From Manila with Love Blog: fresh

I love a ready-to-go, multi-purpose, sleek, and convenient catch-all for anything and everything—be it a skincare or household item.

And as it turns out, with the re-branding of Issy and Co. to just Issy, they released this 'purse-friendly' mini palette to cater to both casuals and make-up experts alike. So I snapped some shades up during a sale, along with the case, to try it out.

This (roughly) 4x2.5 inch palette can be specifically curated for the eyes or face with the multitude of pan combinations available. You can make a blush + shadow palette. An all-matte eyeshadow palette. Highlighter and contours only. Blush and bronzer. All glitter...etc. The list goes on.

The empty case retails for ₱299

The different pans you can combine :

Eyeshadows (₱149/single colour insert)

22 Mattes (shimmer-free)
4 Satins (pearlescent)
5 Foils (metallic)
3 Mirrors (glitter)

Blushers (₱249/single colour insert)

9 shades

Bronzers (₱249/single colour insert)

3 shades

Contours (₱199/single colour insert)

3 shades

Highlighters (₱199/single colour)

3 shades

If you don't want the fuss of making your own combinations, there are pre-curated palettes available for both eyes and cheeks!

I got a bronzer in Torch, blush in Rave, contour in Storm, and a highlighter in Blonde. As always the packaging is top-notch. With clear labels, text layout, and security measures all around. This designer is pleased.

While magnetic pans and DIY custom palettes with different inserts aren't new and groundbreaking, they're re-introduced to a newer generation of beauty lovers. These are distinctly branded to be marketed towards the on-the-go, tiny-bag toters, Y2K-esque, and androgynous base.

Makeup swatches

The powders differ slightly in texture but all remain soft to the touch - not creamy nor crumbly.

The payoff is pretty good. Not at all sheer nor overly pigmented. As Goldilocks said, just right.

Makeup swatches

Torch, the bronzer looks a little warm or red but that's to be expected. It was labeled as a neutral bronzer though but I think it needs a smidge more coolness to it.

Rave is a fun cool lilac on the cheeks. I'm happy it doesn't look off on my light-medium olive skin. I've been trying to experiment more with purple and lilac blushers for the past few months. The other one I've been trying is a cheek stick from Vice, their One & Done stick in Purpleism.

Storm is the perfect medium neutral contour on me. Period.

While Blonde is your typical frosty champagne, it blends well enough on me so the 'yellow' tint isn't obvious. It has fine glitters that you can't feel to the touch giving you a 'wet-look' glow.

All powders don't have any scent to them. And overall I'm enjoying everything. I can easily chuck this in my bag if I need to get ready in the car. Or as my travel palette for vacation.

Happy to report that it's a great addition to my dresser. Have you tried any of these? Which ones are you most likely to try?

xx,
CJ

Issy links

Instagram : www.instagram.com/issyandcompany/?hl=en
Shopee : shope.ee/1fqFubbCfH
Lazada : https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/issy-company/?path=index.htm

Interested in writing for From Manila with Love Blog?

Follow From Manila with Love here!
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bloglovin

A fraghead is someone who collects, reads about and discusses fragrances. Simply said, a person who loves to inquire, read, and discuss perfumes in more detail other than 'this smells good/this smells bad'.

I believe I tick those boxes, although this is just a self-diagnosis. Buying perfume is an expensive vice or hobby (depending on where you are in your fragrance obsession) so some brands are not enticing enough for me to try, especially niche and high-end designers like Tom Ford and Diptyque. So what I do is go to clone houses.

Clone house - Perfume brands that specialize in creating clones or duplicates of scents of more 'expensive' brands/houses.

Here are 3 local clone houses that you should keep on your radar

Eternal Scents and Fragrances

Safe to say this might be my favourite local clone brand as of the moment. The glass bottle is simple and easy to stack -albeit being pretty basic and devoid of imagination. That said, this is the longest wearing perfume and 'closest to the real thing' that I own.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CJ Sū (@manilawithlove)

I've tried US clone brands that are close to their inspiration as well and while I like those immensely, this brand is pound for pound or drop for drop(?) better. Mostly because it's easier to acquire. The presentation is (box, ribbons, and hand-written note from the owner) *chef's kisses* as well.

The roster of scents is quite large in my opinion, they have Tom Ford, Diptyque, MFK, and Le Labo for the niche and Chanel, Dior, etc for the higher-end lines. Some celebrity brands and designers are there as well, but personally if you're going for clones, go for the clones of high-end or niche.

Talking about the fragrance itself, there might be some sharpness in the scent or a note or two differences. Despite that, to a casual fraghead (or non-fraghead), their mixes are pretty good copies. Longevity is approximately 6+ hours

I recommend Eternal Scents for people who want a cheaper backup or every-day version of their pricey fragrances. Shhhh! They won't know the difference!

Price range : ₱450 - 550

Store link : eternalscentsmnl.com

Symmetry Lab

I don't have much experience with Symmetry Lab compared to Eternal (where I have had more than 4 scents in total), I only have this one clone of Carolina Herrera Good Girl.

Let's start with packaging. First of -the bottle design is gorgeous. The all black square bottle is visually different from most local clones. Topping it off is a nice wooden cap, very reminiscent of Nasomatto. The box itself lends a bit more credibility and adds to the over-all brand presentation.

As for the scent, at first it was more alcohol-heavy than I expected. It also didn't last long and didn't project. So I kept it in my closet for a few weeks. Tried it again in cooler weather and it fared much better- stronger and more projection. Definitely less alcohol in the first spray and lasted longer over-all (approximately 4-5 hours). Please note that I spray quite heavily, a minimum of 5 sprays in total for all my fragrances.

I read this particular scent is very close to the original, which prompted me to get it. Bottomline? It's a pretty solid introduction to the scent without shelling out a lot of money. Symmetry also produces popular niche as well as designer fragrances, similar to Eternal Scents, though the latter has a wider range of offerings.

I recommend Symmetry Lab for people who are looking for an over-all good scent in display-worthy packaging. Great for gifting because of the box!

Price range : ₱499 - 1,250

Store link : shopee.ph/symmetrylabph

Le Fofo

Like Symmetry, I only have one scent from this brand but that's enough for me to sing its praises.

Housed in a plastic tub, inside a velvet pouch is this cylindrical bottle and "Sauvage" cap. To be honest they really got me with this unique bottle design. I've only ever seen this type of bottle in designer brands. The label is quite simple, maybe a bit 'cheap-feeling' but the over-all look is good for gifting.

What I do like about this particular scent is the oil content and the fragrance itself. It's a clone of a discontinued fragrance of By Killian. That day I was looking for a coconutty scent that I could layer with my other fragrances, to get the 'beach sun tan/sunscreen lotion' vibe and I heard that By Killian Love The Way You Feel was a great scent for that particular profile.

While this doesn't say much in the projection department, it makes up for it in the longevity office. (*sorry*)Lasts for about 4-5 hours on my skin, but layered with another fragrance lasts up to 6+.

This brand is lovingly hand-made with the perfume oil flown from Dubai!

I recommend Le Fofo to people who are looking for discontinued and luxury/niche fragrances.

Price range : ₱699-900

Store link : https://shopee.ph/fofosboutique?categoryId=100630&itemId=13421852202

I know there are a lot more brands out there I have yet to try. What clone brands do you love or would you like featured? Let me know in my socials or email!

xx,

PS. The sprayers and atomizers for all of these brands are pretty good except the Eternal one- it's a hit or miss tbh. Some Eternal bottles tend to leak as there's a high oil content in the liquid and it loosens the cap.

Interested in writing for From Manila with Love Blog?

At the start of 2020, people tried their hands at viral recipes and trying popular as seen on 'social media' products, delving into untapped interests or re-discovering them as well as acquiring new hobbies. Hobbies that some have turned into viable businesses as the months (and years) dragged on.

I don't know about everyone else, but I think coffee started slowly becoming a thing after that first viral wave of 'dalgona' coffee. Then came 'viral posts' and reviews of international chain coffee shops, then pop-ups and kiosks then finally the local 'mom-and-pop' start-ups which seem to always have picturesque furniture, walls, art, drinks and foodstuffs.

NOTE : I know coffee has always been here, and it's always a thing (I see you fellow coffee addicts) but I believe, the coffee craze really picked up at the start of 2020 and it never really died down.

These local coffee places/cafés don't always looks the same or have the same 'aesthetic' but most if not all, look great in pictures.

Kaulayaw Coffee

This initial visit didn't impress. The monte cristo while good was laughably minuscule. The coffee was watered down (stayed at the pass too long probably). The small bowl of tuna pasta was expensive for what it was. The service from the staff was poor (we waited too long to get a menu, for each dish as well as the bill). We eventually came back but to a different branch, and had a much better experience.

First of all, I'm ecstatic and proud that we have local businesses thriving under normally difficult circumstances. It's also quite refreshing to know that most of these are run by people around my age- younger even. It speaks to the mindset of people that having one's own business is the same as or even better than going the corporate route.

Now, I've tried a number of these local shops to date, and more and more keep popping up on my feed to try (don't worry I'll visit you all!) I noticed something interesting.

Kaulayaw Coffee - The food and coffees were good. The view was stunning. A bit pricey though. Definitely worth a visit.

The more photo-op friendly the place is or the more 'ig-worthy', the more 'meh' the menu will be. These cafés all have good to great coffee. The coffees are also priced appropriately, some could knock off the price to like 10 to 15 pesos less, but I digress. But the food accompanying these coffees is, let's just say, not worth the price I pay.

So I'm no expert in the food and beverage industry nor am I a restaurateur or coffee/café connoisseur but I think I know when some prices just don't jive well with the end-product I receive.

My family has always had businesses involving food so yeah I have a deeper understanding of it than maybe a regular-shmegular consumer.

Coffee Rush

Not sure if this will be visited again in the future. The coffee was ok. The food was a big no and overpriced. The service could be better, but I can't fault that since they seem to be new, or at least they act like they're new. The place though is big, gorgeous, and can pack quite a number of people. Perfect place for events.

Cafés with 'overlooking areas/view' tend to have not the greatest food. There are outliers that I actually do recommend (some are mentioned in this post), but some are just made to be photographed and posted on your feed. Most times, the coffees are really the only thing keeping me as a patron.

Now I'm aware that maybe the cost of gas, the ingredients to make certain things compound etc, but I don't just say it just to be a cheap-ass. These café/restaurants with 'a view', in my opinion, really overprice their food, and paired with sub-par service (cold food, basic menu, inattentive staff) it really is the final nail on the coffin. You're left with the realization that it was the view that you actually paid for, not much else.

Okay, the view is great, to keep things positive here. And the pictures that you take there are bound to turn out quite pretty. But I don't know about you, the thing I came for was a good experience, and that tends to include the food and drinks, not just the pictures I can post on my feed.

Kape Natividad

The coffee was good. The food was delicious. The price was great. The view was lovely.
I recommend the pizza :) I only go for either black or lattes so regardless of the cafe, my coffee will be pretty standard. Highly recommend this place. Try not to go during peak times as this will be packed and service will be slow.

I think I've ranted long enough. Which cafés and restaurants don't you like because of the price or service? As for other cafes I love to go to, Little Flour/Wildflour has my heart and SOUL as well as Kape Natividad. Oild would be here but they closed their one and only store :( . For more well-known stores, Coffeebean & Tea Leaf is *chef's kisses* and I'm a slave for Mickey D's and Dunkin's coffees. I would put Starbucks here too but lately, I'm liking it less and less.

Read my experience with another local cafe here: KAULAYAW COFFEE RIZAL

xx,
CJ

PS. The photos I used are mixed with the good cafes that I like. So not everything here was 'bad'. Also, I made a post YAY! You have no idea how great this feels to post something again here.

Interested in writing for us?

The first time I tried Kaulayaw Coffee I was left feeling severely underwhelmed and a tiny bit perplexed. The café itself was gorgeous, the styling quaint, unassuming and minimalist, the staff, while not as warm and approachable, were not rude. So hopes... were still springing... eternal? Idk how the saying goes.

Bottomline I was expecting the food to be worth it. The coffee is amazing heck even standard fare and the service is swift and reliable. But what I got was, well, was just bad. As I mentioned, the people weren't necessarily rude, but they weren't forthcoming, approachable, and accessible- most of the time we couldn't find anyone that could take our order, follow up our order and get our bill so we can rush out of that place. The food was a touch expensive for what it was and how little you get. The serving size was smaller than average. And the coffee was quite meh.

Anyway, that was that business. I wrote out Kaulayaw from my cafés to revisit. But...but then they posted a pic on Facebook. And suffice to say I was intrigued. It looked quite nice. I basically gave Kaulayaw another chance because I like pretty things. The Tanay, Rizal branch, looked picturesque. Pretty enough for a second shot.

The garden alfresco dining setup was refreshing. Not many people were there and the tables were spaced well so there was no chance of someone breathing down my neck or me 'accidentally' overhearing a scandalous conversation.

They messed up our order and when it was pointed out, they rectified it asap (gave us another fresh serving of food) Amazing service!

So regarding the price, it was still a little bit overpriced for me. But I kinda get it, you're paying for the beans of the coffee to be ethically sourced and locally grown (which kudos, that's amazing!). Also, look at that view- absolutely stunning.

Finally, delicious coffee. The coffee I chose was admittedly one of the more affordable ones on the menu but it was pretty good. The whole drip coffee setup that I was given was quite nice. I drink a tonne of coffee but I'm no coffee connoisseur, that said, I thought the coffee was delicious.

There was an adjacent building under construction overlooking the area and it turned out to be a 'closed' area for Kaulayaw still. Maybe I'm due for another visit. I'll just stick to the coffee this time.

Would I recommend this place? Yes! The view. The aesthetics and the coffee are all good. The food is ok, just a teeny tiny bit overpriced for me. But maybe it's worth it for you.

Kaulayaw Coffee
Location : Tanay Branch: Kaulayaw At Cuyambay, Cuyambay Crossing, Tanay Rizal
Waze : It's on Waze!

xx,
CJ

Interested in writing for us?
Follow From Manila with Love here!
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bloglovin

Have I mentioned these perform too? Read on to for my thoughts on this ₱120-150 local brand lip liners. If you're into lipsticks you might think you don't need a lipliner, but it really makes a difference.

Swear.

I discovered the power of lipliners when I was trying to do the 'overlined pouty lip' to make it a little more plumper and yes over-all bigger.

ever bilena lip liner close up with names

Keyword here is trying to do. Over time though I learned the trick for my particular lip shape and size. I only need to very slightly overline, like barely out of my lip line in order for my lips to look a little poutier.

To start with I don't have thin lips. My lips are quite rounded already and I would say average sized. So when I over-line a little it looks like I put lip plumpers because...DSLs. Period.

arm skin swatch of the ever bilena lip liners

EB Matte liner and Kris Matte Lip Liners

Packaging : Twist up. No sharpener included.

Texture : Creamy and soft but not brittle.

Scent : No fragrance or very faint if any.

Pay-off : Pigmented. As you can see below.

Finish : Matte but not drying/powdery.

Lasting-power : On i's own, lasting power is average after light eating and drinking. There's still color on the lipline going inside and there's still color over-all but quite faded.

In terms of its reaction to my dry lips, it doesn't moisturize or make it soft nor do I expect it to. I wouldn't say it dries it out. As the packaging says, it's a matte lip liner and I agree. It's quite a natural matte finish on me. I do recommend you to always exfoliate before any traditional matte bullets.

For this product, I think it would look better if your lips were moisturized, but the most prep I would do in general is slather on a thick lipbalm.

I've used this in conjunction with my BLK matte lippies and with my Sunnies Face Fluffmatte bullets and they work seamlessly together. These perform well at their price point and I don't think I'd want to explore anything else, because these work perfectly already.

Let me know if you've tried these and how you like it. What other cheap lip products do you like?

xx,

Interested in writing for us?

Kaulayaw Coffee

Coffee Rush

Kape Natividad

Featured Post

LET’S BE FRIENDS

Popular Posts

FROM MANILA WITH LOVE

DON'T MISS A POST

TRANSLATE THIS SITE