When I first thought of putting together the Better With Aging Summit, I wasn’t sure anyone would actually come. Talking about aging isn’t exactly a hot topic in a society obsessed with youth. It felt vulnerable, even a little risky—inviting women to spend their Saturday afternoon unpacking the layers of getting older. Would people relate? Would they care?

But on March 29, the room was full. We just successfully mounted the Better With Aging Summit last Saturday and wow, what a thrill that was. I was on an elevated heart rate for the last few weeks making sure everything would go well on the day of the summit. And it did, despite the stress, thanks to the amazing team we had laying the groundwork and managing the setup. If there's one compliment I loved receiving the most from our guests, it’s how they realized that aging is not just about what we look like, but how we feel inside too. We have to think about our mental and physical health, and we have to be braver, to take more chances.

As March draws to a close, the summer heat is starting to really sizzle! This week’s Beauty News Roundup is all about new releases to hopefully help us beat the summer heat. Dazzle Me collaborates with SmileyWorld to bring us a limited collection of juicy, sparkly makeup in nostalgic 90’s neon packaging. Homegrown Vice Cosmetics launches their Tinted Fling Tinted Lip Serums, designed to nourish, cool, and add color to the lips. Happy Skin launches the ultimate head-to-toe 360° Cooling Sunscreen Spray. The Huda Beauty Ube Collection has also landed in the Philippines. We’ve got all the deets for you right here!

The powerful combo of primer and powder used to be something I'd save for special occasions—those times when your makeup needs to stay flawless even hours after you’ve arrived. But lately, I've realized that this pairing isn't just for events; it’s also a must for long workdays. Not only does it keep your makeup looking fresh for as long as possible, but it also helps you avoid that haggard look when you’re powering through a busy day.

This week, lippies are the talk of the town as both local and international beauty brands release new lip formulas and shades to love. If you like the Ever Bilena Plus Serum Tinted Lip Oil, you’ll love that it now has a total of twelve (12) shades from the original four. Check out Spotlight Cosmetics’ new Dewdrop Melted Lipstick, a fusion of lip color, gloss, and balm. Meet the newest additions to Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk family: the Beauty Soulmates Collection. Maybelline adds to their lip repertoire with the new Maybelline Lifter Glaze Lip Balm.

If you loved and now miss the Careline x Spongebob Puh-Lips Lip Oil, don’t worry because Careline just dropped a worthy replacement! Meet the Careline Lip Drip Tinted Lip Oil (P295 / 4g). This time, instead of just a handful of shades, Careline went all out with 18 new colors. It’s their biggest lip color collection yet, and here’s everything you need to know.

I’m not proud of it, but yesterday I was a little too pushy with my friend about going to the gym. Not my best moment. It’s not that I think she’s fat; I don’t care about her weight. We all know by now that the gym isn’t some magical fat-melting activity anyway. What I do care about is how much better I’ve felt since making movement a regular part of my life, and I genuinely wish more people could experience that too.

It definitely, truly feels like summer is now upon us. Let’s beat the heat with a roundup of local beauty news! Let’s get to know Careline’s newest lippie with a whopping 18 shades: the Lip Drip. Ace your base with new additions to the Absidy Beauty Base Collection: the Weightless Touch Foundation, Concealer, and Color Corrector. Remember the multipurpose face color pots Blk Cosmetics launched way back in 2020? They’re back with a vengeance, featuring ten all-new shades and a bouncier formula. Last but not the least, Happy Skin extends the shade range of their best-selling Seamless Perfecting Liquid Foundation for those with deeper skin tones.

A few years ago, we collectively went on an actives binge. We were layering retinol like it was free, scrubbing our faces raw with glycolic acid, and treating skincare like some kind of high-stakes chemistry experiment. More was more, and if it tingled—or better yet, burned—it must be working, right?

But somewhere between the tenth TikTok tutorial on how to fix your over-exfoliated skin and the collective realization that maybe, just maybe, skin shouldn’t feel like sandpaper, the pendulum swung the other way. Welcome to 2025, where skincare is all about barrier repair.

We’re only into the first week of March, but so much has happened already! Were you marked safe from the massive 3.3 sales? Well, we better hold on as brands are set to make even more waves with their Women’s Month promos. We also have new launches from our local beauty brands, featuring innovative designs and improvements in beauty technology. Careline’s new Lash Spike Volumizer Mascara proves you won’t have to sacrifice length for volume. None other than Catriona Gray partners with Strokes as they launch their new Microblade Pen Hybrid. Colourette celebrates women’s month with a cute sticker freebie.

Aging. It happens to all of us, yet somehow, society has made it feel like a personal failure if you’re a woman. The beauty industry loves to sell us the idea that we should be anti-aging—as if growing older is something we should apologize for. But let’s get one thing straight: aging is not the enemy.

Aging is a privilege. It is the quiet confidence that comes from knowing exactly who you are. It is the freedom of caring less about what others think and more about what truly matters. It is the wisdom to know what’s worth stressing over (your health, your happiness) and what absolutely isn’t (that one fine line that definitely wasn’t there yesterday).

So instead of fighting it, why not celebrate it?

I’ve been reaching for mascaras more than eyeliners lately because they give my eyes a softer, more natural definition, perfect for a no-makeup makeup look. We’ve already compared budget-friendly mascaras below P250 for oily lids, but today’s showdown features three big names in the mascara game: Benefit, EB Pro, and Heroine Make. I’ll be putting them to the test based on ease of use, curl-holding power, and longevity, which are my top three non-negotiables for my stubbornly straight lashes.

Spotlight Cosmetics threw a fabulous Galentine’s soirée at The Grand Hausse last February 11, and it was definitely one for the books. Guests were treated to delicious bites, a beauty buffet like no other, and a dreamy setup filled with plush velvet and stunning art. But the real highlight of the night? Denice Sy, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Spotlight Cosmetics, unveiling the brand’s new campaign and tagline—You First.

I’m on day 12 of isotretinoin, and my skin is breaking out like crazy. I know purging is part of the process, but this cystic acne just won’t quit! I have pimples on pimples. My chin is so swollen that even moving my mouth aches. My lips are dry and my skin feels ridiculously rough. I’m trying to stay calm, reminding myself that this is temporary, just two more weeks, maybe four—but honestly? It’s taking every ounce of maturity and self-confidence I’ve built over the past 20 years to not completely freak out right now.

I feel like everyone is looking at my acne and judging me for it. What kind of beauty editor has skin like this? Logically, I know it’s just the spotlight effect—no one actually cares that much—but emotionally, it’s a challenge. So yes, I’m feeling a little sorry for myself lately.