Luxury Up Close: Exploring Dolce & Gabbana Beauty at SM Makati

Shopping online is convenient. There are no lines, no traffic, and everything is just a click away. But if you love beauty the way I do, there’s still something special about browsing makeup in-store. Seeing the shades up close, swatching textures on your skin, spritzing a fragrance and letting it settle for a few minutes… it just hits differently.

That’s why the opening of the Dolce & Gabbana Beauty counter at the Ground Floor of SM Makati feels like such a treat. It gives us more intimate access to the brand’s luxury makeup and fragrances, so there are no guessing games, no relying solely on online swatches. You can finally experience the pigments, packaging, and scents the way they’re meant to be enjoyed: up close and personal.

Dolce & Gabbana Beauty was established in 2022 to bring the fragrances and makeup of Dolce & Gabbana in-house, after the fashion house previously partnered with third-party companies for the production and distribution of these products. Since then, the new company has continued to uphold the brand’s proudly Italian heritage, something you can clearly see in the aesthetics of their counter at SM Makati.

Let’s go for a quick tour!

The Dolce & Gabbana fragrance library is extensive. From their signature scents to the more elevated Velvet Collection, everything is available at the counter and ready for your next sniff session. It’s the kind of setup that invites you to take your time and rediscover old favorites or maybe even find a new one.

Raise your hand if you’re one of the many who hold sweet memories of D&G Light Blue. This iconic scent has recently been relaunched, with Theo James of The White Lotus and supermodel Vittoria Ceretti as ambassadors, giving it a fresh new chapter while keeping that familiar, beloved brightness intact.

I got the Q by Dolce & Gabbana Parfum, a sweet, woody scent that dries down quite elegantly with notes of candied cherry, jasmine, and vanilla. It strikes a nice balance between playful and polished, so it feels feminine without being overly sugary.

The red bottle is just as striking, featuring exquisite detailing and the Dolce & Gabbana emblems on its crown-like cap. It definitely looks as regal as it sounds, and it’s the kind of bottle you’d want displayed on your vanity.

The Dolce & Gabbana Beauty line also features the Fresh Skin collection, a five-piece skincare routine plus two skin-caring cosmetic products. Centered on glow and luminosity, the range is designed to prep the skin so makeup looks fresh and radiant rather than heavy.

Among the key standouts are the Re-Birth Niacinamide Serum, the trending Violet Liquid Blush, and the Blueberry Nutri-Tint Hydra-Glow & Fresh Skin Tint SPF 20 PA+++. The latter was used during the makeup demo by celebrity MUA Ting Duque, showing how it gives that healthy, lit-from-within finish while still letting your natural skin shine through.

The makeup products are organized by category such as base, eyes, and lips, but they actually revolve around four key looks: the Fresh Look, the Classic Look, the Flawless Look, and the Bold Look. The names are pretty straightforward and give you a clear idea of the overall effect, along with the products that help you achieve each one.

I personally find the Classic Look’s Face & Eyes Match (P3,600) and Cheeks & Eyes Match (P3,300) especially interesting because of how multi-functional they are. The shade I got from the Face & Eyes Match is 06, the deepest shade. On me, it reads as an almost purplish brown, so I’ve been using it as a bronzer, contour, and blush hybrid. It also looks really good on the eyes for an effortless shadow look, which makes it such a versatile piece to have in your kit.

Swatches from T-B: Dolce & Gabbana Face & Eyes Match in 06, My Sculpt Satin Lip Stylo in MY 03.07

Visuals of Mun Ka-young are also displayed throughout the space. She has been working with Dolce & Gabbana since 2023 as a Global Ambassador, and her presence definitely adds a modern, K-beauty edge to the counter.

Some of her favorite Dolce & Gabbana Beauty picks are highlighted in-store, including the Mint Oil Lip Plumper (P2,250) and the My Comfy Matte Lip Stylo in MY 520 (P2,750), a beautiful burnt orange red. It’s easy to see why these shades stand out, especially if you love a statement lip that still feels wearable.

Interestingly, the shades in the My Lip Stylo Collection are named after celebratory dates that are significant to the brand, or meaningful numbers. Take MY 520, for example, which means “I Love You.” It’s a small detail, but it adds a thoughtful, almost romantic touch to the range.

The My Sculpt Satin Lip Stylo (P2,750) that I got is MY 03.07, a faded orange red. The date refers to “Compliment Your Mirror Day,” which feels very on-brand for a beauty line that celebrates self-expression. The finish is comfortable with solid pigmentation that lasts for a good while. As with any classic lipstick, proper prep and careful application definitely help boost its longevity.

It’s also worth noting that most of Dolce & Gabbana Beauty’s key makeup pieces are refillable, including the lipsticks, bronzers, blushes, and even the cushion foundation. It’s a thoughtful move toward sustainability, especially for products you’ll want to keep reaching for.

Swatches from L-R: Bare Lips, Dolce & Gabbana My Sculpt Satin Lip Stylo in MY 3.07

To check out the products up close, drop by the Dolce & Gabbana Beauty counter at SM Makati, located on the Ground Floor. It’s open from Monday to Thursday, 10:00am to 9:00pm, and from Friday to Sunday, 10:00am to 10:00pm.

If you’ve been curious about the fragrances or want to swatch the makeup in person, this is your sign to finally see, touch, and try everything for yourself.