Buy or Bye? Althea Korea Bare Essentials Review

Koreans are known for their flawless skin that glows even without makeup. It’s not just good genes that gave them that. It’s having a good skincare routine. An infamous example is their 11-step or 14-step routine? That uses makeup remover, cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, masks, etc I can’t even remember everything! Hahaha! Today we’ll be reviewing Althea’s Bare Essentials. They simplified skincare back from XX-steps down to just 3. Cleanse-Tone-Moisturize.

I CANNOT! Those steps are too much for me! Tamad ako, alam nyo yan (I’m lazy, you know that). Find out if it’s BUY or BYE at the end of this post!

Althea Korea Bare Essentials Review

“Great makeup starts with great skin”

According to Althea, Bare Essentials simplifies skincare down to just 3 steps for the best results with minimum care. Natural ingredients were carefully found and selected from the depths of nature to give the most hydrating experience for your skin.

Ta-da! The perfect time to test these babies was during sunburn recovery. I usually use skin whitening/brightening products but since my skin was burned and sensitive. I needed something basic but not your usual soap and water. Here come’s Althea Bare Essentials to the rescue!

Let’s start with the Contour Cleanser (300php/150g)

I only needed to use a pea-sized amount to create a generous foamy lather. It has microbeads that feels like a gentle massage on my face when applied. It claims to reduce swelling for a refined face shape.

Ingredients:

Ice plant – Hydrates and calms redness

Lemon myrtle – Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to strengthen the skin

^{Glycerin,Water,Myristic Acid,Stearic Acid,Potassium Hydroxide,Palmitic Acid,Lauric Acid,PEG-32,Glyceryl Stearate,PEG-100 Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine,Glyceryl Stearate SE,Microcrystalline Cellulose,Zea Mays (Corn) Starch,Lactose,Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Polyquaternium-67,Sodium Chloride,Disodium EDTA,Menthol,Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-7,Fructooligosaccharides,Saccharide Hydrolysate,Pullulan,1,2-Hexanediol,Tocopheryl Acetate, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract,Sodium Benzoate,Sodium Acetate,Butylene Glycol, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract,Ethylhexylglycerin,Fragrance}

It FEELS SO DARN GOOD to use! and smells so refreshing too! I notice that whenever I use this facial wash it leaves my skin feeling soft and bouncy. BUT still leaving it clean, not filmy, not squeaky. I’m not sure if the beads are plastic-based or all natural. The microbeads melt after a few seconds of rubbing. So we’re sure it’s environmentally-friendly and is not made from those plastic beads most skincare companies use.

It’s 2-in-1! You can also use this as a face masks for blackheads, pores, and dead skin cells. Simply use it again after cleansing (on dry skin) and massage for 30 seconds.

Toner time! The Primer Water (550php/200ml) has a viscous texture. It reminds me so much of Human Heart Nature’s Hydrating Toner. I simply soak a cotton pad and rub it gently on my skin after cleansing. All products in Althea’s Bare Essential are double purpose. You can also use this as a serum! Simply use an additional drop after toning and gently pat on your skin.

Ingredients: 

Snow lotus – Smoothens and brightens the skin while evening out its texture

Patented “dewdrop” formulation – Revitalizes the skin and provides immediate, effective moisture

^{Water,Propanediol,Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone,Alcohol,1,2-Hexanediol,Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract,Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract,Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer,Tromethamine,Betaine,Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate,Xanthan Gum,Ethylhexylglycerin,Pullulan,Butylene Glycol,Dipropylene Glycol,Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract,Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract,Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Extract,Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract,Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sclerotium Gum,Agar,Polysorbate 20,PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil,Fragrance}

Maybe it’s just me but I find this toning water too thick for my liking. It’s so thick you can use it without a cotton pad. After using this product I feel it leaves too much on my skin even after drying. It leaves a trace of silky film. Like, I can skip the moisturizer already because my skin already feels nourished and soft. Ready for makeup I suppose?

Last but not the least the Fixer Cream (690php/50g). It claims to plump skin without leaving a sticky feeling.

Ingredients

Trehalose – Powerful humectant that retains moisture on the skin

Wild Green Tea – Hydrating, skin soothing and pack with antioxidants

Baobab Tree Extract – Non-greasy moisturizing agent that helps promote collagen production

^{Water,Glycerin,Methylpropanediol,Dimethicone,Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil,Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin),Cyclopentasiloxane,Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol,Cetearyl Alcohol,Polysorbate 60,PEG-100 Stearate,Cyclohexasiloxane,Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract,Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract,Carbomer,Tromethamine,Polyacrylate-13,Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate,Polyisobutene,Propanediol,Ethylhexylglycerin,Pullulan,Disodium EDTA,Polysorbate 20,Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate,Trehalose,Sodium Hyaluronate,Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract,Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract,Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract,Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract,Fragrance}

It’s a basic moisturizer. The perfect basic one if there’s such a thing. It doesn’t claim to lighten dark spots, brighten skin, or remove fine lines and wrinkles. What is does is what it says. Moisturize. I love to use it either day or night because it doesn’t leave an annoying sticky feeling like most creams do. But I was really hoping it at least had an SPF because I still need to use a separate sunscreen after this.

SUMMARY

Using all 3 products from Althea Bare Essentials left my skin happy, healthy, and youthful. Usually, whenever I go back to using a “basic” skincare routine. My skin goes from radiant to dull. That’s what I’m scared about and why I’m obsessed with specialized skincare products. This set is perfect for those who are:

• Looking for a good skincare routine to start with
• Healing from sunburn (like moi!)
• Wants a n0-fuss easy-to-follow basic skincare set

BUY OR BYE?

BUY!