Blush Marielle Ong Blush Marielle Ong

Achieving the big ‘O’: Four cheaper dupes for Nars’ iconic Orgasm blush

During the early years of my makeup obsession, I attended a beauty workshop where the instructor divulged the One True Blush Shade to rule all others: peachy pink. The magic lies in its versatility to look flattering across all skin tones, as well as its ability to work with most lipstick and eyeshadow combinations. Not too cool, not too warm, and with just the right smattering of shimmer, it's easy to understand why the cheekily-named Nars Orgasm is the gold standard in this category and spawned countless iterations including a stick form (aka The Multiple) and the Super Orgasm.

Read More
Features, Events Marielle Ong Features, Events Marielle Ong

Andrea Brillantes launches Blythe Cosmetics with Careline (swatches inside!)

There’s better than basic, and then there’s outta this world! When Ever Bilena first introduced the revamped Careline collection dubbed as the “Careline Girl Gang” with Andrea Brillantes two years ago, we were wowed by how the company embraced a trendier, edgier look for their teen-centric line. “Pa-tweetums” is now a thing of the past, and the brand did not shy away from bold eye makeup, blingy highlighter, and metallic/non-traditional lip colors.

Read More
Lips Marielle Ong Lips Marielle Ong

Tinted Love: A review of the new Kris x Ever Bilena Tinted Lip Balms

She’s a fighter, a mother, a queen, and she’s bouncing back! While the last year has been challenging for the Queen of All Media, Kris Aquino is all about maintaining positivity in her life and, of course, serving up a heaping helping of LOVE LOVE LOVE. Along with the good vibes comes curated additions to the ever-expanding Kris Life Kit line, her hands-on collaboration with Ever Bilena. So pucker up for the Kris Tinted Lip Balms!

Read More
Features, Lips Marielle Ong Features, Lips Marielle Ong

Lipstick History: The top 15 most iconic lipsticks that are still around today

Any beauty lover worth their salt knows that a lipstick isn’t just a lipstick. Applying color to your lips can be a comforting ritual, a confidence boost, a status symbol, and even carry a little piece of history! In honor of World Lipstick Day on July 29, we’re exploring our fascination with the legendary lippies that continue to be favorites years and even decades after they were first launched. They’ve proven to have offer such classic and iconic that generations of beauty lovers continue to covet them time and time again. Read our lips: these top picks are wishlist-worthy for a reason!

Read More
Foundation Marielle Ong Foundation Marielle Ong

A K-Beauty Review: The new Covericious bases from Banila Co

Just when we thought that the K-beauty base hype has died down, something new and shiny came along and piqued our curiosity. The spotlight is on Banila Co’s recently released Covericious Power Fit line, which promises long wear, buildable coverage, and high skin adherence. What really intrigued me is that these beauty bases are formulated with hydrolized collagen for additional hydrating properties that cling better to the skin than regular collagen. As someone with dry skin that’s prone to flaking, I definitely needed to test that out!

Read More
Lips Marielle Ong Lips Marielle Ong

Swatches + Review: Going nude with Avon’s six new shades of matte lipstick

Have you ever looked at your lipstick collection and noticed a pattern? There’s probably one shade that you purchase more frequently than others. Some people can’t live without their 50 shades of red, while I personally can’t get enough of plums and MLBB pinks. My fellow PV girls are well-aware of this and give me a nudge when they spot something they know I’d like!

Read More
Skincare Marielle Ong Skincare Marielle Ong

Sleeping Beauty: Why you should put on overnight masks before bed

Once upon a time in a place called Manila, a dry-skinned girl discovered a moisturizer that worked miracles as she slept. She woke up the next morning to the most amazing siopao-bouncy skin, and thus began her obsession with sleeping masks. Many years later, the girl’s love for sleeping masks continued to grow, and she continued to try other products in search of The Holy Grail Sleeping Mask of her dreams...

Read More
Skincare Marielle Ong Skincare Marielle Ong

Exploring clean skin and #LifeGoals with BDJ and Neutrogena

What if you wanted a change? What if you’re looking for something better? What if you dared to dream and strive to do? Just realizing that there are endless possibilities available is a source of empowerment, but sometimes we need a little help to become aware of them. Neutrogena and Belle De Jour offered a fun afternoon of imagination and positivity as we learned about the newly formulated range of Neutrogena Deep Clean Foaming Cleansers and created inspiring vision boards with Trixie Esguerra!

Read More
Events Marielle Ong Events Marielle Ong

Hey Jodi: Why Jodi Sta. Maria is the fresh new face of Ever Bilena

In the 36 years that Ever Bilena has been playing and slaying in the local beauty biz, the brand has clearly mastered the fine art of adapting with the times. Far from being relegated to distant memory as your lola’s tukador staple, EB has grown and expanded with several notable sub-brands for makeup and body care, an edgy beauty line for today’s trendsetters, and even a high-profile cosmetics collab with the Queen of All Media.

Read More
Foundation Marielle Ong Foundation Marielle Ong

Review + Swatches: The 245-peso Vice Cosmetics Duo Finish Foundation

Since its grand launch in 2017, Vice Cosmetics has firmly established itself in the local celeb beauty brand scene with a resounding pak! Last year saw a major focus on tarush-colored pouts with a line of moisturizing matte lipsticks, the Philippines’ answer to Kylie Jenner’s lip kits, some juicy-looking lip tints, and a glittery collab with stylist-to-the-stars Bang Pineda. Let’s not forget that the brand also got ‘cheeky’ with the Aura collection of powder blushes, highlighters, and contours!

Read More
Personal Care Marielle Ong Personal Care Marielle Ong

Back to basics with Nekkid Beauty: What to try from this small-batch local beauty brand

What does it mean to “get Nekkid”? For local, small-batch beauty company Nekkid Manila, it means stripping down to the basics by focusing on high-quality, hand-made products. It also means going the cruelty-free, vegan/vegetarian, and all-natural route. But while the latter claims probably belong to a broader discussion on labeling, this review will stick to the experience of trying out eight products from their collection.

Read More
Lips Marielle Ong Lips Marielle Ong

She Did It! A full review + swatches of Kris Bernal’s new liquid lipsticks

Celebrity makeup lines are a dime-a-dozen these days. And while the next actress/singer/influencer to announce a collab or launch their own brand might not be so surprising anymore, the intrigue is still there. What passes a star’s standard of quality? How do they curate a collection? How involved are they really in the development process? Only one way to find out!

Read More
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!

Read More
Health & Wellness Marielle Ong Health & Wellness Marielle Ong

Look better and feel stronger with GNC Philippines

Living your best life and being your best self can be interpreted in a number of ways. If your definition includes striving for constant self-improvement on the health and wellness front, you’re in good company. General Nutrition Centers, aka GNC Philippines, is also on the move to becoming bigger, better, and stronger to match their stores in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

Read More
Hair Marielle Ong Hair Marielle Ong

Freshly Unwashed: Three under P500 dry shampoos to refresh your hair ASAP

Having naturally wavy, chemically-treated strands that I compulsively wash almost daily means that I am basically a frizz magnet at the first sign of humidity. To help manage my mane issues, especially when I have to leave the house looking a little more presentable, I tend to wash my hair the night before to let everything settle. I also rely on the magic of dry shampoo!

Read More
Health & Wellness Marielle Ong Health & Wellness Marielle Ong

Canesten and Marian Rivera get upfront about body care

When beauty lovers obsess over the face, hair, and nails, it’s easy to forget that body care isn’t always as simple as soap and water. Proper TLC is a must in maintaining healthy skin all over, with activities like full-body exfoliation sessions to regularly slathering on lotions. Sometimes, it can even mean nipping fungal infections in the bud, and being honest about the need to address this kind of issue is the first step to regaining flawless skin.

Read More
Skincare Marielle Ong Skincare Marielle Ong

Fresh Skinlab is about affordable and portable skincare

When I was in high school and makeup was forbidden, my classmates and I got our beauty kick by being extra enthusiastic about skincare. During lunch breaks, face washes, moisturizers, and lip balms were whipped out of school bags and shared or traded. We only had our student allowances then so purchases were carefully budgeted. If only it were available then, we would’ve appreciated the compact and inexpensive skincare products of Fresh Skinlab!

Read More
Events Marielle Ong Events Marielle Ong

Natasha celebrates 25 years with a star-studded concert and exciting news

When direct selling in the Philippines is mentioned, Natasha is one of the top brands that comes to mind. From its humble beginnings as a mall boutique, the brand has evolved by transforming its business into a powerhouse that now has an extensive reach overseas. Making it to 25 years is no small feat for any endeavor, so to celebrate its ongoing success, Natasha celebrated its silver anniversary with a concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last August 25. “Natasha 25 Tayo! Ikaw Ang Star!” featured celebrity endorsers, fashion shows, and a major announcement that looks to take the company into an exciting new direction!

Read More