More To Mica - Life & Fashion Theme Update

I was finally able to share my beloved haul from Althea. They were a buzz when they opened their online store in the Philippines. But if you've haven't heard of it make sure to check the site now, they've got plenty of k-beauty products: Visit Althea (but please finish my write up first). This post is actually mega overdue. I bought this at Althea like months back. Yep! This was last year but I feel that these pretty lip tints still deserves to be shared.




Althea is a cyber shopping destination for K-Beauty products. Brands like Skinfood, Etude House, Holika Holika, Missha, The Face Shop, Too Cool For School can be purchased at Althea. Plus we get to try other beauty brands from korea that we haven't heard of before.



I got like five lip products from Althea. I would love to get more but I'm sure I would end up leaving the others to expire because I don't really go out as often and I'm also on a budget so these ones are just perfect for me. First is these two Velvet Moist lip tints from ONSAEMEEIN in shades #02 Berry Red & #04 Acoustic Coral. I've never heard of this brand I just digged the packaging/bottle of the lip tint (and thought it would look pretty in flat lays, LOL) that's why I added it to the cart.



Next is the Fresh Fruit Lip & Cheek Trio from Skinfood. I needed a blush so I thought of trying this one out. I also thought that I could make use of this for days when I don't feel like putting much makeup on and I can bring it with me for touch ups since it's small and very 'travel-friendly'. I got the trio shade #5 Fruit Mix.



Lastly are these Liptone Get It Tints from Tony Moly. Oh gosh... The packaging is so so so pretty!! I dunno it coule be just me but that's hella pretty! I really love it and I hope I'd love the actual product too. Like I want to use them forever. Its perfect for a graphic designers kikay kit. Haha. The shades I have are #02 Coral Ming & #03 Play Orange.



I'm really happy with my purchase from Althea. The transaction was easy and the shipping was actually faster than expected. I live in the province so my package arrived 7 days later but according to Althea's site I would receive my package much later. So thumbs up.



Here's a summary of my Althea haul & the price for each:

1. Liptone Get It Tint [Coral Ming] - P390

I've finally taken this Fresh Cherry Tint I bought from Singapore out of the stack.  Somehow I regret not using it sooner.. I really love how it looks so natural, gives of a perfect no makeup makeup look plus I kind feel my lips become healthier after use. Keep browsing and see it on my lips, including two other shades of this Fresh Cherry Lip Tint.





Here's the two other shades of Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint I got as gift. I decided to include them in this post to compare the three shades and just check the swatch of each. (Tints was also first seen on product sample post here)



Freshly applied. Red is obviously more pigmented than the other two. The peach tone seems to be very light probably because it had been sitting in the storage for so long and had lost it's luster. Lol. The peach tint came out more of a pinkish tone on my lips compared to the swatch on my arm. (See below.)



After washing and rubbing my hands.. The red and pink shades kept it's stain. The peach one was almost invisible. Huhu.

Fresh Cherry Tint - Peach

Wearing the peach tint. I really bought the peach one instead of the other two because I'm more inclined to coloring my lips with coral and orange tones. This shade is actually a tiny bit more orangey in person but as I've said earlier it came out a bit more pinkish than expected when applied to the lips.

Fresh Cherry Tint - Pink

Personally, I find the pink & peach lip tints having a similar effect/tone on my lips, both also gave me naturally coloured looking lips. I like em both actually. Hahaha.

Fresh Cherry Tint - Red

Oh my g! What can I say? The moment I applied the red one on my lips, I felt empowered (what?). Lol.. Hahaha. Hello red lips. It's absolutely gorgeous. I kind of wished I got the red one instead but bf isn't into red lips so I go for muted colors instead... Trying this one on makes me want to shift to red lipsticks... I like that it had a more berry tone to it. Too bad it isn't showing much in photo but ughhh.. so pretty in person.

 I had to use my fingers to apply the pink & red tints since they were just in a sachet form and didn't have the doefoot applicator unlike the peach tint. Just look at how red and messy my fingers were below.



Okay so, despite my inclination towards the red cherry tint.. I still like the other two and been using the peach one, hoping I would empty the bottle one day. Hahaha. Before I forget to mention.. after taking photos for this post, I had the red tint last and after drinking and eating.. nothing changed my lips were still stained. Came dinner.. I ate and drank again, the tint started to fade a bit on the edges but the stain is still visible. The next morning, my lips were still stained. I guess these tint may pass as long lasting. Though I've always thought that lip tints are originally the ones to last longer than lipsticks. (JMO - just my opinion).. Also, the scent of these tints do give a bit off a cherry fragrance and for me it's more of sweet candy, something like that scent.

After all those positive feedback with the tints, what I don't like about it is it's a bit sticky on the lips, probably for moisture (which is great if that's what it's stickiness is for) coz' a winning lip product for me is the one that's light and something that doesn't feel like you've applied something on your lips.

Will I buy again? I would absolutely get one again if I've got extra cash. Andddd..I've just purchased a number of lip tints from Althea (will share soon!!) and some lipsitcks from US (so excited to get my hands on em)... Plus, I have another pending lipstick post that needs photos (haven't even opened the lipsticks). It breaks my heart when my lippies expire and I don't get to use them as much as I'm supposed to.. If I can't empty them might as well use more than half of the product.. So I'm trying my best to empty/make most of the lippies I currently own (and I'm probably failing, Lol) and storing some in the fridge too. So best of luck for me on that.

I'm actually tempted to try the Dear Darling tint from Etude as well but maybe next time. Boo! Haha. Anyway, that's it loves.

Okay, my to-do list is killing me but no one actually died of a list, right?. Death by to-do list sounds hmmm.. pretty off. With a lot of things going on in my plate, the words earlier just popped in my head while I was about to take a me-time at the bathroom and thought it might be a good opening statement for this not so fancy blog-entry - review on product samples from Etude House & Max Factor. Haha. I don't care if you care or don't care.. I'm posting anyway. I'm happy to get at least one down off my to-do (blogging) list.


I have here two sample packs of Etude House Pearl Aura Brightening Essence & Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation each and Etude House Fresh Cherry Lip Tint in two variants.

Etude House: Pearl Aura Brightening Essence

Product Description (source-etudehouse.com):
Pearl Aura Brightening Essence contains Tahiti black pearl extract based fine aurora particles that enhance the skin’s natural transparent glow, brightening up dull areas for the effect of just awakened, fresh skin. With sufficient moisture and skin-friendly properties, This essence absorbs quickly w/o the use of cotton pads, hugging the skin With its smooth texture for a healthy looking glow. (In short, it's a brightening moisturiser)

Etude House: Fresh Cherry Lip Tint

Etude House Fresh Cherry Lip Tint promotes moist & shiny cherry lips with a creamy, smooth texture.




Top: Red / Bottom: Pink

First Impression:
Absolutely love it! I'm a real lip tint lover ever since. Haha. But what I love about Etude's Fresh Cherry Lip Tints is the colours of both pink & red tints. I do have the actual product in peach shade that I bought before I even got these samples. The tints did come in a creamy and smooth texture. The reason why I love tints is because they look natural, they actually last long plus they didn't dry my lips. Drink, eat, sleep.. It's still on! Haha. I did a swatch on my lips which I will be posting with the peach shade in a separate post soon. I was struggling to remove each lip tint on my lips for the shoot. I applied the red one last, note I applied the red tint at around 4 in the afternoon and though some areas of my lip lightened I still had parts of my lip tinted in the morning. Haha.

Max Factor: Whipped Creme Foundation

Product Description (source-maxfactor.co.uk):
Max Factor Whipped Creme is a foundation whipped, non-oily formula that glides over the skin, to create a flawless demi-matte finish. Unlike some mousse foundations this is claimed not to cake and flake on drier areas. It is perfect for creating a demi-matte look, hydrated with glycerine and water so it glides over skin, won’t clog pores and is oil-free and fragrance-free. Suitable for sensitive skin.




Top: Golden / Bottom: Light Ivory

First Impression:
Tried this on top of my Naturactor Cover Face and on it's own. First, with Naturactor.. it seemed to give a little more flawless finish but since I was already using a great foundation underneath I didn't really see how great it is with coverage. The following day I used it on it's own, I have to say it covered my redness and it's coverage is pretty much an ace. At first, I thought it's not remarkable in concealing my pimple that had popped above my brows, but after it had set on my face, it was fairly concealed and less noticeable.

Light Ivory has a more pinkish tone than the Golden which had bit more yellow undertone but once spread on the skin it would also turn out to have a bit of a pinkish undertone too. I used the light ivory all over my face since it's closer to my skin tone then applied the Golden one to my jaw line and temples, just to look a bit three dimensional. The only cons about the product is it's smell! I hate it, huhu. It kinda smells like cream cheese. The scent lost me. It would have been a great foundation since I didn't end up as oily as I normally would.

Full Look Wearing Max Factor Whipped Cream Foundation (Light Ivory & Golden)

I actually went to the salon that day to get my hair straightened and while Mark, the junior stylist assigned to me was washing my face he commented and said to his co-worker na parang naka-camera360 ung mukha ni ma'm - me (my face looked filtered with camera360). He said he tried checking the washed part of my face near the hair to see if I had applied a lot of product on my face to look flawless but then I didn't since there wasn't any difference. I only had Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation and set it with powder. I think I'm somehow blessed with great skin. I'll need to take good care of it (all of us should take care of our skin anyway)...



Overall, Etude House Fresh Cherry Lip Tint is my top choice of all the samples and the product I would most likely purchase. It was still fun and great to try and test the other samples. After doing this product sample blog post, I realized that samples are actually better for blogging sometimes. You don't have to worry if the product would work or if you'll be wasting the product itself or money you've spent for one whole container. And that is all! Hope to see you on my next post.