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LATEST STORIES 〰️
When it comes to powders, I’ve always had a soft spot for baked formulas. There’s just something about their silky texture and luminous finish that makes them feel a little more special, a little more luxe and even at drugstore prices. So naturally, I had to try the Spotlight Sunbeam Powders(all under P500!) to see if they live up to their glowing promise.
White truffle. It's the kind of ingredient that instantly sounds expensive, and it is. This rare fungus, found mostly in Italy and only during specific seasons, has long been prized in fine dining. But recently, it’s found its way into skincare. Not as a gimmick, surprisingly, but as a genuinely useful active. And before you raise an eyebrow, let’s get into what makes this bougie-sounding ingredient actually worth considering.
I spend a lot of time lurking on Reddit, and one topic that comes up often is wealth disparity. It’s not surprising as this is, after all, one of the defining issues of our generation. The questions take different forms, but they usually boil down to this: what do rich people do than poor people don’t? There’s a certain obsession with decoding how to look rich, and just as urgently, how to avoid looking poor. I understand this. As someone who grew up financially challenged, there is definitely a pressure to break away from being perceived that way. Is that wrong?
I’m not rich, relatively, but I do sometimes hang out with rich people (being a member of two country clubs among other things). This is what I’ve observed rich people do differently. Do with this information what you will.
This week’s Beauty News Roundup brings us tidings of great joy. Don’t you just love it when brands listen to feedback and give us what we want, what we really really want? Maybelline’s best-selling Superstay Teddy Tint has not one, not two, but fifteen new nude shades! Happy Skin’s OG Shut Up & Kiss Me crayon lipstick is back, and with a new shade to love. Colourette launched their much-awaited Super Base Setting Spray, and Sephora.ph is hosting a sitewide Weekend Love Sale.
Lips and Laneige are a match made in heaven, at least in my book. I always keep backups of the classic Lip Sleeping Mask and the newer Lip Glowy Balms in my stash, yet somehow, I’m still quick to hit check out whenever I spot a good deal in the official online stores. New releases also easily catch my eye, so when the Laneige Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serums finally landed in the Philippines, I didn’t hesitate to pick up two shades. After using them for a while now, here’s how the experience has been so far.
Don’t you just love it when beauty brands make a special effort to connect with customers? In this digital age, personal interaction has become so much more valuable (and more challenging) than it used to be. I say kudos to these brands who create spaces and events just for that! Happy Skin opens its flagship store at SM Aura, the only one (so far) with a hair spa station. Teviant is opening its doors for a first-ever warehouse sale this weekend. GRWM Cosmetics will be at this year’s RUNRIO Pride Run, and they’re hoping to see you there. Newbie local brand TBH Cosmetics is looking for its Brand Ambassador–from their followers!
Vice Cosmetics just pulled off their biggest launch yet, marking a major milestone with the debut of their very first skincare line. Meet Sunwear, a collection designed to protect and care for your skin without getting in the way of your daily life. With five new products in the lineup, Sunwear has you covered whether you’re clocking in hours at your desk or heading out on an adventure. And no matter the season, it is always worth remembering that sun protection is a year-round essential.
This launch was three years in the making, a thoughtfully crafted collection of effortless, high-performance products at an accessible price point. The grand reveal at MOA Sky was an afternoon of discovery, fun, and of course, plenty of sun, all while staying protected from those harsh UV rays.
My mind has been all over the place recently because of some changes in my life and I'm having trouble keeping track of where I am. Obviously I know where my body is physically, but I feel like I'm in a constant state of flux where I can't just sit down and think. Too much stimuli is coming at me and I don’t have enough time to process everything. I play tennis, I go to the gym, but this just stops my mind from running for the time being.
Luckily I came across this post on Substack, and I found it so helpful I thought of sharing it here too.
This week’s Beauty Roundup brings us literally juicy new launches. Beauty influencer Raiza Contawi’s beauty brand Enigma Beauty launches its newest addition to its Skintroduction lineup: the Enigma Skintroduction Longwear Concealer. Our go-to K-beauty brand for juicy lips, Romand, recently released the Juicy Roll Cheek. Local skin care brand Ever Organics releases their Aloe Vera Sunscreen. Last on the agenda: lock in that shine for your lips with the new Careline Lip Lock Lacquer.
Issy has always aimed to make beauty feel easy and personal, and that philosophy shines through once again with their latest launch. From their clever custom palette system to this exciting new step into fragrance, the focus stays exactly where it should be: on you. Their motto? "Go with what feels right. Stop when it feels like you." It’s a vibe. The new fragrance collection just dropped, and while I know it’s nearly impossible to smell things through a screen, I’ll do my best to walk you through my first impressions.
So, you want to have a baby. The time feels right. Your mind, body, and wallet have finally aligned, giving you the courage and confidence to bring a new life into the world. Congratulations!
This is such a beautiful moment for many women, and reportedly the easiest part of parenthood. But getting here? That can be tricky. “Trying for a baby” really is the most accurate way to put it, because all you can do is try and hope for the best. If you’re going the traditional route, there’s roughly a 1 in 20 chance of conceiving each cycle.
Whether you're already a proud mama, expecting, or wishing for that second line to appear soon, this one’s for you.
The Light Reflecting line from NARS has been around for a couple of years now, but recently, they’ve expanded it into a full-fledged makeup collection—from skin prep all the way to finishing touches. I had the chance to try the entire lineup at a recent NARS event, so I wanted to share some thoughts on the collection.
Every time I start thinking about what beauty means to me now that I’m 37 and well into aging, I get overwhelmed by the task. I don’t feel like I’m old, still, but I acknowledge that my face and body have been changing over the years. I am surrounded by people who look considerably younger than their age because of botox and endless procedures, and they talk about it casually like what they’re having for dinner. That’s their prerogative and I’m genuinely happy that they’re achieving their goals. The side effect, however, is I am now desensitized to body modification culture.
This week’s star-studded Beauty News Roundup brings us a couple of new local launches, a new celebrity skin care brand, and a billion-dollar beauty deal. Happy Skin cosmetics launches a new lip oil, this time in a convenient stick format. Colourette completes their Face Base collection with the new Sun Base Sunscreen Primer and Third Base Invisible Setting Powder. Maja Salvador partners with Beautederm’s Rhea Anicoche-Tan, launching her own bodycare brand named Majeskin. Last but definitely not the least, Hail Bieber sells Rhode to e.l.f. Cosmetics for a (speculated) one billion dollars.
There’s something to be said about holy grail products and how we always find ourselves coming back to them. They’re bestsellers for a reason, and when we run out, restocking is a must. Today, I want to talk about two of my favorite JBeauty makeup brands: K-Palette and KISSME. I’ve talked about K-Palette before and have sung praises of their eyeliner and mascara. I’m happy to report that I’ve gone through quite a few tubes at this point.
Last year, I was seized by an incredibly strong desire to exhibit my paintings in an art gallery. I get this feeling fairly often. Sometimes I suddenly want to be in a band, or sing opera, or write a memoir and have it published by a respectable publishing house. Last year, I wanted to be An Artist. I was so sure I could make it happen!
Suddenly (and rather randomly), I was invited by an art curator to a show. I went, then attended a couple more openings. But nothing really came of it, mostly because I realized just how much work it takes—not just to make art consistently, but to network in that space and actually get into shows. Eventually, the burning desire faded into a small ember.
The summer heat is not letting go of us just yet! Thankfully, the local beauty brands are keeping up with more skin care and makeup releases to protect our skin from the sun and keep our summer looks intact in this heat. Vice Cosmetics is set to launch its Sunwear Collection with a big summer splash this weekend. Spotlight Cosmetics is making that summer glow easy-breezy with its Sunbeam Collection of baked blushers, bronzers, and highlighters. Give your lips a sweet treat with Ever Bilena Plus Glazed Lip Booster. Last but definitely not least, keep fresh and leave a lasting impression with the upbeat scents of Blackwater Women’s new Deo Body Spray.
Acne is one of those things that manages to feel both like a teenage memory and a current crisis. We try the trendiest serums, the harshest scrubs, and even that one sketchy Pinterest hack we promised ourselves we’d never try again. (Calamansi is for juice and food, okay? Let’s leave it there.) If your acne treatment feels like a never-ending battle, maybe it’s not your skin that’s the problem, but how you’re treating it. Here are five common acne mistakes and the Oxecure product that gently (but effectively!) sets things right.
I didn’t know what to expect from Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil Serum (P6,600 /30ml and P9,350 / 50ml). As someone who’s long been loyal to Japanese skincare—formulations that tend to be elegant, no-nonsense, and quietly effective—integrating a French luxury serum into my routine is fairly new to me. I imagined it would be a pleasant enough hydrating product, given the honey and royal jelly marketing, but nothing particularly transformative. I was wrong.
This edition of Beauty News Roundup is one for the fans! Let’s check out news of local and international celebrities as they make moves in the beauty scene. P-pop group BINI launches their very own beauty brand: BINI Cosmetics. Ever Bilena launched their Daily Dose Collection, and they’re holding a fan event with the face of the collection, Pond Naravit! Fans of Blk Cosmetics Water Tint and Gloss Gel Tint rejoice: both have new shades to check out and love. Check out the Rhode 2025 Summer Collection.