If it's a hair product that says "fine hair" and "shine" then you can count on me to try it. My main hair concern is how flat and thin it is, and on top of that it looks dull. So when I received the Kérastase Cristalliste Bain Crystal Shampoo and Lumiere Liquide Serum I knew they would be well worth the risk of breaking out (I get pimples from hair products).

Indeed they were!

Let's start with the shampoo. The Kérastase Cristalliste Bain Cristal Shampoo (P1,200) is for fine, long locks and promises free-flowing and lightweight hair (btw there is a variant for thick hair). True enough it doesn't weigh down hair - it feels quite like baby shampoo, as a matter of fact. A more fragrant and expensive version at that.

What the Cristalliste Shampoo does that baby shampoo doesn't is it removes product build up like a dream. Do you ever feel like sometimes your hair is so greasy and heavy even though you wash it every day (or every other day)?

Last night I dreamed that Bobbi Brown herself did my makeup. No kidding. It was a fantastic look and I did a lot of selfies, of course! I wonder what it would be like if I met Bobbi for real. She is someone I look up to, and love quoting whenever people ask me why makeup is important. 

I believe that every woman is pretty with makeup - but with the right makeup can be pretty powerful. Bobbi Brown

Anyway, I would like to invite you to join an awesome contest by the brand. Simply submit your unique Pretty Powerful Beauty Story on the local Bobbi Brown Facebook page for a chance to win a trip to New York with a friend! This contest is actually on an international level with 11 countries participating. It's part of the Pretty Powerful Campaign, as it celebrates the beauty of real women from a variety of backgrounds through their inspiring stories, photos and videos.

Know more about the contest after the cut!

Can we all be corny and scream this together? "Ang iniiiiiiit!" (It's so hot!). According to PAG-ASA we're not officially into summer just yet, so the intense heat and humidity that we're experiencing now is no more than a prelude. Crikey. I have already made adjustments to my beauty routine to accommodate summer, and if you're planning to do the same, here are a few tips!

You need to keep only two things in mind: go lighter and go higher. 

Slather on higher SPF. Since the heat is more intense, it pays to use products with better protection. SPF30 is a good starting point but if you're out longer than four to five hours, SPF50 is a better number for both your face and body. 

I like the VMV Hypoallergenics Armada (both for body and face), Kiehls Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 and Clinique Derma White City Block Anti-Pollution SPF40. For drugstore, Sunplay is a great liquid sunscreen to try. :) Nivea makes great ones as well.

Wear lighter-textured foundation. I'm a huge liquid foundation fan but in this weather it just melts right off! Even if it doesn't, no matter how expensive the brand is, it still ends up feeling heavy and mask-like due to the humidity.

It's that time of the quarter again - the dreaded writer's block. I can't seem to write anything worth pennies, and it's driving me crazy! I keep thinking of all the other things I need to do at work and it's extremely difficult to focus on beauty stuff when you're worrying about so and so. However, this should pass soon. Maybe I just need to buy more shoes? That usually kicks the block in the shins!

It usually helps to change my routine or explore a new place, as well. Talking about the things I like is easier and much less expensive though (lol) so here's a review on the MoringaO2 Malunggay Herbal Moisturizing Lotion (P129.75) for you.

(By the way thanks to Sample Room for sending me this! They had free full bottles up for grabs last January. Check them now for new free samples available.)

Not gonna mince words - this lotion is pretty good! It has moringa (malunggay!), sunflower oil, and olive oil to condition the skin. It's light and non-sticky (perfect for summer) but even with this texture the moisturizing power is not compromised. I've tried light lotions that are not very moisturizing short of slathering them all over, but Moringa O2 keeps the skin supple with only a relatively small amount of product.

Its unique selling point, however, is that it smells almost exactly like Elizabeth Arden Green Tea. Swear!

We all started with pencil eyeliners. But the more we learn about makeup and application techniques, the more we crave for precision and different effects for our eyes. If you're a bit advanced in makeup then I'm sure you're starting to explore (or have already explored) cream/ gel eyeliners. This post is all about the basic brushes you can use for those wonderful pots of cosmetics!

For your reference, the gel liner I used below is the Kanebo Kate Gel Eyeliner (it's amazing and affordable too!). Please also check my tutorial on applying eyeliner, with a short stub on how to do a cat's eye. ;)

The flat angled eyeliner brush can be difficult to master at first, but it's probably the best brush for that perfect winged or cat's eye line. It draws the outer line thicker so if you have round eyes (like I do) then this brush can elongate them and make them look narrower.

This brush can also be used for shading the eyebrows with a wet product (such as wax or eyebrow gel).

The MAC Brow Set in Girl Boy is one of those must-have things we always hear about. I've been meaning to try it for the longest time but, well, other amazing eyebrow products always crop up. Good thing Lannel Boutique sent me a tube some weeks ago! Here's what I think about this cult favorite.

Girl Boy is a dark blonde shade with a subtle golden shimmer. The gold might look weird at first, but it does give brows such a lovely dimensional look. 

What I love about the product

• It's a nice topper for dark eyebrows - it sort of highlights the hair and gives it more depth and lushness. If you're light-haired and/or have extremely dark brows then this is okay to use by itself; if you have sparse brows, make sure to use eyebrow color underneath it first.
• Doesn't smudge or fade during the day.

The art of talking about nothing takes years to master. Sometimes you do it so well that you forget you're doing it - you just catch yourself at an odd moment and think, "What the hell am I saying to this person? It's all just empty jabber!" This happens to me a lot lately. Sometimes the phenomenon manifests itself on this blog, but at least I can edit it out quickly. 

I was never that girl who wore her heart on her sleeves so I painstakingly watch what I say to make sure that I give nothing away. But with the constant self-editing comes a decline (or even a complete lack) of substance in my conversations with other people. That won't do! I hope to be more open in the future.

Anyway last Saturday I held a party for one of the brands I'm working on, which is Dakasi. It has the yummiest milk tea for me - it's creamy, not too sweet, and made with a freshly brewed tea base everyday. But I am supposed to say that. Just try it and taste the difference. ;) As with everything else on this blog, I won't recommend anything I can't stand by.

Recos: try the classic Bubble Milk Tea (best seller) and Charcoal Roasted Milk Tea (my other fave)!

It’s rare for me to finish products because I apply them sparingly and I’m lucky enough to get new things to try all the time. I have intense love affairs with some things, but these fizzle out once I “discover” one that’s better - eventually. Not all the time. Sometimes, a product is so good that I do finish it up and even purchase backups!  

So, here are things that I recently finished or just about to finish up. It goes without saying that my wallet is weeping right this moment T_T. 

Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover. Goodness, I don’t know how long I’ve had this! Maybe two years? Anyway it’s my favorite product to use when removing waterproof mascaras and deep-staining lipsticks. It doesn’t sting my eyes and melts off most things right away. 

Nivea Body UV Whitening Serum SPF25 PA++. This body lotion is ultra light even with the SPF25. It also seems to even out my skintone if I use it regularly and generously.

Today is one of those days when everything moves at a terrible speed. However I'm happy that I'm on top of things and have been able to accomplish all my tasks! I even got to step out for an Artdeco lunch - I couldn't possibly miss it as Artdeco is one of the few brands I've been using since college. There's a new collection out (called Butterfly Dream) and I quite like it.

I'm on Instagram! When I'm in the mood I go crazy documenting things

Anyway! I want to talk about stress (and a few outfits but that's gonna come in later somehow haha). My method isn't that complicated but it works because I know it's 100% true. Are you ready? I just think that everything will be over soon. They usually are.

Tory Burch bag / Zara heels / Tiangge dress / Casio watch

Remember the epilator I was so excited about last January? I still like it, but I find that waxing is still the best way to remove body hair. The epilator is great to use if I'm in a rush but the downside is I don't get ALL the hair and sometimes, if I'm not careful, I end up doing a half-assed job. Waxing is much more thorough (when done by someone else) and has a better guarantee that I won't get those pesky ingrown hairs.

Now I won't be throwing out my epilator anytime soon but if time permits, waxing remains to be my first choice. :) That said, have you heard about the newest hair removal place in town? It's called Wink Laser & Wax Studio, located in Bonifacio High Street Central on top of Slice.

Now before we go any further I want you to know that I do PR and marketing work for Wink. :) Let's get that out of the way first! Nonetheless, I hope you can trust me to share a review that is honest. Believe me when I say that I won't chuck Project Vanity's credibility out the window just because of a client.

So! Let's get started.

Wink is the baby of Holly Chang, a 24-year old woman who claims to be extremely hairy (and pimply in college - but that's another story!). She's funny, down-to-earth, a true-blue skincare junkie, and yes, all of 24 years on the planet. She decided to start this business because she found out that laser is so cheap in other countries that people would prefer to get it instead of wax. Here it costs an arm and a leg! She wanted to bring affordable laser hair removal treatments to the Philippines and so Wink was born.

Laser gun!

Laser is Wink's specialty, but the salon also offers waxing services. Brazilians, legs, femstache, knuckle hair - if you need them taken out, Wink can take them out. I love that the pricing is quite affordable considering the location and how beautifully appointed the place is.

It feels only yesterday when Majolica Majorca arrived in the Philippines, but did you know that it's been here for two years now? So much kawaii cuteness has been unleashed in that short amount of time! There's always something new to collect every quarter. ;) Now that the Japanese brand is celebrating its 10th year this 2013, expect even more covetable items than usual. 

Majolica Majorca has recently released its Spring Collection for 2013. Named Secret Blink, it's all about giving in to the whispers of your heart, of bold secrets that you can't dare speak of. Majo has always been an incurable romantic when it comes to its collections and that won't be changing anytime soon! Secret Blink features a limited edition rose gold case for the Skin Remaker, a Majoromantica scent, lash conditioner, new mascara, and a collectible palette.

I have three items from the collection, so here are quick reviews and swatches for you!

The Lash Expander was the first item I tried from Majolica Majorca, before the brand arrived here. I loved it because it lengthened my lashes and didn't smudge at all. This 2013, the Lash Expander shall be phased out and replaced with the improved Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Edge Meister (P795).

Last Saturday was one of the best days of my life. I don't know how else to describe it or what else to say, just that I'm so happy that you guys came out to see me! We had about seventy guests in all, so the Beauty Bar in Bonifacio High Street was full of stylish and beautiful girls with perfect eyebrows (yihee) that day.

The venue started filling up by 2pm. Guests claimed their free The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf drinks and nommed on cupcakes from Spoonful of Sugar (thanks Patti for the yummy red velvets!). At 3pm, Karrots Nazareno of Live Love Lolz stepped up to host the program. Did you know that she has stage fright? Yet she agreed to host PVE! She's one of the few people I'm happy to call my friend. <3

I demonstrated how to achieve a quick but high-impact look on Den (she works with me and she's awesome - anyway). It's light and fun enough for day, but it can also be worn at night.

Lately I find myself liking the original Clinique Chubby Stick more than I thought I would. It's just that it's so easy to pick up, slather on, and go! More than that though it's also something I don't have to think about until I have to retouch, and that won't be due until three or four hours when the balm has dried up. Sheer, moisturizing colors do make life less complicated.

Still, my heart belongs to opaque lipstick for days when I'm willing to fuss over them. An important event, perhaps a meeting, calls for a nice solid wash of color that hopefully doesn't compromise on moisture and lasting power. I have found something that can do all that: the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense (P920).

I'm so lucky to get hold of this very early (thanks Mira!) in Mightiest Maraschino, so here's a preview for you! It won't be out locally until end of March or early April.

What I love about the product

• It offers intense, even color in one swipe. Mightiest Maraschino is a blue-based, bright red that will look good on a variety of skintones. 
• It has an incredibly lightweight and buttery texture. It has the opacity of a lipstick and the staying power of a stain, but it feels exactly like a non-greasy lip balm.

I'm just wondering if you still go out without any make up besides skin care? Any of you feel 'incomplete' without any color on? I know it's pretty personal, just wondering how the rest of you would react. - Tin

This sounds like a simple yes or no question but it's more complicated than that, for me. Women who rely on makeup to feel polished are often looked down on. "Wow she needs all that makeup to be pretty?" "Kapal ng makeup niya!" Everyone's all "natural beauty is the best!" but how many people do you personally know wake up looking "perfect" (as defined by society) in the morning?

Humans are built to appreciate physical beauty in others; it is theorized to be linked to evolutionary instinct, where a beautiful person is considered to have a lesser chance of having genetic or acquired defects. The concept of beauty has changed over time, but each culture has always had one - an ideal, an image of perfection that we hold up for worship.

Women and men are pressured now (more than ever) to look perfect because (1) someone is always watching what with the prevalence of social media (2) wider, instant, and insistent distribution of materials that proclaim what is beautiful and (3) better and more affordable access to information/ products to beautify oneself.

So, with that pressure to look beautiful, how can average women like us possibly be celebrated in a society that expects us to be perfect? Quick answer: makeup.

I was trawling Mall of Asia yesterday with my mom when I saw a stall I have never seen before. I asked the sales lady when it arrived and she said it's been there since February 16! The brand website doesn't offer much information, but it's pretty obvious that the products are targeted towards tweens and teenagers (Justin Beiber for the win!).

Presenting, essence, a drugstore cosmetics brand from Germany. It's now in the Philippines!

The enormous display drew me in but the prices kinda blew my mind. Most of the items were being sold for under P250, with the cheapest going for as low as P79 a piece. Not bad eh? I swatched a few products and found them okay for the price. Not too bad but not "omg gotta have this" good (at that time).

Eyeshadow singles for P119

The rose has symbolized many things through the centuries - eternal love, secrecy, unity, and even the turmoil of revolution. For you, a rose might have a more personal meaning. It may not even be something that you consciously choose; but when you enjoy a rose, you will forever be reminded of that soft first kiss or a memorable evening that could have happened years ago but is still fresh on your mind today.

That is the beauty of flowers. That's why we try to preserve them no matter how fleeting their lifespans are.

That said, DKNY has finally bottled their own version of this romantic flower's scent. Called pureDKNY Drop of Rose, they have created something akin to a garden full of blooming roses, with verdant green notes growing in the background as the fragrance deepens. If you love the pureDKNY line or just a fan of roses, this is something you must sniff stat! 

So! I have an exciting bit of news. DKNY has chosen Project Vanity to host a massive contest for their newest fragrance. We are giving away P30,000 worth of prizes to the lucky person who can make a creative, romantic video that shows the pureDKNY Rose's elegance and timelessness.

Here are the mechanics!

Open image in another tab to see a bigger version

BYS (be your self) is an Australian drugstore brand that has been in the Philippines since late last year. If you've seen it in Watsons, then you know how dizzying their selection of colors and products is! I think that BYS has a lot to offer in terms of quality vis-à-vis the price. It's always nice to find a brand where most things are under a thousand bucks.

I will be reviewing a few BYS products in the next few weeks, and today I'm starting off with the BYS Brow & Eye Pencil in Blonde (P250). It's a soft, rather waxy automatic pencil liner that is actually an ashy brown.

I love the flat, slanted tip (remember the Shu Uemura naginata shape?) as it gets me a nicer arch in a shorter amount of time.

What is the difference between lip sticks, lip butter and lip tint? Do they actually have distinctive characteristics or is it a matter of labels? - Kris

Hi Kris! Thank you for your question. :) Ten years ago, it wouldn't have even existed! All women had were lipsticks and glosses. However, thanks to technological innovations and new ingredients we now have more formulas to play our lips up with. They may look or even swatch the same but other than a few "confused" lip products I can say that there is a difference in the formula.

Here's the dish on what makes lipsticks, butters, tints, and stains unique!

Lipstick. Mostly wax-based and saturated with pigment, lipsticks can offer you maximum opacity and good staying power. They come in all sorts of finishes from matte, creme, satin, high-shine, to frost. Lipstick colors and finishes are the most complex among all the lip formulas.