Filipino brand Chu Chu Beauty launched a super sparkly collection just in time for their birthday, and I’m here to share some swatches! Chu Chu in my opinion is the underrated younger sister of Issy & Co., with lots to offer to makeup beginners as well as those who just want to add a little bit of magic to a basic makeup routine.

I’ve not come across a Filipino brand mascara that I love, until this one. I know, so dramatic, but I was really pleasantly surprised when I finally tried the Spotlight Second Skin Mascara with Castor Oil (P385 for 8g).

About me: I have really high standards when it comes to mascara. I usually go for Japanese or American mascaras because they deliver the curl, the volume, the length, the staying power. But they are a bit more expensive than I would like to spend for an everyday I’m-just-going-to-the-grocery mascara, with Maybelline at P499 and up depending where you buy it. Enter Spotlight.

I was feeling a bit bored of my eyeshadow options lately, so I decided to buy the Dior Backstage Eye Palette in 003 Amber Neutrals (P3,550) from the Dior store in The Podium. I do have a few eyeshadow palettes in this warm-reddish-bronzy color story, yes, so it’s not really “new” in my collection. So, oops, I guess? It’s Dior though!

The year 2021 has been such a wonderful year in terms of beauty releases, and I’m sure that, like me, you are all excited for what’s to come in 2022. Here’s what you need to know about!

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?

When I decided to buy my first “fancy” blush 11 years ago, NARS Orgasm was the one I had my eye on. It was said to be the best blush EVER and was highly recommended by all the beauty bloggers I respected! But Super Orgasm came out around that time so I spent weeks in agony thinking about what to buy. In the end, I decided on Super Orgasm. It was my fave blush for years and years!

I always watched my mom do her makeup as I was growing up. I love how she would always take her time in applying lipstick. When she was ready for blush, she would smile in front of the mirror, exposing her dimple, which I find so beautiful. This is why the new NARS Claudette Collection is so personal to me. It is inspired by Claudette, who is the mother and muse of François Nars.

Although it feels like it was just yesterday when I reviewed Details Cosmetics’ Powder Pout Collection, I am not complaining one bit! After all, who doesn’t like new makeup? Now, while new makeup brings excitement, it also presents the temptation of spending. In order to avoid unnecessary spending, we look to reviews, which is where I come in!

I first fell for Anne Curtis’ Wedding Lipsticks back in 2017 when it was first released. I promptly went out and bought a set because the whole concept was so timely for me; I also got married that same year. While I didn’t wear the lipsticks for my own bridal look, I recall enjoying Anne’s lipstick shades in Mon Amour and I Do on a daily basis.

It was the bold claim of a mask-proof glossy lip that intrigued me enough to want to try a Korean brand that has been getting consistent buzz within the local beauty community. Bet I got an eyebrow raise with that one. Rom&nd is the brainchild of Kbeauty guru, Saerom Min. (With the “Rom” taken from her name + a stylized version of “and”.) The brand features makeup with minimalist packaging that manages to represent color range well, peppered with some trendy collabs in between.

In times of massive uncertainty and change such as the one we live in now, economists have noticed a behavior called the Lipstick Effect. This describes how consumers still tend to buy small luxury items (like premium cosmetics and trips to the cinema) during recessions or when they personally do not have much cash. Makeup doesn’t stop being a mood booster when things go south, so we don’t stop trying to be beautiful despite our situation.

EB Advance, Ever Bilena’s more sophisticated sister, has an exciting new release called the EB Advance Power Paint Multi-Use Color Cream (P199 at Lazada). It comes in four wearable shades that are formulated to be used on the eyes, cheeks, and lips. Before we go on the full review though, I think it’s important to address the elephant in the room! Yes it looks almost exactly like the Glossier Cloud Paint, but that’s pretty much where the sameness end.

Staying at home all day doesn’t mean that we should stop looking pretty. In fact there are more meetings now than before (how is that even possible?) so there’s a constant need to look presentable on a webcam! If you’re looking to do a complete look without spending a lot on extra products, allow me to present a solution that’s multifunctional and affordable.

If you’ve been playing with eyeshadows recently and are looking to add more palettes in your kit, then boy do I have a find for you! I purchased the Squad Cosmetics Boss Squad Eyeshadow Palette (P199 in Shopee) on a whim last March. I honestly did not expect much from it given the price tag, but it turned out to be one of those products wherein the quality exceeds its cost. Don’t get me wrong ha, this is no Natasha Denona or Pat McGrath (my two fave eyeshadow brands!). However if you don’t like splurging on eye makeup (yet, you might still change your mind haha) then this is quite good for 199 pesos.

Historically, women like buying affordable luxuries like red lipstick and face powder after a crisis. But after COVID-19, I bet most of us will be keeping our masks on and our lips covered. With the bottom half of their faces covered, people are choosing to play up their eyes and brows. Sales of eyeshadow palettes and other types of eye makeup have increased dramatically, according to Inquirer. They called it the “eyeliner effect”.

MAC never fails to release daring Holiday Collections, and the Starring You for Holiday 2019 is no exception. Perfect for standing out with glittery pouts and galaxy eyes, the collection features eye, lip, lash, and cheek products that make you the star. I got to try some seriously majestic pieces which I’m excited to use here and there whenever I want to make an impact.

I was at Happy Skin’s first event: their brand launch six years ago. I remember the invite only had the logo and a few words, so the entire time until the launch I thought that it was about a skincare line! But I was in for a massive surprise: Rissa Mananquil-Trillo and Jacqe Yuengtian-Gutierrez launched makeup that was designed to care for the skin. It was a simple idea but a groundbreaking one at that time. None of us knew it then, but Happy Skin was on a journey to become one of the best beauty brands in the country. It paved the way for the rest of us who only ever had wild dreams of our own breakout brand. For that, I am forever grateful to Happy Skin.

I went a little mad for eyeshadows a few months ago, and one of the collateral damage during that time is the then newly-released Alyssa Edwards x Anastasia Eyeshadow Palette (P3,380 at Sephora.ph). This was exactly the kind of candy bright, has-zero-fucks-to-give palette that I was looking for! It’s my first ever Anastasia palette. I passed on their other ones because while I felt that I had them in some version in my other palettes, I have nothing like the Alyssa Edwards colors, period.

So, now that I’ve had this for some time, do I still think it’s worth the splurge?

Filipinas have definitely become a lot more interested in eyeshadow in recent years because of YouTube and Instagram. Before, we felt that eyeshadow wasn’t worth the kerfuffle so long as we had mascara, eyeliner, and kilay on, but now it’s become a fun way to dress up any look! There are hundreds of palettes in the market though, so allow me to share a recent Revlon find that’s under 900 pesos: the Looks Book Eyeshadow Palettes (P875 at Revlon counters).