Pinays just looove their lipsticks. Most local brands will only have one or two foundation shades, but a boatload of lip products. It just makes sense. This country is too hot and humid, so foundation, which tends to break and smear with the heat, is just an added stress. Lipstick application is easy, and playing with color is a quick way to transform your look. Let’s take a few pointers from today’s hottest celebs and break down what makes a celebrity smooch.

I’ve tried hundreds and hundreds of lip products in my career as a beauty blogger and editor these last 12 years. You only need to look at all the lip swatch photos and reviews I and the PV Team have published in the past to see that trends in color and formulations come and go; what’s hot right now might roll on for a few years, and then not be seen again until its turn on the line has come.

What I’ve noticed though is that there is one thing that never goes out of style - comfort.

The clay mask made my already dry skin feel even more dry and tight. It was also very difficult to wash off, so I had to use a damp towel to remove the mask. I later learned that a bentonite clay mask is more apt for use on oily skin, because it’s made from a very absorbent material that is sometimes even used for cat litter. It’s not a bad ingredient, but if you have dry or sensitive skin, there is a better alternative.

With velvet lipstick being such a popular option these days, it’s not surprising that Happy Skin has finally thrown their own hat in the ring. The new Happy Skin Lip Mallow (P549 at happyskincosmetics.com) is described as a “plush matte lip mousse…weightless, intensely pigmented, and gives you that cloud-like feel on the lips”. It features eight morena-friendly shades that have brown undertones. This also has SPF15.

While going through the newly-opened Metro department store in Cebu, I stumbled upon the cute counter of Squad Cosmetics. I love discovering new brands, and this one got me intrigued because I was told it was local. With a little research, I discovered that they are a sister company of Detail Makeover. The products are formulated in LA but manufactured in China. I also found that a lot of YouTubers have been raving about this pocket-friendly brand, whose priciest product is only P230! So, I couldn’t help myself and picked out a few items to try!

As a member of the Grease Girl Group, I have a love-hate relationship with my oily skin. Sebum production helps to keep my skin smooth so I look younger, but it’s unpleasant when my face looks greasy after a few hours! Oil control sheets and powder for touch-ups are must-haves in my makeup bag. With skin care, I tend to stay away from facial oil, and even once tried to remove moisturizer from my routine because some experts claim that moisturizer for oily skin will only make my face oilier.

How was your Valentine’s weekend, PV fam? In case you aren’t feeling the love or aren’t too into this whole V-Day craze, this week’s beauty roundup is sure to get you kilig over the latest developments. We’ve got the latest scoop on NARS’ new fragrance drop (luxe doesn’t even begin to cover it) as well as their 10 new blushes that are sure to have you swooning! Our very own Maine Mendoza is doing a second act with MAC, and let’s take a peek at Jaclyn Hill’s newest (and hopefully fuzz-free) palette. Oh, and Bretman has an ode to the island that’s making us excited for summer!

One of my all-time favorite lip looks is the classic red lip. Whether it’s inspired by Taylor Swift circa 2016 or that quintessential French vibe, this bold look continues to be a major beauty trend this 2020. Despite its seemingly intimidating color, there’s always that one shade of red that can fit into your makeup collection and personal preference. We’ve previously tackled how to find your perfect red lipstick but with so many new products in the market these days, we decided to update our red lippie recos – just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Are you one for New Year’s resolutions? Some people may be naysayers but I personally believe in the power of a new year for sparking change! Sure, you’ll need to follow through for the next 11 months to achieve success but getting started is almost always the hardest part. If one of your resolutions this year is to achieve your best skin yet this 2020, here are four things you can do to reach that goal.

I have a confession: I enjoy watching blackhead extraction videos. It’s just so satisfying to see them get popped out of pores! It’s a different case, though, when I visit my derma to have this procedure done on myself (don’t DIY - you might cause more damage). It can hurt a lot, and sometimes my nose gets so irritated that I have to stop myself from sneezing on my derma.

As an oily skinned gal, I’m more prone to getting clogs in my skin so I’ve learned to put up with extractions as a necessary evil. But when I heard about the grit method and that many people swore it worked for them, I just had to try it for myself!

I had one of the worst breakouts of my life three years ago. There I was, trying out some high-end, cult favorite skincare and fully expecting to look like Kendall Jenner after 30 days. To my heartbreak, my skin broke out in clumps of tiny, angry, itchy bumps instead! After a few months and trying some similar products, I realized that what I had at the time was actually fungal acne.

Kiehl’s is one of those skincare brands that my skin just seems to love. I’ve tried a few of their cult favorite serums as well as some then new releases), and my experience has been good thus far. Sam also did the Kiehl’s Let Us Change Your Skin Challenge with quite satisfactory results. The brand has been around since 1851, after all, and has many fans worldwide!

It’s February, I’m in love! Happy love month, PV fam! This week’s beauty roundup will have you falling head over heels with beauty all over again. We’ve got the latest scoop on Selena Gomez’s new beauty line (we know!!!) as well as Millie Bobby Brown’s sweet 16 surprise. We’re also gushing over Pat McGrath’s newest drop, and Huda Kattan’s skincare. Happy reading!

Whether you have dry skin or oily skin, applying moisturizer is an essential step of any skincare routine. However, this can be tricky to do in a humid country, as many formulas can feel too heavy and sticky, especially when it’s hot. Gel formulas are a great alternative to the traditional cream formula, but did you know that there’s an even more lightweight option?

I wish I could talk more people into trying menstrual cups. They’ve made my periods considerably easier to manage and more comfortable, hands down! I do understand that the idea of using one can seem daunting, and that you probably have a lot of questions. Let’s try to answer some of those Qs then! 

Do you still remember your first ever foundation? I do! I had read about a local brand called Ellana Minerals right here on PV, when Liz first started raving about them 10 years ago. That was the decade when mineral makeup was all the rage abroad, but Filipinos didn’t yet have the wonders of online shopping, and Ellana allowed us to enjoy the trend without having to spend a fortune on shipping fees! I treasured the tiny pot of loose mineral foundation and mini kabuki brush that I got from them, so much so that I still keep both in my vanity; the case is empty but the brush still works.

One of my favorite things to watch on YouTube are makeup collection videos. While it’s fascinating to know what beauty gurus have in their collection (and get ideas for products I might want to check out next), these days I’m more interested in the way they organize their stash! My personal favorite is a video that shows how drag queen Kimberly Clark arranges her collection. It’s so satisfying how everything has its own place and how it makes it easier to navigate through a big collection. I also love how she shares that tips she got from the KonMari method, and even DIY-ed some shelves for extra storage!

Is it just me, or was January a crazy month? But you know what they say: there’s nowhere to go but up. Which is why we’re going to try and bring you good vibes with this week’s beauty roundup to perk up your spirits and get you excited for February! We’re talking about Happy Skin’s newest launch and blk’s insane stack of goodies, which are both testing our #nobuy resolutions. We’ve also got the latest from FENTY (yes, there’s more) and Glow Recipe’s baby step towards more “makeup-like” products!  

Are you a skincare junkie? How many skincare products do you currently have in your stash? I recently took stock of mine and found that I currently have 20 in rotation. It’s a lot more than I’d like, but in my defense, it took some trial and error for me to find the ones I like best. I’m finishing these purchases, then plan to edit down to only keeping my HGs! My downsized shelf will be composed of just 10 key pieces; that may still seem like a lot for some but it’s the routine that works for my oily-acne prone skin type.

Thanks to Project Vanity, I’ve had the chance to try out a lot of different skincare products but K-beauty has a special place in my heart! Learning about Korean skincare gave me my first brush with the Asian beauty philosophy, and it has truly been a game-changer for my routines. From chemical exfoliants and 7-skin application, to straight brows and just-bitten lips, so much of my beauty routine is Korean inspired! So I was really excited to learn that a new K-beauty brand just arrived in town.