By now we know that non-cosmetic face masks are here to stay. Now while there may be a lot of frustration about the fact that we can’t show off our carefully painted faces while outdoors, we don’t have to be completely drab about it! We can definitely use our face masks to express ourselves and our personal style. Luckily, local mask manufacturers have stepped up their game, and we’ve found the prettiest ones for you.

When I first heard about the Foreo UFO, I thought it was another cleansing device from the brand as we’ve previously featured the Foreo Luna Go and the Foreo Luna 3. Those two got rave reviews so when I found out that the UFO was in fact, not a cleansing device, my interest was piqued. What is this masking device and what is it supposed to do for my skin?

I was browsing through Instagram last week when I saw local haute couture designer Mak Tumang post about his mask collection. I was interested because I’ve been following his work for years - before taking Catriona Grey to the finish line as Miss Universe 2018 with her famous Mayon Gown (also known as Lava Gown), he has been making stunning bridal and couture gowns for his dedicated clients. I love his obvious attention to detail and appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into each piece. I can’t afford a Mak Tumang gown, but it’s free to look! I think of his pieces as wearable art because of the vision he incorporates into his work.

It’s tough for beauty businesses to keep going during the pandemic, but Ellana Cosmetics was fast to adapt and create a new line of products despite drastic limitations during the lockdown. They were actually able to come out with new soaps and sanitizers in April! I’ll review those next time, but today I’d like to show you the new Ellana Mood Mask Washable Face Mask (P199) which is currently available in their website.

I always have a stash of sheet masks available. There’s a couple in my travel kit because it’s the easiest skincare to bring along, and I always have a few in the fridge to help me cool off on hot days. Sometimes, a cold sheet mask and 15 minutes is just what I need to de-stress.

The clay mask made my already dry skin feel even more dry and tight. It was also very difficult to wash off, so I had to use a damp towel to remove the mask. I later learned that a bentonite clay mask is more apt for use on oily skin, because it’s made from a very absorbent material that is sometimes even used for cat litter. It’s not a bad ingredient, but if you have dry or sensitive skin, there is a better alternative.

Face masks are a great way to get bouncy, plump skin in 10 minutes. They’re like the first aid of skin care: affordable, easy to find in most stores, and quick to give your skin that extra TLC when it needs it. If you’re exhausted and your skin needs a pick-me-up, or you need something to make your skin look better ASAP, slap on a face mask! Even celebrities have been known to put on a face mask to get their skin glowing and red carpet-ready. 

I’m a big winner in the skin care concern lottery: I have sensitive combination skin. This means that my t-zone (forehead and nose) gets very oily, while my u-zone (cheeks and chin) turn dry and flaky. My pores also love forming comedones, making me more prone to getting enlarged pores and pimples. It has been extra challenging to find skin care products that work for my various issues because my skin can get really reactive, flaring up whenever I come near anything it doesn’t like!

Once upon a time in a place called Manila, a dry-skinned girl discovered a moisturizer that worked miracles as she slept. She woke up the next morning to the most amazing siopao-bouncy skin, and thus began her obsession with sleeping masks. Many years later, the girl’s love for sleeping masks continued to grow, and she continued to try other products in search of The Holy Grail Sleeping Mask of her dreams...

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!

With so many face masks in the market, it’s become daunting to find the best face mask for me. There are just so many options, at different price points, with Western brands catching up on the trend started by Asian brands. I think it’s a welcome development, as we benefit from different beauty philosophies and gain access to a wider array of formulations. I recently had a good experience with Olay’s Power Duo, so I was eager to see what their just-released Magnemasks Infusion face mask sheets could do for my skin.

We’ve reviewed and raved about Kracie Hadabisei All-In-One masks before, so we looked forward to trying their newly-released 3D masks! These new designs promise improved fit and boosted “suppleness” effects, so I took them along to my recent Japan trip to see if they could save my skin from the cold weather.

One of this year’s biggest beauty trends is the approach to skincare as a form of self-care. Following a morning and night routine has become a necessity not just for the physical improvements but for the perceived mental and emotional benefits as well. With so many skincare products available, skincare regimens are not so basic anymore and sheet masks are often the favored “luxury addition” to give skin an extra boost. Thanks to Japanese beauty brand Lululun, a daily sheet masking ritual is definitely doable!

After the boom of clay masks late last year, I thought that sheet masks would soon lose their popularity among skincare enthusiasts. But. I. was. dead. wrong. I’ve noticed so many new sheet masks cropping on up on Watsons’ shelves, and it made me realize that what started as a K-beauty trend has found a permanent spot in our routines. It makes sense though: it’s an easy and often affordable way to indulge in 15 to 20 minutes of pampering and me-time. With so many new variants to choose from though, which one do you start with? I tried out a few so you know what to try for your next self-care sesh!

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!

It’s no secret that, here at Project Vanity, we love a good masking sesh! From sheet masks challenges to trying different types of clay and everything in between, the PV girls are always down for a good at-home spa day. There’s one problem with this, though: I often don’t have the 10 or so minutes to spare for the mask treatments. After a long day of working and attending music school, it’s a small victory that I even manage my current five-step skincare routine daily! But what if there was a mask that works in mere seconds?

I’ve taken my oily skin for granted and it has bit me in the backside, hard. I feel like I’m going back to my teenage years with the way my skin is now. While I’m still trying to find the right routine for me, I learned a little bit more about my skin at the Leaders Grand Launch.

At the launch event, one of the activities offered was a skin consultation. I sat opposite the attendant, confident I’d hear the usual feedback. But as the attendee began interpreting the results, I felt my stomach knot up. And it wasn’t the coffee I had downed earlier in the day - it was dread.

I love taking my time with my daily skincare routine as a form of self-care. Still, as a working woman with two young kids, I do dream of getting the benefits of a 10-step Korean skincare routine with just three products and wayyy less time! So, when I saw that Althea’s collaboration with Get It Beauty (a super popular beauty show in Korea) was all about super quick and easy skincare, my curiosity was definitely piqued.

We here at PV have all the feels for our fave sheet masks. I personally love using them at night, particularly after a very long and challenging day. It’s such a hassle-free and cost-effective way to relax, care for my skin, and have a spa experience right at home! I even gift them to friends and relatives because I feel like it’s something everyone could and should enjoy. When it comes down to it though, is it actually helpful to incorporate sheet masks into your skin care routine?

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!