Slim Down Your Face with Gua Sha

Using Gua Sha Massage Techniques 

When it comes to beauty, we do tend to splurge a little (or a lot) when it comes to optimising our skincare regime with various beauty tools or gadgets on the market. You've probably seen the popular ones, like electronic facial devices, blackhead suckers, or using pretty tools like natural crystal "Gua Sha" to slim down your face. But does it really work?

how 'Gua Sha' can benefit you

"Gua Sha" is an age-old technique that uses a facial massage tool (wood, crystals, etc.) to massage the face. The massage strokes are not only therapeutic; they're said to help relieve water retention, reduce under-eye puffiness, soften fine lines, firm the skin, and lift it. These effects may be temporary, but with regular use at least 2–3 times a week combined with a lifting or firming serum or cream, you can reach your V-shape goals. All thanks to the lymphatic drainage techniques! 

It is recommended to use oil- or water-based skincare products with gentle pressure to avoid damaging your skin or hurting yourself.

BTW, you can't just swipe the guasha tool across your face. Google "facial gua sa massage" and you'll be able to find many facial lymphatic drainage massage technique steps online to help you get started. Here are some examples from us below!

'Gua Sha' Facial Massage Chart

facial lifting gua sha massage technique

improve circulation gua sha massage technique

headache and drainage massage technique

lymphatic drainage massage technique

Are you ready to start your first gua sha session at home? At Althea, we have a Korean brand called Rose de Jardin that carries natural, real crystals and gemstones just for this purpose! They can take the shape of a hand-held roller, angel wing, sea-horse or a heart. Rest assured that each shape has its benefits. If you're a crystal lover, you're in for a surprise because they carry more than one type of crystal for you to choose from.

Here are our recommendations to manifest that V-shape from Rose De Jardin on Althea.

1. Strawberry Gua Sha
The Heart-shaped Hand-held Gua Sha in the ROSE DE JARDIN version, perfect for jawline care and local acupressure. This premium tool is made from high-end quality rose quartz gemstones, carefully extracted to provide you with the best results. Say goodbye to swelling quickly, even when you're on the go.

Available in Rose Quartz, White Jade, Black Obsidian and Green Aventurine.

2. Cloud PRO Gua Sha

Jardin's Cloud Pro guasha is made from pure gemstone (Green Aventurine and Black Obsidian) and is inspired by traditional Asian massage techniques. Designed to provide a deep and intense massage, the CLOUD PRO is larger than a typical guasha and boasts twice the thickness. This allows for better pressure and control, making it an ideal choice for massaging the whole body.

Available in Green Aventurine and Black Obsidian.

3. Angel Wing Gua Sha
Massage your way to a better, more holistic lifestyle with the Rose Quartz Angel Wing. Made from 100% natural Brazilian rose quartz, this uniquely shaped gua sha massager uses pressure points to help improve circulation and soothe stress. Use it on both your face and body for a holistic experience that’ll help your beauty shine from within.

Available in White Jade and Rose Quartz.

4. Rose Quartz Face Roller
Treat your skin right with the luxury it deserves! JARDIN Rose Quartz Face Roller is a dual-ended face massager that's made from 100% natural Brazilian gemstone. It helps to improve blood circulation, encouraging collagen synthesis while simultaneously soothing the skin with a cool sensation. Use with your favorite skincare product, and your complexion will be left feeling plump, relaxed and smooth.

5. Opalite Ocean Guasha Set
The Ocean Set, which contains The Dolphin Gua Sha and The Seahorse Gua Sha, can be used to massage the entire body. The Dolphin can be used for larger, more generous areas on the body, and The Seahorse can be used to target more detailed areas on the face.

6. Romance Heart Gua Sha Rose Quartz
A compact gua sha romance heart designed with love, the meaning of rose quartz crystal, as an object. It is designed in a curved shape so even beginners can use it easily. ROSE DE JARDIN Signature Gua Sha polished by selecting only A-grade excellent rose quartz.

Recommended area: All areas that require massage can be treated.

Available at our global store us.althea.kr, with shipping to over 200 countries around the world. If you're from Malaysia, Singapore, or the Philippines, or just select your country store from the top right menu on the website to shop, these stores have competitive prices you'll love! Shipping from Korea to your door takes 1-2 weeks.

VIEGANO KOREAN VEGAN SKINCARE

Formulated for sensitive skin with Mother Nature in mind

The rise of clean beauty is not just a skincare revolution that's making waves and changing how we see, use, and feel about skincare products; it is also about preserving all that's good on the very ground we stand. Say hello to vegan clean beauty. Viegano, whose brand is not just skin deep.

 Good for the skin, good for the planet

Consumers today may find it hard to find a beauty product that's suitable for them without all the fine print. Viegano has made it easy, with all-in-one skincare products, no fuss, no trills honesty that what you're putting on your skin is as clear as the sun shining on a bright Sunday morning. 

Dermatologically tested Korean Vegan Skincare

TBH, we have not seen so many credible certifications from a beauty brand. From being certified vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologically tested to their sustainability efforts, all their outer boxes, labels, and boxes are sustainable. They have also pledged to give 1% of their sales back to the environment via the 1% for the Planet program. 

Viegano partners with 1% for the planet

Their goal? To provide affordable but also effective vegan products that are all under $40. Don't believe us? Check them out on our Althea right now to see for yourself. We carry all four of their serums with information on key ingredients that set them apart. 

We'll share what the founder of Viegano says in a breakdown here on how to find the right serum for your skin here!

AHA BHA LHA PHA

🌿 You might be familiar with acids like AHAs, BHAs, and even PHAS, but did you know that LHAs (lipohydroxy acid) are the gentler version for treating acne-prone skin? As a comedolytic ingredient, it cleanses the pores and removes dead skin cells to leave the skin visibly clearer 🌿

BAKUCHIOL + TOCOPHEROL

🌿 Formula is packed with full of antioxidants that soothe the skin to prevent premature aging and maintain skin firmness 🌿

GREEN TEA + HYALURONIC ACID

🌿 A vegan hydrating serum that promotes all-day hydration to prevent dryness, redness, and irritation 🌿

LICORICE ROOT + TRANEXAMIC ACID
🌿 Tranexamic Acid is an active ingredient that unlocks your skin's radiance to diminish the appearance of acne scars, even your skin tone, and create a healthy glow 🌿

Viegano is now available on www.althea.kr. 

 

UNLEASHIA BIODEGRADABLE GLITTER COSMETIC

💗unleash + utopia💗

Something new has dropped on Althea Korea and we are going crazy over it! Meet unleashia a cruelty-free, vegan, and earth goddess brand from Korea that's recently making headlines on the glitter scene with its high-key pigmented glitters that are sparkling amazing on anyone but also, yes, you guessed it! BIODEGRADABLE! So say goodbye to microplastics because these glitters are here to stay! ✨

• PETA-certified vegan & cruelty-free product
• biodegradable, safe, and green
• glitter formula: different sizes & shapes to create dimensional sparkles
• high-quality glitter found nowhere else

their star product 'get loose glitter gel'

is a multi-use glitter gel for face/body/hair

makeup guru Pony bedazzles us with all that glitter!

They've pimped up lip balms, eyeshadows, and even eyeliners and packaged them in biodegradable packaging to reduce harm to the environment. Available on #altheakorea you can now find the following products + our editorial must-haves from unleashia! 

💗💗💗

✨GLITTERPEDIA EYE PALETTE✨

9 highly-pigmented, long-lasting, matte shadows

all in one point & daily makeup use

available in 7 eye palette books:
N1 All of Glitter N2 All of Brown N3 All of Coralpink N4 All of Lavender Fog
N5 All of Dusty Rose N6 All of Citrus N7 All of Peach Ade

💗💗💗

✨GET LOOSE GLITTER GEL✨

fun multi-use glitter, sweat & water-resistant

the largest glitter particle in Korea

available in 7 sparkling shades:
N1 Aurora Catcher N2 Starlit Chaser N3 Gold Obsessor

N4 Love Dreamer N5 Diamond Stealer N6 Sunset Lover N7 Happy Baker

💗💗💗

✨PRETTY EASY GLITTER STICK✨

highly pigmented holographic glitter sticks
long-lasting, waterproof formula

available in 7 holographic shades:
N1 Thrilled N2 Flutter N3 Brave N5 Dusk

N6 Wee Hours N7 Sheer Skin N8 Nudy Morn

💗💗💗

✨NON-STICK DAZZLE TINT✨

glossy non-sticky non-smearing lip tint

dazzling transparent glitter pearl

available in 3 delicious shades:
N10 Pink Muhly N11 Gentle Tiger N12 Flamingo

💗💗💗

✨GLACIER VEGAN LIP BALM✨

sparkling crystal snowflakes on your lips

glitter & gloss effect that shines

⭐ our editorial picks from unleashia ⭐

Can we say more lip balms, please? Made with shea butter, Vitamin E, C, P, and A derivatives these vegan lip balms can be used over your lip color or to moisturize your chapped lips indoors or outdoor. They're not just moisty softy, but also shiny with premium fine crystal particles in them! Available in two shades one can choose from: 

💗 Snow Frost - clear pure glitter lip balm with light gold shimmer pearls

💗 Blue Lagoon - sheer pink, blue & white silver shimmer pearls

available in 2 dazzling pieces:
N1 Snow Frost N2 Blue Lagoon

P.S: We like how the Blue Lagoon has a hidden pink color change. Dubbed the "Chameleon lip balm" the Blue Lagoon is a blue color lip balm that changes color to a natural pink base upon touching the warmth of your lips.

interested? search unleashia on althea.kr 🔍

Flawless Skin Habits

Flawless Skin Habits

Flawless means healthy, and healthy skin starts from good habits. Just because you don't go to an expensive beauty spa each month doesn't mean you are not entitled to the privilege of having smooth baby-like skin. If you are an avid follower of Korean beauty trends, you should know by now how much emphasis is placed on good skin management. Start practicing these excellent habits and the dream of having flawless-looking skin might not be that far-fetched at all. Remember, that sometimes continuous effort pays more than just one-time big spending!

1. Know Your Skin Type

Getting the correct skincare for your face is very important. If you get unlucky, the wrong product type can actually cause your skin to break out even more often. For example, some skincare ingredients might cause too much burden on you especially if you have sensitive skin. Therefore, determining your skin type is necessary and more important than anything else when it comes to handling your skin. Some beauty counters provide skin analysis services but you can also visit a dermatologist clinic to get a more thorough consultation. Prefer to use your money to buy products instead? The cheapest way to know your skin type and its problem are through reading. There are a lot of articles and quizzes you can find online to determine skin type, so all you need is a little effort on your side!

2. Fight the Sun: Protect Your Skin!

Always remember that the sun can be very damaging to your skin. You need to be diligent in putting on sunscreen products; not only for active outdoor activities but also on a daily basis.  UV rays can cause your skin to age faster and as one of the universally recognized carcinogens, continuous and excessive exposure without protection will also increase the chance of getting skin cancer. Skin irritation and sunburns is also a common problem so make sure to keep your guard up when it comes to the sun!

3. Be Positive

Don't believe it? Yes, stress can cause your skin to be in distress! Have you ever heard of the term Psychodermatology? It has been proved that your skin condition is closely linked with the state of your mind. Good stress management is very important to ensure healthy skin. Daily stress from work or school can be inevitable sometimes so you need to be smart enough to find some ways to negate all the unhealthy thoughts from your mind. Find something that can help your body release Endorphins, the happy hormone! Read a romance novel, sing in the shower, have a sleepover with your best friends, or just lay down on your bed and stare at the ceiling while listening to your favorite songs. Keep in mind that a happy skin also comes from a happy mind!

4. Moisturize! Keep Moisturizing!

In the battle of achieving fresh and glowy-looking skin, it often comes down to one very important routine which is to keep your skin sufficiently moisturized! Do you know that the underlying problem for both dry and oily skin is actually triggered by dehydrated skin? For example, the lack of moisture for oily skin conditions causes a self-induced overproduction of oil in order to compensate for the deficiency. So you need to find the perfect moisturizer cream based on your skin issue (refer to point one) and make sure to religiously apply them! Other than that, K-beauty mania also places high importance on sheet masks, some of them apply it every night but you can opt to use them just once or twice per week.  Make sure to drink plenty of plain water too, the recommended nutrition value is two-liter for each day!

5. Even Your Skin Needs a Good Diet.

Eat your way to your ideal skin by introducing foods with great benefits into your daily diet. Have foods with high antioxidant content for healthy skin cells, and make vitamins-packed fruits and veggies your best friend. Don't leave out the extra virgin olive oil and cold-pressed oil too as these good oils can help with your skin hydration level. Have fun with how you have them! You can create a healthy salad bowl using olive oil as the dressing or maybe blend some fruits to make a delicious smoothie. 

6. Sweat it Off: Exercise! 

Exercise is also a great way to help yourself achieve healthy skin as it promotes good circulation. Better blood flow means more oxygen and nourishment being supplied to your body cells and more waste products and free radicals get taken away. When you sweat while exercising, the toxins inside your body are also eliminated thus reducing the tendency of skin breakouts. One thing to keep in mind is always remembering to practice step number two we mentioned above when exercising outdoor!

7. Beauty Sleep is not a Myth.

If you are a big fan of Girls Generation Seohyun, you might know this. The youngest member of that popular girl group always makes it her daily routine to sleep before 12 midnight because it's the time when your skin cells start to heal and actively regenerate. In addition to that, staying up at night actually dehydrate your skin, and the lack of sleep will cause dark circles under your eyes. Stress may build up when you don't get enough rest at night and this also can also cause skin breakouts due to the hormone imbalance.

Skin management can be tricky but with continuous efforts, you will start seeing the result sooner or later. Quoting a famous beauty quote from Helena Rubinstein, 'there are no ugly women, only lazy ones., yo you better start practicing the habits above and see the difference!

Boost your skin with Korean Superfood ingredients!

Boost your skin with these superfoods today!

They say you are what you eat, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to incorporate your super diet directly onto your face as well! In this, post we'll be sharing all about superfoods: what they are, which ones we love and our fave superfood skincare picks.

What's SPF?

All about SPF & sunscreens

We all know that staying out of the sun is important, but do we really understand why? And what's all the buzz around SPF? In today's post, we'll be sharing all about the sun's effects on our skin, what SPF is, why using sunscreens are important.