My work recently started implementing a hybrid set-up, which entailed me reporting to the office twice a week. While I do ultimately prefer the perks and the comforts of working from home, I did miss the everyday beauty rituals that came with going to work. This prompted me to go on a massive beauty shelf restock, and in the process, I was also able to come by great beauty finds. From skincare to fragrances, here are my fave buys so far!
goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Serum, PHP 890
I’ve wanted to try this serum for the loooongest time. Ever since I saw Liah Yoo rave about this, I haven’t really gotten around to buying it. I have a love-hate relationship with vitamin C serums in that most of the ones I tried worked poorly on me. The only one that worked on me was Klairs’ Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Drop. The others I tried either oxidized too soon in the bottle, stung or irritated my skin, or just did absolutely nothing to brighten my skin. This prompted me to try this one from goodal. With the serum praised left and right for being gentle but efficacious, I just knew I had to see for myself if the reviews are true, and to my glee, they are. This serum is so gentle. No stinging or discomfort at all! But at the same time, it’s very effective. After two weeks of consistent use, I noticed my acne scars getting lighter and my skin getting brighter. It’s been a ritual constant since I tried it – with me finishing two bottles in just two months. I use it in both my AM and PM routines. I love it.
Chu Chu Beauty Color Bento In More Brown, PHP 349
With barriers to entry in the beauty industry thinning and thinning as time passes by, the Filipino make-up scene has been pleasantly littered with affordable, performing, challenger brands. Dare I say, Chu Chu Beauty is one of such brands. Competitively priced and adorably packaged, this Color Bento from them contains four eyeshadow colors and a blush inspired by Korean-style make-up. I love how wearable the shades are. Not to mention, they last long! I usually do my make-up at about 7 AM, and up until after my law classes at around 9 PM, I never need to touch up on my shadows or my blush. Not to mention, as someone who does their make-up in the office, I greatly appreciate how handy and travel-friendly this is!
Malin+Goetz Stem Eau de Parfum, PHP 8,650
I’m not picky with my fragrances, but for some reason, perhaps impulsiveness, haha, I found myself picking this scent up from Adora.
I loved it from first whiff.
I usually lean towards fruity scents and shy away from florals. To me, floral scents just smell so dated and aggressively pungent. Not this one though. Malin+Goetz’s Stem is an elegant scent with a modern edge. It takes all of the good that florals typically come with – clean, collected, and sophisticated – but with a crisp and an edge that add a contemporary zest. The only thing I don’t like about this perfume though is that its sillage significantly mellows after the first hour of wear. Nonetheless, it’s never completely gone. I always catch the scent wafting off of me during my evening baths – proving that the scent never fully leaves me by the end of the day. But I love it. It’s such an understated scent. I see myself buying this again.
OUAI Hair Oil, PHP 1,780
The countless YouTube influencer ad reads finally worked on me – I finally bought it! Enough with the ad reads now!
Kidding aside, I was pleasantly surprised at how well this worked on me. I have frizzy hair which no cream, oil, or mousse can usually tame, but this did the trick. For some reason, this left my hair nourished and supple. My hair ends look so healthy whenever I apply this. As an added bonus, it smells fantastic. I usually kid around and ask my friends to smell this and say that it smells like the inside of a church, but I love the strong jasmine scent this gives off.
Happy Skin Second Skin Tinted Moisturizer, PHP 799
Happy Skin Calming Glow Drops, PHP 899
I’ve been foundation free for 5 years now, but I haven’t really gotten around to a skin tint which I genuinely loved. I liked some of the ones I tried, but there’s always something lacking in each that I’ve never really committed to one skin tint for a significant period.
The closest was blk’s Skin Tint, I guess, but my biggest gripe about it is that it never really gripped unto my skin. I just felt there, on top, easily smudgeable. Pre-COVID, I was fine with this. It didn’t really break me out and I loved the dewiness that it gave, so I’m fine with the finish. But having to wear masks now, I knew blk wouldn’t work for me anymore.
I’ve been on a skin tint hunt since and it’s through it that I found Happy Skin’s tinted moisturizer. I like it, a lot! It’s very light, both in terms of wear-feel and coverage. It feels water-based, so it sinks nicely to my skin and doesn’t really move, even during mask wears and the occasional mask-offs. The coverage is light too, which I actually love. It does a good job of just making my skin look healthier without hiding too much of it.
I love laying this on top of the primer I also got from Happy Skin, their Calming Glow Drops. I got the glow drops because I thought they looked like Krave Beauty’s Great Barrier Relief. Given this, I expected it to be a calming, creamy, serum. To my surprise, it was actually a primer – and a unique one at that! It claims to be a color-corrector, an illuminator, a serum, and a UV primer in one. I like how well this preps my skin for make-up. Through its green tint, it does a good job of evening out my skin tone and neutralizing the redness on my face. It also feels very hydrating. I love the subtle glow it gives.
Well, that’s it for now from me! Doing my work beauty routine has been a source of joy to me these past few days. I hope I come by good products again in my next shopping sprees!
Angela Mercado 
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