Last February, I wrote an article on must-try locally made beauty finds. That article got so much good feedback that I decided to add more to the list, including a locally made line of shirts I recently got my hands on. Here are some new discoveries:
Happy Skin makeup
From the brand’s cute packaging and witty names to the products’ skin-
enhancing ingredients and budget-friendly prices, what’s not to love about Happy Skin?
Founded by friend Rissa Mananquil-Trillo and Jacqe Yuengtian-Gutierrez, the products in the line were made to be fuss-free, easy-to-
apply and come in shades that complement Filipina skintones. All products are infused with nourishing ingredients such as cherry blossom leaf extract, Japanese tea leaf extract, hyaluronic acid and argan oil.
The brand’s Shut Up and Kiss Me Moisturizing lippies have been my favorites since the brand launched because of the fantastic colors. More importantly, they don’t dry out the lips—it’s just like using a tinted lip balm, but with more intense color.
For the summer season, the brand launched a new limited-color collection of moisturizing lippies comprised of a bright pink, coral and nude shade. Another recent addition to the line is the Eye Am Here To Stay 24H Gel Eyeliner Pencil.
Compared to other pencils I’ve tested, this glides on smoothly and doesn’t tug on the delicate skin around the eyes, plus the gel formula ensures that the product won’t smudge with our warm weather.
Fille et Fils scents
Just like when I’m choosing what to wear for the day, I also pick a fragrance from several bottles on my vanity table depending on what I feel like using. There are those days though, when I just want that clean, “just got out of the shower” smell, especially with the warm weather of late.
Fille et Fils Scent Therapy, the brainchild of friends Tricia Conception and Trisha Ocampo, gives you just that. Initially formulated with kids in mind (their brand name is French for daughter and son), the line became an instant hit with women because of its invigorating, refreshing feel.
The fragrances are each priced at P698 making it so difficult to choose just one but my picks are Julien, the “lightest” scent in the line, and Cristiane, a fragrance with a little “masculine” touch.
The brand also offers home and linen sprays, diffusers and eau de cologne for women called the Girl Flower Power Line. If you’re a fan of fragrances like Clean, Gendarme or Philosophy’s Amazing Grace, you might want to give these a try.
Phina’s Little Factory
I’ve got to give credit to Instagram for this find. I became curious when I started seeing this interesting-looking scrub on the Instagram feeds of my friends. Turns out, the Breakfast Scrub is one of Phina’s bestsellers: a face and body exfoliator made from oats, honey and brown sugar. What I have been using religiously though, are Phina’s Honey Almond soap (P250) and Healing Face Serum (P800).
When I first placed my order with Phina, I intended to use the soap for the body, but it’s so mild that I decided to use it to wash my face. And if you can get around to applying oil on your face (it’s mineral oil that clogs pores by the way, not this kind), the healing serum works wonders especially if you have irritated skin. Compared to other locally made soaps and products though, Phina’s can be a bit pricey, but they’re well worth it—the soaps and other concoctions are homemade, with pure glycerin used for all of Phina’s soaps.
Thread 365 cotton shirts
A T-shirt may look deceivingly simple, but a good one is difficult to find since there’s so much to take into consideration—fit, neckline, length and fabric. I recently found some styles that were perfect for me from Thread 365.
From the company that brought Havaianas to the Philippines, Thread 365 is a locally made line of 100-percent cotton tees.
The shirts come in different styles and colors for both men and women, but my favorites are the basic ¾ bateau style and the short-sleeved crew shirts. At around P700 each, the shirts are reasonably priced, for quality that rivals those sold by imported brands.
For Phina’s Little Factory, visit www.seektheuniq.com.
Fille et Fils Girl Flower Power line is available at Tarte Tatin in Power Plant Mall and Greenbelt 5, Makati City. Call 0908-1664550, 0917-5281250; visit atwww.seektheuniq. com.
Happy Skin is at Beauty Bar stores, Rustan’s Department Stores and Plains & Prints boutiques.
Thread 365 shirts are available at Aura Athletica in Power Plant Mall, Makati, and Bonifiacio High Street, Taguig; visit www.thread365.com.
