It’s no secret that Innisfree’s Green Tea skincare line is one of the brand’s most popular and enduring collections. Versatile and moisturizing Jeju Green Tea has been a fan favorite since its launch back in 2008, and the creme de la creme has always been the Green Tea Seed Serum for its potent balancing and hydrating properties.

Better skin in as early as 2 weeks

While there’s a lot of drinks and vitamins in the market that promise better skin, I was on the lookout for something that’s proven and tested to work on acne -- something to help me deal with cystic acne which I often get whenever I’m on my period.

Something you probably already know: Mae Layug is a famous local YouTuber who has over half a million followers. She films mostly beauty reviews, but also covers health, shopping hauls, and snippets from her personal life.

With a vast selection of skincare products available in the market, getting the highly-coveted glow up should be easy, right? Good skin, however, isn't just something you get by dealing with it from the outside. I should know–as someone who has battled acne, I've basically tried them all. While products and treatments helped cure existing skin issues, these had to go hand in hand with nourishing my skin from the inside. A vitamin I often overlooked, merely seeing it as one of the usual ingredients in my multivitamin capsule, is Vitamin E.

I first reviewed the iconic Clinique Moisture Surge eleven years ago here on Project Vanity. Eleven years, would you believe? It was the first true gel moisturizer I’ve tried in my life, and my mind was appropriately blown. I’ve only tried heavy cream moisturizers previously and gels weren’t as easily available before as they are now. Clinique was definitely one of the first brands that led the pack when it came to this particular innovation.

It’s been a while since I’ve been literally thrilled by a lipstick collection. You all know how I feel about brown lipstick these days, so to see a line that’s full of luscious jewel tones makes my heart do a little dance each time I pull out a shade to wear. And so, let me present to you the new MAC Love Me Liquid Lipcolour (P1,500 at Lazada), which really should be in your makeup armoire ASAP!

Since we are mostly still stuck at home, some of us have probably tried to DIY our beauty and grooming rituals that we usually do outside. And while it might even be fun to try to cut our own hair or do our own nails at home, there are some things that should be left to the experts. Here are five beauty procedures that you should never try at home.

Despite the name, COMMONLABS. is a Kbeauty brand that has a decidedly uncommon approach to skincare. When you visit their website, they describe their products as skin kinetics trainers that “stimulate healthy and balanced movement of the skin cells”. The approach is that of working from the core to ensure that skin is healthy on a fundamental level. And they focus on formulations that can battle pollutants and stress.

All movements, when successful, end up permeating our daily lives. The clamor for sustainability in beauty used to be just a niche affair, but over the years we’ve seen bigger brands commit - in their own ways - to practices that are better for the environment. This gives us consumers more options as things become more affordable and easily available. There’s still a long way to go, of course, but Watsons is going forward with its commitment to sustainability.

Shiseido has been busy lately, what with new releases that I think you’ll love for your skin. Today I’ll be reviewing the new Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation and the Clear Suncare Stick!

My skin hasn’t been in the best state in the past year, so I still like wearing a bit of liquid foundation underneath even when I have a mask on. In fact, I find that it also helps my makeup survive a little longer. But not all liquid foundations are created equal in this use case. Some, like the Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation (P3,000 /30ml in Lazada) may rule them all.

Who here misses going to the salon and coming out with Salontastic hair? Nowadays, we’re not able to go to the salon to give our hair some TLC. If we neglect taking care of our hair, it might lead to hair damage. We talked to celebrity stylist Renz Pangilinan, who has worked on the hair of Gabbi Garcia, Ivana Alawi and Kylie Versoza, about hair damage and how to prevent it.

Renz says that the main causes of hair damage are sun exposure, hair styling and hair coloring. With his clients not able to go to the salon, he noticed that their hair showed signs of damage. “There’s a big difference since they are not able to have their regular salon treatment. It lacks shine and luster. It’s also more damaged and dry.”

The blk Sunkissed Collection is inspired by the different shades of the sunset, mostly warm colors that will give you a "post-vacation glow, minus the sunburn." From this new collection, I was drawn towards the new shades of the Creamy All-Over Paints since I had a good impression with the Glow shade included in the Blk Bridal Collection. These new releases are marketed as mask-proof and multi-use for the face, eyes, and lips so here's how they fared IRL.

My skin has reached that certain point where I feel like I need a little help from anti-aging products, particularly in terms of lifting and firming. Gravity has taken its sweet time and my skin isn’t as bouncy as before – I can actually pinpoint sagging areas already. These exact concerns are what the SNAILWHITE Gold Age Renewal line aim to address so I’m happy to test out and see if the line can be my new anti-aging secret.

I’ve always had sensitive skin all my life. When I was younger, I’d often experience allergy flare ups that’s usually triggered by the food I eat, the weather, or even stress.

These days, I’ve been dealing with mild skin irritation from the summer heat. While I’ve been managing it with a gentler, much simpler skin care routine, I’ve been looking for a new cleanser that can manage my skin’s irritation - which is mostly red spots on my chest and dry patches all over my face.

What are you going to look like once you emerge from the pandemic? We’ve all been living in our minimalist looks for a year and a half now, but as more of us get vaccinated, the day to be bold once more with our makeup expression is coming soon. Frankly, I can’t wait for it to come. I will definitely enjoy being all out with my face!

It’s hard not to think of Cruella De Vil when the subject of female villains comes up, more so when it’s specifically about their beauty. Her look - black-and-white hair paired with a red lip - is an iconic one. This is why when Disney announced their live-action film Cruella, it’s no surprise that MAC Cosmetics collaborated with them to celebrate the rebellious, edgy, and glamorous villain.

After all this time, Happy Skin remains as one of my top three favorite local cosmetic brands. I like how they’re always improving their formulations and coming up with new ones. And now, since the launch of Generation Happy Skin a couple of years ago, they have affordable everyday makeup solutions that are all under P400. What a steal, right?

A beauty brand that’s older than 100 years is already in rarefied air. But traveling through time to still be relevant after 170 years is a monumental achievement in itself, one that Kiehl’s carries proudly! The brand actually started as a pharmacy by John Kiehl in New York’s East Village in 1851. It was in 1921 when Irving Morse took over that it started selling beauty products. With his pharmacology background, he formulated Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion and Creme de Corps, two products which Kiehl’s still has on their shelves as we speak. The first Kiehl’s apothecary also still stands in the same spot in New York!

Being in your early 30s marks the beginning of one’s first encounters with aging. It starts flexing its muscles on you around this time and while some signs of it can easily be swept under the rug, some tend to show themselves on your face, making them harder to ignore. I’m quite diligent when it comes to my skincare and face massages but I know it’s only a matter of time before gravity fully starts to get the best of me. So why not nip it in the early stages?