Filipino brand Chu Chu Beauty launched a super sparkly collection just in time for their birthday, and I’m here to share some swatches! Chu Chu in my opinion is the underrated younger sister of Issy & Co., with lots to offer to makeup beginners as well as those who just want to add a little bit of magic to a basic makeup routine.

This year has seen such a rapid development in the quality and diversity of local makeup product options and with just a little under two months left to 2022, Filipino brands do not seem to have any plans of slowing down.

Issy & Co. has definitely shown that they will be finishing this year strong with their latest launch that revealed a total of 48 products for all of us to enjoy!

When Vice Cosmetics recently released their Endlezz G Collection, they didn’t have just undertones and skin tones in mind. They have also taken the step to including the spectrum of ages that enjoy makeup and the different lifestyles they lead. For me, the Endlezz G launch plays into the understanding that beauty is for all no matter what your reality, hobbies, and physique may be because beauty is whatever form and function you want it to be.

As a city girl with island girl roots, the sunkissed look is my version of the “no makeup” makeup look and bronzers are a necessity to achieving it. Yet, there seems to be very few local options to choose from as the majority of brands tend to push out contour products instead.

Lucky for me and my fellow bronzer-biased babes, Issy & Co. ended their trilogy of launches with their final release called Ode to the Sand. It comes in the form of fou bronzers and I’m excited to get into it!

One of the first makeup I ever bought with my own money is a liquid eyeliner from Ever Bilena. I was in college and wanted to learn how to finally apply eyeliner, but I only had a student budget! I remember bending in front of the mirror just putting it on, messing it up, and redoing it again and again until I got it right. BB Liz wasted so much product, but in the end I became more confident in going out with self-applied eyeliner for the first time. Eyeliner was my thing in college - I’d go to classes with full eye makeup ad thick cat eyes. That was my emo phase, haha, and it will always be a part of me.

We all have that Ever Bilena story. I bet most of us learned how to apply makeup with this brand!

I've always kept myself updated on new Happy Skin releases, be it skincare or makeup. Two of their recent ones really piqued my interest: a sunscreen primer and a tinted moisturizer. I know I need both but realistically speaking, how will they fare in my daily routine? These can be used separately or together, so let's see.

Beauty brands are stepping up these days in incorporating treatment with their makeup. Issy and Co’s Hydragloss (P209) has made waves in being a lip treatment and lip color in one cute tube. Let’s test it out!

The Hydragloss colors I have are Jell-Oh, H.O.T. and Punch. They appear super pigmented on the tube, making one think of fruity summer colors. Upon smelling, there was no fragrance or “flavor” that I would usually get in some lip glosses. I swatched them on my arm and it was surprising that I didn’t get a sticky texture. It glides more syrupy and didn’t leave an overt residue when wiped off with a tissue.

Lightweight, sheer, oil-free and natural are what I look for in a tinted moisturizer. So many brands both international and local are promising these things, and I am glad that the local make-up scene has so many options! The first time I heard about Issy & Co. Active Skin Tint was from Miss Bea via her Youtube Channel. She compared this with a skin tint from another brand and she didn’t really like the coverage. I was curious, so I’m glad to finally try it out.

After first discovering Mae Layug’s GRWM Cosmetics and being pleasantly surprised by the Multi-Use Creamy Tints, I’m back with reviews and swatches of their latest multipurpose makeup offering! The Radiance Tint (P349 / 8ml via LazMall or ShopeeMall) is a tubed concealer line that comes in 12 shades and 12 possible uses.