It feels like an understatement to say that so much can change during pregnancy. You're literally growing a whole new person, reshaping your home, and bracing for a completely new chapter of life. In the middle of all that, it's surprisingly easy to overlook the small stuff—like checking the ingredient list on your go-to beauty products.

It might seem like a tiny detail in the grand scheme of things, but tweaking my beauty routine has become part of how I prepare and protect both myself and my baby. I’ve learned that being mindful of what I put on my skin is just another way of taking care.

We know what you’re here for, and we totally have it ready for you. Here is this week’s hottest news from the local beauty scene! We have a couple of new noteworthy launches, a can’t miss beauty buffet, and a challenge for aspiring content creators. Strokes Beauty Lab is serving full face looks in travel-friendly compacts with their new Beautiful Any Day Palettes, which pair well with their new Pro Brush Elite Travel Collection. Faboulash collaborates with three legendary celebrity makeup artists for their Bespoke Collection of cluster lashes. Build up an entire makeup collection for P999 with Spotlight Cosmetics Buffet Station. Dazzle Me is celebrating Shopee Brand Day with tempting deals and a challenge for content creators. Read on for this week’s edition of Beauty News Roundup.

Sometimes it’s the smallest tweaks in design that make the biggest difference in how a makeup product performs. Take the Careline Click on Fleek Brow Liner (P245 / 0.14 g). At first glance, it’s just another twist-up pencil. But look closer and you’ll notice the angled, sword-cut tip. This shape changes the game.

Why? Because our brows aren’t uniform. They have curves, dips, and awkward corners (hello, sparse tail area!) that can be tricky to navigate with a standard round tip.

I’m very selective about the skincare products I try and review. Having acne-prone skin means I need to be extra cautious, because every new product is a risk. One wrong ingredient, one overly harsh formula, and I could be dealing with breakouts that leave marks lasting for weeks, sometimes even months. That’s why I tend to stick with products I know work for me and rarely veer into new territory unless I feel like something truly has potential. But every so often, I come across something that just works. The first few nights of using it, I get this gut feeling that it’s going to make a difference.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a good luxe Beauty News Roundup. Let’s welcome August with one! First up, we have an unexpectedly luxurious White Truffle skin care collection from Hyaloo. Glossier releases a new liquid highlighter, Skylight, that can make your skin glow like a million bucks. Let’s take a look at the newest Yves Saint Laurent Beauty release: the All Hours Couture Palette, a face palette wrapped in their signature embossed chevron case. Last but most definitely not the least, Louis Vuitton is joining the beauty world with La Beauté Louis Vuitton, with none other than Dame Pat McGrath at the helm!

Vitamin C is one of those skincare ingredients that enjoys celebrity status. You’ll see it everywhere, from serums to moisturizers, all promising a brighter, healthier complexion. But the question comes up often: is it actually a good idea to use it during the day, when our skin is most exposed to stressors like UV rays and pollution?

It’s August! Can you believe it? The past few weeks have swept us up in a flurry of wind and rain. This hasn’t stopped local beauty brands from making new product drops, though. But don’t you worry. This week’s beauty roundup will catch you up on all the latest local releases you wouldn’t want to miss. Happy Skin gives us the Off Duty Seamless Perfecting Stick Foundation. We will also check out Careline Cosmetics’ new Gloss Boss and Canva Pot. Vice Cosmetics releases their Velvet Blur Lip Shaper. Issy Cosmetics brings out their Under-Eye Brightening Concealer and Brightening Powder, a duo designed to bid undereye darkness goodbye.

Kanebo’s latest launch feels like their way of saying, “But wait, there’s more!” This drop has a little bit of everything: a well-loved product with an upgraded formula, bold new lippies that pack serious color, and even something completely new for the brand.

For those who aren’t familiar yet, Kanebo is a Japanese heritage brand that balances tradition with innovation, creating modern beauty products with meaning. Since opening their fflagship store at Mitsukoshi BGC, they’ve been introducing more Filipinos to the effortless elegance of Japanese beauty.

Yesterday afternoon, I was looking out the window with my dog. It was raining hard, so the water spattered our faces as the wind blew through our hair. The sky was a smoky grey, mirrored on the slick asphalt below, the ground lit with splashes of neon from cars passing by. The air smelled green, thanks to the riot of houseplants on the balcony. I worried for them. Had there been enough sun this past week?

Looking out at the skyline with my dog, I was reminded of a younger version of myself, the one who believed everything was possible.

Store openings have always excited me, especially with my background in design. I enjoy observing how products are laid out and how the atmosphere is crafted to make shopping feel both inviting and effortless. It’s in the little things—the flow of the space, the textures, the lighting. So when Happy Skin opened its flagship store at SM Aura, I couldn’t help but be curious. The brand certainly didn’t disappoint, offering a space that felt thoughtfully designed and very on-brand.

I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. Back in elementary, I was that kid constantly sketching dreamy mermaids and doodling outfit designs in any scrap of paper I could get my hands on. It was always something I enjoyed, for no other reason than the fact that it’s fun. My mother was always supportive and never failed to get me the art materials I requested even when money was tight, something that I will forever be grateful for.

This week’s beauty news is a roundup of our favorite things: affordable yet luxe new drops, and mini makeup cuties. Spotlight Cosmetics releases their newest lippie, the Velvet Matte Lipstick. Blk Cosmetics launches their new Soft Blur Liquid Foundation in a posh bottle. GRWM Cosmetics broke the internet when they released mini versions of their bestsellers. Last but not least, the viral Huda Beauty Easy Bake Setting Spray (and its mini version) is now available locally. Whether you want to build your travel kikay kit, or are looking for new pretties to add to your vanity, we got you!

My favorite local skincare brand, Dermtropics, has just opened a new home at Shangri-La Plaza! It’s now so much easier to get your hands on their ultra nourishing coconut oil lip balm and luxuriously moisturizing shampoo. After being a well-loved staple in KULTURA and lifestyle gyms across the metro, Dermtropics has officially planted roots with its very own standalone store—proof that this homegrown gem is here to stay.

Canmake is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and the festivities in the Philippines brought the party to Mitsukoshi BGC. Shoppers enjoyed a playful setup featuring a makeup gachapon, a mini-roulette, and a grand raffle draw with a P40,000 prize, all while browsing new and best-selling Canmake goodies.

To mark the milestone, Canmake also launched three new products focused on the eyes: one for brows, one for lashes, and one for the undereye area. All made in Japan, these releases blend function with that signature kawaii aesthetic the brand is known for. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to Canmake, the anniversary lineup is a fun way to celebrate this beauty icon’s big year.

Looking for new drops from local beauty brands? This week’s edition of Beauty News Roundup is filled with all the latest releases from your favorite homegrown brands! Strokes Beauty Lab released not just one, but two new eyeliners. Careline has a new brow product: Click on Fleek Brow Liner. Detail Cosmetics has a juicy new lippie. Last but definitely not least, Teviant comes out with a mini version of their best-selling Star Balm, in three new shades!

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.