Spotlight | Althea A'bloom.

I love sheet masks. And I love them a lot.
Aside from being my favorite step in my Sunday skincare routine (sometimes I add them to my mid-week skincare routine whenever I feel like it), sheet masks are probably THE skincare product that I will never run out of and can never live without. I buy them in bulk whenever I'm in Korea, hoard them whenever they go on sale here in the Philippines, and they have a lingering presence in my Althea shopping cart - almost all of my previous orders from Althea had a sheet mask or two included.

So imagine my excitement when Althea announced that they'll be a launching a new in-house brand, with sheet masks as one of its introductory products. That excitement turned to amazement when Althea's freshest product drops finally arrived in the mail.

Fresh drops from Althea! :)

I call this the 'Althea A'bloom Box' - an assortment of products from the A'bloom brand, the new beauty brainchild from Althea. 'Fun and funky' is the signature of A'bloom, and I can see that from the get-go. I mean, just look at the packaging - the cute prints and vibrant colors are guaranteed to grab your attention.

This box screams of cuteness.

Now let's take a closer look at these A'bloom products, starting with the ones that piqued my curiosity the most - the sheet masks. There are four fruit-based variants in A'bloom's sheet mask line:

A'bloom Sheet Masks, Php 20 each.

Ac-Me-Peach - An anti-blemish sheet mask that purifies and soothes irritated and sensitive skin. It's infused with peach extracts and tea tree oil to combat acne, regulate oil, and clarify skin.

Water-Me-Long - A moisturizing sheet mask made with watermelon extracts and lavender that help retain moisture and keep the skin hydrated and supple.

Sparkle-Me-Bright - A brightening sheet mask that brings dull skin back to life. Enriched with green tea extracts plus a double dose of vitamin C from lemon and lime, this sheet mask banishes dark spots and brings out the natural radiance of your skin.

Avo-Cuddle-Me - A nourishing sheet mask that helps keep wrinkles at bay while protecting the skin from free radicals and other harmful elements from the environment. Made with avocado extracts and hibiscus, this sheet mask is rich in antioxidants and helps improve the skin's elasticity.

My favorite variant among the four A'bloom Sheet Masks.

First off, I love the quirky names of these sheet masks. They're puns of the ingredients that they're made of, and that sounds fun and witty to me. Second, I love how budget-friendly the A'bloom Sheet Masks are. Priced at Php 20 each (that's less than half a dollar), they're probably the most affordable sheet mask in the market today. And finally, I love how juicy these sheet masks are. They're soaked in essence, which allows you to wear the sheet masks for at least half an hour. 

Sunday is sheet mask day!

Among the four variants, the Avo-Cuddle-Me would have to be my favorite. Mildly scented, non-irritating, and very moisturizing, the avocado sheet mask made my skin soft and supple without the sticky feel. My only gripe is that the sheet mask seems a tad too big for my face. That, or maybe I have stretched it out too much in the process of unfolding the sheet mask and sticking it to my face.

Next up, we have the BHA Blackhead Blaster. It's a slick stick that helps remove whiteheads and blackheads easily and pain-free. 

BHA Blackhead Blaster, Php 200.

Formulated with natural BHA (beta hydroxy acid) from extracts of white willow bark, this product cleanses deep into your pores to remove dead skin cells and excess sebum. The BHA Blackhead Blaster also contains a mixture of apricot seed powder, charcoal, and tea tree oil which tightens pores, clears the skin, and inhibits the growth of blackheads and whiteheads. 

Bye, blackheads!

I don't have blackheads and my whiteheads are nearly invisible, so I asked my sister to try this product instead. She loved it right away! Aside from the ease of use (you simply glide the stick onto targeted areas, massage it for about a minute or two, the rinse it off with lukewarm water), you also get instant results. My sister easily rubbed all the blackheads off her nose, leaving her with nothing but soft and clear skin afterwards. I saw her blackheads 'coming out' and I was grossly impressed, lol.

Finally, we have the A'bloom Meringue Puffs. These beauty sponges are the first-ever beauty tools made by Althea, and they come in two different sizes - Giant and Baby. The Giant Meringue Puff is sold individually, while the Baby Meringue Puffs come in a set of three.

Giant Meringue Puff, Php 100 each.
Baby Meringue Puff, Php 140 per set of three.

Soft and bouncy, these Meringue Puffs are made with non-toxic, latex-free materials. These puffs are free from harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chrome, and antimony, and are safe to use on sensitive skin. Both puffs can be used wet or dry. When used wet, the puff expands to almost twice its size and gives your (base) makeup a glossy finish. If you want a regular, matte finish, you can simply use the puff as is. 

Giant Meringue Puff vs. Baby Meringue Puff.

Personally, I like the Baby Meringue Puff more than its big (bigger) sister. I feel like they're softer, fluffier, and they're easier to clean. I use the baby puff to apply cheek tint on my face, and to blend concealer under my eyes and around my eyebrows. I would have preferred a pointier tip for these meringue puffs, but I love them nonetheless. 

As of this writing, the A'bloom Sheet Masks are still out of stock at the Althea website. The response to these sheet masks was so overwhelming that the website almost crashed when offered a 10+10 introductory sale. Well, who wouldn't go crazy when you can get 20 sheet masks for Php 180 (that's less than $4 when converted)?! I know I would!