Is it just me, or has January gone on forever?? The days feel long, but somehow they still feel like they’re not long enough. It sure looks like the local beauty industry is putting that to good use, though. There have been a couple of new launches (Blk Glossdrip and GRWM Lip Maxx) and a relaunch of a beloved multitasker (Ever Bilena Pillow Pop Multi Pot). Honorable mention: our native UBE is getting love from Huda Beauty with its limited-edition Ube Collection!

Lip liners have had a glow-up recently, and I love how they’ve gone from being an afterthought to having an honored spot in every makeup routine. The Ever Bilena No Budge Lip Liner (P 195 / 0.25 g) caught my eye not just because it’s affordable, but for its promise of a rich, silky formula with serious staying power. After trying it, here’s the tea: it’s not just good - it’s great.

There’s something magical about January, isn’t there? The fresh, crisp feeling of a brand-new year is like opening a blank notebook—it’s full of possibility and promise. For me, the start of the year is also the perfect time to take stock of what I have, especially when it comes to my closet and beauty stash. After all, how can we move forward when we’re still holding on to things that don’t serve us anymore?

When it comes to multitasking beauty products, I’m always on the lookout for something that delivers on all fronts: ease of use, great color payoff, and long-lasting wear. The Spotlight Soft Glow Beauty Wand (P 695 / 4.9 g) promises exactly that, and after putting it to the test, I can confirm—it’s as good as it sounds! But of course, no product is perfect, so let’s dive into what makes it shine (and where it could use a little polish).

Hello, friends! As you read this, I’m likely staring at my suitcase, mentally packing and repacking for the fifteenth time. I’m off to Tokyo tomorrow, my favorite city in the world, and while I’ve traveled quite a bit over the years, packing always reminds me of my rookie days. Oh, the mistakes I made!

Travel is such a privilege, but let’s not sugarcoat it: it’s also stressful. To save you from some of the chaos, here are three things I’ve learned not to do when traveling. I hope my advice helps you have a smoother, more enjoyable trip!

How do you find 2025 so far? Are you feeling the urge to step up and do better this year, like me? This week’s roundup of beauty news shows that beauty brands just might be feeling the same! We bring you a BNR full of innovation, as Lisa Eldridge comes out with her first concealer product: the Pinpoint Concealer Pencil. Hourglass recently released its first foundation with sun protection, the Illusion Luminous Glow Foundation SPF30. MAC Nudes Collection is finally out, with both new and fan-fave nude shades in different formats and formulas. Local beauty brand Colourette recently launched their new and improved Easy Mattes, with new shades to love.

Let’s talk about sunscreen reapplication. We know it's important. We know we should be doing it. But if you’re like me, the thought of ruining your makeup halfway through the day just to protect your skin from the sun makes you want to scream into your SPF bottle. That’s where the new Bioré Aqua Protect Mist comes in. Let’s discuss why this might be worth adding to your sun protection routine!

It’s impossible to look at the beauty looks from the 2025 Golden Globes and not see a love letter to Old Hollywood glamour. The unifying thread throughout the night was an undeniable nod to the timeless elegance of icons like Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O, and Audrey Hepburn. From voluminous hairdos to classic winged eyeliner and romantic waves, the red carpet felt like a nostalgic trip back to the 1960s—an era synonymous with traditional femininity and understated sophistication.

This is my favorite question to ask my friends these days: what are your personal goals for the year? I emphasize “personal” because most people mention something work-related. Yes we love to be more productive, have better work output, and make more money. But I think it’s important to think about what we want to achieve for ourselves alone. I’ve been giving my goals a lot of thought, and here are three things I really want to focus on!

We’re off to a fresh start in 2025! What better way to kick off the year than with a roundup of fresh beauty news? Let’s make things bright with new additions to Marc Jacobs’ Daisy family of fragrances: the Daisy Glow trio. Let’s take a look at the beautiful cherry-blossom inspired additions to the Guerlain makeup line. Ichigo lovers, rejoice at the new Strawberry Cupid collection from Flower Knows. Last but definitely not the least, Glosser releases a delicious Black Cherry collection!

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show made its much-anticipated return last October 15, and one thing I’ve always adored about it is the models’ effortlessly fresh-faced makeup. Their cheeks practically radiate with that vibrant, healthy glow we all want to bottle up and bring home. Naturally, I wanted to recreate that same look, so imagine my delight when I stumbled upon a tip from TikTok. It was none other than Rose-Marie Swift, the founder of RMS Beauty and a former makeup artist for Victoria's Secret, spilling the secret. The game-changing trick? she used red blush instead of pink! Specifically, the RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Beloved.

In the early days of Project Vanity, I would often write year-end reports celebrating all the things I accomplished over the past 12 months. It was always such a joy to look back on my highlights and share them with this wonderful community. Now that I’m a little older (and hopefully wiser!), my perspective has shifted. These days, I measure the success of my year not just by achievements but by the hard-won lessons that have shaped me along the way. The older I am, the more I realize how harder it is to learn new things because of a natural resistance to change. It’s like when you play an RPG and the XP points required to level up become higher and higher! And so, here are the three things I learned in 2024.

The thing about Kanebo is that they’re obsessed about the science behind their formulations. They really spend time and money on figuring out what’s next in skincare, which is why they’ve survived for 88 years in a highly competitive beauty industry. They’re a Japanese brand so we know that they’re committed to making the best that they can with the resources that they have. It is my belief that Kanebo’s skincare products are truly worth watching out for if you have extremely high standards.

We’re about to head off to the last few days of 2024, but the beauty world is keeping busy! This week’s Beauty News Roundup is full of new local releases to shake up your holidays. Let’s take a look at the Ever Bilena No Budge Lip Liner, Spotlight Soft Glow Beauty Wand, and new Strokes eye and face palettes. Let’s see what K-beauty brand Laneige has in store for us this holiday season with limited-edition Lip Sleeping Masks and gifts!

I’ve been using the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask for years, and I think I’ve tried almost every flavor they’ve come up with. It’s such a staple in my routine that you’ll always find it in my online shopping cart, waiting for the next sale to restock. It has a permanent spot on my bedside table and is a must-have in my travel pouch. It just works so well for my dry lips! I’ve experimented with other brands, but I always end up going back to Laneige—there’s a reason it’s beloved , after all.

You can never have too many skin tints, especially when your social calendar is suddenly packed this holiday season, but you have zero patience for full foundation. Whether I’m running late and trying to beat the holiday traffic or getting ready for a ‘no makeup’ makeup day, I always find myself reaching for a reliable skin tint. Ellana Cosmetics has one that’s packed with SPF and skincare benefits! The Even Better Skin Care Tint SPF 30+ PA++++ (P299/18g) is 100% vegan, PETA-certified cruelty-free, and even safe for pregnant and breastfeeding moms.

Just now a thought occurred to me that has truly not passed my mind at all within the last year, and it is this: when was the last time I had A Real Break? Interesting! First let’s define what A Real Break is. ARB is a period of time that is fully dedicated to rest and relaxation, without any occurrence of work or work-related activities. That’s easy enough. But what qualifies as ARB for me, specifically? The thing is, because I am my own boss and I control most of my time, I’m able to take a break whenever I need or want to. But because my work involves social media - in fact it revolves around social media - my “free time” is related to making content in some form or other, or being plugged in to my industry’s comings and goings. That’s the tricky part.

The holidays are on full blast, and while the festivities bring joy, they can also pile on the stress with endless gatherings, gift shopping, and preparations. In the midst of all this hustle, don’t forget to hit pause and carve out some time for yourself. A little pampering goes a long way to keep your energy up for the season!

Last week, our Beauty News Roundup featured delicious treats from the world of beauty. I’m happy to report that this week’s edition will be just as sweet! Let’s take a look at Colourette’s newest Eye Gotchu Collection. NARS makes a new addition to their Afterglow lippie lineup with the new Afterglow Lip Oil. Estée Lauder collaborates with Ladurée, home of the most famous French macarons! Last but not least, Sabrina Carpenter releases a new fragrance named Me Espresso. So have you got a sweet tooth? Let’s get our fill of sweet, sweet beauty news!

There’s an age-old question that many of us who love makeup still ask ourselves all year round: What shades suit me best? That’s where MAC’s APAC Senior Artistry Manager Anton Zimin comes to the rescue. As part of the recently held MAC Trends Makeup Masterclass, Anton introduced four must-try trends and dished out essential tips and tricks to keep in mind before you even lift up that makeup brush. Of course, every masterclass has to have the perfect models and muses to demo on and who better than PPOP royalty themselves, BINI.

Papaya is more than just a sweet, tropical fruit; it’s a powerhouse ingredient that has earned its place in the skincare world. Packed with vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants, papaya offers quite a few benefits for glowing, healthy skin. If you’re ready to level up your routine with this natural wonder, here are the benefits and best ways to incorporate papaya into your skincare regimen!