Brace yourselves because this week’s roundup has got a whole lotta love! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the beauty world is buzzing with hearts, shades of pinks and reds, and more than enough love to go around! We’re dishing the deets on blk’s adorable heart mirrors, Sunnies Face’s browtiful new product, and YSL’s product answer to a misunderstanding that’s been going on for years. Happy reading! XOXO

Once upon a time, as a stupid and impressionable young girl, I almost poured boiling hot oil on my head.

It was no accident. When my mother was out of the house, I heated some cooking oil in a pan to pour over my head. You see I’ve been watching these commercials about shampoo with a “hot oil” effect, promising to straighten out curly hair to produce this ultra smooth, ultra straight hair. I wanted to be the beautiful model with the swishy mane that’s so straight a comb just glides down from it! It’s so different from my own voluminous head of wavy, almost curly hair. That was the year I started to intensely hate my hair and the rest of what I looked like. I wanted to change it, so I was going to try this “hot oil” and it was going to look amazing.

I first encountered the brand Esfolio a couple of years when I was given a bunch of their sheet masks as pasalubong from Korea. After using a couple of masks that I felt lukewarm about and knowing that the brand wasn't available locally, it slipped to the back of my mind.

Fast forward to 2018, Esfolio arrived at our shores and the local beauty community was abuzz with talk about their affordable but quality products. This brought back those old memories, and so I decided to find out more about why people are raving about Esfolio.

Reading Tellie’s generational beauty brand guide struck me a lot because I saw how effective the Korean marketing strategy was on me. I used to like wandering around The Face Shop when I was younger, and desperately wanted to get that ink lippie that Suzy Bae was endorsing at the time. Now, I feel like I’ve graduated with her and have come a long way to a rosy, Lancome lippie-wearing path.

But I guess we never really outgrow our “bias”. If Frankie has BTS and Stacie has Seventeen, Gett has GOT7!

Hello, brown people of the Philippines! I know. I know the culture loves our tisay sisters, but I also know we’re headed towards a beautiful, bronzy future where brown (and dark!) people are also appreciated. Anyway, if you want to be in the forefront (wow) with me and have been yearning for products that cater to your coloring, then this list is for you. I’ve tried around twenty plus highlighters and reviewed fourteen of the best products for morenas so you have something for every purpose and price point.

When I first got into acids, I immediately zeroed in on the BHA-based products because of my oily, acne-prone skin. But over time and after using products like the In Her Element Glow Job, I’ve learned my skin can benefit from AHAs, too. Glycolic acid is the most commonly used AHA for both professional and at-home treatments alike because it quickly delivers visible results. If you haven’t tried it yet, read on to know more about why you should add glycolic acid into your skincare routine.

Is it February already? Let’s welcome the love month with your weekly dose of all things beauty! This week’s roundup has the scoop on NikkieTutorials’ newest gig (don’t worry, she’s still on YouTube), the return of one of our fave Japanese brands (yes, we’re freaking out, too), and how Glossier and Hourglass are upping their complexion games. Who’s ready? Dive in!

If earning more income is one of your New Year resolutions, you may want to consider getting into online selling. Sure, it’s a small operation compared to the likes of Sephora PH and BeautyMNL, but it’s proven to be a lucrative one. Shoppers still appreciate having a trusted suki who can give recos and address issues at a personal level, and it’s easier to give feedback on what products they’d like to see next! But, how to start? We got in touch with two popular online sellers whose shops we’ve frequented and trust.

Since discovering the wonders of hydrating toners, my skin has actually become quite normal compared to its previously dry and dull state. I love how they’re so easy to apply and feel lightweight on my skin, so I can move on to the next step much faster. The truth is, I often just slap several layers of toner on rather than apply moisturizer after because I’m lazy like that. Since the weather has become a bit chilly, I find that I now need to apply moisturizer again. I’m so used to my easy cleanser-acid-toner routine though, so I’ve been trying to look for ways to get back to it without sacrificing hydration.

Setting powders and finishing powders - is there actually a difference between the two, or are they just fancy marketing words to make you buy more product? The answer is actually a resounding “yes”! There is a difference between the two but some brands may use the terms interchangeably, so it’s understandably a bit difficult to figure out which is which. Setting powders and finishing powders can be both in loose or in pressed form, can be white-colored or tinted, and typically offer little to no coverage at all. The difference is in how they are used.

Here at PV, we’re no strangers to the wonders of acids in skincare, and so I was very very hyped about the Althea Milk Peel Cream Mask that boasts about “containing both AHA and BHA extracts” and “transforms from a clay to a whipped cream lather, whisking away dead skin cells to prevent flakiness. It’s also formulated with casein protein from milk to revitalize and moisturize the skin.” I’m supposed to have “radiantly smooth, healthy skin that's bouncy to the touch”. Here’s how it fared on my sensitive skin:

While most people associate “peak winter” with the Christmas holidays, the best time to experience the cold season is actually at the beginning of the year. Between January to March, the weather strikes a perfect balance: cold enough for frost to form but milder than pre-solstice temperatures. This is the perfect time to travel to temperate countries if you want to experience the season. With skiing and snow festivals on the horizon, there’s tons of winter fun to be had before spring sets in! Except, if you’re a tropical tourist like me, there may be more to worry about than the price of the plane ticket.

Happy weekend, everybody! This roundup has a little bit of everything that happened this week - both good and bad. Teviant has just opened the doors to their first physical store, ColourPop’s newest product has the internet buzzing, and Avon’s latest venture is taking inspiration from the Hallyu wave. We also sadly report on the tragic passing of Deciem founder Brandon Truaxe. Read on for all the details.

As #adulting rears its ugly head, I attend a more diversified set of events. From the casual meetups with friends and low-key backstage work commitments, to the more dressy blog events and formal wedding parties, I put effort into looking good. I’ve noticed that I do very different faces for each of these events, so I tend to edit my kit accordingly. If you find yourself scrambling to do different looks with just a single kit, consider adapting this method of keeping three kinds of kikay kits.

When K-beauty first started gaining popularity a few years back, I was one of the many who became obsessed with the idea of glass skin. Also known as chok chok, this look is all about a complexion that’s bright, smooth, and glowy! One look at any K-idol is enough to understand why this became such a craze. While you can cheat a little with strategically placed concealer and a lot of highlighter, skincare is the real foundation to this look.

We’ve reviewed and raved about Kracie Hadabisei All-In-One masks before, so we looked forward to trying their newly-released 3D masks! These new designs promise improved fit and boosted “suppleness” effects, so I took them along to my recent Japan trip to see if they could save my skin from the cold weather.

January flew by so fast, we missed announcing the Commenter for Month. Congratulations to Valerie (valkyree), who wins the December gift set! Please email den [at] projectvanity.com for details on how you can claim your prize. ^_^

The right skincare routine will vary depending on your skin type, but one thing is sure: whether you have oily, dry, or normal skin, you still need to moisturize! If you have oily skin, it may seem unnecessary or too much, but using the right moisturizer can actually help minimize your skin’s oil production. Finding “The One” can take some effort but it’s not impossible, as long as you know the basic guidelines on how to shop for moisturizer!

Wait, how is it the middle of January already?! With the days whizzing by, it’s a wonder how the beauty world is making sure to keep up with new launches and campaigns. For this week, we’re taking you on a trip down memory lane with an official makeup announcement from Mattel, Lush’s newest eco-friendly skincare, and deets on the local beauty product that Shay Mitchell used for her makeup looks in MNL. We’re also celebrating Benefit’s amazing step towards more inclusive beauty campaigns and the coupon craze taking over Sephora. Happy reading!