Cult Beauty Brands + More at Taste Central

Every Sunday, I hit up Taste Central to check on new stuff. It has been a pleasant surprise week after week so far. So you could just imagine my thrill when Taste Central started selling Aesop online a month or so ago.

For years, I've been a huge fan of Aesop, the skin, hair and body care label from Australia. The packaging alone is so chic. They have a very old school apothecary feel to them. As for the products? Amazing! I have a couple of favorites that make me want to explore their entire product line-up. 

Fine, Taste Central only had four products from the Parsley Seed range, but I am not complaining. Because thankfully, I had just replenished my stash while we were in Hong Kong back in March, heehee. In Causeway Bay alone, there are two Aesop stores - one inside Hysan Place and another on Paterson Street, near the Isabel Marant boutique. I happily got to visit both while staying at J Plus Hotel, which was highly recommended by my friend Gretch Uy (thanks again Gretch!).

Anyhoo, back to Taste Central. I swear, whoever has been stocking the beauty shelves of Taste Central, has been doing a great job choosing brands. From Moroccanoil to Bumble and bumble, Tarte and Chantecaille, honey, you've got your pulse on the market.

Bumble & bumble Seaweed shampoo - when it comes to hair, Bumble and bumble is the perennial buzzword. It's a New York institution that has been around since the late 70s, and known not just for hair cutting and styling but also hair products.

 

Tarte cheek stain in True Love - I've been using Tarte for years. I love their Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush so I am pretty sure this cheek stain is worth a try too.

Chantecaille Hydra Chic Lipstick - Chantecaille is a part of Net-a-porter's roster of beauty brands. Chantecaille focuses its attention on inflammation, which is scientifically recognized as the main cause of aging. Their makeup line is renowned for its natural look.

Apart from beauty brands, there are lots of great finds as well, from Chicco swim shorts to DwellStudio sheets:

Home goods like the Kenwood kMix Blender and De'Longhi espresso machine (not that I drink coffee, but it would be nice to have especially when we entertain people over brunch or dinner):

And not your usual food finds like trail mix from Fruitti Nutti and Belgian lace cookies from The Delightful Miss Joyce:

Some may argue that Taste Central pricing is higher than retail in the US, but when you factor in time spent ordering, shipping costs, and the convenience of not having to arrange for shipping to Manila and waiting for your packages (which can be anywhere from 5 days to 8 weeks), hey, that's the price you pay. If you can't be bothered, then that's reasonable enough.

 

For instance, I ordered the Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil "on sale" for Php2,900, which retails for $55 in the US. Add $7.50 for shipping and that's $62.50 already, or roughly Php2,600. If I have it shipped to Manila via Johnny Air, assuming I bunch it up with a couple of stuff so I can hit the minimum of 2 lbs at $5.49 a lb for Express shipping, and the bottle is 1 lb so I spend $5.49 on shipping then the total would be $68, or roughly Php2,829. Am I going to beat myself up for overspending Php71 on the product and another Php100 for shipping? I don't think so.

The Tarte cheek stain is Php1,650. It retails for $30 at Sephora and if I don't spend over $50, I will have to pay $5.95 in shipping. If I ship this with other stuff at $5.49 a lb, then I would have spent close to $41 for the product, which is about Php1,706. That said, my local purchase turned out cheaper pa!

Now that the possible issue with pricing is settled, let's talk about the shipping! OMG. So fast. I ordered May 12, Sunday night, and got my package May 14, Tuesday morning. Considering that May 13 was election day and a holiday, that's pretty quick!

Plus, love that the box is sturdy and the contents inside were packaged carefully with bubble wrap and paper cushioning.

Prior to this, I bought a DwellStudio zebra print throw from Taste Central and ordering and shipping was just as quick and efficient. Actually, shopping at Taste Central reminds me of my Gilt days, the heyday of shopping for deals haha. Always fun looking through the site, and so cool to see hard to find stuff that you won't find anywhere else. I guess that's the reason why items go so fast. 

Ha! Race you to Taste Central this coming Sunday!

DwellStudio Sale 2013

So, Dex of DwellStudio Philippines started telling us about the DwellStudio Sale last week, posting photos upon photos of DwellStudio stuff on his Instagram that I just couldn't avoid it anymore. Anyhoo, since I love DwellStudio and I cannot resist the word "SALE",  I told my friend Karrots who also needed stuff for her new house. Yesterday, we went to check out what was on sale in Rustan's Shang. OMG. Tukso, layuan mo ako.

Duvet sets at 30% to 40% off! I also ended up buying a set for my friend Naomi in Singapore, who follows me on Instagram and saw the pics - that's real-time, online shopping with personalized service! As in,

Naomi: "Buy for me naman, sa tabi ng stripes, the beige, gray, blue, bagay yan sa bedroom namin"
Tin: "Here pa, what size do you want?"
Naomi: "Queen"
Tin: "Ok, paying na!"

The baby line was on sale too! Saya saya! Wooden toys, beddings, blankets, lunch boxes, all on sale! The sale in Rustan's ends on February 4, 2013 but I suggest you go while the selection still hasn't been picked through.

DwellStudio stockists are on sale too, until January 31, 2013! Check out Baby & Beyond on P. Guevarra in San Juan, Numa as well as Zalora.

Now, I also want a rug too and those super nice Zebra throw pillows that remind me of Scalamandre wallpaper. Class.

DwellStudio in Cebu!

Take note! 10% OFF purchases made from October 19 to 21. Double the fun if you are an FSP 2 cardholder, you get 20% OFF on your purchase of DwellStudio products!

Cebu, get ready to dwell in DwellStudio!

And The Winners Are...

Ladies, take your new Cambridge Satchel around with you, every where you go!

Slink and slumber away in your gorgeous DwellStudio duvet set!

Get lost in the back alleys of Europe with your signed copy of Before Ever After!

Here's to an always bountiful supply of breastmilk from BabyMama!

Treat yourself to something nice with your Php5,000 gift certificate from Religioso or Studio 546 (details in your email!).

Browse the best of Filipino design and have fun shopping at MYTH!

From my family to yours, Grandma's Secret Spot Remover, Vapor Soove & BugBand are handy dandy family essentials that will be staples in your household!

Tee Hee Shirts from Proud Mama will let your little one's imagination take flight!

Wrap yourself in your new wrap from Willow Clothing!

Winners, please expect an email from me so we can coordinate on how you may claim your prize!

Dear readers, THANK YOU SO MUCH for joining! And don't worry, we still have more fun and amazing giveaways in the weeks to come! So keep on reading the blog!

MFO Anniversary Blog Giveaway: DwellStudio Duvet Set

Sigh, I swear, if I could afford it, I would dwell in Dwell! And buy all their printed everything!

I used to be a solid colored type when it came to sheets. I would buy organic sheets, Egyptian cotton sheets, 500 thread count sheets, but all in solid colors. Until I saw DwellStudio's Choinoiserie duvet set and I was like, "I have to have that!" Luckily, my friends Gretch & Oliver of Quirks Marketing Philippines brought in DwellStudio to the Philippines so I get first dibs on their sales! Yay! So eventually, my wish came true:

See how nice sheets instantly transformed our bed from IKEA? It's nothing fancy, but it makes an impact. When my mom came over to visit and she saw these, she wanted one too. So as a housewarming present to them, I got my parents the same duvet set for their room and they loved it!

It also helps that the sheets are so soft on the skin. Like I could sleep in them all day. When I see our bed, I just want to jump into it. Dwell is swell.

And like I said, MFO readers are special. How special? 1 lucky reader will be able to outfit her bed with the DwellStudio Hedgerow Persimmon duvet set pictured on top (will fit full/queen size beds)!

Even if you've joined the other giveaways, you are still welcome to enter the DwellStudio Duvet Set Giveaway. If you would like to win the Hedgerow Persimmon duvet set, here's how:

1. Follow @quirksph and myself @cd_mfo on Twitter

2. Like Quirks Marketing Philippines and Manila Fashion Observer on Facebook

3. Leave a comment* with your Twitter ID & email and share:

- Why would you like to win a DwellStudio Duvet Set?
- What time do you normally sleep? 

- Where do you usually buy your bed sheets and home supplies?

- DwellStudio sheets are the of the stuff that dreams are made on. Because dreams do come true, what dream would you want to make real?

*If you would prefer to enter the giveaway via private email to me, do all of the above and send an email to manilafashionobserver@gmail.com with the title: MFO DwellStudio Giveaway and leave a comment on this post saying, "MFO, I want to dwell in Dwell!"

General Rules:
- Shipping within the Philippines only
- Giveaway is for the whole month of August 2011
- Giveaway closes on 11:59 pm on August 31, 2011
- Winner will be announced by 1st week of September on MFO and via private e-mail
- Anyone can enter for a chance to win any of the Anniversary Blog Giveaway prizes, but can only win once

- No need to send multiple comments or emails per Anniversary Blog Giveaway prize. One entry per prize is sufficient

MFO Turns FIVE!

Well, in two weeks and I have a PERSONAL blog giveaway in the works ;) (Thank goodness the folks at DTI are more practical and rational about these things, unlike some self-styled "experts" and advocates diba?) 

Just my way of thanking you for reading my blog all these years (or months, or days, if you just happened to discover little old moi's site. Which begs the question, where have you been hiding? Just kidding! LOL!).

I have rounded up a couple of my favorite things with the help of my friends, so this is going to be a whole lot of fun for all. Whether you are single, engaged, newly wed, married for years, a new mom, or mom to a brood, you will find something you will like in my giveaway, so I hope you will join! =) 

Here's a preliminary list of my favorite things to be raffled off to my readers in 5,4,3,2...1:

5 Cambridge Satchels - in various sizes

4 Secret Items, to be disclosed in time...(para exciting!)

3 toddler/baby gift packs (which includes 2 bottles of Grandma's Secret Spot Remover, 2 BugBands, 1 bottle of Vapor Soove for a total of 5 items to commemorate 5 years)

Php2,000 GC from MYTH, enough to buy you a little something nice from the purveyor of world class Filipino designs

and drum roll please, 1 DwellStudio queen duvet set! This Hedgerow Persimmon design in particular:

Happy no?! 

I will tell you more about these products and why I love, love, love, love, love them, in posts to come. Of course, watch out for the mechanics on how you may win these prizes. Will be posting it here soon! ;)

DwellStudio Sale at Rustan's

Lovelies! Guess what! DwellStudio will have a sale at Rustan's starting tomorrow! Friday, July 1.

The sale covers DwellStudio Baby/Kids, Home and Table lines.

According to Gretchen (yes, she of the pretty, pretty shoe collection!), the best deals are the sheets/duvets and place mats. 

There you go, an insider tip, gotta share this with all of you! ;)

MFO Shoe Series: Gretchen Uy, Manila/Cebu

My husband and my sisters-in-law have been friends with Gretchen and her siblings David & Lesley since they were little. But I also feel like I have known her my whole life. Because we instantly bonded over being moms to active little ones, shoes, shopping, J.Crew and of course, DwellStudio!

You see, Gretch is one half of Quirks Marketing Philippines (the other half being her best friend Oliver) which happens to be the distributor of my favorite source of bed linens and baby stuff - DwellStudio, as well as other baby brands like Kaboost, OBaby & BabyPlus. The self-confessed Daddy's girl also continues to work for her dad, so she shuttles between Manila (for work) and Cebu (for family) a lot.

Apart from her busy professional life, Gretch is wife to her college sweetheart Dicky & proud mom to two boys (2.5 year old Gavin & Shoti, who is arriving in 2 months!)

With a lot on her plate, Gretch is drawn to easy pieces that she can easily mix and match. Her shoe collection reflects the same philosophy. Her shoes are a mix of pretty & practical pieces that would make any girl go "Oooohhh!"

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Tough question! My Dad says I have plenty, my Hubby says I have too many and I say I have options! But if we need a number, I guess it's 50 (that's all that I will declare) hahaha!

My shoe collection is probably best represented by color groups and heel heights.

Looking back, I believe my style was influenced by my childhood exposure to my Mom’s Princess Diana and Jackie Onassis books, while also having the interest in reading Dad’s Time, Fortune and Newsweek magazines. I suppose my style icon would be Princess Diana + GE’s Jack Welch. I love the idea of Princess meets Power, Feminine meets Masculine.

What's your shoe size?
7 or 7 and a half.

Which pairs are your favorites?

Chanel black ballet flats -- I like the combination of the chain and tweed effect detail. It's very... Chanel. =)

Christian Louboutin Simple 80 nude pumps -- i love nude shoes as it goes with alot of my outfits and these are the perfect nude to my skin tone. Plus, the heel height is realistic. I know I can wear these till I'm 50 or 60.

J.Crew Tan oxfords -- this pair started my love affair with oxfords. It's a comfy and edgier alternative to ballet flats.

Valentino kitten heels -- the kitten heel makes it very feminine, while the studs make it edgy. Plus, it's another nude shoe. Love!

Stella Luna jeweled flats -- got me through some dressy summer events (pre-pregnancy), and even some weddings that I had to attend to (since I can't wear heels during pregnancy).

If you could only wear one pair of shoes, which one would it be?

Why would you want to do that?! (LOL! Spoken like a true shoeaholic! - MFO)

What are your favorite shoe brands?

The brands that haven't failed me -- Schu (the best flats that get me through every season and pregnancy), YSL (the comfiest heels ever! sexy too! ), Ferragamo (an oldie, but a goodie especially for my bunion friends), Pedder Red (on trend styles with great quality)

What's in your shoe lust list?

I have plenty! Giuseppe Zanotti flower applique blush nude heels

YSL crackled gold tribute sandals

J.Crew black and white oxford ballet flats,

and a two-tone oxford in black and brown (it's out there somewhere!)

Where do you buy shoes?

Locally, Schu, Rustan's, Zara, ALDO, etc. Abroad, HK's Lane Crawford and Joyce, are great mostly for "aspirational" special shoes. HK's Pedder Red is where I usually find reality haha! Singapore's Takashimaya, Tangs, and On Pedder hold great comfy and "realistic" finds.

What's that one shoe you can't bear to give away or throw out?

My one and only Chucks in army green with purple shoelaces. It's the pair my boyfriend, now hubby, gave me. It got me through a lot of photo shoots and makeup gigs back when I was still active in that field. Though my style has evolved and rarely wear them, I still put them on when I'm feeling blue. It manages to perk me up. =)

Tell us about your fondest/craziest/sweetest shoe story?

My best shoe memory happened when I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I was made to believe (by my own Father!) that Princess Diana and I wore the same shoes --- I was wearing St. Michaels (made in UK diba?!) patent black round toe flats back then.

That made my day, but of course later on I wised up. I often tease my Dad about it branding it “the only lie you ever told me”. He made up for it (a long time ago, I may add) by supporting my shoe habit (amongst other things). Hahaha!

*Obviously I’m a Daddy’s girl, and I don’t think it is a coincidence that my birthday falls close to Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day again to my Papa!