Pink and Undecided: althea

Unboxing Althea Korea Goodies from Surabaya Beauty Blogger 3rd Anniversary

Hey guys!

Like i promised in my previous of Surabaya Beauty Blogger's 3rd Anniversary celebration, i am doing a dedicated unboxing post for the most tantalizing goodie bag from our main sponsor : Althea Korea ^^.

Most mouth watering box of goodies from Althea Korea

So all of the products gifted to us are from Althea Exclusives, Althea Korea's own brand and beauty line. There are various mix of products from makeup to skin care to makeup tools, definitely what a beauty junkie's dreams are made of.

I will walk you through each products, and i will link you to my exisiting post should you want to learn more about some of the products that i have personally tried and reviewed before. And stay until the end of the post because i have some good news for my readers!

Hold ya drool, peepel!

In frame : A'Bloom Baby Meringue Puffs, BCL X Althea Sunrise & Moonrise Eye Palette (and the awesome holo pouch which is a free gift if you purchase the palette!) and one of the products that i'm the most excited to try : Waterful Green Bamboo Pads

I think i have made my love for A'Bloom's puffs clear, all of the puffs grows pretty much twice their dry size when you wet them, they are super duper bouncy and soft. The A'Bloom Baby Meringue Puffs are perfect for concealers and i always bring one whenever i travel because it's a must product for me! You can learn more about A'Bloom products in my in depth review here.

I also already own and LOVE the Sunrise & Moonrise eye palette because it's super high quality and ofc, pretty! Even though Korean beauty are not known for their pigmentation, this palette is actually very pigmented and buttery. Super easy to use and i absolutely love all the shades featured as it can be used for very neutral and everyday look but also for more dramatic and going-out type of look. It's a very versatile palette and a must have for all makeup entusiasts. The fact that you will get a free holo pouch for purchasing the palette is another good reason to add on the pro side of the why you should get it :D. Oh yeah, the palette is a collaboration between Althea and Indonesian celebrity BCL. Whilst i haven't done an in depth review of the palette, i did a sultry makeup tutorial using this palette and you can check it here.

As for the Waterful Green Bamboo pads is a latter addition to Althea's collection and it's a line dedicated for sensitive skin that i haven't gotten the chance to try yet - until now ofc. Super excited to give it a try as it is packed with moisturizing ingredients to give skin a healthy glow. I will be sharing my thoughts on them if not in the blog then most probably in my IG stories so you gotta stay tuned!

Althea Watercolor Cream Tint (in shade #02 Strawberry Cream) and A'Bloom Giant Meringue Puff

I also used Althea Watercolor Cream Tint in the Sultry Makeup Tutorial i mentioned earlier, but maybe i haven't told you that i LOVE this product because it is like the best of both worlds. it gives a beautiful tint that is more pigmented than most Korean lip tints that i've tried without the drying part (which is common for lip tints). It feels good on the lips and i makes your lips looks juicy and pretty. It's definitely not matte tho don't we all need a break from matte lips sometimes? One of my favorite products from Althea and it's currently on sale so i you are tempted i suggest you click add to cart now!

And honestly the A'Bloom Giant Meringue Puff is my current fave puff that i ever tried. Like, THE fave. It single handedly made me convert from brush user to apply my base makeup to this puff! It's super big when wet, super soft and mochy and as the puff is huge, it makes base makeup application super fast and flawless. Ofc as it is a spongy puff, it absorbed products quite a bit (i think i use twice the amount of product that i normally use with my ovale brush) but it's not something that bothers me. Super stoked to get a backup and i can never recommend this enough! Btw do you know that meringue puffs signifies celebration? That's why they thought it'd be a perfect fit for our anniversary's gift!

Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer

Another product that i never tried before is this Real Fresh Skin Detoxer so naturally i am also super excited for this one. This is an Award winning 10-second, 2-in-1 cleanser pack that showcases real, fresh ingredients and incorporates them into a system that allows a deep, clarifying cleanse while boosting the skin with nutrients and goodness. The Rose edition contains real rose petals and extracts from Grasse roses handpicked from southern France. It helps refine the skin and minimize pores while soothing redness to calm irritations for a healthy, well-rounded complexion.

I would also give this a try soon and maybe update you in my IG, just let me know if you are keen on a more in depth review!

Last but certainly not least : A'Bloom Masks, these ones are the Lemon and Watermelon because apparently brightening and hydration is no 1 preference for Althea Indonesia lovers!

Do you know that these A'Bloom masks are their best seller and 60k masks were sold within 24 hours of launch? I mean, can you blame the customers? The masks are eye catching, super good quality (again please refer to the A'Bloom review post if you want to learn more about the masks and each of their benefits as i've tried all 4 with le husband!) and very affordable! Oh yeah, 2 new fun mask flavors will be launch in Jan/Feb 2020! Can't wait!

Btw for all die hard Althea fans (like me), they have launched their new program at the end of November : Althea Rewards!

It's a reward program where members earn points and grow in tier level (seed, bud, flower) and exchange their points for gift cards at check-out. So if this post entice you to go shop at Althea, do pay attention to this program!

Those are all the products inside our goodie bag, i am very thankful for Althea's generosity! Now for that good news for my readers, as i already own the eyeshadow palette and lip tint (and i don't need a double), i will be adding those items to my upcoming giveaway (will be held in my Instagram as usual) so please give me a follow (it's @MGirl83 , if you do not know yet) and stay tuned if you want to have a chance to own those products (and more as i will be adding more products).

#Pink

8:23:00 PM
5 Comments

Eye Stories 22 : Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter

althea

Hey guys :D.

I know i said i was going to review all of Althea Korea's makeup in the makeup tutorial post, and i still plan to do so (if i am unable to write full reviews on the blog then at least i will make brief ones in my Instagram so be sure to follow me at @MGirl83 if you haven't!) but i know it's been a lot longer than i errr initially expected from myself *LOL* (i guess i didn't measure right how lazy i can be :p) so here is one for now : the Spotlight Eye Glitter review!

Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter

Why i choose to review the Spotlight Eye Glitter first? Well, other than the fact that it's the fastest to do because it only has two shades so far :p, it also happens to be one of my fave products from Althea Exclusive makeups! I also LOVE the lip tint and the eyeshadow palette, but if you only have a limited budget to spend the collection, the spotlight eye glitter is the one i would tell you to go to as it is very pocket friendly (the lip tint is also pocket friendly but you can easily find cheaper ones that are pretty nice too and the eyeshadow palette is actually very expensive TBH!) and it's awesome!

Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter - 4.5ml, IDR 84,000 each

The eye glitters comes in a sleek black cardboard box and the actual product comes in a simple see through plastic tube with black cap. Packaging wise they're very simple but still pleasant to look at

Currently available in two shades, #01 Gold Light and #02 Pink Light

So the information's all in Korean, i have no idea what everything says :))

As someone who never reads any instructions or information before trying a product, i totally thought that the shades are silver and pink as the Gold Light looks totally sparkly white in the tube! Then i got confused when i used it and all the glitter flecks are gold *LOL*, only then that i checked the name of the shade and realized that it is supposed to be gold all along :p.

Seriously, it looks totally white in the tube, right???

Gold Light and Pink Light

Since i didn't look up the information before starting using them, i just assumed that they're a regular glitter eyeliners. I love glitter eyeliners and i tend to over do them a little bit in the inner part of my waterline (my son commented that i looked like an alien once *LOLOLOL*) because my makeup style is highly inspired by old time Japanese makeup look (those gyaru style. Ofc, it has evolved with time but i still love and implement some of the techniques) but apparently these eye glitter are actually two in one products that can be used as both eyeshadow and eyeliner.

I know i know, it shouldn't come as a surprise as most glitter eyeliners (even the regular ones that are not specifically meant for dual purposes) can be used as eyeshadows, but to be completely honest with you i have never tried using liquid glitter liners as eyeshadow before because they scare me. I meann... Wouldn't eyeliners dry out fast and then you'd be stuck with patchy eyelids? I also don't really like the thought of smearing wet eyeliners all over my eyelid (i don't even like using cream eyeshadow!) I was totally concerned that it might not blend well at all. Well, i decided to give it a try finally when both Olin and Redha told me they use the eye glitters as eyeshadows - and then i realized that it's not that difficult to use *LOL*. This is so typically me, not wanting to try out new techniques because i thought it'd be too hard but nailing it on the first try (yes yes, humble brag much).

Since the Spotlight Eye Glitters are pretty subtle (unless you keep on piling) i love wearing them both during day and night time, it's never too early for (subtle) glitters!

Let me show you the swatches of the two shades first :

This is how the Spotlight Eye Glitter looks like when you pack it on (under natural sunlight), the glitters are very fine and soft (if you worry about chunks, don't. There isn't any. You won't feel grittiness on your lids as well since they are so fine). I think you can see clearly that the Gold Light is a lot brighter and visible while the Pink Light is very subtle and sweet.

Under artificial light, aren't they mesmerizing?

And this is how they look when you use them lightly. Again this one is under natural light

Under artificial light. The pink one looks violet here!

Let's talk about Gold Light first :

Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter in #01 Gold Light

This is how the eye glitter wand looks like, can you blame me for thinking that it's strictly eyeliner? LOL

As i mentioned earlier, Gold Light is a lot more loud and bright than Pink Light. I LOVE glitter and shine so Gold Light is definitely my firm favorite out of the two

Used as eyeshadow, it looks just like how the name suggested, gold glitters. It's very fine, very comfortable and very pretty on the eyes

For Gold Light, i also like to use it in my inner water line to make my eyes look super big and popping. When i use it in my waterline, i really pack it on and when it's super packed like this, the shade appear to be dual colored as you can still see a bit of the silvery liquid where the gold specks are suspended in. Very pretty and alien-ish, just like how i like my glitter eyeliners be. I think this is also the perfect shade if you are the type who likes to make aegyosal!

For Gold Light, i do use it as both eye liner and eyeshadow and i enjoy using it as both. As eyeshadow, it blends easily and super fast. It doesn't dry out instantly so i have no problem with blending and no patchiness that i feared, even on top of powder eyeshadows. It feels light and comfortable on my eyelids (some liquid eyeshadow can feel heavy and like you have a sticker on your lids :p)) and it stays perfect even after many many hours. The fine glitter's not only so fine and comfortable, it also never flake off so you don't have to worry about glitters falling to your face even when removing them.

I also love how Gold Light looks on my waterline but unfortunately i don't enjoy it as an eyeliner as much as it is as an eyeshadow. While it initially looks beautiful, it doesn't stay long at all. I do have very watery eyes and there are days when my eyes are especially watery, my black puppy liner would be cut off from constant tearing, but even when my eyes are on its driest day, the eye glitter would start to disappear on my water line after only a few short hours. I tried reapplying but it would be gone again in a while. Such a shame. Because of this i tend to use it more as eyeshadow and use my other glitter eye liners (the ones from Etude House has more staying power) on my water line.

Althea Spotlight Eye Glitter in #02 Pink Light

As a pinkaholic, obviously i was very drawn to Pink Light. Unfortunately this shade is way too weak for my liking, it's almost transparent when used in my water line, i don't see how this can be used as eyeliner. When i use glitter liners, i want it to be visible, Pink Light is so soft it kinda defeat the purpose for me, but that's purely my preference ofc.

Pink Light is very light, very soft and looks almost white when blended. If you like very subtle glitter or just started using glitter and still afraid to look too much, Pink Light is the best bet for you as i think it's very beginner friendly

It still looks very pretty and very day-time appropriate, it's just that personally i prefer more bling out of my glitter

Both Gold Light and Pink Light are very pretty, but when it comes to my personal preference - i would definitely choose Gold Light.

The product itself is very high quality and recommended, they are comfortable, doesn't sting my sensitive eye area, blends beautifully and as eyeshadow they stay perfect until you take it off. The price tag is also pretty good. Would i say that you need both shades in your life? Not necessarily. When used sparingly, they don't look that different - so if you like your glitter stronger, go for Gold Light but if you want a very subtle, soft one then go for Pink Light. I won't stop you from getting both ofc, but one is enough as they are similar enough.

I would totally recommend them if you like soft, Korean style glitter (it's not Western makeup glitter okay, please don't expect anything super blingy and obnoxious, this is just not that kind of glitter) and especially if you are looking for beautiful, easy and fast to use glitter eyeshadow for quick everyday use. I personally really enjoy them both and i wear them a LOT because they are just perfect for the aesthetic that i like (i won't use it for parties/formal events as i prefer bolder glitter for party looks). Please note that i personally don't like them as eyeliners as when used sparingly, they are almost invincible on the waterline but packed, they won't last more than 2 or 3 hours (it doesn't flake off or melt, it just disappear!) - but that's my personal experience with them, it might work differently on others who has different skin type than me?

If you have a different experience to mine, feel free to share yours at the comment section below!

And if you have not try this product yet, are you interested to now? Which shade would you choose?

#Pink

6:42:00 PM
4 Comments

Unboxing : Althea Massive Haul! (SPONSORED)

althea

Haiiii guyssss!!!!!

I just got back from my fun trip to Penang, Malaysia and been bombarded nonstop with endless events and meetings right away (i need my beauty sleep T.T) so only now i got the chance to sit down and ~~brag~~ share with you my latest, massive haul from Althea!

Yasss, i got a LOT, so so SO SPOILT by Althea i can't even T.T...

First of all, you do know that Althea Indonesia is BACK, yea? I mean, i have shared lots of posts of them since months ago so surely you do know about this amazing news? What you might not know yet is that they have a brand new website : https://in.althea.kr/ !

Althea Indonesia stopped operating for a while due to custom problems but our prayers was answered when they resolved the issues and now we can grab Korean cosmetics that we can't easily access in Indonesia with very pocket friendly prices again - HALLELUJAH! And also since Althea now has their own beauty line, we can finally get our hands on them too!

There is a little but tho, due to Indonesian custom rules, there are a few rules that must be applied and you as a consumer must be aware of since it does affect all of us and how we shop at Althea. Nothing to major or concerning, but it is essential for us to know and follow them.

You can read all about the new rules and restriction here but in short :

1. You can only order max of 8 products per order (honestly, if you want to shop more just wait a day or two then make another order, it's really no big deal as their free shipping starts from IDR 299,000 orders anyway, i'm sure you'll reach IDR 299,000 if you order 8 items!)

2. You can only order maximum of 8 items per category

3. You need to wait for 24 hours before making another purchase

4. You can only order IDR 1,100,000 per order.

Other than that you also need to verify your ID (our KTP), you only need to do this ONCE at check out on your first order. Don't worry about your information leaking, they will store and encrypted these data super carefully and will never be used for any other purposes (other than to follow Indonesian custom rule) or by third party.

Not bad, right?

Other than that, there is only good news : It is possible to COD (Cash on Delivery) now!!! Woohooo, no need to stress about payments anymore if you happen not to have credit card/debit card yet! For COD, your max order cannot surpass IDR 550,000 and only available on certain postal codes. You also can only pay with COD when your previous COD payment has changed to "Complete COD". ^^

Now, are you curious on what i grabbed from Althea???

Ofc i split my order in three :)) i got way too many things!

Let's see them in details hm hm hm :

Prreti Perfect Clean Cleansing Tissue - IDR 19,000 each
My friends raved about this cleansing tissues and since i needed some for traveling, i decided to grab two! It's crazy cheap (only 19k for 30 sheets!!!) and i have used them by now - i love it! A highly recommended product that i would keep on repurchasing for sure!

Plu Scrub Wash in Raspberry Mint - IDR 114,000
Hmmm, raspberry mint sounds sooo yum and i wanna smell yum too :D. I am so extra that even show wash i also have to order from Korea one *flipshair

Missha Perfect Lip & Eye Remover - IDR 52,000
This is just a basic need, you can never go wrong stocking up on makeup removers especially if you wear makeup frequenly like i do! Proper cleansing methods are a must for me so i cannot imagine running out of removers! I have never tried this one from Missha but i do love Missha products and it's so affordable so i decided to give this a try.

Esfolio Aloe Vera Moisture Soothing Gel Mist - IDR 52,000
Another product that i need backups for my backups for *LOL*, facial mist! I use facial mists savaely nowadays, to soothe my skin (it's suddenly so allergic prone :( soothing mists really helps!) and they also work as a makeup setting. I am currently loving the Aloe one from Innisfree and when i saw this super cheap one from Esfolio, i just need to try it as well!

Etude House My Beauty Tool_Lovely Etti_Standing Hair Brush - IDR 73,000
I honestly never thought that i'd ever purchase a hair brush from Althea *LOL*, usually i'm pretty generic when it comes to hair brushes and combs (read : i buy them at supermarkets *LOL*) but i just can't resist this super duper pretty one from Etude House. And the good news? It's awesome too! I actually am thinking of reviewing it hahaha

Etude House Play Color Eye in Peach Farm, Cherry Blossom and In the Cafe - IDR 211,000 each.
Yes, i went gaga for eyeshadow palettes and i love Etude House in general, they always come up with such cute products - their quality's top notch too. I still have my eyes on the other eyeshadow palettes from Play Color Eye series :p.

Coringco Pink Square Dual Cheek - IDR 113,000
I got this to complete my collection (there are only two shades, this one i got in no 1 because i already have the no 2) teehee

Now, another thing that makes Althea super special compared to other online shops is the fact that they have crazy promotions - and it's quite constant. For February they actually gave away free stuffs - all full size and with very good value as well. They had three different free gifts and if you order three times then you can get all three of the freebies (as long as they are still in stock). This is actually the reason why i split my order in 3 *LOLOLOL* (the minimum order was only IDR 300k some more!) you know i am super kiasu one. Unfortunately i missed one freebie T.T but i am still super duper happy with the two that i did get!

Freebie one : Mise-en-Scene Pefect Repair Serum - IDR 110,000
With my heavily bleached hair, i cannot survive without hair serum. This is a very welcome addition to my stock!

Freebie Two : VDL Expert Color Lip Cube EX - IDR 302,000 (it's unfortunately no longer in stock in Althea)
Yes, you read that right, the freebie is worth more than the minimum spending required to be eligible to grab it. Now you see why Althea is my all time #1 fave cosmetic shopping platform?

So yeeea, that's my entire haul! Super duper happy with what i got and ehm... I already got another package on my way :DD! Anything from this haul you want to review? Even if i can't review on the blog i will make sure i will share my thoughts on my Instagram feed/story, just leave your requests below :D.

#Pink

8:27:00 PM
2 Comments

Scent-O-Logy 05 : Althea X Titi Kamal Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist (SPONSORED)

althea

Hey guys!

I hope y'all not bored of my Althea Exclusive reviews yet, because i have plenty more coming your way!

For today it's Althea's very first scent-related product and also their very first celebrity collaboration : Althea X Titi Kamal Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist ^^.

Althea X Titi Kamal
Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist

If you know me in real life you know i cannot leave my house without dousing myself with some nice scent, i loveeee fragrances - body mist, body spray, perfume, eau de toilette... You name it, i have it. In fact, i am so obsessed with fragrances i have a whole cupboard dedicated for my collection of fragrances - and it's overflowing. So yes, naturally i am excited when i heard about this product!

Althea X Titi Kamal Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist

Now, if you're Indonesian chances are you know who Titi Kamal is. She is a popular Indonesian actress and singer best known as one of Cinta's BFF in arguably one of the most famous Indonesian movie Ada Apa Dengan Cinta (which hits the theater when i was in university, so i know how crazy famous the movie was and how obsessed Indonesian youth with it back then haha), she is now a mom and wife of a famous Indonesian actor and continue to work in the industry - she is just a few years older than me and even though i don't follow Indonesian celebrities anymore, i know very well about her for sure.

As an Indonesian, i definitely feel pretty happy that Althea decided to do their very first celebrity collaboration with an Indonesian celebrity ^^

Titi Kamal

For this collaboration, Titi worked closely with Althea to create a beautiful fragrance that combined the femininity of floral and fruity scents.

The key notes are : Damask Rose Water (protects skin from dehydration and gives delicate fragrance), Orange flower extract (to freshen you senses) and Elder flower extract (cool and soothe skin while giving out feminine scent)

Ingredient List :

Alcohol, Water, Glycerin, Fragrance, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract, Magnolia Liliflora Flower Extract, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin

Althea X Titi Kamal
Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist - 100ml , IDR 127,000

Like all of Althea Exclusive products, it is made in Korea

The packaging is very simple, dominated with white and purplish pink color. The bottle is made of plastic with spray mechanism and the cap is transparent

To be completely honest with you, i am not the biggest fan of the packaging (i am Althea's biggest fan and all, but i am always gonna be brutally honest in my reviews ^^), it is simple and practical for a body mist (body mists only last a few hours so i do want to bring my body mist with me when i go out so i can easily refresh myself every few hours), light weight and travel friendly but the design is a bit too old fashioned for my liking. Don't get me wrong, i think it is in line with their vision and how the scent translates, it is just personally not my cup of tea. The scent is pretty mature and feminine so i get that they want a more feminine and mature look for the packaging as well (i guess i am the one that's always immature hahaha).

Scents are very very personal, other than personal preference, your unique body odor and body chemicals also have an effect on how a fragrance work on you - so i definitely won't say if it's a good or a bad fragrance, but i can share my feelings on it based on my personal taste. I am a very fruity fragrance kind of gal (my favorite perfumes are all from Anna Sui), i also love coconut and musks. Not a fan of floral or overly sweet scents, the only floral perfumes that i like are Kenzo Flower and rose fragrances, other than that i tend to avoid overly floral scents because they just don't agree with my nose haha.

Now, Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist combines both floral and fruity scent but at the first whiff, you get a very strong floral scent - which i already mentioned that i am not a fan of. I personally find the scent pretty nice, but honestly it is not exactly the type of scent that i would pick for myself. I don't mind using it at all, but i wouldn't be keen on getting another bottle if i run out of it. If you are a fan of feminine, mature, floral (with a hint of fruity) type of scent, then i think you would probably like it more than i do. I also think that IDR 127,000 is slightly too high for body mists, but then again it is a celebrity collaboration so i do get why the price tag is slightly higher.

I personally think that Stay Fresh Body Sparkling Mist is stronger in scent than most body mists but nothing over powering. I don't need to douse myself as much as i do with other body mists to feel satisfied (i only stop spraying when i can clearly smell it on myself *LOL*), weirdly Olin told me that she couldn't smell it on me - but i myself can smell it pretty strongly so it can be different from nose to nose.

Staying power is not bad, obviously not as strong as eau de toilette or eau de perfume, but it stays for a couple of hours (it would also disappear if i sweat or get too hot for a while). I feel like i need to spray more on myself after 2-3 hours. Oh yeah, i do like how the mist is very comfortable and light on the skin, even when i spray a LOT, it never dries out my skin or make my skin feels sticky.

All in all, i have mixed feelings about this product, i don't mind it but it's not something that i am crazy about. Like i said, my review is very honest and personal, it's 100% my opinion and experience - scents are highly personal so what i don't like is definitely someone else's favorite, and vice versa. So i wouldn't say that it's not worth trying, but for me personally, it's not something that i love.

So what about you? Have you tried this body mist? If not, is it something that you're interested to try out or not? As always, i would love to hear your thoughts on the comment box below!