Hi there, PV Community! Just to share, I’m writing this at 3 in the morning while wearing the Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipstick in Elson 2. Whenever I need an extra push to work, I always summon the help of a red lipstick. How about you? What’s a quick beauty pick-me-up you can always rely on? Okay, time for this week’s beauty roundup!

Have you ever had a pimple suddenly show up right before an important event? Now, I’m the kind of person who doesn’t usually have acne (because of my dry skin) but I’ve gotten Super Bad Timing Pimples more than a few times! It’s the kind of situation that makes you feel extra desperate to try every single spot treatment available, or maybe even consider popping the pustule with the fervent hope that it doesn’t leave a lasting scar. We all want a quick fix, even just for normal days, because who wants to be seen with pimples?

Do you think of yourself as an influencer? You don’t need to have a blog or even an Instagram account. If you enjoy talking to others about the products you love, you already are! Sometimes it’s as easy as offering to share a face mask - that’s how I got my tita hooked on the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. She so loved how it soothed her skin that she immediately bought her own tube when we got home from the beach. When I next talked to her about a month after, she told me that everyone in her office had purchased their own tubes as well!

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!

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!

One of the first things I really got into when I started my own skincare journey were clay masks. Since figuring out I had oily skin, I thought clay masks would suit my skin type best. Regular use of clay mask has definitely helped manage my oiliness and my breakouts. More than that, I always feel like I’m enjoying a mini spa session whenever I have one on!

Origins has been on my radar ever since I got to sample their Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask from this year’s PV Anniversary kit. I really liked it, so I was pretty excited two more clay masks from Origins!

Boo! Happy October, PV fam! Despite Halloween being just around the corner, we’ve got a roundup that won’t scare you as much as it will excite you! We’ve got the 411 on Origins’ latest launches (think makeup and skincare in one) and the long-awaited restock of Sunnies Face lippies. Rumor has it that Kylie Jenner is working on a skincare collection, and while waiting for your STUNNA package to get to your doorstep, you’ll want to start planning for FENTY’s icy holiday collection!

One of the things that I wish I knew sooner in beauty was to shop for my skin type. In my rookie years as a skincare enthusiast, I would spend H O U R S watching and reading reviews of popular products that unfortunately turned out to be bad matches for my oily, acne-prone skin. I now mourn for all the time and money I could have saved! Fast forward to today, I have learned to tune out the hype and just listen to my skin and what it needs.

I was sooooo excited to try the Mega Mushroom line formulated by Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins, since the products are specifically for people with sensitive skin. Formulated with a blend of “soothing” mushrooms, with the Reishi Mushroom as the active ingredient, Origins claims that the line helps “calm sensitivity and irritation, boost resilience and reduce visible redness.”

How true are these claims? I tested three products in two months: the Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Face Cleanser, Soothing Treatment Lotion, and Soothing Face Cream, since even skincare products that claim they’re perfect for sensitive break me out or make me itch.

Perfect skin and a gorgeous pop of color - that’s exactly what this week’s roundup is all about! We dive headfirst into Calvin Klein’s first fragrance in 13 years and the gorgeous Hollywood actresses who went barefaced for the campaign. K-beauty fans will swoon over 3CE’s latest collection, which will have your lids, cheeks, and nails popping! Need more? The cult fave beauty sponge has launched their very own foundation, and shopping for makeup is made ever easier with an in-store app. Read on to get full deets!

For all my love of skincare and the calming ritual it creates, there are days when I only have the time and energy to wash my face and nothing else. Neglect plus the stress I'm feeling inevitably shows up on my complexion: dull and dry, rough and red, and if I'm really unlucky, a surprise pimple or two. I know that I can get it back on the chok-chok track once I get my routine going again but who doesn't want a quick-fix savior? That's what a mask can do - jumpstart your way to better skin!

I first fell in love with the facial masks from Origins at their Mask Madness party, where I got to try their best-selling the skin-smoothing Original Skin and pore-cleaning Clear Improvement masks. Both are fantastic wash-off formulas but as I've gotten used to a Korean-type skincare regimen, I wanted a sheet mask that I could apply at the end of my routine and just leave on. My wish came true with the arrival of the Origins Flower Fusion sheet masks!