Ellana has always been known for their “skin first” philosophy as a mineral makeup brand. They’ve always aimed to create products that actually benefit the skin beyond just temporary coverage or color. That’s why it makes perfect sense for Ellana to create their own skincare line!

“She prepared for a summer vacation that didn’t come.” Sounds familiar, right? It’s a common 2020 tale. I’m sure that, even just within the beauty community, there were many kikay plans (trends to cop, bright and shiny purchases, and scheduled services, etc.) that had to be postponed when we all had to stay at home.

Not all formulations are created equal. It’s also rather easy to get sucked into skincare ingredient lists and get impressed with high-percentages of certain actives. Paula’s Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment has been hailed for its high concentration of this crowd-favorite – but is it really more effective?

The weather’s getting hotter these days, and staying fresh is becoming a bigger priority. But with our busy schedules, we tend to rush through the bathing ritual without giving it much thought. After all, smelling malinis is a must.

But bathing doesn't have to be a joyless practice we take for granted. It can be both therapeutic and fun. So it’s exciting to experience a new iteration of a family favorite, the Safeguard Detox Foaming Body Wash (P449 for 500ml pump bottle, P309 for 400ml refill pack), just in time for the season. And BTW, it's the first ever foaming body wash in the Philippines!

It goes without saying that 2020 was a challenging period of adjustment for everyone. For the first half of last year, I was so completely resigned to staying in that I pretty much dropped most of my beauty habits, save for my nightly skincare routine. But as the months went by, I slowly began to miss my old self-care rituals. So much so that I’ve started them back up even whilst I remain stuck indoors.

When it comes to teeth whitening, I’ve tried quite a good number of treatments. From the whitening strips to salon-style teeth whitening facilities in Europe with stark-white, minimalist interiors and pod-like seats that cocoon you while you get your 30-minute whitening treatment. They’ve worked in varying degrees and trust me – I always left with a brighter smile. Just not bright enough.

“Your hair looks amazing,” a stranger on the street comes up to me with a smile on her face. “Where did you get the curls done?” I then proceed to tell them that the curls are natural. It’s often met with an amazed face when I tell them I got them from my dad or a smirk that shows they don’t really believe me. Sometimes, I get someone who wants to touch my hair just to make sure. You see, all this has been pretty recent. Growing up in the Philippines in the 90s and early 2000s, my hair was never considered pretty. Straight, shiny hair was glorified and curls were often seen as unruly or buhaghag.

I was recently in a video call with some of my friends. We were catching up and sharing what kept us busy aside from work. When it was my turn to speak, a friend of mine preempted me saying, “I’m sure it’s makeup again.” Well, in his defense, he wasn’t wrong. Makeup really did keep me busy and continues to keep me busy, but what bothered me was his tone and facial expression.

There are plenty of good things associated with plants. Some are recommended by NASA to help purify the air around us. Others are acknowledged to have medicinal properties through the years. When it comes to beauty, certain plants are used to power up our routine. Here are a few ways I’ve been incorporating them in mine!

The most dedicated curlies know this by heart: Washing your hair every single day is like sentencing your mane to a sad, dry, and frizzy life. When the pandemic hit, one of the major considerations I had whenever I would step out of our flat is if I’m ready to give my hair another wash the moment I get home. Will it survive this constant abuse and come out bouncy once this is all over?

Rejuvenating sets are by no means a new invention. Even before I began paying more attention to skincare, I remember seeing them in bazaars and tiangges during the early aughts. They’ve gained quite a reputation for making quick work of skin brightening, but they’ve also gotten a bad name for being too harsh to the point of burning the skin. However, not all rejuv sets are created equal. Some place emphasis on giving users a safer, more pleasant experience. And guess what? I’ve gotten to try this new gen version first hand!

Skincare is a huge part of my beauty routine. Beyond the basics, I feel that it’s important that my chosen products contain active ingredients as part of my quest on how to get smooth skin on my face! On the other hand, my body care routine is kind of boring. I use moisturizing and scented body washes in the shower, but I don’t get any added skin benefits. If I were a billionaire I would buy face care for body use, but sadly I don’t have that kind of money!

I do corporate speaking engagements on the side, and some months ago Watsons invited me their planning session to talk about the latest beauty trends. They gave me this gift bag with some Watsons goodies after my talk - love getting these, there’s always something I need or discover in them! It had the Watsons Goat Milk Cream Body Wash (P289 for 1 liter) and guys, seriously, this is SO GOOD.

Remember when Lush Sleepy became viral online? People claimed that this body lotion helped them sleep within twenty minutes of application! I thought that was incredible. There’s really nothing in the ingredients list that will help you do that; the lotion banks on its sweet lavender vanilla scent to relax you and leave the rest to the power of online suggestion. Otherwise it’s a normal body lotion in terms of composition. If it works for you (in terms of improving your sleep), that’s great! It’s a lovely lotion and quite enjoyable to use if you like the scent. If it didn’t work for you then, I am sorry to hear that you spent P925 on false hype.

What does it mean to “get Nekkid”? For local, small-batch beauty company Nekkid Manila, it means stripping down to the basics by focusing on high-quality, hand-made products. It also means going the cruelty-free, vegan/vegetarian, and all-natural route. But while the latter claims probably belong to a broader discussion on labeling, this review will stick to the experience of trying out eight products from their collection.

Metro Manila heaves a collective sigh of relief now that water service has resumed to all areas! Apart from the obvious sanitation issues, having no or very limited access to water was especially tortuous since we’re officially in the hot and sunny season. A daily shower is non-negotiable for us Filipinos, and it’s not uncommon for many to bathe twice a day during summer. It’s refreshing and necessary for removing all the dirt and pollution that sticks to our bodies, but have you ever wondered how it affects the health of your skin?

I remember a time when the thought of a Brazilian wax (or even just a bikini wax) was something of a taboo. My own mother still cringes at the thought, but those of my generation are more open about comparing notes and sharing experiences, which makes it a little less scary.

This I will tell you: yes, it is the most painful kind of waxing but it truly beats epilating (a story for another day) and shaving (which has its own slew of horror stories). A well-done wax job is fast, clean, and yields the dolphin-smooth skin that provides comfort. Horrible waxing, as you’ll find out below, may make you regret ever considering having it done in the first place.

When I was a kid, my mom would give me a small, clean towel before my bath. “Maghilod!” she would say. My bout with scars from breakouts and skin allergies coupled with my mom’s constant reminder have made me a stickler for exfoliation. I like how it makes me feel squeaky-clean and extra fresh afterwards, plus it actually improves blood circulation in the process. My skin is still far from perfect but regular exfoliation has made my scars lighter and my skin a little less rough and dull-looking.

I adore the permeating scent of spiced pumpkin, vanilla, and cinnamon inside coffee shops this time of the year. I'm not into sugary coffees so I usually pass on the holiday drinks, but the smell - it's when I know that Christmas is approaching. The Body Shop has just whipped up that mouthwatering scent and put it in their pre-holiday collection called Vanilla Pumpkin, which is already out in stores now.