I’ve not come across a Filipino brand mascara that I love, until this one. I know, so dramatic, but I was really pleasantly surprised when I finally tried the Spotlight Second Skin Mascara with Castor Oil (P385 for 8g).

About me: I have really high standards when it comes to mascara. I usually go for Japanese or American mascaras because they deliver the curl, the volume, the length, the staying power. But they are a bit more expensive than I would like to spend for an everyday I’m-just-going-to-the-grocery mascara, with Maybelline at P499 and up depending where you buy it. Enter Spotlight.

After all this time, Happy Skin remains as one of my top three favorite local cosmetic brands. I like how they’re always improving their formulations and coming up with new ones. And now, since the launch of Generation Happy Skin a couple of years ago, they have affordable everyday makeup solutions that are all under P400. What a steal, right?

When I decided to buy my first “fancy” blush 11 years ago, NARS Orgasm was the one I had my eye on. It was said to be the best blush EVER and was highly recommended by all the beauty bloggers I respected! But Super Orgasm came out around that time so I spent weeks in agony thinking about what to buy. In the end, I decided on Super Orgasm. It was my fave blush for years and years!

I first fell for Anne Curtis’ Wedding Lipsticks back in 2017 when it was first released. I promptly went out and bought a set because the whole concept was so timely for me; I also got married that same year. While I didn’t wear the lipsticks for my own bridal look, I recall enjoying Anne’s lipstick shades in Mon Amour and I Do on a daily basis.

It was the bold claim of a mask-proof glossy lip that intrigued me enough to want to try a Korean brand that has been getting consistent buzz within the local beauty community. Bet I got an eyebrow raise with that one. Rom&nd is the brainchild of Kbeauty guru, Saerom Min. (With the “Rom” taken from her name + a stylized version of “and”.) The brand features makeup with minimalist packaging that manages to represent color range well, peppered with some trendy collabs in between.

If you’ve been playing with eyeshadows recently and are looking to add more palettes in your kit, then boy do I have a find for you! I purchased the Squad Cosmetics Boss Squad Eyeshadow Palette (P199 in Shopee) on a whim last March. I honestly did not expect much from it given the price tag, but it turned out to be one of those products wherein the quality exceeds its cost. Don’t get me wrong ha, this is no Natasha Denona or Pat McGrath (my two fave eyeshadow brands!). However if you don’t like splurging on eye makeup (yet, you might still change your mind haha) then this is quite good for 199 pesos.

I went a little mad for eyeshadows a few months ago, and one of the collateral damage during that time is the then newly-released Alyssa Edwards x Anastasia Eyeshadow Palette (P3,380 at Sephora.ph). This was exactly the kind of candy bright, has-zero-fucks-to-give palette that I was looking for! It’s my first ever Anastasia palette. I passed on their other ones because while I felt that I had them in some version in my other palettes, I have nothing like the Alyssa Edwards colors, period.

So, now that I’ve had this for some time, do I still think it’s worth the splurge?

Filipinas have definitely become a lot more interested in eyeshadow in recent years because of YouTube and Instagram. Before, we felt that eyeshadow wasn’t worth the kerfuffle so long as we had mascara, eyeliner, and kilay on, but now it’s become a fun way to dress up any look! There are hundreds of palettes in the market though, so allow me to share a recent Revlon find that’s under 900 pesos: the Looks Book Eyeshadow Palettes (P875 at Revlon counters).

When it comes to good quality makeup products that won’t break the bank, Pink Sugar is a constant favorite here on PV! From the time Liz first wrote about them in 2015, we’ve pretty much enjoyed everything from their 350-peso face powder to their pizza-proof lip tints. The formulas are good and reliable, but this local brand is continually finding ways to make their products even more user-friendly. So when they released a new variant of their well-loved Eye Candy Eyeshadow palette and a repackaged duo version of their Sweet Cheeks HD Cheek Color, I thought people needed to see these in action! 

Revlon has been around since 1932. For 86 years it has innovated and defined beauty for generations of women, proving itself as a cosmetics business that has survived the test of time and fickle tastes. In the last few years, however, I’ve felt that Revlon has become boring. The brand comes out with solid, reliable products all the time, but people don’t get as excited about it when the competition for eyeballs and wallet space is so fierce.

With the new Shoot The Moon Collection though, I feel like Revlon is getting out of their funk and becoming a little (okay, a lot!) more experimental with their offerings. This recently released 16-piece collection is all about outer space in all its weird glamour - the deep blue packaging is sprinkled with gold shooting stars, rocket ships, and UFOs.

I purchased the Urban Decay Born To Run Palette at the Sephora SoHo branch in New York. I didn’t enter Sephora with intention to buy ~a lot~ of makeup, but I ended up spending quite a bit inside! The hysteria is different inside a US Sephora store. I’ve been inside the stores in Singapore and Malaysia before, but the level of shopping energy is so different in New York. It’s like…ubusan ng makeup levels of excitement. It does catch.

If you didn’t already know, the Philippine beauty scene is on fire. There have been waves of proudly Pinoy brands that are gaining recognition for releases that can easily compete with foreign brands in terms of quality and pricing. We’ve already featured local liquid lipsticks previously, so let’s complete the look with some noteworthy eyeshadow palettes!

I tried out five local eyeshadow palettes and did a wear test for each. I didn’t apply any eyeshadow primer underneath to see which ones offer the best color payoff and crease-resistant formula. For reference, I have dry skin that oils up on my T-zone later in the day.

I always come with a positive mindset whenever I try new products. In the decade that I've tested hundreds of products for Project Vanity, I've come to understand that each has its pros and cons and that what works for some may not work for me (that rolls the other way round too). Beauty, I love to say, is so personal. We buy things for different reasons and not all of them is based purely on how effective the product is.

That said, I didn't initially intend to write this review of some Glossier products I picked up online. There are other things for me to write about but Den our Managing Editor convinced me it should be out there. So why not? 

Brown is probably one of the most useful colors in makeup artistry. It allows us to contour our features, add contrast in strategic areas, and can be used pretty much anywhere from our scalp to our toes. Happy Skin was onto something when they created their new Eye Can Do It 3-Way Palette (P699 at happyskincosmetics.com) as this contains two versatile shades of brown that glide and blend easily on skin. Let's take a closer look!

The wine life is not for everyone, but thankfully, you don’t always have to drink it to appreciate it. Wine palettes are cropping up left and right, and today we’re going to take you through a step-by-step tutorial to create your own wine eye look!

I am fascinated by how beauty brands are born. The best ones are more than just a business - they are made by passionate people who have something special to share to the world. That's why Natasha Denona is a brand to watch. The founder, for which the brand takes its name, is a former model who decided to become a self-taught makeup artist. Just hearing her talk about her passion for makeup and the artistry that it requires is so inspiring! She particularly enjoys doing editorial, high-voltage looks that packs a lot of color.