If you're like me, you've probably found yourself standing in front of your closet, realizing just how much stuff you’ve accumulated over the years. Some pieces still spark joy, sure, but others? Maybe not so much. Well, here's a fantastic way to give those items a second life—donate them to Zonta Club’s The Little Vintage Shop (TLVS)! I LOVE this store and I shop here heavily whenever I get the chance. I’ve always enjoyed collecting second hand clothes and they have such an amazing collection.

Anyway, not only will you free up precious closet space by donating (hello, shopping guilt-free after decluttering!), but you’ll also contribute to a meaningful cause. Here are all the reasons why this donation drive deserves your attention—and your pre-loved clothes.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

There’s something about the holidays that makes us crave a touch of magic. It might be the twinkle of lights, the warmth of reunions, or the joy of giving and receiving, but whatever it is this season calls for moments of wonder. This year, Dior brings that wonder to life with its Ball of Dreams pop-up at SM Aura, a luxurious haven of beauty and elegance that’s perfect for holiday gifting—for your loved ones or yourself.

Walking into the Dior pop-up feels like stepping into a fairytale. At the heart of the space is the breathtaking golden Dior tree, an homage to the Château de Versailles and Pietro Ruffo’s stunning designs.

It happens to the best of us. Maybe it’s hormones. Maybe life’s just being extra for no reason. Or maybe it’s that weird, floaty feeling of ennui that you can’t quite explain. Whatever the reason, slumps happen, and I’ve learned not to fight them too hard. But I also don’t like to stay there for long, so I’ve got a few things I turn to when I need to get myself out of a funk.

This has been the best year of my life so far. I’m not ashamed to flex that because, honestly, the last three years were terrible for me. I was lost for a while and didn’t know how to recover from the literal losses I experienced during the pandemic. I figuratively lost the plot; I didn’t know why I was doing what I was doing anymore. I felt powerless and left behind. But in 2024, I sorted myself out—and I can tell you the exact moment it happened.

If there’s one step in the skincare routine that often gets overlooked, it's toning. We’ve all been guilty of skipping this step at some point, especially when we're in a rush or trying to cut down on the number of products we use. But is toning really necessary? What exactly does it do, and why should we make room for it in our routine? Today, let’s discuss why toners deserve a bit more love in your skincare regimen!

If I could travel back in time and sit my younger self down for a heart-to-heart about beauty, there are a few things I’d whisper in her ear. Honestly, I cringe a little when I think about how long it took me to figure some of these lessons out, but as they say—better late than never! If I knew then what I know now, I wonder how much more confident I would have been, how much time I would have saved wishing for things I already had, and how much earlier I could have embraced true self-care.

Let’s be real: the term "anti-aging" needs to retire. Aging isn’t something we should fight—it’s something to embrace and celebrate. That said, taking care of your skin as you age shouldn’t be about chasing youth; it’s more about keeping it healthy, strong, and radiant as it transitions. Think of it as self-care, if you will. Here’s the scoop on well-aging, plus some products to help you along the way.

Easily one of my favorite lipstick formulas of the year is the EB Plus Sheer Tinted Lip Balm (P245 / 3.2g). I’ve traveled to several countries with this in my kit and most days, it’s the only lip product I’d slip into my pocket so I can retouch midway through my day. I don’t normally carry a bag, so that pocket space is precious! That’s how much I love it. Recently, EB released six new shades, so of course I had to swatch everything for you.

You know the feeling. You’re scrolling through Instagram, and bam—that new, shiny, limited-edition palette pops up, with influencers gushing over it as if it’s the holy grail we’ve all been missing. Suddenly, there’s this little pang in your chest, that urgent “I need this now” kirot that has you reaching for your wallet before you’ve even finished the post. Beauty FOMO (fear of missing out) is real, and honestly? It’s exhausting.

If you’ve ever looked at your beauty drawer and wondered why you have five nearly identical brown pink lipsticks, or felt that your collection doesn’t quite feel like you despite all those purchases, it might be time to step off the FOMO train. So let’s talk about how to cut through the hype and curate a beauty collection that feels authentic and satisfying.