I love Nature Republic! Not only is it affordable, it is also best for Asian skin because of its…read morenatural ingredients that are safe and healthier. One of my all time favorite products of theirs is their Aloe Vera soothing gel. I use it after a day spent on the beach. I can use it as a moisturizer, too. I also like their lipstick which has a light scent that tastes like real fruit was infused in the product. They even have their shampoo which is really nice on my hair. Mine is the argan shampoo. It has a nice scent but the most important thing is that my hair is smooth after each use.

Most Korean skin care and cosmetic products are expensive. Not Nature Republic. While the items…read morehere are still pricier than most drugstore brands, Nature Republic seems to be one of the more, if not most, affordable Korean beauty products. For instance, I was able to buy a Bulgarian Rose Water Toner for PhP 255 and a Bulgarian Rose Water Essence for the same price. I say, those are good buys. The price of a toner from other Korean brands sometimes even start at PhP 500, which is double the price of what I got in Nature Republic. Also, an essence usually is in the PhP 500-900 range. Even their Super Acqua Watery Cream is relatively cheap at PhP 545. Furthermore, the quality of the said products are good. They all moisturize without too much grease. Plus, they all have a subtle fragrance, making me want to use them all the more. The size of each jar or bottle is also quite big. Thus, each product at PhP 200 or PhP 500 will come a long way. Sulit!

Be carefull here. they are adding a lot stuff on your face but its not included in the package you…read morechoose. when they apply it to your face they will say " o lagay ko na po itong cream for lifting" u thought it was included but its not. its a lot of stuff they will use to you. so at the end the P250/P300 package turn to 1k Be aware!!

If I'm not mistaken, Let's Face It has at least, if not more, than 100 branches across Metro Manila…read moreand even beyond. It's been around for over 10 years now. While the experience of getting your face cleaned or your eyelashes extended is not nearly as personal as it would be at a more expensive facial spa or dermatological center such as House of Obagi or Belo, this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone considering that the rates you are paying are simply commensurate to the level of service you receive and the environment you are placed in. After all, Let's Face It was established with this goal in mind: to make wellness accessible to the Filipino, no matter where they're from. In my opinion, if you're on a budget but still want to get these procedures done in a professional fashion, Let's Face It is the place to do it. I applaud their management for keeping prices reasonable even in these dire financial times. You've earned my respect.

Good perfume and scents are hard to find. With designer brands and top names getting in on the…read moretrend of providing glamorous fragrances and aromas, it's really quite confusing to the nose on where to get a good deal (and here's a tip; you may want to bring coffee beans when hunting for scents, as these would neutralize the smell of one before you go to the next one, because if not, your nose would be confused by the third sample). However, this nose knows that Zen Zest is a place where you can buy cheaper scents at bargain prices that are not too shabby in regards to how they smell. With a wide selection of different mixes for both men and women, you wouldn't have a hard time finding the deal that is suited for you. And having a range of bottle deals that go for 2 or 3 bottles at the price of 100 PHP, you'd be able to maintain a scent in each bag (or each pocket) for a very long time. So why not give Zen Zest a try? You don't always have to go big to please your nose or anyone whom you want to impress.

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!

It's always a good thing to hear Filipino entrepreneurs succeeding. Not that I'm being patriotic or…read morewhatever, but I do love my own. It always makes me feel proud especially when there are local brands that can measure up to international brands and can compete with them globally. One such brand that I truly adore and am proud to be Pinoy-made is Snoe! This fun and fabulous beauty brand is one proof that Filipinos can make globally competitive goods. Just by their creative and quirky packaging, you already get a glimpse of how intricately done every item is. From their well thought-of pun-ny names and colourful packaging, it's going to be a feat not to grab any of their items and take it home. My personal favorites would be their Hair Heroes Super Fresh Texturizing Beach Waves. For someone who neither have hair that's stick-straight nor have defined curls, styling products are my saving grace. This sea salt spray by Snoe is perfect because it does the job well without drying out my hair! It also smells heavenly, too! And for 299 pesos, it's already a pretty cheap alternative! Another item I've loved from Snoe is their Makeout Makeup Melting Cleansing Oil. It's brilliant! Whenever I wear liquid eyeliner, the very next day I look like a raccoon. I decided to give this bottle a shot because one of my former office friends raved about it. And I loved it! It strips off my makeup (even the most resistant ones) and lets my skin breathe. No more raccoon eyes for me! If you're a Filipina who hasn't tried out Snoe, I suggest you give their products a shot. They've got a wide array of items to choose from as well. If you're a foreigner visiting the country, do check out Snoe as well and see that Filipinos can make world-class products as well!

Going natural seems to be the latest trend in body and skin care. One of the emerging brands in the…read moremarket is Zenutrients. Its products are not available in supermarkets like Human Nature. However, it has kiosks located in several malls. Having visited several malls all over the city, I've seen a number of its branches. But, the store where I usually buy my Zenutrients products is the one in SM Masinag. Located in Rizal but just a short jeepney ride from Marikina, SM Masinag is the branch nearest my place. To say that the price range of their products is cheap or expensive is quite difficult. It seems the affordability depends on the product that you want to buy. There are some cheap finds like the eye cream which costs only around PhP 300. I consider that affordable because eye care products, except Garnier Eye Roll-On, is already in the PhP 800 to PhP 5000 range. My favorites, however, are the Gugo Shampoo and the Gugo Conditioner. The regular size is less than a hundred (around PhP 75-85, if I remember correctly), but the big size is at PhP 900. The size is really big yet I can buy a big drugstore brand shampoo or conditioner and it wouldn't cost that much. But, I have to attest to the quality of both Gugo Shampoo and Gugo Conditioner. I bought them at a time when my hair was quite stiff and dry. I've tried several brands but only Zenutrients gugo products were able to alleviate the problem. If you have budget, you can go for the big size. But, if you just need a hair-saver, you can buy the small size and, in the succeeding months, alternate it with your other shampoo or conditioner.