Self-care is a tricky subject to talk about because it means different things to different people. No one else can be an expert on self-care except the self giving and receiving the care, so it’s a little bit of an airtight loop. Only you know if it is working or not.

When quarantine started all over the world, there are two opposing camps that emerged: one that encourages hyper productivity (learn the skill you’ve always wanted to learn! Start that side hustle you’ve always wanted to have!) and one that says “fuck productivity, just slow down and take all the time you need to heal mentally”.

Hey PV girls! We hope you’re all keeping safe during this enhanced community quarantine. Just a friendly reminder to eat healthily, take care of your mental health, wash your hands, and #StayHome. If you need to shop for essential skincare and beauty needs during this ECQ, here’s a list of beauty stores that are still open online and delivering.

Warning: don’t do this at home, alright? It’s been over 40 days since I wore sunscreen on my face and body. I haven’t used a single drop of it since the Manila lockdown started! I do my normal skincare routine otherwise - essence, moisturizer, I even mask - so it’s not really laziness. Part of it is because I don’t have any more Biore UV Aqua Rich backups at home (my HG sunscreen), but a huge reason is a morbid curiosity of mine on how important sunscreen REALLY is to my skin. I wanted to find out what will happen if I just stop using sunscreen altogether. Call it insanity. Call it a sacrifice for science.

It’s one thing to know how to cook and bake, but the beauty junkie takes it to a whole new level by knowing her way around the kitchen scraps. That’s right, we're challenging you to get nifty with what some might consider as refuse! Aside from repurposing your coffee grounds, there are more food leftovers that can double as beauty treatments. Get thrifty with your routine, and save a few pesos with these DIY hacks! (Hint: Use the extra funds for cheap thrills or set them aside to splurge on a big-ticket item!)

I do corporate speaking engagements on the side, and some months ago Watsons invited me their planning session to talk about the latest beauty trends. They gave me this gift bag with some Watsons goodies after my talk - love getting these, there’s always something I need or discover in them! It had the Watsons Goat Milk Cream Body Wash (P289 for 1 liter) and guys, seriously, this is SO GOOD.

We strongly advocate the use of low pH cleansers for the facial skin here at Project Vanity. It's not just a matter of preference; low pH cleansers actually function to preserve the acidic mantle that keeps our skin healthy. Unfortunately, there are products marketed for facial cleansing that have high pH levels. They may come in the form of bars, foams, creams or even gels but for this discussion, we'll refer to this kind of cleansers as "soaps". If you use soap to cleanse your face, you may want to stop for a moment and read on why it’s doing you more harm than good.

While Manila is on lockdown, we have everyday heroes fighting against a deadly virus in their scrubs and PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment). Some, like Medical Technologist Elle Zamora, go the extra mile with her beautiful makeup looks and show-stopping natural curls. I was inspired by her when I saw her post on a Facebook group the other day and thought that you should hear her story as well! This is what her life as a medical frontliner is like, and how she copes with brutal 12-hour shifts and stress about COVID-19.

It’s the third week of the quarantine, so we’re all feeling a little (or super!) lazy when it comes to putting any sort of makeup on. If you’re doing a lot of meetings on Zoom or holding parties at Hangouts though, you probably want ~some eyebrows at least! I know I do. I need to feel normal during such abnormal times. Here’s what I like to use when I only want to spend the least amount of time as possible on my arches.

While I often shop for makeup at Sephora, I admittedly tend to skip over their in-house brand as they’ve always looked plain next to the other brands that they carry. Recently though, I’ve noticed that the Sephora Collection has been upping their game with new skincare releases that feature trendy ingredients housed in chic, minimalist packaging. If you’ve been curious to try their new line of cleansers, here are my thoughts after testing these products for two weeks.

Disclaimer: I actually finished this project before the coronavirus quarantine. I wanted a more compact and complete makeup kit for my workout bag; I was swimming and playing tennis at the club as often as I can, and I shower there then go to the office or to a meeting after. I needed a comprehensive face! So I thought long and hard about what went in here and how everything is arranged.

I started a group chat with fellow beauty entrepreneurs about a year ago, and it’s usually what we use to coordinate lunches and sometimes discuss the retail landscape as well as challenges in the industry. We have had very different conversations though once the lockdown bore down on all of us - we were in distress. With malls closed down and even Lazada and Shopee non-operational (except for essential products), plus limited delivery service, it has so far been a three-week nightmare.

You’ve probably bought a product based on how attractive its packaging looked. I know I have! Sometimes I feel conned when the product itself turns out to be bad, and its only saving grace is the cute design that initially lured me into purchasing. Indeed, the beauty industry is very competitive and they have to do whatever it takes to keep their customers interested.

I know how frustrating it is to manage serious acne. I regularly go to the derma, I’ve tried different products and treatments, and I’ve even worked on improving my sleep quality and mental wellness to help manage my stress. But I think the most difficult part of acne is the aftermath. They often leave marks - physical scars, and sometimes even emotional ones. While there are many ways to treat hyperpigmentation, acne scarring often affects skin texture, causing a rough and uneven surface. How do you treat this type of acne scarring?

There are products that are bad, and then there are ones that we can not in good conscience recommend to anybody with a face. We don't hate anybody that much (or at all)! Here are five things that should be on your hit list.

And there goes another week! We hope that you’re keeping safe and well during these trying times. While the news may be filled with stories that make us anxious, we hope that this week’s beauty roundup gives a little respite. Check out ColourPop’s Disney dream collection, Huda Kattan’s contribution to freelancers, as well as something magical care of the Halliwell sisters!

How much does your entire makeup stash cost? Have you ever tried computing the cost of each item, including your tools? Over at the Project Vanity Facebook group, we once had a community challenge to find out just how much beauty lovers spent just to create their daily looks. More than a few members were surprised by how much their FOTDs were actually worth, so it becomes easier to understand why it hurts so much when we misplace kikay kits or accidentally break foundation bottles!

If there’s one thing that I changed in my beauty routine in the past year, it’s to rely less on contour and focus on highlights. I used to regularly hit pan on my contour powders but I’ve since changed my makeup look to focus on glowy skin. I love how a touch of well-placed highlighter can instantly brighten my face and make me feel like the star of a Kdrama! It’s also perfect for days when I feel gloomy or lack sleep. as it makes me look alive and put together. However, some highlighters look great on camera but too much for real life. If you want something that’s more subtle and natural-looking, we’ve put together some picks to suit every kind of budget!

One of my favorite beauty things to do is to contemplate which hair color I’m trying next. Over the years, I’ve experimented with red, done bronde, gone sunkissed with highlights, and I’m currently Team Au Naturel with salt and pepper strands. I love how the color of my hair can change my look without the commitment of chopping or perming my hair strands, and if I don’t like the results, I can just dye it again. If you’re thinking about refreshing your look and need some #inspo, here’s a look at celebrities rocking this year’s trends.

Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink is a big favorite in the drugstore liquid lippie category, and earned the first runner-up spot during Project Vanity’s 2019 Beauty Awards! I don’t often use liquid lipsticks but I’ve been curious to know what the hype is about. The arrival of the new Superstay Matte Ink Pink Edition (P299 each) presented the perfect opportunity for me to finally try this cult favorite.

Hello, PV fam! We’re all hoping that you’re keeping safe and staying healthy in your homes. And if you’re still at work, thank you so much for your service! With everything that’s been going on, we thought you might like a little beauty breather this weekend. Our roundup introduces MAC’s newest Maker (hint: she’s iconic and ageless), and has Louis Vuitton making anti-bacterial hand gels (read on before you freak). ABH also has a new baby, and Urban Decay has an answer to microblading. Happy reading!