I was scrolling through Best of the Best Manila, one of my favorite Facebook groups, when I came across a post that stopped me in my tracks. An anonymous woman shared that she had been training for a marathon for a whole year—twelve months of early mornings, sore muscles, and pushing her limits. But now, she’s 13 weeks pregnant. On a recent training run, she started to bleed. The baby is okay, but her OB told her she had to stop. No marathon. No finish line. No moment of triumph after all that work.

She turned to the group, probably hoping someone would say, Oh, I ran a marathon while pregnant! It was totally fine!. But the response was almost unanimous: Don’t risk it. It’s not worth it. You can always run a marathon later, but you can’t replace a lost baby.

I grew up with my mom insisting that I had to wear a bra every single day—otherwise, my boobs would start sagging immediately. And, of course, I believed her. Who wouldn’t trust their mom on these things? But as it turns out, not only do bras not prevent sagging, they might actually make it worse in the long run! Over time, relying on them can weaken the connective tissues that naturally support our breasts, since the bra is doing all the heavy lifting instead. Shocking, right? These days, I rarely wear one. I’ll put one on if I’m wearing something super fitted or if I’m working out, but otherwise, I’m on the nipple tape train.

If you love cream products but have oily skin (a struggle, I know), then you’ve probably been let down by ones that feel too sticky or disappear by lunchtime. It’s hard to find something that sits just right, you know, something blendable, lightweight, and long-wearing. So when I got my hands on the Ever Bilena Pillow Pop Multi Pot, I was cautiously excited. A bouncy, creamy-to-powder formula for just P295 (or P143 on sale!)? Sounds promising. But does it deliver?

I’ve been allergic (figuratively speaking) to strenuous physical activity for most of my adult life. I did not like sweating too hard or spending too much time thinking about fitness. I thought I was fit (comedy gold). I’ve been hitting tennis balls these past ten years, but that was just pa-cute tennis—I had never even played a full game until recently. But ever since I got shipped off to the emergency room for three days about four years ago, something has changed within me. Something was not the same. I found out that I’m extremely hypertensive and that, after extensive tests, it’s just my bad luck with genetics. I’ve been on maintenance meds since I was 33, and that will continue into the foreseeable future.

Narciso Rodriguez has always mastered the art of understated sensuality. His fragrances don’t scream for attention or assault the senses. Instead, they somehow leave a lingering impression of something beautiful passing you by. Today, let’s talk about two of the brand’s scents: for him Vetiver Musc Eau De Toilette and for her Musc Nude Eau de Parfum. Both are different in personality yet complementary, almost like a perfectly matched couple.

One is fresh, woody, and confidently masculine; the other is soft, musky, and effortlessly feminine. Let’s get into it!

If you’ve ever had a keratin treatment at the salon, you know the magic of stepping out with smooth, shiny, and frizz-free hair. But keratin isn’t just a one-time treatment—it’s actually a naturally occurring protein in our hair, skin, and nails. Think of it as the building block that keeps our strands strong and resilient.

However, due to constant exposure to heat, pollution, and chemical treatments (yes, even your favorite hair dye), our hair’s keratin levels deplete over time. That’s when we start seeing breakage, dullness, and rough texture. The good news? You can replenish lost keratin through keratin-infused hair products, giving your strands a much-needed boost without an expensive trip to the salon.

Last week, as I was walking down the street, someone came down from a jeep smelling like Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge. That is a P36,000 bottle of perfume (P17,000 if you get the 70ml bottle), so my first thought was, why is someone who can afford a bottle like that riding a jeep of all things? Maybe they just like riding jeeps, I don’t know. But then I remembered that there are a lot of perfume dupe brands out in the market right now and you can get one that smells like MFK for P200 in Shopee.

And that’s when it really hit me: fragrance is a great equalizer.

Every year, the skincare industry churns out a new “holy grail” ingredient—one that promises to fix all your skin concerns without fail. A few years ago, it was hyaluronic acid. Then it was Vitamin C for a while. Then we have niacinamide, which has appeared in nearly every serum, moisturizer, and toner on the market. But let’s cut to the core: Is niacinamide actually worth it, or is it just another overhyped fad? And if it is effective, what’s the best way to use it? Let’s break it down.

Hi, any makeup tips for wedding guests? It's my first time to be invited to a friend's wedding and i'm excited! Kaso lang, wala akong idea kung ano ang do's and dont's when it comes sa makeup when attending a wedding as a guest. Noong wedding kasi ng brother ko, included na ako doon sa entourage ng bride for the hair and makeup i'm going to be doing my own hair and makeup this time hehe thanks in advance! -M

I love this question because weddings are fun, and I want you to feel confident celebrating with your friends and family that day. I regularly go to a lot of events because of my job, so I’d like to think that I’m a bit of an expert when it comes to doing my own event makeup

I started sewing when I got COVID during the pandemic, around September 2021. Stuck in isolation with nothing much to do, I figured—why not spend the next two weeks learning something I’d always wanted to try? At the time, I was also binging Next In Fashion on Prime, where contestants were constantly challenged to sew a gown in just five hours. I thought, well, how hard could it be? So, I ordered the cheapest sewing machine I could find on Shopee and started watching tutorials on YouTube.

If there’s one thing I never expected to rave about, it’s a fiber supplement. But let me tell you, the Trizie Mango Shots deserve all the love! My first encounter with this little miracle came thanks to the Beauty Creator Summit, where Trizie included a sachet in the loot bags. Having already been a fan of Trizie’s other supplements, I was curious to try it—though I’ll admit, I’d never ventured into fiber supplements before.

You know what’s on my mind today? The fact that it’s 2025, and somehow, we’re still debating whether women deserve proper sex education. Isn’t that wild? We can 3D-print houses and send billionaires to space, but when it comes to teaching girls about their own bodies, people still act like it’s the end of the world.

Growing up in the Philippines, I can’t say I’m surprised. There was no such thing as a proper talk about sex or reproduction. If you had questions, you either didn’t ask or risked getting side-eyed by every adult in the room. It was the ultimate DIY situation: figure it out on your own, hope for the best, and maybe pick up a few questionable “facts” from equally clueless friends. It's literally the blind leading the blind. If someone gets pregnant then it’s 100% the woman’s fault for not keeping her legs closed.

If you're like me, you've probably found yourself standing in front of your closet, realizing just how much stuff you’ve accumulated over the years. Some pieces still spark joy, sure, but others? Maybe not so much. Well, here's a fantastic way to give those items a second life—donate them to Zonta Club’s The Little Vintage Shop (TLVS)! I LOVE this store and I shop here heavily whenever I get the chance. I’ve always enjoyed collecting second hand clothes and they have such an amazing collection.

Anyway, not only will you free up precious closet space by donating (hello, shopping guilt-free after decluttering!), but you’ll also contribute to a meaningful cause. Here are all the reasons why this donation drive deserves your attention—and your pre-loved clothes.

Lip liners have had a glow-up recently, and I love how they’ve gone from being an afterthought to having an honored spot in every makeup routine. The Ever Bilena No Budge Lip Liner (P 195 / 0.25 g) caught my eye not just because it’s affordable, but for its promise of a rich, silky formula with serious staying power. After trying it, here’s the tea: it’s not just good - it’s great.

There’s something magical about January, isn’t there? The fresh, crisp feeling of a brand-new year is like opening a blank notebook—it’s full of possibility and promise. For me, the start of the year is also the perfect time to take stock of what I have, especially when it comes to my closet and beauty stash. After all, how can we move forward when we’re still holding on to things that don’t serve us anymore?

When it comes to multitasking beauty products, I’m always on the lookout for something that delivers on all fronts: ease of use, great color payoff, and long-lasting wear. The Spotlight Soft Glow Beauty Wand (P 695 / 4.9 g) promises exactly that, and after putting it to the test, I can confirm—it’s as good as it sounds! But of course, no product is perfect, so let’s dive into what makes it shine (and where it could use a little polish).

Hello, friends! As you read this, I’m likely staring at my suitcase, mentally packing and repacking for the fifteenth time. I’m off to Tokyo tomorrow, my favorite city in the world, and while I’ve traveled quite a bit over the years, packing always reminds me of my rookie days. Oh, the mistakes I made!

Travel is such a privilege, but let’s not sugarcoat it: it’s also stressful. To save you from some of the chaos, here are three things I’ve learned not to do when traveling. I hope my advice helps you have a smoother, more enjoyable trip!

Let’s talk about sunscreen reapplication. We know it's important. We know we should be doing it. But if you’re like me, the thought of ruining your makeup halfway through the day just to protect your skin from the sun makes you want to scream into your SPF bottle. That’s where the new Bioré Aqua Protect Mist comes in. Let’s discuss why this might be worth adding to your sun protection routine!

It’s impossible to look at the beauty looks from the 2025 Golden Globes and not see a love letter to Old Hollywood glamour. The unifying thread throughout the night was an undeniable nod to the timeless elegance of icons like Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O, and Audrey Hepburn. From voluminous hairdos to classic winged eyeliner and romantic waves, the red carpet felt like a nostalgic trip back to the 1960s—an era synonymous with traditional femininity and understated sophistication.

This is my favorite question to ask my friends these days: what are your personal goals for the year? I emphasize “personal” because most people mention something work-related. Yes we love to be more productive, have better work output, and make more money. But I think it’s important to think about what we want to achieve for ourselves alone. I’ve been giving my goals a lot of thought, and here are three things I really want to focus on!