Here I am again with my search for mask proof makeup. This time around, the focus is on lips and I’m happy to find a product from one of my favorite local brands, Happy Skin! The Kiss & Bloom Glossy Tints (P349) are part of the Generation Happy Skin line up. It was mid-2020 when these products were first launched and included in the Here to Bloom collection with the shades Tanned and Crimson. Four new shades have been added since then: Blossom, Bud, Calm, and Sunny. The shades are sold separately but you can also get all four in the Generation Happy Skin Glossy Tint Set (P1,396).

Since many of us are cautious about going out these days, physical shopping trips tend to be planned more carefully than during the pre-pandemic era. But that doesn't mean discarding your beauty routine and limiting yourself to grocery supply runs. One way of still being able to stock up on your kikay caboodle is by visiting a one-stop shop that offers choice products from all over the world. It's time to stop, LOOK, and shop!

Ever since the start of the community quarantine, online marketplaces like Shopee have helped give us convenient access to certain things from the outside world. Learning a new hobby? You're likely to find competitively-priced supplies. Forgot to pick something up from the last supply run? Perhaps one of your favorite sellers has it. Want to try something new? There’s tons of listings to discover.

I heard about LOOK early this year and was psyched when I saw some of their initial plans. The launch I believe was originally scheduled in May but with the pandemic and all, they just officially opened last Friday, October 30. The massive beauty concept store is inside SM Aura. Since it’s in my neck of the woods I decided to visit it despite the fact that there’s a raging typhoon outside (well, I was doing groceries anyway).

SO! I was able to take a lot of photos. I also took a video (I posted it on IGTV) which you can watch if you want to see the exact store layout.

Since discovering the Miss Hana (花娜小姐) gel pencil liner during my last Taipei visit, I knew that Cosmed/Watsons/Ximending and I had unfinished business. Armed with a week’s worth of research and P3000 (converted to NTD1765), I set off for my Taiwan trip with the aim of trying out more of their makeup products. You might be wondering: what about Dr. Morita, My Beauty Diary, My Scheming, Naruko, and 23.5N? The skincare brands are slowly making their way to our shores, so we decided to focus on makeup instead! So if you ever find yourself in Taipei, Kaohsiung, or any of Taiwan’s beautiful cities, consider picking up these local finds.