If there’s one thing that I changed in my beauty routine in the past year, it’s to rely less on contour and focus on highlights. I used to regularly hit pan on my contour powders but I’ve since changed my makeup look to focus on glowy skin. I love how a touch of well-placed highlighter can instantly brighten my face and make me feel like the star of a Kdrama! It’s also perfect for days when I feel gloomy or lack sleep. as it makes me look alive and put together. However, some highlighters look great on camera but too much for real life. If you want something that’s more subtle and natural-looking, we’ve put together some picks to suit every kind of budget!

One of my favorite beauty things to do is to contemplate which hair color I’m trying next. Over the years, I’ve experimented with red, done bronde, gone sunkissed with highlights, and I’m currently Team Au Naturel with salt and pepper strands. I love how the color of my hair can change my look without the commitment of chopping or perming my hair strands, and if I don’t like the results, I can just dye it again. If you’re thinking about refreshing your look and need some #inspo, here’s a look at celebrities rocking this year’s trends.

Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink is a big favorite in the drugstore liquid lippie category, and earned the first runner-up spot during Project Vanity’s 2019 Beauty Awards! I don’t often use liquid lipsticks but I’ve been curious to know what the hype is about. The arrival of the new Superstay Matte Ink Pink Edition (P299 each) presented the perfect opportunity for me to finally try this cult favorite.

Hello, PV fam! We’re all hoping that you’re keeping safe and staying healthy in your homes. And if you’re still at work, thank you so much for your service! With everything that’s been going on, we thought you might like a little beauty breather this weekend. Our roundup introduces MAC’s newest Maker (hint: she’s iconic and ageless), and has Louis Vuitton making anti-bacterial hand gels (read on before you freak). ABH also has a new baby, and Urban Decay has an answer to microblading. Happy reading!

Before buying skincare, you probably read hundreds of reviews before hitting the checkout button. Of course it's important to know if the product you're eyeing causes people to breakout, but you may also see some reviews that talk about “an initial purge”. Because purging is also characterized by the appearance of acne, it can be confusing to tell the difference between the two. Should you keep using the product and allow the purging phase to finish, or should you throw it out stat?

Writing about beauty feels like a mental refuge for me during this tough time, so I hope this throw down can give you a few minutes of stress-free reading. While it is important to stay updated and alert, we should also think about the potential effects of reading news article after article. I’m quite guilty of this as I’ve had to make more of an effort to put down my phone before my anxiety turns into full-blown panic. So take a deep breath, clear your mind for a while, and let’s indulge in some beauty talk.

It’s been an extra crazy week, and we hope you’re staying safe! Are you ready for a bit of good news? We’ve got the latest drops from Bobbi Brown, Dyson, and FENTY. Plus there’s a new sunscreen that’s sure bring out that summer glow, and a HUGE Sephora sale for some virtual retail therapy!

While my personal preference is to avoid alcohol in my skincare products, it’s an important item for helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, people have been panic-buying and hoarding bottles at the grocery, leaving others to find other means to buy alcohol. You’ve probably seen people selling commercial alcohol online at unreasonable prices, but did you also notice those posts with gallons of 99% alcohol? Don’t buy that until you’ve read this.

These are dark times, my friends, but I hope you can still allow me to share something that I’ve been working on for a year now! After the successful launch of the Ellana x Project Vanity Life-Proof Eyebrow Gel in 2018, we have a follow-up that I think you guys will enjoy using everyday. Theresa Carbonel-Buenaflor (the founder of Ellana) and I made this for busy ladies who can’t spend too much time on their makeup; it’s something that you can apply quickly and beautifully with little effort.

ICYMI, homegrown brand V&M Naturals has announced that they will be taking a break from production until further notice. Their many fans immediately shared their messages of support on the Instagram post, and started getting backups for their backups! Now, this is the kind of hoarding that I can support (please don’t buy out all the alcohol and face masks - other people need to protect themselves, too) but apart from the CPC+G Oil that Angeli (and everyone else) keeps raving about, I had absolutely no idea what to get from V&M!

I’ve become a super fan of shiny, plump, and slightly overlined lips. They look fresh and youthful compared to the matte lip look, and the juicy finish just feels more apt for summer! It also used to be a challenge to find a glossy lip product that wasn’t sticky and provided opaque coverage, but that all changed with the new Ellana Satin Stain Shine Liquid Lip and Cheek (P699 from Ellana).

The other day, Den and I were talking about what we thought was a botched cosmetic campaign. The advertisement was for an all-around (eyes, cheeks and lip) product. The idea was there, but it felt like the execution was lacking and the makeup looked clown-like, which we were sure was not the goal of the campaign.

I’ve always said that trying to do “less” with makeup is harder than going full glam. No makeup makeup looks and monochromatic looks are so understated that one minor mishap can be easily amplified due to the fact that there is nothing else to distract from the error. With the growing popularity of multi-use products, let’s get comfy with monochromatic makeup and learn the right way to pull off that one-product face!

Filipinos may love their lipsticks but eyebrow makeup is what they can’t live without! Having a nice pair of kilay is something of a national obsession, so it only makes sense that this would be the focus of Issy & Co’s newest release. ICYMI, this new Filipino brand recently broke into the local beauty scene with their vegan lipstick line in pretty, minimalist packaging. If you haven’t tried anything from them yet, I’m here to rave about their latest drop, the Brow Refiner!

Happy weekend, everyone! It’s time to kick back and relax as we bring you the latest in all things beauty. We’ve got Ellana Minerals’ latest baby (that you’re going to want for this summer) as well as an out-of-this-world MAC collab. We’re also talking about BeautyBlender’s makeup launch, and ABH’s reissuing of a classic!

With super hip releases like multisticks and silicone-y lipsticks, it can be easy to forget that Ever Bilena Cosmetics is actually a decades-old company. They’ve done an amazing job of keeping on the pulse of beauty trends, and making them easily accessible to Filipinos at affordable prices. And yes, this includes using vegan and cruelty-free formulas!

My favorite skincare step has to be cleansing because I like how it makes my skin feel instantly refreshed. In the morning, I use my fave low pH cleanser, and double cleanse to remove makeup and dirt at night. I’ve experimented a bit with facial washes and oil cleansers but I’ve never tried using any cleansing tools.

Maine fans say hey! After two years Maine Mendoza gets another shot at #MACMaker - check her first color here. Now only is she the first influencer to do a second collab with MAC, she’s also the first to launch a Lipglass! Are you guys ready?

After dealing with warts and boils firsthand, I completely understood why people of long ago blamed curses and hexes whenever they developed unknown growths on their skin. I mean, my skin was perfectly fine one minute and then suddenly something was growing out of it! Thankfully, we live in the age of science and have a better understanding of what causes these mysterious bumps on our skin and how to treat them properly.

When I’m super busy, my self-care tends to go out the window. It’s ironic because I know that I need it the most when I’m tired and stressed. And it does tend to show up on my skin because I neglect my skincare routine, doing very little else besides washing my face before bed. Considering that I have so much to do throughout the day, the idea of having to apply several different skincare products just does not appeal to me.

College was the time I lived for all the potted and tubed makeup. Those precious mousses, creams, and gels were my way of looking presentable on the fly without requiring skills beyond a little dotting and blending. I think it’s coming full circle now that I’m back to looking for simple products for a more low-maintenance routine.