The humid weather in the Philippines is the perfect breeding ground for oily t-zones and blocked pores. The sweat and sebum we generate while wearing makeup is no joke, so we try to wash them off with soap or alcohol-based cleansers because we feel cleaner that way. But did you know that normal makeup removers can strip your face of moisture?

The truth is, soap-based makeup removers are quite drying while cream removers are too heavy ang may clog your pores more (because the skin tends to absorb it). That's why cleansing oils may be the best option for Pinay skin because they're gentle while removing makeup, oil, and dirt mercilessly. It may sound counterintuitive that you're trying to clean your skin using oil when you should be avoiding it, but believe me, it works better that way!

For that purpose, one of the best, if not The Best out there is the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. Google it, I'll wait.

Ok satisfied? :D Shu Uemura's CO is an old cult favorite for a reason. I've tried a few cleansing oils before - waaay cheaper ones - and found that they work really well for the price, but there are a few things that makes Shu Uemura worth the dough if you can spare it. Let me count the ways!

Patrick Alcober, Shu Uemura's top makeup artist, explains the magic of milk

• It emulsifies into a nice, milky texture that you can wash off easily with absolutely no residue on your skin. Cheaper cleansing oils may feel like they leave a film on your face, so you use another cleanser to wash it off. Not with Shu Uemura! Skin is left feeling clean, soft, and moisturized after you wash it off.
• It has skin benefits like anti-aging, brightening, moisturizing, purifying, etc. so it's more than just makeup remover - it's technically skincare.

There's an upcoming party that's gathering a lot of buzz lately. Can you guess? ;) Well, it's the Multiply Shopping Party happening this October 18 at Whitespace, Makati! It's for fashionistas and makeup enthusiasts who love shopping for unique finds online. This time, all your favorite Multiply stores will be brought to you in an exciting night featuring a fashion show and live performances from DJ Mars Miranda and rock band Techy Romantics.

The catch: you have to have tickets to get in. But since I love you, I'm giving away 20 tickets to 10 Project Vanity readers! How to get the tickets? It's painfully easy. 

One of my best finds in a while is this Randy Ortiz x Kashieca convertible dress I got in Greenbelt 5 some weeks ago. Did I say convertible? It can be worn as a skirt, a venus cut dress, or as a tube dress. Best thing about it is that I got it at 70% off! It was originally around P2,500 but I got it for ~P700. It's an old collection, but it's definitely timeless.

Randy Ortiz x Kashieca dress | SM belt | Ferretti bag | YRYS boots | Pinkbox and Parfois accessories

I wore this look to a coffee date with a Project Vanity reader (hi Sara!) yesterday. She will be reviewing a couple of cool products for the blog soon so that's one thing I'm looking forward to.

Oh, here's my bronzy blue eyeshadow. It's a combination of Shu Uemura and Majolica Majorca colors! Patrick Alcober, one of Shu's top makeup artists, mentioned that the best way to wear blue is to mix it with brown.

Christmas is in two months, and while that's more than enough time to prepare, it pays to start early. Malls will be unnavigable by November so it's best to start your Christmas shopping right now. Are you out of Christmas gift ideas? No sweat, I have a few of my own!

Of course, this list is intended mostly for your female friends and relatives. Even if they're not kikay, they'll definitely appreciate these very affordable beauty treasures! They're guaranteed to brighten anyone's day since they work extremely well. On your end, they don't cost much BUT they're far from looking cheap and ending up on your recipient's re-gift basket. ;)

Let's do it!

Asian Secrets Lulur is hands-down the best body scrub I've EVER tried. More importantly, I'm not the only one who thinks so! Almost everyone has tried tried it loved it. No joke. It's only P130 in Watsons too.

WHO TO GIVE IT TO: A friend or relative who's always stressed, with skin looking a little dull. This scrub instantly brightens skin and allows the user to loosen up and enjoy the gentle scrub beads.

The Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick is one of the most user-friendly lipsticks I've ever tried, with a quality similar to high-end brands. It's moisturizing so you don't need lip balm - swipe and go! It's perfect for your low-maintenance friend who's looking a little pale.

I’m not that big on mouthwash because the stuff tastes awful. You know it’s true! Maybe it’s just me but using most mouthwashes these days is equivalent to mild torture - it stings your mouth and leaves it with a burning sensation for a while after you spit it out. That’s not really something I want to subject myself to on a regular basis.

I do however still use mouthwash every now and then, particularly when I want my breath to be fresher for a few more hours. It’s really useful when I’m going to a meeting or an event where I need to be at my most confident.

Still, I know, I know, we should all use mouthwash everyday. It goes beyond giving us fresh breath - it also helps with preventing plaque build-up and tooth decay. It’s just one of those unpleasant things you have to live with I guess...but not really. It seems that I’m not the only one with ~issues~ so Swish swooped down to solve the problem!

There are three neat things that sets Swish apart from other mouthwashes that I’ve tried before.

1. Swish is super fun to gargle, so I can actually swish it around for a good 30 seconds (and more!) without wanting to throw it up. It’s because these mouthwashes don’t have any alcohol content.

Blemish-prone women on a budget, rejoice! Now there's no need to save up for MAC, Makeup Forever, or Cinema Secrets concealers with a cheap substitute in town: the Revlon PhotoReady Concealer (P725).

This concealer is THE BOMB. It's highly pigmented, almost opaque, creamy, and has pretty good staying power in our humid weather. The best part really is the P725 price tag. Even with a quality similar to high-end concealers, the price is still friendly to those who are always looking for more affordable alternatives to expensive brands.

What I love about the product

• Medium to heavy coverage in a couple of swipes. 
• Didn't break me out - always a major plus. I was worried that it will but my fears were for naught. It's fragrance and paraben-free.

Friday fun day! Hope everyone is feeling perky and happy. As for me I feel like Marvin the Paranoid Android, dour and in a perpetual funk. A new book and a movie should fix me up quick.

Anyway, I just want to share a couple of FOTDs I wore this week. They're neutrals because I wore them to meetings; their main difference really is the color story. One is predominantly peach while the other is coral-y. Lately, these are my favorite themes since I find that they brighten up my face instantly. So if you're yellow-toned, you must try peach or coral makeup (if you haven't yet!) with gold eyes. Always a winner combo!

Face: MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer, Revlon Photoready Compact Foundation, Jane Iredale mineral foundation

Cheeks: Yves Rocher Bronzer and Shimmer Powder Duo (matte side to contour), In2It Waterproof Blush Set in Sentiment

A couple of weeks ago, French skincare brand Yves Rocher invited me to their official launch at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. I didn't know quite what to expect because the invite requested me to proceed to a suite instead of a function room or restaurant where events are usually held. Well, I'm always up for something new!

The Luzon Suite was transformed into a foot spa and makeup paradise surrounded by Yves Rocher's products. There was a makeup artist who was only eager to give everyone a makeover, and an attendant who did an excellent job at giving a foot scrub, massage, and pedicure. I like that the atmosphere was very relaxed and intimate. The whole afternoon was also very educational as I got to learn more about the 50-year old French household name.

Getting a foot spa!

Yves Rocher was one of the first, if not the first, to produce beauty products consistently sourced from botanical ingredients. They did it waaay before it was trendy to be green, organic, natural, and animal cruelty-free! Each product is created with as little harmful chemicals and preservatives as possible, and are inspired by a particular plant in mind.

Face products

YR's best-selling product, Elixir 7.9 (P990)

All the ingredients are planted, harvested, and manufactured in Yves Rocher's farm in the village of La Gacilly, in France. Yves Rocher, the founder, was a small-time businessman in rural La Gacilly.

I planned to talk about the Dear Me BB Cream and the powder Pact in one post, but it's too long and I have too many pictures. So I decided to do it in two parts! This time, I'll be reviewing the Tony Moly Dear Me Petit Cotton Pact (P348).

This powder compact is pretty nice since it blots oil without giving any coverage. If you love the Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Cover but found it too expensive or too matte, this compact by Tony Moly is a great substitute.

What I like about the product

• Very soft, satiny texture. The powder is well-milled and not chalky at all! The texture sort of reminds me of the waaay expensive Guerlain Meteorites.
• This translucent powder has no coverage, which makes it perfect for retouching. It can work with any skintone.

You'll remember that I really liked the Tony Moly Baby Doll BB Foundation, so I was looking forward to try other BB creams from the brand. I just waited until my pimples cleared up before trying the Tony Moly Dear Me Petite Cotton BB Cream (P348). I was super relieved when I didn't break out again! I think I'm hiyang with Tony Moly face products, thank goodness.

Anyway, the Dear Me BB Cream has a few interesting things to offer, enough that you may want to check it out for yourself.

What I love about the product

• Good for oily and sweaty skin! It's creamy but it dries up quickly when you apply it - and stays that way. It's more or less water resistant, and it also doesn't melt in a goopy mess even under the midday heat. Perfect for the schizophrenic Manila weather, if I do say so myself.
• Great coverage. It covers light blemishes and eyebags pretty darn well. Actually, I think it's an excellent undereye concealer.

Ferretti Shoes just came out with six new designs at the online store! I love that the shoes have this childlike quality about them - like they're the sort of things little girls would actually wear, except that they're the grown up versions. Oh, we also have new accessories up. Now these are on the badass spectrum, all black beads and glinting metal. Excellent contrast, don't you think?

These are my top pics. I like bright shoes right now, especially ones in primary colors. That's the trend, aside from the usual blacks and neutrals.

Electric Pumps (also comes in purple!)

T-strap Wedges (comes in black too)

At this point I can probably fill a small bath tub with body lotion. I'm not complaining though as long as the lotions I get to try are good ones, such as the latest Avon Skin So Soft Lotion in Signature Silk Resplenishing Body Lotion (P290).

Signature Silk is non-greasy, gets absorbed quickly, and smells good - as with most Avon Skin So Soft lotions. It has a subtle floral fruity scent (do I detect a hint of watermelon?) that's quite soft and pleasant.

You know, outside of my job and this blog, I don't have much of a social life. Sometimes I mind so I end up going out, shopping and eating a fancy meal by myself - come to think of it that's rather counterintuitive, no? I just get more bothered. But sometimes, like today, I'd rather just stay home and apply myself to quieter pursuits. It's more fulfilling and ultimately less painful on my wallet lol.

I got two new books from Fully Booked the other day: One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell and Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King.

With One Fifth Avenue, I was looking for the usual chic lit stuff: witty if not funny, romantic, a little slapstick, escapist to the core. But the book comes off as a pretentious commentary on the lives of the rich and famous in New York.

It's time to put a little perspective to all the reviews I've been posting! Starting this September, I'll be sharing my top 10 best finds for the month. These are the products that I've been using heavily, the kind of stuff that I don't mind purchasing when they run out (ceteris paribus - all things remaining constant). In other words, these are the things I can swear by.

Here goes!

The Sebamed Liquid Face & Body Wash is a total savior. Don't get me wrong, I still use my Clinique Liquid Facial Soap (Oily Skin Formula). But since my skin is really, REALLY dry lately due to the acne serums I've been using, I need to use a more moisturizing facial wash that doesn't completely strip my face of oil. That's where Sebamed comes in. I love it with all my heart.

I've been using the Clinique Derma White City Block Anti-Pollution SPF40 PA+++ since May but given that I only wrote about it yesterday, it's included in my September list. It's awesome. Read the review!

The Estee Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator conceals and heals. When I stopped using it for a week, my eyes hated me! 

I promised I'd show you what I took home from Sebago, and here it is! It's rather predictable of me really, but I fell in love with the Felucca Lace design (P3,999) when I saw it on the shop window waaay before Sebago invited me to drop by. I really wanted to get the Yellow one, but unfortunately their smallest available size, 6, is rather large on me. So I got the Denim Blue version in size 5.

I regretted it at first. Size five felt too small; it was an effort to walk in them. However, I knew that Sebago shoes loosened and softened over time (they're 100% leather), so I just broke them in by walking short distances before finally wearing them out. Now they're super comfortable and hug my feet nicely!

Product samples will be the death - and/or financial bankruptcy - of me! I fell in love with many a Clinique product just because I tried one of their devious sample sizes. You think, "Oh, I like what I'm using already, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a gander at this new tester size I have." Before you know it, boom, you're buying a product worth 2 gs. 

At least, you already know that it's totally worth it.

So that's how I discovered the Clinique Derma White City Block Anti-Pollution SPF40 PA+++ (P2,045). I got a sample of it from one of Clinique's gift pouches, not really expecting that it would be The Sunblock. There are other City Block versions available, but I find that they break me out so I never got around to buying them. Not the Derma White though. This works so well on my skin and I've been using this since May!

What I love about the product

• Has SPF40 PA+++, so it offers pretty good sun protection.
• NO BREAKOUTS. I don't know what's up with sunblocks, but most of them give me pimples - if not immediately, they do eventually.

I'm a lipstick person at heart so you may have noticed that I don't wear much lip gloss. Still, it wouldn't hurt to have a few good ones just in case I need an extra "boost" on my lips. Lipsticks may deliver the color, but glosses instantly add a plumping effect because they reflect light.

Photo courtesy of Yves Rocher

One of the latest glosses I came across is the Yves Rocher Plumping Sheer Gloss in 06 Fraise. It's a delicious-smelling lipgloss that comes in a classy (albeit large) tube with a brush applicator.

What I love about the product

• Lip glosses are notorious for being drying, but this one is quite moisturizing. I don't need to wear lip balm underneath. It doesn't dry up for hours.
• As promised, it does make lips look plumper, but almost all lip glosses do that so it's cool.
• I really like the brush. It makes the gloss easier to apply, especially on top of lipstick!

You must have a signature scent the same way you have a signature piece of jewelry or lipstick. It just completes your whole look by taking it up to another sensory level! It's true that people may not remember what you wore but they WILL remember how you smelled like, which is why perfumes are a must in every woman's closet. 

Now, I've tried quite a number of scents for this blog - from cheap to high-end, from light to heavy - but there is only one scent that I keep going back to: the DKNY Be Delicious. It's a radiant, fun and feminine scent while still managing to be very sensible...just like me, in my mind. When I want something sweeter, I always go for the DKNY Delicious Candy Apples in Sweet Caramel. 

So now you know my history with DKNY, you'll understand why I'm totally gaga for their latest fragrance, the DKNY Golden Delicious (P3,100/50ml and P4,200/100ml).

Scent. I would describe Golden Delicious as a beautiful, warm scent that blossoms as it dries down and melts on your skin. Like all Be Delicious scents, its very feminine without being smothery and overly cloying; sensual without being oversexed and obvious.

At last, something new from one of my favorite brands, Colour Collection! I know some folks have been having trouble tracking down a Tupperware dealer in search of their excellent Color Intense Lipsticks, but I tell you, it's worth it. And now there's something else to pine after with the release of the Mineral Cosmetics Line and Age-defying BB Cream.

First off, I doubt that the makeup is actually 100% mineral - BUT there are no parabens or fragrance involved in the making of this line, and they also threw in some soothing ingredients like aloe vera, green tea, shea butter, and jojoba oil. The lipsticks are mostly made of oils, waxes, pigments, and silicates, so they can pass off as mineral makeup.

The powder makeup is mostly mica, talc, zinc, pigments, and chemical binders. So not entirely mineral makeup but they do have less irritants than the usual makeup. IMHO, that's a good job already because so many companies who got into the mineral makeup bandwagon are FAR from actually being MMU.

On to the collection!

They released five new shades of Mineral Lipsticks with SPF15: Plumberry, Creamy Coral, Satin Shell, Brick Rose, Smooth Wine. They're all pigmented and delightully loud!