Just when we thought that the K-beauty base hype has died down, something new and shiny came along and piqued our curiosity. The spotlight is on Banila Co’s recently released Covericious Power Fit line, which promises long wear, buildable coverage, and high skin adherence. What really intrigued me is that these beauty bases are formulated with hydrolized collagen for additional hydrating properties that cling better to the skin than regular collagen. As someone with dry skin that’s prone to flaking, I definitely needed to test that out!

The skin I have now is different from the skin I’ve had even just three years ago. Before, my face always seemed to be on the brink of breaking out especially around my chin area. Even if I don’t use a new product or change anything in my routine, pimples would just come out - randomly it seemed! I wasn’t even particularly oily (I have combi skin) and I was also hyper aware of my skin due to the nature of my job as a beauty writer. I thought ALL my breakouts were just hormonal and went about my life tiptoeing around and hoping not to anger the skincare gods.

It may have been a rainy week but the beauty world has been heating up! This week gives us a peek into Lady Gaga’s Haus Laboratories and at a hot new release from Charlotte Tilbury. Our girl Riri just dropped something new at FENTY, and we so wish it was part of the ongoing Sephora PH makeup sale! Beauty tech is also making advances with the launch of Pond’s AI skincare consultant.

I got excited when I first heard that Project Vanity was going to do its own podcast. Having a podcast would not only helps us connect to a bigger audience, this new platform allows for a continuity of discussion different from the flow of our written stories. Each episode builds upon educated yet candid beauty discussions that feel like a chat between friends. They also allow the community to literally hear from Liz, and from other luminaries in the local beauty scene!

More than just serving as overnight relief, it’s now common to wear acne patches even during the day. We now have patch options that are thin and almost invisible, with some claiming to even be wearable under makeup! If you feel self-conscious about an angry red bump, covering it with an acne patch before applying a face base allows it to heal better compared to direct contact with makeup. But will it actually work? 

Project Vanity has been running the Commenter of the Month giveaway for as long as I can remember. In fact, the very first time I met Liz was when I won CoM seven years ago! I had been a regular reader for some time at the point, and I enjoyed being able to contribute to the discussion and interacting with other readers in the comments section. That’s why I really appreciated how Shasta shared her comparison of the 3CE Multi Pots to the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouges. Thank you for giving a detailed review, Shasta - you are our Commenter of the Month! Please email me at den@projectvanity.com about claiming your prize.

I have an unhealthy appetite for eyeshadow palettes. Seeing colors in one box together brings me an immense amount of joy (just ask my watercolor and color pencil set collection too) so I keep them with the same fervor that Gollum has for The One Ring! Recently, MAC sent me a couple of products from their recently launched Electric Wonder collection, and this included possibly the best neutral eyeshadow palette I’ve come across.

Hooray for the weekend! Finally we get a couple of days off to relax, enjoy, and read up on all things beauty! This week’s roundup features everything from Lady Gaga’s beauty line (she not only changed the name but dropped a MASSIVE teaser) to blk’s latest collection which has everyone of us swooning. And speaking of swoon-worthy, Jo Malone’s first ever male ambassador will sweep you off your feet!

These days, I’ve ditched wearing foundations in favor being able to do some eye makeup. I used to be obsessive about creating a perfect face base but my eyeshadow envy has finally gotten the better of me, which I think is a good change. It has given me the chance to finally play with the few palettes I have in my collection, and it’s been so much fun combining colors and doing different looks.

Here in PV, we always talk about how sunscreen is an important part of our daily beauty routines. It’s the best and most cost-efficient way of preventing photodamage to our skin. Sunscreen isn’t just necessary for keeping wrinkles and freckles away; it’s necessary protection against the dangers of skin cancer. However, recent news has raised several controversial issues about sunscreen use, prompting many into a panic about this skincare product. Is there actual cause for concern, or is it just more fake news? It’s time for a sunscreen fact check!

Whether you’re putting together your first makeup kit or a seasoned pro stocking up on work essentials, Maybelline is a reliable go-to drugstore brand for beauty fans. They recently launched three new products that claim to be long-wearing and more, so we tested them to see if they actually deliver.

My oily skin has always plagued my makeup game. Creasing bases, transferring foundations, fading colors, the general icky oil pool – I could go on and on why I’d prefer to be dry-skinned if I could choose my skin type! One particular drawback that I hate about being oily is (accidentally) smudging my mascaras. The point of having curled and coated lashes is to make my eyes look more awake, but panda eyes from my oily lids causing my mascara to smudge make me look like I put on dark circles. No thanks!  

I remember purchasing my first daily sunblock five years ago. I had just learned that I needed sun protection not just for beach trips, but every single day. Since I was just 16 at the time, I looked for a mild formulation that would suit my adolescent skin and chanced upon YADAH’s Oh My Sun Block SPF35 PA++. Because it was lightweight and slightly moisturizing without the sticky feel, it was easier for me to get into the habit of wearing sunscreen daily.

Happy July! Yes, it’s a new month and we have a beauty roundup filled with exciting launches, fresh faces, and more limited edition collections. And we literally have a little of everything: from Urban Decay to Vice Cosmetics, BTS, and Jaclyn Hill. Better grab a snack ‘cause we’re bringing the tea!

As PV’s resident beauty gadgets girl, I have a mini collection of beauty devices that have helped my super oily skin keep clear of acne. To be honest, I’d probably purchase more, if not for the prohibitive price tags on these electronics. I’ve always stuck with established high-end brands like Foreo and Clarisonic so I had to wonder: would cheaper ones work as well as my favorites? 

While many bloggers have released their own makeup lines or collaborations, it’s not often that they venture into scents. It is an especially bold move to do so locally! Vv and Co. is a relatively new brand by local bloggers and real-life sisters Vern and Verniece Enciso. The brand currently offers three perfumes: Vern, Verniece, and Cat, the product of a collaboration with fellow blogger Cat Arambulo-Antonio. The bottles have a premium look and feel, and each scent contains 30ml.

Have you ever heard of the old Hollywood trick of using soap on eyebrows? It may sound crazy but many professional makeup artists (both local and international) swear by this beauty hack for fixing brows into place! In fact, it has made such a huge comeback into the beauty scene that there are now several local brands that offer brow soaps in little tins that can fit into your makeup kit. But if it’s literally just soap, we can probably recreate the same effect using regular soap from the grocery, right? So, I decided to try it and find out!

People tell me that I’m lucky to have dry skin because I don’t have to worry about getting pimples or having a shiny face. Both are certainly true, but dry skin has it own concerns, too. Your skin can look either red and irritated, or gray and sickly due to dullness. Extra dry spots can cause skin to look flaky and you can’t cover that with makeup because of the weird texture. Dry skin is also more prone to getting wrinkles and fine lines; just imagine how super matte lipsticks make every single one of your lip lines look more visible!

Have you ever looked at your lipstick collection and noticed a pattern? There’s probably one shade that you purchase more frequently than others. Some people can’t live without their 50 shades of red, while I personally can’t get enough of plums and MLBB pinks. My fellow PV girls are well-aware of this and give me a nudge when they spot something they know I’d like!