Rejoice J-Beauty Fans: Kanebo Opens Their First Flagship Store at Mitsukoshi BGC!

Japanese luxury brand Kanebo is not new to the Philippine beauty scene; I remember writing about the brand's skincare and makeup products here in PV back in 2016. They're available at Rustan's Makati, Shangri-La, and Cebu, and these past few years, also online at the Rustan's website, Lazada, and Zalora. Now you can add BGC as the newest location to get your favorite Kanebo products!

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What is the difference between the white and blue Hada Labo Lotions?

I have to admit that I love using high end facial skincare products because they tend to work better than most things I can find in the drugstore. It really shows on the face when a brand is using good quality actives in high concentrations! I definitely don’t mind splurging for something that truly works. However, there is one drugstore brand that I can swear by when it comes to skincare. It’s something I always recommend to those on a budget because it’s iconic for a reason: Hada Labo.

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Mascara, Review Katsy Faustino Mascara, Review Katsy Faustino

I tried a Japanese mascara base and my stick-straight lashes are thankful

Looking for mascara that can help my eyes look bright and awake is my latest makeup obsession. I've been looking at different makeup brands including the famous Heroine Make from Japan. I've heard a lot of good things about their mascaras: great at providing curl, length, and volume though a bit hard to remove. Did you know that they have other complementary lash products too like the KissMe Heroine Make Curl Keep Mascara Base? Here’s my review!

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Hair, Personal Care, Review Crew Katsy Faustino Hair, Personal Care, Review Crew Katsy Faustino

Got mature hair? The Dear Beauté Himawari Smooth & Repair Shampoo and Conditioner are made for aging locks

Dear Beauté Himawari shampoos and conditioners are always well-loved here at Project Vanity. Liz featured the hair combo on her new finds way back in 2015 and the launch of the Volume & Repair variant in 2016 showed great results. A travel-size sample set was even included in the Project Vanity J-Beauty Kit!

Now a new variant was recently released and it’s especially formulated for mature hair: the Dear Beauté Himawari Smooth & Repair Shampoo and Conditioner (P745/500ml each).

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Skincare Marielle Ong Skincare Marielle Ong

Saborino and Momopuri: Here are two Japanese skincare solutions for the really, really lazy ones out there

Since I started writing for Project Vanity many years ago, I have learned to adopt a multi-step skincare regimen. There was even a point where I challenged myself to a 10-step Korean routine! And yes, I totally get the sensorial appeal of each luxurious step. But I will always have just as much appreciation for the straightforward but efficient skincare routine. Now after having tried five of Japanese brand BCL’s high-performance products, I have no doubt that they have the simplified skincare routine down pat.

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Eyebrows Claire Reyes Eyebrows Claire Reyes

The Ultimate Wear Test: Three days with K-Palette’s Lasting Eyebrow Tint Pen

I’ve tried quite a lot of brow products over the years, and some of my former faves have since been replaced with newer releases. Even so, K-Palette’s Lasting Eyebrow Liner remains my pick for eyebrow pens! And I’m in good company, because even beauty and fashion icon Heart Evangelista packs it in her makeup kit.

Eyebrow tints have an added appeal to a busy working mom like me, so I was happy when K-Palette released their Lasting Eyebrow Tint. Who wouldn’t want to have gorgeous brows for five whole days?

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Skincare Angela Fernando Skincare Angela Fernando

Review + The Test: Creer’s new Micellar Cleansing Waters are so refreshing

From 3D sheet masks to shampoos and hair serums, we’ve raved a lot about the products by  Japanese brand Kracie. Now, they have something new to add to our skincare routines with a set of cleansing waters! The Creer Micellar Cleansing Water (P545 for 330ml in stores) joins the Cleansing Water and Clean Water Oil In as the latest in Kracie’s cleansing solutions. These micellar waters come in two variants, Clear and Moist, and are said to be made from Japanese hot spring water.

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Skincare Kristel Yap Skincare Kristel Yap

Hada Labo is now in the PH - here’s what’s available + local prices

Whenever Japanese beauty cult faves come up in the Project Vanity Community, Hada Labo always makes an appearance. The brand is a particular favorite among skincare enthusiasts, but until recently, we were dependent on Tokyo-bound friends and pasabuys to help us get our J-beauty fix. With Hada Labo’s arrival in the Philippines, we can now stock up on their best-selling products by visiting Watsons

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Features, Travel Gett Baladad Features, Travel Gett Baladad

The 45 common Japanese beauty terms to help you survive shopping in Tokyo

So you find yourself in a shopping district in Tokyo or Osaka, and you duck into a MatsuKiyo or Tokyu Hands. Inside, you are confronted with hundreds, if not thousands of products to choose from. It’s easier to navigate if you have a list of products to look for - maybe you even got product photos so you can show them to non-English speaking shopkeepers! Having a list is definitely helpful but given the chance to explore this beauty wonderland, wouldn’t it be fun to have a completely new discovery?

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Skincare Denise Bengzon Skincare Denise Bengzon

The Asian Beauty Sunscreen Battle: We compared four to find the best daily sunscreen!

Over at the Project Vanity Community page, we often get requests for sunscreen recommendations. Everyone looks for the same qualities: no white cast, not sticky or heavy, and ideally without that distinctive sunscreen scent. By and large, Asian Beauty (AB) sunscreen formulas are the clear favorite, with most recos coming from Japanese and Korean skincare picks. Having so many options can be pretty overwhelming though, so let’s attempt to answer the billion dollar question: which sunscreen has the best formula?

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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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Skincare Marielle Ong Skincare Marielle Ong

Japanese brand Lululun has new sheet masks - here's what we think!

One of this year’s biggest beauty trends is the approach to skincare as a form of self-care. Following a morning and night routine has become a necessity not just for the physical improvements but for the perceived mental and emotional benefits as well. With so many skincare products available, skincare regimens are not so basic anymore and sheet masks are often the favored “luxury addition” to give skin an extra boost. Thanks to Japanese beauty brand Lululun, a daily sheet masking ritual is definitely doable!

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Cheeks, Lips Kimberly Anne Capeding Cheeks, Lips Kimberly Anne Capeding

New from Canmake: Cream Cheek Tint and Matte Lip Tint

I am not as well versed in J-beauty as I’d like to be. Unlike the rest of the PV team, my experience with Japanese cosmetics can be condensed to a few award winning skincare, cult-favorite mascaras, and the ever famous Shu Uemura lash curler. I’m currently on a streak of more natural makeup looks so Canmake Philippines’ newly-released matte lip tint and cream blush were welcome additions to my current rotation!

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Events Kristel Yap Events Kristel Yap

In Season: Our top picks from Kanebo's all-new Autumn/Winter Collection

Despite having known it for a while now, I still can't get over how Kanebo is over a hundred years old! Our editor Liz has even toured the Kanebo and Kao Museum, which traces the brand's history to its roots as a textile production company in 1887! The secret to the Japanese heritage brand's longevity lies in its ability to combine traditions that are known to work and trends that excite. For autumn of 2017, Kanebo is releasing a huge collection in the Philippines once more. And what's extra exciting is that it will beef up the local selection, as they only entered the Philippines in 2011!

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Features Marielle Ong Features Marielle Ong

J-Beauty Love: My three favorite things from Kate Tokyo's new collection

Sparks flew the first time I experience Kate Tokyo in the summer of 2016. It was during a media event launching a line of eyeshadows and face bases that I found myself captivated with this J-beauty brand’s take on edgy makeup. More so, it was when I learned to do the life-changing vertical gradation eyeshadow technique that made my monolids look bigger and brighter! I’ve been doing my eye makeup that way every since.

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Features Frankie Torres Features Frankie Torres

J-Beauty for oily skin: Five Canmake products for your everyday look

When I first started to experiment with J- and K-beauty, I had a difficult time finding products that fit me. See, while Western makeup was all about mattifying, the cult of chok-chok meant that most products geared towards a more Asian aesthetic added “dewiness” to the skin. Unfortunately for me, that meant a greasy disaster on my oily skin.

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