With so many beauty brands on the market, it’s not surprising for one brand to remind yourself of another. Whether its packaging or the shade range, it’s nothing new to see similarities between or even among beauty brands.

However, given the similarities, one couldn’t help but wonder if they are merely a coincidence, an inspiration, or a blatant imitation. This begs the question - where do we draw the line between inspiration and imitation?

When the pandemic first broke out and the government put Metro Manila on strict quarantine, I thought it was only going to last for a couple of weeks. Then I thought it would only be a couple of months more. A year later, we are still under lockdown. There is fortunately an end in sight as vaccinations start rolling in, giving immunity to many of my friends and family, but it’s still a long way out to “normalcy”. I don’t even think that’s possible anymore. I know I’m not the same.

Project Vanity usually celebrates its anniversary with a big event. Since we can’t do that this year, I would like to share stories that I hope will brighten up your day! Last month, we asked our community to talk about the most empowering figure in their life. We all have one - maybe even a few - who made us better, stronger, as we go through our daily struggles. I chose two entries that spoke to me and perhaps you will be inspired as well. May this be a reminder that we have deep reserves of strength to be found in those who love us.

Happy reading!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! What are you getting your significant other? If you haven’t bought them anything yet, or are considering buying them makeup, fret not. We already gave some tips on how to buy makeup for your beloved. This time around, we took out the guess work and listed actual makeup products that will make great gifts. We even included links to all actual products so you can buy them immediately (You’re welcome!). Here are our top picks for makeup items to give to your significant other according to your budget:

Okay I’m going to sound smarmy, so I hope you can be patient when I say that age doesn’t matter that much to me. At least not right now. I suspect that my feelings will change the older I get and the more my face sags or hair falls. But right now, as I sink into the comfortable cushion that is my early 30s, I feel alright about it. Turning 30 is a whole to do but the few years after are just not that dramatic.

I turned 33 the other day so I thought I’d share three things I learned in the past year. Hopefully, you will find these helpful in some way.

If someone you love is passionate about makeup then it’s only natural that you want to support it. A beauty item or two is sure to make them happy since it’s something they would enjoy using! But where do you start if you know ZILCH about makeup? Here’s a guide to help you get the perfect gift!

I was cleaning my brushes the other day and while doing so, I thought about how much I hate the process. One, I’m 6’2” so my back always hurts whenever I bend over the sink to rinse my makeup brushes. Two, cleaning brushes takes so much time. Three, you have to leave them overnight in order for them to dry. I can go on and on, really. Waking up the next morning, however, I am instantly in a good mood when I see that all my brushes are clean.

Skincare has been at the forefront of my beauty life last year and I alternate between a full blown routine to days where I just want it quick and easy. But the thing with products for quick and easy, they kind of have to really do it all. Now Happy Skin recently released their new #GoodForYouSkincare line and it feels like this can be that minimalist skincare routine I’ve been looking for.

Here is something I will never forget: I was about 13 years old when I woke up at 11 o’clock in the evening with water up to my knees. Up to that point I have lived my life with no major natural disasters; that flood has never happened before in our neighborhood, even during my grandparents’ time. I remember feeling eerily calm as I rushed to my parents’ room and knocked to wake them up. “May baha!” I shouted. It was completely dark, and only the sound of the swiftly rising floodwaters filled my ears.

I turned 44 recently. I was joking to everyone that I’m now a middle-aged woman. Some people told me I’ve been one when I turned 35. Some argued middle age starts at 40. So I looked it up and both the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster said middle age is from 45 to 65. Hooray! At 44, I’m apparently still a young adult!

Since I think the ladies and gentlemen in the Project Vanity community are young folks (like me haha), you might be wondering what it feels like to be a woman in her 40s.

I spend quite a lot on makeup. To exercise a sense of control, I limit myself to buying just two products every month (one per pay day). That’s why when my previous company succumbed to the pandemic, I instantly worried about the makeup I wouldn’t be able to buy. Talk about priorities, right?

Of course I still worried about the bills to pay and sending my younger brother to school, but on a personal level, I thought about makeup. We all have different ways to motivate ourselves. Mine are makeup and books!

I heard about LOOK early this year and was psyched when I saw some of their initial plans. The launch I believe was originally scheduled in May but with the pandemic and all, they just officially opened last Friday, October 30. The massive beauty concept store is inside SM Aura. Since it’s in my neck of the woods I decided to visit it despite the fact that there’s a raging typhoon outside (well, I was doing groceries anyway).

SO! I was able to take a lot of photos. I also took a video (I posted it on IGTV) which you can watch if you want to see the exact store layout.

My friend, AJ,posted on Facebook a throwback photo from our college days and, boy, I didn’t realize I looked so different back then. No wonder a former high school classmate said she heard a rumor saying I must’ve had stuff done to my face. Well, I did. I got braces to straighten my teeth, a dermatologist to address my cystic acne, a hairstylist to give me fabulous cuts and colors, and the best skin care products and makeup.

Beauty fridges started popping up on everybody’s Instagram feeds about a couple of years ago. It’s not that we can’t - or didn’t - use to store our skincare and makeup in an ol’ regular fridge, but there’s just something so luxurious and thus covetable about having a mini fridge specifically made to house our prized beauty possessions right on our desk. But do we really need it aside from the pretty IG content that we can get out of it?

Having a Zoom Makeup Kit at the ready eliminates the stress in deciding what makeup to put on for your online meetings. Trust me, I’ve been there. There was a time when I was informed about a meeting just three minutes prior. I wasted the entire three minutes rummaging through my lipstick stash. And yes, I ended up attending the meeting with no makeup on.

My sons love to watch “Cobra Kai” on Netflix. It’s a sequel to the Karate Kid movies in the 80s. It’s still the same protagonist and antagonist, Larusso and Lawrence, but there’s a twist. It looks like they’ve changed roles and it’s hard to root for anyone since everyone seems to be the bad guy and the good guy all at once.

Anyway, remember Karate Kid was in the 80s. So my middle son asked me who was older: me or Danny Larusso. I said, “Oh, he’s much older than me. He’s 58. I’m 43.”

“Woah, Mama! I thought you were older. Your eye bags make you look like you’re 60!”

At the start of the quarantine way back in March, I was joking to my friends, “I wash my hands so much now, my nail polish just can’t stand a chance!”

Not quite a germophobe but wary of germ-caused illnesses, I’ve always been a fan of hand washing, but I have never ever washed my hands so often in my life. So bye-bye, nail polish. Within weeks, I discovered I’ve changed many of my beauty rituals.

Skincare selection is a uniquely personal experience. Our skin types and mileages vary, and we also have specific issues that we would like to take care of. Take myself for example. I have dry, dehydrated skin with an oily t-zone. I also have the beginnings of fine lines and wrinkles that are seemingly typical for a 35-year-old. While I will be okay with the basic moisturizer, I will certainly benefit from the targeted application of a serum or two. Thankfully, there are brands such as Kiehl’s Philippines who have long made the commitment to do their utmost for customer care.

I consider myself really lucky to have found a guy who not just accepts the fact that I love makeup, but who is also interested in it. No, my boyfriend doesn’t wear makeup, but he always asks me about my makeup purchases and encourages me to post makeup looks.

One afternoon, I decided to surprise him with a challenge. I asked him if he’s willing to do my makeup. To my delight, for someone who has zero experience with makeup, he was so quick to say yes!

Quarantine may have us all locked indoors but that doesn’t mean beauty’s dead and gone. In fact, being locked up at home with no access to salons and beauty clinics have given birth to interesting new looks. And who says we’re hiding away? With social media as our platform, we can show off our quarantine-created looks!

Queer Eye’s resident grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness warned, “Don’t try new lewks during quarentine!” Yes, let’s all notice he spelled quarantine wrong and also let his his well-intentioned advice go unheeded. “Quarentine lewks” are really the most interesting beauty trend these days.