Did you know that there’s a new Filipino brand, and it’s all about hypoallergenic brushes? Meet Beauty Architect, which just launched last July. Their brushes are vegan, cruelty-free, and hypoallergenic as they use only synthetic bristles. They have tools available as singles or in sets, as in the case of the Beauty Builder Tool Kit (P1,880) which I am reviewing today.

It’s been fifteen years since I started this little blog in my bedroom. I was still in college then and have basically been living online for most of my adult life. Over that time, I’ve felt a lot of pressure to be this and that - to get married, to have kids, to be perfectly beautiful and young forever, to be rich and successful, and to make zero mistakes, among other things. It’s freakin’ exhausting. Do you feel the same? Do you want to just let go of all of these unrealistic expectations women are seemingly forced to live by?

Classics resonate with us because of their timeless appeal and consistent performance, earning an esteemed place in our routines. The Body Shop stands out as one such iconic brand. Championing cruelty-free beauty since 1976, it has nurtured Filipino skin for over 25 years. Many of us, navigating the turbulent times of puberty, turned to their tea tree products as a sanctuary against acne. I, too, vouched for The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil (P550/10ml) to target and soothe my acne blemishes. Excitingly, The Body Shop's renowned Tea Tree line has now been reimagined and revamped, making it even more interesting than before!

In the ever-evolving landscape of beauty, every so often a campaign comes along that genuinely makes us stop and think. Shiseido's "Potential Has No Age" battlecry is a perfect example. It’s an introspective note in an industry that often focuses on the superficial. And just to add a touch more intrigue to the mix, they've introduced Anne Hathaway into their narrative as the new global face of the brand.

When a homegrown beauty brand celebrates an anniversary, it is a shared milestone for Filipino Beauty. It means that our local beauty scene is thriving! I have been writing about beauty for more than ten years now and to witness Happy Skin’s 10th Birthday makes me both proud and reminiscent of how much our local landscape has changed. I remember the first article I wrote on Happy Skin for Project Vanity. It was a grand tour of their then newly-opened Trinoma store. Now, they have grown to more than a 100 doors and over 250 employees plus an online presence with worldwide shipping!

Ah, the Philippines - a country renowned not just for its stunning beaches and heartwarming hospitality, but also for its treasure trove of natural beauty ingredients. For generations, Filipinas have sworn by the secrets whispered from lola to apo (grandmother to granddaughter), harnessing the potency of what nature provides to create beauty remedies. Let's dive into some of these time-honored secrets that have been kept alive, proving that sometimes, the best beauty solutions can be found right at our backyard.

Hold onto your glam hats, darlings! Rustan’s The Beauty Source threw THE beauty bash of the year last September 7. This year's shindig was all about "Seeing Beauty in a New Light", and did they ever deliver! With the newly done-up Beauty Hall at Rustan’s Makati as the evening's star, it was an affair that practically had fairy dust in the air.

Considering this was only their second in-person do since the world went back to, well, normal, Rustan’s pulled out all the stops. Imagine this: a hall adorned with over 130 lush beauty brands,

Yesterday I was teaching my goddaughter how to play the guitar. She loves music and she sings well, too, and guitar is something that she has always wanted to learn. Of course, being 13 with no finger strength or flexibility as an absolute beginner, she started to get frustrated.

So, you went on a little lipstick spree (no judgment, we've all been there) and ended up with a shade that looked oh-so-perfect in the tube, but not quite right on your lips. Don’t bury it at the bottom of your makeup drawer just yet! There are plenty of ways to salvage that not-so-perfect lip color without banishing it to the back of your beauty stash.

In the bustling world of beauty, Barenbliss stands out with its straightforward goal: helping people express themselves through cosmetics. Originated by Korean makeup artists, and buoyed by a shared passion for purity, Barenbliss established a dedicated Beauty Lab. With a team of skilled scientists and skincare experts, they embarked on a mission to create innovative products that blend natural and dermatologically tested ingredients, bringing a touch of science to beauty.

Ever since I was a teenager, blemishes have always been my bane. Now that I’m 35 I have blemishes AND drying skin. I can’t just slather the alpha/beta hydroxy acids on without paying a price, so I have to be extra intentional about the skincare I use. Luckily, I got to try the Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum and Polypeptide Cream, and they’re both sooo good!

In the hustle to meet deadlines, attend endless meetings, and balance a semblance of personal life, we often find ourselves on the fast track to burnout city. The exhaustion creeps in silently, often masquerading as a bad mood or a lack of creative spark until we hit a wall, and the dread settles in. Before we know it, we’re questioning our capabilities, feeling uninspired, and the world suddenly lacks the luster it once had.

And so, here are a few ways that we can process our burn out! It takes time and consistency in the effort, but it’s well worth it to follow these few steps.

You know that feeling when your heart races a bit because you’re stepping into a beauty wonderland? That’s exactly what swept over me as I stepped into SM Mall of Asia Main Atrium for the SM Beauty’s The Best of K-Beauty event on September 20. Imagine a day set in a scene right out of a Korean drama with a pinch of K-pop excitement thrown in, and you've pretty much captured the essence of this event.

I woke up today to news that's, quite literally, in the air. PHILVOCS announced that since 12:30 PM, volcanic smog or 'vog' has been blanketing Taal Lake, making it the talk of the town – and not in a good way. This vog has been a constant presence since the first week of September, with an astounding average of 3,402 tonnes/day of SO2 being degassed from the Taal Volcano. That's a lot of sulfur in our atmosphere! Even in Manila, if you look outside right now, you can see some of it.

While scrolling mindlessly through TikTok the other day I saw a letter that Kurt Vonnegut wrote to a high school class. The kids were given the assignment to write a letter to their favorite authors, but only one person replied. I thought it was a beautiful letter worth sharing, so please read and I hope you take it to heart.

The Barenbliss Peach Makes Perfect Tint is one of my go-to daily lip products, as it doesn’t dry my lips and leaves such a nice stain as it starts to fade. The shades available as also quite pretty and fresh, plus it has a glossy finish which I find makes my lips look fuller. Can’t go wrong with that! It’s pretty affordable too at P399 (and they go on sale often) which makes it an easy pick for casual days.

So, I was excited to properly test the Bloom Matte Transferproof Tint (P399) this time since they have some all-new colors!

Today we find ourselves chatting about something that’s been popping up quite a lot again lately - mall pull out perfumes. Sellers claim that these are the perfumes straight from the factory, overstock, or items that have minor defects, hence the considerable markdowns on the prices. But before you snag that deal, let’s have a little heart-to-heart about what you're actually getting into and why it’s a better choice to stick to the official retail stores.

I found myself thinking about a significant question as I settled in for a celebratory birthday manicure, fully prepared to treat myself to an elaborate gel manicure. As someone constantly using my hands, I routinely choose a gel manicure to ensure longevity. However, as my hands went under the UV lamp, a worrying thought crossed my mind, sparked by a flurry of social media posts and a recent study making rounds.

Could my cherished manicure sessions be raising my risk of cancer?

Another day, another story about me loving a Japanese beauty product. I can’t help it! J-Beauty has got to be my favorite, favorite beauty movement and category hands down. I love that Japanese brands constantly innovate and they do it at fantastic price points too. Their products, for me, are the best in the world and they happen to suit Filipino needs too. A good chunk of the beauty products I use on a daily basis is from Japan and it wasn’t a conscious decision; it’s just what makes sense.

And so, today, let me share a quick rave about the LuLuLun Cleansing Balm Rich Moist (P995 for 90 grams, available in Beauty Bar).

In the competitive landscape of beauty products, where each brand jostles for a spot in our skincare routines and makeup arsenals, I couldn’t help but wonder: how do Filipino beauty brands stack up against the international behemoths?