Chandanalepa is an Ayurvedic wellness and beauty brand from Sri Lanka that’s known for its fragranced soaps and lotions. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems.
Ayurveda is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit, with the main goal being to promote good health.
My favorite product from Chandanalepa is the Strawberry Herbal Body Lotion, which I used to ask friends to buy from abroad. This lotion has a light texture but is very moisturizing. The fragrance is subtle so you won’t be overwhelmed with the scent of fake strawberries.
I’m happy to have found the Chandanalepa Strawberry Herbal Body Lotion (and other variants) at the newly opened Nova Wellness Store in Ayala Malls TriNoma.
Nova Wellness Store is a health and wellness retail destination that offers products like tea tree oils and eucalyptus soaps from Tea Tree Therapy; organic nuts and dried fruits from Eden, teas from Celestial Seasonings, Himalayan pink salt from Ancient Ocean, premium tuna from Century Tuna (this is different from the ones being sold at most supermarkets), herbal lozenges from Ricola, Manuka honey, Made by Maxine nut butters, fish oil from Carlson, and a wide variety of nut milks (includes Oatly and Rude Health).
I also got the Auromere Neem Plus 5 Ayurvedic Shampoo, which has extracts of neem, aloe vera, and hibiscus flowers. In Ayurveda, aloe vera is recommended as a hair tonic to promote abundant and luxurious hair, neem is used to soothe skin and scalp conditions, and hibiscus supports hair growth. I’ve used this shampoo before and somehow never got the chance to get it again until I saw it at Nova Wellness Store.
Other products I spotted were the Badger Biodegradable Shampoo Bar with Jojoba and Baobab, and natural honeycomb from HoneyLife.
I also bought Mount Hagen Organic Fairtrade Coffee, which is less expensive here than in other stores, and a bamboo charcoal toothbrush. The next time I visit, I will get some of the canned chilis from Eden and the beauty bars from Chandanalepa (the cinnamon beauty bar seems interesting).
Aside from the TriNoma store, you can shop at Nova Wellness Store on Shopee (shope.ee/2ptPGxVvZj) and Lazada (bit.ly/3e02G0G).
Anyway, with most people now working offline at least twice a week, and with many people finding that their makeup stash is now full of expired products, I have received questions about foundations and what would be okay to use for the office.
My favorite right now is the Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation. I love the texture of this as it’s not too watery but it goes on smoothly. I apply it with a makeup brush followed dabbing with a damp sponge.
On days when it’s not too hot, I don’t set with a powder but some days I do (Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish). I find that this foundation really stays on even after I sweat. I will not say that it has a skin finish but it can look natural when applied properly. When I say look natural, I mean your skin seems better and healthier because, to be honest, foundation is meant to be seen. I apply it over the Shiseido Synchro Skin Soft Blurring Primer, by the way, for longevity. This Shiseido primer is a product that I can sometimes use on its own.
The NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation is a product that I have never used but TikTok beauty content creator Kai Javier swears by it. This foundation, a makeup-skin care hybrid, is something I am really curious about. I want to see how it compares to Shiseido Synchro Skin considering that they belong under one company.
For affordable options, my best bet is still the Issy & Company Active Skin Tint, which is more like a tinted balm than a foundation. This has a balm-like finish, blurs pores, and provides very light coverage. I can say that this skin tint, which has SPF 35 UVA/UVB, is one of the best in the market right now in as far as tinted face balms are concerned.
Vice Cosmetics recently released the Blurrfection Skin Tint, which is said to be similar to the Issy & Company one.
If powder is your choice of face base, the Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Blurring Powder is the best with its natural looking finish that blurs the pores and stay on for hours. I love this powder so much that I frequently check the Make Up For Ever web site if they have discontinued this or not.
For a more affordable option, I want to check out the GRWM Cosmetics Powder Rush Velvet Setting Powder, which comes in eight shades (an amazing feat for a local brand). They have darker shades such as Cinnamon and Mocha.
I’m really very happy at how we now have more choices when it comes to makeup, considering that just five years ago I didn’t have a shade match with any local brand.
Image credits: JULIANA MAXINE VASQUEZ