Criselda's sells a lot of perfumes and scents…read more Coming from the escalator in Shoppesville, you'll spot this shop right away. It's filled from floor to ceiling with different perfumes, colored bottles and some bins of vitamins. To save time and also so that you don't buy out the entire store, know before hand what perfume you want to buy. Better if you know the name, know how the bottle looks like and are kind of familiar with the scent. Don't be afraid to ask for a discount especially if you're buying a lot of perfume. The last time I bought perfume from this shop, Miss Guada helped me choose. I hope she's still there. Ask for her just in case.

Like all other things Korean, skin care products and cosmetics from Korea are making waves in the…read morePhilippines. And, I think, the reason is more than just being associated with Korea. There really is value in these products. One of the popular Korean skin care stores in the Philippines is Etude House. What makes it standout is the cute design of everything in this store, and, when I say everything, I mean not just the products and the interior but the uniform of the salesladies as well. Really, they look cute in their aprons and skirts. Now, back to the products. All of them are put inside cute jars and bottles. Not overly ornate. If I could describe the shape of the bottles and jars, I'd say they are graceful and curvy. I've only tried one product from Etude House: Collagen Moistfull Super Eye Concentrate. The texture is silky and light. It also smells good but not overpowering. As for the efficacy, I cannot say much. Like what most people say, with eye creams, you cannot see the effects at once; only time will tell.

I'm not at all a fan of make-up or beauty products but my friends keep telling me to visit Etude…read moreHouse because I will just love their products. I decided to give it a shot and I went inside Etude House. I instantly felt off because everything was so pink and girly, I really wanted to get out of there. This place felt way too girly for my taste. BUT I was proved wrong once I walked around and tried their different products. This place was actually really nice. Their products are made in Korea which makes them more catered to Asian skin (yay) and the products are simple and straightforward and really work well. I fell in love with their eyebrow pen thing and their mascara, the pigmentation of their make-up products are great and everything looks and feel natural which for me is a must. Another great thing about Etude House is that the make-up is actually affordable! One of the reasons I'm not into make-up is because it's so expensive and I really just cannot afford it but Etude House sells things inexpensive but delivers good quality products. YAY YAY YAY!

Lush is a foreign brand that sells beauty and cosmetic items, gourmet cosmetic and beauty items to…read morebe more precise. They don't sell make up, so far as I can tell, instead what they sell are special soaps. They're allegedly gourmet soaps. I'm not entirely sure what makes them gourmet or what makes them better than other soaps though since I've never actually tried them for myself. What I am sure off though is that most of their products give off a really strong scent. I mean, I was a few feet away from the entrance of their door when I my nose picked up on an explosion of different scents. I even tried one of their unisex perfumes. It was actually quite good, at least that's what a lady friend from law school told me. Drop by and give this place a try if you're looking for soaps that would double as a cologne or something since I think that's what they're really trying to do.

The first great thing about Benefit Cosmetics is their interior: vintage, retro, modern girly,…read morechic, Hollywoody...all at the same time! You'll notice their pink-themed store, but what's inside those shelves are just as important and of quality. They offer basically all cosmetics products, foundations, eyeliners, eyebrow pencils, concealers, BB creams, etc. However, what sets them apart are their organic products for different needs: saggy eyes, fine lines, dark circles, blemishes, etc. I recommend this dream screen product, not only because of its beautiful bottle, but because it's thrifty to use and quite effective. I'll also say go for their "pore-fessional" products, especially if you wish those pores closed! Lastly, their staff is very kind! Very accommodating, helpful and always projects happily.

From the owner: Boutique and BrowBar specializing in instant beauty solutions and brow wax services.read more

With the continuing popularity of milk tea places, it's no surprise that one opened right outside…read moreour village and instantly became a hit. With the countless times I've gone there, seldom do I find more than 3 empty tables even at odd hours in the afternoon. My favorite would be their wintermelon rock salt milk tea, then next would be their dark chocolate milk tea. Aside from milk tea, they also offer an assortment of snack and meals like fries, pasta, sandwiches and even noodle soup. I find comfort in their Thai noodle soup with slices of beef, seafood balls, veggies, glass noodles and in their comforting magic broth. Ugh, just perfect for when I have dysmenorrhea, a headache, a fever, or even when I'm perfectly fine. It also helps that the interiors of Prosperitea is quite pretty, with birdcages that are actually lighting fixtures, faux shelves on the faux brick walls, and other adorable accents in the interiors that deserve a good photograph.

I love the environment. And recently, I've been trying to map out a more sustainable way of living,…read moreone that doesn't impact the environment as much, and won't be too much of a burden on my admittedly meagre salary. So I've been doing the basic stuff: using less plastic, recycling whenever I can, and bringing reusables wherever I go. Since I am also a big advocate of Marine conservation, whenever I go to the ocean, I try to use products that are all natural and won't be toxic to nature. I've been searching for good alternatives and that's when I've stumbled upon Human Heart Nature. Apart from being a social enterprise, Human Heart Nature's products is toxic and chemical free, not tested on animals, and gives back to the community too! I was sold, and thought to myself: hey, well, even if it's more expensive than my usual products, I'll be more than willing to cash out for it! But, boy, was I wrong! Not only are their products environmentally friendly, they're also cheap! Prices are very competitive, and quality is very good! My current favorite product is their all natural insect repellant, that I don't have a problem using outdoors cause it's not toxic! It's also very cheap. I use it in my house too, and effectively keeps mosquitoes away. Loyal Human Heart Nature customer here! Can't wait to go back and binge buy. :)

Tucked away in the innermost crevices of the second floor of Shopwise Cubao is Fragrance Factory…read more Passing by its posters near the walkalators, you'd hardly notice it walking through the Shopwise-SM bridgeway, and would unlikely bother to even really give the place a look, but it does have hidden gems for the more astute shopper. If you have the chutzpah to make your own scents or cologne, then surely this is a place you should visit. They have all the necessary ingredients for you to concoct your own fragrance (or approximate those of more recognizable brands ;) ) to use in perfume, hand sanitizers or whatever else you can come up with, to give as presents or giveaways. But to those who don't have such lofty goals, they have stuff like liquid dispensers or spray bottles that have their own everyday purposes, or essential oils to use for your own linen spray, diffusers, or air fresheners.

This is where you get Mannequins! (Hello, captain obvious). But wait, there's more: Did you know…read morethat starting 3000 pesos, you can have your own wig custom-made here? I've had one done, because back when I actually was into cosplay, I had a wig made here, for a character whose hair I cannot find any similar wig of. It was pricey, but I guess if you really want the exact thing, you should try it. I might exploit this service one of these days again. But anyway, there are other places in the metro who sell mannequins and fitting forms cheaper than this place. Mannequin is just conveniently easier to find and popular in the area. But if you're too lazy to search the internet or explore Tabora street and the rest of divi, this is the place to be. Oh hey, you can also park at Rustan's so you can bring your new buddies home with your car!