Spotlight | Missha The Original Tension Pact.

Just realized that I haven't done any product reviews or beauty-related posts in awhile, and so today, let me share with you my thoughts on the Missha The Original Tension Pact which I have been using for over a month now. I received this as gift from a friend who went on vacation to Korea last winter and completely forgot about it afterwards, lol. Thank goodness this product still has half a year before its expiration date!

Missha The Original Tension Pact (Intense Moisture).

Missha's The Original Tension Pact has four variants - Perfect Cover which comes in a beige pact, Natural Cover which comes in a beige pact, Tone Glow Up which comes in a blue pact, and Intense Moisture which comes in a lavender pact. The latter, as seen on the photo above, is the one that I'm using. All variants come in three shades, and as always, my Missha shade is #23. Good thing my friend got my shade right! :)

Unboxing the Missha The Original Tension Pact (Intense Moisture).

Care notes on the protective seal.

Unlike the cushions that I have tried before, Missha's The Original Tension Pact comes with a densely woven net on top which acts as a filter that prevents you from 'picking up' too much product for a 'more even' application. The puff that comes with it is a bit different, too. It's slightly denser and a tad 'puffier' than the usual blue puff. Surprisingly, you only need a few pats on the tension pact to cover your entire face.

The 'tension net'.

Slightly denser, beige puff.

As for the formula, the Intense Moisture Variant is creamy yet lightweight, and gives light to medium coverage. Not only does this pact conceal fine lines and cover minimal flaws (redness, uneven skin tone), it's also super moisturizing and gives your skin a radiant, dewy glow.

Swatched under natural light.

This product also offers sun protection at SPF37 PA++. A bit lower than my usual SPF50, but that's okay since we're experiencing colder weather these days.

Left without cushion, right with cushion.

Its lasting power is pretty decent, too. It stays put for at least 5 to 6 hours before it starts to settle on the fine lines around my eyes. Nothing a quick touch-up could handle.

Bare face.

Wearing the Missha The Original Tension Pact (Intense Moisture).

Overall, I really enjoy using this cushion and I'm considering to repurchase in the near future. I love how it hydrates my skin especially during this time of the year when the air is cold and can be very drying on the skin. Plus points because it brightens my skin and gives it a nice glow

Products used:
FACE: Clio Kill Protection Matte Sun Base,
Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer in 03 Honey,
Missha The Original Tension Pact Intense Moisture #23.
EYES: The Face Shop Style My Eyebrow Pencil #1 Grey Brown,
Clio Kill Black Waterproof Brush Liner,
Innisfree Super Volume Cara in Black.
CHEEKS: Missha Cotton Blush in Vintage Robe.
LIPS: Vice Cosmetics x BT21 Phenomenal Velvet Single in Mang.

 The Missha The Original Tension Pact retails for 15800 won (around Php 680 or $13). It doesn't come with a refill, but you can purchase them separately at 9800 won each (around Php 400 or $8).

My Althea Easter Haul!

For the first time ever, we skipped this year's Easter activities because my son - now in his 'tweens' - insisted that he's too old for bunny ears and painting eggs and stuff like that. So instead of hunting eggs on Easter Sunday, I found myself hunting for (more) K-beauty products at my favorite K-beauty shopping website, Althea. I had a few more Rewards Points in my account anyway, so might as well spend them all before they expire.

My Althea Easter haul (officially my fourth beauty haul from Althea) arrived over the weekend, and here's a glimpse of what I got:

I went hunting last Easter and this is what I got. :)

Petitfee Gold & Snail Hydrogel Eye Patch (Php 420).
Watching K-dramas has never been better ever since I got a Smart TV. And because we're on a school break, I now have more time to binge-watch currently airing and recently concluded K-dramas... and less time for sleep. Lol. Thank goodness for sheet masks and eye patches to help me not look like a sleep-deprived zombie.

Petitfee Gold & Snail Hydrogel Patch.

The Petitfee Gold & Snail Hydrogel Eye Patch is a daily pack for sensitive eyes and wrinkles, which contains gold powder to help with blood circulation for brighter eyes, and snail secretion filtrate to hydrate the skin and reduce puffiness under the eyes. It provides moisture, increases elasticity, and reduces wrinkles around the eye area.

Missha Layer Blurring Primer Pore Cover (Php 290).
Although I really don't have issues when it comes to enlarged, visible pores on my face, I ended up buying the Pore Cover variant of Missha's Layer Blurring Primer line because the other variant (Long Lasting) is taking forever to be restocked on the Althea website.

Missha Layer Blurring Primer Pore Cover.

The Missha Layer Blurring Primer Pore Cover is formulated to even out skin tone and smoothen rough pores, fine lines, and rugged areas on the face. It's infused with sebum-controlling ingredients to keep facial oils at bay and make the skin soft and seamless. It preps the face for makeup by refining the rough texture of the skin and 'blurring out' skin imperfections.

A'pieu Oil Remobong (Php 230).

Even though I've been using makeup and applying them on my face on an almost daily basis for years, I still make mistakes every now and then. When that happens, I usually rely on the Etude House Eraser Show Line Remover Stick to help fix my makeup blunder. 

A'pieu Oil Remobong.

The A'pieu Oil Remobong works the same way. These plush cotton swabs are filled with olive oil to easily and quickly remove any stray makeup while keeping the skin moisturized. They’re gentle on sensitive areas like the eyes and lips, and are easily disposable for convenient, hygienic use.

Innisfree Jelly Cheek in 02 Fresh Peach (Php 470).
Curious about the formulation and still very much obsessed with blushers, I got the Innisfree Jelly Cheek in shade 02 Fresh Peach. A relatively new product (I reckon these blushers were launched early this year), the Innisfree Jelly Cheek is a long-wearing blush with a soft, jelly-like texture. It comes with a mochi-like applicator which helps create that natural flush on your cheeks.

Innisfree Jelly Cheek in 02 Fresh Peach.

Tony Moly Pureness 100 Mask Sheet (Php 40).
My favorite Tony Moly Pureness 100 Mask Sheet is back in stock, yay! I bought the Hyaluronic variant back in February and loved the moisturizing effect on my skin, but nothing compares to the hydration and glowing effect that the Snail variant gives.

Tony Moly Pureness 100 Mask Sheet in Snail.

Did any of these products catch your eye?
You can purchase these at Althea and get a 20% discount on your first order using my referral code. Shipping is free for orders worth Php 999 and above.

Spotlight | Missha Superfood Apricot Seed Lip Scrub.

I love lip care products as much as I love lip tints and lipsticks. As such, when I chanced upon the Missha Superfood Apricot Seed Lip Scrub back in stock on the Althea website, I purchased it (together with the rest of my Lunar New Year haul) without a moment's hesitation. I've been eyeing this product since December, but it was always out of stock whenever I checked on Althea.

Missha Superfood Apricot Seed Lip Scrub.

So anyways, the Missha Superfood Apricot Seed Lip Scrub is a lip care product that softly exfoliates and smoothens rough lips. This lip scrub is part of Missha's new Superfood line, which features lip care products made with nutrient-rich food/ingredients. Apricot is considered a superfood because of its powerful antioxidants that protect the skin against free radicals, and its laetrile content, a substance known for its ability to fight cancer. In terms of lip/skin care, apricot seeds make great exfoliants.

Hangul text at the back of the box.

This product is also blended with shea butter and three kinds of naturally-derived oil extracted from jojoba seed, argan, and camellia. All these ingredients condition and moisturize the lips and make them soft and supple.

I'm liking the new logo of Missha. Are you? :)

The Missha Superfood Apricot Seed Lip Scrub comes in a handy squeeze tube, small enough to fit in your purse and even in your pocket. To use, simply squeeze out a moderate amount of the product on your lips, gently massage in circular motions, then rinse in lukewarm water.

Supreme vibes in the packaging. :)

I like how this lip scrub buffs away the dry patches on my lips without being abrasive, and how my lips look plump and healthy after every use. Yue tried this product too, and he says he likes this more because it does not have that bitter taste that the Bubi Bubi Lip Scrub has. It tastes sweet, actually, and has a lovely, fruity scent. 

A small amount of the lip scrub, with tiny bits of exfoliant in it.

Yue and I both love the results of the Missha Superfood Apricot Seed Lip Scrub, and this will be our go-to lip scrub - at least for now. Not only does it bring dry lips back to life, it's quite reasonably-priced too - just Php 240 for a 9.8 gram tube.

Yue's lips BEFORE using the Missha Superfood Apricot Seed Lip Scrub.

Yue's lips AFTER using the Missha Superfood Apricot Seed Lip Scrub.

Now I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the products in the Missha Superfood line. I hope they'll be available on Althea soon!

Missha Superfood Black Soy Lip Sleeping Pack, Missha Superfood Avocado Lip Balm,
Missha Superfood Barley Lip Oil, Missha Superfood Honey Lip Oil.

Spotlight | Missha Cotton Blush.

I've been extremely busy lately with freelance projects, writing gigs, and my son's school activities, and with his final exams coming up, expect me to be swamped with even more work in the next few days. I know my plate is already full and I kinda have a deadline to beat today, but I wanted to squeeze in this quick review of the blusher that I've been using (and loving) as of late.

Missha Cotton Blush.

This is the Missha Cotton Blush, which I purchased from Althea and was one of the many items included in my birthday/year-end haul. I was initially attracted to its shade range (the complete Missha Cotton Blush line consists of ten shades which will suit a variety of skin tones and undertones) and its affordable price (dirt cheap, considering that it's from Missha).

Hangul text at the bottom of the pan.

A powder blush with soft, velvety texture, the Missha Cotton Blush gives your cheeks a lovely, natural flush of color. It's formulated with 'silky elastic powder' that controls sebum and allows for easy, non-cakey application.

Missha Cotton Blush in Vintage Robe.

Its packaging is sleek and simple, and the clear compact is small enough to fit your jeans pocket. Although the size of the Missha Cotton Blush is relatively smaller compared to other blushers, you have to take into consideration that each pan costs only Php 230. Also, for its price point, you're getting your money's worth - maybe even more - in terms of color payoff and quality.

Missha Cotton Blush Vintage Robe - swatched once on the right, twice on the left.

Missha Cotton Blush in Vintage Robe - swatched once on the right, twice on the left.

Missha Cotton Blush in Vintage Robe - swatched once on the right, twice on the left.

The shade that I got is Vintage Robe, a dusty rose with a hint of reddish brown. I love how nicely pigmented this shade is, and how I get a healthy-looking flush with just a swipe or two on my cheeks. It glides on smoothly with the right brush, has buildable coverage, and leaves the cheeks with a soft matte finish. This shade is quite long-wearing, too. Despite the sweltering heat, the color stayed put on my cheeks throughout the day with no touch-ups at all.

Missha Cotton Blush in Vintage Robe on my cheeks.

Needless to say, I am impressed by the over-all quality of the Missha Cotton Blush, and I'm planning to buy a few more shades the next time I go on a shopping spree in Korea or at the Althea website, whichever comes first (lol). 

New to Althea? Here's a discount voucher that you can use to get 20% off on your first order. :)

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? :)

Pucker Up! | Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet.

New year, lippie!
Well, not-so-new, actually. I bought these lippies while I was in Korea last spring but never had the chance to use them, let alone open the sealed boxes. I only remembered that I had them in my stash when I saw these lippies listed on the Althea website, lol.

Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet.

Mostly Hangul text at the back of the box.

Meet the Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet - by far, one of the prettiest lip products that I brought home from Korea. I mean, just look at the packaging. And you all know I'm a sucker for products with cute and quirky packaging.

Lovely, crystalline-shaped packaging.

Its crystalline shape and sparkly appearance resembles that of a sunstone, one of the lesser-known yet relatively affordable gemstones in the world of jewelry.

They're glittery, too!

Its applicator is quite unique, too. The wand is long and the applicator itself is shaped like a pentagon.

Shade #15736 aka Chic Red.

Shade # 15738 aka Pretty Brown Pink.

There are five different shades in the Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet line, and the ones that I have are shades #15736 Chic Red and #15738 Pretty Brown Pink. The former is a bold, classic red while the latter is a dusty rose with brown undertones. Both shades are nicely pigmented and can be worn full-lip or gradient-style.

Swatched - Pretty Brown Pink on the left, Chic Red on the right.

Aside from the packaging and pigmentation, I also love the velvety, meringue texture of these tints. They glide smoothly on the lips and leave your kisser with a soft, matte finish. And because the Missha Wish Stone Tint Velvet is formulated with nourishing ingredients such as plum seed oil, calendula, and avocado extracts, your lips won't feel dry even after hours of wear. 

Swatched - Pretty Brown Pink on the left, Chic Red on the right.

Speaking of wear time, these tints stay solid for six hours at the most. The color will last through a coffee break, but you'll need to do a touch-up after a complete meal.

Swatches, about three hours later.

Personally, I'm okay with the retouching part. That way, I get to take these beauties out of my purse and take a whiff of their yummy, cotton candy scent. If you're not a fan of scented lip products, this might be a bit of a turn-off for you. 

After doing the dishes and taking a bath, there's still a hint of color from the swatches.

But overall, these lippies are definitely worth-trying - all the more because they're pretty affordable. They're priced at 6500 won each (around Php 300 or US$6), but I was able to buy both tints for the price of one, thanks to Missha's 1+1 Sale Event during that time. Althea currently sells them at Php 260 each - still a budget-friendly price.

Chic Red on my lips, gradient style.

Pretty Brown Pink, worn full-lip.

Shopping at Althea? Don't forget to use my referral code to get 20% off your first order! 

Offer is valid for new customers, with a maximum discount of Php 200.