells and makes the lips smooth and supple while you sleep. It's formulated with the 'Berry Mix Complex', a special mix of berries that are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to heal and hydrate dry, chapped lips. It also has a 'Moisture Wrap' formulation infused with hyaluronic acid, which locks moisture deep into your kisser.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks in Berry and Mint Choco.

These lip masks have a smooth, balm-like texture which makes them easy to apply. Consistency is thick and heavy, but gets absorbed by the skin overnight so you can wake up to healthy, hydrated lips the morning after. Both lip masks are mildly-scented, and they smell just as their name suggests.

Can you see it? Swatches of the lip sleeping mask - Berry on the left, Mint Choco on the right.

Since the Dream and Glow Lip Care Set does not come with an applicator for the lip masks, I use the applicator that came with my full-sized Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, which I made myself at the Laneige flagship store in Ewha. 

Sleep buddies - KAWS x Sesame Street Ernie plushie and the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (on his lips).

I love how the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask does exactly what it's supposed to do. It hydrates and nourishes, and makes my lips soft, smooth, and plump. It also enhances the overall countenance of my lips by making it look naturally pink and curtailing the appearance of tiny lip lines. Even Yue's lips have improved with this lip mask - no more chapping and flaking in less than 12 hours.

Similarly, the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm also works wonders for our lips. It hydrates instantly and makes the lips soft, smooth, and healthy-looking. I love its subtle, fruity scent and how it gives the lips a soft shine and a sheer wash of colour. The Berry variant smells like fresh berries and leaves the lips with a subtle pink tint, while the Grapefruit has a sweet and tangy scent and a light, peachy tint.

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Berry and Grapefruit.

These lip balms are made with a duo of butters - Murumuru, which contains hydrating linoleic acids, and Shea, which nourishes and smoothens dry lips. The formula works by blanketing the lips with a breathable layer of moisture. And despite its thick consistency, the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm glides on smoothly and does not feel tacky at all. My lips look plump and juicy and feel super soft after application.

Squeezable tube + slanted applicator.

The Laneige Lip Glowy Balm comes in a squeezable tube, small enough to fit in the breast pocket of my son's school uniform. Yue prefers keeping the lip balm inside his bag though, as he finds the packaging a bit too girly (lol) to carry around. I'm considering buying the green-colored Pear lip balm, so he won't feel awkward whenever he whips the tube out of his bag.

Swatches of the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm - Grapefruit on the left, Berry on the right.

But that's just my excuse to keep these two lip balms with me; because I'm the kind of person who has lip balms all over the place - in my makeup kit, in another makeup kit, in my room, in the car, and one dangling in a key holder together with my house keys. I'm not addicted to lip balms, oh no I'm not. Lol!

On Yue: Laneige Glowy Lip Balm in Berry.

The Laneige Glowy Lip Balm retails for 10000 won (around Php 460 or $9) each, while a full-sized tub of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask retails for 13500 won (around Php 625 or $12). Over the holidays, Althea listed this set at Php 1430, a pretty reasonable price considering that two travel-size tubs are almost equivalent to one full-size tub. And like what I said earlier, you won't be able to find the Mint Choco variant unless you buy the lip masks from Laneige stores in Korea.

Are you addicted to lip balms, too? What's your favorite brand?

Seoul Searching | Laneige Flagship Store at Ewha Fashion Street.

Laneige opened their newest - and perhaps their prettiest - flagship store in Seoul a few months back, and Yue and I had the chance to visit it while we were in Korea. Located along the Ewha Womans University Fashion Street, one of the most popular shopping areas in Seoul, the new store is a massive three-storey building which boasts of modern architecture, trendy aesthetics, and an enhanced consumer experience.

Facade of the new Laneige flagship store.

The store from a different angle.

Designed with pink and blue hues, the first floor showcases the brand's various lines of makeup and skincare products, allowing customers to try and test them freely before making any purchase.

Inside the Laneige flagship store.

If you don't like the idea of using testers, you can try the Laneige Beauty Mirror, a fun and interactive app that virtually applies makeup on your face. With the Beauty Mirror, you can see how different Laneige products look on you and allows you to download the list of items that you used in the app.

Trying on the new Laneige Stained Glasstick. I'm wearing Shade #7 Pink Tourmaline.

There's also a special section of this store dedicated to the brand's line of sleeping masks. From the cult-favorite Water Sleeping Mask to the relatively new Water Bank Quick Hydro Pen, you'll find them all on display in this dreamy, psychedelic little corner.

The 'Beauty Sleep' corner featuring my favorite Laneige Water Bank Sleeping Mask.

If chemistry is your thing, you're in for a treat as this store lets you create and personalize your own Lip Sleeping Mask. It was a fun experience, and my inner nerd was thrilled to see hotplates and beakers and all that chemistry-related stuff. It's like junior high all over again!

Yue trying to read the captions before we start.
They're written in Hangul, but the staff explained to us what to do. 

Yue enjoyed this 'experiment' (as he calls it) a lot more than I did, even if he was just looking on and was not allowed to touch anything.

Step 1. Choose your scent.

Step 2 involves mixing the base and the scent and heating them up in this plate.

The base and the scent, plus all the tools you need to make your own lip sleeping mask.

Packing the finished product in the signature frosted jar. :)

The final step is designing the jar with a label/sticker of your choice.

The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, customized to your liking.

We also got a glimpse of the 'Study Room' at the third floor. It's a fun, experiential space where you can get hang out with your friends, perhaps enjoy some alone time with a cup of coffee and a good book, or get a one-on-one consultation with Laneige's beauty experts. This area also serves as a venue for Laneige's special events such as product launches, makeup tutorials, and beauty classes.

The 'Beauty Playground'.

We could have stayed longer and enjoyed some afternoon tea with other VIP members, but we were a little pressed for time since we were trying to catch BTS on their way to their fan meeting at Digital Media City. Next time, I'll try to sign-up for their K-beauty class, similar to the one they offer at the road shop and flagship store in Myeongdong.

To get to the Laneige Ewha Flagship Store, take exit 2 or 3 of the Ewha Womans University Station (Line 2). The store is just a few meters away from the exit.

Sneak Peek | Thank You, Laneige Collection.

Happy New Year, everyone!
How's 2018 treating you so far? I hope the first two days of the year have been good to all of you!

As we usher in the Year of the Dog, Korean cosmetics brand Laneige recently launched a special collection of lip products to welcome the New Year.

Thank You, Laneige collection.

This limited edition line is a collaboration with Thank You Studios, a studio in South Korea that specializes in pet photography, and is aptly named as 'Thank You, Laneige'. Featured in this collection are the Lip Glowy Balm and the cult-favorite Lip Sleeping Mask in a new and adorable packaging.

Thank You Laneige Lip Glowy Balm, 10000 won each.

Thank You Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, 18000 won each.

Photos of Thank You Studios' models, Tank (Pomeranian), Kanu (Poodle), Chulsoo (Terrier), and Song-E (Bichon Frise) are printed on the boxes of each Thank You, Laneige product.  Their cute faces can also be seen on the caps of each Lip Sleeping Mask, and on each tube of the Lip Glowy Balm.

Thank You, Laneige Lip Glowy Balm box.

Thank You, Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask box.

The Thank You, Laneige line is now available at Laneige stores in Korea, and at the Amore Pacific online store.

BRB, hoarding! :)

Sneak Peek | Laneige x YCH Collection.

Be still my heart, this year's Laneige Meets Fashion collection is out and oh-em-gee, the packaging alone is as pretty as can be!

Laneige Meets Fashion, year 4!

A yearly project, Laneige Meets Fashion aims to fuse Laneige with fashion designer's inspiration including collection story, product concept, and design to create an exciting, specially-packaged makeup range.

This year, the popular K-beauty brand teams up with Korean fashion designer Yoon Chon Ho, who is well-loved by celebrities and has had quite a career when it comes to fashion, having worked with some of Korea's top labels before establishing his own fashion brand, YCH.

Some pieces from the YCH Fall Collection.

Inspired by the modern glamour of the 80's, the Laneige x YCH Collection features classic herringbone and retro polka dot prints - hip, trendy, and definitely edgy. 

View the entire collection after the jump!

Pucker Up! | Laneige Two Tone Tint Lip Bar.

In Korea, one sure-fire way to promote and sell products is by incorporating them in Kdramas. Also known as product placement or PPL, this indirect form of advertising is usually done by merely displaying relevant products or brand logos in the drama, or more often than not, characters using the products in the drama.

Case in point, the Laneige products featured in the hit Kdrama 'Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo'. Lee Sung Kyung, who played the role of adorkable Kim Bok Joo, is a Laneige endorser so it was not a surprise to see the Water Bank Moisture Cream and the Two Tone Lip Bar in shade number 4 make an appearance in the drama. The latter became extremely popular especially among female fans of the Kdrama, and was almost always sold out at Laneige stores.

And this is why I ended up buying the Laneige Two Tone Tint Lip Bar instead.

Laneige Two Tone Tint Lip Bar.

I saw this product's TV advertisement (which also starred Lee Sung Kyung) quite a number of times while I was in Seoul and I figured, okay, let's just buy this one since Kim Bok Joo endorses it, too.

The back of the box, text mostly in Hangul.

Same goes for the holographic side panel.

Touted as the 'more moisturizing' version of the Two Tone Lip Bar, the Two Tone Tint Lip Bar is formulated with the 'Moisture Wrap' technology which is also used in the Lip Sleeping Mask. It's a combination of a lip tint and a lip balm, which gives your lips lovely pop of color while keeping your kisser soft and moisturized at the same time.

The lip bar itself. 

The back panel, still sealed.

The lever.

The product comes in a pink rectangular tube with a lever system, which raises the lip tint bullet up when you press the lever down. It comes in eight different shades, with the name, number, and shade reference indicated on the box flap and on the bottom of the lip bar.

Shade reference + shade number.

Shade name and number + shade reference.

I chose shade number 8 Cherry Milk, the darkest and the prettiest IMHO among all of the eight shades. It's also one of the two shades used by Lee Sung Kyung in the TV advert, with the other shade being shade number 3 Tint Mint.

For that no-fuss gradient look! :)

Unlike the Two Tone Lip Bar which has a diagonal cut, the Two Tone Tint Lip Bar has a precise 'V' cut which enables you to achieve the rosy coverage on the center of the lips, while keeping the outer areas of the lips moisturized. It's a very convenient product since it eliminates the need of carrying a separate lip balm and a lipstick. Also, this product is perfect for the no-fuss, gradient look!

Indoor lighting: Swatched twice on the left, once on the right.

Natural light: Swatched twice on the left, once on the right.

Cherry Milk is the most pigmented among all eight shades, and the one with the most obvious gradient and strongest color contrast. If you're not digging the gradient look, you can just blend the product on your lips to get a stronger color.

Cherry Milk when worn.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of gradient lips, so yes, I am totally over the moon with the Laneige Two Tone Tint Lip Bar! I love how it glides on effortlessly on the lips and how it leaves the lips silky soft without the sticky feel. It also has a nice and subtle fruity scent, which doesn't linger around after application. Wear time is around 3 or 4 hours before it wears off into a very sheer, natural-looking tint.

Products used:
FACE: Beyond Alice in Blooming Skin Tone Sun Base,
Ever Bilena Liquid Concealer in Light,
Laneige Milkyway Fantasy BB Cushion Whitening.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Clio Kill Black Waterproof Brush Liner,
Clio Salon de Cara Backcomb Cara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: Laneige Two Tone Tint Lip Bar in 08 Cherry Milk.

Overall, it's such a fun product to use and definitely worth the money. I got mine for 23000 won (around Php 1000 or $20) at the Laneige store in Myeongdong. :)