Being a beauty blogger, I get lots of opportunities to try out products I wouldn't have purchased myself. If it were up to me I'd probably stick to one drugstore facial wash forever and completely miss out on the good stuff! For there is a difference between high-end and drugstore skincare. Most people would recommend you splurge on moisturizer, eye cream, and serum (well I do too) but I think there's also a case to be made for expensive facial cleansers.

Yes, you're just going to wash them off anyway, so why pay big(ish) bucks for something that'll stay on your skin for only a couple of minutes? It's because high-end cleansers have a softer, fluffier lather, they smell better, and usually remove light makeup effectively too.

This week, I'll be featuring some interesting products from the cheekiest cosmetics brand in the block: Benefit! I picked out some new finds a couple of weeks ago, and I'm very excited to talk about them as I'm happy with the results. ^_^ In fact I'm so happy, I decided I can't keep all of the products to myself haha. I'm giving away a toner and moisturizer at the end of this post, so one lucky reader can also try out Benefit's skincare range!

Before all that though, here's a review of the Benefit Foamingly Clean Facial Wash (P1,200), a one-step makeup remover and foaming facial cleanser. 

Benefit isn't exactly famous for skincare, but I have tried the brand's Triple Performing Facial Emulsion as well as the It's Potent! Eye Cream before and really enjoyed using both. The skincare range smells fantastic - clean, light, and expensive. I love that very little goes a long way, and that their creams work well with combi to oily skin.

The skincare line looks like it's designed for maintenance more than anything. It's pretty basic, with nourishing ingredients, but they don't promise (nor deliver) any drastic changes to the skin. If you're already happy with your face and just need something gentle to maintain its glow, Benefit's skincare line can do it for you.

Now, the Foamingly Clean Facial Wash. This is a "1-step gentle wash" that can remove makeup and cleanse your face of impurities.

I'd be lying if I said that everyday is a mega hyper inspiring blogging day. Sometimes I just really want to get work out of the way and/or attend to my other hobbies. Sometimes I don't feel like adding yet another beauty product review to the hundreds that this website already contains. I mean did you even notice that I've already written 2,210 posts in the last six years? I don't but sometimes I do notice.

Obviously I can't blog forever. Maybe I'll stop when I reach 5,000 and finally, truly feel that I've said all I can possibly say about the beauty industry. That's still some time in the future though! When I don't feel inspired, I try to be consistent instead. Inspiration is awesome to have but it won't sustain me and take me all the way to the top. Consistency, while dull and repetitive, is reliable. No one can't take it away from me except me.

Anyhoo, we're back to MAC Week. I have here the Prep + Prime Fortified Skin Enhancer SPF35 PA+++ (P1,450), a tinted sunscreen that has illuminating properties. This was a CC cream before CC creams were born. It's quite sheer but it brightens my complexion wonderfully!

This isn't a primer in the sense that it makes makeup stay on longer. It's really designed to correct complexions with certain issues like redness (Neutralize is recommended, a yellow), dullness (Adjust, a peach), and sallowness/yellowness (Illuminate, a lavender cream). I have Neutralize here and true enough it can tone down redness and keep my skin bright while at it.

One of these days I'm going to write a post on five beauty products that every crazy lazy girl needs. Why? Because we all have days when we don't want to do the whole song and dance on our faces. We either want to head out or take it all off ASAP, sometimes! I just want to tell you that it's okay to cut corners and/or simplify your routine if you're just not feeling it. It's your face, it's your call.

Anyway, one of my recent fave finds is the Philosophy Purity 3-in-1 Cleanser for face and eyes (P1,195). I've actually had this bottle since December but it's only now that I'm truly appreciating it. I thought it caused me to break out but this wasn't the culprit after all! I've since enjoyed how it has simplified my face cleansing routine.

If you wear light makeup, or even a medium amount of makeup, this is all you need to take it off and cleanse your face at the same time. This pale yellow liquid isn't foaming at all which might be weird to those used to sudsy facial washes, but it's pretty effective nonetheless.

It has a mild soapy scent. It doesn't sting my eyes but it tastes extremely bitter - so don't lick your lips even if you think you've washed off the product! 

I squirt a peso-sized amount on my dry palms and then massage it all over my face. I focus on my eyes, gently easing off the eyeliner, eyeshadow, and non-waterproof mascara off with small circular strokes using the tips of my fingers. No sting there so I'm not worried to really massage Purity in. Be prepared for cloudy eyes though, if a lot of the stuff gets in!

Nope, it's technically not makeup! The Mario Badescu Silver Powder (P745) is more like a face mask and acne troubleshooter than anything else. It's a skincare product that could pass off as finishing powder - actually, if you really want to maximize it, you can add a pinch of it to your loose powder just to amp up the oil-controlling properties. Just a pinch for one jar, no more.

For the Silver Powder is crazy oil absorbent. It contains calcium carbonate, which is a kind of chalk commonly used in mineral makeup, as well as kaolin clay (usually found in masks and long-wearing makeup) and zinc oxide (a sunscreen agent). It's mission is clear and devastatingly simple: to absorb excess oil and bring blackheads to the surface.

To use, dip a damp cotton bud into the powder and cover your nose with the wet powder. That should bring out most of the oil and impurities hiding near the surface of the skin.

Everybody is oily. If your skin does not oil up you're probably dead! Oil is a natural expression of our skin as it keeps the surface of our body lubricated and elastic. Some people have more of it than others and this causes problems like acne and unflattering shine. Now there isn't much you can do about your body's oil secretion levels (causes are gentic or hormonal), but there are ways to manage it - that's where beauty products come in.

Lately, I've discovered a few nifty things that can help with the oil, so this week will be dedicated to them. Allow me to bring you Oil Control Week!

I'll kick it off with a super effective product that I've been loving lately: the VMV Hypoallergenics Fine Finish Pore Minimizing Skin Mattifier (P700). This is a toner meant to be used like any other toner, but what makes it different is its main ingredients, Aluminum Chlorhydrate and Sodium Bicarbonate. These two are usually found in anti-perspirants and deodorants.

You're probably thinking, yuck. But I swear that this is a pretty effective toner! I've been using it for about three weeks now and I have noticed that my skin is much less oily, even when I've been out for like six hours. I didn't change anything about my skincare regimen except for this toner.

This toner is matapang. It lets off a fume-like smell that can sting your eyes if you apply it too near that area; the toner itself also has high alcohol content. My skin feels super dry and tight after I use it! However it feels okay after I apply my moisturizer. 

I'll be completely honest with you, this isn't a pleasant product to use.

Philosophy is finally, truly here in Manila! The cosmeceutical skincare and cosmetics brand officially launched its new store last Tuesday, with Global Press Director Robin White to celebrate the opening. Now you can finally have your favorite Philosophy products anytime - no need to order abroad or at Duty Free. ;) 

The new store is located at the 2nd Floor of Mega Fashion Hall (the new wing of Mega Mall). It'll be right across H&M which by the way will open on August. Take a peek!

With Robin White, Philosophy's Global Press Director

I had the chance to sit down with Ms White to talk about Philosophy and random things like, oh, advice she'd give herself if she can go back in time, or things she wish would be invented now. I'll blog about that interview soon, but for now, check out the beautifully appointed store. It's the brand's biggest yet, even including a skin spa called Peel Cabine in the back. 

At Peel Cabine you can avail of gentle facials and peels. Do visit if you love Philosophy's peel products, as they are the brand's best-sellers.

More photos of the store after the jump!

I felt like a bee drawn to honey when I opened the latest package from The Body Shop just the other day. The smell was so intoxicating, so sweet, so yummy - I just had to use the new Honeymania products immediately! This new collection includes the Body Butter, Lip Balm, Soap, Shower Gel, and Eau de Toilette. I suggest you get everything if you like to layer and intensify scents.

The Honeymania fragrance isn't your traditional syrupy honey; it's actually quite floral, since the bee-goop was supposed to be harvested from wildflowers in Ethiopia. The honey is just the base here and not the main note of the fragrance. It's not at all what I expected but I love it!

On to the products. The Honeymania Shower Gel is my top pick because it makes my bathroom smell like a sweet floral paradise. I also like that it lathers easily and thickly, without me having to use too much in one wash. It's also non-drying on my skin even though it's a gel.

Instant bathroom freshener

It normally takes me a week to write about press junkets, but this time I decided to try writing everything down while my memory is fresh. I want to remember everything! El Nido, Palawan is the most beautiful place I've been to so far. Thanks to Nivea, I was able to experience it and #embracethesun!

I was invited along with fellow bloggers, press, and celebrities to attend this annual event. We stayed in a gorgeous resort for three days - El Nido in Lagen Island - and got to visit the surrounding islands. I'll write about our stay in a separate post, but in the meantime, I'd like to introduce to you the latest product from Nivea.

Guys, meet the Nivea Sun Protect & Bronze Spray (P599)! It simply lets you tan beautifully and safely, without having to resort to self-tanners or tinted oils to get bronzed. The liquid is completely clear as it works in such a way that your skin develops its most natural tan, versus orangey and fake-looking tans out of a bottle. It promotes the skin's natural melanin production so that you get a color that is truly yours.

It comes in SPF 20, 30, and 50, which means that you can choose the level of protection as you need it. If you're in the beach though, you should go for the PF50! It protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays for about 4-5 hours (depends on your skin). Did you know that you actually don't need to go higher than 50? It should bounce off 93% off all harmful rays from the sun! (If properly applied, that is.)

This is already available in all major drugstores and supermarkets. ^_^ Keep an eye out for it if you're soaking up some sun soon! Anyway, here are photos of the actual launch.

My birthday is in three weeks and I am feeling old. My skin is just not as supple as it used to be! I've also been having my legs lasered these past six months so they feel quite dry. Then, there's this freaky cold weather in Manila lately that just sucks out the moisture from my skin. Rant rant rant. Bottomline, I'm dry and I feel uncomfortable and old about it.

So I've brought out the big guns. My goal is to reclaim the smoothness of my skin, if for no other reason than to spit in the eye of my 26th birthday. Lol. I'm not yet that age conscious, okay, just very conscious of my changing skin. Anyway, here are three things that I've found most effective in battling the dryness on my arms, legs, and neck!

Whenever I get argan oil from brands, I usually give it away. Now I realize that's a huge mistake. It took me a while to open my eyes!

I love this Melchior & Balthazar Argan Oil, as it takes my legs back to their erstwhile youth! I'm not kidding! This stuff is crazy. It makes my legs super duper smooth and velvety again. I can't believe it. I never thought my legs can feel that way!

Buuut are you ready for the price tag?

It peeves me when negative things attract more interest than positive ones. People who think other people are stupid, those who are jealous, those who are just a certain flavor of malicious - it's like a snake eating its own tail. They're the source of negativity and they also feed that negativity. They love a story where they can show just how superior they are to all the other people making mistakes, as if they never make one. 

You may not be a negative person normally, but tell me honestly, did your ears prick up with that first paragraph? I notice that I do the same thing whenever I get a whiff of controversy in my circle. I try to be conscious of and try to control it, but sometimes I just can't help it. I wanna know more. I wanna sneer more. I wanna take the high ground as if that's my permanent address.

However, I always tell myself never to judge. Or at least, not to judge harshly. We never really know the full story - we may never do. I think it helps us to be kinder just to know that.

Anyway! Today I'd like to show you the best hand cream I've tried so far: the Burt's Bees Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream (P950 for 90g). I got this as part of a gift set so I'm not sure if 50 grams is the full tube, but I do love the size (update: the full tube is 90 grams, and 50 grams is only P550 but this isn't available at Beauty Bar). It's ideal to bring during the day when my hands get dry!

And boy, do they go dry. I've never had such serious dryness before. When my partner touches my hand now he says it feels like cardboard! Ugh. It must be all the hand washing after scratching my dog's belly, and the dish washing too. I'm lucky not to need to wash my clothes, but I imagine that the dryness would be much worse if it were otherwise.

I've tried other hand creams before but I honestly can't use them as regularly as I want to. They are usually greasy and they take forever to get absorbed! I have this compulsion to always check my phone, my laptop, so ten minutes away is such a hassle. I always end up washing my hands to remove the cream, just so I can move on with my life.

Enter this Burt's Bees hand cream.

My first visit to Japan last July was all about experiencing Shiseido's 140-year old heritage and consummate love for art. You saw how the brand evolved through the years and how it looks like today. You've read about the Shiseido Museum in Kakegawa, the Flagship Store, and the Parlour in Ginza. Now, I'd like to show you the Shiseido factory in Kakegawa, Shizuoka!

This is an exclusive feature as I am honored to be the first beauty blogger to tour this factory. I'm grateful to Shiseido for the opportunity, because they don't normally work with bloggers; they usually go with traditional media. I'm happy that they're beginning to support this medium! ^_^

Moving along! The Shiseido Factory in Kakegawa is about an hour and forty minutes from Tokyo by bullet train. It's a sprawling complex that produces Shiseido's makeup products, among them foundation, eyeshadow, and lipstick. If I remember correctly, each building is dedicated to making only one type of makeup!

Shiseido Philippines Brand Manager, Jen Jimenez-Yalung, with myself

The background is actually a mosaic of real eyeshadows

I'll be talking more about the production aspect of the brand on Part 2 of this post. For today, I'll be discussing one of the brand's latest projects: a test facility right inside the Kakegawa complex.

You might be thinking: a test facility? What? That's boring! Guys, it's not. This is my favorite part of the factory visit, actually. The test facility is further proof of Shiseido's commitment to excellence. It was built because they want only safe and reliable plant raw materials for their active ingredients. They seek only the highest quality ingredients which are traceable to the source.

This facility is a preview of the things to come in 2014. It's only a small area for now, but the plan is to re-create it in a larger scale should it prove successful! The photo above shows a cube where various conditions like temperature, irrigation, light intensity, and carbon dioxide are controlled to get the best possible harvest.

Here's what's inside!

Purity is natural. We come to this world with all the right instincts, we are innocent and, therefore, perceive things as they should be, rather than how they are. Our conscience is clear, our hands are clean and the world at large is truly beautiful.

Who would've thought a facial wash would inspire me this way? You may have heard the exciting news already: Philosophy is back in Manila! This time around, the line of products are more expansive although the only makeup is the lip gloss. Who knows - maybe they'll bring their foundation soon.

Philosophy will have its flagship store in the new wing of Megamall this December 12. Please do visit it then. ;) In the meantime, here are some well-loved products to look out for and their prices!

The best sellers: Purity Facial Wash (P1,395), Amazing Grace Spray Fragrance (P2,495) and Hope In a Jar Moisturizer (P1,995)

The Grace Series: Shower Gel P1,495), Grade Spray Fragrance (P2,495), and Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion (P2,145)

I saw a quote the other week that went, "If you don't build your dream, someone else will pay you to build theirs." This is true. If you love something you're probably thinking of striking it out on your own, perhaps earning money from it. But there is that ever-constant fear of failing, so instead of chasing after what you really want to do, you just end up getting paid by someone else to do it for them. It's practical, yes. Also sad at the same time.

Moral lesson: if you're gonna slave away anyway, do it to build your own empire.

So. Let's continue BB Cream Week! On the chopping block today is the Kiehl's Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream (P2,200+). This is a sheer, moisturizing base with SPF 50 and broad spectrum protection. It contains Vitamin C to help rejuvenate and clear skin, as well as soften fine lines over time.

Have BB creams gone the way of the dinosaurs? Certainly not. BB creams are here to stay no matter how many alphabet creams come after. It revolutionized the way everyday makeup should be, with its thinner texture, skin-friendly ingredients, and high SPF protection. Think about the options we had before BB creams came. This type of makeup opened up a whole dam of possibilities!

This week, I'll be talking about some of the newer BB creams I have in my kit. :) Let's begin with the best one I've tried to date: the Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF35 PA+++ (P2,000+).

Yes, you heard it right - this is my new favorite! The best thing about it is that it comes in five shades* that are yellow-toned and works best with our Asian skin. You never have to worry if your face flashes gray or beige (a chronic problem with BBs); you can easily find a perfect match! I have yet to see a locally available BB cream with a better shade selection that this one.

Texture, coverage, and finish. The Bobbi Brown BB cream has a light yet creamy texture that would suit dry to combination skin best. It has a dewy, illuminating finish that looks like second skin - a trademark characteristic of all Bobbi face bases. Coverage is sheer but can be layered up to medium. It looks really beautiful when worn!

Everybody loves a multi-tasking beauty product. We get more value for money, plus it cuts down the time rummaging for stuff to use on separate parts of the body! My latest multi-use find is the MoringaO2 Malunggay Herbal Therapy Oil (P99 for 30ml). This is a blend of pure malunggay oil, olive oil, husk oil, and sunflower seed oil that may be used on the skin, scalp, and hair.

Malunggay is a super-ingredient with several anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals distilled from the plant. It's not only a great way to nourish the body, but the skin as well.

So did you read the product info? It sounds too good to be true I know, but only time will tell if the product can do ALL of the abovementioned miracles. I can however testify to it being an effective moisturizer for the body and hair!

I randomly found these Pond's wipes in S&R while I was doing my groceries. I normally avoid the beauty and body care section because the things there can get quite expensive, but this product just looked too good to pass up - especially when I saw the ingredients list!

The Pond's Original All Day Clean Towelettes (P129 at S&R) are designed to remove makeup and other impurities in the gentlest manner possible. Yeah, it's the first time I've heard of it too! As far as I know this is not available anywhere else in the Philippines aside from S&R - but do correct me if I'm wrong. 

This is a water-based makeup remover that contains extracts of chamomile, Vitamin E, green tea, white tea, and honeybush. These ingredients can help freshen up skin and improve its clarity. True enough, my face feels really nice and smooth after using the wipes! These don't sting or taste like anything AT ALL.

Hello Project Vanity readers! I'm really curious about skin purging. Is it really true, or is it just a hoax? I'm trying out a new skin care regimen, but I'm breaking out. When I asked a representative of the product, she said that I was just experiencing "skin purging", and that my pimples are coming out now but it will discontinue later as my skin adjusts. How do you know if you are actually skin reactive to the product, or just purging? Hope you can help me on this one! Thanks. - Beth

Hi Beth! This is a very useful question. I checked out the topic online and yes, skin "purges" (and this is only in a figurative sense okay) when we use new skincare (especially those for curing acne). Certain active ingredients like retinoids or a new exfoliating regimen can cause deep-seated dirt, dead skin, and oil to rise to the surface of the skin. So you get pimples. It's the only way for all that junk to get out of your pores.

Sometimes, your skin simply adjusts to the new ingredients in your new skincare. You're basically shocking your skin into accepting these alien ingredients, which is why it's okay to cut your new products some slack...to a certain degree, that is.

I've tried A LOT of products since I started beauty blogging, and here's what I've experienced: a product is fine for me if I just break out for one week.

Honest talk: I am sometimes turned off by Human Heart Nature's marketing tactics. I like what the brand is doing, creating a beauty brand that is sustainable, pro-poor, and pro-environment. But I don't like how they are always scaring people off perfectly fine ingredients. They don't go out and say, this-and-this is toxic and will kill you, but they will slyly say that their ingredients are 100% safe and don't you want to be safe when using personal care products? Don't you want to avoid risks?

So maybe I'm not qualified to talk about what ingredients are safe or not. But cosmetic chemists are. I am more inclined to believe them because, you know, science. Facts. I always research ingredients when I have the time and try not to be scared into submission by fear-mongering organic/all-natural brands.

Nonetheless, I'm going to introduce some of Human Heart Nature's latest products today. ;P This local, socially-conscious brand never rests on its laurels, hence the new releases every quarter or so.

Okay! The most interesting thing here for me is the Human Heart Nature Natural Day Moisturizer (P150/50ml). This has a light, non-greasy texture that smells wonderful too! It has 15 vitamins and minerals, namely Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Selenium, Lecithin, Zinc, Potassium, Iron, Calcium, and Magnesium.

It also has no silicone and dimethicone, two ingredients that help products feel smoother on the skin. These -ones also fill in pores and lines, which is a good way to seal in moisture and even out the surface of skin. However they can cause pimples if your skin doesn't agree with these ingredients. 

Sounds interesting! You should try it if you're conscious about ingredients like that.

Good serums, I find, come at prices that will make you unconsciously swallow. A lot of research and technology goes into making them so that they actually work! But do you need them? If you already have great skin then you could skip using serums. However, if you feel that you need that extra healing power, nourishment, or a boost in solving a particular skin concern, then yes serums help a great deal.

One of the serums that I loved to use was the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair. This serum has been around for 31 years now and is reputed to sell one bottle every 8.5 seconds! I wouldn't be surprised, considering how well it works. I actually did a weekly report the first month I used it. I've seen a visible improvement in just one month with my blemishes fading quicker and my skin getting a nice glow.

That was last year. I'm constantly reviewing new skincare so I haven't been exactly faithful to ANR, but it's still on my top five list of serums. Perhaps it's time to try it out again? Estee Lauder just created a new version of it. It's called the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II (P5,300).

This new formula is said to be lighter yet more moisturizing with hyaluronic acid added into the mix. I have yet to try it out since I have just committed to a new skincare line, unfortunately, but it looks really promising. I don't know if I mentioned this already in my past reviews but I wished that ANR is more moisturizing; I'd prefer to skip moisturizer on top of it to immediately see the full effect.

Anyway! I'm rambling. Here are more details about the new serum, for your reference. :)