Even when shopping online, people have different approaches. Some prefer to look at a brand category and check out what’s new from there, while others simply browse the featured products on the home page. The budget-conscious might head straight for the Sales tab, or simply check their carts to see if what they like is on promo.

As someone who can pack five eyeshadow colors onto my lids for no other reason than I enjoy it, my eyes can feel a little bare with nothing on them. So even on chill days, I’d have a swipe of mascara, a dash of eyeliner, or - more often than not - a dab of cream eyeshadow. Cream eyeshadow requires much less precision and work to apply compared to other eye makeup! So I would always have something on hand when I need to leave in five.

Revlon lipsticks have been around since the 1940s and have played a role in the history of cosmetics ever since. This isn’t a brand that likes to rest on its laurels, however, and so they’ve come up with tons of unique formulas and shades in the past 80 years. I’ve tried quite a few of them myself, which is why today I am sharing some of my top picks - these are the exact Revlon lipsticks I currently love to use!

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.

2019 has been a crazy ride so far, and the beauty world keeps things interesting with all sorts of exciting and unexpected developments! For this week’s beauty roundup, we’ve got another (yes, another) celebrity makeup line launching very soon, and a magical MAC collab with one of our fave beauty gurus. Whether you have the cash to splurge or need to stick to a budget, the new palettes from Ever Bilena and ABH Norvina will let you get creative. Ready for this? Things are gonna get lit!

If you’ve been a regular reader of Project Vanity, you’ve probably seen that we now have a podcast! I’ve been very excited since Liz and Den first announced it to the team as it’s something that I’ve long wanted for us to do. The topics have been very interesting but my favorite one so far is Episode 4, which discusses skin whitening. 

Third time’s the charm, they say, but for Heart Evangelista Escudero and Happy Skin, this third collection feels like icing on the cake! Their first collaboration was back in 2016, when Liz got to interview Heart and even take a peek into her makeup kit. That first collection was such a bestseller, they decided to launch two of the mini lipsticks in full-size last year. I was able to meet Heart then, and found out her choice for the perfect lippies – classic all the way in reds and nudes. This time around, Happy Skin x Love Marie promises to let us get more creative with our lippies as Heart does with her art because, as she says, “Your lips, your canvas!”

When it comes to fashion, I like keeping an eye on the latest trends. Even so, I know that classic cuts and detailed craftsmanship will always look good! Comfort and practicality are also musts, of course. So I have mad respect for local fashion brand Plains & Prints, as they always seem to come up with updated pieces that have a timeless look to them, without sacrificing wearability and comfort. I also appreciate the fine detail work and excellent materials they use. Best of all, their collaborations with local artists make it possible for people like me to own wearable art! They have truly come a long way in their 25 years of existence, coming from humble beginnings as co-founder Roxanne A. Farillas’ clothing stall in Greenhills, to a respected fashion house with branches nationwide.

Whenever Japanese beauty cult faves come up in the Project Vanity Community, Hada Labo always makes an appearance. The brand is a particular favorite among skincare enthusiasts, but until recently, we were dependent on Tokyo-bound friends and pasabuys to help us get our J-beauty fix. With Hada Labo’s arrival in the Philippines, we can now stock up on their best-selling products by visiting Watsons! 

I love full coverage foundation, but that’s not what I actually wear every single day. I’d go for it if I need to look flawless for an event or a shoot, but if I’m just stepping out for a casual day or some light meetings, I prefer to use a base that’s more comfortable and fresh-looking. That’s why I found the L’Oreal Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation (P650 or P553 if you use the code LOREALR15B in Lazada until August 31) interesting: it combines the famous Infallible long-wear technology with a skin-like, light-weight base.

Here’s a rundown of how the foundation performed for me!

It's Ghost Month alright because R.I.P. to our wallets! This week, we’ve got the latest on not one, but two new celebrity beauty lines in the works (they’re both fiercely talented!) as well as Urban Decay’s newest NAKED palette (perfect for the coming Ber months) and FENTY Beauty’s new drop just for your brows. Oh, and move over La Mer - there's a new super luxe skincare line with a price tag that makes us want to tear up! Are you ready for this jelly? Keep on reading!

There’s better than basic, and then there’s outta this world! When Ever Bilena first introduced the revamped Careline collection dubbed as the “Careline Girl Gang” with Andrea Brillantes two years ago, we were wowed by how the company embraced a trendier, edgier look for their teen-centric line. “Pa-tweetums” is now a thing of the past, and the brand did not shy away from bold eye makeup, blingy highlighter, and metallic/non-traditional lip colors.

Sending out a big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to keeping the comments section active! We really appreciate the feedback and the chance to hear your own tips and recos. It was hard to pick a favorite for Commenter of the Month, but we were most inspired by Riz who shared about how Project Vanity (and In Her Element) helped her to achieve better skin. Congratulations, Riz, and thank you for making us part of your journey to better skin!

So you find yourself in a shopping district in Tokyo or Osaka, and you duck into a MatsuKiyo or Tokyu Hands. Inside, you are confronted with hundreds, if not thousands of products to choose from. It’s easier to navigate if you have a list of products to look for - maybe you even got product photos so you can show them to non-English speaking shopkeepers! Having a list is definitely helpful but given the chance to explore this beauty wonderland, wouldn’t it be fun to have a completely new discovery?

Hair dyeing is infinitely tempting for those looking to change their look, and also infinitely intimidating for the first timer. What kinds of dyes are there? Do you need to go to a salon? What’s a toner? Why does the shampoo need to be purple? There are so many factors to consider when getting your hair colored and it can be quite confusing to a hair color virgin. I was once a clueless noob, too, so I’ve outlined some tips from lightening, to dyeing, to maintenance to help you dip your tips into the wonderful world of hair coloring:

The first ever Jo Malone perfume I received was a gift. This was years before the brand entered the Philippines, and it was precious enough that one can acquire it only during trips abroad or pre-orders from small online stores where you have to wait for weeks to get a bottle. My client back then, who is a generous and kind-hearted woman, gifted me Blackberry & Bay for my birthday. I was so amazed and felt so special when I opened it! The perfume is already expired, but I still keep the bottle in my scent shelf if only to remind me of that moment.

When it comes to good quality makeup products that won’t break the bank, Pink Sugar is a constant favorite here on PV! From the time Liz first wrote about them in 2015, we’ve pretty much enjoyed everything from their 350-peso face powder to their pizza-proof lip tints. The formulas are good and reliable, but this local brand is continually finding ways to make their products even more user-friendly. So when they released a new variant of their well-loved Eye Candy Eyeshadow palette and a repackaged duo version of their Sweet Cheeks HD Cheek Color, I thought people needed to see these in action! 

If you watch YouTube makeup tutorials, you may have seen that many American beauty gurus use the Tatcha The Silk Canvas Filter Finish Protective Primer (from Lannel Boutique). I’ve definitely been curious about whether the claims are true, but it isn’t really something that’s easy to buy on a whim. Costing over P1000 for just 7g, this product is not your ordinary primer - it features pressed silk, which was designed to be as lightweight, skin-like, and smooth of a barrier as possible. As a professional makeup artist, I definitely understand the value of investing in quality products, especially face bases, but the big claims are matched by a hefty price tag. So, it Tatcha truly worth it or can you get the same effect with a cheaper product? Let’s find out!

Oh dear, I don’t think our wallets are ready for this jelly! Things are about to get spendy but the good news is that we have options. Do you deserve to splurge? We spill the tea on FENTY Beauty’s newest launch, a reformulation of Laura Mercier’s OG makeup base, and new highlighters care of Benefit. Feeling thrifty? Check out a huge lippie sale from Ever Bilena, and stock up on beauty essentials while supporting worthwhile advocacies.

Hello, it’s here! My team and I have been working on the In Her Element Sunflower Wash-Off Cleansing Oil (P695/110ml) since late last year and I’m so pleased that it’s finally out! As someone who adores ridiculously loud eyeshadow, thick lashes, and full-coverage foundation, a good cleansing oil that removes even waterproof makeup is a non-negotiable for me. It has to wash off cleanly with water, too, without me needing to do a second pass to erase everything. I ain’t got time for non-emulsifying cleansing oils!