The first quarter of 2018 brought with it a fresh crop of cutting-edge beauty products — some from new brands, most from trusted brands that continue to address our beauty concerns in high-tech or sustainable ways. Here are four innovations you need to try before the second quarter ends.

K-beauty simplified

Whenever entrepreneur Frank Kang would visit Korea, his friends would always ask him to buy Korean cosmetics for them. This became the basis for his founding Althea, an online beauty-shopping destination featuring the latest Korean beauty trends, brands and products.

The Philippines is the third country to launch Althea, with a special introductory promotion on its in-house brand’s Bare Essentials skincare line.

Kang also noticed that most people had trouble following the elaborate 10-step Korean skincare routine, so Althea (named after Korea’s national flower) developed products that would distill the benefits of that routine down to the three essential steps of “cleanse, tone and moisturize.”

Althea’s Contour Cleanser (P300 for 150g) with ice plant and lemon myrtle not only cleanses but also exfoliates, detoxifies, promotes blood circulation and reduces bloating for a more defined face shape. The Primer Water (P550 for 200ml) with snow lotus and dewdrop not only hydrates deeply but also evens out the look of the skin, priming it for the application of makeup. The Fixer Cream (P640 for 50g) contains Trehalose from cactus to prevent moisture loss and provide 24-hour hydration, plus antioxidants and baobab tree extracts to promote collagen regeneration.

Petal soft: Althea’s Petal Velvet Powder mattifies and provides sun protection.

Personally I love the line’s clean, minimal look and fast results: after only three days of use, my skin looked more glowy, fresh and youthful. Now I understand the brand’s catchphrase of “Your skin completes makeup.”

“We believe that when one has great skin, it decreases the amount of makeup needed to create a perfect complexion,” explains Hyeyoung Park, Althea’s head of brand.

To complete the look, Althea has also released Petal Velvet Powder, a mattifying face powder in translucent and warm beige shades with polyphenols for sun protection and Althea seed oil to prevent dehydration. At only P210 for a travel-friendly 15g, it’s a beauty steal.

Achieving porcelain, poreless K-beauty has never been easier.

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Get 10 percent off the Althea Bare Essentials line plus a free, special-edition mirror when you buy all three products at ph.althea.kr/bare-essentials. For inquiries and more info, contact Nath Jardin (Philippines) at 0977-827-7712 and nathjardin@paintitred.com.ph or Frank Kang (Korea) at +6-03220-10785 or frank@althea.kr.

Skin brightening in powder form

Are you in the midst of a whitening transformation? Boost your results with Shiseido’s White Lucent Brightening Skincare Powder, which is like fairy dust with skincare powers.

After your regular whitening routine, open White Lucent’s pearl-pink dome and glide the velvety-soft puff over the pressed powder. Gently working it in with circular motions, apply first to cheeks, then forehead, then chin. Not only does it mattify beautifully, whitening agent M-Tranexamic acid targets dark spots and evens skin tone, while a Radiance Maximizing Powder and Hydro-Synergy Complex control the way light hits your face, making it look clear and vibrant.

And, while most powders have an off-putting old-lady smell, White Lucent combines Rosenium and white lilac for a fresh scent designed to enhance your mood. Let the maxi brightening begin.

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Available at Shiseido boutiques at SM Megamall 2nd floor Bridgeway, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Rockwell Power Plant, Greenbelt 5, TriNoma, Alabang Town Center, and department stores like Landmark and SM nationwide.

K-Palette introduces ‘1 Day Tattoo’ lip care

To its cult-fave 1 Day Tattoo line K-Palette has added Lasting Lip Tint Sticks, which don’t just merge the best qualities of a lipstick with a lip balm but are actual lip care. Its hydrating formula includes shea butter, ceramides and sodium hyaluronate, so it glides on really smoothly, and instantly soothes and quenches dry, chapped lips. It’s incredibly lightweight as well, so your lips don’t feel waxy or sticky but veiled in moisture.

With four colors that hit the most essential hues of the spectrum, you’ll want to collect them all: Glamorous Beige is the ultimate nude shade for everyday wear; Coral Peach is a bright, beachy shade that evokes summer fun; Rose Pink is another your-lips-but-better tone for when you want to look extra-pretty; and Juicy Red is a sheer crimson anyone can wear for more oomph — it doesn’t scream “I’m wearing red lipstick” but just brightens up your whole face and makes your lips look healthy and succulent.

Lastly, it wouldn’t be a “1 Day Tattoo” product if it didn’t last 24 hours. When they wear off, Lasting Lip Tint Sticks leave a stain on your lips that will keep you looking pretty way beyond your last application.

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K-Palette Lasting Lip Tint Sticks are exclusively distributed by Beautybox Corp. and available for P795 each at www.beautyboxcorp.com, Rustan’s The Beauty Source, Beauty Bar, The SM Store, Watsons, The Landmark Makati, Metro Department Store, Chimes, and Island City Mall Bohol.

Instant cover for gray hair

Covering gray hair is no joke, and the maintenance is killer: touchups every two weeks. If your roots are showing and you’ve no time to color, L’Oreal Paris has solved that problem with Magic Retouch, an emergency root-concealer spray that conceals grays in three seconds flat.

Working on the same principle as dry shampoo or spray paint, Magic Retouch comes in small spray cans and three universal colors: brown, dark brown and black. Be advised to put petroleum jelly along your hairline first to avoid any staining. Shake the can well and spray it about six inches away from your roots, using a light hand as the tint will cover your scalp as well. Comb it through for a natural look and let dry for a minute. Voila, instant color that will last until your next shampoo… or until your next coloring.

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L’Oreal Magic Retouch is available for P399 at Lazada and L’Oreal outlets nationwide.