The Project Vanity Beauty Awards 2021
Ahh, 2021, what a crazy year it’s been! It’s tough for sure but there are moments of hope and beauty to be found in between, don’t you think? I want to congratulate you for surviving and for being brave in persevering towards your goals, no matter how big or how small. What you’ve done this year is no inconsequential thing - you know how hard the struggle was, but I hope you remember what you’ve achieved as well. Just putting on your skincare and makeup is an act of defiance. It’s you telling the world, “You will see me, and you will listen.”
And so, it’s 2022 in just a few days, and we’d like to end the year by celebrating the best beauty products that the Project Vanity Community has tried in 2021. The Community has spoken and here’s what you absolutely need to try (if you haven’t yet)! Did your faves make it to the list?
Best Concealer: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (P1,800). What makes this concealer special is how it offers full coverage while still looking quite natural. It’s flexible and doesn’t cake, so we love it on our under eyes or anywhere that we have fine lines. It’s fantastic on blemishes too!
Best Foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup SPF 10 Foundation (P2,500 / 30ml). This little bottle here is one of the hardest working foundations out there. The coverage is medium to full, and it will pretty much stay on all day - basically a necessity, especially now that we wear masks all the time! Hot tip: if you don’t have deep blemishes, use it as a concealer too.
Best Powder: Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (P2,150). This one is a cult favorite for its flawless, smooth finish and how it sets any makeup to keep it in place all day without caking. Use this to bake (if you like the technique) or apply all over for that fine finish.
Best Blush: Romand Better Than Cheek Blush (P689). Koreans have got their natural blush perfected to a T with this powder blush. Apply it on the top of your cheeks and get that glowy yet skin-like finish!
Best Serum: Shiseido Ultimune (P6,000 / 50ml). Shiseido’s flagship serum has raves all over the world because of how it seemingly helps the skin glow after just a few days. The watery texture makes it an excellent product for all skin types, and is perfect for layering with any of your staples. Shiseido also constantly improves and updates the formulation so you get more of what you love!
Best Eyebrow Product: Strokes Microblading Pen (P399). Fine-tune your brow application with this liquid pen that can draw natural hair strands onto your arches. Plus points: it doesn’t fade for hours.
Best Lip Product: Happy Skin Kiss & Bloom Tint (P329). If you’re looking for a mask-proof lip color, then this is it! Unlike other lip tints, it doesn’t just stick to one lip and leave the other bare. Happy Skin has several shades that you can apply sheer or layer for full coverage.
Best Mascara: Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara (P680). This is hands down one of the best mascaras in the world. It can deliver lashes like you’re wearing falsies, and if you’re so inclined, you can even swim in it and not worry about it smearing. This is a must-have! A clue: Heroine Make will make a big announcement sometime next year, so stay tuned for that!
Best Eyeliner: KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner (P1,300 at Sephora PH). This is a waterproof eyeliner that you can play sports in, cry, and just basically LIVE in. Fans of this eyeliner love how easy it is to apply with its calligraphy tip, so you can create the cat eye of your dreams without breaking a sweat.
Best Eyeshadow: Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette (P3,100 from Sephora PH). If you can have only one eyeshadow palette in your life, this might be the one! It has all the neutral shades you’ll ever need, whatever the occasion, and you will surely enjoy the rich pigmentation and textures offered in a single palette. Don’t think you need all these colors? Get the Soft Glam Palette II, which is an edited version with eight shades.
And that’s it for this year’s best of the best! Happy New Year to all, and may you all have a fabulous beginning this 2022.
