Spotlight | The Face Shop x Coca Cola Collection.

A few months back, I blogged about the release of this collaboration collection between Korean beauty brand The Face Shop and one of the world's biggest and most recognizable brands, Coca-Cola. The collection featured an array of lip tints, lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes, a pact, and a cushion. I've been lusting for these products ever since they hit the market (because you all know by now that I'm a sucker for collaboration collections and cosmetics with cute packaging), and I finally got my hands on them last month when I went back to Korea for our (bi-)annual vacation.

The Face Shop x Coca Collection still on display. :)

I was initially worried that these products might no longer be in stock - they're limited edition, after all, and it's been months since this collection was released. Thankfully, they're still available in all of The Face Shop stores that I've seen and been to in Seoul's shopping districts (Myeongdong, Hongdae, Edae, Gangnam, Sinsadong).

My mini haul from The Face Shop. :)

Here's what I got from the collection - the Oil Clear Blotting Pact, the Velvet Lipstick in Vintage Red, and the Coke Bear Lip Tint in Coke Red. I was supposed to buy the cushion instead of the pact, but my son, who was with me that day, made me realize that I still have a bunch of unopened cushions back home. Okay fine, I'll get the pact instead, lol.

The Face Shop x Coca Cola Oil Clear Blotting Pact.

The Oil Clear Blotting Pact is a blotting powder that absorbs excess oil and keeps your face shine-free. Colorless and translucent, this product is an ideal setting powder as it 'mattifies' the shiny areas on your face without adding texture to the skin. (Read: No caking!) I use this mostly for touch-ups, when the midday oil slick hits my T-zone.

Colorless and translucent.

Finely milled. :)

The pact comes with a mirror, a puff, and a plastic 'separator' placed in between the puff and the powder. I love how soft and bouncy the puff is - it picks up a good amount of product and makes blending such a breeze.

Comes with a super soft puff!

Right side of my face has the Oil Clear Blotting Pact
on top of my Innisfree Longwear Cover Cushion.
Left side of my face has only the Innisfree Longwear Cover Cushion on it.

The powder has a subtle cola scent which I find quite nice and quirky. Even my son was fascinated with how my makeup 'smells like Coke', haha. Well, everything in this collection is cola-scented, including the eyeshadows. The scent on the Velvet Lipsticks, however, is much fainter that you'll hardly notice it unless you sniff on the bullet closely.

The Face Shop x Coca Cola Velvet Lipstick.

These Velvet Lipsticks come in five different shades. I chose shade number 05 Vintage Red, a medium pink with a warm, peachy undertone. I super like the color, but I love the packaging even more. Just look at those adorable candy cane stripes on the bullet. Christmas vibes, yes!

How adorable is this packaging?

The Velvet Lipstick, as its name implies, has a creamy, velvet texture and a flat matte finish. It's easy to apply and glides smoothly for the most part, but it did tug a bit when I first applied this on my lips. I love that it's highly pigmented and that the color stays on for a decent period of time (about three to four hours, with a bit of drinking in between).

05 Vintage Red.

But when it comes to wear-time, the Coke Bear Lip Tints are far more impressive. The color stays put for more than six hours before it starts to fade into a soft, rosy stain on your lips.

The Face Shop x Coca Cola Gel Lip Tint.

Snow globes are such pretty little things.

This lip tint is the product that I was most excited about in the entire collection, and yes, the packaging has everything to do with it. The moment I saw the cap with the Coke Bear snow globe, I was sold!

The Face Shop x Coca Cola Coke Bear Lip Tint.

02 Coke Red.

The Coke Bear Lip Tints are available in three shades, and I chose 02 Coke Red, a vibrant, orange-based red. The lip tint is housed in a clear plastic tube (the color you see on the tube is actually the product) and comes with a slanted doe-foot applicator. It has a soft mousse-y texture which settles into a velvety, semi-matte finish. Lightweight and moisturizing, this lip tint also has buildable coverage and can be worn full on the lips or applied on the inner part to achieve the gradient look. 

Here are swatches of the Velvet Lipstick and the Coke Bear Lip Tint:

Coke Bear Lip Tint in Coke Red on the left,
Velvet Lipstick in Vintage Red on the right.

Coke Bear Lip Tint in Coke Red on the left,
Velvet Lipstick in Vintage Red on the right.

And here's how they look like when worn.

Velvet Lipstick in Vintage Red on my lips.

Coke Bear Lip Tint in Coke Red on my lips.

If you're into collaboration collections, love makeup items with unique and quirky packaging, or simply someone who finds joy in owning Coke/Coke-related products, then this collection is right up your alley. Definitely worth-investing - not that it will cost you an arm and leg. They're pretty much within the affordable price range, and now that this collection has just been released in the Philippines, you won't need to fly all the way to Korea or spend a fortune on shipping fees just to try/own these products. :)

Sneak Peek | The Face Shop x Coca-Cola Collection.

Coca-Cola, the most popular soft drink brand in history AND one of the most iconic brands in the world, has just dropped new products that are better than their beverage. But that's just my opinion, because I'm forever on a diet and trying my best to stay away from sugary, carbonated drinks, lol.

What's better than Coke, you ask?
Makeup! An entire collection. In 'Coke red' packaging. With the world-famous Coca-Cola script logo.

The Face Shop x Coca Cola Collection.

View the complete The Face Shop x Coca-Cola Collection after the jump!

Sneak Peek | The Face Shop x Marvel Collection.

Heads up, comic geeks! And beauty junkies, too!
The Face Shop has just launched their summer collection, and this has got to be the fiercest, most bad-a** collaboration collection in the K-Beauty market just yet!

From the lovely Disney princesses to the cute and colorful Trolls, The Face Shop now joins forces with comic book giant Marvel to bring us The Face Shop x Marvel Collection!

The Face Shop x Marvel Collection.

Available for a limited time only, this recently-launched collection features an array of eyeshadows, eyeliners, mascaras, lipsticks, and nail polishes. Also included is a Captain America-inspired cushion, and a complete skin care line for men. 

View the entire collection after the jump!

Pucker Up! | The Face Shop x Disney Princess Moisture Touch Lipstick.

Happy Monday everyone!
I hope you're all enjoying the long weekend, which also happens to be the last weekend of June. It's also the final week of my son's (extended) school break. Next Monday we go back to the school and I go back to the daily grind - homework, quizzes, projects, you know the drill. And this is why I'm trying to catch up on my blog backlogs - I still have tons of makeup and skincare products that I need to review and write about, and I can only do so much when Yue goes back to school.

Anyhoo, let's cross one more item in my 'to-blog' list - the Moisture Touch Lipstick from The Face Shop x Disney Princess collaboration collection. Released in December 2016, this limited edition holiday collection includes lipsticks, lip tints, eyeshadow palettes, sheet masks, nail polishes, and even a foot mask featuring Disney princesses in the packaging.

I bought a few sheet masks and lip tints as Christmas gifts for my friends; for myself, I got this Moisture Touch Lipstick because the packaging is too pretty to resist. Also, it was on sale at just 6500 won (around Php 300 or $5) - almost half of its original price. Haha!

The Face Shop x Disney Princess Moisture Touch Lipstick.

It comes in a cardboard box with Snow White's picture on it. The lipstick itself also has Snow White's picture on it, with a dainty red heart on the cap. I was so overwhelmed by the cuteness that I wanted to buy all three lipsticks from the collection, but alas, Ariel from The Little Mermaid was a bit too orange-y for my taste, while Rapunzel from Tangled was out of stock.

Product description (in Hangul) at the back of the box.

Product description (in English) on the side panel.

Here's the product description as written on the box:

This moisture lipstick contains serum that coats the lips to create vivid, glossy color while providing moisturizing and hydrating care.

RD 06 Red Apple.

Dainty little heart on top.

The lipstick, uncapped.

The serum mentioned is actually olive-derived squalene, which has moisturizing and anti-aging properties. That being said, the Moisture Touch Lipstick has an incredibly rich, cushioning, and hydrating gel-like formulation.

A closer look at the bullet. :)

It has a soft, creamy texture and glides on the lips smoothly without tugging. Its moisturizing effect makes it very comfortable to wear and leaves your lips feeling like it's drenched in lip balm, even if you're not wearing lip balm underneath.

Swatched once on the left, twice on the right.

It's highly pigmented too, and the vibrant, buildable color lasts on the lips for about four or five hours. RD 06 is a brightened, medium red which flatters most skin tones.

RD 06 Red Apple when worn.

If you're into the gradient lip trend, which is extremely popular in South Korea, you can achieve the look by 'smudging' the color on your lips using the applicator underneath the heart. This was an accidental discovery; I twisted the heart out of curiosity and voila, there was actually an applicator hiding inside it.

Twist the heart to reveal the surprise!

Curiosity doesn't always kill the cat, does it? :)

Products Used:
FACE: Innisfree Cushion Primer,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium,
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: The Face Shop x Disney Moisture Touch Lipstick in RD 06 Red Apple.

Spotlight | The Face Shop x The Simpsons Jeju Volcanic Lava Volcanic Ash Nose Strip.

Last month, The Face Shop launched their collaboration collection with The Simpsons, which I featured in this blog post. The collection features summer skin essentials such as sunscreens and tanning oils, and body care products such as shaving creams and deodorants.

The collaboration collection also includes sheet masks and nose strips, which I have tried while I was in Seoul. I loved the nose strips so much that I bought a few hoarded several packs, enough to last me until my next trip to Korea! Haha!

Bart Simpson Nose Strips aka
The Face Shop Jeju Volcanic Lava
Volcanic Ash Nose Strips!

The nose strips, which sell for 3000 won (around Php 130 or $3), come in a plastic pack which bears Bart's face and the official logo of The Simpsons. Each pack contains seven individual packets, also designed with Bart's face.

Seven individual packets.

You'll find the product description, usage directions, and list of ingredients on the back of the plastic pack and the individual packets. All these are written in both English and Hangul.

Plastic pack.

Individual packet.

Made with volcanic ash, charcoal powder, and aloe leaf juice, the Face Shop Jeju Volcanic Lava Ash Nose Strip deeply cleanses pores and draws out impurities without stripping the moisture off your skin. The strip is pasted on a transparent plastic sheet. You can easily lift off the strip from the plastic sheet; no need to worry about the edges crumpling or sticking together during the process.

The nose strip.

To use, wash your face thoroughly then leave the area around your nose completely wet. Remove the strip from the plastic sheet; then apply it across the bridge of your nose, pressing down firmly to ensure maximum contact. The black side of the strip should be the one sticking on your skin.

Stick the black side to your skin.

Leave the strip on for 10 - 15 minutes until it hardens. Slowly peel off the strip afterwards, then admire your squeaky clean nose! :)

Whitehead-free nose, here I come! :)

Personally, I like how this strip sticks nicely and covers the entire nose area. It has no weird chemical scent and does not feel itchy on the skin, unlike some of the local nose strip brands that I have tried. This nose strip dries out quickly, too. Removing it is quite easy and pretty painless - all it took for me was one quick pull. 

All that dirt, ugh!

Best of all, it does a good job of removing skin impurities. I mean, just look at all those whiteheads sticking on the strip! Grossly satisfying, haha! Even my husband was impressed, he asked me to put a strip on him after seeing all that dirt! Now he's also a fan of this nose strip, using it fortnightly like I do. :)

Sneak Peek | The Face Shop x The Simpsons Collection.

Spring may be far from over, but The Face Shop has already launched their summer collection for 2017. And surprise, surprise! It's another collaboration collection, this time with America's most famous family (not The Kardashians, lol), The Simpsons!

The Face Shop x The Simpsons Collection.

Like most of the 80's babies (I believe we are called Generation Y), I grew up watching The Simpsons together with my siblings. I was so into this animated series, so much that I even begged my parents for a skateboard because I wanted to be as cool as Bart. Haha!

¡Ay, caramba!
View the complete collection after the jump!

Sneak Peek | The Face Shop x Dreamworks Trolls Collection.

Hello, blog! I missed you! :)

I've been extremely busy with Yue's schoolwork and final exams that I hardly had the time to update this blog, let alone sit down in front of my laptop. But now that his exams are almost over (just two more subjects on Monday!), I reckon I will have more time to spare for this blog and finally get all those pending articles over and done with. Still not done documenting my winter Seoul Searching trip, and it's almost spring!!!

Speaking of spring, I'm looking forward to the new releases from my favorite cosmetic brands. I've seen a few teasers on Facebook and other social media pages, and from the looks of it, it's gonna be another exciting season in the world of collaboration collections!

First on the list is the collab between The Face Shop and Dreamworks Trolls!

The Face Shop x Dreamworks Trolls collection.

These music-loving, candy-colored cuties take center stage again as The Face Shop launches a makeup, skincare, and haircare line featuring the movie trolls!

Hug time! View the entire collection after the jump!

Seoul Searching | My Winter Skin Care Essentials.

Winter can wreak havoc on your skin. I know that for a fact, as my first-ever trip to Korea happened in the winter of 2015. The dryness, the flaking, the itchiness - especially the itchiness! - I know that all too well. Not wanting to go through any of these discomforts again, I came to Korea last December armed and ready with these winter skincare essentials.

My winter survival kit! 

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask.
Laneige's best-selling product for more than ten years running, the Water Sleeping Mask also happens to be my favorite skincare product of all-time. Packed with ceramides, anti-oxidants, and highly concentrated ionized mineral water, this revolutionary gel-type mask moisturizes and revitalizes the skin overnight.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, 28000 won.

The Laneige Water Sleeping Mask has been part of my skincare regimen for years now. I started using this in 2012 when it was still branded as the Water Sleeping Pack_EX, and has been a staple in my fridge since. (I keep it in the fridge to enhance the cooling effect on my skin.) It feels wonderful waking up to soft, smooth, nicely-hydrated skin - especially in the dead of winter - and this product does exactly that.

Sheet Masks.
Korean beauty sheet masks have become extremely popular over the years, which comes as no surprise to me. I'm crazy about them myself as they're basically a full-spa treatment in one easy-to-wear sheet. They're affordable, easy to use, and very effective, too. And with almost every Korean beauty brand having their own line (or lines, even) of sheet masks, you're bound to find one that will suit your skin and address your skin issue/s.

Most sheet masks go for as cheap as 1000 won each.

I chanced upon a huge sheet mask sale at The Face Shop counter in eMart - 20 sheet masks of my choice for half the price, plus I get two Calendula sheet masks for free. What a wonderful way to feed my sheet mask obsession! The Green Tea and Olive variants are my top picks - the former soothes skin irritations while hydrating the skin; the latter provides intense hydration and makes the skin soft, smooth, and glowing.

The It's Skin Elmo Mask, on the other hand, I bought mainly for the cuteness factor. How can I resist a sheet mask with Elmo's smiling face printed on it? I could not, of course, and I ended up buying a few pieces of this product even if they cost more (they're priced at 2500 won each) than the regular sheet masks. As it turns out, this sheet mask contains adenosine, which is great for battling wrinkled and dull skin. For an impulse buy, it was actually worth the money. :)

Care Zone Moomin Nordenau Water Mist.
Another skincare product that I can't live without are face mists. If you rummage through my purse at any given time, chances are, you'll find a bottle or a spray can inside stashed together with my asthma inhaler. What the inhaler does for my lungs, the face mist does for my skin.

Care Zone Moomin Nordenau Water Mist, 18000 won.

It's my on-the-go hydrator, my pick-me-upper whenever my skin feels tight and dry. I can spray it on my face anywhere, at any time of day, and voila - instant hydration without messing my makeup.

Super fine nozzle, I love!

A product of LG Beauty (yes, the same group that produces mobile phones and household appliances), the Care Zone Moomin Nordenau Water Mist is a mineral-rich water mist that hydrates and soothes skin. This exclusive product line contains Nordenau mineral water from Germany, regarded as one of the world's greatest 'healing waters'. Although I'm skeptical about the 'healing properties', I love its hypoallergenic, paraben-free formula and the fact that it can refresh and hydrate my skin and set my makeup with just a few spritzes.

It's Skin Macaron Lip Balm.
It's no secret that I'm a sucker for makeup collaborations, all the more if they have uber cute packaging. This special edition Macaron Lip Balm from It's Skin is all that, and much more.

It's Skin x Sesame Street Macaron Lip Balm, 5800 won.

The macaron packaging is adorable as it is, what more if it has Elmo (and other Sesame Street characters) printed on it?

Elmo's flavor is Grape.

With its sweet grape scent and soft, non-sticky formula, this lip balm was an instant hit for me and my son. It does a good job of keeping my lips moisturized and preventing it from chapping.

This collaboration was released in celebration of It's Skin's 10th anniversary.

The only downside to this lip balm is that I have to dip my pinkie in each time I use it. It's not very sanitary, but yeah, the packaging really won me over. Haha!

It's Skin Cookie and Hand Cream.
By now you've probably figured out that I'm a fan of Sesame Street. Is there any kid - particularly those who were born in the 80's - who isn't?

It's Skin x Sesame Street Cookie and Hand Cream, 3000 won.

I won't say more about the packaging, because the cuteness speaks for itself.

There's the 10th Anniversary sticker at the back of the tube.

As for the formulation, I love that this hand cream absorbs easily onto the skin and doesn't feel greasy when applied. It contains tiny black beads which appear like crushed cookies, hence the name 'Cookie and Hand Cream'. Also, it leaves your hands nice and soft, with a sweet chocolate-y fragrance to boot.

Swatched. 

This light moisturizing hand cream comes in a sleek and handy 30 mL squeeze tube which can easily fit in your purse and can be brought in-flight if you're traveling.

Etude House Silk Scarf Hair Treatment.
So here's the thing. I knew that winter can be pretty harsh on the skin and hair. But I had no idea that it could be very unforgiving to bleached hair! Barely 24 hours after I arrived in Seoul, my lovely ash-brown, purple-streaked hair turned into a dry, disheveled mess!

Etude House Silk Scarf Hair Treatment, 7000 won.

I rushed to the nearest Etude House store and got me a tube of the Silk Scarf Hair Treatment, a full-sized version of the hair treatment that comes with every box of the Bubble Hair Coloring.

My hair saver.

Specially formulated with oil complex and floral scent, this highly concentrated treatment restores and reinforces damaged hair, and prevents it from becoming dry and brittle. Normally, I would use this at least once a week. While in Korea, I used this every other day, alternating it with my regular conditioner. If not for this product, my hair would have been a lifeless blob of blonde!

Have you tried any of these products? What are your winter skincare essentials? :)