I was one of Althea's beta users before it launched in the Philippines. I didn't think much of it at that time, but in the last two years, Althea has largely transformed how I perceive and use South Korean beauty products. My exposure to Althea allowed me to try many lesser-known, quirky K-Beauty brands and the latest developments in the beauty capital! There are other K-beauty stores that service the PH, yes, but few with as huge a selection and updated inventory as Althea.

They say “one’s company, two’s a crowd and three’s a party” and this week’s roundup is nothing sort of a grand celebration! We’ve got a ton of things to get through that will have you partying up the weekend with excitement. Love spoiling your hair with delicious treats? Well, The Body Shop has something fruity and refreshing for your scalp. Love getting manis and pedis? ColourPop has something fun and pastel just for you. Always wanted makeup by Kat Von D but didn’t know where to get it? Look no further cause it’s finally in the PH! It’s a party up in here, PV ladies, and we’re going to have so much fun!

Even among people with similar skin conditions and concerns, building a good regimen is largely a personal process. Finding the right product for your needs can feel very overwhelming because of the sheer number of options available. That's why it's wise to look for products that are properly formulated to be gentle on the skin. If the Kiehl’s Calendula line’s everlasting popularity is any indication, this TLC approach to skin care definitely works for the long haul!

Some of the most common beauty-related questions I get involve eyeliner. Which eyeliners will never smudge? Which eyeliners will stay on the waterline? Well, here's my updated answer! These are the five eyeliners that I use the most, out of the 40+ ones in my desk. They're the ones I always keep an eye because I'd hate for them to get lost, piled under a pile of new products. They're beautiful, easy to perfect (important when I need to be out of the house 15 minutes ago!), and will barely - if at all - smudge all day.

Here are my top eyeliner recommendations! Please click on the links for the full reviews.

Raise your hand if you've ever watched video after video of makeup tutorials, only to realize it's past midnight! We feel it's well-worth all the hours on YouTube though - after all, we need to know how to properly use the products we've spent on. Famous makeup artists and beauty gurus are staples when it comes to channel subscriptions but if you wanted to cop the look of a certain actress or personality, why not go straight to the source?

A lot of us might fondly recall using baby powder as the first "makeup" product we’ve ever used. Before I discovered the world of oil-control primers and long-wearing powders, I would shake out a small amount onto my palm (dispensing just the right amount was a special skill!) and smooth the powder all over my face to deal with my super oily skin. It made my face look chalk white but at least I wasn't as shiny!

Lipstick is the last thing I apply on my face before I leave the house. It's the final puzzle piece to my look and it determines so much of how I want to express myself for the day! That's a lot of pressure to put on just a single cosmetic product, I know, but that's the beauty of lipstick. You can always change your mind.

If you have oily skin like me, you’d probably think that putting on a face oil is counterintuitive. I certainly felt that way until Liz gave us samples of the In Her Element First Wash Cleansing Oil in its testing stages. It was the first time I'd ever knowingly and willingly applied any kind of oil to my face and something just...clicked. I discovered how easy, effective, and non-abrasive oil cleansing is. Now, I don't need to struggle removing my HG mascara (Heroine Make's Volume and Curl) every night!

Do you make it a habit to read the label before deciding to buy product? It’s definitely a good idea to do so (even if it’s in Korean!) because you should always check for manufacturing and expiry dates to help ensure that the product is still safe to use. There also ingredients you should look out for because of their high potential as skin irritants, or because they help back up a product’s claims of being effective at treating acne or preventing skin aging.

Kanebo is an 80-year old Japanese heritage brand that has been faithful in upholding its traditions while using the latest innovations to create modern, meaningful beauty products. You can expect the best of both worlds from this brand in terms of keeping what works, and looking toward the future.

Recently, it introduced the Kanebo Chrono Beauty concept, which focuses on grouping skincare items according to certain needs.

I’ve long been intrigued by BYS Cosmetics. I see them in the beauty section all the time but the sleek black packaging has always made me think that their products are more for professional makeup artists! In a way, I wasn’t entirely wrong - the Australian drugstore brand promises exceptional quality and value for money, and in terms of professional usage, they’ve actually partnered up with the Center for Aesthetic Studies, a respected makeup school in Manila. The brand does not test on animals and when I finally looked it up, I was surprised to see that their prices are actually reasonable even for my student budget. 

Here's a roundup of their top five best-sellers, and what they look like on my morena skin + dark hair!