With 'Glass Skin' being the latest talk of [Korea beauty] town in terms of skincare, it's no surprise that affordable korean beauty source, Althea Korea came up with another addition to their line.
Makeup artist Ellie Choi shares her skincare routine to achieving clear, pristine, poreless a.k.a 'glass-like skin',
I've tried the whole line for about a month and I have to say this line overall is pretty good with one a particular standout I might add.
Skin type : Sensitive with dry cheeks, under-eyes and forehead.
Althea Korea, has been on a roll with their own beauty brand following a great response from their pioneer product - Althea Velvet Powder. Now they're delving into the world of skincare and tackling the laborious 10-12 Korean skincare routine. Their answer? The 3 step 'Bare Essentials' line.
Great makeup starts with great skin
As most makeup lovers know, great skin equals great makeup. There's no denying the satisfaction of playing with makeup and getting your face ready for the day but there's equally a satisfying feeling when you apply less or not to even wear makeup at all you know?
The 3 step line, aims to give a more streamlined easier approach to having Kbeauty skin without the intense multi-step regimen.
The product breakdown
Step 1 - Cleanse
Contour Cleanser - a rich and refreshing foaming cleanser that contains micro capsules to both cleanse and gently exfoliate away impurities while improving blood circulation for that V-shaped look.
Key ingredients:
Ice plant - Hydrates and calms redness
Lemon verbena leaf - Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to strengthen the skin
Ice plant - Hydrates and calms redness
Lemon verbena leaf - Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to strengthen the skin
Step 2 - Tone
Primer Water - smooth, hydrating and ever so slightly balm-like, this bottle of wonder penetrates into the layers of the skin to plump them up, prepping the skin and making it a smooth canvas for products to come.
Key ingredients:
Snow lotus - Smoothens and brightens the skin while evening out its texture
Patented "dewdrop" formulation - Revitalizes the skin and provides immediate, effective moisture
Snow lotus - Smoothens and brightens the skin while evening out its texture
Patented "dewdrop" formulation - Revitalizes the skin and provides immediate, effective moisture
Step 3 - Moisturize
Fixer Cream - powerful moisturizing properties are packed into this little jar that provides the skin with hydration for up to 24 hours for a fresh, revitalized complexion.
Key ingredients:
Trehalose - Powerful humectant that retains moisture on the skin
Wild Green Tea - Hydrating, skin soothing and pack with antioxidants
Baobab Tree Extract - Non-greasy moisturizing agent that helps promote collagen production
Trehalose - Powerful humectant that retains moisture on the skin
Wild Green Tea - Hydrating, skin soothing and pack with antioxidants
Baobab Tree Extract - Non-greasy moisturizing agent that helps promote collagen production
Thoughts / Experience
As you can tell, the whole line is about hydration and moisture as with most Kbeauty skincare regimen and I'm all for it. The key ingredients all promise moisturization and soothing which we all need regardless of skin type. What I like most about the ingredients are that they aren't that common. Everything was a new thing for me to discover and most of these ingredients are pretty natural/plant-based (no breakouts from me!). It's worth noting that the fragrance is listed at the very end. Three thumbs up for that.
The cleanser - is a typical foamy cleanser. The beads aren't harsh at all and the consistency itself is creamy and you really only need a small pea-sized amount because it lathers so well. After cleansing I don't find my skin feeling taught or dry. Would I buy it by itself? Probably not.
The toner - If you've ever tried Cetaphil or Galderma cleansers, you know the non lathering cream cleanser, the consistency and texture is similar to that albeit this one is a little more runny and not soapy feeling after wiping it off.
It's very milky and I do find it giving me a little more moisture after cleansing. I do really like this one. But the best one for me in this line is their...
The moisturizer - This one takes the cake. The cream itself is emollient but not oily or thick. It's like a gel-cream hybrid. So still light but it won't let you feel like you didn't put anything moisturizing on. It's very hydrating for me but I must say I only use it at night. If I do use it during the day, I make sure to use a small amount.
How much is it?
The price for the entire set is ₱1,341, which is pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Plus Althea's customer service is top notch from what I've experienced so far.
Out of all the 3, I would recommend the moisturizer. If only for the fact that it has Baobab tree extract - the tree in The Little Prince. I know, such a trivial thing but people go crazy over boxes of product so leave me alone! (Their minimalist packaging for their homegrown brand also stole my heart, just to add. Kbye)
Have you tried this yet? What do you think about the key ingredients?
xx,
CJ
Ps. Thanks Althea Korea for sending these over to try!
CJ
Ps. Thanks Althea Korea for sending these over to try!
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