With all the drama that’s happened in the beauty world this 2019, this week’s BNR features some familiar brands and faces moving on to the next chapter. Beauty gurus and brands alike have made some major changes, from Deciem’s apparent rise from the ashes, to a Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido acquiring cult favorite US skincare brand. We're also anticipating two very different beauty brand launches from YouTube gurus both stateside and local, and it's definitely made the second stretch of October pretty exciting for us beauty news diehards!

This week’s roundup is especially exciting because everything is happening right in our own backyard! First up is MAC Cosmetics and their very K-beauty inspired additions. Wondering what to do this weekend? We’ve got deets on which malls to hit for some special beauty treats, so read up and get ready to go out with your besties for some beauty shopping!

It’s never too early to start prepping for Christmas! With December only a couple of months away, now is the perfect time to start planning some rocking holiday #FOTDs to slay those parties with the first wave of holiday drops from Happy Skin and Caronia. Not the partying type? Get to work on those wish lists for your preferred stocking stuffers by brushing up on the cutest launch from Drag Race veteran Kim Chi or scoring Teviant's sophisticated new cheek line. 

With #Pridemonth over, many brands and publications are back to business as usual. While any step towards a more inclusive society is a good one, the current social climate for LGBTQ persons in the Philippines is one that remains lukewarm at best. In an editorial piece by Rappler’s Bonz Magsambol, Filipino LGBTQ netizens question the authenticity of the country’s sentiments: “Tolerated, but not accepted”.

With the recent coronation of a new Binibining Pilipinas, Catriona Gray has passed on the title to Gazini Ganados. Of course, Queen Cat continues to reign supreme as Miss Universe (and over our hearts)! Serving look after killer look, Catriona inspired us to take a closer look at the intricacies of pageant makeup. Her bold red lip had the local beauty community scrambling to find out what lipstick she has used, and it’s what led me to visit an unassuming little compound in Quezon City.

I recently cut and dyed my hair teal as inspired by my iconic ‘90s mahou shoujo inspiration, Sailor Mercury! I used my favorite hair dye of all time, the Arctic Fox Vegan Hair Dye in Aquamarine, which is a brand known for their bright and long-lasting colors. Here’s a photo of me feeling very cute with my freshly-dyed lob alongside the official art of Sailor Mercury!

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.

Although our tropical country doesn’t get to experience the variation of having four seasons, our early mornings and late nights have been chillier than usual! The rare gift of Philippine #sweaterweather is upon us, and we can slide into our comfy jumpers and knits even out of Baguio. While it certainly feels good to take a break from the heat, cold weather actually dries out our skin way faster than the hot summer sun. Dry, flaky skin doesn’t have to be the new normal though, and we’ve written about how to SOS (save our skin) from dying from the cold. But did you know that you should give your pretty pout some extra TLC, too?

Picture this: You’re getting un-ready after a horribly hectic day of rushing deadlines, running on coffee, fast food, and three hours of sleep. You change out of your clothes and pass out on your bed. No ceremonies, no frills - understandable after a rough day! The next morning though, you wake up to find makeup on your pillowcase and new pimples on your face. It’s a sucky start to what already feels like another sucky day, but it could have been avoided with just a bit of self-care.

Whether you’re rocking a full face of makeup or keeping it minimal and natural, sweeping on some blush is always a great way to add a pop of color into any FOTD. We love a cute flush on our cheeks, especially when we get intense color payoff and great staying power at a reasonable price tag. While many may have HG picks from abroad, Filipino beauty brands have been working hard to offer that same awesome quality!

At 21, I often struggle with #adulting. I’m still learning how to be smarter with time management and planning for the long-term, and had never had to deal with very adult things like taxes until my internship. So when Den asked me to try Celeteque’s Advanced Anti-Aging line, I was initially baffled. Am I not too young to be worrying about wrinkles? Then I realized that it makes sense to use anti-aging products BEFORE my skin actually needs them. Prevention is better than cure, after all! But how could I adapt that concept into my own state of mind?

Summer may leave us feeling hot and muggy but doesn't mean we're giving up on our beauty routines! Whether you're at a tropical paradise or stuck in the city, Snoe’s new releases are the perfect addition to your summer essentials.

I started reading Project Vanity roughly two years ago. At the time, I wasn't an active subscriber - I would only drop by the site every so often but what really hooked me in was the Project Vanity Facebook page and community.  The community posts were interesting and engaging, and I enjoyed Liz's GRWM vids. Occasionally, I would open the links to articles shared from the PV website, but it was only a year or so ago that I found myself opening it habitually.

In an era where chok chok beauty dominates social media and glass skin has become the golden standard, more and more people are joining the skincare craze. As much as we want to try out every product that catches our eye though, we all know that building a skincare routine can really burn a hole in our pockets! Though there’s not much we can do about the product prices (except maybe pray for sales), there are other ways in making sure we make informed investments!