A lot of things might change in the world of beauty but one thing remains the same: investing in a good base is still one of the best things you can do for your makeup routine. Yes there are many affordable brands out there that make good foundation, concealer, and powder, but if we’re talking about great then one needs to get a little spendy.

NARS, for me, still makes some of the greatest bases in the world. Their Light Reflecting Foundation is one of my holy grails since first use, and of course you can’t go wrong with their Soft Matte Concealer and Radiant Creamy Concealer as well!

How’s it going, PV Community? The weekend is upon us, and I just can’t wait for it. You see, I’ll be organizing my beauty space this weekend and I’m so excited. How about you? What are your weekend plans? You might want to consider checking out the latest in beauty this week:

Okay, February’s almost over. Can you believe it? Now, before the month of love officially ends, let’s talk about what’s new in beauty that I’m sure you’ll love. Oh, who am I kidding? Regardless of the month, there’s always something new to love in the beauty world!

We finally entered the month of December, PV Community! Let’s make the last month of 2021 count, shall we? Speaking of making things count, this week’s beauty roundup is one that really counts. Why? Well, continue reading and you’ll find out.

Have you started your holiday shopping already? If not, then you might want to consider looking at previous beauty roundup articles for ideas. After all, it’s nice to give someone a product that’s fresh on the market. Now, if you need more ideas, then here are more beauty releases to choose from!

You know the holidays are just around the corner when there’s a sudden influx of beauty releases. After all, beauty is a gift that keeps on giving. Speaking of giving, it’s that time again - it’s time for me to give you what’s new in the beauty industry, both local and international.

When it comes to base makeup, I used to either wear a medium to full coverage foundation or skip it entirely. It wasn’t until this year that I fell in love with tinted moisturizers and skin tints. Because almost everything is done online now, I started gravitating towards base products that are sheer and easy to apply. Also, if I have to go out, I want to let my skin breathe, and since tinted moisturizers and skin tints usually have SPF, all the more reason to wear them.

What makes a makeup product iconic? Many things are pretty, but reaching icon status requires passing the test of time. The product has to be universally flattering (not just on different skin tones but with other products), wear on the skin well in terms of staying power, and a good deal in terms of cost-per-wear. THE NARS Orgasm blush definitely passes all these categories with passing colors! (Get it?)

Recently NARS expanded the Orgasm universe with a new cheek palette and a jumbo version of the beloved blush. Let’s take a look!

Can you believe we’ve just entered ber month season? Talks about the holiday season have already started, and that’s no surprise because we truly celebrate Christmas the longest. Speaking of celebrate, we’re celebrating these beauty releases this week from some of our favorite brands!

With so many beauty brands on the market, it’s not surprising for one brand to remind yourself of another. Whether its packaging or the shade range, it’s nothing new to see similarities between or even among beauty brands.

However, given the similarities, one couldn’t help but wonder if they are merely a coincidence, an inspiration, or a blatant imitation. This begs the question - where do we draw the line between inspiration and imitation?

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!

We all have go-to lip colors for certain occasions. I don’t know if it’s just me but I always have a shade in mind for a particular purpose and I’m glad to report that these shades have worked well for me every single time. Whether for work or when I’m attending events as a diplomat’s wife, my lip color was and will always be picked for a particular reason. They say fashion is a great way to send a message and I agree but that philosophy extends to my makeup, too. So not only am I intentional with the clothing I wear, I also choose shades that support my message - whatever it is for that day.

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.

Gosh, this really takes me back. I actually first reviewed the NARS Laguna Bronzer nine years ago. I remember using it for a few years and moving on to something else, but a few months ago NARS sent me one and well, now you’ll have to pry it from my fists. This is such a fantastic product that even the P2,250 price tag shouldn’t deter you if you have the budget for it. Let me tell you why!

How was your Valentine’s weekend, PV fam? In case you aren’t feeling the love or aren’t too into this whole V-Day craze, this week’s beauty roundup is sure to get you kilig over the latest developments. We’ve got the latest scoop on NARS’ new fragrance drop (luxe doesn’t even begin to cover it) as well as their 10 new blushes that are sure to have you swooning! Our very own Maine Mendoza is doing a second act with MAC, and let’s take a peek at Jaclyn Hill’s newest (and hopefully fuzz-free) palette. Oh, and Bretman has an ode to the island that’s making us excited for summer!

Kung Hei Fat Choi! We’ve got some great news to ring in the start of the lunar year! NARS offers a timely new collection while Revlon has unveiled a new celebrity face to front the brand. Haute couture meets beauty, and K-beauty gets a sugar rush. We’ve also got our eye on Sabrina’s makeup spell book, and the PONY x Morphe release that just dropped!

I didn’t know what to expect when we received a very understated invitation from NARS Cosmetics to their holiday collection launch. All I knew was their theme was disco, as the collection was named Studio 54.

Sam Gallardo, NARS brand manager, kicked things off by reminding us what NARS was all about. More than beauty, NARS is all about crossing boundaries, defying rules, and inclusivity. As their founder Francois Nars once said, “I like beauty to be a bit edgy, not typical. For me, the only rule is looking good.” Sam shares that they wanted this attitude to be more relatable, so they decided to get local brand ambassadors who embody the brand.

If there’s one word to describe this week’s beauty roundup it’s NEW! We’ve got the latest foundation from Kat Von D Beauty (plus the gorgeous face fronting the campaign), NARS’ newest baby to mark 25 years in the industry, and L’Oreal’s newest Oscar winning face. We also have the official release date of Victoria Beckham Beauty, and deets on Lancôme’s quest to further empower women! 

During the early years of my makeup obsession, I attended a beauty workshop where the instructor divulged the One True Blush Shade to rule all others: peachy pink. The magic lies in its versatility to look flattering across all skin tones, as well as its ability to work with most lipstick and eyeshadow combinations. Not too cool, not too warm, and with just the right smattering of shimmer, it's easy to understand why the cheekily-named Nars Orgasm is the gold standard in this category and spawned countless iterations including a stick form (aka The Multiple) and the Super Orgasm.

I’ve been an avid fan and collector of liquid blushes since NARS released their version in 2017. I’ve tried a bunch of options from Glossier, Inglot, and Peri Pera, but I always come back to NARS for its longevity and luxe feel. Imagine my surprise to find ads of Nee Cara Liquid Blush (P260 for 15g, at Shopee) that look so much like the NARS blushes, down to the shade range. Now imagine the electric charge in the air when my editor proposed to compare the two, plus the liquid blushes from O.TWO.O (P300 for 15g at Shopee), a Chinese company that also sells liquid blushes in the same packaging and shade range! And so I tested the three formulas to investigate how similar they are and why the Nee Cara and O.TWO.O blushes look the same.