Skincare Crystal Rodis-Concepcion Skincare Crystal Rodis-Concepcion

Why Olay’s Magnemask Infusion is the new face mask to add to your skincare routine

With so many face masks in the market, it’s become daunting to find the best face mask for me. There are just so many options, at different price points, with Western brands catching up on the trend started by Asian brands. I think it’s a welcome development, as we benefit from different beauty philosophies and gain access to a wider array of formulations. I recently had a good experience with Olay’s Power Duo, so I was eager to see what their just-released Magnemasks Infusion face mask sheets could do for my skin.

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Features Samantha Gonzales Features Samantha Gonzales

Our fave beauty and hair moments from the 2019 Oscars ceremony

I’m back with a new list of great beauty and hair moments, this time from the Oscars 2019 red carpet! While there were many pretty looks this year, I wanted to take a look at six moments that showcased the styling prowess of the best from Hollywood. I was drawn to looks that were well-thought of - decisions that seemed to be made in tandem with the styling and served to create something interesting, fresh, or even admirable. On to the looks!

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Lips Angeli Garcia Lips Angeli Garcia

Are Maybelline’s Super Stay Matte Ink lippies worth the hype?

Liquid lipsticks never seem to go out of style. Both drugstore and high-end brands are constantly putting out their own version of this classic beauty staple, but many a makeup addict asks for just one thing: a budge-proof formula. When the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks came into the scene, the beauty community was abuzz about how it was the most affordable long-wearing liquid lipstick ever. It flew off the shelves when it was locally launched last year, and recently released 14 new shades inspired by the vibrant hues of New York City. From pinks and deep reds, to oranges and dark purple - they got it all covered! Many have raved about this formula so I set out to test if it’s really worth all the fuss.

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Beauty News Karla Aguas Beauty News Karla Aguas

Beauty Roundup: Maine Mendoza’s newest gig, a Filipina in VOGUE, and another YouTuber makeup collab

Thank goodness it’s the weekend! Have you made plans yet? Well, if you’re still in bed or debating whether or not to step outside (because the lazy feels are real) this week’s beauty roundup will keep you company. We’re talking about the latest YouTuber makeup collab (she’s one of the biggest content creators) to another Filipina sharing her beauty secrets with VOGUE magazine. Anastasia Beverly Hills has also just announced a new brow product (after three years!) and Maine Mendoza is celebrating her latest milestone. Happy reading!  

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Lips Liz Lanuzo Lips Liz Lanuzo

Quick Take: MAC Powder Kiss Lipsticks are the perfect weightless mattes for everyday

Matte lipsticks have gone a long, long way since their rise to popular culture in the 90s. They used to be thick and heavy on the lips, like you swiped a layer of cement on top. Today, there are some wonderful formulations that feel like practically nothing as they sit on your mouth! It’s completely unnecessary to suffer through a matte lipstick these days unless, of course, you’re crazy about the color.

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Features Gett Baladad Features Gett Baladad

Where to shop for beauty products in Japan: Loft, Tokyu Hands, Cosme, It's Demo

I recently went on a cross-region Japan trip with my two best friends, and had the time of my life exploring new cities. But what would a Japan trip be without invading my fave beauty stores? We’ve previously mapped where we get our beauty fix in Tokyo in the first version of this article, but there’s still so much to see! This guide lists more stores that you’re sure to find in most cities - be it all the way in Sapporo, or all the way down in Fukuoka.

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Health & Wellness Guest Writer Health & Wellness Guest Writer

Not Just Vanity: How my beauty routine helps me cope with anxiety

Depression and anxiety have always been present in my life. Early on, I thought it was simply an overreaction to circumstances. I was too vulnerable, I wore my heart on my sleeve - not realizing that the chemical imbalance in my brain constantly leads to such destructive thoughts. It comes in waves: constant overanalyzing, insomnia, panic attacks, restrictive food intake, and procrastination. When it gets really bad, I find it difficult to do any kind of productive activity, even something as simple as getting out of bed. I’ve had to consider therapy and counseling, and self-care through makeup and skincare has played an important part of how I manage my condition.

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Lips Marielle Ong Lips Marielle Ong

She Did It! A full review + swatches of Kris Bernal’s new liquid lipsticks

Celebrity makeup lines are a dime-a-dozen these days. And while the next actress/singer/influencer to announce a collab or launch their own brand might not be so surprising anymore, the intrigue is still there. What passes a star’s standard of quality? How do they curate a collection? How involved are they really in the development process? Only one way to find out!

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Skincare Crystal Rodis-Concepcion Skincare Crystal Rodis-Concepcion

Why I’m currently loving Olay’s oil-free moisturizer for my skin

Having extremely oily skin with a lot of skin concerns, finding the best skin care products for my particular needs has been a challenge. I’d like to have bright, smooth and glowing skin with less visible pores but the best facial treatments often cost a pretty penny. That’s why I was intrigued by the claims of Olay’s Power Duo, which aims to help achieve all my concerns using the White Radiance Light Perfecting Essence (P1,299 for 30ml) and the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (P1,899 for 50g), at a price that’s not too heavy on the pocket.

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Beauty News Karla Aguas Beauty News Karla Aguas

Beauty Roundup: Beauty Bar’s big sale, a pretty Posh take, and the new NAKED Palette

Thank goodness it’s the weekend! Finally, another work week is over and we can now sit back in our jammies, sip some coffee, and get our beauty fix on! This V-week we’ve got the lowdown on Urban Decay’s newest NAKED palette (it’s beautiful), Too Faced’s skincare line, Beauty Bar’s big sale (who’s ready to shop?!), and a couple of new celebrity beauty lines in the works.

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Skincare Gett Baladad Skincare Gett Baladad

This skincare brand’s products start at 20 pesos - is it any good?

When I first stumbled across Face Republic on my social media feeds, I thought I was looking at Nature Republic and Innisfree. My initial confusion came from the similar names and branding, but after reading more about this new player, I learned that it offers the unique premise of creating Korean skincare products that have been specially designed for Filipino skin. The brand’s CEO Yohan Kim explains that the temperate climate in Korea means that their skincare products are designed for drier weather, so formulations can feel too heavy and greasy on Pinays.

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Lips Samantha Gonzales Lips Samantha Gonzales

Full review and swatches of Colourette’s Valentine's Day reds

I stalk Colourette’s releases like a hawk. It began with their Kolorete release in August 2018 (Buwan ng Wika for our less informed friends), and while I was not always a fan of their packaging and branding, I was in awe of how they just got the pulse of their consumers. I recently just accepted that red is my color and was (yet again) thrilled by Colourette’s timing. Three gorgeous reds, Cupid (a warm tone), Beau (a vamp), and Arrow (a berry) are available just in time for V-day! These Colourette Supramatte Liq’Lacquers are P349 each, or P899 for the set.

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Fragrances Liz Lanuzo Fragrances Liz Lanuzo

Lovelier than a bouquet of roses: The Aerin Garden Rose Eau De Cologne

Yesterday I was at the mall with my partner James when we passed through a flower bazaar. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and, being ever practical, he told me to pick a bouquet I like so we can have it delivered. I’ve always loved his Valentine’s flowers but I’ve struggled with preserving them properly. At the showcase yesterday, there were beautiful freeze-dried roses that came in a box. “Those would be such pretty home accents!” said my equally practical self. But the price tags were mildly shocking. Some cost as much as P14,000 a box!

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Eyebrows Samantha Gonzales Eyebrows Samantha Gonzales

My Sunnies Face Lifebrow review and a conversation about ethical purchasing

Recently, Sunnies Face released their third product: the Lifebrow duo consisting of a retractable skinny pencil and a grooming gel. The promotional photos were truly gorgeous, but what hooked me was the smallness of the grooming gel’s brush, which is not something we see in the market that often. I thought the price was right, and there was no store queue at the UP Town Center branch, so I went to buy them as soon as they launched.

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Skincare Stacie Chan Skincare Stacie Chan

Kili-kili 101: Everything you need to know about taking care of your armpits

For many Filipinas, this particular body part has been the focus of many insecurities. From color and texture, to the presence of hair or odor, maintaining “nice” underarms is something that we’ve admittedly obsessed over at some point of our beauty-loving lives. We’re more aware about not needing to conform to traditional standards for beauty now, but that doesn’t mean we’ll stop caring about our kili-kili completely! It still needs proper care and maintenance for basic hygiene, so I’ve put together a guide to tackle every pit concern. Let’s go!

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Beauty News Karla Aguas Beauty News Karla Aguas

Beauty Roundup: Kilay goals, Valentine drops, and the product everyone has been using wrong

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

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Features Liz Lanuzo Features Liz Lanuzo

Letter From The Editor: How to deal with your shame about the way you look like

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.

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Skincare Stacie Chan Skincare Stacie Chan

What to try from Esfolio, an affordable Korean brand available in PH

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.

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Skincare Gett Baladad Skincare Gett Baladad

I tried GOT7’s top three beauty products from The Face Shop - here's my honest review!

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!

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Highlighter and Illuminator Samantha Gonzales Highlighter and Illuminator Samantha Gonzales

From Subtle to Stunning: Our top 15 highlighters for morena skin

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.

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