Pink and Undecided: makeup tool

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
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One Brand Review : Althea A'Bloom (SPONSORED)

a'bloom

Hi gurls!

Have you heard of Althea Korea's latest line : A'Bloom? Well, if you are active on Instagram and/or is a fan of K-beauty, i don't see how you haven't since there has been such a buzz around their launch! As an Althea Angels, i of course am super proud to be one of the first to get to call dibs on the whole line! And now i am going to share with you my thoughts and opinions of each products ^^.

Althea Korea's super adorable new line : A'Bloom !

First of all, why don't we take a fiver to appreciate the uber cute concept? We stan!!!

I'm a sucker for everything cute so you know this line's aesthetic is absolutely up my alley!

For now (coz they totally might come up with more products in the future) the entire A'Bloom line consists of :

2 types of beauty sponges (Giant Meringue Puff and Baby Meringue Puff). a black head remover called BHA Blackhead Blaster and 4 variants of sheet masks (Brightening Lemon Lime, Nourishing Avocado, Anti-Blemish Peach and Moisturizing Watermelon)

Let's talk about the sheet mask first. I think it's very fitting that Althea Korea (which is a Korean brand/online shop) comes up with their very own sheet mask, as sheet mask is one of the most "K-Beauty" products out there. For me personally, when i think of sheet masks, i would immediately think of K-Beauty.

The price point of A'Bloom Sheet Masks are very very good (especially at the launch, when they had the craziest promo), no wonder that they are currently sold out (EDIT : Some variant are back in stock, so if you want to try or stock up you better hurry!)! Btw they are also sold in packs - and each pack contains 10 masks for only IDR 50000 - which means every mask is only IDR 5000 OMOOO, now if that's not crazy cheap i don't know what is! If you decide to buy individually the price would be IDR 6000 each, which is still very cheap ofc.

I shared these sheet masks with hunny so that i can check how it works on two different skin types (my skin is very oily, dehydrated, sensitive and allergy prone while hunny has a very dry skin). Each variant has different benefits but all of the sheet masks has very soft, thin tissue that made me struggle whenever i try to open one (and i had to open two at a time because i have to apply on hunny as well FML). The sheet is very lovely to the skin but quite an annoyance to peel open!

Also we noticed that all four variant has a very cooling effect and a truckload of serum! It doesn't drip everywhere or anything, but it's totally, completely saturated. You will find excess serum in the packaging to apply all over your neck, arms and legs (i hope i am not the only one who does this >.<). With the exception of one variant (Watermelon), after having the mask on our faces much longer than the recommended time (the instruction says to leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes, but we would leave it more like 30-40 minutes long), there would always be excess serum left on the mask that i like to rub all over ourselves some more (to a point where it irritates hunny *LOLOLOL*).

I personally find all four sheet masks to be extremely hydrating that our skins are left super moist, supple and healthy but also sticky :p. Very very sticky. Can't say i'm not bothered by the stickiness, but i get used to it after a while.

A'Bloom Sheet Masks are so adorable seriously, look at the cartoon on each mask!

A'Bloom Brightening Lemon Lime Mask Sheet (25gr each) - IDR 6,000 each or 50,000 for 10
Suitable for all skin types but especially great for combination skin

The Brightening Lemon Lime works to clarifies and brighten dull skin to unveil the natural glow from within. With double dose of Vitamin C from lemon and lime extracts to banish dark spots and green tea boosts skin brigtening while calming skin. The key ingredient for this mask are : Niacinamide, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.
The Lemon Lime surprisingly has the sweetest scent for me, it smeels like a citrus candy. To be honest with you, i don't think you can see immediate result of the intended benefit with one sheet, i do think my skin looks visibly brighter (hydrated and supple) after use, but i honestly think all of the masks from this line gives the same effect. So i think that you just need to choose the variant based on the type of benefit you most need for your skin instead of hoping to see overnight result for each variant

A'Bloom Nourisihing Avocado Mask Sheet (25gr each) - IDR 6,000 each or 50,000 for 10
Suitable for all skin types but especially great for dry skin

Avocado is a superfood and super good for your skin. This mask is rich in antioxidants to nourish and protect skin from harmful environmental factors and prevent wrinkles. It is infused with avocado extracts and hibiscus for soft supple skin that glows. The key ingredients for this mask are : Adenosine, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract.Honestly all of the sheet masks' scent surprised me because they never smell like i expected them to do *LOL*, for the avocado one it smells zesty to me, which is not the kind of scent i expect from avocado (which has very mild scent of its own so maybe it's the flower and other ingredients). It works very well on hunny's very dry skin, it makes his skin super hydrated and bouncy. Even on his extremely thirsty skin, there were still serum left on the mask after (it didn't happen with the watermelon)

A'Bloom Anti Blemish Peach Mask Sheet (25gr each) - IDR 6,000 each or 50,000 for 10
Suitable for all skin types but especially great for oily skin (no wonder it's my fave i guess hehe)

The Anti-Blemish Peach mask purifies and soothes irritated and sensitive skin. It is infused with peach extracts and tea tree oil to regulate oil, balance moisture and purify for soft smooth skin with key iongredients of : Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract.
Since i only used one mask, i don't know if it really helps to prevent acne or not, but i love how it performs on my skin (still sticky and all but i remember liking it more than the Lemon Lime, i also like the Lemon Lime but i guess i need the ingredients of the Peach one more due to my skin type). Out of the four variants, this is the variant that i most likely would repurchase and hope it would work to prevent blemishes so it'd especially be handy around my period! Scent wise, it smells nothing like peach to me as it smells very zesty, almost gingery (it's probably tea tree)

A'Bloom Moisturizing Watermelon Mask Sheet (25gr each) - IDR 6,000 each or 50,000 for 10
Suiteable for all Skin Types but especially great for combination skin

The Moisturizing Watermelon mask packs a punch of hydration and moisturization for waterful skin that lasts. It is a delicious drink for skin with watermelon extract and added lavender to calm the senses. The key ingredients are : Citrullus Vulgaris (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract.
I used this one om hunny and while it works really well on his skin, one thing that i notice that the sheet was completely DRY when we took it off, really amazes me :)). His skin is very thirsty (i try my best to care for it, but when he's busy playing with his PS4 and stayed up until 3 AM then i would already be sleeping so he wouldn't be getting the regular moisturization that his skin needs as he just would never apply it on himself!) and this happens sometimes to sheet masks so it's not a bad thing or anything, but in comparison to the Avocado it seems that very dry skin would benefit from the Avocado variant more.The Watermelon mask has a sweet scent but again, nothing like watermelon (but that's actually a good thing because i don't actually like how watermelon smells)

In conclusion, all of A'Bloom 's sheet masks are hunny and i approve haha! They works super well and for the price point, it's AMAZING! It's totally as good as much more expensive sheet masks that we've tried in the past so we are highly recommending these sheet masks for all of you, just pick a variant that suits your skin best. For 50k per 10 mask, you can totally be masking twice to three times a week without breaking your bank! (yes, i totally recommend getting the packs instead of buying individual because they are such value for money haha)

Next product is an interesting one!

A'Bloom BHA Blackhead Blaster - 8gr, IDR 54,000

It's a Natural BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) stick for a painless black and white head removal

Comes in a little black and grey box. You can see from the information on the box that it contains natural BHA (White Willow Bark Extract 5,000ppm), charcoal, apricot seed powder and tea tree oil

Instructions and ingredient list.

The Blackhead Blaster is inceased in this little grey tube

It is said to both treat your skin to remove the black and white head and also prevent future breakouts

As you remove the cap, there is an extra clear cap inside

The actual product is a black stick, it has a balmy consistency with bits of scrubs. You can definitely feel the tiny scrubs when you rub it on your face but it's not abrasive at all so i never feel any tenderness or sensitivity after usage but i still feel my skin to be deeply exfoliated and cleansed. It has a soft and calming scent that is mainly tea tree.

It is very easy to use, just cleanse your face thoroughly then rub the stick all over your face, focusing on parts that have a lot of black/whiteheads or are prone to them. When it's completely new there is a waxy top layer so i'd suggest you wet your face a little bit before applying because it might drag otherwise. Next you just need to massage your skin a little bit before removing it with warm water

Since this product is very mild, it is called daily blackhead triple care - meaning it is safe to use daily. Ofc as usual, you need to understand your own skin first to know what's best for it. If your skin is very sensitive, it is wise to adjust and use any type of exfoliator less often (maybe once or max twice a week) - on the other hand if you have rough skin with lots of black and white heads, daily use is highly recommended for the best result. For me, i am quite prone to black and white heads but my latest skin care really helps me with them so i have a lot less black and white heads now and i use this mostly once a week.

Due to this, i cannot comment on the immediate effect (some of my fellow bloggers claims that it really helps getting rid of visible white heads immediately) but in combination with my current skin care and Althea's own Milk Peel Mask which i also LOVE once or twice a week, the result its da BOMB! I would say that it really does everything that it claims! It definitely has a permanent place in my skin care routine now and for IDR 54k, i don't think it can go wrong. Although what works for me might not always for work everybody, for this price range i am still confident to tell you to give it a try! If it doesn't agree with your facial skin, rest assured that it can also be used to scrub your elbow and heel!

The cutest of them all : A'Bloom Meringue Puffs!

A'Bloom Baby Meringue Puffs (3 pcs) - IDR 38,000
That means that each puff is less than 13k!!! Value for money FTW!

It's just so cute okay, even if you don't use beauty puffs, just buy it for the aesthetic *LOL*

Not sold individually, each pack contains 2 tiny little baby puffs with 3 different shades of light pink

It's seriously so cute T.T

When i first touched it, i was a bit concerned because it feel very rubbery (they are latex free, btw) and thick. But as soon as i wet it, it pretty much doubles in size and become soooo soft and bouncy!

Look at the start difference between the dry and wet puffs!

I LOVE the baby meringue puffs! If you have very very limited budget (although honestly the price point of all of A'Bloom line is so good i don't feel guilty about telling you to buy everything *LOL*) and can only get one product from the line, if you ask for my fave product then i probably would tell you to get the baby puffs! It's only 38k and you get 3 of them! Plus they really work!

As they are pretty tiny, i would say that it might not be very efficient to use for bb cream/foundation (that's why they have the Giant Meringue Puff!) but it is meant for smaller areas and more detailed parts. I love to blend my concealer using sponges and the tiny size is perfect for my under eye area!

They claim that using the puffs dry and wet would give you different effect (matte finish with dry puffs and wet for dewy finish) but i honestly wouldn't like to use dry puff on my face myself *LOL* so i always wet them. I prefer the baby puffs because i only use puffs for my concealer. For the baby puffs, i have to problem reaching the narrower parts of my face (which is pretty hard to navigate using the Giant one) so it definitely is perfect for the detailing parts of my makeup (i kinda feel like i am talking about cars :))...).

Btw, A'Bloom puffs are all made with latex free and non toxic materials, passed FITI Testing and Research Institute to be free of 5 heavy metals so they are safe even for sensitive skin!

A'Bloom Giant Meringue Puff - IDR 28,000
A very awesome price point again for a face puff!

It's also so cute but my only criticism is the shade, i don't like the fact that they come up with only the lighest pink shade. I only need to use it once to make it super ugly already :(... I would've prefer a darker shade of pink so the BB Cream/Foundation stain would not be so stark against the puff

The size before being wet

And after. It becomes GIGANTIC once you wet it! And super soft and mochi!

Like i already explained earlier, i use puffs mostly for my concealer. I never use puffs to blend my BB Cream/Foundation (i like using oval brush the best to apply my base) but i gave it a try to test the giant meringue puffs and i have to admit, i am not a fan. I can't imagine using it dry (seriously i feel like it's gonna be so uncomfortable) and when i use it wet it soaked up my product so much (i had to use twice the amount i normally use) and still ended up with a very sheer coverage (if you like dewy, very natural look for your base, using Giant Meringue Puff wet is ideal!).

I also find the giant meringue puff to not be able to reach the narrower parts of my face like the sides of my nose (yes, i tried flipping it and using the tip, but it still doesn't reach some parts). I guess it should be used in conjunctions with the baby puffs but i find it a bit tedious to keep on switching between the two puffs while normally i only need one oval brush to blend everything together. I think i would like it better if the shape is a little bit slimmer, but that's purely my personal taste ofc. I'm sure there are a lot of you who likes the giant size and shape because i do think it makes blending faster. It's just not the method that i prefer.

So personally, i am not a huge fan of the giant puffs but i love the baby puffs especially for traveling, i will be bringing BB Cushions and baby puffs to apply concealer on my every travel now!

And that concludes the whole range of A'Bloom's line review from me. Everything is cute, works well, very affordable and i just can't see why i wouldn't recommend them for y'all! Some products might have to to go through trial and error to see if they work on your skin (as are all skin cares) and some products i am not the biggest fan of because i prefer other tools, but overall this is a solid, high quality, super value for money line! I am super happy to be able to try all of these and i really hope they'd come up with more products in the future ^^!

Thank you Althea Korea for the chance to try out your lovely products!