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.

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.

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.

One of the newest branches of Beauty Bar, this specific branch at Central Square is absolutely…read morestunning! Its reminiscent of special concept stores in Paris, Berlin, London, and Milan. Great interior design and ambiance; all thanks to the German design group Blocher and Blocher. I very much enjoy going to any Beauty Bar store to replenish on my beauty and cosmetic supplies but I think this branch is my new favorite! With brands like Smashbox, StudioMakeup, Supergoop!, 11theBalm®, Urban Rituelle, Juice Beauty®, K-Palette, Koh Gen Do, Mineral Fusion, Modelco, Palladio, Prestige Cosmetics, Andrea, ARTDECO, Bloom Cosmetics, Burt's Bees®, Christian Faye, Fran Wilson, Happy Skin, Human Nature, JAPONESQUE®, YADAH, Salon Perfect®, Messy Bessy, and Human Heart Nature, you're guaranteed to find something to buy! Everything is well presented and the service is great. They also have a Dashing Diva nail salon inside and I must say that this is the nicest one that they have! Definitely a great venue to shop!

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.

Nature Republic caught my eye when I was looking for a gift for one of my friends. She, I have a…read morelot of lady friends, was the type who really took care of herself and really liked the organic stuff so I thought that going to a place called Nature Republic would be a good start. The place was as alien to me as video game stores are alien to my grandma. I didn't know what to get for her. Thankfully a nice sales lady approached me and began to ask what I was looking for. The store basically sells items that are all made from organic substances. I even recall that one of their products was made from a snail's shell or something. That said, once I learned that some of the stuff girls put on their skin or face could be made from the stuff that my nightmares were made of I decided then and there that I'd stick to the stuff I find in the grocery.

Lately, people started asking me my secret as to why my skin has been improving. There's but one…read moreanswer to that - Philiosophy. For years, I've been using this facial cleanser that I could only buy over the counter in a drug store. I found out recently that they discontinued such cleanser (boo!) so I had no choice but to go hunting for a new facial cleanser. I've known about Philosophy since they opened here in Manila but I never really took the time research about the brand. I just so happened to pass by their store one day and I just ask more about their products. I quickly got hooked because the staff was telling me the beauty of their products, on how they're all made for sensitive skin. I bought a small bottle of the Purity Facial Cleanser to give it a try. It's been roughly a month already and I've loving it! It doesn't try up my skin as it also has some of moisturizer. I can even wash my face without water if I want. This facial wash is so awesome! I can't wait to go to the store to try this renown moisturiser called Hope in a Jar. A lot have been raving about how this moisturizer makes them years younger!

Philosophy Skin Care is a godsend! I will always be thankful that this is now more accessible in…read moredifferent malls with more selections. I am obsessed with anything or any product that is skin-care related! Philosophy is actually one of my favorite brands! However it is tilted on the more expensive side, but if you ask me, I am willing to invest my money on skin products that is safe, tested and effective and Philosophy would score a 10 on all those qualifications! So yes, take my money now! What I like the most about the majority of their products is its unscented, I'm not really a big fan of those good-smelling skin care products because it makes me feel like it's too commercialized, too flashy and not really into the benefits you could get from the product. My personal favorites would be Miracle Worker, I would use it as a night mask. I also highly recommend their Purity facial wash, this is my go-to forever and ever. They also have a powerful under-eye cream, which is something really important to me because I am prone to dark circles. So if you happen to encounter the same concern, I definitely recommend it!

Not the greatest service, yet product knowledge was not acceptable. Staff wasn't in the mood to…read morehelp customers including myself. Staff doesn't sanitize products before having customers try them on. Asked for brush cleaner and it smelled like baby cologne. Asked for makeup wipes they said sorry we have no more testers, offered me makeup wipes that aren't Mac! highly recommend the store todo a mandatory cleaning of stores and staff! Return makeup's artist to basic training. !

Whenever I'm in town, I always gotta stop by Belo Alabang to get a little freshened up. It's in…read moregreat area with lots of shops and places to eat. My husband is never bored when he's waiting for me (nor I when I'm waiting for him ). Dr. Patricia Sauler is my go-to doctor because she is AMAZING. She's so sweet and she's such a perfectionist I completely trust her work and her opinions. The other staff members are just as great. Weng and the other ladies are always so friendly and polite. My face always glows after a facial with Allie. Do yourself a favor and make an appointment with Dr. Sauler and her staff- you won't regret it.

Hmmm.. how do I review a famous dermatology clinic after watching the white walkers slaughter the…read morewildings on the latest episode of Game of Thrones? I don't know yet but in all honesty, seeing those jagged faces on screen made me think about my own face and all the things I've done through the years to make it presentable. I had my very first facial here; I was considered a late bloomer because I had it at 27. It was partly due to financial straits and the fact that I thought I didn't need it. One year however, my skin decided to have a mind of its own and I had an the worst pimple outbreak imaginable. I think back then I was pining on a boy and of course having zits wouldn't make him want to be on my beck and call. So, I came to Belo and had a facial. My therapist back then was Ms. Ali Onrubia, a very nice lady who patiently pricked and cleaned every spot on my face until I looked normal again. I came out of that clinic feeling like an artista and while my clear-looking skin didn't do anything for the boy I liked, it did improve my relationship with myself (and so far, it's been my most significant love affair)