I’ve been reaching for mascaras more than eyeliners lately because they give my eyes a softer, more natural definition, perfect for a no-makeup makeup look. We’ve already compared budget-friendly mascaras below P250 for oily lids, but today’s showdown features three big names in the mascara game: Benefit, EB Pro, and Heroine Make. I’ll be putting them to the test based on ease of use, curl-holding power, and longevity, which are my top three non-negotiables for my stubbornly straight lashes.

Spotlight Cosmetics threw a fabulous Galentine’s soirée at The Grand Hausse last February 11, and it was definitely one for the books. Guests were treated to delicious bites, a beauty buffet like no other, and a dreamy setup filled with plush velvet and stunning art. But the real highlight of the night? Denice Sy, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Spotlight Cosmetics, unveiling the brand’s new campaign and tagline—You First.

I’m on day 12 of isotretinoin, and my skin is breaking out like crazy. I know purging is part of the process, but this cystic acne just won’t quit! I have pimples on pimples. My chin is so swollen that even moving my mouth aches. My lips are dry and my skin feels ridiculously rough. I’m trying to stay calm, reminding myself that this is temporary, just two more weeks, maybe four—but honestly? It’s taking every ounce of maturity and self-confidence I’ve built over the past 20 years to not completely freak out right now.

I feel like everyone is looking at my acne and judging me for it. What kind of beauty editor has skin like this? Logically, I know it’s just the spotlight effect—no one actually cares that much—but emotionally, it’s a challenge. So yes, I’m feeling a little sorry for myself lately.

Let’s keep February short and sweet with a roundup of scrumptious news bites! Get into resort mode with NARS Cosmetics upcoming releases: the Hot Escape Collection. Pat McGrath Labsreleases a truly delicious collection in collaboration with sweet mobile game Candy Crush. Rhode Peptide Lip Tint now comes in a new shade with a sparkly finish: Sugar Cookie. Olives may not be sweet, but it definitely is something to celebrate as Olive Young is setting down roots in Los Angeles, California.

Acne is a tricky thing. It’s not just about getting rid of pimples, it’s also about keeping them from coming back and healing your skin properly to ensure you’re not left with scars in the process. The worst part? The more you try to “fix” it, the more it sometimes fights back. Over-cleansing, over-exfoliating, and using harsh treatments can strip the skin, causing even more oil production and inflammation. It’s a cycle that can feel impossible to break.

Lipstick trends have taken a turn for the better. Gone are the days when matte formulas reigned supreme, leaving lips dry and unforgivingly cracked by midday. Now, it’s all about hydration, comfort, and color that wears well throughout the day. The Ever Bilena Moisture Boost Serum Lip Stick (P 295 / 2.5 g) is a perfect example of this shift—packed with nourishing ingredients while still delivering strong pigment and a long-lasting stain.

I’m reheating the nachos by bringing back my Editor’s Picks column, where I get to share a few things that I’m enjoying lately. There are so many new and upcoming beauty products that it’s a challenge to make space for all of them on TikTok and Instagram, but in an article I can get into it with a little more detail.

This week, let’s talk about the little luxuries—the things I used to brush off as unnecessary but now realize are absolutely essential to my happiness. You hit a certain age where “pwede na yan” just doesn’t cut it anymore. Smelling amazing? A must. Sleeping well? A priority. Healthy hair, hydrated skin, and soft, moisturized lips? If it makes me high-maintenance then so what. It’s all about refusing to suffer unnecessarily when better options exist. So, here are the small but mighty upgrades that are making life just a little bit better.

I was scrolling through Best of the Best Manila, one of my favorite Facebook groups, when I came across a post that stopped me in my tracks. An anonymous woman shared that she had been training for a marathon for a whole year—twelve months of early mornings, sore muscles, and pushing her limits. But now, she’s 13 weeks pregnant. On a recent training run, she started to bleed. The baby is okay, but her OB told her she had to stop. No marathon. No finish line. No moment of triumph after all that work.

She turned to the group, probably hoping someone would say, Oh, I ran a marathon while pregnant! It was totally fine!. But the response was almost unanimous: Don’t risk it. It’s not worth it. You can always run a marathon later, but you can’t replace a lost baby.

Valentine’s day may be over, but we are still in the month of love! And I love me a good old all-local Beauty News Roundup, so let’s do that for this week’s edition. In store for you are all the details for fresh, new local launches. We’ll explore Spotlight Cosmetics’ newest release: the Next Level Eye Collection. Happy Skin launches a new lip and cheek product to try: the Mallow Pot. Colourette cooked up some new shades of their Colourdrip, as well as amped up its packaging. Ever Bilena is all for that juicy pout with their new Moisture Boost Serum Lipstick.

I grew up with my mom insisting that I had to wear a bra every single day—otherwise, my boobs would start sagging immediately. And, of course, I believed her. Who wouldn’t trust their mom on these things? But as it turns out, not only do bras not prevent sagging, they might actually make it worse in the long run! Over time, relying on them can weaken the connective tissues that naturally support our breasts, since the bra is doing all the heavy lifting instead. Shocking, right? These days, I rarely wear one. I’ll put one on if I’m wearing something super fitted or if I’m working out, but otherwise, I’m on the nipple tape train.

If you love cream products but have oily skin (a struggle, I know), then you’ve probably been let down by ones that feel too sticky or disappear by lunchtime. It’s hard to find something that sits just right, you know, something blendable, lightweight, and long-wearing. So when I got my hands on the Ever Bilena Pillow Pop Multi Pot, I was cautiously excited. A bouncy, creamy-to-powder formula for just P295 (or P143 on sale!)? Sounds promising. But does it deliver?

I’ve been allergic (figuratively speaking) to strenuous physical activity for most of my adult life. I did not like sweating too hard or spending too much time thinking about fitness. I thought I was fit (comedy gold). I’ve been hitting tennis balls these past ten years, but that was just pa-cute tennis—I had never even played a full game until recently. But ever since I got shipped off to the emergency room for three days about four years ago, something has changed within me. Something was not the same. I found out that I’m extremely hypertensive and that, after extensive tests, it’s just my bad luck with genetics. I’ve been on maintenance meds since I was 33, and that will continue into the foreseeable future.

Narciso Rodriguez has always mastered the art of understated sensuality. His fragrances don’t scream for attention or assault the senses. Instead, they somehow leave a lingering impression of something beautiful passing you by. Today, let’s talk about two of the brand’s scents: for him Vetiver Musc Eau De Toilette and for her Musc Nude Eau de Parfum. Both are different in personality yet complementary, almost like a perfectly matched couple.

One is fresh, woody, and confidently masculine; the other is soft, musky, and effortlessly feminine. Let’s get into it!

The brown lip trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so I picked up some of the latest releases from late 2024 for this throwdown. I focused on lip tints with a soft matte finish since they tend to wear longer and give off that effortless vibe throughout the day. I’ll be scoring them based on formula (claims vs. actual performance), visual finish, longevity, and how well they reapply. Let’s check them out!

If you’ve ever had a keratin treatment at the salon, you know the magic of stepping out with smooth, shiny, and frizz-free hair. But keratin isn’t just a one-time treatment—it’s actually a naturally occurring protein in our hair, skin, and nails. Think of it as the building block that keeps our strands strong and resilient.

However, due to constant exposure to heat, pollution, and chemical treatments (yes, even your favorite hair dye), our hair’s keratin levels deplete over time. That’s when we start seeing breakage, dullness, and rough texture. The good news? You can replenish lost keratin through keratin-infused hair products, giving your strands a much-needed boost without an expensive trip to the salon.

Last week, as I was walking down the street, someone came down from a jeep smelling like Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge. That is a P36,000 bottle of perfume (P17,000 if you get the 70ml bottle), so my first thought was, why is someone who can afford a bottle like that riding a jeep of all things? Maybe they just like riding jeeps, I don’t know. But then I remembered that there are a lot of perfume dupe brands out in the market right now and you can get one that smells like MFK for P200 in Shopee.

And that’s when it really hit me: fragrance is a great equalizer.

We are kicking off February with a news roundup of local beauty industry milestones! Rustan’s The Beauty Source recently opened its first stand-alone boutique (yes, separate from Rustan’s department stores). Beauty influencer and founder of GRWM Cosmetics, Mae Layug, is featured on Forbes Magazine! Happy Skin Cosmetics expands their horizons with the launch of Happy Skin Hair. Last but not least, Sephora.ph is celebrating love month with markdowns and love-ly gifts.

Every year, the skincare industry churns out a new “holy grail” ingredient—one that promises to fix all your skin concerns without fail. A few years ago, it was hyaluronic acid. Then it was Vitamin C for a while. Then we have niacinamide, which has appeared in nearly every serum, moisturizer, and toner on the market. But let’s cut to the core: Is niacinamide actually worth it, or is it just another overhyped fad? And if it is effective, what’s the best way to use it? Let’s break it down.

Hi, any makeup tips for wedding guests? It's my first time to be invited to a friend's wedding and i'm excited! Kaso lang, wala akong idea kung ano ang do's and dont's when it comes sa makeup when attending a wedding as a guest. Noong wedding kasi ng brother ko, included na ako doon sa entourage ng bride for the hair and makeup i'm going to be doing my own hair and makeup this time hehe thanks in advance! -M

I love this question because weddings are fun, and I want you to feel confident celebrating with your friends and family that day. I regularly go to a lot of events because of my job, so I’d like to think that I’m a bit of an expert when it comes to doing my own event makeup

I started sewing when I got COVID during the pandemic, around September 2021. Stuck in isolation with nothing much to do, I figured—why not spend the next two weeks learning something I’d always wanted to try? At the time, I was also binging Next In Fashion on Prime, where contestants were constantly challenged to sew a gown in just five hours. I thought, well, how hard could it be? So, I ordered the cheapest sewing machine I could find on Shopee and started watching tutorials on YouTube.