I was in Hong Kong last November for a beauty convention when I spotted a simple booth tucked in amongst hundreds of others in the massive venue. I almost missed it, but a glimpse of luxe brushes caught my eye. When I entered I found out that my hunch was right: the brushes were indeed luxurious and made by Uyeda Bisyodo, an artisanal brush brand founded in Japan in 1945.

When I first started buying my own makeup, I bought some of my very first lipsticks from Maybelline. I have been a fan of their Creamy Matte line for years now, and still reach for Maybelline faves like Clay Crush, Nude Nuance, and Touch of Spice despite owning over a hundred lipsticks! And it’s not hard to understand why.

As a beauty enthusiast, I naturally gravitate towards skincare discussions—whether in websites and online platforms (shout out to The Project Vanity Community on Facebook!), at beauty events, or with friends and family. I do appreciate all of these venues, because I learn a lot about skincare from them. The conversation has changed a lot through the years, with many participants becoming *woke* about how to properly care for their skin. At times, I even feel like I’m preaching to the choir!

This week’s beauty roundup has me feeling like it’s my birthday, or that Christmas came early! Funko Pop collectors will have something new to add to their wish list, while the newest lipsticks from MAC are perfect for those who moisturizing but lightweight lip color. Of course, you don’t want to miss out on Sephora’s crazy Beauty Pass Sale and a peek at gorgeous new KKW Beauty collection that we’re lowkey eyeing.

Not that I need much help in figuring out my next beauty purchase, but I enjoy browsing through store bestsellers to see what everyone else is loving. That’s how I stumbled on V&M Naturals CPC+G Oil while looking for an oil for both the face and body on BeautyMNL. It had over 500 5-star reviews and I couldn’t help but feel intrigued, especially since it was just P350 for a 30ml bottle.

When it comes to face bases, I have a bias for lightweight foundations. I love how it evens out my skin tone without covering too many imperfections, thus allowing my skin to still look like skin. The light to medium coverage is also great for everyday wear as it fades more gracefully and is not as fussy as full coverage foundation can be. Weather-wise, lightweight formulas are just perfect for the fickle super-hot-then-suddenly-wet season we’re currently experiencing, as these lightweight foundations literally feel like nothing on the skin. 

From a brand that we used to only see in Thailand, Snailwhite has become a staple in many a Filipino’s beauty routine. Launched in the Philippines just last year, their Whipp Soap has fast become a bestseller. We don’t recommend it as it has a pH level of 10 (way too high for cleansing!), but fellow PV girl Gett found their Snail Secretion Filtrate Moisture to be a great moisturizer option for oily skin, so I was very curious to try the Icy Mask and CC Sunscreen SPF50/PA+++ that the brand sent over.

My dear friends, the Sephora PH Beauty Pass Sale is upon us, and we must now gird our wallets for the battle of their lives! Okay, seriously, in case you missed it, Sephora PH is going on a sitewide sale from September 4. Gold and Black Members get 20% off, while White Members get 15% off. If you’re wondering what to get from the sale, here are my top 10 favorite Sephora finds that need a spot in your kit!

For many beauty lovers, the temptation to sneak a peek inside a Watsons store is often hard to resist! Considering all the makeup and skincare finds we’ve scored there, Watsons is definitely the place to be when you want to “look good” but that’s only half of its value proposition. The brand also delivers on its promise to help customers “feel great” with products and campaigns that promote health and wellness, including how to stay protected from stress, germs, and the changing weather. We got to sit down for a short Q&A with Joyce Pring and Kris Lumagui to talk about how they keep their skin healthy and radiant even during this gloomy rainy season.

And that does it for ghost month, folks! Get ready to bust out those berry-toned lippies for the Ber months! Although we may not have a Fall season, this week’s roundup puts us in the right mood for cozying up in sweaters. From Natasha Denona’s step into the lipstick world to Chanel’s latest beauty breakthrough, this week is full of good vibes and fun times. We’ve also got FENTY’s shimmery subtle launch, so happy reading! 

I’m probably a little late to the game but I first heard about the zero waste lifestyle mid last year while browsing group pages on Facebook. This movement is about making the conscious effort to reduce the amount of non-biodegradable waste that one produces on a daily basis. I’m sure you’ve heard about switching to reusable straws, reusable coffee cups, and even menstrual cups! When it comes to our beauty addiction, there are a lot of ways to make our routines more environmentally-friendly, but let’s focus on a personal care staple that (almost) everyone uses: shampoo.

Even when shopping online, people have different approaches. Some prefer to look at a brand category and check out what’s new from there, while others simply browse the featured products on the home page. The budget-conscious might head straight for the Sales tab, or simply check their carts to see if what they like is on promo.

As someone who can pack five eyeshadow colors onto my lids for no other reason than I enjoy it, my eyes can feel a little bare with nothing on them. So even on chill days, I’d have a swipe of mascara, a dash of eyeliner, or - more often than not - a dab of cream eyeshadow. Cream eyeshadow requires much less precision and work to apply compared to other eye makeup! So I would always have something on hand when I need to leave in five.

Revlon lipsticks have been around since the 1940s and have played a role in the history of cosmetics ever since. This isn’t a brand that likes to rest on its laurels, however, and so they’ve come up with tons of unique formulas and shades in the past 80 years. I’ve tried quite a few of them myself, which is why today I am sharing some of my top picks - these are the exact Revlon lipsticks I currently love to use!

During the early years of my makeup obsession, I attended a beauty workshop where the instructor divulged the One True Blush Shade to rule all others: peachy pink. The magic lies in its versatility to look flattering across all skin tones, as well as its ability to work with most lipstick and eyeshadow combinations. Not too cool, not too warm, and with just the right smattering of shimmer, it's easy to understand why the cheekily-named Nars Orgasm is the gold standard in this category and spawned countless iterations including a stick form (aka The Multiple) and the Super Orgasm.

2019 has been a crazy ride so far, and the beauty world keeps things interesting with all sorts of exciting and unexpected developments! For this week’s beauty roundup, we’ve got another (yes, another) celebrity makeup line launching very soon, and a magical MAC collab with one of our fave beauty gurus. Whether you have the cash to splurge or need to stick to a budget, the new palettes from Ever Bilena and ABH Norvina will let you get creative. Ready for this? Things are gonna get lit!

If you’ve been a regular reader of Project Vanity, you’ve probably seen that we now have a podcast! I’ve been very excited since Liz and Den first announced it to the team as it’s something that I’ve long wanted for us to do. The topics have been very interesting but my favorite one so far is Episode 4, which discusses skin whitening. 

Third time’s the charm, they say, but for Heart Evangelista Escudero and Happy Skin, this third collection feels like icing on the cake! Their first collaboration was back in 2016, when Liz got to interview Heart and even take a peek into her makeup kit. That first collection was such a bestseller, they decided to launch two of the mini lipsticks in full-size last year. I was able to meet Heart then, and found out her choice for the perfect lippies – classic all the way in reds and nudes. This time around, Happy Skin x Love Marie promises to let us get more creative with our lippies as Heart does with her art because, as she says, “Your lips, your canvas!”

When it comes to fashion, I like keeping an eye on the latest trends. Even so, I know that classic cuts and detailed craftsmanship will always look good! Comfort and practicality are also musts, of course. So I have mad respect for local fashion brand Plains & Prints, as they always seem to come up with updated pieces that have a timeless look to them, without sacrificing wearability and comfort. I also appreciate the fine detail work and excellent materials they use. Best of all, their collaborations with local artists make it possible for people like me to own wearable art! They have truly come a long way in their 25 years of existence, coming from humble beginnings as co-founder Roxanne A. Farillas’ clothing stall in Greenhills, to a respected fashion house with branches nationwide.

Whenever Japanese beauty cult faves come up in the Project Vanity Community, Hada Labo always makes an appearance. The brand is a particular favorite among skincare enthusiasts, but until recently, we were dependent on Tokyo-bound friends and pasabuys to help us get our J-beauty fix. With Hada Labo’s arrival in the Philippines, we can now stock up on their best-selling products by visiting Watsons!