Hi, everyone! Happy Friday! I can’t believe how fast this week flew by. How was your week? I hope it was an exciting one. Speaking of exciting, it’s time for another beauty roundup! For this week, we’re talking about MAC’s Botanic Panic Collection, Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Resist Brows, La Mer on Lazada, and Pat McGrath’s Mothership IX: Huetopian Dream Palette!

If being in the midst of a global pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that trying to take on healthy habits should be a conscious year-round practice rather than a half-hearted New Year’s resolution. It also means learning to be more in-tune with our bodies’ needs and selecting the right tools to help our wellness journey along. Bonus beauty benefit: A healthy system can translate to a glow that shows on the outside!

The Belo Pandemic Effect ad released last night touched a raw nerve among us women. It showed a fit, pretty person slowly get hairy, large, and pimply as the pandemic dragged on, with an invitation from Belo in the end to come give them a visit. It was the height of insensitivity, which Belo apologized for, but I think it’s worth a conversation because at the core of it is truth. This has happened to all of us, in varying degrees.

How obsessed are you with washing your hands and body on a scale of one to ten? I would say I’m pretty up there. I’m not yet - I think - up to the point of being truly obsessive-compulsive about it, but I probably wash my hands at least 15 times a day. Aside from pandemic reasons, I have a very fluffy dog who is an instant dirt magnet. So washing for me is up there on my list of daily priorities.

I’ve accumulated quite a few favorite cleansers for this purpose, and I think you should try them out if you haven’t yet!

Okay, I know we’re not really in a TGIF mood because it’s the first day of ECQ again today. However, I have something that might cheer you up or at least be a good distraction - it’s time for another beauty roundup! This week, we’re talking about Pili Ani’s Self-care Night Recovery Oil, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free, and Fenty’s Eau de Parfum!

The first time I ever traveled abroad was to Tokyo. It made me fall in love with exploring new cultures, trying new food, and just meeting some amazing people. Of course, beauty shopping is high up in my list of things to do whenever I go to any country. Japan in particular is a paradise for beauty lovers since it is always innovating and setting the trend for others to follow!

One of the things that got me really excited over coming back to the Philippines is access to our local beauty brands. It’s quite exciting to see how as a consumer, we now have so many choices! From brands, shade options, and even skincare products addressing highly specific concerns, we have it all here. I’m rounding up the local beauty brands that I’ve been loving so far!

Belated National Lipstick Day! What lipstick did you wear yesterday? I wore the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Audrey. Anyway, it’s Friday again, which means it is time for another beauty roundup. This week, we’re talking about new releases from Detail Cosmetics, Em Cosmetics, and Jeffree Star Cosmetics, and the new creative director of Guerlain!

Since many of us are cautious about going out these days, physical shopping trips tend to be planned more carefully than during the pre-pandemic era. But that doesn't mean discarding your beauty routine and limiting yourself to grocery supply runs. One way of still being able to stock up on your kikay caboodle is by visiting a one-stop shop that offers choice products from all over the world. It's time to stop, LOOK, and shop!

The first time I tried Kérastase was in 2012, and it was love at first application. It was the Elixir Ultime that did it for me - I’ve tried serums similar to it before from the drugstore, but there was nothing like it in terms of how refined the texture is and how nice my hair is every time I use it. I’ve tried several Kérastase products since then but their hair serums are still my must-have from the brand. I always have a bottle for days when my hair needs extra shine and softness.

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you’re all staying safe and dry. Just like the rain, news in the beauty world has been pouring here and there. For this week’s beauty roundup, we’re going to talk about blk’s Daydream Collection, In Her Element’s The Rose Radiant Duo, Vice Cosmetics’ Makeup Content Creator Competition, the NARS Orgasm on the Beach Collection, Make Up For Ever’s new Ultra HD Setting Powder, and Glossier’s Solar Paints!

I remember the launch of the Naturals by Watsons line about four years ago. It was at this cute little cafe with lots of greenery inside, and I remember Jared of Watsons explaining how proud they were that they were able to source certified organic ingredients for the line, and on top of that use Post Consumer Recycled Plastic for the packaging. I thought it was a great move for Watsons! I love their Rice Bran Cream Bath because it’s a nice moisturizing body wash that smells soothing.

Ever since the start of the community quarantine, online marketplaces like Shopee have helped give us convenient access to certain things from the outside world. Learning a new hobby? You're likely to find competitively-priced supplies. Forgot to pick something up from the last supply run? Perhaps one of your favorite sellers has it. Want to try something new? There’s tons of listings to discover.

Can you believe that another week has passed? Yes, it’s Friday again and you know what that means - it’s time for another beauty roundup! For this week, it’s all about Happy Skin’s Second Skin line, Shiseido’s new Ultimune, Maybelline’s new Fit Me Powder Powder Foundation, customizable eyeshadows from Hourglass, and a KKW Beauty rebrand!

Fighting acne is no walk in the park. It takes a lot of time, effort, and frustration especially when you’re dealing with the hormonal kind. I never had to deal with acne growing up. But I developed hormonal imbalance as an adult and this manifested itself on my skin.

I’ve tried every wonder ingredient out there for skincare products and while they did help, they were not addressing the problem at its root cause. I don’t want to keep treating acne, I want to stop it from even forming. What really helped me was a visit to my gynecologist while we were living in Berlin to see whether my problem was truly internal. Spoiler alert: It was.

When I was younger I believed with all my heart that if things were not perfect, they were worthless. It started when I’d watch shampoo commercials with beautiful women bearing only shiny, straight hair. Comparing my curly, frizzy hair with it - often described as the enemy in those commercials - made me hate my hair with a passion. I was seven or nine. I almost poured boiling hot cooking oil on my head thinking that’s how hot oils worked. Luckily I didn’t but that’s only because the plastic container melted.

One of the most challenging things about this pandemic is being able to avail of regular healthcare services that require one’s physical presence at a clinic. When my mom was experiencing a toothache earlier this year, I was surprised to learn that her dentist could not even do fillings. It was straight to tooth extractions for emergency cases. Cleanings and regular check-ups were out of the question.

Do you miss the Project Vanity weekly beauty roundup? Well, you’re in luck because it’s back, and I’m so excited to share the latest beauty happenings with you all. It’s a happy Friday, indeed, because we’ll be talking about the newest face of Tom Ford, Estêe Lauder’s 75th anniversary, MAC’s Wander.Lust Collection, Chanel’s No. 5 Factory Collection, and the latest on Kylie Cosmetics!

While I’ve started using scented candles since 2019, it became a daily habit in 2021. I have discovered a candle enthusiast community consisting of chandlers (candle makers), suppliers, and fellow candle enthusiasts. After trying over 70 candles in a span of two and a half years, I have narrowed it down to my top 11! Here’s what’s worth the splurge.

Ladies and gentlemen, typhoon season has officially arrived and perhaps like me your lips are feeling the strain. Cooler weather is a good respite from the deep of the summer but you best believe that my lips dry up like prunes once things take a wetter turn. So, allow me to present four lip balms that I’ve always found reliable! Let me know of your favorites too!