Her GadgetMatch

Common Korean skincare ingredients your face will love and what they do

Trying masks with different skincare ingredients!

Published

December 31, 2018

Isa Rodriguez

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my current skincare obsession, it’s that there are certain ingredients that will do wonders for your skin. Researching and trying to figure out what they are and what they do is the tricky part.

So, dear reader, I’ve decided to help you out by trying a number of popular Korean skincare ingredients found in specially formulated face stuff, explaining what they do, and narrating my experience with them.

I’m going through Foreo’s latest mask line which was inspired by Korean formulas and launched just last month. Of course, I used the Foreo UFO with all these masks. (I even did a face mask challenge.)

Now, let’s get on to the masks!

Ingredient: Hyaluronic acid

Also found in: Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100, Neogen Hydro-Hyaluronic Mask, Harumada Triple Balance Cleansing Foam Pads, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid, CosRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream, Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner

What it does: Hyaluronic acid (now that’s a mouthful) will ensure your face is fresh and hydrated. Aside from adding moisture, it firms and diminishes wrinkles. It even has anti-aging benefits.

Mask name: H20verdose

Also includes: Ceramide 3

This nice-smelling mask has some fragrance but nothing too strong and overwhelming (as I will eventually learn is the case for all other masks). The Foreo UFO’s signature treatment with this mask includes thermotherapy and pulsations for better mask absorption, and though this may feel weird at first, it becomes soothing real quick. I also love that the treatment includes Green LED light treatment that supposedly helps with evening skin tone.

Ingredient: Charcoal

Also found in: April Skin Magic Stone, Celavi Charcoal Facial Mask, Schizandu Organics Activated Charcoal Powder, Happy Skin Rejuvenating Facial Sheet Mask

What it does: Activated Charcoal is known for its cleaning capabilities.

Mask name: Matte Maniac

Also includes: Snow Lotus and Witch Hazel Extract

This mask is pretty impressive. I kid you not, every time I use this, I wake up the next day less oily. Bonus parts of the mask cycle were the thermotherapy for faster absorption, cryotherapy to calm the skin, and LED light treatments which include blue and red lights for “minimizing imperfections” and reducing fine lines, respectively.

Ingredient: Caffeine

Also found in: The Ordinary Caffeine Solution, Frank Body Face Moisturiser, Milk Makeup Cooling Water Stick

What it does: Caffeine is known to be rich in anti-oxidants. It tightens skin and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Mask name: Shimmer Freak

Also includes: Rosewater, Niacinamide

I absolutely love this mask! I first discovered that caffeine is good for your face when I was researching on how I could help my dark eye bags. I’ve used the Milk Cooling stick for a while now and it’s something I’ve kept on my steady beauty rotation to remedy late nights. When I saw this had caffeine, I was so excited to try it.

First off, this mask has actual shimmer in it — not enough to make you look like you’re a weird fairy person but pretty enough to notice when you use it and discreet enough to wear anywhere. It also specifically targets the eye area. I put this to the ultimate test by using it on the worst of late-night aftermaths: hangover day. Sure, my head was pounding but the cooling treatment that comes with this mask felt so nice, and man, I was able to pull off looking not how I was feeling that day.

Ingredient: Collagen

Also found in: Skin Republic Collagen Infusion Face Mask, Mizon Deep Sea Marine Collagen Ampoule, Skinfood Pomegranate Collagen Lip Mask, Etude House Moistfull Collagen Emulsion

What it does: Hailed as an anti-aging ingredient, Collagen adds moisture, firms, and diminishes wrinkles.

Mask name: Youth Junkie

Also includes: Vitamin E, Shea butter, Jojoba oil, Olive oil

This had the thickest serum compared to the others. I loved using this before bed because I just felt like my face was absorbing all the good ingredients overnight. Red LED with thermotherapy and pulsations allow for better absorption and nourished skin that feels oh so good.

Ingredient: Pearl

Also found in: Klavuu Special Care Pearl Glow Mask, Skin Food Marine Food Gel Mask (Pearl)

What it does: Pearls have been known to be part of beauty regimens since as early Cleopatra who was known to use pearl powder. It adds luminosity and is known to be hydrating.

Mask name: Glow AddictAlso includes: Ceramide 3

I really like the scent of this mask. I’ve been getting pimple marks lately so this mask seemed perfect as it would supposedly help to brighten my face. There’s also a constant Green LED which targets scarring and pigmentation, getting a definite approval from me.

All these masks seem promising. Formulas feel nice on my skin, they smell good, and the Foreo UFO seems to drive the point — err, the ingredients — further. Into your skin, that is.

But, like any skincare routine or ingredient, you won’t really see effects until you use these masks for a prolonged period. You’re going to need a lot of patience. With a waiting time of weeks or even months depending on the issue, all you can do now is enjoy the process which, TBH, is not hard to do with the UFO.

Accessories

Dyson Airstrait: Hair straightening with air, not heat

Less heat, less damage

Published

March 27, 2024

Her

People may now straighten hair without worrying about heat damage. Dyson has launched the new Dyson Airstrait hair straightener, ushering a new era in hair straightening. As the product name suggests, this innovative tool introduces a new way to straighten hair using just air.

The Airstrait has a simple wet-to-dry straightening process. Airflow is accelerated through the two arms’ 1.5mm openings, creating a high-velocity downward blade of air at a specific angle. This creates a controlled downward force to straighten hair simultaneously as it dries.

With the tool, stylers can achieve a naturally straight and shiny finish that maintains the hair’s strength and healthy look. The Airstrait also speeds the process up by about 25%. What’s best is there is no heat damage, unlike traditional straighteners.

Designed for multiple hair types

The Airstrait runs on a specifically-engineered Hyperdymium motor, a 13-blade impeller that spins up to 106,000rpm and generates 3.5kPa of pressure. Like Dyson’s hair care range, the Airstrait features intelligent heat control that measures the airflow’s temperature to ensure there is no damage.

Users may switch between two styling modes: Wet and Dry. The Wet and Dry modes are pre-set with specific heat and airflow combinations for the best results. A Cool mode is also available to set the style. Moreover, the airflow control has two speed settings, low and high. Drying, meanwhile, can be set to cold shot or root drying.

The science

Dyson has constantly invested a lot financially in research and technology development to craft innovative products in its specific industry. In creating the Airstrait, Dyson engineers studied every detail, from airflow dynamics to hair structure. They also considered thermal, mechanical, and chemical damage and their effects to hair health.

In the end, the Airstrait works based on one key principle. In styling hair to a new shape, hydrogen bonds from each hair strand are broken down. Traditionally, this is done through heat or moisture. But Dyson came up with a tool that just lets water weaken the hydrogen bonds, and then style hair with the optimum level of heat and controlled airflow.

Price, availability

The Dyson Airstrait is available starting April 16 in two colorways: Bright Nickel/Rich Copper and Prussian Blue/Rich Copper. It is priced at PhP 33,900.

Those interested in preordering may already do using this link: Dyson Airstrait

Her GadgetMatch

Filipina who created Window Garden joins Google Play program

More indie games to come?

Published

March 24, 2024

Her

Filipina-owned CLOVER-FI Games is taking the next step to build more accessible mobile games through Google Play. One-woman developer and publisher Camilla Santiago is representing the country at Google Play’s Indie Games Accelerator (IGA) program this year.

Her CLOVER-FI Games studio is behind hit local game Window Garden. The idle game lets players plant and decorate their own virtual indoor garden while relaxing in chill vibes, lo-fi music, and a cottagecore aesthetic. It was released in October 2021, back when Santiago learned app development amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Windows Garden has since amassed a million downloads. In almost three years, it has been received well by gamers with a 4.7 rating based on more than 8,200 reviews.

Google Play IGA

The Google Play IGA is a 10-week course designed for high-potential indie game studios. The program allows these startups to access the best of Google’s programs, products, people, and technology to be able to build and improve a successful organization.

The last Philippine representative in the program was Ranida Games, which had created one-on-one fighting game Vita Fighters. Through IGA, the title received benefits, allowing the developers to improve it.

Like Ranida Games, Santiago’s CLOVER-FI Games is just getting started. Her studio’s goal is to ultimately create more cozy-themed games that are accessible to everyone through mobile platforms.

With the help of the IGA, Santiago will be equipped with the necessary skills and experience needed to create another potentially successful title just like Window Garden. We can only wait as she empowers Filipinas through her craft.

Her GadgetMatch

Dyson unveils ‘most intelligent hair dryer’ yet

The Supersonic Nural

Published

March 18, 2024

Her

During its global launch event in Seoul, South Korea, Dyson has unveiled its “most intelligent hair dryer” yet: The Dyson Supersonic Nural.

The styling tool harnesses Dyson’s new automatic Nural sensor technology to protect scalp health and enhance hair’s natural shine.

One of the Dyson Supersonic Nural’s key features is a Scalp protect mode which is activated by the Nural sensors.

This automatically reduces the dryer’s heat as it nears a person’s head, protecting the scalp from damage. The process is done by having the sensors recognize when the dryer is already nearing the person’s head.

In addition, the Supersonic Nural’s LED light automatically changes under Scalp mode, depending on the distance from the head. Users will see yellow for low heat, orange for medium heat, and red for high heat, for convenient usage.

Moreover, the tool intelligently remembers your last used heat and airflow settings and will apply them the next time it is in use.

Price, availability

The Dyson Supersonic Nural comes in two color palettes: Ceramic Patina and Topaz or Vinca Blue and Topaz.

The entire package will come with five attachments, including two new ones: