We're officially in the stretch of the year where I start every week thinking I have time and end it wondering where the weekend went. The holiday rush is gearing up, and the beauty calendar has gone from a trickle to a shove: launches, pre-launches, passes, exclusives, all of it happening before the Christmas noise drowns everything out. Now, what's worth a spot in the kikay kit before the parties start, and what's just noise? That's the question I had open while going through this week's news. Let's get into it.

Are you in your glow up era but don’t know where to start? Most people would go to an aesthetic clinic and get some sort of treatment, but I think that’s too temporary of a solution. The real key to a glow up is money AND time. As much as we all want a short cut, the best way to improve our face is to work on our entire body. This could take months, and then you need to keep the habit, but it’s worth it if you want a real glow up that will hold over time and not just until your next clinic appointment.

Here’s what I recommend, knowing what I know after 18 years in the beauty industry. I wish someone jammed this into my head earlier.

Here’s what I recommend, knowing what I know after 18 years in the beauty industry.

The theme this week is staying power. Dior's new lipsticks are engineered to outlast your day, Bobbi Brown's foundation promises 24 hours of it, and Sunnies Face wants its nudes to be the shades you keep reaching for long after the novelty wears off. Then there's the other type: a Careline bundle that doubled as a party ticket and stayed on the TikTok Shop listing for all of five days, and a Halloween bar crawl that only rewards the first 50 beauty junkies through the door. Let’s get into it!

Guerlain Philippines launched the new L'Heure Bleue in Manila last week, and I came home smelling like airy flowers. Still did the next morning, which should already tell you a lot about the scent! The event was at the Grand Hyatt, with the usual mix of beauty editors, creators, and celebrities.It was a beautiful room full of beautiful people, and Guerlain made sure we actually got to know the perfume before dinner.

The local brands have figured out that we will buy anything twice if the second one is smaller, and I say that as someone who already owns the full-size versions of everything in this week’s column. Over in the international section, the mood is more sober. one brand is apologizing and another one is closing. Let’s get into it.

Let's be honest: most of us skip sunscreen on days we don't leave the house. I did it for years. The logic feels sound. No sun, no sunscreen. Why put on another layer to sit in a condo with the blinds or curtains half closed? The real answer is that it depends on where you sit and for how long.

In the Philippines, the holidays start the minute September does, which means by October every beauty brand is technically running late. Most deal with it the usual way, with a cryptic teaser, a blurred photo, and a great deal of patience. Not everyone, it turns out, is feeling patient this year. Let's get into it!

Sometimes, taking time for ourselves is the first thing we give up when life gets busy. There’s always another message to answer, an errand to run, or someone who needs something. That’s why I appreciate the idea behind CLEAN RESERVE’s recent community gathering at Nada Concepts: a yoga session with Maxene Magalona that gave everyone a reason to pause. Called “Clean Heart,” the class brought wellness and fragrance together around a gentle invitation to slow down.

Careline is getting into stackable makeup with Stack & Go, arriving September 28. The collection spans 40 SKUs, with a cream base, powder foundation, lip mud, multi-use cream colors, and even a cleansing balm in the lineup. The appeal is being able to build a stack around what you actually use, whether that’s a few everyday essentials or more colors to play with. The cleansing balm is a thoughtful addition: we’re used to compact makeup for putting a face on, but having something for taking it off makes this especially interesting for travel.

If Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask has a permanent spot on your bedside table, this news might sting a little. The brand’s official Philippine online store is closing on September 30, 2026, according to a notice posted on August 10. Amorepacific Philippines says the closure is part of its withdrawal of Philippine operations. For those who rely on the official store to restock their favorites, that leaves a very practical question: where do we buy them next? Read the official announcement here.

There is a particular mood to mid-September in beauty: the big Q4 launches aren't here yet, so brands fill the gap with clever ideas and small adjustments, and that's where the good stuff hides. This week, we have a perfume with a strange note, a powder in an unexpected color, and skincare in a pouch. Let's get into it!

The Little Vintage Store opened at Spatio in Opus Mall, Bridgetowne last September 8. It sells preloved clothes and accessories donated by women who have cleaned out their closets, and all of the earnings go to the psychological care of girls and women who have experienced sexual abuse.

The shop is a project of the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs. It started in 2023 as a pop-up at the Makati Garden Club, with Penny Lopez-Katigbak and Mel Mora Asuncion running it. Back then it was designer pieces from society donors sold at a fraction of the price. The Spatio store is its first permanent space in a mall.

I finally went to Purveyr Fair yesterday. It's been running for years now (it's at World Trade Center Tent this year) and I had somehow never made it, which is a little embarrassing to admit for someone who has made a career out of supporting Filipino-grown brands. I went in without much expectation. I came out with a lot to think about.

This week is mostly about finishing touches. Ever Bilena's rained-out Ladurée takeover is back on the calendar for tomorrow, bows and all. Teviant is adding two setting sprays to the Ultimate Skin Master line so you can pick your finish before you lock it down. Colourette has a new loose powder that promises to hold your base for twelve hours in this humidity, which is a bold claim and I'd like to see it try. And Saborino, the brand that got us all doing skincare in 60 seconds, now wants three minutes of your night. Let's get into it.

Beauty + Health & Wellness Manila is happening September 17 to 19 at SMX Convention Center, and it's the expo's tenth year. Project Vanity is a media partner this time around, so I wanted to tell you about it properly instead of just posting the flyer.

If you haven't been, BHW is the big trade expo for beauty, health, and wellness in the country. Global-Link MP Events runs it with the Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines.