Filipino beauty brand Issy has recently launched an impressive 58-piece base and powder product line, showcased through a photo and video exhibit. This collection offers a diverse range of formulas and shades tailored to complement the various Filipino skin tones. I had the privilege of attending a pre-launch event two weeks before the official release, allowing me to provide a comprehensive review of most products from this collection. So let’s get into it!

I used to be able to write articles here like I’m just breathing - well, with a little bit of wrangling to get the words just so - but now it’s tough to settle my mind and be able to just focus. Are you experiencing the same thing? I like to blame my addiction to social media and the instant gratification it shoots straight into my brain’s pleasure receptors, but maybe it’s also just age. Our problems, whimsies, and random puffs of thought smoke clutter up our minds the same way objects clutter up our house. It’s just the side effect of being alive.

Project Vanity has always been a beacon for its strong community centered on beauty. Celebrating their 15th anniversary, it was evident that time only strengthened the bonds that held this community together. The "Beauty Without a Time Limit" event on October 28th at the House of XO was a testament to that, putting pivotal beauty discussions at the forefront.

One of my favorite lip tint formulas just released six new shades, so I thought I’d swatch everything for you! The Barenbliss Peach Makes Perfect Lip Tint (P399 for 3ml) was released a couple of years ago if I’m not mistaken and has won awards in South Korea and Thailand. I love it because it makes my lips look - for lack of a better term - young! I know, I know, but you’ll get it once you scroll down to my swatches.

Watsons, the leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer kicks off the very first Watsons Fit Fest, brought by the Watsons Club on October 13 at The Podium, Ortigas.

Watsons is taking an active step in encouraging everyone to have an active and healthy lifestyle through the Watsons Fit Fest, which aims to Recharge, Reboost, and Renew your health and overall well-being, inside and out. This mindful approach will guide participants to rediscover their paths to holistic wellness.

The beauty scene in the Philippines has always been vibrant, with exciting launches and fresh faces adding a burst of energy every now and then. Among the digital influencers and content creators who have caught our eye, Rei Germar stands out. With her effortless charm, relatable content, and undeniable style, she has been on our radar for quite a while. Today, there's even more reason to celebrate Rei as she steps into a new light: the newest ambassador for Barenbliss Philippines.

The delicate interplay between science and nature often leads to transformative beauty solutions, blending the wonders of the natural world with cutting-edge research. This union was beautifully showcased at the recent Dior Prestige Beauty Class, where attendees were introduced to Dior's latest marvel in the realm of skincare: the Dior Prestige Le Nectar Premier. This groundbreaking serum is Dior’s answer to the challenge of early aging, designed meticulously to combat the initial markers of time on our skin.

October has rolled around once again, bringing with it a wash of pink and powerful messages. 🎀 This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every corner of the globe witnesses lots of initiatives aiming to spread knowledge, foster support, and advocate for early detection. Among these efforts, Estee Lauder Companies (ELC) consistently stands out. They've not only been champions on the global front but have also been diligently ensuring their campaigns resonate profoundly within the Philippines as well.

I like to think of myself as a fragrance chameleon. I can’t say I have a specific signature scent, because I gravitate more towards the feelings that a fragrance brings out in me. I have favorites, yes, but the scent that I choose for the day ultimately depends on what I want to feel. Fresh? Lighthearted? Romantic? Powerful? I think of perfume as part of the story I want to tell about myself at any given time.

Recently, Narsciso Rodriguez Philippines sent over their latest perfume creation called All of Me (P5,850 / 50ml and P7,400 / 90ml). I’m not going to mince my words: it was love at first spray.

With a sudden drop in online activity and an enigmatic single-page placeholder on their website, many are left wondering: What is happening with BeautyMNL? BeautyMNL is a popular online shopping platform in the Philippines that primarily focused on beauty products, skincare, makeup, and wellness items. The site has been known to feature a wide range of local and international brands, making it a go-to for many Filipinos in search of beauty and wellness products.

Before we proceed, full disclosure: my company is also a merchant at BeautyMNL and we are still unpaid,

Not all serums are created equal. Niacinamide, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid are standard serum ingredients. Combine these three with another powerful active, Kojic Acid, and you have the new Kojie.san Skin Lightening Super Serum!

In the heart of the Philippines emerges a beacon of innovation and resilience: Parlon. Dubbed as the country's fastest-growing salon and wellness tech platform, Parlon has not only managed to onboard a staggering 500 brands, spanning over a thousand branches nationwide, but has also successfully navigated the challenging waters of startup fundraising. Their recent triumph? A whopping $400,000 secured in a pre-seed funding round, with investments coming from notable names such as WIP Global Ventures, A2D Ventures, and an esteemed group of angel investors.

Ever since I discovered Laneige, I've been a fan of their skincare and base products. The ambassador then was still Song Hye Kyo (The Glory); now it’s Kim You Jung (20th Century Girl) and Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria).  It’s just one of those brands that work so well on my skin, and in fact I have yet to try a product from them that I didn’t enjoy. New releases are always a treat to check out! The new Laneige Perfect Renew 3X skincare line especially feels attuned to my current needs now that I am in my late thirties.

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,