It’s that time of the week again. Yes, another round of beauty news. Before we proceed, I just have to ask this - don’t you love it when a product you’ve been wanting for so long is finally released in the Philippines? Okay, that’s clearly a rhetorical question.

We’ve all been there. We have had our fair share of hits and misses in our skincare journey. We have tried tons of skincare products to keep us healthy-looking and glowing. But have you wondered why, despite the number of products you use, you're still not achieving that promised glow? It’s probably the high time that you check the ingredients and see if these have the essential beauty vitamins for the skin to achieve that real, healthy glow.

Do you still wear full coverage lipstick? I do, but rarely. Most days it’s a tinted lip balm for me or a lipstick, smudged onto the lips, then set with a balm after. I reserve a full color only on days when I’m going out to dressy thing but otherwise it feels overdone. Do you agree? Or is it just me? The pandemic has really changed so many things!

Considering a greater impact to the society and the environment, Watsons Philippines has announced partnerships with P&G, L’Oreal Philippines, and Unilever for its Sustainable Choices initiative.

These partnerships go beyond products as these, according to Viki Encarnacion, PR and Sustainability Director of Watsons Philippines, “reflect the shared responsibility between our suppliers, our customers, and Watsons, in building a more sustainable world.”

Here’s the thing: A minimalist skincare routine can be just as effective as an elaborate one in achieving those glass skin goals. The key is to layer on the right combination of products together to target those daily skincare concerns. And the Japanese are experts at this practice, proving time and time again that even their drugstore brands deliver.

Don’t you just love it that there is always something new to discover in the world of beauty? Whether locally or internationally, beauty news will always be interesting and exciting for me. I hope you feel the same way. Enough chit-chat, it’s time for beauty news!

I’ve been suffering from dandruff since my early 20s. I’ve written here a few times about how I always rotate anti-dandruff shampoo in my hair care routine because without it, my scalp would turn into a flaky, itchy mess! It gets even worse when I’m stressed out. Sometimes, when I can’t stop scratching, my scalp would get small wounds already. Gross but it is the unglamorous truth to my super sensitive scalp.

During my teen years in the early aughts, most of the scented beauty products like skincare and body care were typically floral-scented. You could say that it was the bouquet heyday. Fruity fragrances were often marketed towards kids and pre-teens, while gourmand scents had a not so low-key boudoir association. (Remember Jessica Simpson’s Dessert Beauty? Because I sure do!)

If I say that I’m excited for this week’s beauty roundup, would you still believe me given that I say it every week? Well, it’s true! You know how beauty excites me, and I’m sure it excites you too. There’s quite a lot to talk about this week, so let’s go!

I remember visiting the LOOK store last year a few days after it opened. It was during the thick of the pandemic, but I was so proud to see a concept store like it exist here in the Philippines. It’s about time! It really placed Manila in the map as a world-class beauty shopping destination at par with other countries like Hong Kong and Singapore.

Like I always say, it makes me happy that we have so many local beauty options and this week is just further proof of that. For this beauty roundup, we’re talking local releases that cover makeup, hair, and skin, and new sunscreens from Anessa!

How are you stepping up your self-care game? Some may have taken to adapting their going-out beauty habits for at-home ones, while others have opted to sport makeup again to keep the proverbial engine running. But of course there’s the physical health aspect of self-care as well where our wellness journey tends to manifest itself through our physical appearance. Don’t sleep on getting proper rest, eating well, and taking the best supplements for your needs!

Retinol, aside from sunscreens, is one of the best age management ingredients out there. I first got onto the bandwagon with this beautiful sleeping oil from a luxury brand. It’s fantastic - my skin did get smoother and plumper because of the retinol - but man was it expensive! I also found out that my skincare brand’s small but loyal group clamored for a retinol product that really works for their skin, without being too expensive.

When it comes to base makeup, I used to either wear a medium to full coverage foundation or skip it entirely. It wasn’t until this year that I fell in love with tinted moisturizers and skin tints. Because almost everything is done online now, I started gravitating towards base products that are sheer and easy to apply. Also, if I have to go out, I want to let my skin breathe, and since tinted moisturizers and skin tints usually have SPF, all the more reason to wear them.

If you want to know how your skin is going to age, look at your mother and (if you’re still fortunate) your grandmother. That should tell you where your lines will form and where your skin will give way to gravity; it will inform you how time will likely shape your face. Do not recoil. Aging is not ugly. It is a process that we all have to go through! But that doesn’t mean that we should not take care of our skin and give up without trying. It’s fun to try and do things better, no?

How are you all doing, Project Vanity Community? I hope you’re all doing well and staying safe. Another week has passed and it’s time for another beauty roundup! I’m excited for the lineup of news this week, and I think you’ll feel the same. Let’s go!

Today I found a vlog I made of what a week in my life looked like in 2018. I would attend brand events, launch events for clients, play tennis, row, and speak at a conference in front of hundreds of people all in a week. I liked that life, and thought that’s how my days would look like until I change my mind. But the pandemic, of course, took away that choice. I would often wonder in the past year and a half who I really am beyond that life. Am I relevant or successful or even the least bit useful if I weren’t doing those things?

Here I am again with my search for mask proof makeup. This time around, the focus is on lips and I’m happy to find a product from one of my favorite local brands, Happy Skin! The Kiss & Bloom Glossy Tints (P349) are part of the Generation Happy Skin line up. It was mid-2020 when these products were first launched and included in the Here to Bloom collection with the shades Tanned and Crimson. Four new shades have been added since then: Blossom, Bud, Calm, and Sunny. The shades are sold separately but you can also get all four in the Generation Happy Skin Glossy Tint Set (P1,396).

Project Vanity community, it’s finally the month of October! I don’t know about you but I always get excited over this month because of Halloween - a holiday that reminds us all about the transformative power and fun nature of makeup. Now, since today’s a Friday, it’s time for this week’s beauty news!

What makes a makeup product iconic? Many things are pretty, but reaching icon status requires passing the test of time. The product has to be universally flattering (not just on different skin tones but with other products), wear on the skin well in terms of staying power, and a good deal in terms of cost-per-wear. THE NARS Orgasm blush definitely passes all these categories with passing colors! (Get it?)

Recently NARS expanded the Orgasm universe with a new cheek palette and a jumbo version of the beloved blush. Let’s take a look!