Yes, my dear friends. The 10-step skin care is now history. It turns out that long and complicated skin care can tire our skin, too! What better way to do our skin care routine than cutting it short with less products?

That’s why Althea Korea has come out with revolutionary new products that will completely change our lives!

Eversince the Korean wave reached the Philippine shores, Filipino men and women alike have adapted Korean style not only their fashion but also the way they want their skin to look like.

Koreans like the “chok-chok” effect – the dewy, bouncy glowing skin effect. In order to achieve that, they apply layer upon layer of moisturizing products, such as toner, serum, emulsion, mask, mist, and any cream that screams moisture.

Filipinos never liked this effect before, since it makes us look greasy. Any shine on our skin was a major no-no. Most of us have oily skin, so we’ve all aimed for a super matte finish.

Fast forward to now, we’ve started to appreciate the youthful glow on our skin, even without putting on makeup. And if we DO apply makeup, we’d like a smooth and healthy canvas for a more flawless looking finish.

However, with our busy schedule, I doubt that 100% of the people who do the 7-step or the 10-step Korean skin care routine have done it religiously. There will always be one person who has skipped a day or two (or even three!) because of exhaustion.

So it’s amazing that after the success of their Petal Velvet Powder (which by the way, is now available in Warm Beige 😉), Althea has finally released their latest products that focus on the basics. They are just what we all need to achieve that chok-chok skin!

What is Althea?

Althea, in case you don’t know yet, is your one-stop online shop for absolutely everything K-beauty! They offer Korean skin care and makeup products with the lowest prices that are shipped straight from Korea.

Althea was found by Mr. Frank Kang in 2015 and was named after Korea’s national flower. According to Mr. Kang his “a-ha!” moment came when friends in Southeast Asia would repeatedly ask him to buy certain Korean cosmetics for them while he was visiting Korea.

Althea first launched in Malaysia in July 2015, quickly followed by Singapore in September 2015. The Philippines became the 3rd official Southeast Asian country to join the Korean Beauty movement with the launch of Althea on Philippine shores in 2016.  That’s around the same time I discovered them. You can read my first ever Althea Korea haul here.

To date, Althea has expanded to over 200 countries worldwide!

Experience the Simplicity of Beauty

These new products from Althea address a very common problem among many people. “They don’t know what the specific steps and procedures are to complete the Korean skincare routine. Many are fazed by the number of steps but when in reality, it shouldn’t be a difficult process at all,” Hyeyoung Park, Head of Brand, shares.

With these THREE products – yes, you’ve read that right Just THREE products – you can just ditch your complicated skin care routine and still get the same benefits! Althea focuses on what our skin really needs – enter ALTHEA’S BARE ESSENTIALS. “We wanted to go back to the basics and really strip it all down to give the customers the most fundamental steps. From billions of data we’ve collected over 3 years, the most prominent fact is that a solid routine starts from 3 essential steps – cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. All the other additional steps added to your routine are just that – additional.”

“We also believe that when one has great skin, it decreases the amount of makeup needed to create a perfect complexion, hence the phrase ‘your skin completes makeup’,” Hyeyoung adds.

The Bare Essentials range consists of three hypoallergenic products suitable for any skin types

Now we’ve come to the part where I talk about the products! I’m sure you’re now super intrigued to know what these three products are and why I can’t stop talking about them on my social media accounts.

SPOILER ALERT! They are seriously the best products I’ve tried and I love every single one of them!

STEP 1: The Contour Cleanser

Micro capsules pop with water to gently but effectively exfoliate and remove impurities from the skin. Detoxify your skin and create a defined, slim face shape.

Key ingredients: Ice plant, Lemon verbena leaf

Packed with soothing Ice Plant and detoxifying Lemon Myrtle extracts, this cleanser is densely filled with micro capsules that burst upon contact with water to gently cleanse, exfoliate, and detoxify skin. The Contour Cleanser helps to promote blood circulation, and reduces bloating and swelling for a defined, enviably slim face shape (hence the name).

You might think it’s gimmicky because, how does a mere cleanser give your face a slimmer look?!

Ice plants are known to have healing powers as they have been used to reduce itching, swelling, and redness. There are a number of sunscreen products that have ice plants in them, because these plants also offer UV rays protection.

As for the Lemon verbena leaf, this is the key to the name Contour Cleanser. This has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce puffiness. Its cooling and soothing effect treats puffy skin, making our face look slimmer.

I really like how this product feels on my skin. It has microcapsules that disappear as I massage it all over my face. It turns into a rich lather, but it’s not like the usual cleanser or soap that produces too many bubbles.

The scent is so relaxing, I think it is because of the Lemon verbena leaves in it. These leaves are also used as de-stressing agents to treat anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and insomnia. No wonder I feel less tense or tired when I smell it.

I’m so amazed by what it does! I don’t know if it’s just psychological, but really, my face doesn’t look bloated anymore!

Final thoughts:

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STEP TWO: The Primer Water

Keep your steps to a minimum with a 2-in-1 toner and primer. Made with patented dewdrop technology, it smoothes and evens out the skin, prepping it for the next step and leaving the skin in a youthful glow.

Key ingredients: Snow lotus, Patented dewdrop technology

Both a hydrating toner and a primer in one, the Primer Water contains patented dewdrop technology (Macro Fluidic Dispersion technology) that gently fills the gaps between pores and allows hydration to penetrate deep within the layers of the skin. Made with Snow Lotus extracts, this skincare heavy hitter has an incredibly smooth and silky texture that enhances the skin’s natural glow, leaving you with the perfect canvas.

I really like the idea that this is both a toner and a primer. As a hydrating toner, it keeps the skin from getting dry; and as a primer, it fills in the pores making the skin look smoother. True enough, I notice my pores look smaller as if I’ve put a silicon primer on.

I only put three to four drops on my palm, I think it’s enough for the whole face and neck. But you can add more drops if you want it really moist, it won’t make your face sticky at all.

It has a milky consistency; it’s not too watery unlike the usual toners I’ve used. But since it’s water-based, it is easily absorbed by the skin. I am so hooked with the scent! Like seriously. This is the best smelling toner my olfactory receptors have ever come across with. It’s like nature from a bottle.

Final thoughts:

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STEP THREE: The Fixer Cream

Feel layers upon laters of moisture as it penetrates into the skin for up to 24 hours, giving your skin the hydration it truly needs. Keep your skin feeling fresh and looking vitalized all day.

Key ingredients: Trehalose, Green Tea, Baobab Tree

This non-oily, quick-absorbing formula harnesses the power of Trehalose, an ingredient found in the cactus plant that prevents its moisture loss, to provide the skin with 24-hour hydration. This ultra-nourishing wonder cream is also rich in antioxidants derived from Camellia Sinensis (green tea) seed oil, and helps to promote collagen regeneration using Baobab Tree extracts. Upon application, your skin is left looking great and feeling
bouncy to the touch.

It feels really light on the skin and it seems to turn into water as I spread it all over my face. It isn’t tacky at all, but my skin doesn’t feel dry either. My skin feels bouncy as it claims. It looks really clear, and at the same time, healthy.

It does not come with a tiny spoon, though, so I’ve made use of the one I got from my other cream. If you don’t have any, make sure to keep your fingers clean when dipping into the jar to avoid contaminating the product.

This, too, smells amazingly good. I always imagine a field of flowers every time I use it. I feel my skin refreshed and revitalized, making me more confident in my own skin.

Final thoughts:

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Would I Recommend Althea’s Bare Essentials?

A humongous YES! From the packaging to the main products, they are so worth the money. I love the minimalist look; it compliments the products’ main objective – make skin care simpler. The Contour Cleanser is housed in a tube, which makes it easier to dispense the product. The Primer Water is stored in a plastic container that I mistook for a glass bottle. It’s really convenient when travelling. I can also control how much product to dispense, since the container is squeezable. The Fixer Cream is stored in a frosted acrylic jar that actually looks and feels like a glass jar. The lid was quite tight, but I was still able to open it.

The Primer Water and the Fixer Cream came in boxes, while the Contour Cleanser was sealed with plastic. Everything was carefully packed and sealed individually, and as always, Althea Korea made sure each item was bubblewrapped for safety.

All products smell fantastic and effectively give my skin a healthy glow. I haven’t experienced any irritation, even if I use it in the morning and in the evening, and even under my makeup.

I used the set to prep my skin for my makeup the other day, and I was so happy to see my face still looking great even after hours!

All 3 products are available for purchase under Php 1500, and made with only the best ingredients, it’s no surprise that the Bare Essentials line caused quite the craze in the beauty world.

You can now get your hands on these highly coveted products; you’re just a click away from glowing, flawless, crystal clear skin. Plus, Althea is giving out an additional 10% off with a free special edition mirror if you purchase now so head on over to www.althea.kr or download the Althea app on Google Play Store today!

Which of these items are you most interested in? If you’ve tried any of these, how was your experience?

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