Spotlight | Althea Makeup Box + Simple Makeup Tutorial.

Oh yes, you read it right! Our favorite K-beauty shopping website, Althea, now has its very own line of makeup. And if you're following me on Instagram (or in my other social pages), then you've probably got a glimpse of the new Althea exclusives.

Althea's all-new makeup line + the hanbok-inspired Lunar New Year box.

The Althea makeup line consists of an eyeshadow palette, eye glitters, concealers, and lip tints. They even included the Skin Relief Soft Film Gel in the hanbok-inspired box that they sent me, but I'll write about that in a separate post. For now, I'll just talk about the makeup products and show you how I used them.

Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer.
Shades from L-R: #01 Vanilla, #02 Ginger, #03 Honey, and #04 Mocha.

The Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer (Php 200) is an easy-to-blend concealer that covers undereye circles, blemishes, dark spots, and other skin imperfections. It has a buildable formula that gives medium to full coverage, and comes in a range of shades that can cater to different skin tones.

Swatches from L-R: #01 Vanilla, #02 Ginger, #03 Honey, and #04 Mocha.

The Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter (Php 300), as its name implies, is a glittery eye product that can be used as an eyeshadow and an eyeliner. It has a silky-smooth liquid formula which dries down to a long-wearing finish. It also comes with a precise brush for easy application.

Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter in #01 Gold Light (left) and #02 Pink Light (right).

Swatches - Gold Light (left) and Pink Light (right).

Then there's the Althea Watercolor Cream Tint (Php 260), an innovative lip product that combines the pigmentation of lipstick, the moisturizing feel of gloss, and the staying power of stain. The Althea Watercolor Cream Tint has a lightweight, buildable formula that allows you to wear the product two ways - gradient or full-on. They come in four highly-pigmented shades, each with a mild, sugary scent.

Althea Watercolor Creamy Tint.
Shades from L-R: #01 Plum Cream, #02 Strawberry Cream, #03 Peach Cream, #04 Marron Cream.

Swatches from L-R: #01 Plum Cream, #02 Strawberry Cream, #03 Peach Cream, #04 Marron Cream.

Finally, we have the Althea Eye Palette Sunrise & Moonrise BCL x Althea (Php 1780), Althea's very first eyeshadow palette. Made in collaboration with Indonesian singer, actress, and style icon Bunga Citra Lestari (more popularly known to fans as BCL), this palette contains a mix of matte, shimmery, and glittery shades. There are eight shades in total, and they're all beautifully-pigmented, long-wearing, and easy to apply. The glittery ones have a bit of fall-out though, but nothing a setting powder can't handle.

Althea Eye Palette Sunrise & Moonrise BCL x Althea.
Shades have no names, but the ones on top are numbered 1-4,
while the ones on the bottom are numbered 5-8.

Swatches: Shade number 1 on the bottom, shade number 8 on the top.

And now for my quick makeup tutorial. Keep in mind that I'm no makeup artist, so please bear with my so-called skills, lol.

Using the Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer in shade #03 Honey.

After my morning skincare routine (and yes, that includes sunscreen), I applied a primer first, followed by a layer of cushion, and then the Althea Flawless Creamy Concealer. I dotted it along my undereye area and blended it using a beauty sponge. I also used the concealer to cover the tiny red patches on the side of my nose. Once I've blended the concealer in the 'troubled areas' of my face, I applied the Althea Petal Velvet Powder in Pink Lavender to set everything in.

How it looks like after blending. 

Ideally, the next step would be to groom, line, and fill in your brows. But because I'm weird (lol), I usually apply eyeshadow first, then work on my brows after. The shades with arrows on the right are the ones that I used for my simple, daytime look. 

Shade number to cover the entire lids, shade number 3 as the main shade,
and shade number 5 on the crease and outer V.

I applied the matte beige shade number 2 on my entire lid and used the metallic rose gold shade number 3 as the main color on my lids. To add depth and dimension, I used the shimmery golden brown shade number 5 on my crease and outer V.

Using shades number 2, 3, and 5 for this look.

To complete my eye makeup, I applied black eyeliner on my upper lashline, a bit of the Gold Light Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter on my water line, and mascara on my lashes. Then I worked on my brows, which is usually the most time-consuming step of my makeup routine.

On my lips - the Althea Watercolor Cream Tint in #03 Peach Cream.

I then used a dusty pink blush on my cheeks and the Althea Water Color Cream Tint in Peach Cream on my lips.  

My daytime/Valentines look using Althea makeup.

Ta-daaa! This is the final look. :)

My daytime/Valentine look using Althea makeup.

It was such a joy working with all these products from Althea's exclusive makeup line. I love playing with the colors on the palette, and now I'm wearing eyeshadow almost everyday - well, for this week, at least. :)

You can purchase all the products featured in this post on the Althea website. There's a storewide sale going on right now, because it's Valentine's Day. We don't normally celebrate this occasion (I'm the scrooge of Valentine's Day, lol), but I hope you all have a Happy Hearts Day! :)

Sneak Peek | Etude House x KitKat Collection.

I'm not the kind of girl who looks forward to flowers and chocolates and all that cutesy stuff on Valentine's Day. Never was, and probably never will. I am, however, the kind of girl who would choose makeup over flowers on any given day - especially if the makeup is as adorbs as this.

Etude House x KitKat Collection.

Etude House is the latest Korean beauty brand to work on a collaboration collection with a food brand, and it's with KitKat no less! The 'food meets beauty' trend was quite a hit with K-beauty fans (as evidenced by the Coca-Cola makeup line, the Peko collection, and the Samyang collection), and it was only a matter of time for Etude House - and perhaps other K-beauty brands - to follow suit. 

For Valentine's Day, Etude House revamped their eyeshadow palettes to make them look like the KitKat chocolate bars we know and love! This chocolate-inspired collection features two Play Color Eyes Mini Palettes, with each palette containing six different shades.

Etude House x Kitkat Play Color Eyes Mini Eyeshadow Palette in 'Original'.

Shade selection of the 'Original' palette.

The 'Original' palette resembles KitKat's classic red packaging, with shades ranging from a light champagne to a vivid metallic gold.

Etude House x KitKat Play Color Eyes Mini Eyeshadow Palette in 'Strawberry Tiramisu'.

Shade selection of the 'Strawberry Tiramisu' palette.

The 'Strawberry Tiramisu' palette, on the other hand, comes in a pink and white packaging and has shades ranging from a blushing pink to a rich brown hue. 

Comes with a pouch and a chocolate bar.

The Etude House x KitKat Play Color Eyes Mini Palettes are encased in a soft pouch, and comes with a free bar of KitKat. They retail for 20000 Korean won each, and they're selling like hotcakes in Korea.

No news yet if they'll be sold here in the Philippines, but I'm hoping to see these cuties on the Althea website one of these days. Otherwise, I'll have to ask my other half to take a break and do some makeup shopping for me. Haha! :)

Spotlight | 16Brand BrickIt Shadow Hit 10 Choco.

I haven't bought new eyeshadow palettes in awhile, because I hardly wear eyeshadow these days. Mornings are usually a whirlwind at home which leaves me very little time to do my makeup, let alone worry about cut-creasing my eyelids.

Yesterday, however, I found myself unearthing my eye makeup brushes and trying on new eyeshadow colors. My beloved Althea family sent me this charming eyeshadow palette as a gift, and what am I supposed to do with it other than to play with the colors and try them on?

Makeup or chocolate? :)

This is the 16Brand BrickIt Shadow Hit 10 Choco eyeshadow palette, a product of popular Korean beauty brand Chosungah 22. 16Brand is known for its line of 'fun makeup', with its off-the-wall product concepts, quirky packaging, and vibrant colors, and this eyeshadow palette is a perfect example of what a 'fun makeup' is.

16Brand BrickIt Shadow Hit 10 Choco.

As its name suggests, the 16Brand BrickIt Shadow Hit 10 Choco comes in a chocolate bar-inspired packaging. This neutral eyeshadow palette has a mix of pink and brown shades in matte, satin, and shimmery finishes which allow you to create a range of sweet, feminine looks. They're great for everyday wear, and you can work with the darker shades to create soft smokey looks suited for evening wear.

From L- R: Eggnog, Cotton Sugar, Sweet Latte, Milk Coco, Rose Macaron,
Hazelnut Syrup, Cinnamon Powder, Deep Brownie, Melting Ganache, Cacao 100.

Shade names and product info on the back of the carton.

The shadows are nicely pigmented, and each of them have a soft, buttery texture. They go on smoothly and last for hours without creasing, even without an eye primer on. You might be overwhelmed by the fallout (because I was), so make sure to tap off the excess eyeshadow before application. 

From top to bottom - Eggnog, Cotton Sugar, Sweet Latte, Milk Coco, Rose Macaron,
Hazelnut Syrup, Cinnamon Powder, Deep Brownie, Melting Ganache, Cacao 100.

The shadows are quite versatile, and can be used as a highlighter (Rose Macaron and Cotton Sugar), an eyeliner (Melting Ganache and Cacao 100), and even as a blusher (Milk Coco).

From top to bottom - Eggnog, Cotton Sugar, Sweet Latte, Milk Coco, Rose Macaron, Hazelnut Syrup.

From top to bottom - Rose Macaron, Hazelnut Syrup, Cinnamon Powder, Deep Brownie, Melting Ganache, Cacao 100.

My eyeshadow game has become rusty from all those months of not wearing full makeup, but I managed to come up with a pretty decent look. 

Played with three shades - Sweet Latte, Rose Macaron, Deep Brownie.

Nothing too complicated, just three shades for a simple, everyday 'I'm-going-to-pick-up-my-kid-from-school' look.

My 'I'm going to pick up my kid from school' look. :)

The 16Brand BrickIt Shadow Hit 10 Choco was released in Althea in 2017, as part of the limited edition Party All Night Beauty Box. The palette is still in stock at the 16Brand website and retails for 31000 Korean won (around Php 1500 or $27).

Sneak Peek | Holika Holika x Peko Collection.

It seems like collaborations with food brands will be this year's trend in the K-beauty industry as another exciting collection is about to come our way!

Korean cosmetics brand Holika Holika, known for its 'fun and practical' makeup and skincare products, has recently joined hands with Japanese confectionery brand Fujiya Co. for this super cute, absolutely adorable makeup collection. Kawaii! 

Holika Holika x Peko Collection!

View the complete Holika Holika x Peko Collection after the jump!

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!

Spotlight | Sleek Makeup Eye & Cheek Palette.

When I first started writing about makeup and beauty products in this blog more than seven years ago, Sleek Makeup easily became one of my favorite brands. Known for their high-quality makeup with strong pigmentation, this British high street (drugstore) brand also earned a cult following for their expansive range of shades in all skin tones.

Today I am rekindling my love for Sleek Makeup with this Eye and Cheek Palette, a gift from my Mum a few months back.

Sleek Makeup Eye & Cheek Palette, retails for £10.  

This palette is called Dancing 'Til Dusk which contains four eye shadows and two blushers from Sleek Makeup's bestselling i-Divine and Blush range. Packaged in a handy-sized travel compact with magnetic closure, the palette comes with a mirror the size of the entire lid, a mini brush, and a mini sponge applicator.

What's inside the palette.

The brush and sponge applicator that comes with it.

I personally love this magnetic closure concept, because now I don't have to worry about stubbing my nails or ruining my nail polish just to get the palette open. This has always been my issue with my older Sleek Makeup palettes - they're too difficult to open! Thankfully, the brand seemed to have resolved this common issue, and most - if not all - of their palettes now close magnetically.

The larger pans are the blushers, the smaller ones are the eyeshadows.

Dancing 'Til Dusk features complementary and bold shades suitable for all skin tones. The eyeshadows are velvety browns and shimmering fawns from the Au Naturel i-Divine palette. As for the blushers, one is from a limited edition release while the other is from Sleek Makeup's current range.

From L-R: Mirrored Pink (blush), Cappuccino and Mineral Earth (eye shadows).

Mirrored Pink is a cool-toned, bright pink shade with silver shimmers. It has a pretty nice texture and glides on smoothly on your cheeks when applied. It's also well-pigmented, and has great color payoff with just one or two swipes. 

Cappuccino is a light beige matte shade. This eye shadow has a different texture, a little too hard if I may say, and it took me a few swipes to make the color noticeable in the swatches. It's the least pigmented product in this palette, and you really have to make extra effort to get good color payoff from this shade.

Mineral Earth is a deep brown shade with a hint of gold. It's shimmery, nicely pigmented, and has a smooth, easy-to-apply texture.

From L-R: Sahara (blusher), Taupe and Regal (eye shadows).

Sahara is a matte orange blusher with a touch of brown. This shade has a lovely, smooth texture and is highly pigmented. You need to be light-handed in applying this on your cheeks as the color can be pretty intense with just one or two swipes.

Taupe is a champagne shimmer with a smooth texture and good color payoff.

Regal is a cool-toned purple shade with a hint of brown. Unlike the Cappuccino, this matte eye shadow has a smooth and creamy texture which makes it easier to apply. It's nicely pigmented, and you get good color payoff with just a swipe or two.

All six shades - Mirrored Pink, Cappuccino, Mineral Earth on top,
Sahara, Taupe, and Regal on the bottom.

All six shades have great staying power, especially the blushers. Both Mirrored Pink and Sahara can last for more than six hours on the skin, while the eye shadows can stay put the entire day with a good primer/eye shadow base underneath.

Sahara on my cheeks.

Mirrored Pink on my cheeks.

Overall, I love how every shade in this palette is wearable for both night and day looks, and is suitable for most skin tones. With its sleek and sturdy packaging, this palette is perfect for traveling -and I will most likely bring this along on my next Seoul Searching trip. I'll bring my own brushes though, as I'm not very fond of the brush and applicator that's included in the palette.

Products used:
FACE: Beyond Alice in Blooming Skin Tone Sun Base,
Nature Republic Botanical Stick Concealer.
Innisfree Long Wear Cover Cushion in N23.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Clio Kill Black Waterproof Brush Liner,
Nature Republic Pure Shine Mascara.
CHEEKS: Sleek Makeup Mirrored Pink Blush.
LIPS: Vice Cosmetics Good Vibes Matte Lipstick in Ekzaj.

Sneak Peek | Laneige Milkyway Fantasy Holiday Collection.

With Christmas barely a month away, more and more cosmetics brands have begun to unveil their holiday collections, most of which have been released in stores just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Not to be outdone, Korean beauty brand Laneige has also launched its holiday collection, and this has got to be the brand's prettiest limited edition line thus far.

Laneige Milkyway Fantasy Collection.

Released earlier this month, the Milkyway Fantasy Collection reflects the beauty of the enchanting universe in its sparkling packaging. With dots of twinkling stars set against the background of the night sky, this capsule range mirrors the 'sparkling beauty' for Laneige has been known for.

For that sparkling beauty.

Revel in the fantasy after the jump!

Sneak Peek | Etude House x Wedding Peach Angel Sparkle Collection.

July seems to be a very promising month for makeup junkies like me as we look forward to the new product releases from some of our favorite Korean beauty brands. I'm filled to the brim with excitement as I give you a glimpse of these wonderful goodies coming our way!

First up is the Angel Sparkle Collection, which I'm sure will be a big hit among anime/manga fans. It's a collaboration collection between Etude House and Wedding Peach, a shojo manga adapted into anime television series which was quite popular in the late '90s.

Lily, Peach, and Daisy of Wedding Peach!

Before I got into this whole Korean drama craze, I was a huge anime fan, influenced mostly by my best friend who was an even bigger otaku than I am. We actually learned Nihongo just by watching anime, the same way I learned Hangul just by watching Kdramas. Oh, and one evident proof of my anime addiction? My son's nickname (Yue) came from one of the characters in Card Captor Sakura.

Meet Peach!

That being said, these new releases from Etude House will definitely take a toll on my wallet. I'm already a sucker for (makeup) collaborations, so what more if the products are as kawaii as these?

And here's Lily!

View the entire collection after the jump!