Spotlight | Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser + Althea Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist.

2018 was a year of rapid growth for Althea's in-house brand, having launched new products almost on a monthly basis. I'd say it was a successful year too, as these products have all been met with rave reviews from skincare junkies, beauty bloggers, even K-pop idols. And before 2018 came to an end, we saw another 'expansion' of the Althea line with the addition of these two products - the Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser and the Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist.

New Althea exclusives - Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist and
Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser.

The latter is actually another milestone for the brand, as it's their first-ever celebrity collaboration product. Althea worked closely with top Indonesian singer and actress Titi Kamal to create this lightweight body fragrance with a mix of floral and fruity notes.

Althea's first fragrance and firs celebrity collaboration product!

Very girly packaging. :)

The Althea Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist is a zesty combination of orange, peach, and rose - Titi Kamal's favorite scents. The fragrance is mild yet long-lasting, flirty and feminine without being too overwhelming. It has a non-sticky formula that feels light and does not irritate the skin. This has been my go-to perfume for the past few weeks, and I love how its scent reminds me of Burberry Weekend, one of my favorite fragrances of all time. 

Titi Kamal x Althea.

The Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser, on the other hand, is a hydrating cleanser that purifies pores, moisturizes the skin, and maintains its pH level for a healthier complexion.

Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser.

Formulated with the Dual Moisture Cell System, the Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser is a combination of water and oil in overlapping layers to gently yet effectively remove makeup, dirt, and residue. It has the same texture and non-greasy feel as the Clio Microfessional Lip and Eye Remover, but with a slightly thicker consistency.

Formulated with the Dual Cell Moisture System.

This serum cleanser also contains tea tree leaf extract to purify the skin, mint leaf extract to soothe irritations, and jojoba seed oil that deeply moisturizes any dryness without feeling heavy on the skin.

Typical flip- top cap.

Currently, I'm using the Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser as the first step of my double cleansing routine. I pour an ample amount of product on the palm of my hand (about 3 or 4 drops will do), massage it on my face until all the makeup I'm wearing is dissolved, then rinse it off with water.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink and Clio Kill Black Waterproof Liner on the back of my hand.

I love how this product easily melts makeup - even the long-wearing, waterproof ones like the Clio Kill Black Waterproof Liner and the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick.

A few drops of the Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser...

I also love how it cools the skin as it cleanses, and how my skin feels soft and silky after every use. Plus points for its mild scent, hypoallergenic formulation, and cruelty-free production!

All clean!

The Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser retails for Php 430, while the Althea Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist retails for Php 450. Both products are exclusively available on the Althea website.

I have a strong feeling that it's gonna be another exciting year for Althea. They'll be launching their own makeup line very soon, and right now they're having a pre-launch event where you can get a 50% discount on the new products! Check out the Althea Color Makeup pre-launch event here! 

Tupperware Brands for a Happy New Me!

Xin nian kuaile! Sae hae bok mani baduseyo! Happy Lunar New Year, everyone!
Today is a special holiday here in the Philippines, and the long weekend is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your family - go on a road trip perhaps, or take the kids to somewhere fun.

We were supposed to hie off to Playa Laiya today for some much-needed Vitamin Sea, but Mum wasn't feeling too well when she woke up this morning so we had to cancel our beach trip at the last minute. The kids were slightly disappointed that they couldn't go for a swim, but Mum managed to cheer them up by ordering pizza (lol). As for me, I'm using this extra time to catch up on my work backlog and take product photos for the blog.

Several days ago, I received this blogger mail from Tupperware Brands Philippines. It's the 'Happy New Me' package - a selection of beauty, skincare products, and fragrances developed to care for and indulge your skin and senses. Coming home to this wonderful gift after a harrowing, five-day stay at the hospital definitely made me smile - a happy new me, indeed!

Happy New Me package. Thank you, Tupperware Brands Philippines!

Included in this lovely bundle are the following products:

VitaClear Oil Control Facial Deep Cleanser and VitaClear Oil Control Facial Deep Cleanser for Men.

White Result Glutathione Hand & Body Lotion.

Possibilities Hand & Body Lotion.

Fruity Blooms in Frangipani & Brown Sugar.

Colorfull Summer Treats Lip Balm in Cool Peppermint and Cool Strawberry.

Colorfull Pink Glow Cheek Magix Cream.

A Little Romance Fragrance Rollette.

Colorfull Satin Lipstick in Midnight (left) and Fierce Red (right).

I love the cute and colorful packaging of the makeup items. They're the most eye-catching products in the bundle, and my favorite products in the bunch. Expect an extensive review of each item  - complete with swatches and all - in the coming days.

I also love how most of the products come in travel-friendly sizes. If you're a long-time follower of this blog and my social media pages, then you probably know that we travel quite often and that I never travel without my beauty and skin care essentials in tow. Looks like these products will be doing a bit of traveling very soon, especially the Vita Clear Facial Deep Cleanser for Men. I'll bring it along for my husband to try.

Yue, on the other hand, has called dibs on the Cool Peppermint Lip Balm. His perennially parched lips has made him an avid fan and regular user of lip balms, and he was thrilled at the sight of a new lip balm in his all-time favorite 'flavor', peppermint. The lip balm has now found a new home in the side pocket of his school bag, haha!

Many thanks to Tupperware Brands Philippines for sending products that I can share with my family!

Thank you, TWB! :)

Get to know more about Tupperware Brands and their products by following their social media pages:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tupperwarebrandsph/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TupperBrandsph
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tupperwarebrandsph/

Spotlight | Samyo Bed and Linen Spray + Giveaway!

I'm a sucker for aromatherapy. From massage oils, to scented candles, to oil lamps, to reed diffusers - I've tried them all. This time around I'm using a new method, in the form of mist sprays.

Just recently, I received these bottles of bed and linen sprays from Samyo Fragrances. The brand derives its name from 'samyo' - the Filipino term for 'aroma' or 'fragrance'.

Samyo Bed and Linen Sprays.

A fledgling business enterprise, Samyo Fragrances aims to take advantage of the olfactory perception (aka, sense of smell) to address an individual's specific need. Their Xaplono line, for instance, aims to address sleeping problems and boost relaxation through aromatherapy.

At present, there are two variants available in the Xaplono line: Harmony, a light, floral scent made from lavender and chamomile essences; and Tranquility, an earthy, woody scent made from oils of sandalwood and vetiver.

Tranquility.

Used for centuries to enhance meditation, sandalwood is also a natural sleep remedy. Vetiver, on the other hand, helps relieve anxiety.

Harmony.

Lavender, a very popular fragrance, has been named as one of the most useful essence for the relief of anxiety and stress. It's a great complement to chamomile, which calms the mind and induces a happy feeling.

These bed and linen sprays come in transparent plastic bottles with a fine-mist atomizer spray and a snug-fit protective cap. To use, simply spritz 3 or 4 times onto pillows or bed sheets before naptime or bedtime.

Atomizer spray.

Both Harmony and Tranquility are fragrant, yet mildly-scented. The aroma is very natural - not the kind that could make you sneeze or cough at first whiff. It's gentle on kids' noses, too. In fact, my son loves the light and lulling scent of Harmony.

Harmony + Tranquility.

If you're thinking of trying these sprays, you can purchase them online via the Samyo website. Or you can drop them a line on Facebook or Twitter. The 100mL bottle costs Php 300, while 50mL bottles costs Php 200 each. Both rates are inclusive of delivery fee.

Thank you, Samyo Fragrances! :)

Now here's the best part.
As a treat to all of you, Samyo Fragrances will be giving away two (2) 100 mL bottles of these bed and linen sprays (one of each variant) to one lucky reader! And just now, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Samyo contacted me, saying that he's including a Starbucks gift certificate to the prize pack!

To join the giveaway, simply complete the tasks listed on the Rafflecopter below.
You have to complete all of the mandatory tasks for your entries to be valid. You can earn more entries should you choose to do the optional tasks. More completed tasks mean more entries. More entries, the better your shot at winning the prize.
Giveaway will run until April 1st, so try to earn as much entries as you can. Good luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday #26 | Fragrance Freak!

I'm doing the #LoveBeautyholicsFebPhotoADay challenge on Instagram, and here's my entry for Day 12: Perfume Collection. I love, love, love perfumes. It's a thing I inherited from my Mum, who has an even bigger collection than mine. (These are half of what I currently own, by the way.)

How about you? What's in your perfume collection?

Spotlight | The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom EDT.

Whenever we go shopping at Duty Free, I never miss out the chance to swing by The Body Shop counter. You see, before I got into this whole Korean cosmetics frenzy, and before Human Heart Nature came to be, The Body Shop was my most favorite brand when it comes to bath, body, and skin care products. I guess I take after my Mum, who is very fond of the brand herself.

I've been meaning to buy the Apple Blossom EDT, but it seems The Body Shop stopped producing this scent a long time ago.  And so the last time we were at Duty Free, I bought a bottle of the Japanese Cherry Blossom EDT instead. To be more precise, Mum bought it for me. Hehe.

This light, floral scent is inspired by the beauty and elegance of cherry blossoms - 'sakura', as they call it in Japan. In Japanese culture, these tiny, delicate blossoms symbolize the transience of life.

Feminine, romantic, and elegant, the Japanese Cherry Blossom EDT opens with Fuji apple, Chinese magnolia and osmanthus flower. The scent then mingles with a heart of star jamine, Japanese cherry blossom and Japanese persimmon. This fragrance becomes even more delightful to the senses as it combines with base notes of sandalwood, hinoki wood, and fruity musk.

I love how this fragrance progresses from tangy (as in the scent of the Fuji apple), to flowery (the cherry blossom itself), to musky (it has fruity musk base notes, after all). The scent is sweet yet sophisticated, elegant but not overpowering. I call this my 'happy scent', which is perfect  for warm, blustery days such as today.

Like all of The Body Shop products, the Japanese Cherry Blossom EDT is ethically sourced, kind to animals, and supports community fair trade. And you know how biased I am for products that don't test on animals, use all-natural / organic ingredients, and provide livelihood opportunities.

The Japanese Cherry Blossom EDT comes in 1.69 fl oz bottles, and costs $25. Available at The Body Shop stores worldwide.