UNFORGETTABLE • Althea Korea Un-Pore-Gettable Box Review + GIVEAWAY!

Hi guys, welcome back to my blog! Today's post will be all about what I think is one of Althea Korea's best value boxes: the Un-Pore-Gettable Box!

If you didn't already know, Althea Boxes are ultra discounted sets sold on Althea Korea. By ultra discounted, I'm talking 5-12 full sized products that are sold as a box for about 70-80% less than the original retail price! There are 3-5 boxes released every month and each box is curated and themed. There's also no need to subscribe to a subscription like other beauty boxes out there, so you can pic which ones you think will work great for you and pass on ones you're not interested in. To read my other Althea box reviews, click here! 

In October (2017) Althea released two super attractive boxes which are the Wanderlust Box and the Un-Pore-Gettable box. I've already shared about the Wandelust Box last November (click here to read about it if you haven't already) and as promised, I'm now back to share about the Un-Pore-Gettable Box!

I used to think that I do not have an enlarged pore problem because if you look at my bare skin, it looks pretty smooth. However, after continuously wearing makeup I noticed that my foundation usually breaks down around my smile lines, cheeks and forehead due to oil. Not only does my makeup break apart, the pores also become more visible!

Curated especially for people who have a problem with their pores, the Un-Pore-Gettable box contains products which help to tighten and shrink visible pores. I decided to give it a try as most of the products claim to help shrink pores as well as to cut down sebum production in the long run. Just a heads up, I don't have an ultra super-zoom camera to show how much my pores have shrunk, so most of my results below will be from how I personally feel 😉

There are a total of 7 items included in this box, 5 full-sized, 1 deluxe sized and 1 sample kit:

1. Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

2. Common labs Mild Peeling Finger Pad

3. Laneige Powder Fit Cushion #23 Sand

4. Rire All Kill Pore Tightening Ice Stick

5. Dear, Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner (30ml sample size)

6. My Beauty My Beauty Mask Pack

7. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Care Sample Kit

You almost have a full skincare routine! A small cleanser is included in the Innisfree sample kit, and there's no moisturizer haha. If only the cushion was a moisturizer!

Anyway, I think the selection of products is pretty good! One thing I noticed about Althea's boxes is that they try to mix in 1-2 products from well known Korean brands with products from smaller, more indie ones. Innisfree, Laneige, Dear Klairs are all big brands in the K-beauty community, and Rire & Common Labs are getting more popular nowadays too so I think the selection ain't that bad!

This box is valued at RM417, but only retailed for RM127, which means Althea sold it at 69% less than what it's worth. As always, it's a super good deal! The Laneige cushion itself is worth RM107+, and the Innisfree clay mask retails for RM58 in their official store!

Aside from the 7 items, there is also a random sample kit. There's a total of 20 products, and you will get a random number of samples from that pool of 20 products.

Not all Althea boxes have free gifts, and when they do usually it's only 1-2 samples. I think there was a bit of confusion on the amount you will get (because they literally only put "random samples"), but for me, I ended up getting 8. Don't play play leh, the samples selection is pretty good, I wouldn't mind getting less than that also hahaha. I was hoping to get the sponge (because hello, that's literally a full sized product already), but unfortunately, I didn't get it haha. Keep on reading to see which ones I got! 😉

So now that that's out of the way, let's talk about each of the products included in the Un-Pore-Gettable Box!

I've actually done a separate review on this product a long time ago and it's one of my blog's most popular posts! If you want, you can click here to read the full post.

This clay mask help to cleanse the skin from deep within, clearing the pores and controlling sebum production. It contains volcanic clay from Jeju Island (tbh almost all of Innisfree's ingredients are from Jeju) that is supposed to have skin detoxifying powers.

Claims:

• Sebum removal
• Healthy Complexion
• Trouble Care
• Soft feeling without stiffness
• Makes makeup apply better
• Free from mineral oils, animal products, artificial fragrances & Imidazolidnyl Urea (a preservative usually found in cosmetics)

I used this once a week after cleansing/toning. The product absorbs into the skin and becomes like a seconds skin in a matter of minutes. It feels tight, but not an uncomfortable kind of tight. The product comes off easily enough, especially with warm water. 

For the sebum removal, I can say that this product does quite a decent job! It's been a while since I last used it (cuz I've moved on to other products), so it's nice to know that it's still as amazing as when I first used it. Since it draws out the sebum in the skin, it actually caused a few breakouts the first time I used it, but this time around it didn't.

I love this product! It's definitely a K-beauty cult fave, and you should always have one on your bedside table/vanity/bathroom for days when you just was to detox.

The entire Jeju Volcanic range from Innisfree is for shrinking pores and dealing with oily skin. There were three items included in this sample kit, namely the:

1. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam

2. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Toner

3. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Kit Cotton Pads

I've tried the toner before as well but I didn't really see any effect. I tried the cleanser and it was great, but like the toner, I didn't really see any dramatic change. I think this set would be great to bring during travels or if you'd like to try more products from the Jeju Volcanic Range. As for me, I found them so-so and I would probably only use these when I travel/don't want to bring too many heavy products in my luggage.

 

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I've recently been obsessing over toner pads. Toner pads are just so much more convenient! They already come soaked in product (you don't get that stingy feeling of not wanting to waste/use too much toner haha) plus there's usually a slightly texture on the cotton pad that helps to gently exfoliate the skin.

These finger pads from Common labs claim to:

• Get rid of dead skin cells
• Minimize Pores
• Brighten/even out skin on a daily basis
• Allows makeup to apply better
• Definite cleansing without leaving any dirt/residue behind

First of all, what I love about these pads is that they have a pocket inside for easier use! Not that normal pads aren't easy to use already, I just find the design nice haha. One box contains 7 pads, and each pad comes super soaked in product. I usually take my time to gently wipe my entire face with these pads, making sure that I do it gently in an upward motion.

If you follow my Instastories, you'll know that I love Nightingale's Daily Derma Cleansing Pads. I love the thin layer of oil that it leaves, but some people DMed me and said they're not a fan of the oiliness. These pads from Commonlabs are super lightweight and do not leave an oily feeling on the skin after use. They also exfoliated my skin very well and left me with super soft skin! Omg I died almost died after touching my cheeks, they were like a baby's butt! Did I mention that it feels cooling and refreshing on the skin too?

One thing I don't like about these is that it's individually packed and only comes with 7 pads. I mean, technically it's convenient for travels and it more hygienic than a tub, but I like it so much that I want more! I checked and this product isn't available in a tub, only individually like this :( Common labs, please create a bigger version!

One of the most popular toners in the market, Klairs' Supple Preparation Facial Toner promises to remove unnecessary oil and fill the skin with moisture while balancing out it's pH level. This is actually the latest version of the toner, which promises to absorb faster into the skin and to fill it with more moisture than the previous one. I haven't tried this toner out before (I know, shocking haha), so this was my virgin experience.

The texture is very similar to that of Pyunkang Yul's Essence Toner, and it's pretty thick and supple (but PKY's is thicker). You only really need a little bit of product to use for the entire face, and it really does feel hydrating and plumping!

I did a Wayskin reading and it took my face from 31% to 99%!

My face also feels plump and snatched after using this, so I guess it's pore care properties are working! You can use it as a toner and you can also make a DIY mask by soaking a cotton pad with some of the toner and leaving it on your face. I'll have to get a full sized bottle, bathe in this and share a full review with you guys soon! TL:DR: this toner is moisturizing and promising!

This product contains Iceland Glacial Milk, which is rich in minerals and contains active hydrogen. Glacial milk is similar to our body's water content, and this product claims to be able to:

• Minimize Pores
• Improve complexion
• Decrease water retention (i.e reduce puffiness)
• Temporarily reduce the skin's temperature

It kinda looks like a humongous lip balm hahaha. Upon application, it really has an immediate tightening effect on the skin, and it does feel slightly cooling too! The cooling sensation doesn't last long, but I feel like it would be awesome for super hot days (aka every day here in Malaysia).

There's actually 3 variants of this mask: a red ginseng hydrogel, an gold hydrogen, and a rice sheet mask. The one I got was the Rice Sheet Mask, which contains rice sourced from the Gyeonggi province in Korea. This mask is rich in proteins and its main purpose is to brighten and hydrate the skin.

This mask was pretty so-so~ It moisturized my skina nd felt cooling, but it didn't really stand out to me haha. Just your standard/normal sheet mask I guess~

I mentioned before that I wished Althea included a moisturizer instead of a BB cushion, and that's actually because you can't choose the shades of BB cushions that are inlcuded in Althea boxes. That's about the only downside to Althea boxes.

This BB cushion comes in the shade #23 (Sand) and has a cream to powder twist cushion. Its supposed to be feel like skin and provide a soft lightweight finish.

One of the things that makes this cushion special is the mesh net flat cushion. With a mesh, the foundation is dispensed even more evenly into the puff, effectively covering pores perfectly and leaving behind a powdery matte finish.

Alas, although the packaging is amazing and the swatch on my hand really did feel comfortable, the shade was not a match for my skin. This was kind of a let down because when I went to Laneige's official store to see the shade range, I was shocked to find that I was actually shade #33! It's the first time a cushion matched with my skin tone, and it would have been great is Althea offered the option to select a shade for BB cushions included in Althea Boxes.

As I mentioned, I got 8 samples with my box! My two faves would have to be the Whamisa Organic Flowers Eye Essence (its expensive full sized but works great!) and the Mamonde Hydrating Flower Essence Mask!

If you got the Un-pore-gettable box, the amount you pay is definitely worth it for the number of products that you get. You get an almost complete skincare routine + an awesome cushion (if you match the shade) + lots of samples!

My fave product out of the bunch would be the Innisfree clay mask, followed by the Commonlabs pads and the Klairs toner! This box contains some of the most loved products in the K-beauty community, and after using the products I feel like it did help to significantly tighten my pores and decrease my sebum secretion. I give this box a solid 4.5.5! (0.5 deducted because I really wanted to try the cushion, now I have to buy it for myself for full price hahaha).

I thought that this box was too good to just enjoy for myself, so I decided to hold a giveaway! If you're a fan of Althea boxes, you know that they're super notorious for selling out really fast. I'm talking really fast, like if a box is popular it will legit sell out in minutes.

Althea recently did a collection called Now or Never, and they did a special flash restock of some boxes.

The Un-Pore-Gettable box wasn't one of the boxes to return, but I had another box with me, hence my decision to hold this giveaway!

1. Follow me and Althea Korea on Instagram at @fishmeatdie and @AltheaKorea. 

2. Comment on my Instagram post (click here) and tell me which product from this Althea box you want to try out the most! (Remember to tag 5 friends!)

A post shared by E R O S • エ ロ ス (@fishmeatdie) on Jan 15, 2018 at 2:50am PST

3. Repost my picture on your Instagram (click here to download in HD) with a caption of why you want to win. The more creative the better! Tag 5 friends so they can join too!

4. Remember to include 3 hashtags on your repost:

 #FishmeatdieIsUnporegettable

#FishmeatdieGiveaway

#AltheaKorea

5. Remember to tag me @fishmeatdie on your repost.

6. 1 lucky winner who fulfills all of the rules above + has an interesting caption/comment that catches my eye will be selected on February 14 2018, Valentines Day.

*T&C apply.

The giveaway is open internationally to beauty loving boys and girls worldwide! I'll be checking one by one if you fulfilled each of the rules above, but to make it easier, you can also leave a comment on this blog post telling me what you think of this Althea Box + if you have completed the rules above. I'll still check if you did, its just that those who comment on this blog post may or may not be more...visible to my eyes once I select a winner if ya know what I'm saying 😉

Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see y'all in the next post!

 

*Terms and Conditions

1. Contest open internationally to all countries that POS Malaysia ships to.

2. Incomplete entries will be forfeited. Account must be public.

3. Judges decision is final. Winner will be contacted through Instagram DM.

4. Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable for cash.

5. FISHMEATDIE reserves the right to amend the terms & conditions set herein without prior notification.

6. After announced, please keep your contest entry up (do not delete) until 15th March 2018 for tracking purposes.

7. Selected winner agrees to post a picture of their prize on Instagram, tagging @AltheaKorea & @fishmeatdie, as well as using the hashtags #FishmeatdieIsUnporegettable, #FishmeatdieGiveaway and #AltheaKorea

8. This contest is not affiliated with Instagram.