While my personal preference is to avoid alcohol in my skincare products, it’s an important item for helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, people have been panic-buying and hoarding bottles at the grocery, leaving others to find other means to buy alcohol. You’ve probably seen people selling commercial alcohol online at unreasonable prices, but did you also notice those posts with gallons of 99% alcohol? Don’t buy that until you’ve read this.

ICYMI, homegrown brand V&M Naturals has announced that they will be taking a break from production until further notice. Their many fans immediately shared their messages of support on the Instagram post, and started getting backups for their backups! Now, this is the kind of hoarding that I can support (please don’t buy out all the alcohol and face masks - other people need to protect themselves, too) but apart from the CPC+G Oil that Angeli (and everyone else) keeps raving about, I had absolutely no idea what to get from V&M!

Filipinos may love their lipsticks but eyebrow makeup is what they can’t live without! Having a nice pair of kilay is something of a national obsession, so it only makes sense that this would be the focus of Issy & Co’s newest release. ICYMI, this new Filipino brand recently broke into the local beauty scene with their vegan lipstick line in pretty, minimalist packaging. If you haven’t tried anything from them yet, I’m here to rave about their latest drop, the Brow Refiner!

With super hip releases like multisticks and silicone-y lipsticks, it can be easy to forget that Ever Bilena Cosmetics is actually a decades-old company. They’ve done an amazing job of keeping on the pulse of beauty trends, and making them easily accessible to Filipinos at affordable prices. And yes, this includes using vegan and cruelty-free formulas!

When I’m super busy, my self-care tends to go out the window. It’s ironic because I know that I need it the most when I’m tired and stressed. And it does tend to show up on my skin because I neglect my skincare routine, doing very little else besides washing my face before bed. Considering that I have so much to do throughout the day, the idea of having to apply several different skincare products just does not appeal to me.

If makeup is a form of wearable art, nail polish is the longer lasting option. You (should!) take off your makeup at the end of the day but the right products and proper care can make your painted tips last for 3 weeks. I love being able to enjoy my vanity project for a little longer, and contrary to what some people think, short nails can rock nail art designs, too!

Unless it’s an actual job requirement, no one needs to wear makeup every day. I think the world is changing to recognize beauty doesn’t need to equate perfection, and more people are finding the courage to be comfortable in their own skin. That said, it’s nice to be able to spend a few minutes for yourself to get ready for the day ahead and put your best face forward.

The clay mask made my already dry skin feel even more dry and tight. It was also very difficult to wash off, so I had to use a damp towel to remove the mask. I later learned that a bentonite clay mask is more apt for use on oily skin, because it’s made from a very absorbent material that is sometimes even used for cat litter. It’s not a bad ingredient, but if you have dry or sensitive skin, there is a better alternative.

Do you still remember your first ever foundation? I do! I had read about a local brand called Ellana Minerals right here on PV, when Liz first started raving about them 10 years ago. That was the decade when mineral makeup was all the rage abroad, but Filipinos didn’t yet have the wonders of online shopping, and Ellana allowed us to enjoy the trend without having to spend a fortune on shipping fees! I treasured the tiny pot of loose mineral foundation and mini kabuki brush that I got from them, so much so that I still keep both in my vanity; the case is empty but the brush still works.

Thanks to Project Vanity, I’ve had the chance to try out a lot of different skincare products but K-beauty has a special place in my heart! Learning about Korean skincare gave me my first brush with the Asian beauty philosophy, and it has truly been a game-changer for my routines. From chemical exfoliants and 7-skin application, to straight brows and just-bitten lips, so much of my beauty routine is Korean inspired! So I was really excited to learn that a new K-beauty brand just arrived in town.

We know that skin care is for everyone. But based on stories shared by members of the Project Vanity community, it seems like getting the men in our lives to use skin care is quite a challenge! It's especially difficult to get them to use sunscreen because of common complaints like “it feels sticky” and “it requires too much effort”. 

I was never really self-conscious about my teeth until I fell in love with orange lipsticks. The coral hues lend warmth to my pale skin, but they also highlight how yellow my teeth are! It’s just the natural color of my teeth, a dentist had told me previously, but I couldn’t help wishing for whiter teeth. I know that there’s a DIY hack involving baking soda and lemon juice, but the dentist warned me against doing it as the abrasive nature of both ingredients can strip the protective enamel from the teeth and make it more sensitive or prone to ngilo.

Can't book a ride or don't want to be stuck in traffic? You might want to consider taking a motorcycle service instead. I started using Angkas about a year ago when I couldn't get a car or a cab after an hour of trying. I got to my destination quickly and safely, and though I wasn't prepared for a bike ride. I now take it regularly to get to work without having to deal with the horrendous Manila traffic or exorbitant fares, so I need to make sure I still look presentable when I arrive at my destination. Apart from spritzing a bit of fragrance, here are five tips for staying fresh and surviving the bike ride: 

I have a lot of Human Nature favorites that I like to stock up on, and while I can often get them from the grocery, I like being able to visit their stores so that I can check out their newest releases. Recently, I’ve been curious about the Marine Caviar moisturizer and their long-awaited Natural Shampoo Bar (maybe it will change my mind about shampoo bars?) so I went to visit their new store in SM Megamall as soon as it opened last week!

From doodling on the pages with my favorite poems, to using them solely to keep track of work, the way I’ve used planners have changed a lot over the years. But I think that’s also because the designs have changed so much that they’ve become more than just a way to keep track of our schedules. Planners are super useful for keeping your life organized, productive, and fulfilling as well! Belle de Jour played a huge role in bringing about that change.

As a 90s kid, I was thrilled to find lip gloss returning as a beauty trend in 2019. After seeing too many dry and cracking lip looks in the years that matte lipstick reigned supreme, I’m ready for juicy, shiny pouts to be back in business. And local brands are picking up the trend, too. Here are five local lip glosses under P600 that explore the different ways you can wear a super shiny lip!

I’m a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to makeup. I started using a tinted moisturizer (with SPF) and lip balm in high school, but I didn’t buy my first lipstick until I had already started working. Part of my challenge was a limited budget, but the other was that there weren’t really any brands that had a teen-friendly style and price tag. I think that this combination is what makes Careline such an appealing brand for me even though I’m so much older now - the colors are trendy, the products are current, and the quality has honestly been very impressive.

Last weekend, I accompanied 20 winners (and their plus ones) to enjoy 3 days and 2 nights at the Shangri-La Boracay, courtesy of Watsons. I honestly used to think that no one ever really won at raffles just because I’ve never known anyone who did, and some of the winners felt the same way. They couldn’t believe the news that they had won the Share the Sun promo that was held last March. I think that’s partly because of how easy it is to actually join the raffle; there are no stubs to fill out or hold on to. You just get an automatic entry just by using a Watsons Card when you shop at their stores!

I’ve been wanting to try Colourpop products since Angeli wrote about her brand must-haves last year, so when they announced a sitewide sale a few months back, I couldn’t resist the opportunity. So, some of the PV girls and I pooled all our orders together for a sizable Colourpop haul! Though we had enough orders to qualify for the free international shipping, Liz generously offered to lend us her My Shipping Box account so the package would be shipped faster and directly to our address instead of the post office.

Are you a big fan of beauty videos? Do you follow along or listen to it while doing your own face? I recently got hooked when I became obsessed with learning how to apply eyeshadow! While PV has a lot of great how-to articles, I feel the need to watch videos so I can see exactly how things are done. I play the video on my phone and plug my earphones in so I can hear the audio better. The setup is a bit of a hassle, especially since I don’t have a vanity table, but my life has been changed by Zhia Beauty’s Smart Vanity Mirror!