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.

Home of Beauty Exclusives, better known as "HBC" is (correct and inform me if I'm wrong) the only…read morebeauty supply store in the Philippines. Think the ever famous Sally Beauty Supply Stores in the States and the UK. My friends and I LOVE to color our hair in different or wild colors. I've done silver, different shades of red and blonde and my friends and I have often bought bleaching supplies in HBC. I also love how the sales ladies really know the products when you ask them for advice and all products are very affordable. My only trouble about this branch is that the store moved and now it's just a small stall left. I still go here because it's the only branch nearest to me and the rest are too far. The have a lot of "free" services (when you purchase a particular beauty supply) in their stores like a diamond peel, facial, footspa, makeover, skin analysis and hair color application. I really wanted to try the hair color application (when you purchase a hair coloring set) but by the time I was going to, they already moved. Do check the site for branches if you have one near you.

Like Sally's Beauty Supply stores in the US, HBC carries a wide range of beauty products like hair…read morecolor, hair treatment solutions and other salon supplies. Because their products are mostly generic, salon-grade products rather than commercial consumer brands, you can get everything at much cheaper prices. Those who don't mind DIY beauty rituals at home will certainly find themselves spoiled for choices here. One of their more popular products are their hair dyes. As far as I could tell, they have three in-house line: the permanent regular, the low-ammonia range, and the crystal permanent. Each line has so many different shades and variations, but I did notice a lack of crazy colors like those sold by Manic Panic. A purchase of at least P300 entitles you to free services at selected stores, specifically free application of the products that you have bought. Most customers take advantage of this offer for free hair coloring application, which is a steal because even inexpensive salons charge about a thousand pesos for a simple dye job.

One establishment in Guadalupe Nuevo that has withstood the test of time is the RB Hortaleza…read moreVaciador & Beauty Supply. I remember my grandmother asking me to bring our scissors and knives to this place when I was a teenager. Until now, our family still patronizes this place to have our garden tools, nail clippers, knives, and scissors sharpened. But I'm no longer the one in charge of bringing in such tools to the shop. The store is also a good place to have common types of house keys duplicated. Apart from tool sharpening and key duplication, Hortaleza sells hair and beauty products and accessories that are rarely seen in major malls and supermarkets. If you can't find a certain brand of whitening cream or soap in big stores, there's a big chance that you'll find what you're looking for here. I know that many beauty parlors in this side of Makati buy hair curling, coloring, straightening, and washing products from Hortaleza. Aside from hair products, they also sell tools and supplies used for manicure, pedicure, and spa services.

Hortaleza is a pretty popular beauty supply business all over the metro, hell, you can even find…read moretheir products in huge department stores! But this one particular branch is my favorite because of the following reasons: It's literally a few kembots away, it has cheap bleach tubs, AND it never fails to supply me with all my vanity needs, most especially those that I need for really fierce fashion shoots! I will also never find any other place that's accessible to me who sells very stylish and avant garde fake lashes for an affordable price! In fact, if you want a lash extension that can be seen from the next kanto, you can get it here for less than a hundred pesos. Oh, I cannot anymore stress over how much awesome the eyelash extension finds here, and I buy them in huge bulks, because the designs run out from time to time. I also want to mention that decent quality hair dyes are available here for less than 200 pesos. There are no vegan brands like Manic Panic though, but if you're not vegan, it's the place to get your dyes without even shelling so much. And they actually are not bad, even almost the same effect as expensive ones. Tried and tested, hunnies.

Here's why Happy Skin is an awesome brand--it's home grown. With model, mom, muse, and gorgeous…read moreperson all around Rissa Mananquil-Trillo behind the brand, it's easy to see why her brand of cosmetics feels good seeing them on the stands and on your face. To begin with, their packaging is totally cute and any girl will instantly fall for it, even if you don't want to admit it. And their product lines have even cuter names. My favorite product is their moisturizing lippie that goes by the name Shut Up and Kiss Me in "Just Married" even if that's a far away ideal for me (LOL). In any case, it's a great pink color even on my morena skin. Their products don't require a makeup certificate because they're super easy to use, which means you can also take them with you to create makeup looks on the fly. A feel good brand, by a feel good lady, I don't think there's any reason not to like this brand!

Finally, a home grown brand of cosmetics that caters to our skin! A full line of makeup, Happy Skin…read moreis definitely not just another cult brand. It promises fuss-free, easy to use products that compliments any skin tone. Their cute packaging goes well with their products which are named cleverly like "Shut Up And Kiss Me" lippies (which I personally love and considering of starting a collection myself) to their "Don't Get Mad, Get Even" foundation and much more! You will surely fall in love with this brand like I did. As mentioned, I highly recommend their Shut Up And Kiss Me lippies. These moisturizing lippies comes in a variety of shades, you'll find the perfect shade of nude, pink and even the perfect shade of red for your skin tone! For reference, I am a MAC NC35, and most, if not all shades suit me well! My favourite MLBB (my lips but better) shade would be the "Crushing On You" which is a pretty mauve color, it's safe to wear everyday. I can't wait to purchase more products from Happy Skin!

Hortaleza is a household name for people who work in the salon industry and women who are in a…read moreparticular budget when it comes to "kakikayan". It's a one-stop shop dedicated to affordable prettification. The first big reason to go here is if you'd like to purchase cheaper hair dyes and dyeing tools for DIY hair colouring. They have such a large and inexpensive collection of colours and brands. If you're looking for unconventional colours, I've seen purple, pink, and blue dyes here. Bleach can be bought inexpensively bought here as well. Though it's worth noting that if you are conscious and particular about excessive use of chemicals (which I am, a bit, and avoid animal testing) and are looking for more 'natural, organic' hair dye options, this won't be your place. The second reason to go here for is their wide selection of nail polish and nail cleaning tools. You'll go crazy with the colors and they're inexpensive to averagely-priced. Though personally I would not purchase make-up here as I'm afraid of the quality and ingredients. Also, they have a key duplication service! I had my keys duplicated here and they worked perfectly!

Thank God for places like Hortaleza! They've made it possible for anyone regardless of their…read moreeconomic standing to take care of themselves. I used to come here a lot back in college. I was living on a meager allowance and I couldn't afford to go to a salon. During that time, my friends had allowances that resembled pay checks while I on the other hand was living on P120 a day but I didn't let it stop me from trying to look good. So what I'd do is take a tricycle to Hortaleza and buy things like nail polish, bleach, hot oil and tweezers haha. Sometimes, I would buy hair dye and bring it to a cheap salon and pay just for labor. Being broke teaches you to be resourceful and my main source for beauty during those days are all from this place.

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.

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

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!