I have been a Kpop fan for more than 10 years now, and I have them to thank for my love of K-beauty as well! Following idols have given me the chance to see the evolution of Korean makeup trends, from the era of thick eyeliners paired with nude lipsticks, to adventurous burgundy eyeshadows, and to the current obsession with more natural, almost bare-faced looks. 

“New Year, new me” is what they all say, and this week’s beauty roundup will help kick start your 2020! Get ready for Aesop’s official PH location and visit A’pieu’s newly-opened flagship store. Tiffany & Co. has released a gorgeous perfume duo while Pat McGrath has us lusting (yet again) for her new eyeshadow palette drop!

A micro-tip brow pencil has always been my weapon of choice when it comes to doing my kilay. It’s easier to draw fine, hair-like strokes with a slim tip so I’m able to achieve the naturally #blessed brow look - just the way I like it! 

A good micro-tip pencil to me should meet these three criteria:

Skin care diet, skip-care, the anti-10 step skin care routine - these beauty buzz words basically all mean the same thing. They’re all about going back to the basics and downsizing your skin care regimen and not compromising the image of minimizing pores. I enjoyed the 10 step skin care routine for a good while but I’ll be the first to admit that I found the rules of layering a bit tedious. Do I really need to spend an hour to slap products on my face, or can I do it under 15 minutes and make time for other things that I enjoy?

For many of us, growing up in the Philippines meant growing up believing that white skin is better. If you have fair skin, you were considered maganda, artistahin, and kutis-mayaman. If you were darker-skinned though, what a shame! You would probably told that it’s a pity you were born kayumanggi, and given a number of suggestions on how to whiten skin.   

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas, PV fam! Well, I mean, it’s almost Christmas. And with the holiday cheer comes loads of beauty buzz that has us crazy excited! We’ve got the scoop on FENTY’s crazy new eyeshadow palettes (we want them all), as well as AVON’s big move towards ending animal testing! Are you a fan of fragrance? Chanel’s got the ultimate travel-friendly fragrance launch just for you. There's also a new line of vegan beauty to look forward to, so read on for ideas for your holiday shopping! 

I suppose it is radical that this should come from a beauty blogger, but in the eleven years that I’ve worked in this industry, I’ve come to realize that it’s completely okay to be ugly. Yes, you heard it. It’s okay to be ugly. It’s absolutely fine that you don’t fit in the mold of what everyone else thinks is beautiful - it’s fine that your skin is a mess, your hair is falling out, you’re fat, or that you’re too dark. So many women who are not considered conventionally beautiful blaze their own trails and find their own way. I mean, you need only look at the achievements of Samin Nostrat, Mindy Kaling, or Naomi Watabe! You can do that too, and you don’t need the permission of being beautiful to get started.

I’m a big winner in the skin care concern lottery: I have sensitive combination skin. This means that my t-zone (forehead and nose) gets very oily, while my u-zone (cheeks and chin) turn dry and flaky. My pores also love forming comedones, making me more prone to getting enlarged pores and pimples. It has been extra challenging to find skin care products that work for my various issues because my skin can get really reactive, flaring up whenever I come near anything it doesn’t like!

Can't book a ride or don't want to be stuck in traffic? You might want to consider taking a motorcycle service instead. I started using Angkas about a year ago when I couldn't get a car or a cab after an hour of trying. I got to my destination quickly and safely, and though I wasn't prepared for a bike ride. I now take it regularly to get to work without having to deal with the horrendous Manila traffic or exorbitant fares, so I need to make sure I still look presentable when I arrive at my destination. Apart from spritzing a bit of fragrance, here are five tips for staying fresh and surviving the bike ride: 

It’s not very often that I get to present a really, really good drugstore foundation to you. So I am not going to mince words - the Revlon Life-Proof Matte Foundation Stick (P725) is now a mainstay on my makeup desk! I usually go for Dior, Tom Ford, Fenty, or MAC as you know but this Revlon stick can compete with the big leagues.

What I love most about it is how easy it is to apply. You just swipe as much as you need on your face, buff well with a dense foundation brush (ideally a flat top or kabuki), and you’re done!

I’ve had ear piercings since I was a baby, and added two more just before I graduated from college. I really like how they enhance my personal sense of style and have been wanting to get more, but my college piercing experience was not a good one. To ensure that everything goes smoothly this time around, I prepared for new piercings by doing a lot of research and being more thorough with choosing where to have it done. If you’ve been thinking of getting some, too, make sure you read these must-know guidelines first!

I'm talking pedicure on our toes, toes, trying on all our clothes, clothes! Did that get you singing? I must confess, this week’s roundup has got me singing for joy with all the latest in beauty! Sunnies Face has spilled the tea on their SUPER(model) collab, Pia Wurtzbach’s sporting a new pout, and Kesha's latest release isn't music-related! MAC has a crazy lippie drop that’s sure to have gloss lovers buzzing, while Shiseido joins our list of online beauty stores to frequent. It’s a bit of a random mix, but we reckon it’ll have you editing those lists and shopping way more than you should!

A month before stepping into a new decade, PANTONE announced 2020’s Color of The Year: Classic Blue. Described as a restful color that brings a sense of peace and tranquillity to the human spirit, it becomes a standout shocker when used in beauty looks! If you’re feeling adventurous and dare to rock this color, channel Classic Blue with these picks:

I have a lot of Human Nature favorites that I like to stock up on, and while I can often get them from the grocery, I like being able to visit their stores so that I can check out their newest releases. Recently, I’ve been curious about the Marine Caviar moisturizer and their long-awaited Natural Shampoo Bar (maybe it will change my mind about shampoo bars?) so I went to visit their new store in SM Megamall as soon as it opened last week!

Could you believe that we’re only 21 days away from a new decade? And what a decade it has been for beauty! We began our obsession with full, perfectly-groomed eyebrows, our love affair with matte liquid lipstick, and a keen desire for long-wearing, full-coverage, yet ultra-comfortable foundation. K-Beauty became the undisputed trend and technology leader for beauty all over the world. Even so, we saw the rise of Filipino beauty brands as we became more competitive and world-class - now that’s a plot twist!

This 2019, the Project Vanity Community has spoken and voted for their best finds this year. Let’s see what captured our hearts (and wallets) in 2019, shall we?

The first time I heard of Advent calendars was in college, when I saw a YouTuber take out chocolate from a Cadbury-branded Advent calendar. It looked like a fun idea to enjoy a little treat in the days leading to Christmas, though I had to wonder how much self-control I’d need to not open everything at once! Assuming you have enough impulse control, I can certainly imagine how “receiving” a small gift every day can set the mood for Christmas cheer. Now imagine doing that with beauty products!

Have you done any Christmas shopping yet? Between that and the parties to attend and plan, December is surely going to be a crazy hectic month! So take a breather and check out this week’s beauty Roundup, which has loads of fun things that’ll put a smile on your face, and quite possibly add another item on your wish list. 

It’s been three years since I founded In Her Element Skincare. In those three years, everybody kept asking me: “Why not makeup? I thought you’d do makeup!” This is understandable because I am a makeup geek and it has always been my first love in this industry, and what got me in to begin with. Skincare though has always been a bit of a challenge for me, because Fact #1 I am lazy when it comes to applying skincare and Fact #2, I’ve always loved expensive brands that’s painful on the wallet to repurchase. So, I thought I’d take it in my own hands to create something that would fit my budget and my needs!

Aging is a natural and inevitable process that we all experience. In fact, we experience it every day, in every part of our bodies! As the largest organ and an external one at that, our skin is where the signs of aging become most obvious. With decreasing elasticity and our body's repair processes slowing down, skin becomes thinner and more fragile as we age. Applying products won't stop the wrinkles, age spots, or sagging, but they can definitely slow down the process and help protect your skin against external damage. The key is to make sure that the anti-aging products you use actually have ingredients that work! 

They're 36 and thriving! 2019 has certainly been a fruitful year for Ever Bilena. Earlier this year, the proudly homegrown beauty company expanded their range of products with Kris Aquino through the release of some seriously hydrating tinted lip balms. They then tapped Jodi Sta. Maria to be the latest face of the flagship brand. This was followed by celeb collaborations that were launched with Andrea Brillantes (Careline's Blythe Cosmetics) and Ara Mina (Ara Colours). The year may be almost over, but this local powerhouse is continuing to keep us on our toes!