Few things are as exciting as being able to go on an overseas trip and shop the brands we’ve been lusting after for forever. The result? Most likely an overweight suitcase. I’m not going to deny that I still feel that surge of excitement whenever I fly out, but I get that same thrill from just stepping into the nearest mall or browsing my favorite Philippine beauty sites (like ahem, Calyxta). Over the years, local beauty and lifestyle brands have been upping their game like crazy and I’ve been “loving locally” for just as long. Allow me to present a comprehensive, must-shop list of local brands that you’ll also learn to love:
This polish pioneer has been around for over a decade and there are good reasons why. Not only do they have a color selection that’ll make your head spin; they have polishes for every interest and even every age. Matte, glitter, metallic, gel, textured, etc. You name it, Girl Stuff’s got it. They even have washable nail polish for kids, or indecisive adults. Plus, they proudly claim their products are free of the five harmful chemicals commonly found in other nail polishes. I’ve been a Girl Stuff user for years and I love that their formula is a little thinner, so it’s easily buildable and dries quicker. With the same quality as high-end, imported polish brands, but at a fraction of the cost, who can say no?
As I’ve come to embrace the Tita lifestyle more and more, I find that scents really do wonders for improving my mood, especially after a long, stressful day. That’s where Happy Island candles come in. With classic scents like Sweet Vanilla and Lavender, to more unconventional ones like Piña Colada and Strawberry Lemonade, they’ve got enough variety for even the most discerning of noses. Unsure about which one to go for? No sweat. They sell small tins for as low as P200 so you can buy a few to try out. To really up your relaxing experience, they even sell lip balms, and scrumptious body lotions. Hmm. Coming home sounds a whole lot sweeter now.
Recently, I’ve kicked off a much healthier lifestyle. Aside from hitting the gym four times a week, I’ve also been cutting down a lot on both my carb and sugar intake. But no matter how healthy and active we try to be, sometimes we still need a little bit of help. Kilo Off may just be your best weight loss partner for that. Promising to detoxify and speed up the fat burning process, it’s available in capsules, powder, or as delicious juices, so you can enjoy taking it however you please. Cheers to that!
I was still relatively new to the blogging scene when I attended my first Ellana event. That’s where I learned that this loud and proud local beauty brand was the first one to produce mineral makeup in the country. Not only that—their products use 100% vegan ingredients, and are talc-free, fragrance-free, and cruelty-free for the most sensitive of skin (and hearts). Of course Ellana’s founder, Theresa Carbonel-Buenaflor, has always lovingly catered to her local consumers by making sure the makeup she formulates (yes, she creates them herself!) best suits Asian skin tones. Even fair ladies like myself! Ellana has been around for over 10 years and is still getting rave reviews from both influencers and regular folk. Rightfully so, I might add.
Nowadays, is there even any point to scrimp and save for only imported makeup? Not really. Not when brands like Detail Makeover are already providing great makeup at much more budget-appealing prices. A 15-color, pigmented eyeshadow palette for less than P1,000? Sold! But don’t just take my word for it. Hit up YouTube and different blogs and you’ll see your favorite, local beauty influencers gushing about them, too. There’s a lot to love, like their Mineral Loose Powder in “Banana” (an easy dupe for Ben Nye’s Banana Powder), or their Illuminating Primer Oil that’s a saving grace for those with skin that’s dry as heck like me. Hallelujah!
Few brands get to rep Pinoy Pride as much as Kala Milk does. Sure, they make amazing soaps and lotions that nourish skin just as well as it cleans. But did you know those same soaps and lotions are made from good ol’ carabao milk and virgin coconut oil? With only the best essential oils added that any Tita would be proud of, you’ve got some of the most moisturizing skin care products around. Delicious varieties like Peppermint, Honey & Oats, and Lavender only sweeten the deal. Oh, and all Kala Milk purchases help to support the hard-working, carabao dairy farmers of Baliuag, Bulacan. Talk about “loving local!”
Getting your life organized can be frustrating, I understand. Having the right accessories at hand, though, can do a world of wonder. Sure to appeal to every lady and gent, no matter his or her lifestyle, Mayvn is a Philippine-based company specializing in producing top-notch, quality leatherware. Everything from handbags, to checkbook holders, to cable organizers. You can even get yourself a fancy, leather bookmark. Très chic! Filipino craftsmanship is known the world over and Mayvn is all about that.
An iconic symbol of a tropical paradise, the humble coconut is a hardworking one. After all, it has hundreds of benefits for the human body, both inside and out. While consuming coconut can do wonders within, Cocoline Naturals knows best how it can help you in other ways, particularly your skin. Their range of lotions and soaps are all made with virgin coconut oil, a proven anti-bacterial that also smoothens, softens, and intensely moisturizes skin. All their lotions are non-sticky and lightweight as well, making them Philippine climate-friendly.
Every skin care savvy individual knows that next to cleaning and moisturizing, nothing does a complexion right than proper exfoliating. Fun fact: Since exfoliating helps reveal fresh skin cells and gets rid of old ones, it makes all your other skin care products penetrate the skin better, thus they become more effective. While Lace & Rue may be newcomers to the local skin care scene, they’ve already scored legions of fans that love their all-natural, hand-made scrubs and balms. Love matte lipsticks? Make sure to prep your lips with their Spicy Chocolate Lip Buff that’ll instantly soften and plump them up with a unique combination of cayenne pepper and cinnamon. Need something a little more soothing? A jar of The Good Balm should do the trick. The cocoa and shea butter recipe will moisturize any dry patches, cuticles, lips, and more. Great skin care that’s made right here is definitely something to feel good about.
Written By:
Ari Yupangco
BEAUTY CONTRIBUTOR
Ari has been blogging since 2012 about all things beauty with a sprinkle of different topics here and there. She loves makeup just as much as she loves almost anything nerdy like video games and comic books, and is big on Japanese culture.
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