Filipinas have definitely become a lot more interested in eyeshadow in recent years because of YouTube and Instagram. Before, we felt that eyeshadow wasn’t worth the kerfuffle so long as we had mascara, eyeliner, and kilay on, but now it’s become a fun way to dress up any look! There are hundreds of palettes in the market though, so allow me to share a recent Revlon find that’s under 900 pesos: the Looks Book Eyeshadow Palettes (P875 at Revlon counters).

“Blooming ka” is a usual compliment that describes a general improvement in one’s appearance. Sometimes it’s as obvious as a whole new FOTD, while other times it’s a positive change to the overall aura that’s hard to explain. Then again, maybe it’s just a new skincare routine that’s been formulated for glass skin levels of radiance!

If there’s one word to describe this week’s beauty roundup it’s NEW! We’ve got the latest foundation from Kat Von D Beauty (plus the gorgeous face fronting the campaign), NARS’ newest baby to mark 25 years in the industry, and L’Oreal’s newest Oscar winning face. We also have the official release date of Victoria Beckham Beauty, and deets on Lancôme’s quest to further empower women! 

Is it just me or is 2019 passing by quickly? The Ber months are here, and holiday season is right around the corner! With everything going at full steam ahead, stress and lack of sleep can become your daily companions. We don’t need to worry though - Make Up For Ever has just launched their newest solution to helping us stay fresh faced: the Make Up For Ever Reboot Foundation (P2,700).

K-beauty isn’t just about a quest for glass skin. While many brands develop products according to specific age brackets, some labels were made in response to more particular needs such as atopic skin disorder relief or solutions for oily/acne-prone skin types. Commleaf answers the call for a back-to-nature approach to skincare, focusing on natural ingredients and hypoallergenic products. Even the brand’s name origin story speaks of its humble philosophy: “comma” indicates a pause, while “leaf” represents nature.

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.