Filipino brand Issy & Co. is on a roll right now with so many exciting launches, and I know it can get overwhelming. I’ve tried most of them, so here are what I think you should get from the brand if you want to dip your toes in. Better yet they have an 11.11 sale coming up on Shopee and Lazada - these are the finds you shouldn’t miss!

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!

Do you still remember your first ever foundation? I do! I had read about a local brand called Ellana Minerals right here on PV, when Liz first started raving about them 10 years ago. That was the decade when mineral makeup was all the rage abroad, but Filipinos didn’t yet have the wonders of online shopping, and Ellana allowed us to enjoy the trend without having to spend a fortune on shipping fees! I treasured the tiny pot of loose mineral foundation and mini kabuki brush that I got from them, so much so that I still keep both in my vanity; the case is empty but the brush still works.

Whether you’re putting together your first makeup kit or a seasoned pro stocking up on work essentials, Maybelline is a reliable go-to drugstore brand for beauty fans. They recently launched three new products that claim to be long-wearing and more, so we tested them to see if they actually deliver.

Since its grand launch in 2017, Vice Cosmetics has firmly established itself in the local celeb beauty brand scene with a resounding pak! Last year saw a major focus on tarush-colored pouts with a line of moisturizing matte lipsticks, the Philippines’ answer to Kylie Jenner’s lip kits, some juicy-looking lip tints, and a glittery collab with stylist-to-the-stars Bang Pineda. Let’s not forget that the brand also got ‘cheeky’ with the Aura collection of powder blushes, highlighters, and contours!

Fun fact: MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid was my first bottle of foundation. I asked my mother to buy it for me as a Christmas present, and the makeup artist matched me perfectly to NC42 (at the time). Since then I have been (time and time again) disappointed by other artists who have failed to match my shade properly, but I’ll always remember my first time. My uncle said I looked like a Korean - my skin was so smooth (helped by the pill at the time) and acne scars were non-existent. Flash forward to now: I have tried many a foundation in my day and have admittedly forgotten about the Studio Fix Fluid after emptying it, so I find myself pleasantly surprised about Ole Reliable.

The MAC Studio Fix range is basically an institution, known for its wide shade range. In fact, beauty enthusiasts often refer to the MAC foundation shade coding system even when talking about other brands! Now, MAC aims to be even more inclusive than they already are by embodying All Ages, All Races, All Genders. They have looked at even more undertones and shades, and recognized what consumers have long been saying – one shade does not fit all.

There is something about classic cult favorites that makes us emotionally attached. They always have a special place in our vanity kit that no matter what we do, and we always come back to them. Take the MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation for example; it remains a staple in many makeup artist kits because of it can be used alone, wet, and as a touch-up powder.