Happy weekend, loves! It’s time for yet another beauty roundup! This week will definitely have you blushing with glee and excitement as we give you the low down on FENTY’s Beach Please collection, the latest additions to NARS, and of course, Estée Lauder’s newest (and crazy gorgeous) face! There's also a brow deal from MAC that you won't want to miss, and new shades for Covergirl’s foundation!

Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products that claim medicinal or drug-like benefits. Skin Doctors Beetox cream claims to “instantly help to activate you skin cells to reduce the appearance of: wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin and aging.” It was only at this point that I realized that Beetox was a play on ‘bee’ and ‘botox’!!! I had first thought it was to do with toxins and bee venom, haha.

It’s been a while since I last put something on my face without thoroughly researching about it first, so when I received the Two in One Poreless Power Liquid (P990) from The Skincare Curator for review, I felt pretty lost and clueless about what I was getting into! The product is the newest drop from my fave Korean skincare brand CosRX, so there weren’t any reviews for me to reference. How do I fit it into my routine? Would it replace my existing BHA? Heck, what type of skincare product is it even? I’ve been testing it and comparing my notes with that of other reviews. Here’s what I’ve learned so far!

I always come with a positive mindset whenever I try new products. In the decade that I've tested hundreds of products for Project Vanity, I've come to understand that each has its pros and cons and that what works for some may not work for me (that rolls the other way round too). Beauty, I love to say, is so personal. We buy things for different reasons and not all of them is based purely on how effective the product is.

That said, I didn't initially intend to write this review of some Glossier products I picked up online. There are other things for me to write about but Den our Managing Editor convinced me it should be out there. So why not? 

Considering all the amazing stuff she does for us, Mom deserves to be reminded of how much we love her even past Mother's Day! Extend the celebration and treat her to more gift-worthy beauty picks, even on a student budget. Glossier has a hot new drop, while Burt's Bees brings us a natural alternative for pout paints. Could FENTY be releasing new shades of their highlighters? And is Lady Gaga really coming out with a makeup line? Read on to find out!

The prevailing theme of the modern times seems to have a lot to do with being bold or daring to be different, all done in the name of breaking free. But here’s a thought to give you pause: what if that freedom can just as much be found within? After all, some limitations we only put on ourselves because we are too used to conforming to what society dictates.

In a timely move, Avon Fashions’ latest campaign for their collection of intimate wear seeks to encourage Pinays to step into their comfort zone instead. Stressing the importance of being authentic to oneself and embracing the life each individual chooses, Avon tapped five inspiring local celebs to send the powerful message that there are many, and sometimes unconventional, ways to define success.

Lip liners are underrated makeup products here in Asia. It’s a shame, though, as many miss out its abilities to define the shape of our lips and help keep our lipstick in place. If you haven't yet, you should consider adding lip liners to your arsenal because Ever Bilena recently released a new collection of Matte Lip Liners with very budget-friendly prices!

As the resident queen of dark circles, correctors are my life-long advocacy. I believe that people who are cursed with too much pigmentation in their eye area should be equipped with the means with which to defend and correct themselves. I, thank you.

Kidding aside, color correction is one of those ‘level 2’ makeup tricks. It’s not the first thing you get into when doing makeup, but once learned, can completely change your makeup game for the better. As more drugstore brands expand and improve their offerings with professional level formulas, I'm happy to see orange correctors becoming more accessible. But how well do they work? I test two locally-available budget correctors to find out.

It seems like one of the marks of motherhood is to carry around a large bag anywhere and everywhere you go. This bag is very different from the kind a tita carries because it contains all the things a parent needs to stay sane while out with her kids. For as long as I can remember, my mom carried such a bag. Even today, she prides herself for being a Girl Scout who is "laging handa" with a treasure trove of hygiene basics, kikay kits, and multi-tools tucked into her giant purse. Honestly, I hated digging through her purse when she'd ask me to find something because there was just SO MUCH STUFF but it also gave me my first ever lessons in self-care. 

If you've ever considered cutting down on your skincare routine to lessen your environmental impact or to simply minimize your expenses, the Original MakeUp Eraser Makeup Remover Cloth (P999) is probably the most popular option. Featuring a soft polyester blend, the cloth promises to erase all traces of makeup - waterproof mascara included - with just water!

Happy May, PV girls! To help us usher in a new month, this week’s roundup has got a bunch of exciting releases and tantalizing teases just for you! From Kat Von D’s trio of brow products (we’ve been waiting a year for these bad boys) to Pink Sugar’s new counter, this week will have you jumping in your seat! Get ready for FENTY’s possible new shade and Huda Beauty’s gorgeous baby palettes! And did we mention a BUNCH of epic things from MAC? Bring. It. On!

What kind of makeup do you love most? Some people collect eyeshadow palettes, while others are lipstick queens who might own the same shade in different brands and finishes! For me, it has always been about perfecting my face base. I love foundation formulas that I barely tell apart from my skin, both in appearance and feel, so when I first saw rave reviews on Estée Lauder's Double Wear Foundation, I added it on my list of must-try makeup.

When the PV team received the invite for the launch of the Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lippies and found the venue was at Yes Please, BGC, we were pretty shocked, to say the least. Laura Mercier has long been a staple for the Titas of Manila, so it was a little jarring to experience the new products in a blacked out, neon-lit bar.

When Happy Skin first launched their Express Gel Polish line last year, it was quite a hit as many swooned over the flattering nude polish that seemed especially picked for Filipina skin. This summer, Happy Skin expanded their shade offerings and teamed up with Havaianas to ensure that our vacays are made better with fashionable sandals and chic nail polish! 

My home and the Project Vanity HQ is stashed with bins and bins of beauty products. It can be quite a challenge to curate sometimes, but at the end of the day, it's what I pick up the most that makes it to my top ten! Seeing as it's Sephora PH site-wide sale season once more, I thought that I'd list down my HGs from the store. Hopefully this serves as a useful guide as you get your haul at 20% (for Gold and Black Members) and 15% (White) off until May 6. Let's go!

My boyfriend James recently acquired an Android phone after having been an iPhone user for years. Every time one of us is abroad, we video chat to keep in touch. The first few video calls I thought “Wow, his skin is so nice lately!” or “What great lighting at his hotel!” But eventually I cottoned on to the fact that his phone just has a crazy good automatic beauty filter. I’ve been an iPhone user for quite a while too and oh, how I envied his camera!

While trendy new products may attract people to a store, getting that up-close and personal testing experience is what leaves a lasting impression for the discerning customer. Clinique expertly combines these two concepts for their latest boutique, located in the new wing of the Rockwell Powerplant Mall. Here's a peek at what's in store!

The age of social media has given birth to an interesting phenomena called "doing it for the 'gram". Whenever we post something - because surely we have to post something - we do it with one eye on how good it will look like on our various feeds. It doesn't matter how uncomfortable or miserable we may be at that time. If the post looks great, and 50 other likes agree with us, then we feel good. We feel important. 

Eyeliner can smell fear, they said, and this is certainly true if you have yet to discover the well of courage deep inside yourself. You need conviction when applying eyeliner especially if you're trying to achieve a classic cat eye! Now it takes a lot of practice and a steady hand as well, but to make it easier for all of us, Revlon has created a pizza cutter eyeliner (that's what it looks like!) to come to the rescue.

Late last year, I wrote about how we PV girls wished we had access to skincare brand Peter Thomas Roth. The beauty gods must have heard our prayers because the brand has finally arrived at our shores! Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Skincare believes in using scientifically proven ingredients at effective concentrations. These include glycolic acid and retinol for anti-aging, and hyaluronic acid for attracting moisture to the applied area. The brand also believes in using botanicals and other ingredients found in nature.