Ever wished your primer was fully matte, blurred out some pores, offered some coverage, AND provided sun protection? Well, you should check out the Happy Skin Rescue Me Tinted Matte Sun Gel Primer (P1,199 for 40ml) released just a few days ago! This isn’t your typical tinted sunscreen, so read on to see if it’s for you.

We’re in the thick of the Philippine summer - hot, sticky, and unbelievably sweaty - so I’m fairly certain that you’re looking for something to help you look fresher for longer in this heat. I may have a solution! I tried this a few months back and now I’m here with a full review.

The MAC Studio Fix Mattifine 12HR Shine-Control Primer (P2,300 for 3ml in Lazada) is designed to mattify skin and provide a blurring finish to reduce the appearance of pores.

I've always kept myself updated on new Happy Skin releases, be it skincare or makeup. Two of their recent ones really piqued my interest: a sunscreen primer and a tinted moisturizer. I know I need both but realistically speaking, how will they fare in my daily routine? These can be used separately or together, so let's see.

As a self-confessed pawisin girl living in a tropical country, I’m generally more wary about how the practically year-long “sweat weather” affects my skin rather than any sweater weather can. Even now that the Ber months are here and it’s monsoon season, I still sweat a lot especially while commuting or working out at the gym. Not only can the moisture ruin my #FOTD, it can even cause sweat rashes or “bungang araw” on my body. 

If you watch YouTube makeup tutorials, you may have seen that many American beauty gurus use the Tatcha The Silk Canvas Filter Finish Protective Primer (from Lannel Boutique). I’ve definitely been curious about whether the claims are true, but it isn’t really something that’s easy to buy on a whim. Costing over P1000 for just 7g, this product is not your ordinary primer - it features pressed silk, which was designed to be as lightweight, skin-like, and smooth of a barrier as possible. As a professional makeup artist, I definitely understand the value of investing in quality products, especially face bases, but the big claims are matched by a hefty price tag. So, it Tatcha truly worth it or can you get the same effect with a cheaper product? Let’s find out!

Did you know that the Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner is Kiehl’s #1 best-selling toner globally? Its success inspired the brand to come up with a water cream (which is skincare speak for a lightweight gel moisturizer) that incorporates the same iconic ingredient, Calendula Extract. What’s different about the new Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream is that it includes micronized Calendula petals that “burst” when applied. The Calendula serum is meant to soothe and refresh the skin without making it feel too heavy. While moisturizer isn’t a particularly exciting category for me (I’m really more of a sunscreen type of gal), the unique texture of this product led me to discover its unintended use as an ultra-smoothing primer that nourishes and creates slip!

I’ve had a love-hate relationship with silicone-y primers for the longest time. They either leave my skin feeling like it’s been covered in fast food grease, or cause me to break out into tiny hives on the same day I use them. I recently experienced a bout of  hormonal acne and extra oily skin due to my PCOS though, so I was once again in the market for a primer that didn’t feel like an extra thicc coat of french fry grease.

If you've seen my makeover by Pinoy Big Brother and The Voice head makeup artist Eman De Leon, you'll know how much he loves the Revlon Eye Primer + Brightener pen. This was released years ago, however, and seems to have been discontinued! I remember I had it some time ago and liked how it can brighten dark areas even though it doesn't have a lot of coverage. Lucky for us, Revlon just recently released something similar - the Photoready Color Correcting Pen (P725).

Waking up early to get ready and perfect your makeup can be quite a chore, so it feels like a complete disaster when your makeup starts sliding off after just 3 hours! Having oily skin can be quite a challenge but you don’t necessarily have to just let your hard work go to waste. A mattifying primer can completely change your makeup game! 

A love - perhaps even an obsession - with mattifying primers is understandable in a hot country like ours. A good primer can keep your skin matte and fresh-looking all day even with the humidity that's constantly pounding our makeup into shiny pulp! But hear me out: if you have dry or combination skin like I do, moisturizing, glow-enhancing primers can make a huge difference in how your skin looks even without makeup. They keep your moisturizer sealed while making skin look brighter instantly.