Made by David Organics is one of the latest local beauty brands here in Manila. They are "all about providing you with carefully crafted products that are naturally healthy, generously nourishing, and sweet little pleasures to use", according to their About page. Sounds interesting right? Wait till you see the chic packaging and the price tag!

Made by David has an interesting hair range that includes shampoos and conditioners, masks, Dry Shampoo, Split End Sealer, and Hair Potion. Most (if not all) of the products are less than P300. Seriously! You can check the full product line here. I'll be trying out the Rose and Geranium shampoo and conditioner soon, as well as the Hair Potion since it promises to do wonders for curly hair. I'll let you know how they work!

For today though, I'll just be talking about the Made by David Hand Sanitiziers (P100/50ml). 

You know I gotta mention the Beauty Blender sponge here, right? It's only proper. :P I've never tried it before so unfortunately I can't compare, but I was just never convinced by the hype. Sure the sponge is conveniently shaped for reaching awkward areas around the face, but a thousand bucks for one sponge? Hmm, I don't think so. Maybe I'll change my mind in the future. Until then, I'll go for more reasonable alternatives!

The Too Cool For School Marshmallow Puff Sponge (P279) has been sitting on my vanity since March. I never got around to using it after my first try though, because I felt that the sponge just ate the liquid foundation and didn't do a good job of applying it. BUT! I was just using the Puff all wrong, it seems.

Instead of sheer watery foundations, the TCFS works amazingly with cream compact and thick liquid foundations. It does a wonderful job of buffing in such formulas seamlessly!

Zenutrients is not your typical beauty brand. Aside from hair care and body care products, Zenutrients has these nifty troubleshooters that can get hasten the relief of headaches, body pain, skin irritations, and insect bites, among other things. 

Health and wellness is at the core of the brand. The ingredients are herbal in nature, with a local heart. Think virgin coconut oil, gugo, ginger, and essential oils!

I have a couple of body care and ginger-infused balms from Zenutrients and I really enjoyed using them. ^_^ Let's start with the Zenutrients Organic Opaque Herbal Soap in Blueberry, Vanilla, Milk & Caramel. I don't have the price right now but it should be around P100 to P150. This is a yummy smelling soap that lathers wonderfully. It doesn't dry my skin too, which is always a good thing to have in any soap.

My bathroom always smells good when I use this! Downside though, this runs out easily. It becomes gooey quickly too so you need to cut the soap up in segments before your first use.

What does "organic" mean when it comes to the beauty industry? It's murky and confusing until today because there is no industry-standard meaning to the word. There is also no agency that regulates organic beauty products. A company can come and say, "We're organic" or "Our product is 90% organic" and no one can stop them from lying outright or tiptoeing around the truth. 

For example, a brand can claim that their moisturizer is 90% organic. That's true if the base of the moisturizer is something like shea butter. But the remaining 10% could consist of all sorts of chemicals and preservatives traditionally found in cosmetics/body care. They aren't necessarily "bad", but it's certainly not what people have in mind when they bought into the organic catchphrase.

"Organic" is usually attached to terms like green, healthy, safe, chemical-free and natural.

Last September 26, I had the privilege of holding my first formal beauty workshop at Solaire Resort & Casino. I've held workshops before but I always considered them to be casual (well, as casual as these things could go!). This particular occasion was extremely nerve-wracking because I was so afraid of making a mistake!

I represented Beauty Box Corp, the company of my good friend Cheryl. Beauty Box is the official distributor of K-Palette, Fairydrops, Cure, and Fuwarie - all awesome Japanese brands that I've raved about in the past. I truly, truly believe in these products. I use them all the time! Maybe that's why Cheryl hired me for the job, haha.

I've already worked with Cheryl sometime last July, when we shot marketing collaterals for her brands. I produced and directed the shoot that time. I had so much fun working on that one mainly because Cheryl and I understand each other well, and my creative team are people I've worked with several times in the past. Well, I guess that's a story for another day.

Anyway! The workshop was part of the Solaire Image Week, which aimed to enrich the beauty knowledge of Solaire's employees. It was an initiative by Charmagne Garcia-Laconico, Solaire's Image Consultant and also Metro Magazine's Beauty Editor. I think it's a great idea for companies who need their employees to look as beautiful, confident, and competent as possible. Those in the hospitality, beauty, and any sales-oriented business would especially benefit from beauty workshops like this!

I think my workshop went well, although I didn't expect it to drag on for two hours per session.

A neutral eyeshadow palette is a basic makeup must-have. It's the best way to enhance and contour your eyes for any occasion, be it in a job interview or a fancy event! 

Now, if you can afford to splash cash on Bobbi Brown, MAC, Urban Decay, or Shu Uemura, then just go for it. These brands make the best eyeshadows out there, and the price tag is definitely justified since it'll take forever to finish up one pan! Their eyeshadows are silky smooth and has this rich pigmentation that's hard to find in drugstore makeup. 

However, if you're on a budget (ain't we all) then there are a lot of great drugstore options out there. Here are five neutral eyeshadow palettes that are affordable yet offer good color combinations and pigmentation! Click the links for the full review, although I've posted swatches here so you can compare too.

Ready?

I eat street food because I want to see just how tough my stomach is. I want to challenge fate, spit in its eye, you know? I feel invincible because I've never gotten typhoid from all the unnamed fishballs I've consumed. Related (but not really) is the fact that a random flu bug can take me down swifter than any street isaw I deliberately ate. Well played, Fate. Well played.

Anyway. Here's my monthly list of ten amazing finds!

My current favorite cheek beautifier is theBalm Instain Blush. This is incredibly long-wearing and pigmented! I like how it makes my skin look like it's just naturally blushing. Highly recommend this for oily girls.

Here's another one from theBalm - the What's Your Type? The Body Builder Mascara. I love this because I get major volume in just one coat, plus it doesn't smudge or smear on me. It's also very easy to take off - it melts right off with just my water-based makeup remover!

I adore the Naturactor Cover Face Foundation because it has this smooth, baby-skin finish that I haven't seen yet in other foundations. It's just one of those things you have to try and see for yourself! I promise you'll be amazed. However, the shade selection is severely limited. If you're medium yellow like me, I don't think that 151 (darkest shade) will work. But who knows! I might be able to try that shade out soon.

Clinique is probably not the first brand on our minds when it comes to eyeshadow, but it won't fail to surprise you in that department. Remember the Clinique Chubby Stick for Eyes? Those are pretty good! Recently, the brand released an all-new, reformulated eyeshadow duo. Is it worth a look-see?

The Clinique All About Shadow Duo (P1,250) comes in a luxe silver case just like the brand's powder foundation. I'm really liking this direction; silver is a much more updated color than Clinique's minty green! Remember when their duos came in green plastic? Haha. This time, thick acrylic case looks more expensive and sturdy.

Do tell me, after all the persuasion I've thrown your way, that you have one or two cream eyeshadows already in your possession. Please. No? Bah! If you can trust this blog on ten things, one of them would be the fact that you MUST have at least one basic cream eyeshadow for quick looks. You're missing out if you haven't tried it yet!

I think some girls are scared that cream eyeshadow would just slide right off their oily lids, but with new formulas like the Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows (P320 at Bon Marche), you never have to worry about silly things like staying power. Or brushes. Or eyeshadow primers!

This Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadows have received a lot of raves because they are practically waterproof, smudge-proof, and crease-proof. It's true! You can run a marathon and these things would most likely still be on your lids. 

The product comes in a sturdy glass jar, and a cap that seals completely

They are easy to apply with just fingers although I prefer to use my MAC 217 to blend them properly.

This year has been good to me, skincare-wise. I've discovered a lot of new, amazing things that really helped my skin be its best possible version. I still break out every once in a while due to new cosmetics; that's just part and parcel of the job I guess!

One of the readers asked me why I just don't go to the derma to fix the blemishes and occasional acne. It's because I already know what works - if I just stick to it, then I'll be fine. But testing out new foundations and creams, even though I screen them beforehand, is necessary if I am to properly review them. It's risky yes but it needs to be done.

Anyway! Here's my current skincare routine. My core skincare as you know is the Shiseido Ibuki line - I can't say enough just how awesome this stuff is. Seriously. Not sponsored. No agenda. The facial wash, softener, and refining moisturizer works SO well on my skin! 

Cleansing Skincare. I've tried a hoarde of products from various brands, but for cleansing, no other country does it better than Japan. It's probably because the Japanese have a better appreciation of Asian skin than Westerners in general - I don't know! But I tell you, Japanese skincare is the best at clearing off makeup, lessening oil, and preventing blackheads.

My favorite makeup remover is Bifesta, specifically the Moist variant. It's not as drying at the Sebum one (blue bottle). For waterproof mascara, I prefer to use the Shiseido Instant Eye and Lip Remover. This is crazy expensive, for a makeup remover that is, but it's gentle and doesn't irritate my eyes and lips.

As you know I love the Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser to bits. I'd probably bite you if you try to take it away. Then there is the Cure Natural Aqua Gel, which is the BEST exfoliator for me. I don't have to worry about blackheads because of this! Check out how economical it is. I haven't opened a new bottle since April, and I never fail to use this at least once a week. 

Hi folks! The Commenter of the Month for September is none other than Stacie Chan. Congratulations! Please email me your address so I can ship your MAC loot. ^_^

For October's Commenter of the Month, I am gifting him/her with two Real Techniques brush sets from KALM Cosmetics. KALM is actually the official distributor of Real Techniques here in the Philippines, so do visit that store for good deals and wholesale arrangements. 

I'm a huge fan of RT brushes. The products, designed by famous vlogger Samantha Chapman, have a precision and softness that would cost a lot more in other brush brands. The Core Collection is something I've never failed to use since I got it, while the Duo-Fiber set is a nice refining addition to my existing tools. I thought it's about time to gift these to one lucky PV reader!

Do Like KALM Cosmetics on Facebook and follow them on Twitter if you're interested in knowing how to get RT brushes here. :)

Okay, same mechanics as before! Every month, I'll pick a commenter on my blog.

I've been intrigued about the Real Techniques Duo-Fiber Brush Collection (P1,149) ever since it came out, more so after I read the good reviews! I finally nabbed my own set, thanks to Kalm Cosmetics. This store is the official distributor of Real Techniques here in the Philippines btw, so check it out if you want a better deal or if you're interested in selling wholesale.

Anyway! The RT Duo-Fiber brushes are a great addition to your collection if you want a finer, soft-focus finish to your makeup. If you're the sort who hates having sharp lines of color on your face, cakey makeup, or having to consciously use a light hand every time you apply color, the this set is for you!

Weighted handles and metallic white ferrules make for a luxe feeling, even though the brushes aren't that expensive

The duo-fiber (well, technically these brushes don't have "two fibers" - they're just two different colors of synthetic hair) material of these brushes is super soft and plush. They don't feel scratchy at all (although the eye brush has a couple of pointy bits). The sparse white tip picks up a small amount while the black, dense hair at the bottom blends it. Pretty handy.

Here's a quick rundown of what each brush is for!

A lot of girls seem to be intimidated by smoky eyes - I can't blame them, it is a tough look to pull off if you're just starting to play with makeup. I had to practice A LOT to get the blending and the shape juuuust right; it helped to finally acquire the right brushes for the job, too. But it was a rewarding adventure. I'm gonna call it an adventure because I can recall with horror how my early smoky eyes looked like. Hehe.

Still, I hope I'm not totally scaring you off this dramatic eye look. It can elongate and widen your eyes, perfect for evening engagements or instances where you'll get photographed! Now one drugstore palette that I really like to use for smoky eyes is the BYS Eyeshadow Palette in Guilty Pleasures (P499). This has a nice selection of colors with good pigmentation - not bad for the price!

This caught my eye while I was shopping at Watsons (only place where you can find BYS since they're exclusive)!Anyway, I like the payoff of the colors, especially the darkest ones; you'll really get an opaque olive or black if you layer it properly. You'd still need an eyeshadow base to make the light and medium colors to show up, but I use a base with almost all my eyeshadows so no biggie.

The texture is smooth albeit chalky. As long as you tap the brush before applying the color, you'd be okay. ;) Check out the swatches and my FOTD wearing it after the cut!

Have you tried Avon eyeshadows before? I have, but they were woefully unimpressive last year. The texture and pigmentation needed a lot of work, and the sponge they came with? Useless. I have good news though! Avon has finally refomulated their quads, and I tell you, they are pretty good! 

I've been using them quite often since I got them, so I thought I'd start Eyeshadow Week at Project Vanity with the new Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quads (P449).

The new formula is a lot smoother and more pigmented than before. I also love the sophisticated color selection, and how well each color in the quad goes together. You can get a nice day look by mixing just two colors or a dramatic evening look by combining all four. The darkest shade in each quad is a deep matte that's pigmented enough to be used as eyeliner (wet or dry works!).

Chocolate Sensation is a lovely smoky neutral palette. I love ALL the colors, and I think they'd look good across most skintones!

Kohl eyeliner makes our eyes more dramatic and intense, but the sad fact is that most of them simply are too creamy to stay in place. That's just the nature of the formula - the creamier, more emollient a product is, the less wear-time you get out of it. 

So who wants to wear eyeliner that looks great for only two hours? Not a lot of people, I imagine. But they're still pretty to look at, especially the Revlon Photoready Kajal Intense Eyeliner + Brightener (P525). 

The formula is very smooth and creamy, while the finish has a satiny opaqueness to it. Some colors are immediately solid, but I find that the lighter ones need to be layered on to get maximum color pay off. I can live with that.

Oily girls rejoice! There's a new blush in town that'll defy the sebum and the sweat. theBalm Instain Blush (P895 from Beauty Bar) promises to be a staining powder blush. Indeed, this is one of the longest-wearing cheek colors I've ever tried! It sticks so well that it barely fades even after I've worn it for eight hours. I have yet to try it for longer than that time, but I can imagine that it can last up to ten.

Other than the staying power, I love the finish of Instain. It's, how do I say it...it's like another layer of skin. It doesn't look like it's sitting on top of the cheeks like a powdery monster; it's how my skin would look if it were blushing at the moment. It's not a flat matte but it's not shiny or shimmery either.

Okay I think I have it. The finish is like a cheek stain's, except that it's in powder form! It doesn't actually stain the skin though, which makes for hassle-free removal at the end of the day.