Issy Just Opened a Flagship Store That's Also a Cafe, and Launched a Daily Balm to Go With It
Issy just keeps stepping up their game. First, there's the Daily Balm. I love pigmented lip products because they add color to my face and make me look lively, but there are days when I just want to keep it simple. All I want is a clear lip balm to nourish my lips, maybe with a hint of tint (and liner!) to go with it. That's exactly what Issy gave us with their newest lip balm release, which they introduced at a very special place.
The Issy Daily Balm (P399) is your new bag staple, there to give your lips some care whenever they need it throughout the day. It's described as a "nourishing everyday lip moisturizer," and the formula is built on familiar hydrating ingredients: Ceramide Complex, Squalane, and Tocopheryl Acetate. You can wear it on its own, or use it under another lip product as lip prep for added moisture. It comes in two variants: Universal Clear, which is colorless and transparent, and Universal Tint, which has a tone-adaptive tint that adjusts to your natural lip color.
The balm feels very light on my lips, which is exactly what makes it work as lip prep. It doesn't get in the way of whatever I layer on top. The brand also says it doubles as an on-the-go moisturizer for dry patches on the face and other areas like the elbows and cuticles. I like using it on my cuticles, actually, since I sometimes forget to bring my cuticle oil when I go out. I also tried mixing Universal Clear with the Issy x Slo Lopez Multi-use Liquid Paint in the shade Minx (P399), and it easily turned into a lovely blush and lip shade in one.
L-R: Issy’s Daily Balm in Universal Clear, Universal Tint
The Universal Tint variant leaves a light mauve shade on my lips. I initially expected something pinker, but the purple undertone comes through more strongly on my typically pale lips, so it reads mauve on me. Your results may vary depending on your natural lip color, which is the whole point of a tone-adaptive tint. I find both variants moisturizing enough, though I do need to reapply throughout the day.
The Daily Balm was introduced at Issy's new flagship store, Matter by Issy, at 149 Legazpi Street in Makati. It's open daily from 10am to 8pm. If you can't drop by just yet, here's a link to a virtual tour of the space with Joel Andrade, Issy's co-founder.
Matter by Issy isn't just a place to browse and shop for Issy products; it's also a cafe. They have a set menu plus four experimental items that will change quarterly. I particularly love Experiment 02: Strange Pairing, a cookie made with ingredients that did not sound like they would work together, but they absolutely did. I also enjoyed Experiment 01: Stain Study, while Experiment 04: Manila, Two Seasons is reportedly the crowd favorite.
If you're in the area, drop by Matter by Issy to try their edible experiments, and while you're there, snag a Daily Balm to treat yourself too.
You can also get your Issy favorites at other store locations, the Issy website, as well as the brand's official online stores in Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok.
Ingredients Universal Clear:
Octyldodecanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, Trimethylsiloxyphenyl Dimethicone, Microcrystalline Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AS, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide EOP
Ingredients Universal Tint:
Octyldodecanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Microcrystalline Wax, Trimethylsiloxyphenyl Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Squalane, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AS, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, FD&C Red 40 Al Lake (CI 16035), FD&C Blue 1 Al Lake (CI 42090), Iron Oxide Red (CI 77491), D&C Red 27 Al Lake (CI 45410)
