Project Vanity has always been about discovering the best beauty products in the country. More than that, however, it’s a community where we can find find smart, amazing women to share our ideas with. When I started it out by myself ten years ago there was no indication that it would be more than just a random beauty blog at the time, but here we are. We’ve grown up together and done things that we didn’t think was possible.

Where do you shop for your beauty hauls? I honestly love the convenience that online shopping offers, but it’s definitely more fun to be able to see everything that’s available and to swatch and try the products in person! Thankfully, we are now spoiled for choice with the launch of freyja, a unique beauty experience that allows you to get the best of both worlds!

I vaguely remember her as the super maarte Emily from the GMA show T.G.I.S., and while little budding tomboy Sammi didn’t like Emily at first, she warmed up to the idea of a flamboyant, pigtailed, Taglish-speaking Anne Curtis.

Cut to 2018. Anne Curtis-Heusaff now has her own cosmetics line that gives tribute to the decade of grunge, kitsch, and butterfly clips. Apparently, Anne Curtis is so obsessed with the 90s that she created a whole collection around it!

I like to pull influences from all sorts of media, but the canon of film and TV is such a particularly great resource because it laces aesthetics with philosophies about beauty and identity. In film and TV, makeup moments say a lot about character and these moments are pretty intentional by design. We recently had a discussion about great beauty moments from film and TV in the Project Vanity Community group, and I’ve put together some our faves into this little list.

If you’re part of Facebook beauty groups or wedding planning, you may have seen the viral post that sent online beauty community into a frenzy over the weekend. Originally shared by a user named Makiko Yoshizawa, the post is a scathing review of celebrity makeup artist RB Chanco. Makiko claimed that RB was unresponsive in the months leading up to her wedding, leading her to cancel their service agreement. She also detailed how RB insisted on keeping the reservation fee despite the cancellation of the contract, which happened mere weeks before the event. The post includes screenshots of OP’s exchanges with the artist.

If you’re a member of the Project Vanity Community, you may have seen one of my (many) posts raving about the Human Nature Hydrating Face Toner. I’ve used up two big bottles of this since discovering it sometime last year, and that’s a big deal for me as someone who often has to try a lot of other products as part of my job. There was a point when I regretted sharing about it though because it was out of stock at several stores by the time I had to repurchase!

Long before I’d jumped on the K-Beauty hypetrain, I was already a big fan of The Face Shop. Their Lovely Me:Ex Angel Skin Powder Pact was my first upgrade from drugstore pressed powders (and still holds a soft spot in my heart for its finely-milled, soft-matte finish). I still hold their My Lips Eat Cherry Aqua Tint as one of the gold standards for Korean lip and cheek tints: viscous enough to not be messy and bleed into my teeth, as other, more watery tints are apt to do. I’ve grown to be such a fan of their products that, despite being on no-buy, I can’t resist at least taking a peek when I pass by their stores, excited to see what new products or deals are on offer.

Kathryn Bernardo, to me, is the epitome of gandang polbo and lip tint. While I have not followed her body of work as an actress, I am a huge fan of her face and have admired her beauty journey through the years. In many past interviews, both she and her go-to celebrity makeup artist, Denise Go-Ochoa, would emphasize how little makeup Kathryn actually wears. She prefers to wear little to no foundation and would often stress the importance of good skin. Her signature makeup look consists of dewy skin, straight brows, defined lashes, flushed cheeks, and just a hint of lip color.

When local brands claim to be local, we expect it to mean that they are proudly made in the Philippines. But this isn't always the case. Their teams and concepts originate from the Philippines but manufacturing the actual products is a different story entirely. They go to Taiwan, China, Korea, Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia to bring their concepts to life. Why is this?

I often think that we expect too much from beauty influencers. We form a bond with them as they share the innermost details of not just their skincare and makeup routines, but their lives. We believe them when they rave about a product, or discard it as not worth anybody's money. We trust them to look out for our beauty and happiness but at the end of the day, they are just normal people too. They say or do shitty things that they regret afterwards and they are just as flawed as the next person on the street - only more glamorous with the perfect cat eye, of course!

From being ‘Jenny from the block’ to becoming a film actress, Jennifer Lopez has always worked in front of the camera. For the first time ever, she’s stepped behind the scenes to collaborate with European cosmetics brand Inglot to create a massive 70-piece collection that is now available here in the PH!

I started blogging in 2005, 13 years ago, on my first year of college. I wrote about my observations at university, I postured at poetry, and tried to engage in philosophical discourse. If you ever find that blog, please forgive me for I was but a wee young Political Science student who aspired to become a lawyer one day and didn't know better with her provincial pretensions. Nevertheless, back then, I was a "serious" blogger. Imagine how slightly ashamed I was to start Project Vanity in 2008 - a beauty blog. Of all things.

We’re no strangers to the caliber of Ellana Cosmetics, which is why we’re always in the middle of surprised and not surprised when they launch new material. This time, they’re expanding to more complexion products, hitting the sweet spot of quality and accessibility (as usual). We got to test a bunch of new products: from setting powders, to setting sprays, to makeup removers. Plus! New Lip in Luxe shades in new packaging. How do these people do it???

Let’s see how they fare.

Beach season may be over, but the desire to stay healthy should be enough motivation to keep your gym sessions consistent. Getting that post-workout glow (whether naturally or via beauty tricks) doesn’t hurt either! And to keep that healthy flush going before, during, and after your exercise session, Clinique Fit is now in the Philippines with seven new products that keep up with that active lifestyle.

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer has had a lot of time to ruminate on her makeup collection – she was the 90’s It Girl and has had a very active three-decade old career. That’s countless years spent having makeup done on herself, so who better to create a line than the woman who has served as the muse of countless photographers and fashion designers?

We've often talked about "self-care" here on PV as taking the time and effort to look after yourself. It can be as simple as slapping on your favorite sheet, going for a full-on home spa session, or getting your tips and toes done at the parlor. But there is more to self-care than beauty and pampering, and the long queue that snaked through the Meralco Theater lobby for the Watsons World of Wellness event was a happy reminder that people haven't forgotten what really matters.

If not for cult favorites like the Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Toner and the Aztec Healing Clay, Healthy Options isn’t always an obvious choice when shopping for beauty products. If you’re conscious about avoiding certain ingredients or sticking to vegan formulations though, this is the place to be!

I recently scoured the Healthy Options to find more products that are cruelty-free, vegan, and don’t contain sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate (SLS and SLES), artificial colors, or parabens. Though Healthy Options may be pricier than regular groceries (for isn't that what it is?), they also have inexpensive finds that can meet more stringent beauty standards. Can you believe that I scored this entire haul for just P1,588?

The glitz, the glamour, the star power: Makeup brands collaborating with the who’s who of the entertainment industry may be a tale as old as time, but it’s a move that often spells success for both brand and celeb alike. Fans are thrilled to get their hands on something with their idol’s stamp of approval, and beauty lovers get to discover some cool new stuff that might make fans out of them yet. And so you get some exciting team-ups that’ll go down in beauty history such as Becca x Chrissy Teigen, Victoria Beckham x Estee Lauder, Jennifer Lopez for Inglot, Patrick Starrr x MAC, and Gigi Hadid x Maybelline!

Not to be outdone, Pinoy celebrities are bringing their creative chops into the fray. In the last two years, we’ve seen more and more homegrown talents collaborate with big beauty brands, or even go as far as to start their own cosmetic companies altogether.

Cloudy skies and frequent rainshowers have officially put an end to Summer 2018 but that doesn’t mean that vibrant colors have to take a back seat. If you’re looking to make a beauty statement that stands out in gloomy weather, Inglot’s new releases are all about playing the color game with minimal effort.