Shop your favorites online with SSI Group Brands

As we continue to be under the extended Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), the SSI Group values the needs of its customers at this time. Although our physical stores are still temporarily closed, we have opened our online operations for select brands in order to allow our customers to shop some of their favorite essentials while in the comfort and safety of their homes, through Lush.com.ph and BeautyBar.com.ph.  Yes, you read that right—we are currently able to process and ship orders within Metro Manila and by next week, reach select provinces in Luzon.

LUSH.COM.PH

You may place your orders for all your Lush essentials on lush.com.ph for the duration of the ECQ and enjoy free shipping for a minimum order of P2,500. As of April 8, 2020, Lush is able to process and ship orders within Metro Manila and provincial customers within Luzon starting Monday, April 20. Orders previously placed from March 13 onwards will be prioritized accordingly. Provincial customers outside of Luzon may still place their orders online, however, because of the travel restrictions in place, Lush will only be able to process your order once ECQ measures have been lifted. Though courier partners are committed to delivering your order, please note that some areas and barangays have stricter quarantine protocols than others and may cause delays or restrictions.  

For more information and updates, you may subscribe to the Lush newsletter through the website and read through the FAQs page on ordering online.  For more information on Lush products, an Ingredient Finder section can be found on the site, which you may browse and search through to see the full list of ingredients per product and the effects of each.

BEAUTYBAR.COM.PH

If you need to stock up on your skincare and personal care essentials, or just feel like treating yourselves, Beauty Bar has got you covered.  BeautyBar.com.ph is now fulfilling online orders throughout Luzon.

The fulfillment team is packing and delivering online orders every week. Metro Manila orders are usually delivered within 5 days, and the rest of Luzon within 10 days. While they do their best to send out all orders on time, delays might be expected due to limited delivery couriers.

Customers are assured that their staff are practicing proper sanitation before packing all ordered items. They are disinfecting and sealing the goods, to ensure that these are safe when they reach the customers. However, wiping down the boxes and products is still encouraged as a precautionary measure. 

Product inquiries may be directed to custserv@beautybar.com.ph

Stay connected and updated via Beauty Bar’s Instagram and Facebook accounts: @BeautyBarPH.

SHOP VIA RUSTANS.COM

Some of the SSI Group brands will also be available in the coming months through the Rustan's Department Store website, Rustans.com, under a “Shop Now, Ship Later” scheme. Currently, you may browse and order from Makeroom, Superga and Furla on the site and soon, more specialty brands as Brooks Brothers, Coach, Kurt Geiger, Kate Spade, Tory Burch and Michael Kors will be available in the coming weeks.

All orders made will be packed and delivered once the ECQ period has been lifted. More information on how to order online is available on the Rustans.com Press Center section. You may also follow @rustansph on Instagram and Facebook for more updates.

OTHER ECOMMERCE WEBSITES

The SSI Group’s other ecommerce platforms such as BananaRepublic.com.ph, DuneLondon.ph, Gap.com.ph, Lacoste.com.ph, Payless.ph, and Superga.ph continues to serve its customers and accept orders, but will resume deliveries only after the ECQ has ended.  

For any questions or concerns, the customer service portals remain open through any of the official social media channels or through email via customerservice@ssigroup.com.ph.

ORDER FOOD TOO

The SSI Group’s food brands such as Shake Shack, SaladStop!, and Marks & Spencer Food have resumed operations for select stores and pop-ups that accept orders for takeout and delivery.

Starting April 14, SaladStop! stores in Burgos Circle, Central Square, Glorietta 2, Greenhills, Power Plant Mall, and Salcedo Village will be open to accept delivery and takeout orders only. Delivery orders may be placed via FoodPanda and GrabFood. 

Shake Shack will be open to accept orders for takeout and delivery only starting April 16, in its Central Square branch from 10am to 4pm and SM Megamall branch from 11am to 4pm.  Delivery orders may be placed via FoodPanda, however customers will have to check if they are within the delivery coverage area.  For customers beyond FoodPanda’s coverage areas, other delivery services may be booked for order pick-up.  Simply call your preferred branch to place your order, make payment via bank transfer, email proof of payment and book either Grab or Lalamove for order pick up:

Shake Shack Central Square

Telephone No. (02) 2553241

Email: centralsquare@shakeshack.ph

Shake Shack SM Megamall

Telephone No. (02) 83664059

Email: megamall@shakeshack.ph

Pls follow Shake Shack on IG and FB for updates on delivery and order. For IG, pls refer to highlights “Shack at Home.” Megamall branch alternative number is 83621450.  

For more information and complete details on getting your Shack fix at home, please visit @shakeshackph on Instagram and Facebook.

Marks and Spencer Food Hall branches in Power Plant Mall Rockwell and Eastwood Mall, as well as a Pop-Up Store at the Ground Floor of Central Square have also opened to serve the community.  You may also order your Marks & Spencer Food favorites and have them delivered to your home. Simply email your preferred store to place an order and to arrange delivery:

M&S Eastwood Food Hall

Email: marksandspencer.eastwood@rgoc.com.ph

Mobile No. 09175439040

Telephone No. 85842382

M&S Rockwell Food Hall

Email: marksandspencer.rockwell@rgoc.com.ph

Mobile No. 09178078854

Telephone No. 8898-0945

M&S Central Square Pop-Up Food Store

Email: marksandspencer.centralsquare@rgoc.com.ph

Mobile No. 09175627549

Telephone No. 7950-8180

The health and safety of everyone is our topmost priority. We can assure you that all orders and deliveries are handled with the proper hygienic standards, and that our courier partners have stringent measures in place to ensure safe deliveries. We still encourage you to wipe down packages, products, and boxes and to wash your hands thoroughly as a precautionary measure.  In this challenging time, we are committed to serve our valued customers by providing convenience and access to essential favorites without leaving the comforts and safety of their homes.

For more information, follow @SSILifePH on Instagram and on Facebook.  

Sunnies FACE Razz Airblush Review

Its been a while since my last review of skincare and makeup. Ill make it a point to squeeze in a skincare/makeup story every month, please bear with me.

I have been hearing a lot about Sunnies face products from friends and relatives abroad. Some of my relatives would want to order it online or pasabuy from the Phil. I dont know what the buzz is all about. Until, I get to try their Girl Crush lipstick.

That was the only thing I bought since I have been using 3 lipsticks alternately (from MAC, Sephora and Estee Lauder) . When I got home, I forgot about the lipstick and stashed it inside the car compartment. I chanced upon it after 3 days. I've tested it and it looked good on me, I am morena but the color suits me.  It's creamy and buttery.  It glides on smoothly, even if it has matte finish. The color is reddish brown.  Girl Crush is a keeper. Just remember to put on your favorite lipbalm first so as to prevent lip cracks, if you are just a first timer. 

may pagka reddish pink or berry sya 

Last year of April before flying to Singapore, I passed by Sunnies Face in Glorietta. I heard that they have a new blush on product. 

I saw Martine Ho's IG post about the airblush takbo na agad ako to Glorietta to try it. Dahil atat ako I picked the Razz. Kse maganda naman sya when I tried it on sa store. Pero when I saw na merun naman palang coral pigment, sbi ko Ill be back to get one. 

The Razz look on my cheeks 

The airblush has a cream to powder formulation. So madali lang syang iblend sa cheek. 

The ultimate guide to achieving the perfect work-from-home makeup

Looking your best every day is definitely a must and the enhanced community quarantine is definitely not an excuse to skip your beauty routine.   For those who are working from home and frequently need to attend online meetings, remember that you can skip the fancy skirts and opt for comfy PJs but you definitely can’t put in less effort on your face.  

Below are some useful makeup tips to appear smart and crisp for your next Zoom or Facetime meeting: 

Look fresh. You are no longer beating the rush of everyday traffic so the most important tip is to make your skin look healthy and glowing. To achieve this, apply a small amount of Ever Bilena Pro Flawless Finish Foundation starting from the middle of your face, outwards blending properly using your fingertips or Ever Bilena Blend Me Sponge. This liquid foundation provides full coverage that will give you a flawless finish.

Conceal. The last thing you would want to look like on your online meeting is tired and sleepless. Cover your dark circles from working overtime or binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix with an ample amount of concealer. On top of your foundation, apply Ever Bilena Liquid Concealer on the darkest shadows of your eye bags to even out the color of your under eye. You may also use it to spot conceal your unwanted skin imperfections.

Don’t overdo your eyeshadow.  Look more natural and presentable by going for light or neutral shades. The Ever Bilena Eyeshadow Pink Palette can come in handy as it features six neutral and classic shades that perfectly match your everyday makeup. It is pigmented and blendable for easier application.

Define your eyes. As much as a perfect shade of eyeshadow does the trick, a gentle swoosh of mascara can also make your eyes look more alive. Swipe on some EB Advance Lash Define Mascara to visibly define and lengthen your top and bottom lashes with its dual sided wand and waterproof jet black ink that will definitely make you look awake and more alert. 

Add color to your cheeks. Video calls can make you look pale. Blend a generous amount of Ever Bilena Matte Color Stick over the apples of your cheeks all the way through your cheekbones for a natural-looking flush. The Ever Bilena Matte Color Stick is a multipurpose cream stick that works for the eyes, cheeks and lips.

Go easy on your lippie. Be as simple as you can be with your overall makeup including your lippie. Go for neutral shades to make you look more formal. You may use the Ever Bilena Matte Nude Lipsticks that come in six colors to complement your choice of eyeshadow.

After following all these, make sure you sit where there is ample lighting so your workmates can see you clearly. Then, try checking yourself out on your phone or laptop’s camera to see if your makeup appears as desired. If yes, then it’s time to slay that online meeting and impress everyone! 

Be work-ready at home with these make-up products and other Ever Bilena, EB Advance and Kris Life Kit products all available on Ever Bilena’s official Lazada store. Visit www.lazada.com.ph or to know more about Ever Bilena, visit everbilena.com.ph and follow its social media pages Facebook (@everbilenacosmetics) and Instagram (@everbilenaofficial). 

Araneta City security guard commended for returning lost wallet containing P60K

Rex Alloro, a roving security guard assigned on Center Avenue, Araneta City, is being acclaimed in social media for his honesty in returning a lost wallet containing more than P60,000 in cash.

While making his usual rounds in the morning of April 12, Alloro found a wallet in front of Julie’s Bakeshop at the Center Avenue Arcade. Upon opening the wallet, Alorro noted it contained several bank cards, ID cards and a thick wad of cash.   

Without hesitation, Alorro went to the Farmers Market administration office and surrendered the wallet to his superiors. The wallet turned out to contain P60,180 and belongs to a certain Eugenio Michael O. Plana.

With the help of the other security guards on duty, they were able to locate Plana, who was still in Farmers Market after reporting his missing wallet. Upon getting back his wallet, Plana was overjoyed and offered to reward Alloro with some cash. But Alorro refused, saying he was only doing his duty.

Alloro has been working for Araneta City for the past 10 years. Details of his honest deed were posted on the official Facebook page of Araneta City on April 13, after which thousands of netizens have been continuously commending and saluting Alloro for his integrity.

For Araneta City, Alloro has set an example of exemplary honesty which the company wishes to see not just among its employees but among every Filipino, especially during these troubled times.  

“Alloro is a perfect example of the kind of honest individuals who we truly need right now. We hope his incredible honesty will inspire others to do the same,” said Morriel Abogado, Vice President and Zone Manager of Araneta City said. “To be honest with everyone is the right thing to do. Together, let us emulate the example of Alorro. In a way, this will help overcome the Covid-19 crisis.”   

Ano ang namiss nyo sa Starbucks?

Bigla ko namiss mag Starbucks event. Usually every December and April ang mga event nila to bring in their new merchandise and coffee drinks sa mga Starbucks customers and hobbyists/collectors. 

I miss going in to their events. Tapos magpi picture ng what's new and join din sa games nila to win some Starbucks premium items. 

Sa Starbucks ko lang na discover by chance yung mga gusto kong sandwich, cinnamon, corned beef pandesal and chocolate donut na di nakakaumay.  And sa kanila din ako natuto mag collect ng Starbucks cards. Ang cute ng collection ko. . When I am travelling, I tried to as much to avail ng kahit ano merchandise or taste/sip kung ano latte bestseller nila like when I was in China and Dubai recently. It never dissapoints. Iba iba ang lasa pero mas masarap yung coffee jelly dito sa tin. 

Dito ko lang din nakikita yung mga #ootd ko before. Namiss ko tong bagelya ko. 

Dito ko din minahal yung cold brew series nila, aside of course from Teavana and coffee jelly.  Ang sarap!! Promise. After the lockdown , ktakitz mga ka Starbucks. =) 

Huawei EMUI 10.1 update improves upon the Seamless AI Life experience

During the HUAWEI P40 Series Global Launch, Huawei unveiled EMUI 10.1, introducing more capabilities enabled by Huawei’s distributed technology to enrich the user experience. 

First introduced in EMUI10, Huawei’s distributed technology is the cornerstone of Huawei’s all-scenario ecosystem. Hardware capabilities are virtualised and shared among all connected devices, breaking down the barriers between individual products to enable seamless collaboration. Devices such as smartphones and notebooks no longer work in silos, and instead function together in a connected and collaborative manner. With the latest development in Huawei’s distributed technology, EMUI 10.1 builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, introducing new features such as HUAWEI MeeTime and more Multi-screen Collaboration capabilities to let users take better advantage of multiple devices at once. Huawei is also working with a range of partners to expand the connected ecosystem, so as to allow more devices to work seamlessly together and benefit consumers in more scenarios.

UI Improvements

Scrolling now reacts to user inputs with a new physics-inspired friction-slide effect. Similar to how objects in motion gradually decelerate as they lose their momentum to friction, the scrolling animations now also slow down before coming to a natural stop. The acceleration model is developed based on human factors research, ensuring that the animations behave just as users would expect.

Swiping inwards from either side and pausing bring out the sidebar. Apps inside the sidebar can be dragged across the screen to initiate Multi-Window. Images, text and even files can be dragged from one app to another. Floating Window allows users to perform basic tasks such as responding to text messages without exiting the active full-screen app, so users can stay focused on their tasks at hand.

Multi-Device Control Panel 

Multi-Device Control Panel provides a unified platform that lets users see every connected device in their proximity at a glance. Connecting one device to another is as easy as tapping on the corresponding button on the menu. Available by swiping up from either corner, the panel can be used to turn IoT devices on or off, set up smartphone screen projection, initiate Multi-screen Collaboration and more. The Multi-Device Control Centre also intelligently recommends nearby devices that can be used to improve the current user experience. For instance, when a user is listening to music on HUAWEI Music with a HUAWEI Sound X nearby, Multi-Device Control Panel will suggest switching audio output to the smart speaker to get better sound quality. 

HUAWEI MeeTime

EMUI 10.1 introduces HUAWEI MeeTime, the world’s first all-scenario video calling app. Supporting up to 1080p Full HD video calls between Huawei devices, HUAWEI MeeTime takes full advantage of the integration between Huawei’s software and hardware to deliver a high-quality video call experience. Brightness enhancements and beautification algorithms are built into HUAWEI MeeTime to optimise video quality in low-light conditions. Optimisations are also made to enable HUAWEI MeeTime to deliver a smooth video call experience even in less optimal network conditions. Users may also share their screen during a call with the other party and simultaneously mark-up the screen to collaborate with each other. Thanks to Huawei’s distributed technology, third party cameras such as Drift action camera can be wirelessly connected with a Huawei smartphone running EMUI 10.1 and be used as an external HUAWEI MeeTime camera to bring new experiences to video calls. 

 Multi-Screen Collaboration

New capabilities have been added to Multi-Screen Collaboration with distributed technology,

allowing users to leverage more HUAWEI MateBook peripherals to better use Huawei smartphone applications. After a quick setup process that involves just a simple tap, users can now make or pick up video or audio calls through the Huawei PC.  Huawei’s distributed technology enables users to use the PC’s camera and microphone as though it was connected to the smartphone. Users can also use native PC applications to directly open files or hyperlinks on the smartphone and take advantage of better hardware and the converged app ecosystem for improved productivity.  

Huawei Share

Huawei Share on EMUI 10.1 supports high speed file transfer between two Huawei devices. In addition to Huawei smartphones, tablets and PC, Huawei Share now also supports third-party products. For example, renowned European photo printing company Cewe has implemented Huawei Share in their photo printing kiosks, enabling users to easily print their photos wirelessly. 

Celia

Huawei’s voice assistant Celia is arriving with EMUI 10.1 for international markets. Simply wake up the voice assistant by holding down the power button for one second or saying “Hey Celia”. Celia has a range of abilities to help users get things done. The deep integration grants Celia access to the device’s hardware and AI, enabling the voice assistant to support object identification, media playback control, text messaging, face-to-face translation, calorie scanning and more. Celia speaks English, French and Spanish at launch, and will be rolling out to the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Mexico, Chile and Columbia in the first phase, with more countries to come in the future.

Cross Device Photo Gallery

With the distributed file system, Gallery now aggregates all media saved across Huawei smartphones and tablets running EMUI 10.1 that are connected to the same Wi-Fi AP network and logged in under the same HUAWEI ID. The search feature covers all aggregated media for users to easily find the photo or video that they are looking for, no matter on which device it is saved.

Availability

EMUI 10.1 will roll out to over 30 Huawei smartphone models, including the HUAWEI Mate 30 Series, HUAWEI Mate X, HUAWEI P30 Series and more. Stay tuned to your local Huawei channels for more information regarding your local update schedule and details on supported devices. 

Download Apps on Huawei P40 Series via Huawei AppGallery 

The Huawei AppGallery is more than just the default app store on their newest smartphones -- it is currently the third-biggest app distribution platform globally, with 180 billion downloads and 390 million monthly active users worldwide. Every day the AppGallery grows bigger, adding more apps and games to its repertoire for users to enjoy.

The Huawei AppGallery is filled with various useful and fun apps like Facebook, Viber, TikTok, GCash, BDO, PSBank Mobile, Booky, OWTO, Lazada, Asphalt 9, Wordscapes and so much more, all available for download through AppGallery. As Huawei prides itself for being a customer-centric brand, apps such as these would not only give users a vast variety of choices but would also ensure users’ safety and security while doing so. To find out more about the Huawei AppGallery, visit: https://huaweimobileservices.com/appgallery/