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.

Her GadgetMatch

What your smartphone color choice reveals about you

Eight colors, eight personalities. Here’s how to pick.

Published

August 14, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Your phone color says more than you think. With the Pixel 11 series, Google’s giving you eight ways to make that statement, and there’s genuinely one for every kind of person.

Hibiscus

You’re never the quiet one in the room. Hibiscus doesn’t ask for attention; it just takes it, and if that sounds like you, you’re probably not planning to start hiding now. This is the pick for anyone who’d rather stand out than blend in.

Pistachio

You’re the one who remembers everyone’s coffee order. Pistachio is soft and easy; the one whom people gravitate toward without quite knowing why. It doesn’t try hard to be liked. It just is.

Frost

You like things a little too organized. Frost means clean lines and a clear head, the color equivalent of a camera roll with zero mess in it. If your notes app has color-coded folders, this one’s calling your name.

Obsidian

You let the work speak for itself. No flash needed, because when you show up, the room adjusts anyway. Obsidian is the classic choice, the one that’s never trying too hard because it doesn’t have to.

Canyon

You’re the one who suggests the sunset drive. Canyon is warm and a little restless, always chasing golden hour whether or not anyone else is up for it. Available on the Pro and Pro XL, it’s built for people who treat every evening like it might be a good one.

Olive

You’re outdoorsy, but you’ll still show up looking put together. Olive is low-key and grounded, the one who doesn’t try too hard because it’s already comfortable in its own skin. Another Pro and Pro XL exclusive.

Fog

You’re hard to read, and you like it that way. Fog is understated on purpose, a Pro and Pro XL colorway for anyone who’d rather keep people guessing.

So, which one’s you?

Eight colors, three phones, one very personal decision. Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL goes on sale starting August 20 — with Pistachio, Hibiscus, Frost, and Obsidian on the base model; and Canyon, Fog, Olive, and Obsidian on the Pro line.

Which one’s calling your name?

Her GadgetMatch

TECNO and Angélica Dass team up for a global portrait project

Dass aims to photograph 100 people across five countries using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra

Published

July 8, 2026

Vincenz

TECNO has partnered with Brazilian photographer Angélica Dass in launching “100 Portraits of Becoming.”

It is a two-year global initiative that explores identity, representation, and how AI sees people.

The project officially kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya — where Dass began photographing participants using the latest TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra.

Who’s Angélica Dass?

Angélica Dass is best known for exploring identity and self-expression through portrait photography.

Her award-winning “Humanæ” project challenged conventional ideas of race and skin color by highlighting the diversity of human skin tones.

ICYMI, Dass and her project gained much recognition from:

TED
World Economic Forum
UNESCO
American Museum of Natural History
Vogue
National Geographic

Portraits beyond appearances

With this portrait project, Dass teams up with TECNO to photograph 100 people across five countries.

Rather than simply documenting faces, 100 Portraits of Becoming aims to tell the stories behind each participant. Every portrait is paired with a personal narrative about growth, identity, and life experiences. Creating what TECNO calls a “Living Archive.”

Participants are photographed in natural light, without filters, and while wearing clothing of their own choice to better reflect their authentic selves.

The collaboration also explores how AI can go beyond simply recognizing faces. Asking instead how technology can better reflect the complexity of human identity and give people more control over how they choose to be seen.

Powered by TECNO’s Universal Tone imaging

All portraits are shot using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, which features the company’s Universal Tone imaging technology.

Introduced in 2023, Universal Tone is designed to improve how smartphone cameras capture different skin tones. According to TECNO, the system is built on a database covering hundreds of skin tone samples, allowing photos to produce more natural and accurate results across a wider range of complexions.

The company says the technology aligns with the project’s goal of promoting more authentic and inclusive representation in photography, especially as AI-powered imaging becomes increasingly common nowadays.

From Kenya to the world

As previously mentioned, Kenya serves as the project’s first stop. With TECNO citing the country’s growing technology ecosystem and young population as reasons for beginning there.

Over the next two years, the initiative will travel to the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil. The first collection of portraits and stories expected to go live online in August.

As of writing, TECNO is currently accepting participants from the Philippines where Dass is expected to take part from August 16 until August 22, 2026.

Through 100 Portraits of Becoming, TECNO hopes to spark conversations around identity, diversity, and how technology can better reflect the people it captures—not just visually, but through their stories as well.

Her GadgetMatch

Dyson’s viral portable fan arrives in the Philippines

Published

June 23, 2026

Carolyn Ramoran Hamilton | Almost Diplomatic

If there is one Dyson launch that has generated unusual levels of anticipation this year, it is the Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan.

The compact cooling device quickly gained a following after its international release, reportedly selling out within a day in several markets. Now, just in time for the hottest and most humid months of the year (no thanks to climate change), it is finally arriving in the Philippines.

With temperatures continuing to climb, the timing feels almost inevitable. Lightweight and designed for use on the move, the HushJet™ Mini brings Dyson’s airflow technology into a portable format that fits easily into everyday life—whether commuting through the city, attending outdoor events, traveling, or spending long days under the sun.

Its appeal extends beyond functionality. Finished in Dyson’s Stone/Blush colorway, the device combines cooling performance with a sleek aesthetic that feels at home alongside the accessories people already carry daily.

The new Dyson HushJet Mini is your new companion against heat and humidity.

The launch also marks one of the most accessible entry points into the Dyson ecosystem. Priced at PhP6,499, the HushJet Mini offers consumers a practical way to experience the brand’s engineering and design in a product built for everyday use.

Given the strong demand seen overseas, interest is expected to be high when the fan officially launches in the Philippines.

Where, when, and how to get your own Dyson HushJet

The Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan in Stone/Blush will be available beginning June 25, 2026 at 3 p.m. at participating Dyson stores, including Mall of Asia, Podium, Greenbelt 5, and One Bonifacio High Street.

For those hoping to get their hands on one, it may be worth keeping a close eye on Dyson Philippines’ official social media channels and Dyson.ph. If international demand is any indication, this could be one of the season’s most sought-after releases.