The last week of November has been busy, busy, busy. This week in the local beauty scene has been filled with celebrations and milestones! Let me catch you up on the latest beauty news. NARS opens its largest boutique yet at Greenbelt 5, marking the occasion with a Master Class by none other than Jelly Eugenio and Catriona Gray! Five Beauty marks its first birthday with a special live event by celebrity co-founder Gabbi Garcia. Albert Kurniawan’s Teviant continues its month-long celebration of its 6th anniversary with new releases and special bundles. Last but not least, the Careline Multistick now has fourteen (14!!!) shades to get to know and love.

The GRWM Ball on November 22, at the Okada Hotel Grand Ballroom was nothing short of magical and extravagant. From the moment guests received the whimsical scroll invitations, it was clear they were in for an unforgettable evening. With surprise guests of honor, jaw-dropping announcements, and a monumental product launch, the night was a celebration of beauty, empowerment, and community.

As a first-timer at the GRWM Ball, I was thrilled to experience this one-of-a-kind event and couldn’t wait to share all the dazzling moments that made it truly unforgettable.

If there’s one step in the skincare routine that often gets overlooked, it's toning. We’ve all been guilty of skipping this step at some point, especially when we're in a rush or trying to cut down on the number of products we use. But is toning really necessary? What exactly does it do, and why should we make room for it in our routine? Today, let’s discuss why toners deserve a bit more love in your skincare regimen!

I absolutely love makeup, but there are definitely days when I want to pare down my routine to just the essentials. That’s why I’m so thankful for the innovative makeup brands that have made multi-use color products so accessible and easy to use. These handy little tubes are perfect for creating quick, monochromatic looks, and they’re a lifesaver for on-the-go touch-ups or travel. Plus, they’re incredibly convenient to toss in your bag—no extra bulk, just pure functionality!

If I could travel back in time and sit my younger self down for a heart-to-heart about beauty, there are a few things I’d whisper in her ear. Honestly, I cringe a little when I think about how long it took me to figure some of these lessons out, but as they say—better late than never! If I knew then what I know now, I wonder how much more confident I would have been, how much time I would have saved wishing for things I already had, and how much earlier I could have embraced true self-care.

Let’s be real: the term "anti-aging" needs to retire. Aging isn’t something we should fight—it’s something to embrace and celebrate. That said, taking care of your skin as you age shouldn’t be about chasing youth; it’s more about keeping it healthy, strong, and radiant as it transitions. Think of it as self-care, if you will. Here’s the scoop on well-aging, plus some products to help you along the way.

Two is better than one, as the saying goes. This edition of the Beauty News Roundup is a duo of unexpected duos! The first part are new local releases from Spotlight and Issy, and the second half is all about the latest celebrity beauty news of Olivia Rodrigo and Paris Hilton.

Easily one of my favorite lipstick formulas of the year is the EB Plus Sheer Tinted Lip Balm (P245 / 3.2g). I’ve traveled to several countries with this in my kit and most days, it’s the only lip product I’d slip into my pocket so I can retouch midway through my day. I don’t normally carry a bag, so that pocket space is precious! That’s how much I love it. Recently, EB released six new shades, so of course I had to swatch everything for you.

Innovation is one of the reasons why Kanebo remains a big name in the beauty industry. They release skincare or makeup products at least once or twice a year, with a lot of research that goes into its development. The dual-phase lotion Skin Harmonizer released earlier this year is one such product. Then amidst the October rains at Ito Kish Design Food, Project Vanity helped launch Kanebo’s newest skincare product and I am excited to share my thoughts about it.

Who is still on a high from the Beauty Creator Summit last Saturday? In case you missed it, Katsy wrote about her key takeaways from the event. Listening to Liz and other beauty content creators has inspired me to confidently share my thoughts on my platforms! Here comes a dose of new local releases to try and share, if it fits your style. Sanrio lovers rejoice at the Focallure x My Melody collaboration, now available at Miniso! Let’s take a look at Careline’s new Glitter-Ink Liner. Strokes Beauty Lab has also recently released their much-awaited lip liner collection. Last but not least, let’s take a look at Teviant’s newest releases.

Project Vanity proudly hosted the first-ever Beauty Creator Summit in the Philippines last Saturday, November 9 at the KMC Solutions, One Ayala in Makati. This special event has been in the works for months and it finally came into fruition. Four of the top beauty creators in the Filipino beauty space joined PV founder and EIC, Liz Lanuzo, on stage to share their experiences and help inspire the next generation of beauty content creators and enthusiasts: Belle Rodolfo, Kai Javier, Teree Daisuke, and Marj Maroket. They did not gatekeep so until we get to the next summit wink wink, here are some tips and tricks from their talks!

There’s a fresh face in the beauty scene, and no, it’s not the usual makeup or skincare launch—it’s something even more playful and versatile: accessories! Meet Tillo, the new brand created by Paolo Salapantan, Aerol Dy, and Teree Daisuke. If Teree has been lighting up your social media feed lately, it’s likely with his cheerful, colorful clips and headbands from Tillo’s lineup, which promises “high-quality beauty tools, accessories, and jewelry for Filipinos.”

It’s that time of the year when we’re all thinking of refreshing our beauty stash, stocking up on wellness essentials, or even finding the perfect gifts for the holidays—and Watsons has us covered with their big Nationwide Sale! If you’re a Watsons fan (who isn’t?), mark your calendars because from November 14 to 17, you can snag up to 50% off on tons of health, beauty, and wellness favorites, plus enjoy Buy 1 Take 1 offers on select items.

You know the feeling. You’re scrolling through Instagram, and bam—that new, shiny, limited-edition palette pops up, with influencers gushing over it as if it’s the holy grail we’ve all been missing. Suddenly, there’s this little pang in your chest, that urgent “I need this now” kirot that has you reaching for your wallet before you’ve even finished the post. Beauty FOMO (fear of missing out) is real, and honestly? It’s exhausting.

If you’ve ever looked at your beauty drawer and wondered why you have five nearly identical brown pink lipsticks, or felt that your collection doesn’t quite feel like you despite all those purchases, it might be time to step off the FOMO train. So let’s talk about how to cut through the hype and curate a beauty collection that feels authentic and satisfying.

Blk has been delivering uncomplicated beauty for seven years now, and we here at Project Vanity have been loving them since their launch, and have been reviewing blk products ever since. On their 7th birthday milestone they’ve prepared the sweetest treat for us in the form of their Soft Blur Powder Blush (P399/4g), each shade deliciously named after a delectable dessert.

I get it. When you see a blush with a nearly 600-peso price tag or an eyeshadow duo that costs more than your lunch for a week, it’s easy to feel like brands are pulling one over on us. It’s even easier to feel that way when certain products seem to get panned right out of the gate. Case in point: the Happy Skin Jelly Blush at P599. The feedback was harsh—many felt it didn’t live up to its cost. But here's the thing: I tried it myself, and I genuinely loved it! It’s the most staining, long-wearing lip and cheek color I’ve ever used. For me, it was worth every centavo.

So why do some people feel like products like these are rip-offs, while others (like me) feel they’re totally worth it? Let’s dig into this, because it’s a topic that has a lot more layers than it seems.

As we step into November, we definitely feel the holidays descending upon us! Thankfully, some beauty brands are helping to make our Christmas shopping easier, like K-beauty brand Romand (Rom&nd), who have set up a few “Gift Bars” in the Metro! Let’s also look at some sparkly new releases that would make great stocking stuffers: Ever Bilena’s Sheer Serum Tinted Lip Balm, Teviant’s new Star Balm, and a collaboration between Wet n Wild and Sanrio’s Hello Kitty.

It’s hard not to notice the buzz around Remedy – influencers everywhere are raving about their visits, and I couldn’t help but get curious myself. So when Project Vanity got an invite to Remedy’s exclusive Wellness Treat event, I knew we had to be there! We got the inside scoop on what sets this aesthetic clinic apart and what’s in store for its future. If you’re on the lookout for a clinic that doesn’t just offer treatments but provides real solutions, keep reading – we’re spilling all the details!

When it comes to tinted lip balms that deliver on both comfort and hydration, the Spotlight Dewy Lip Balm (P395 / 3.5 g) is worth checking out. Many lip balms promise color or moisture, but few manage to strike that perfect balance between the two. This balm, however, does just that, making it the ideal choice for days when you’re craving a wash of color but don’t want to compromise on hydration or comfort.

It’s a scene we’re all too familiar with: you bump into an old friend, maybe it’s been a while since you’ve seen each other, and you gush, “Wow, pumayat ka!” ("You lost weight!"). It’s often said with such enthusiasm, and usually, it comes with a compliment about how good they look. There’s no malice, no intention to harm. But is it really as simple as that? Or are there layers we need to peel back, like the many feelings we have about our own bodies?