Style and beauty roundup: Skincare resolutions from Aesop, dragon lady looks at Love, Bonito

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines Life, Jan. 25) — A cult favorite facial from Aesop, a tinier version of the viral poofy bag from Beyond the Vines, a big sale at Cariño, and Lunar New Year-appropriate pieces populate this month’s style and beauty roundup. Plus, a short Q&A with ḢA.MÜ co-founder Abraham Guardian on Philippine fashion.

You dew you this year with an assist from Aesop

If your skin’s resolution is to hydrate more this year, consider it already fulfilled through an ol’ reliable at Aesop. A cult fave for 20 years, the B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel is a vitamin-enriched rain shower for your mug that soothes and rejuvenates — just warm the honey-like lotion in your palms to activate it for the most ceremonial application. As you’d expect from the brand, it’s rapturously scented too. Rub it on and it’s as if you’ve been transported to a spa sesh orchestrated by monks deep in a Northern Japanese forest.

Skin type served: Normal and combination

Best practices: Mix it with a drop of skin oil (try Aesop’s Fabulous Face Oil), warm it in your palms, and massage it into skin as the last step to your nightly skincare regimen.

Price: ₱6,000

Keep it together for a summer of travel

Beyond The Vines’ most recent drop is a travel-size version of their iconic poofy bag series. The Singaporean design studio and Bangkok-based illustrator Suthathip Uppasuk join forces for the Pocket Poofy campaign. Available in eight colors, the Pocket Poofy can be bought in bright neon orange, turquoise, and lilac, or in neutral shades like ivory, olive, and black. Rain or shine, the water-resistant nylon material and adjustable straps make the bag perfect for your next trip to Singapore. The Pocket Poofy Bag retails at ₱3,690 and is available for purchase online at the brand’s official website and at all Beyond the Vines stores.

What’ll fit in it: Stash your power bank, shades, Airpods, and on-the-go beauty essentials in the fun-sized bag. And your phone, too, of course.

Price: ₱3,690

Welcome the year of the dragon with blazing new ‘fits

The start of the year brings with it the cool Amihan wind, which is good news if you’re looking for an excuse to strut out your cozier clothing — and maybe even grab some new outfits in time for CNY celebrations. Enter COS’s new Spring Edit, featuring their trademark closet staples refreshed with contemporary cuts and striking textures. While most of the capsule collection comes in everyday neutrals, it’s a new year! Take a chance on vibrant crimson and other colors that scream for more luck to come your way. Shop for the capsule collection at COS branches in Manila and BGC, or on cos.com.

For those who want to channel “mother” of dragons this year, Love, Bonito’s take on the traditional Chinese cheongsam fits right into the dragon lady aesthetic. The brand just launched its Philippine website with Gcash as an available payment option, making it much easier to shop.

Pick up new linen staples at the Cariño sale

Cariño was founded pre-pandemic by friends Gianne Vasquez and Shayne Ting as an alternative to the pricier local linen brands available in the market. Since then, their timeless designs have become closet staples for young professionals building their wardrobes.

Cariño’s lower price point hasn’t stopped other brands from offering “Cariño dupes” on Shopee and Carousell. Thankfully, you can get your hands on the real thing with the much-awaited Cariño sale this week. Get up to 40% off on select pieces from the brand’s previous collections, from tops to trousers. Stocks for some of their bestsellers are running out fast, so check out via their website ASAP.

Best buys: the Emma top (₱1,595) for its versatility, the Cariño x GVN: Eleanor Top (₱1,295) for its asymmetrical silhouette

Brand in Bloom: ḢA.MÜ

Taking a quick minute from running a flourishing Filipino design label, ḢA.MÜ co-founder Abraham Guardian chats with CNN Philippines Life about his hopes, dreams, and resolutions for the forthcoming year in fashion.

Can you share some of your personal favorites from your latest collection?

The flower bib tops! [Also] the crazy silhouetted bottoms that we have and our art pieces.

What direction are you veering towards as a brand together?

We want to also highlight and market our RTW pieces more because we want that to be our main sales channel.

What do you wanna see more of on local runways?

More contemporary styles that can be worn everyday.

What are your style resolutions for Filipinos this year?

Be more expressive and open about expressing their personal style and people to mind their own business if someone is being expressive already.