FYI: This is where to shop for beauty products in Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan has become a travel destination for Filipinos due to cheap fares and visa-free access starting October. Think of it as a more laid-back mix of Japan and Hong Kong, with its extensive transportation system, generally kind people, and a somewhat of a smaller language barrier (though learning a little Mandarin helps!)
More importantly, it’s also a haven for beauty shopping!
More importantly, it’s also quite a haven for beauty shopping! Taiwanese brands like Naruko, 23.5°N, and Dr. Morita have been making it to our shores because of the burgeoning beauty industry that Taiwan has. I was recently there for a trip with my family, and I made sure to check out the beauty scene! If you'll be traveling to Taipei, do add these stores to your must-visit list!
Splurge vs Save: Which eyebrow peel-off tint is better, K-Palette or Maybelline?
In the era post-2000s bushy brow revival, there are #blessed girls... and then there’s me.
Ladies and gentlefolk, I will not mince words: my brows are a pair of jerks. While practice has allowed me to more-or-less perfect the rest of my makeup routine (even the dreaded winged liner causes me no anxiety), the very thought of having to shape my brows has me exhausted. Not only are they sparse to begin with - they’re also very uneven and ridiculously unruly. While getting K-pop bangs has helped my struggles some, I still spend a ridiculous amount of time and effort getting my eyebrows anywhere close to presentable. In fact, I was even tempted to spring for microblading, if only to cut down on my daily prep time. Unfortunately, my fear of needles trumped my need for better arches.
Sleek x Project Vanity Kit: A chic level-up for your eyes and lips for P645
Welcome to a new edition of the Project Vanity Kit! This time, we've partnered with cosmetics brand Sleek MakeUp to curate a kikay kit that's all about bringing your makeup game to the next level. Containing an iconic pink brown liquid lipstick, a gorgeous colorful palette, and a flashy lipstick, our new kit is all about spicing up your everyday look. This is also perfect for all your pre-holiday events!
The Lipstick Wardrobe: Five shades you NEED in your kit, plus our top recos
Browsing through lipsticks online and in the malls can be an overwhelming experience for a makeup newbie. Which lipstick should I get? What will look good on me? Which formula should I go for? These questions run through our heads like crazy especially since lipsticks these days come in every color imaginable (even white!) and some look very similar to others. So how do you begin choosing the colors for your core lipstick wardrobe? Let’s start with the basics!
This cute galaxy hair iron delivers frizz-free, fuss-free pretty hair
I’m perpetually jealous of people with nice hair. I see people with healthy tresses all the time and wonder, how do they do it?! I had always promised myself to get better at hairstyling, so I welcomed the Healthy Heat Ceramic Styling Iron from Eva NYC with open arms.
New at the drugstore: Watsons has more collagen lines to address skin issues
Thanks to the rising popularity of beauty drinks and supplements, you've probably heard of the important role that collagen plays in keeping our skin looking young, soft, and smooth. Honestly, I thought that was all I needed to know about collagen but I recently discovered that there's more to it! At the Watsons Collagen event, I got the opportunity to learn more about what it is and how it works, in the most fun way possible!
Workshop Alert: INGLOT x PV All About Eyes Workshop (eye colors included)
Eye makeup is probably my favorite part in my routine. The endless color combinations and creating that perfect brow never fails to excite me, so I've spent most of my adult life trying out every look I can think of. I've written dozens of posts and tutorials on it; I've held so many workshops to teach what I've learned through the years! I'm excited to announce that I have a new class, this time with pro brand INGLOT. This is happening in SM Megamall on October 22, 1-3PM! (SIGN UP PAGE HERE)
The Aritaum Ginger Sugar Lip Mask is the lip savior you've been waiting for
One of the hazards of my job is dry, flaky lips. When you have to swatch 20 liquid lipsticks in one sitting, that's simply impossible to avoid! The weather also affects how flaky my lips get. Cooler weather means drier lips and that's even with a humidifier on all night. I'll be traveling to Tokyo again soon and already I'm dreading the painful lip peeling!
Is Bench makeup worth a second look? Let's test these under P300 finds!
Before international retailers like H&M and Forever 21 even opened in the PH, home-grown brand Bench was already offering beauty products alongside fast fashion choices. If you grew up in the 90s, you probably had the Pretty When Pinched Cheek & Lip Tint in your teenage kikay kit (mainly because you couldn't afford The Body Shop lol)! The brand has since expanded their makeup collection, and I was recently surprised to see that the Bench Paintbox line now has a lot of interesting options.
We've already tested their powder for setting our makeup; now it's time to try their cosmetics! I picked out five items from the line to create a full FOTD. Honestly, the wallet-friendly prices made ma a bit wary of their quality but hey, not everything can be that bad, right? Let’s find out!
Clear mascara is underrated - here are four cool things that you can do with it!
"There’s more than meets the eye” surely holds true for the clear mascara. Compared to its pigmented sibling that we frequently rely on to create thicker and lengthier lashes, the colorless gel doesn’t seem to be able to do much and so is often considered as an unimportant. The truth is, it is this simplicity that actually makes it a super versatile beauty product!