While going through the newly-opened Metro department store in Cebu, I stumbled upon the cute counter of Squad Cosmetics. I love discovering new brands, and this one got me intrigued because I was told it was local. With a little research, I discovered that they are a sister company of Detail Makeover. The products are formulated in LA but manufactured in China. I also found that a lot of YouTubers have been raving about this pocket-friendly brand, whose priciest product is only P230! So, I couldn’t help myself and picked out a few items to try!

Issy & Co. is a new local makeup brand that you’ve probably seen around on Instagram or from their celebrity endorser Alex Gonzaga. Apart from the star power though, I was particularly drawn to their minimalist packaging and thoughtful approach to beauty. Not only are they cruelty-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, their formulas are also vegan! 

You’ve probably seen this Thai cosmetics brand making the rounds on Youtube and online beauty communities. 4U2 has actually been in Watsons for as long as I can remember, with their packaging and marketing designed to appeal to teens. The brand has since upgraded their look, and the renewed interest has led to speculation that their cream blushes might be dupes for the popular 3CE Multi Pots. I’ll cut to the chase and tell you now that they are NOT.

Not that I need much help in figuring out my next beauty purchase, but I enjoy browsing through store bestsellers to see what everyone else is loving. That’s how I stumbled on V&M Naturals CPC+G Oil while looking for an oil for both the face and body on BeautyMNL. It had over 500 5-star reviews and I couldn’t help but feel intrigued, especially since it was just P350 for a 30ml bottle.

Liquid lipsticks never seem to go out of style. Both drugstore and high-end brands are constantly putting out their own version of this classic beauty staple, but many a makeup addict asks for just one thing: a budge-proof formula. When the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks came into the scene, the beauty community was abuzz about how it was the most affordable long-wearing liquid lipstick ever. It flew off the shelves when it was locally launched last year, and recently released 14 new shades inspired by the vibrant hues of New York City. From pinks and deep reds, to oranges and dark purple - they got it all covered! Many have raved about this formula so I set out to test if it’s really worth all the fuss.

From the perfect reds to the most flattering pinks, we are always on the hunt for that perfect lipstick. A bright, eye-catching pout instantly elevates any FOTD but there are days when you just wanna keep things low-key. The answer is, of course, the coveted MLBB (my lips but better) shade that gives that extra oomph with zero effort! It makes for a great go-to everyday lipstick that you’d want to stash in your purse since it can go with any look and outfit.

When I was first started out using makeup, I would always check out the Wet n Wild counter because it was easy to find and had budget-friendly prices. Drugstore makeup may have a reputation for having poor quality products but Wet n Wild has always impressed me with the performance of their products. Even now that I’m better versed with beauty, I keep an eye out for WnW’s latest releases and find new faves to add to my collection! The quality is comparable to high-end makeup, and it’s cruelty-free, too! If you’ve never tried anything from the brand, you’ve been missing out, so I’ve put together a wishlist of my Wet n Wild favorites that you shouldn’t sleep on.

When I got an invitation to attend a Laura Mercier workshop featuring their all new Blush Colour Infusion with celebrity makeup artist Anthea Bueno in Rustans Department Store Cebu, I did not hesitate to say “Yes!” Known for her incredible skin work, I was more than excited to learn about Anthea’s techniques for blush application, and of course, the chance to meet and chat with her in person! Tellie wrote a feature on her last year but it’s quite a different experience to see her artistry come to life and to hear more about her story firsthand.

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! 

The Ordinary is probably the biggest breakthrough beauty brand of 2017, and I'm just one of its many fans who can’t stop adding items to my shopping cart. It is addicting! They really raised the bar for skincare with their wide range of straightforward active ingredients offered at wallet-friendly prices. If you want to get on the bandwagon but don't know where to start, fellow PV girl Kim has a list of TO must-try's. But even if you're more into makeup than skincare, The Ordinary has also been making the internet buzz about its face primers and foundations - so much so that foundations had a 25,000-person waitlist!

'Tis the season to get dolled up! And with all the Christmas parties popping up this holiday season, we don’t want our faces to look as shiny as the lechon on our plates. Getting a good mattifying powder is key to keeping makeup on fleek even if a party lasts all night long. As an oily-skinned gal on a budget, I tend to keep a lookout for products to help me stay matte so I got very excited with the release of Ever Bilena's Advance Supreme Whitening Compact Powder. At just P249 (introductory price), I don’t need to bust my holiday bonus just to get a good mattifying compact powder!

With so many makeup tips and tricks popping up nowadays, it can feel a little overwhelming sometimes. Some may even make you even cringe with how crazy and over-the-top they are - remember the one about using a knife as a guide to contour? No thanks! I'd rather stick to safe options, particularly when they look like they can actually work. So I decided to actually find out! I picked out three top hacks that promise to help my foundation look more fleek, using products that most beauty junkies would already have in their stash.Is it a real HACK or just WHACK?

Glowy yet natural-looking skin might take a village of products to achieve, but for those in the know, the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Highlight 01 makes it practically effortless. The highlighter is described as “an ultra-smooth baked face powder that provides natural color with soft matte radiance”. This is the lone highlighter shade in the line.

The fact that it's "matte" yet "radiant" at the same time is what makes this unique formula the recipient of many raves from the beauty community. Priced at P1,750 for 7.5g (Rustan's Beauty), this highlighter isn't a practical option for many so I had to ask: is it possible to look glowy without having to break the bank?

Before international retailers like H&M and Forever 21 even opened in the PH, home-grown brand Bench was already offering beauty products alongside fast fashion choices. If you grew up in the 90s, you probably had the Pretty When Pinched Cheek & Lip Tint in your teenage kikay kit (mainly because you couldn't afford The Body Shop lol)! The brand has since expanded their makeup collection, and I was recently surprised to see that the Bench Paintbox line now has a lot of interesting options.

We've already tested their powder for setting our makeup; now it's time to try their cosmetics! I picked out five items from the line to create a full FOTD. Honestly, the wallet-friendly prices made ma a bit wary of their quality but hey, not everything can be that bad, right? Let’s find out!

There is something about classic cult favorites that makes us emotionally attached. They always have a special place in our vanity kit that no matter what we do, and we always come back to them. Take the MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation for example; it remains a staple in many makeup artist kits because of it can be used alone, wet, and as a touch-up powder.

It’s a struggle to find an affordable foundation that won’t let you down. We expect high-end foundations to perform well, so it's exciting is when we find a drugstore option that delivers awesome results. Luckily, we now have a lot of inexpensive options that can put high-end foundations to shame!  

We all want the same thing after spending hours of perfecting our makeup: a photo-ready look that lasts forever, or at least until the end of the day! Just as styled hair needs hairspray and manicures need a top coat, a finishing touch at the end of our primping session can make a huge difference!