The Kiehl's Advent Calendar is one of the best holiday gifts to give away this year
The first time I heard of Advent calendars was in college, when I saw a YouTuber take out chocolate from a Cadbury-branded Advent calendar. It looked like a fun idea to enjoy a little treat in the days leading to Christmas, though I had to wonder how much self-control I’d need to not open everything at once! Assuming you have enough impulse control, I can certainly imagine how “receiving” a small gift every day can set the mood for Christmas cheer. Now imagine doing that with beauty products!
Clinique has a gift set for everyone in your life - here's 12 to choose from (plus, some reviews!)
Merry Cliniquemas! We recently went to the brand’s Holiday Preview in SM Mega Fashion Hall, and were dazzled by the numerous skincare, makeup, body, and fragrance sets curated for seemingly everyone. It’s like Ophra saying, “You get a set! You get a set! You get a set!”
Beauty Roundup: MAC’s ultimate holiday collection, ABH in the PH, and Jaclyn Hill’s comeback
‘Twas the night before Christmas… No, wait. It’s still November but it sure does feel like the holidays are here already! It’s a happy weekend indeed because this week’s beauty roundup will put you in the best mood. We’ve got the sparkly scoop on MAC’s Christmas drop as well as the arrival of ABH in the country. And despite being #cancelled, we were surprised to hear that Jaclyn Hill is relaunching her cosmetics line! Local beauty fans will also love the newest baby of one of our fave home-grown brands, so better read on to find out more!
Little Luxuries: A review + swatches of blk’s giftable holiday collection (it's all minis!)
It’s that time of the year again when beauty brands make a special effort to relieve us of our money via tempting holiday releases. Blk Cosmetics certainly rose to the occasion with new products, lippie shades, and—for the first time ever—MINIS! Let’s take a look at their complete lineup for the holidays, themed Little Luxuries.
Ready for Christmas: Must-have gift sets for all your beauty-loving friends
One of my favorite things to do when Christmas comes is buying presents for the special people in my life. I just love the thrill of being able to find the perfect gift! One of the things I like to get for the more kikay crowd are beauty sets because of the variety of items you get to try. Need some inspo for your last minute shopping? Here are some of our Christmas gift set picks that you should definitely check out!
Three holiday nail art looks I did with Tenten Haute Affair nail polishes
Before I got into makeup and skincare, my first foray into beauty was actually nail polish. I grew up accompanying my mom to her weekly manicure appointments, and one of my first beauty purchases was an iridescent blue-purple polish. These days, I don’t wear polish as much as I’d like because it seems impractical with all the household chores I do, but when Thai brand Tenten sent over their limited edition holiday collection, I just could not resist playing around and giving myself an extra special mani!
Eight trendy holiday looks to wear to your Christmas parties
‘Tis the season for getting glammed up and doing a lot of picture-taking at all the holiday parties! If you’re like me and love a good makeup moment to ensure Insta-worthy photos, you’ll wanna step it up a little and put your fiercest face on. Need some inspo? From clean and simple to full-on party mode, here are eight looks for you to try!
The Origins Holiday Guide: Sets to get for the best people in your life
As a big skincare enthusiast, I try to “influence” my family and friends to take better care of their skin. It’s not a frivolous pursuit - after all the skin is the body’s largest organ! It can be difficult for a complete newbie to buy into skincare though because there are so many products available now. Even I sometimes feel a bit intimidated and confused by all the options you can find in stores! This is why I am a fan of skincare sets - they usually cover all the basic steps, are united by a common effect or ingredient that can make them more effective, and are often cheaper than buying products individually!
Don't Miss It: Here's a fun way to shop for luxury beauty with free GCs and games!
What could be more fun than going beauty shopping? Why, shopping with gift certificates, of course! More than getting a straight-up discount, there’s something very satisfying about handing over a bunch of GCs to pay for your purchases. This is the experience that four Luxasia Philippines brands try to recreate with their first ever Beauty Shopping Wonderland in Mega Fashion Hall!
Here's how you can give the gift of sustainable beauty this season
I always have the best of gifting intentions when the holidays roll in. I love the idea of picking out unique gifts for family and friends, lovingly wrapping each one, and adding a special decoration to make my gifts stand out from the rest. BUT what really happens every year is that I always run out of time to execute my grand plans, and end up doing last-minute shopping and hasty gift-wrapping!
Christmas treats from SMART
Are you feeling Christmas in the air? I sure am! It's not just the cool air in the evening - mornings are misty, more gentle. And the smell! The holiday season has a scent to it. I don't know, maybe I'm just crazy but if you agree please assure me I'm not. :P
Anyway! I just thought to share Smart's Christmas promos. With the “All I Want for Christmas is Bro” holiday promo you get a FREE eco bag with every holiday purchase of a Bro product. The bag is entirely environmentally friendly and a good place to stash away all your new holiday beauty products, shopping or wardrobe for travel!
Smart is also holding a massive contest where 50 winners shall receive a much-coveted gadget. If you want to join the fun, do check out the contest mechanics. (You can view bigger images by opening them in a new tab)
Five awesome Christmas gift ideas
Christmas is in two months, and while that's more than enough time to prepare, it pays to start early. Malls will be unnavigable by November so it's best to start your Christmas shopping right now. Are you out of Christmas gift ideas? No sweat, I have a few of my own!
Of course, this list is intended mostly for your female friends and relatives. Even if they're not kikay, they'll definitely appreciate these very affordable beauty treasures! They're guaranteed to brighten anyone's day since they work extremely well. On your end, they don't cost much BUT they're far from looking cheap and ending up on your recipient's re-gift basket. ;)
Let's do it!
Asian Secrets Lulur is hands-down the best body scrub I've EVER tried. More importantly, I'm not the only one who thinks so! Almost everyone has tried tried it loved it. No joke. It's only P130 in Watsons too.
WHO TO GIVE IT TO: A friend or relative who's always stressed, with skin looking a little dull. This scrub instantly brightens skin and allows the user to loosen up and enjoy the gentle scrub beads.
The Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick is one of the most user-friendly lipsticks I've ever tried, with a quality similar to high-end brands. It's moisturizing so you don't need lip balm - swipe and go! It's perfect for your low-maintenance friend who's looking a little pale.
Pre-Christmas Sale at Robinsons Department Store
When I was younger, Christmas meant new clothes. That's not to say we don't buy any clothes before the holidays - it's just that my mom would always get me a new outfit for my school Christmas party (which my adolescent self was totes excited about) so that shopping trip is something I looked forward to every year.
Anyway, if you're looking for something to wear to the string of Christmas parties you're probably going to, or if you need a gift that looks more expensive than it isn't, I'd like to invite you to visit Robinsons Department Stores, particularly the Midtown branch. They're on a 50-70% off sale! Well, not everything is on sale, but you're bound to find good stuff there at great prices. Seriously, the stuff there are so affordable, especially the ones from the in-house brands!
Allow me to take you to a virtual tour of the department store in Ermita (my favorite Rob branch) and share my top finds.
Never Been Kissed is a brand for fashion-forward teens. It's got the latest stuff and at great prices too. That sheer knit top you see on the right? That's only P330. Most of the stuff here are under P500. The brand has nice skirts and tights; I bought a denim tulip skirt from here before for only P250.
Cute white cabaret dress
Fab has a more daring quality to the trendy clothes.
FOTD: Holiday glam
Do you feel Christmas in the air? Me, sort of! The weather is definitely colder (at least during mornings and evenings) and the neighbors are putting up wreaths and trees. Shopping malls are playing Christmas songs on loop, which I think is sneaky since it makes people mellow and make them want to buy more stuff! Anyway, I'm already making plans for the holidays - gifts to give, food to prepare - but I'll never forget the most essential thing...what to wear!
This season means more parties to attend, whether they're with family, friends, or co-workers. Allow me to suggest a look that features two major holiday themes: sparkle and the color red. What I like about it is that it's versatile and has that "wow" factor. If you're not comfortable with a strong red lipstick, you can easily replace it with a toned-down shade.
Are you ready for my tutorial? Read on!
Step 1: Start with a well-primed and evened-out face. Parties tend to last until late, so your makeup should be able to keep up! I used the Smooth-365 Peptide Serum as primer, then applied the Paul & Joe Creamy Compact Powder Foundation, MAC Studiofinish Concealer, topped by Ellana mineral finishing powder. In2It for the brows and Too Faced Shadow Insurance as eye primer.
Step 2: I patted on a sparkly white eyeshadow (Urban Decay Polyester Bride) on the lid. It's whiter and more glittery in person! I always thought it's a lot like snow.
