Let’s talk about peptides—those teeny-tiny molecules that have been quietly transforming our skincare shelves and even sneaking into our haircare routines. They may sound like something you'd hear in a biology class (and you'd be right), but these little chains of amino acids have some serious clout when it comes to keeping our skin bouncy and our hair thriving. If you’ve ever wondered what peptides actually do, or why more and more products are proudly flaunting them on their labels, I’ve got you!

I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz around the Ever Bilena Matte Face Powder. Apparently, it’s one of the brand’s best-selling products. That alone got me quite curious about the powder, but what really pushed me to try it was how often I’d see it pop up on TikTok and even in real life. I’ve actually spotted a few women at the mall casually pulling it out of their bags for a quick retouch, like it’s just a regular part of their routine. At around P150, depending on the promo, it’s remarkably budget-friendly. I’ll admit, I had a few biases because of the price, but I figured, why not? Let’s see what all the fuss is about. Here’s how it went!

Who doesn’t want bright and glowing skin like Innisfree’s brand ambassador, Jang Won Young? That’s exactly the kind of radiance I’m aiming for as I try a new skincare routine featuring Innisfree’s latest launch: the Vitamin C Green Tea Enzyme Brightening Cream. This new addition to their lineup promises to deliver clearer, more radiant skin by combining the brightening power of Vitamin C—great for tackling dark spots and dullness—with the gentle exfoliating benefits of Green Tea enzymes.

In a country where it's summer basically year-round, long-wearing makeup isn't a nice-to-have, it's a must. Between the constant humidity, our love for commutes and food trips, and the fact that we’re always on the move, it’s not surprising that we’ve developed a soft spot for products that multitask and last all day. Most Filipinos are not doing full glam on a daily basis, but we still want to look fresh, polished, and put-together, without having to reapply every few hours.

The Romand Juicy Lasting Tint is easily one of the brand’s most iconic products. I even featured it in the Glossy Lip Tint Throwdown, where it earned a solid, well-rounded score. So imagine my surprise when Romand decided to give it an upgrade—and on top of that, they introduced five new shades! How do you improve on something that’s already so good? Let’s find out.

I know, I know. Vitamin C has been around forever and you’ve probably heard it hyped up a million times by now. But there’s a reason it’s still everyone’s favorite brightening ingredient! The thing is, even though it’s been a staple in our skincare routines for years, the science behind it keeps evolving. Brands are finding smarter ways to make it more stable, less irritating, and generally better for all skin types.

So, let’s take a little refresher on why Vitamin C is still that girl, and then I’ll tell you about some new stuff from Hello Glow that I think you might want to check out.

POPIQUE is the newest skincare and makeup brand by Filipinos, for Filipinos. Pronounced poh-pik, this rising F-beauty star is poised to make waves—and maybe even land a spot in your beach bag this summer. Inspired by the beach, the sun, and our beautiful islands, POPIQUE believes that beauty doesn’t hide from the sun, instead, it thrives under it.

Founder Aleah Sia describes POPIQUE in three words: fun, effortless, bold. Together with co-founder Patrick Sia and creative director Joel Andrada, the team set out to create a brand that celebrates the vibrant, sunny energy of island life. It’s skincare and makeup designed to live under the sun, not shy away from it.

As we’ve been taught in school, the locally abundant coconut tree is the tree of life. There truly are many uses of the coconut tree, and I’ve always felt that Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is vastly taken for granted as a beauty ingredient. It’s no secret that it is nourishing and moisturizing; plus it can be used for skin and hair. 

As it turns out, Tropicana was way ahead of me. Since 1902, they have harvested the power of the coconut tree. Their humble beginnings stemmed from Tapi Basin, Surat Thani, Thailand, with a family of coconut farmers. They have successfully championed virgin coconut oil as the basis of their certified organic, sustainable, and completely vegan product lineup.

I wore red lipstick the other day to go to the grocery. Not a tinted balm, not a sheer gloss pretending to be effort—a proper red. Matte, bold, the kind that says, “I have Opinions and I read ingredient lists for fun.” No one asked me to wear it. I wasn’t meeting anyone. In fact, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t run into a soul I knew, and if I did, they’d probably be wearing pajamas and tsinelas. And yet, there I was in aisle four, selecting oat milk like I was in a Vogue spread.

If you’ve been watching the local beauty scene lately (as I always do!), you might’ve noticed something interesting. Some homegrown brands are launching products like it’s a race — every month, sometimes even multiple drops in one season. Brow pencils this week, lip oils next week, and oh look, a “summer must-have” serum before you even finish your last one. Whew!

So what gives? Is it because we’ve suddenly become the innovation capital of the world? Well, not quite. It’s not like we manufacture many beauty products here in the Philippines; I’d say offhand that 80-85% of products are formulated and made abroad, with direction from the brands here, but yes with technology and capacity so far only available in other countries. Let’s discuss what’s going on.

You know it’s full-on summer in the Philippines when you’re already getting scorched by the sun at 7 AM. I usually play tennis outdoors at 6 AM, but next time, I’ll be switching to an indoor court—at least during the height of summer. It’s just so much kinder to the skin and hair, and honestly, I’d rather not start my day feeling like I’ve been roasted to a crisp.

That said, I wanted to share a few products I’ve been absolutely loving this season. They’ve been helping me feel pretty and put-together even when the weather’s doing the most.

These days, phrases like “protecting peace” and “enforcing boundaries” have become beloved mantras for people my age and younger. And honestly, why not? Who wouldn’t want a calm, drama-free life, free from the draining energy of people who refuse to respect us—and our peace? I know I do. I’ve worked hard to carve out a life that feels safe, cozy, and true to who I am. Protecting that is a huge priority for me.

Let’s welcome April with an all-local Beauty News Roundup! I am pleased to report that this week’s new launches from our homegrown beauty brands can definitely help us looking and feeling great through the sizzling summer heat. Careline Cosmetics has released new shade options for their bestselling Loose Powder. In true Happy Skin fashion, their newest Smart Shade Match Foundation is a tone-adapting sunscreen with SPF 50 PA++++. Meet Colourette’s new limited-edition release: the Lip Screen, a deliciously-scented lippy that protects from the sun with SPF 20 PA++++. Last but definitely not the least, SkinPotions is back after a long hiatus, bringing back fan favorites and launching a new day cream with SPF.

Lately I’ve been thinking about how I go for high-end skincare products in my routine. As someone who’s had experience in skincare product development, I know exactly how much raw materials cost. Honest, in many cases, the price is justified. For example, a P1,000-per-kilo Vitamin C active is worlds apart from a patented one that costs P20,000 per kilo. The more expensive one is usually more effective, works faster, and is more stable. So it’s rare for me to use drugstore skincare unless it’s something simple like a cleanser, which is pretty straightforward and doesn’t require hard-hitting actives.

For the past two months, I had been on a skincare detox. The only thing that went on my face was an ointment and a thick neutral moisturizer. Why? Because the holidays, combined with the weather and my hormones, added up to the worst skin days imaginable. My skin was irritated, inflamed, dry, and flaking. A trip to my derma told me that I had a seasonal eczema flare up and prescribed a medicated ointment, and because I wanted no interactions or secret irritations, I put a hold on all my skincare treats and focused on my skincare needs.

When I first thought of putting together the Better With Aging Summit, I wasn’t sure anyone would actually come. Talking about aging isn’t exactly a hot topic in a society obsessed with youth. It felt vulnerable, even a little risky—inviting women to spend their Saturday afternoon unpacking the layers of getting older. Would people relate? Would they care?

But on March 29, the room was full. We just successfully mounted the Better With Aging Summit last Saturday and wow, what a thrill that was. I was on an elevated heart rate for the last few weeks making sure everything would go well on the day of the summit. And it did, despite the stress, thanks to the amazing team we had laying the groundwork and managing the setup. If there's one compliment I loved receiving the most from our guests, it’s how they realized that aging is not just about what we look like, but how we feel inside too. We have to think about our mental and physical health, and we have to be braver, to take more chances.

As March draws to a close, the summer heat is starting to really sizzle! This week’s Beauty News Roundup is all about new releases to hopefully help us beat the summer heat. Dazzle Me collaborates with SmileyWorld to bring us a limited collection of juicy, sparkly makeup in nostalgic 90’s neon packaging. Homegrown Vice Cosmetics launches their Tinted Fling Tinted Lip Serums, designed to nourish, cool, and add color to the lips. Happy Skin launches the ultimate head-to-toe 360° Cooling Sunscreen Spray. The Huda Beauty Ube Collection has also landed in the Philippines. We’ve got all the deets for you right here!

The powerful combo of primer and powder used to be something I'd save for special occasions—those times when your makeup needs to stay flawless even hours after you’ve arrived. But lately, I've realized that this pairing isn't just for events; it’s also a must for long workdays. Not only does it keep your makeup looking fresh for as long as possible, but it also helps you avoid that haggard look when you’re powering through a busy day.

This week, lippies are the talk of the town as both local and international beauty brands release new lip formulas and shades to love. If you like the Ever Bilena Plus Serum Tinted Lip Oil, you’ll love that it now has a total of twelve (12) shades from the original four. Check out Spotlight Cosmetics’ new Dewdrop Melted Lipstick, a fusion of lip color, gloss, and balm. Meet the newest additions to Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk family: the Beauty Soulmates Collection. Maybelline adds to their lip repertoire with the new Maybelline Lifter Glaze Lip Balm.

If you loved and now miss the Careline x Spongebob Puh-Lips Lip Oil, don’t worry because Careline just dropped a worthy replacement! Meet the Careline Lip Drip Tinted Lip Oil (P295 / 4g). This time, instead of just a handful of shades, Careline went all out with 18 new colors. It’s their biggest lip color collection yet, and here’s everything you need to know.