I have to admit that I love using high end facial skincare products because they tend to work better than most things I can find in the drugstore. It really shows on the face when a brand is using good quality actives in high concentrations! I definitely don’t mind splurging for something that truly works. However, there is one drugstore brand that I can swear by when it comes to skincare. It’s something I always recommend to those on a budget because it’s iconic for a reason: Hada Labo.

Watsons is one of PV's go-to drugstores for affordable beauty products as well as other essentials like band-aids and supplements. These past few years, the store has released their own affordable Watsons branded products including the Collagen by Watsons skincare. They recently added the new Collagen Booster Essence (P599/40ml) to their lineup with actress Carla Abellana as the product ambassador.

Skincare is so personal that it’s almost impossible to tell which ingredient/s in your products cause your skin to react positively or negatively. And then of course there are also products that by their very nature cause your skin to “purge” in order to clear out pore blockages, such as those with chemical exfoliants (acids) and retinol. It can get confusing that even for me it’s hard to tell, but I do have some advice for you!

Real talk: the soles of my feet had gotten to a point where the thick callouses catch threads when I drag them through my Tencel bed sheets. I’ve been ignoring this for a while but it’s really gotten to a point where the dead skin is starting to annoy me! So, it was the perfect opportunity to give the new Baby Foot Peel in Peach Scent (Limited Edition) (P830 in Lazada/Shopee) a try.

It's always a happy occasion when your skin meets a skincare brand that suits it well. Being hiyang with a brand is no small thing! Kiehl's is one such brand for my skin and I feel extra rewarded in using their products for the following reasons.

The brand first came to my attention when Liz reviewed the Drunk Elephant Sukari Babyfacial. Drunk Elephant was available at Sephora Philippines then and the Babyfacial was one of their bestsellers.

Founded by Tiffany Masterson in 2013, the brand took its name from the myth that elephants get drunk from the fallen fermented marula fruit. This is because Virgin Marula Oil is an ingredient featured in many of Drunk Elephant’s products!

I have not been so kind to my skin lately. Lately, my job finds me outdoors for most of the day, and even with sunscreen application and strategically finding shaded areas to stand in, the sun and its reflection on the pavement have led to unevenly tanned skin and sun spots galore. Will switching from a simple hydrating skincare routine to an actively brightening one help? That was my big question when I swapped my usual nighttime picks for a duo from the Laneige Radian-C line!

I’ve been writing about beauty long enough to remember those ancient times when wearing sunscreen outside of a beach setting was almost unheard of. We’d whisper about the fussy few who’d do it but never really imagine slathering on this (previously) uncomfortable product on a daily basis. Look at us now. Sunscreen has become a religion, almost, and I for one have definitely reaped the benefits of using it regularly in the last decade.

I’ve been with my husband for eight years now and despite my repeated appeals for him to start using skincare, the only thing he would ever deign to put on his face is the In Her Element Low pH Rose Radiant Cleanser. I can’t blame him, it’s an amazing cleanser - one I use every day too - but I wish he would use more! He has great skin due to good genes so he doesn’t care all that much. Every time I say this, I roll my eyes because life is unfair.

Hello Glow is back with another skincare set! As I said in my previous review of their Acne Defense Set, these kits are fantastic for those who are skincare beginners on a tight budget. It’s just so much more convenient to have everything as a set, and in a travel-friendly size at that for those constantly on the go.

The Hello Glow Blemish Miracle Set (P275) contains four products that aim to exfoliate and brighten skin with acids. It has an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) in the form of citric acid, and Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) in the form of salicylic acid. If you’re wondering what’s different between this and their Acne Defense Set, the Blemish Miracle has a higher concentration of salicylic acid and of course has that boost of AHA for deeper exfoliation.

If you’re not too familiar with Chemical Exfoliants, they sound downright terrifying. It certainly doesn’t help that they’re also known as Acids, conjuring to mind old Filipino movies and teleseryes with old-school physically abusive contrabidas! But those in the know cherish how their favorite acid exfoliant formulas are capable of being super effective yet surprisingly gentle. And I feel exactly the same way about the Puffy Pod (P995 for a jar of 60 pads).

I get asked a lot by my mom and tita friends about skincare I can recommend to their tweens and teens. For young skin, I always tell them not to use anything too harsh, with too many strong actives; their skin is still quite resilient and can heal fast. Most of the time they really just need something for maintenance so building that habit is important in the beginning. A simple routine that’s comfortable and affordable is important, otherwise they can’t maintain the habit. You know what they say - the best skincare is the one you actually like to use!

Self-care became a beauty buzzword these past few years. Because of the pandemic, our collective focus shifted towards our physical and mental well-being. What may have been perceived as indulgence before has become a seeming necessity. Taking care of ourselves is essential after all!

Shiseido will always have a special place in my heart. It’s because of the brand that I fell in love with beauty history and with traveling. In 2013, I flew out of the country for the first time to visit Shiseido’s headquarters and flagship store in Ginza, as well as their museum and factory in Kakegawa. It was an amazing experience - one for the books! I’ve been to Japan 11 more times since then. That’s how life-changing it was for me.

Serums are usually counted beyond basic skincare and that’s because they have targeted benefits that add on to a routine. These concentrated boosters are often priced higher but Ever Bilena Plus recently released affordable serums for only P395 each. Let’s see how they fare on my skin!

Although beauty is a personal journey, we all know that SPF is non-negotiable. Admittedly though, it is one of the hardest beauty habits to get into. From childhood memories of heavy and extremely tacky formulas making beach and pool days less enjoyable to the price tags that are on a good SPF product - there is always something that holds you back from the path of sun protection.

Luckily, local beauty brands have been stepping up their game and giving the people what they want by creating sunscreen and sunblock options that are comfortable for both our skin and wallets.

Someone on Instagram asked me last week about how I keep my legs looking smooth and even. That’s when I realized that I haven’t talked about this nifty technique yet despite “discovering” it some time back! It became viral on TikTok at one point, but I found out about it before I saw it on Tiktok via a “Eureka!” moment in the shower. It just makes complete sense.

Japan's No.1 sunscreen brand Anessa just got an upgrade in packaging and formula, so I'm here to check it out! They switched to a blue logo and outer packaging, which btw is partially made of bio-based plastic. This is produced from "renewable biomass sources that reduce carbon dioxide emissions"*. In working towards their goal of a SUNstainable world, they also removed coral-damaging ingredients such as Octinoxate and Microplastic beads from their formula.

I learned a lot about La Collection Privée when I visited the Dior Flagship Boutique last month. I knew about Dior’s makeup line and fragrances - tried quite a few of them, loved everything so far - but I didn’t know that they have a couture beauty line. This one is more for serious beauty fans and collectors. They gifted me with a couple of items from the line (lucky me) so of course I had to share my thoughts!

CeraVe, a drugstore staple in the US that’s been around since 2005, blew up online just a few years ago because of younger skincare influencers led by Hyram. I’ve been meaning to try something from the brand but it was previously so difficult to get it in the Philippines! Luckily I spotted fresh stocks at Landers BGC some months back. I know that LOOK (in SM Aura) also sells the brand so FYI if you’re looking.