It’s taking me longer and longer to review products these days. I just want to make sure that, when I finally put something out there, it’s something I truly believe in. That means testing it in different conditions, wearing it in various weather (if I can), and really paying attention to how it performs over time. One of the products I’ve been using for a while now is the EB Plus Glazed Lip Booster (P325 / 2g). I even brought it with me on trips to Dubai and Osaka to see how it would hold up in both dry and cool climates. I’m happy to report that it did really well!

Do you remember the exact moment you became an adult? Mine was when, after my first ever pay check, I went grocery shopping. I was shocked by how much of my salary went to a basket of the cheapest basic grocery items I can find. I cried a little in the supermarket aisle because of this. I thought it would be easier! There should be a warning label for adulthood. Something they hand out the moment you pay your first bill or realize chips for dinner is a viable, if not entirely wise, option. Because the truth is, no one really prepares you for the bizarre, often lonely, sometimes liberating experience of being a grown-up. It just...happens. One day you’re in school with a packed lunch and a schedule, and the next you’re staring into your fridge wondering if crackers are enough to hold off your GERD.

Here are some hard truths about adulthood that no one warned me about, but I’ll warn you now.

This edition of Beauty News Roundup is one for the fans! Let’s check out news of local and international celebrities as they make moves in the beauty scene. P-pop group BINI launches their very own beauty brand: BINI Cosmetics. Ever Bilena launched their Daily Dose Collection, and they’re holding a fan event with the face of the collection, Pond Naravit! Fans of Blk Cosmetics Water Tint and Gloss Gel Tint rejoice: both have new shades to check out and love. Check out the Rhode 2025 Summer Collection.

When it comes to powders, I’ve always had a soft spot for baked formulas. There’s just something about their silky texture and luminous finish that makes them feel a little more special, a little more luxe and even at drugstore prices. So naturally, I had to try the Spotlight Sunbeam Powders(all under P500!) to see if they live up to their glowing promise.

White truffle. It's the kind of ingredient that instantly sounds expensive, and it is. This rare fungus, found mostly in Italy and only during specific seasons, has long been prized in fine dining. But recently, it’s found its way into skincare. Not as a gimmick, surprisingly, but as a genuinely useful active. And before you raise an eyebrow, let’s get into what makes this bougie-sounding ingredient actually worth considering.

I spend a lot of time lurking on Reddit, and one topic that comes up often is wealth disparity. It’s not surprising as this is, after all, one of the defining issues of our generation. The questions take different forms, but they usually boil down to this: what do rich people do than poor people don’t? There’s a certain obsession with decoding how to look rich, and just as urgently, how to avoid looking poor. I understand this. As someone who grew up financially challenged, there is definitely a pressure to break away from being perceived that way. Is that wrong?

I’m not rich, relatively, but I do sometimes hang out with rich people (being a member of two country clubs among other things). This is what I’ve observed rich people do differently. Do with this information what you will.

This week’s Beauty News Roundup brings us tidings of great joy. Don’t you just love it when brands listen to feedback and give us what we want, what we really really want? Maybelline’s best-selling Superstay Teddy Tint has not one, not two, but fifteen new nude shades! Happy Skin’s OG Shut Up & Kiss Me crayon lipstick is back, and with a new shade to love. Colourette launched their much-awaited Super Base Setting Spray, and Sephora.ph is hosting a sitewide Weekend Love Sale.

Lips and Laneige are a match made in heaven, at least in my book. I always keep backups of the classic Lip Sleeping Mask and the newer Lip Glowy Balms in my stash, yet somehow, I’m still quick to hit check out whenever I spot a good deal in the official online stores. New releases also easily catch my eye, so when the Laneige Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serums finally landed in the Philippines, I didn’t hesitate to pick up two shades. After using them for a while now, here’s how the experience has been so far.