When Project Vanity ‘s editor-in-chief told me she was sending over a bottle of the new Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum (P2,850/20ml | P4,350/30ml | P6,200/50ml at Lazada), I had to check if it was my birthday. It wasn’t but, boy, did it feel like it! This famed fountain of youth is a staple on vanity tables the world over for 38 years. It’s the ultimate in anti-aging simply because it works. As its name says, Advanced Night Repair, or ANR, repairs the skin overnight. Women have been claiming to wake up to skin that looks more even and radiant, their fine lines and wrinkles smoothened out.

“I see the reason why you wear makeup. It is to attract guys, right?” That’s exactly what my mom said when she found out I wear makeup. You know, why is it that when we - girls and guys - have makeup on, it’s always assumed that its purpose is to attract someone else? Can’t we wear makeup for ourselves? Anyway, I think it was sweet of my mom to assume that guys are attracted to me whenever I have makeup on. Little does she know, it’s the opposite.

Recently, I noticed my skin changed dramatically. My previously oily, acne-prone skin is now a lot more sensitive than it used to be. The dry skin on my face was red, flaky and itchy! On my body, I started to develop itchy rashes on and off. To make matters worse, I recently found out that sensitive skin is also more vulnerable to germs because of a weaker skin barrier. This pushed me to switch my routine towards more gentle products and mild soaps.

Since puberty has come and gone, I have heaved a sigh of relief that my skin is no longer as erratic as it was during those tumultuous years. Most of the pimples I experience as an adult can be chalked up to bouts of pre-period hormones, purging, or product incompatibility. And because age comes with wisdom, I’ve already assembled a Dream Team of products that help manage those tricky times a little better.

While the rest of the pandemic world became obsessed with watching their plants blossom and bloom, I was fascinated with watching my armpit hair grow.

It was exciting, to be honest. I know that sounds pathetic but these are strange times and in all my 43 years, my underarm hair has always been ruthlessly ripped out, regularly, unfailingly for 30 years. So to see my armpits not hair-free is an event! And I made sure to watch.

Staying at home all day doesn’t mean that we should stop looking pretty. In fact there are more meetings now than before (how is that even possible?) so there’s a constant need to look presentable on a webcam! If you’re looking to do a complete look without spending a lot on extra products, allow me to present a solution that’s multifunctional and affordable.

Project Vanity writer Firas Abboud declared in his story, “Makeup knows no gender, so every makeup product is technically universal.” I can’t agree more! I think everyone should not be judged when they wear cosmetics, no matter how they identify, or their age, or how their body is. Everyone is allowed to be more beautiful in all the ways that make them feel so! I think that’s why local brand blk Cosmetics, Anne Curtis and Jacqe Yuengtian-Gutierrez’s brain child, hit a nerve when they launched the first Universal collection last year.

Since wearing a mask whenever stepping outside the house is a must, some of us have chosen to skip wearing lip colors. After all, no one gets to see it and wearing a lipstick underneath a mask can be quite messy! If you are one of those people, I feel you as I’m guilty of it too. But allow me to give you an excuse today, if you will.

If Issy & Co. Cosmetics is still not on your radar then you’re missing out. This Filipino brand - only less than a year old - is hitting its stride with amazing releases so far, and its newest collection with celebrity Alex Gonzaga is the brand putting pedal to the metal! In line with the brand’s promise of “beauty made easy,” this big release features three multifunctional and no-fuss products: highlighter slimsticks, créme blushes, and lip mousses. Here’s my review and swatches of the entire collection!

Generation Happy Skin has always been about high-performance, everyday-wearable makeup. And with superstar Kathryn Bernardo as the face of this line, her minimalist beauty philosophy of combining healthy, glowing skin with touches of flattering color is a spot-on fit with the brand’s latest releases. After trying several pieces out, I have to say that the Here to Bloom collection isn’t just an inspiring statement. It’s a promise.

When I first heard about the Foreo UFO, I thought it was another cleansing device from the brand as we’ve previously featured the Foreo Luna Go and the Foreo Luna 3. Those two got rave reviews so when I found out that the UFO was in fact, not a cleansing device, my interest was piqued. What is this masking device and what is it supposed to do for my skin?

On my 32nd birthday last February, I bought myself two of my absolute favorite products from Sephora PH: the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and the Sunday Riley Good Genes. I try a ton of products because of my job, but these two are on top of my list for reliability in terms of efficacy. They just work. All the time. They’re expensive but they’re truly worth every cent.

Toners aren’t at the foreground for me when it comes to building up my skincare roster. What with my dry skin woes, I tend to pay way more attention to potent serums and rich moisturizers to get the job done. However, I’ve learned that this post-cleansing step is a necessary one, as the moisturizing toning products I use are workhorses that get the hydration ball rolling!

If you’ve been playing with eyeshadows recently and are looking to add more palettes in your kit, then boy do I have a find for you! I purchased the Squad Cosmetics Boss Squad Eyeshadow Palette (P199 in Shopee) on a whim last March. I honestly did not expect much from it given the price tag, but it turned out to be one of those products wherein the quality exceeds its cost. Don’t get me wrong ha, this is no Natasha Denona or Pat McGrath (my two fave eyeshadow brands!). However if you don’t like splurging on eye makeup (yet, you might still change your mind haha) then this is quite good for 199 pesos.

I’ve always believed that prevention is better than the cure. I even started using eye cream way back in college! I’ve made it my goal to delay unnecessary skin aging, so when I first came across the Shiseido Ultimune serum in 2014, I immediately got hooked. I’ve been using this for six years.

I’m sure you’ve seen the ads following you all over the Internet, so let me satisfy your curiosity a bit. I bought the Flawless Brows Eyebrow Trimmer (P999 for two at Glitzy Chic) a couple weeks ago online because I was dying to know if it worked. My quarantine brows have of course realized a life of their own so I needed a quick fix, quicker than my trusty tweezers. Now the good news is yes, the Flawless Brows gadget does work, although perhaps not in the way most people would think.

Historically, women like buying affordable luxuries like red lipstick and face powder after a crisis. But after COVID-19, I bet most of us will be keeping our masks on and our lips covered. With the bottom half of their faces covered, people are choosing to play up their eyes and brows. Sales of eyeshadow palettes and other types of eye makeup have increased dramatically, according to Inquirer. They called it the “eyeliner effect”.

I was browsing through Instagram last week when I saw local haute couture designer Mak Tumang post about his mask collection. I was interested because I’ve been following his work for years - before taking Catriona Grey to the finish line as Miss Universe 2018 with her famous Mayon Gown (also known as Lava Gown), he has been making stunning bridal and couture gowns for his dedicated clients. I love his obvious attention to detail and appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into each piece. I can’t afford a Mak Tumang gown, but it’s free to look! I think of his pieces as wearable art because of the vision he incorporates into his work.

Constant hand AND dish washing both make it easy for my hands to dry up like a prune if I don’t watch it. I use gentle cleansers yes, and I moisturize regularly, but sometimes I need a heavy hitter like the Lush Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion (P345/45 g and P1,150/240g at Lush PH). The Lush Philippines team sent this to me a couple of months back - they have an online store btw! - so I’ve been testing it out. The verdict? It works.

I’ve taken to wearing perfume at home, usually right before I sleep. Is that weird? I think it makes perfect sense. I get to enjoy my favorite scent on my pajamas and pillowcase, and this helps me to relax as I listen to the Calm app before sleeping. If that’s not one of the best ways to use perfume, I don’t know what is!