When I first heard about the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System, I remember gagging at the hefty price tag. In what world is it justified to spend eight thousand freaking bucks on a gadget to wash your face?! Well, the fact that they’ve been around for over a decade with glowing review after review has to mean that they’re doing something right.

Let’s get one thing straight though: a sonic cleansing brush is not a “need” but it does take your skin care up to the next level. Unlike your fingers, the bristles give your skin a more thorough cleanse and gently buff away at the old skin cells that dull your complexion. Truth be told, I do lust after the Clarisonic. But until I’m able to spend that money on a non-essential without batting an eyelash, I’m happy to look around for the next best, more affordable option. Here's what I've got my eye on!

Miniso Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush (P750 at Miniso)

The cheapest on this list is the facial cleansing brush from bargain wonderland Miniso. Our awesome photographer Sam has been using her Miniso brush for twice a week over the course of two months, and is pleased with her first, er, brush with a cleansing brush. In her experience, this is a great affordable alternative because it's cheap, portable (it’s battery operated), and comes with three brush heads that are easy to clean. She shares that it effectively cleanses her skin with the rotating motion but doesn’t feel too abrasive to hurt or stress out her skin. If you’re careful not to over exfoliate, this brush is a nice, affordable upgrade from your hands.

Vicina Vibration Pore Brush (P1,500 at About Face PH and Suesh)

This brush has a unique design because of the dual brush head. The brushes are meant to slide nicely over the curves of your face, so that every inch is evenly covered. It has super fine bristles that are only half a millimeter thick, and is even gentle enough to be used over your eyes! It actually kind of feels like an Artis brush dupe, except that it’s meant for removing makeup rather than applying it.

The design of the brush makes it an ideal choice if you prefer using a foaming facial wash. The ultra fine, densely packed brush head foams the product like a trooper, and makes a tiny amount of cleanser go a long way. Because the bristles are incredibly slim, this vibrating brush can effectively de-gunk your pores without aggravating and enlarging them.     

Mary Kay Skinvigorate Cleansing Brush (P2,190 from Mary Kay dealers)

The Mary Kay Skinvigorate Cleansing System comes with two brush heads and an AA battery. Although it may not look like it, the bristles of the brush are soft and far from being abrasive once they start rotating. The brush bristles are made of thin nylon filaments with rounded ends, so they can clean the skin effectively without causing damage.

Unlike the other brushes, this has two speed settings (slow and regular) so you can adjust the speed according to preference.

Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush (P5,600 at Clinique)

Okay, so this is just slightly cheaper than the Clarisonic but it’s on my watchlist because Liz raves about this product! She says this is the best way to regularly yet gently exfoliate, and she hasn’t need to get facials since getting her hands on this. The brush head is shaped like an egg and tapers ever so slightly on the tip so it’s easier to reach certain crevices on your face.

This is the only one that’s rechargeable among the four options here, so you do get to save on batteries! The charging dock also doubles as its storage dock when not in use, and Clinique offers different types of brush heads so you can address skin issues better.

Do you have a facial cleansing brush system? How do you feel about adding this to your routine? Which of these options would you consider getting?

Photography by Samantha Gonzales

Blush is typically the first to fade off my face. Granted, the most long-wearing cheek colors I've ever tried stay on for a good five hours already, but that's off the table as soon as I start sweating heavily. I've been ok with that all my life. I've accepted that blush can only stick for so long. But that all changed when I tried the Cargo Water Resistant Blush (P1,250 for 11 grams), which I got when I witnessed the official launch of Cargo Cosmetics in the Philippines. This nostalgic brand from the 90s is now easily accessible to us thanks to Beauty Bar!

But back to the blush. I didn't put much stock to the promise that it's water resistant, but it proved itself the first time I put it on. I tried the shade Bali around 3 PM then played tennis at 7 PM. By 8 PM and after sweating buckets, it's still on my face. It has faded by 30-40% but it survived the workout. It's the most long-wearing, bullet-proof blush I've ever tried! It stays on for a good 7-8 hours with minimal fading when worn in normal conditions (that is I don't sweat too much or wipe my face).

Los Cabos, the shade I have here, delivers a beautiful coral pink flush. Some people have compared it to NARS Orgasm, and I agree that they're similar, except Los Cabos has a peachier tint to it. It has fine golden shimmer (same as Orgasm) which put me off at first but I realize that it makes me look like I have highlighter on too. I'm always up for that extra glow! 

This color was super sheer the first few times I swiped it on my cheeks. However once I kinda scraped off the top layer with my brush after a few uses, it applied properly. This isn't instantly pigmented even so. It's meant to be layered until you get the intensity you want.

Wearing the Cargo Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos on my cheeks

I know that P1,250 sounds steep at first, considering that the blush is packaged in a rather spartan tin can - let's call it as it is - but you do get 11 grams of product inside. That's A LOT! That amount is almost as much as a powder foundation! For example, MAC powder foundations clock in at 12 grams, while Shiseido's are 10 grams. Most blushes average at 5 grams and 7 grams if they're generous. Eleven full grams of product will literally take even the most heavy makeup user forever to finish so I'd say it's worth the price.

The thing is, I think I will actually finish this blush. Los Cabos is gorgeous and it makes my skin look amazing plus the staying power is just, wow. The color is versatile, too, since it doesn't look too bright or summery even though it's a coral. It looks natural and works with many of my current roster of lipsticks. ^_^ I'm thinking of getting the Matte Bronzer so I can have long-wearing contour as well! Just need to swatch it first to see if it's appropriate for that purpose.

ANYWAY. All I'm saying is that you should give the Cargo Water Resistant Blush a try if you're oily and/or sweaty, or just really need a blush you don't have to retouch throughout the day. I highly recommend it to just about anyone who appreciates a great cheek product! 

Thoughts? What's the most long-wearing blush in your stash?

Cargo Cosmetics is exclusively available inside Beauty Bar boutiques. You can also purchase at Beauty Bar's online store.

From brown lipsticks to choker necklaces, the 90s have been making a strong comeback this year. One of my favorite retro beauty trends, though, is a very real kind of makeup magic: color-changing lipsticks! They come in little bullets of green, orange and blue but application on the lips always turned them into more conventional shades of red and pink. Decades later, they still give me the same sense of adventure that I felt as a kid, so I’m glad that brands are offering them once again.

If you’re in the mood for some 90’s nostalgia or in need of a little magic in your kit, we’ve found five color-changing lippies for you to play with!

Ever Bilena Magic Lipstick in Grapes (P80 at department stores)

Color-changing lipsticks tend to take on the same features (like a glossy finish and subtle coloring), so it was a pleasant surprise to see Ever Bilena break the mold in the mood lippie game. For one, the finish of the Magic Lipstick is matte! Because of that, it ended up looking more like lip stain once applied. The shade initially applies as mauvish before turning into a brighter fuchsia. Even the scent of this lipstick was nostalgic - it smelled like the scented stationery I used to collect in grade school! As for staying power, this gave the second longest lasting stain out of the five.

Fran Wilson Moodmatcher in Red (P225 from Beauty Bar)

After swatching several shades from the Fran Wilson collection, it became apparent that not all colors yielded the same results. Particularly, Red and Purple had the most stain-producing capabilities so I decided to go for the Red one. It already has regular red pigments, in addition to the color-changing stuff. It comes out as a pinkish red with subtle shine, and a finish that reminds me of Bonne Belle Lip Smackers from back in the day. This lipstick left the most pronounced and longest lasting stain in the group. The arm swatches took a day to come off!

Lip Ice Sheer Color Fragrance Free Lip Moisturizer (P145 at department stores)

With the most slippery-smooth glide on the lips, Lip Ice makes it easy to apply and layer the product to your heart’s content. True to its name, the clear balm turns into a sheer wash of light pink with a high-shine finish that flatters naturally pigmented lips. The level of pigmentation is noticeable, but could still fall into the no makeup makeup category. It leaves a slight hint of a stain in its wake. It’s also available in shimmer and strawberry-scented variants.

MAC Tendertalk Lip Balm in Play With Me (P1,250 at MAC)

The Tendertalk Lip Balm is certainly more balm than lipstick, and the sheer color pay off leaves no room for debate. The translucent one called Candy Wrapped actually transforms into a delicate pink; the one I have, Play With Me, looks pinky red when twisted up but looks more like a warm pink on me.

Tendertalk balms count as one of the firmer, drier lip balm formulas, so it doesn’t melt on the lips upon application. You don’t need to apply a lot to get sufficient moisture though, and layering it on doesn’t do much to deepen the color either.

Lipstick Queen Frog Prince (USD25 at lipstickqueen.com)

Never has a green lipstick looked so luxe! Lipstick Queen was able to market this product in a way that tapped into the fairytale-mode of romantics. The color may be unusual but the effect is what has earned it raves and 93% rating on Temptalia. It appears to be the sheerest and least pigmented in my arm swatches but the change is more evident on the lips. My pout takes on a rosier tint combined with soft shine. The lipstick can also be layered on for more coloring.

From left: Ever Bilena Magic Lipstick, Fran Wilson Moodmatcher, Lip Ice Lip Moisturizer, MAC Tendertalk Lip Balm, Lipstick Queen Frog Prince

Did you ever play with Magic Lipsticks in the 90s? What do you think about using them again now?

Still don’t have anything to wear to the witchy parties you’re attending this weekend? This is the perfect time to get extra creative with your makeup and try crazy looks that you wouldn't put on a normal day! Of course, it's just a plus that you can play with your bright, colorful products - the ones you don't get to take out for a spin as often as you want.

No matter your makeup skill, we’ve found six different looks that you should be able to pull off with products that are already in your kit. If you’ve missing some shades or need something a bit more specialized though, well, we always appreciate an excuse to shop! Besides, it’s easier to find ways to use unusual makeup than it is to repurpose a costume (maybe you can reuse angel the wings for... a Christmas play?) Whichever you choose, we definitely recommend doing a test run before you head out to check how it looks on you and adjust if necessary. Have fun using these beauty tricks to get you some treats!

For the makeup beginner

The Porcelain Doll

Remember that foundation you have that looks way too light on you? Break it out and use it to recreate yourself as a pretty (and creepy) porcelain doll! Nic of Pixiwoo uses highlighter to mimic that super smooth, ethereal look and offers great tips for making lips look like they’ve been drawn on. Of course, dolls are famous for their wide-eyed stares and heavily-fringed lashes so wearing falsies is a must. If you find the usual ones too tedious, you can get pre-glued ones instead.

The Glittery Mermaid

Did summer end too soon for you? Show your inner mermaid to the world and bust out and your most glittery products! The mix of pastels and metals make this colorful look by Monica Rose fantastical but what puts it over the edge is the ingenious use of a hairnet. The net design makes it super easy to create “fish scales” and you can layer on all the glitter you want. Throw in some stick-on pearls or gems for extra fun!

For the intermediate-level makeup lover

The Space Princess

Live your dream of becoming a galactic girl with this out-of-this world look! It requires a lot of blending and coordinating the right colors but doing it well definitely pays off. You’ll also need a steady hand to paint on the stars and constellations - one mistake can easily ruin the rest of the look. Pair with shimmery, silver gown or an all-white outfit that looks futuristic.

The Dark Fairy

Not all that shimmers is sweet and cutesy. If you like your eyeliners as black as your soul, this look is the most fabulous way to go goth. Kayla Hagey uses a lot of blacks and purples to create this sultry yet glamorous look. The touch of iridescent highlight keeps the whole thing from looking like an eyeliner disaster and gives it more dimension. Make sure to keep your whole face clean and flawless though so that the focus is on your eyes and lips!

For the pro makeup artist

The Watercolor Pop Art Girl

Here’s a makeup look for art lovers! Inspired by Roy Lichtenstein’s Crying Girl, Cherry Wallis creates this pop-art look with watercolor tears instead of dots. Don’t let the deceptively simple effect fool you - the water-activated makeup can run all over your face if you’re not careful. Don’t forget to emphasize your features with black lines (using gel liner or face paint) to lend your features a drawn-on effect.

The Avant Garde 1920s Flapper

The roaring 20s marked the period when it became socially-acceptable for the average woman to wear makeup. As you might expect, the newfound freedom meant they layered on dark, dramatic shadows on their lids and bright pops of colors on their lips. VanityVenom switches it up though and makes use of rainbow colors for a more modern, avant-garde look! It’s still very 20s with the skinny, penciled-on brows, Clara Bow-esque lips, and porcelain skin but the bright colors make it stand out from the usual black eyeliner and red lips combo.

Are you doing any special makeup looks for Halloween? Who or what are you going as?

We've got a lot of makeup removers to choose from, but for days when we just want to plop down in bed, makeup wipes are the quickest option to take off our face. They’re easy to use and carry around in our purse but the cost of using a sheet (or more) can easily add up if we wear full makeup everyday. In search of a cheaper alternative, we decided to make our own makeup removing wipes! It's pretty easy to do and should be good for our skin, too!

What you'll need:

• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of baby wash
• 1 cup purified water
• 1 pack of cotton pads
• Mixing bowl
• Air-tight container with a wide opening (for storage)

Step 1: Combine the coconut oil, baby wash, and water in the mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly.

Step 2: Place a few cotton pads inside the airtight container and pour the mixture over it. Press down to help absorb the liquid. Add more pads and repeat the process until the container is full.

Step 3: Close the container and store in a cool, dry place - preferably in the fridge, so as to preserve the product longer. Keep the lid tightly sealed when not in use.

Some reminders: It is advisable to make only a week's worth of makeup pads as the mixture has no preservatives to keep it fresh and usable over a longer period of time. You can also add essential beauty oils like lavender oil or tea tree oil (adding the latter means you can't use it near the eyes, btw) to give it a skincare boost.

I tried using the DIY makeup remover pads to remove a full makeup face consisting of base, eyeshadows, eyeliner, waterproof mascara, brows, blush, contour, and lipstick. While it did remove my dependable Tony Moly eyeliner, the pads didn’t hold up to the strength of my MUFE waterproof mascara. To be fair, only my trusty Shu Uemura cleansing oil works on that stuff.

The pads did remove the rest of my makeup quite easily though and I used around four pads for the whole face. I’m loving the coconut oil as it makes my skin feel so soft after! I did have to rinse my face afterwards though because of the soap component of the pads. Overall, it’s a great economical solution for removing everyday makeup!

Do you use makeup remover wipes or pads? Would you consider making your own instead of spending on pre-made ones?

Eyeshadow primer isn't exactly sexy or exciting, but it's a basic necessity for any makeup junkie worth her salt. It's meant to make pigments brighter and hold down the color so that it doesn't come off with with the slightest beginnings of sweat and oil. I put it on automatically every time I plan to wear eyeshadows, or sometimes even just eyeliner if I know the formula isn't that long wearing.

That being said, I'm specific about how I want my eye primer to perform, and I have no patience for anything less. I just realized that I've mostly been using expensive eyeshadow primers: I've tried the cult Urban Decay Primer Potion, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, LORAC Behind The Scenes Primer, NARS Pro Prime, and currently, the MAC Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base. The cheapest eye primer I've ever used would be the Artdeco Eyeshadow Base at 450 bucks.

Even cheaper is the Essence I Love Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base (P249). I didn't expect much from it considering its price tag - and for 14ml of product, at that - but damn, it's good. It's a translucent eyeshadow primer that is easy to smooth all over the lids with zero streaking, and dries down with a pleasant surface that's easy to blend eyeshadow on. I has more fluid texture so make sure to dot only a small amount (maybe two dots) per lid.

I love how it makes my lids smooth and ready for color - unlike some primers I've tried, it doesn't "eat" the product, thereby making application patchy. Colors go on it with no fuss! As it promises on the label, it makes shadows more intense and vibrant, showing off the pigments' true powers.

If I were to compare it with anything, it's most similar to the NARS Pro Prime, which was my HG for a while. I only stopped using it because it was so expensive for a primer, and when I ran out I had the MAC on hand anyway. The Essence primer has the same doe foot applicator, texture, feel, and finish as the Pro Prime, though it has a sliiiightly cooler pink tint. The tint doesn't show much though.

I am not disappointed with the staying power of the Essence Eyeshadow Base. I wore it at 2pm and by 11pm, after running around Manila for work and dinner with friends, it kept my eyeshadow and eyeliner intact. It started to crease and fade around five hours from application but it was a slow descent - not like everything just fell off immediately. My eye makeup still looked dignified if not worn by the end of my day. Do note I that I have normal lids though and I keep my eye area dry at all times; if you don't blot or have particularly oily lids, you may get a different result.

The NARS Pro Prime has way better staying power, but well, it's P1,350 per tube. At P249, the Essence Eyeshadow Base is far from shabby!

Overall, I highly recommend the Essence I Love Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base to anybody who wants a good primer for not a lot of money. Its staying power won't beat the expensive alternatives, but it works well enough that you can get good wear out of it and make your eyeshadows stay pretty for longer. ^_^ I *think* the one I have is a new addition to the line, since all the reviews I've seen of it so far only feature the one that looks like concealer. I went to the Essence counter recently and only spotted the first/old version, so I'll update you if (or when) this translucent one is out!

Would love to know your feedback too! Have you tried this eyeshadow primer? Did you like it? Sound off in the comments!

Essence cosmetics is available in SM Beauty Stores and select Watsons outlets.

UPDATE: All the slots have been filled, however, you may still join the class, just without the loot bag, as we only have a set amount to give away.

It's been some time since we last did a Project Vanity event, so here's one before the year ends because we miss you! Our fave German cosmetics brand, Essence, just came out with a new eyebrow collection called Little Eyebrow Monsters and they want us to come over and experience it in person. I'll be showing off how to use the products to create different eyebrow looks, and help you find your best shape for your face. 

We'll discuss:

• The perfect "no makeup" #wokeuplikethis eyebrows
• How to do the airy, feathery brow look
• How to cop the sculpted (yet still natural-looking) eyebrow

The event is happening in the SM Makati, in the beauty section, on November 5 Saturday next week from 2:00pm to 4pm. It's going to be a nice afternoon about our favorite topic! Should be fun to catch up and learn from each other, too.

As with all Project Vanity shindigs, each attendee will get a loot bag with some of our favorite Essence products inside! There is no fee to join, but please do sign up ASAP in the form below as the slots are limited. We will email you within 48 hours to confirm your slot. If you will be coming with a friend who loves makeup as well, please do have her sign up here too. Thanks and so, so excited to see you guys there! 

Update: slots have been filled up in just 30 minutes (wow!) but you may still sign up to be part of the class, just without the loot bag because we only have a budgeted amount. Hope you understand! We'd still love for you to join though!

Our nails are one of the things that can easily give away how well (or how poorly) we do even the most basic grooming. We don’t need to have a perfect manicure 24/7 but it’s important to at least keep them clean and well-shaped. If you haven’t given them much thought before, here's what you need to know about how to keep your hands (and feet) presentable!

Invest in your own collection of nail tools

Even if you normally have your nails done at the salon, it’s a good idea to keep your own set of tools in case you need to care for them yourself. You don’t even need to splurge on expensive brands – just make sure that cutting tools like clippers and nippers are sharp and sanitized before every use. Replace nail files and buffers regularly to keep them effective. Finally, stock up on cuticle oil, nail polish remover and your favorite polish shade in case you need to quickly fix any chips or treat a hangnail!

Learn the do’s and don’ts of basic nail care

• For a cleaner look, you can opt to push your cuticles back with a stick, but do this no more than once a week. It’s best not to cut them unless you get a hangnail, in which case you should cut away with care.
• To keep your cuticles and nail bed from looking gnarly, apply moisturizer on the area regularly. You can also use cuticle oil or a balm like Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream.
• Don’t buff your nails too often – it can actually thin out and weaken your nails when you overdo it! You can lightly buff them once a month to give them a healthy sheen. Make sure never to use a nail file on the surface of the nail though; there are special buffing tools that can even out the ridges without being too harsh on your nails.
• If you’re DIY-ing a pedicure, make sure to use a separator so your toes don’t bump into each other and ruin your fresh paint job.
• Before applying nail polish, make sure to put on a base coat. It will prolong the lifespan of your manicure and protect your nail from getting stained by the colored polish.
• Avoid using pure acetone to remove your nail polish. Acetone is harsh and can really dry out your tips. Try the Caronia Nail Polish Remover, which is acetone-based but formulated with moisturizing ingredients, or the Etude House Nail Remover #3 Sensitive Nail which is acetone-free.

Be picky about your nail polish

Old nail polish formulas contained harmful chemicals that we really shouldn’t have been putting on our bodies. Fortunately, we now have safer alternatives available, and there’s no shortage of the variety of colors and finishes to choose from! Before picking up a bottle, check the label for these terms:

• 3-free nail polish formulas do not contain the “Big Three” toxic chemicals commonly found in nail polish: Toulene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), and Formaldehyde. Many of today’s brands adhere to this standard, including local brand Bobbie.
• In addition to the ones mentioned above, 4-free also removes Camphor from their formulations. It’s not a hazardous chemical per se but it can be an irritant. Inglot polishes are touted to be 4-free.
• So apparently there’s more than one kind of Formaldehyde, and 5-free also doesn’t use Formaldehyde resin in their formulas. Some 5-free nail polish brands include Chanel, Deborah Lippman, Zoya, and Girl Stuff.
• The newest trend in non-toxic polishes are 7-free formulations, which do not contain Toulene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Camphor, Formaldehyde resin, Ethyl tosylamide and Xylene. Butter London was one of the first brands to switch to 7-free.

For small kids who want to join in on the fun, water-based polishes are your safest bet. They replace solvents with water, so they’re gentle on young skin and can be removed easily without the need for a polish remover. Local brands such as Girl Stuff and Allue have water-based polishes.

Extend the life of your manicure

A base coat serves as a barrier between the nails and the polish. It will protect the nail from possible harsh effects of nail polish, including staining and peeling. It will also help the polish stick to the nail more smoothly. Products like Orly Top2Bottom also allow you strengthen the base while sealing the work below. If you don’t like polish removers, you can also buy a special type of base coat that’s designed to be peeled off when you’re ready to switch polishes.

Top coats protect the applied polish and any nail art that it is placed over. The added gloss acts like a lacquer to prevent chipping, plus it looks pretty posh, too! If you want a matte nail though, there are also mattifying top coats. Quick dry top coats are must-haves for those who are perpetually in a hurry but if you really want to have fun and stand out, Girl Stuff carries a special UV Glow that makes nails glow in the dark!

If your nails break easily, use a nail hardening treatment to keep them strong.

And that's it! Hope this guide helps you in taking better care of your nails, if you're just starting to see them in a new light. As for those who are already nail obsessed: how do you take good care of your digits? What advice would you give to newbies?

Photography by Samantha Gonzales

Sources: Polish Police, Nail Polish Lingo Dictionary - Peachy Polish, Decoding Non-Toxic Nail Polish - Into the Gloss, Do you need a base coat before applying nail polish? - HowStuffWorks

Can you believe October is almost over? 2016 has been flying by and it’s been a challenge to keep up with all the madness in the beauty world! Something new gets unveiled EVERY DAY and if it weren’t for our beauty buying tips, we’d have probably snapped up each one and ended up broke all through next year. It was definitely harder to resist this week: Potterheads are wishing they can conjure up one of those Harry Potter-inspired palettes while the world’s most famous cat (and our childhood fave) will be releasing the ColourPop x Hello Kitty collab in just a few days!

Oh yay for the new Olay!

Skin care specialist brand Olay has something very exciting for us coming this November! Following the success of their Olay Skin Whitening Bar, they’ve revolutionized the way we look at whitening: we can now have whiter and more glowy skin! Their new Olay Skin Whitening Body Wash combines the unique whitening technology of Olay and the moisturizing properties of a lotion, making it an instant favorite in our books. With natural ingredients like rose and milk, this is a gentle and delicious-smelling body wash. And did we mention that the gorgeous Liza Soberano is the new face of this innovative product? We can't wait to see her campaign!

Image via ourbeautycult.com

Image via ourbeautycult.com

Say “Hello” to this Kitty!

After several successful collaborations some of today’s hottest stars and Internet personalities, ColourPop is at it again with a new collection that has our six-year-old squealing for joy: in honor of Hello Kitty’s 42nd birthday, our favorite Sanrio character is getting her own line of ColourPop x Hello Kitty goodness!

This will be the brand’s largest collection to date and debuts on November 1! The collection includes nine new shades of the ColourPop lipsticks in every finish (matte, satin, metallic and glossy) and four new eye shadow shades in singles and palettes. They’re also throwing in a makeup bag and a face kit, which will have a blush, highlighter, and shadows. ColourPop is keeping to its promise of affordable, high quality makeup though; the items are said to range from just $5 to $42!

Full story on Elle

Images via Instagram

Mesmer-eyes!

Remember when we told you all about the amazing (and purely magical) Harry Potter-inspired brushes? What better way to use them than with four wizard-worthy eyeshadow palettes! Hand-crafted and vegan, the Hogwarts House Eyeshadow Palettes  draw inspiration from the houses they are named after. Ravenclaw has cool-toned blues, golds, and grays while Gryffindor is a warm-toned collection of reds, golds, and coppers. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous with your eye game, Slytherin comes with tones of grays, blacks, and emerald greens while Hufflepuff is perfect for the neutral eye lovers with warm bronzes, yellows, and peach. The palettes are currently for pre-order at the Etsy listing but best to start saving up for the $40 price tag!

Full story on PopSugar

Image via Allure

Too much and too cute

Let’s quickly run through just some of the major collaborations and limited edition collections of Too Faced just for 2016, shall we? There’s the Kat Von D collection, the NikkieTutorials Palette, the BeautyBlender gift packs, the mystery Sweet Peach, and the crazy huge Holiday 2016 drop. Well, guess what? They’ve already lined up yet another collab, due to launch in early 2017! The Too Faced x Skinnydip London was just recently teased by Jerrod Blandino, who constantly keeps us on our toes with his #sneakypeek posts.

The makeup brand is teaming up with millennial favorite Skinnydip London, known for their quirky phone cases and super cute accessories, to bring us an adorable Too Faced makeup kit and possibly a new, limited edition Love Flush. No word yet on the exact release date or price range but we’re already feeling pretty conflicted on how we’ll sneak it into our budget.

Full story on Glamour

Image via Instagram user @morphebrushes

Morphe x KathleenLights Collab

We’ve all watched one or two (or fifty) YouTube tutorials during our spare time. So when a name like KathleenLights partners with a brand, we know we’re in for a treat! The YouTube makeup guru has over two million YouTube subscribers and worked on multiple (and very successful) collabs with other big beauty brands. Need we say more?

The Morphe x KathleenLights Palette is limited edition and solely available on the Morphe website for just $14.99! The palette includes 15 shades of absolute beauty, ranging from warm mattes to shimmery greens, and even has the token matte black that can double as an eyeliner. Kathleen has posted a video talking all about her palette and if the response is any indication, we’ll be adding this to our list.

Full story on Bustle

Images via Refinery29 and Instagram user @LottieTomlinson

Lottie Tomlinson is going “One Direction”… UP!

Aside from being the little sister of One Direction member Louis Tomlinson, Lottie Tomlinson has been touring the world as the assistant artist for celebrity makeup guru Lou Teasdale. The 18-year-old will be launching a new project that’ll give Kylie Jenner a run for her money!

Image via Instagram user @LottieTomlinson

Aptly named Matchbox Kits, these boxes will have lip products and nail varnishes that Lottie was very involved in developing. From cute little pastels to hot orange picks, the color range of the lip kits will fit whatever look you’re feeling. As for the Nails, Lottie designed her own line of the trendy “spray can” nail varnishes, which have been all over Instagram since they first launched on Nails Inc. Priced at £15, the Matchbox Kits are available at Boots and Nails Inc., and will be ready for international shipping very soon.

Full story on Look

And that's it! Got any fun plans for the long weekend? ^_^

As someone who regularly shaves (or gets by wearing pants and sleeves), I’ve long wanted to try a solution that could eliminate or significantly delay hair regrowth with the least amount of hassle and pain. That’s why the idea of trying out Strip Manila’s Strip ICE treatment - promoted as their most comfortable semi-permanent hair removal method yet - was something I met with a mix of curiosity and excitement. I have never tried anything aside from shaving or waxing before so I honestly had no idea what to expect! When I got to Strip though, it didn’t take much to put me at ease. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, and they patiently answered all of my questions about the process.

In a nutshell, Strip ICE is less painful than the usual type of IPL treatments. It doesn’t feel as hot, thereby minimizing a lot of the discomfort. The machine has a cooling system that prevents superficial burns and dulls painful sensations, plus it works a lot faster so you can finish the treatment pretty quickly. A typical IPL procedure just for the lower leg area can take about 30 minutes but Strip ICE can get it done in 15! I was also told that I could expect to see results in just one session (hair growing back in weaker strands).

Before the actual machine even touched my skin, there was a lot of careful prep involved. Each client gets their own sealed hygiene kit containing gloves, wipes, and other one-time use tools. These giant foil packets are only opened in front of the client during the treatment session so you can be absolutely sure that everything they use on you is completely clean. It definitely brought me instant peace of mind to see how strict they were with hygiene!

Strip has a strict policy on using fresh towels and new accessories for every client

My therapist made sure that I was in a comfortable position before proceeding to wipe my legs down with disinfectant wipes. She powdered and carefully shaved the area to be treated before using a fresh wipe to remove the trimmings. And yes, if you’re getting a laser or IPL treatment, it’s better to come in unshaven as the therapist will need to inspect the level of hair growth so they know what areas to focus on.

The therapist used a new, disposable razor to shave off the hair prior to treatment

A generous amount of refrigerated ultrasound gel was squeezed onto my leg. It was super cold but probably also helped numb the area. Then the therapist started running the handpiece in small circular motions all over the front of my legs, which seriously didn’t feel like anything at all except for a mild, pleasant warmth. When the she got to my feet where I have some hair growth on my big toes, I felt a jolt and some heat in the area. It was kind of like being zapped with electricity but the sensation only lasted for a second. She was quick to assure me that this was normal and happens on particularly thick hair.

Afterwards, the ultrasound gel was scraped off my legs with a disposable spatula and wiped down a final time with a wet wipe to get the remaining residue off. The process was repeated on the other leg and on the backs of my legs. Ice Cream (Strip’s trademark soothing lotion) was slathered all over treated areas to prevent skin irritation.

A generous application of gel was applied all over my leg for the treatment

Except for the really cold ultrasound gel, the most uncomfortable part for me was the split-second zap on my big toes but that area is so small compared to all the area that was covered. As a first-timer, I can safely say that the experience was way gentler than waxing! The best part is that two weeks after the session, I’ve only noticed slight stubbly growth even though I’d usually be ready to break out the razor by now. There’s barely anything to shave so I’m just gonna leave it alone for the time being.

Now here's the catch: this hair removal session cost P16,250 for a half leg area. That's quite expensive compared to other laser salons, so it is really up to your discretion as Strip is a premium brand after all. 

That being said, I am amazed by how much of a difference a single session can do to slow down hair regrowth. If you’re interested in getting rid of your hair for good, Strip is offering up to 60% off on the Strip ICE treatment until the end of the month, if you avail of six sessions. Visit the Strip Manila Facebook page for more details.

Have you ever tried laser or IPL hair removal treatments? What was your experience like?

compiled by Claire Reyes

Beauty treatments like getting hair treatments, facials, and foot spas have the double advantage of keeping us well-groomed and giving us a chance to take a relaxing break from our daily tasks. They’re luxuries though; we may not always have the time or budget to pamper ourselves with a trip to the salon or spa. Instead, we make the most out of bath time by using products that turn those precious minutes into an indulgent treat! Today, we dish out on the body wash and body lotion combos that perk up our mood as soon as we slather them on. They may have even cause us to belt out into a song number in the shower!

Liz: My current (as of the other day) body wash is the Olay Whitening Body Wash with Rose & Milk. It has this lovely creamy floral scent, and a non-drying lather! If you're familiar with in-shower moisturizers, it has a similar texture. Afterwards, I love slathering either the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion for everyday or the Jo Malone Basil & Neroli Body Creme when I'm feeling indulgent.

Den: I’m usually not a fan of floral scents so it completely took me by surprise when I fell hard for the Lux Magical Spell Body Wash. The fragrance is quite sophisticated and unusual, which I honestly did not expect from something I can get from the grocery. It’s somehow pervasive yet not overwhelming at the same time; the black orchid and juniper scent manages to travel all the way from the bathroom, through the bedroom, and into the sitting area! It also mixes well with Bare’s Bergamot and Geranium Lotion, which has brighter scent notes. I love their lotions because the formula is quickly absorbed by my skin and doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. I use the Peppermint variant when it feels especially hot; it cools my skin and gives a slight tingly sensation!

Angela: I love the Burt's Bees' Extra Energizing Citrus & Ginger Body Wash. It smells so good and leaves my skin smooth and soft. I make sure to never forget to apply lotion because my skin tends to get dry. Nivea's lotions have never failed me: they moisturize well without being thick and sticky!

Charlie: I love Dial Body Washes because they smell really good and make my skin feel really clean (but not dry) after use. My favorite scent is the Guava and Watermelon one. My usual lotion is Aveeno's Skin Relief because my skin can go haywire and get pretty dry but I'm starting to get drawn more to body gels. I’m currently trying out this perfumed rose body gel from Nature Republic. It smells amazing and I like it because it's not sticky.

Marielle: I pick body washes and body lotions based primarily on scent. While I typically don't like fruity or food-inspired scents for perfumes, I actually enjoy them as body washes and lotions because they don't linger as long as perfumes do. Right now, I'm using Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Body Wash and Mor Tonka Bean Musk Body Butter. There's something comforting about vanilla or vanilla-esque scents, especially when preparing for bedtime.

Katsy: My current favorite combo is Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturising Body Wash and Lotion. My skin just feels healthier and more moisturized since I started using the brand. Love how I can sometimes skip lotion, too, for days when I have to get out of the door quick!

Claire: My body physically rejects strong fragrances; my skin turns red and I get prolonged headaches, so mild, soothing fragrances are my jam. Lately, I’ve been loving The Face Shop’s Perfume Seed body wash. It’s a fresh yet definitely feminine scent that lasts a decent time. I also use their Jeju Aloe soothing gel as a body lotion because I need the moisture but can’t stand the feel of typical lotions. Used together, I feel refreshed and ready to face the rest of the day!

Do you have your own favorite combination of body wash and lotion? How do you make bath time extra special? We’d love to know, so please share your thoughts in the comments!

I enjoy seeing what other people do to their faces every year for Halloween, but I've never really done it for myself. But hey, there's always a first time! I thought I'd try it and it was sooo much fun. Now if you've suddenly just decided to go in costume for a party today or tomorrow, this is a pretty easy fawn look to follow with basic products you should already have. It's inspired by (and not exactly the same as) the Snapchat filter makeup used at a Desigual fashion show. I find it the right mix of cute and sexy for Halloween.

As for the products, you can use whatever you have on hand. I went for some of my new products from Althea Korea! Here's how I did the look.

After doing my base and eyebrows, I applied the W-Lab 3D Face Shading Stick (P600) as a normal contour and as the base color for my forehead and nose. Then I added some peach from the W-Lab Flower and Lip Cheek Kit (P730)  to the contour to sort of warm it up more.  I blended everything together with the It's My Carve Foundation Brush (P180). Later on, after the brownish red area has dried, I patted an orange red from the W-Lab palette to intensify the color.

I used the RiRe Luxe Gel Eyeliner in Kill Black (P160) to line my eyes the normal way, then applied a thick line juuuust at the crease. I drew it so that it looks like lashes! I also used the same eyeliner to make the tip of my nose black as a fawn's. I intended to use RiRe's eyeliner in Pearl White for the white accents on my forehead, but it was sheer so I just sorta used it as a nose highlight before using a separate white crayon/paint (NYX Milk) to do the white areas.

As for the lips, I blended peach and red from the W-Lab palette to get peachy cute lips. I just used my fingers since I didn't want it to be too precise or pigmented. I was planning to add the Abbamart Eyelash Master (P140) on my lashes to complete the look, but since I'm not going anywhere, I decided to save it for another FOTD. Sayang kasi! If you're going to a party with this fawn face though, I highly recommend finishing it off with falsies.

And that's it! I told you you can do a Halloween look with just normal makeup. ;) Hope you enjoyed this mini tutorial, and let me know what your mug will be as you go trick or treatin'! (Later I am coming as Chihiro of Spirited Away naman hehe). Have a great Sunday!

This story is brought to you by Althea Korea.

I’m sure we’ve all had our fair share of makeup mishaps and beauty boo-boos. I’ve been guilty of sporting Betty La Fea brows one too many times while I was still learning how to properly fill them in! We’re pretty lucky that the internet has made so many beauty resources like blogs and vlogs so accessible but often, making mistakes are still part of the learning process.

We asked eleven women about their most memorable beauty boo-boos and the lessons they learned from these mistakes. It was interesting to get so many different answers: some were one-offs while others were repeat offenders! This post is free from incriminating photos though; admitting to one’s beauty sins is bad enough, so we’re keeping any photographic evidence safely hidden!

Shayne Naidas, blogger

When I was a teen, I owned this rosy pink Johnson and Johnson "face powder" that was actually more like a blush. I was so excited that I used it all over my face, and it made me look like a giant strawberry! I wore it proudly though because I felt so grown up and lady-like to be wearing makeup.

Lesley Espiritu-Villanueva, architect

I once had my makeup done in the parlor for a wedding I was attending. The makeup artist used a foundation that was about two shades lighter than my natural skin color but I didn't realize it until the pictures came out. The flash from the camera made the skin tone difference very evident! I looked like a floating face, especially because my natural skin color is dark and I was wearing an off-shoulder gown that bared a lot of skin. That was the last time I ever went to the parlor to get my makeup done.

Kathy Kenny Ngo, editor-in-chief of Psst PH

When I was new to makeup, I would pair dark eyeshadows with dark lippies. I looked like a zombie! Later on I learned that strong eye makeup looks work best with neutral or soft lip colors, and vice versa. Attempting to do both at the same time is apparently not a great idea!

Mara Ruiz, social marketing manager

My biggest beauty faux pas is wearing all my makeup in one look: blue eyeshadow, red lips, pink blush - the works! But it didn't end there. I wore it to a meeting with my boss who seemed embarrassed to even look at me that time. I guess I would, too, if I was talking to someone who looked like she put her makeup in the dark.

Ae Geli-Pastrana, architect and blogger

Though I LOVE makeup, I can count with one hand the number of times I've worn false lashes. On my wedding day, I discovered a strip of falsies hanging from my cheek! Good thing this was during the reception already when everybody was drunk. I was having so much fun during the party that I didn’t immediately notice that it had fallen off!

Kaycee Enerva, blogger

I was attending an event and didn't realize that one of my colored contacts had fallen off, so my eyes were in two different colors the entire time. I only found out about when I had gotten home but maybe people thought I was making pauso, which is why no one told me!

Parce Quinay, architect

I'm a lippie-holic and especially love mattes. Whenever I see new colors that I think would suit me, I'd buy it right away. During a phase when I was into red lipsticks, I wore a scarlet matte lipstick to the office without applying lip balm first. It was my first time to wear it and didn't know how it would react to or stay on my lips the whole day. I had to go out for an offsite meeting and it was a very hot day. My lips dried and cracked on my way to the venue!

During the meeting, I had to (subtly) lick my lips countless times in an effort to prevent it from totally drying out. It only worsened the situation though and my lips started to peel. It was so embarrassing! I had to ask for water from the client just so I could cool my lips down. From then on, I make sure to always use lip balm whenever I have to try out new lipsticks, and even do a "dry run" the night before prior to using it in public the next day.

Joy Mendiola, freelance events consultant, host and blogger

Sometime in 2010, I used a cake foundation for the very first time. I wasn’t able to blend the color from the forehead to the cheeks though, and I had to attend three events that day. It was only on the way home when my assistant told me that my forehead looked super light. Aaah!

Kira Ramirez, social media strategist, financial adviser and blogger

I used to leave the house with no eyebrows! That was back in the day when I didn't know how to do mine and had never bothered to learn, not until my friend Alex told me I should start defining my arches. Without any product, my brows are very sparse and light. Now, the only time I don't do my brows is when I’m at the beach.

Rhea Magtibay-Hipolito, business analyst

Overdrawn brows – this is one make up faux pas that I was guilty of. I used to heavily shade my brows from tip to tip, and it looked so unnatural. Thankfully there are now so many tutorials available online on how to do the perfect eyebrows, so no one should fall prey to overdone brows ever again.

Maria Franco, blogger

I once lost my eyebrow tweezer and decided to use a regular-sized razor to clean up the area. Unfortunately, my hand seemed to have a mind of its own and I ended up shaving almost half of my eyebrows off! Good thing you can always cheat with a good eyebrow pomade.

Have you ever experienced foundation woes or brow boo boos? What’s the worst beauty blunder you’ve ever had? Do spill!

When Liz first told us writers about Project Vanity’s collaboration with Pink Sugar, I was completely psyched that my favorite beauty source would be coming out with its very own line of lippies and that I was one of the first to hear about it! I joined the launch party and volunteered to be one of the models so readers would have a better idea of what the different shades looked like on NC20 skin.

But aside from seeing how the shades look on fair, medium, and morena skin tones, I wanted to go beyond the realm of painting pouts to actually using all four shades to create an FOTD. It’s surprisingly easy, like the adult version of coloring with [lip] crayons! Bonus: It’s an on-the-go-look, and you won’t even need tools!

Contour with Love At First Swipe

After applying liquid foundation and concealer, I used Love At First Swipe to do some mild contouring. Granted, there is a hint of reddishness to this particular brown shade, so applying with a very light hand is a must as the lippies are known for being pigmented. I did a few swipes on the sides of my forehead, hollows of my cheeks, small portion of the jawline, and the sides of the nose. Then I blended everything with my fingers before setting the look with a powder foundation. It blends out pretty easily and the powder dials down the redness.

Blush with Woke Up Like This

Because it’s a pink brown shade, Woke Up Like This is naturally a great color for both lips and cheeks. I just dotted it all over my cheeks and patted it on with my fingers. It blends easily, so I can apply this over powder and still have it diffuse well. I also noticed that it complemented the Love At First Swipe contour as they both have a similar brown base.

Shadow play with Love At First Swipe and Woke Up Like This

Love at First Swipe’s earthy tone makes for a great shadow base or single shadow look. I applied it all over my lids, then used Woke Up Like This to create a vertical gradation effect from the crease of the outer corners of my eyes to the middle of the socket line. It adds a pinkish pop of color that looks especially flattering during the daytime! I loved this hack, too, because the creamy formula of the lippies made them so easy to blend all over my lids. It's best done on top of eyeshadow primer to make the colors hold better.

Ombre pout with Ready In Five and Nothing To Wear

To create the trendy lip effect inspired by Korean beauty, I applied Nothing To Wear to the center of my lips and traced the outer edges with Ready In Five. Then I just blended the edges together with my ring finger! You can also add more of the deep plummy shade to create a more pronounced contrast.

And that’s it! No need for brushes or sponges, and the final outcome is a pretty, pink-nude FOTD that works for everyday. We do recommend using a primer to prolong wear and prevent creasing on the lid area. Also, Nothing To Wear tends to leave a stain so it’s tricky to use on lids and must be blended quickly when using as blush.

Have you tried experimenting with the These Don’t Lie Lip Crayons? What other uses have you found for them?

by Kristel Yap, contributor

With both small indie brands and large multinationals churning out collection after collection, season after season, it can be difficult for a beauty brand to capture the public’s attention. Some have come up with crazy things just to get noticed, and sometimes novelty overtakes utility. Sure it’s a cute concept but did anybody actually think about how it holds up in real life? We've tried some unusual things in the name of beauty but there are a few products and services that are just way too impractical or absurd for us to get behind.

Image via Marie Claire

Glitter Lip Kit

Glitter lips have been done in editorial and fashion shoots long before Pat McGrath sold her kits. Sure, it looks really glam and fun to do but apart from playing with it in your bedroom, can you actually wear this elsewhere? The idea of spreading something sticky enough to hold not one but two layers of powder - a metallic pigment and microfine glitter, on the lips just sounds plain uncomfortable. Plus, it will probably get all over our face in 10 minutes.

We worry enough about finding long-lasting lipsticks that can survive a meal; this one doesn’t look like we’ll be able to eat at all, save for accidentally swallowing some of that sparkle. While the look isn’t exactly as striking, we’d rather stick to glitter gloss.

Image via Huffington Post

Face Slimming Gadgets

These beauty tools are usually available in three forms: face rollers, cheek trainers (aka, BJ lips), and face corsets. Rollers massage your face and thus supposedly burn fat. The massaging part mostly sounds pretty relaxing and a great way to work in skin care, but that’s not going to burn any fat any more than a weekly full-body massage can help you get trim. On the other hands, cheek trainers actually induce some sort of facial workout while corsets train and tighten your facial muscles.

It sounds as convincing as a home TV shopping spiel: it’s tempting to buy just to try it out but then we hang the phone up when we start wondering if we’d rather deal with wrinkles over face fat. Contouring is way easier, plus we’re happy to take any excuse to buy makeup! If you want real and lasting results though, better to stick cosmetic procedures that are proven safe and effective.

Fellow PV girl Kim getting her brows inked. She says the pain was tolerable but the nicks from the needles scabbed over. Now, imagine experiencing that all over your face...

Foundation Tattoo

A few weeks ago, the PV girls had a collective mini-heart attack over a ‘semi permanent BB foundation’ promotion we spotted on Facebook. We love the thought of having woke-up-like-this eyebrows, eyeliner, or even lipstick as those are all small, controlled areas of the face. But tattooing every inch of our skin? Pain concerns aside, how do you deal if you get a tan and the rest of your body darkens, or if (heaven forbid) the wrong shade is applied? What if your skin is prone to getting keloids? Will the tattoo limit your skincare options? Thanks, but we’re pretty content fiddling with our cushion foundations and makeup sponges or investing in good skin care to create a more even skin tone.

Image via skinlogiconline.com

Boob Sheet Masks

One of the reasons why we love sheet masks is because they allow us to have some precious R&R time. You rest while your skincare works! It does get tempting to put in on everything, from hair to nails to feet, but it’s honestly difficult to take boob sheet masks seriously. First of, they (usually) aren’t as exposed to harsh elements the way our faces are. A good cream or body oil should suffice in keeping the skin soft and moisturized, but we’d be kidding ourselves if we thought that the doing so will be enough to keep the girls perky. Only cosmetic procedures would be able to effectively address that really, since they can permeate both the skin and the tissue underneath. That said, a neck and décolletage mask would be a great idea for keeping those areas moisturized, and perhaps keep them wrinkle-free for a bit longer.

What about you? Where do you draw the line between something you’d consider trying (at least once) versus a product or service that seems too way out there? What would you add to our list?

Header image via carisseiris.blogspot.com

Hi all! I know we got sidetracked with the Commenter of the Month tradition, but now it's back. The three winners from last time are Aviva, Emily Gatus, and Jeanica Casila! Congratulations, and thanks for always sticking with Project Vanity through the years. Please email den [at] projectvanity.com your shipping information. 

For November, we are giving away a colorful Cargo pouch with goodies inside. The lucky CoM will get the Cargo Magic Brush, Cargo Boundless Lashes Mascara, K-Palette 3Way Eyebrow Pencil, Glamglow Thirstycleanse, Sunnies shades, and four Sleek MakeUp lippies.

So! It's the same mechanics as before. Every month, we'll pick a commenter on Project Vanity. She must be able to leave useful comments, such as sharing feedback about a product we reviewed. It can be a "thank you" comment, or maybe a really good question (we love good questions). A big factor would be the frequency of the reader's comments. Does she always visit? Does she read through the site? At the end of the day though, we always value quality more than quantity. Consistency is key. 

Comment away! Am hoping to hear from you. We'll pick the winner by the end of November. ^_^

Happy Skin’s holiday collections have stunned us year after year without fail. Remember their dessert-themed affair last 2014? The power woman theme last year? I believe they're the only local brand who has been consistent with holiday releases that make gifting to our friends and, ehem, ourselves, more fun and exciting. This season though, I think they've outdone their past releases with a collaboration that is the first of its kind for a Filipino cosmetics brand. Disney - yes, that Disney - gave them a call and the rest is history!

After working closely with Disney, Happy Skin came up with four lip duos inspired by some of our favorite magical princesses: the Moisturizing Lippie Set (Belle and Rapunzel), Moisturizing Matte Lippie Set (Snow White and Aurora, Elsa and Anna), and the Liquid Matte Lipstick Set (Cinderella and Ariel). It's a smart move for Happy Skin to come up with a lippie collection, as these are their strongest, best-selling products - you can't go wrong with their classic satin lipsticks, the bold mattes, and the more recent liquid mattes. Each are highly pigmented and opaque in one or two swipes. In my past experience, the lipsticks stain and stay on for about 3-4 hours.

I do wish there were other products like maybe a highlighter or eyeshadow palette (y'all know me!) but nevertheless, I think it's a treat for both Happy Skin and Disney collectors to have their fave princesses in lipstick form.

While the formulas are not new, the shades are. They don't wander far from Happy Skin's existing colors - pink browns, bright and rusty reds, and muted pinks - but I find each shade wearable and flattering. All of these appear warm on me, except for the Rapunzel lippie, which is a cool, slightly mauve-y pink. Still looks good on me though!

The packaging is in bold hues with the princesses illustrated on both the box and the tubes. The matte lipsticks have a matte gold bottom, while the satin finish ones have a silver bottom. I find it cute and childish, in a charming, nostalgic way. It reminds me of my toy makeup when I was a kid. I'd play with that stuff for hours, even though it barely colored my skin haha. So glad I'm an adult now and don't need my mom's permission to wear real makeup!

Anyway, here are my lip swatches and color notes. ^_^ 

The Happy Skin X Disney Princess Moisturizing Lippie Set (P1,099) contains Belle, a brown based peachy pink, and Rapunzel, a mauvey pink. This is in Happy Skin's original formula (well the first lippie anyway) and has its trademark balmy feel, opacity, and juicy finish. I recommend this set for those who love natural, everyday shades!

The Happy Skin X Disney Princess Moisturizing Matte Lippie Set (P1,299) in Snow White and Aurora is perfect for those who like day to night sets. Snow White is a daring, bright blue-based red while Aurora is a gorgeous MLBB (my lips but better) pink.

The other Happy Skin X Disney Princess Moisturizing Matte Lippie Set (P1,299) is my favorite out of the four. I love Anna, a berry red, almost as much as Elsa, a deep rusty plum. These are my kind of statement shades! I'm happy to report that Elsa is opaque and not patchy at all on my lips (patchiness being a common problem for dark matte lipsticks).

The Happy Skin X Disney Princess Liquid Matte Lipstick Set (P1,299) is probably my second reco. This has Cinderella, a muted mauvey pink and Ariel, a coral-based red. This is another handy day-to-night duo to have in your kit.

So there you go folks! The Happy Skin x Disney Collection will be officially available in all Happy Skin stores starting November 8, but if you can't wait for the 8th, you can get it ahead of time online at Zalora.com.ph and Happyskincosmetics.com starting tomorrow to November 7. 

Which set are you getting? Who is your spirit Disney Princess? (I'm totally Elsa! I mean have you seen that eyeshadow job?)

When I first came across Beauty Bar as a noob a few years ago, I was honestly too intimidated to even go inside the store. The pristine interiors and foreign brands made me think that they only carried products that were out of reach for a student on a budget. I have never been so glad to be proven wrong! I learned that Beauty Bar actually offers a huge selection beauty products from both local and international brands, and the price range is diverse enough to include great, affordable picks. I know it can get overwhelming because they have so much to choose from so here are six to get you started!

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliners (P375)

We were pretty impressed by Prestige’s Total Intensity collection and we’re happy to report that these eyeliners are every bit as good. They’re creamy, pigmented, and last pretty much the whole day that some even call them dupes for Urban Decay’s 24/7 pencil eyeliners! And if you’re feeling adventurous, the shades aren’t restricted to just your usual browns and blacks; they also have them in turquoise, bright blue, emerald, and even a slate gray.

Yadah All Day Tint (P345)

Did you know that Beauty Bar even has K-beauty products? We’ve actually featured Yadah a number of times before but only recently got our hands on what is probably the most staple of Korean products: lip tint! This formula is pretty unique though as the ingredients are all-natural and packed with moisturizing goodness from argan oil, cupuacu butter, jojoba oil, sunflower oil and avocado oil. The pigment stays vibrant for up to three hours and then leaves a pretty stain that fades evenly. I love that I no longer need to apply a separate lip balm!

Palladio Velvet Matte Cream Lip Color (P475)

If you’re more into the trendy matte lip than tints, you should definitely pick a tube or two from this line. They’re smooth, pigmented, AND comfortable on the lips though we still recommend applying a balm beforehand. The finish looks more demi-matte than full matte, which I think looks more flattering than a parched pout.

Palladio Dreamy Matte Lip Color (P450)

Want an opaque, even lip color in just one swipe? This is the lippie for you! It’s richly pigmented and quite matte, but formulated with aloe leaf extract and safflower oil to keep your lips from looking dehydrated. Unlike other matte lipsticks, it feels quite creamy and doesn’t drag. Staying power is about four hours.

Bare Body Wash (P475)

Get a spa-like experience every time you bathe with this luxuriously-scented wash! You can even get all the different variants and have fun mixing and matching scents, as they’re ingeniously designed to be mixed together for a more customized fragrance. Currently, there are five variants available: Green Tea (our favorite!), Peppermint (it has a slight cooling sensation), Rosemary (a unique herbal scent), Bergamot & Geranium (a fruity-floral combo), and Lemongrass & Ginger (bright and zesty). It makes your daily shower feel like a treat!

Artdeco Eyeshadows, P350

These eyeshadows remind me of the ones from Inglot because they’re also designed to be placed in customizable palettes, but these are a bit cheaper. The powders feel buttery-rich and are well-pigmented so you can actually build a good eyeshadow collection on a budget without having to sacrifice quality. It’s also pretty cool that each one already comes with a magnetic strip at the bottom so you don’t have to worry about de-potting, and just slide off the cover if you want to fit it into the quad palette (about P450).

Have you been to Beauty Bar recently? What are your fave affordable finds from there? As it happens, BBar just spruced up their online store so you can get your faves there anytime. ^_^

Photography by Samantha Gonzales

Hi PV Team! My name is Cheska and I'm 20. I've had good skin for most of my life so I never really had a skincare routine even though I love makeup. Since I joined the workforce this year though, I don't know, my skin just went crazy! Maybe it's the long daily commute from my house to my office that did it. I now have pimples all over my face and I don't know what to do. I would love any advice!

Hi Cheska! I'm sorry to hear that! My first advice is to ease back on the makeup use for now and start maintaining a basic yet mild skincare routine. The Internet might tell you to go for acne drying treatments like salicylic acid, tretinoin, or tea tree oil, but those harsh solutions should be your last recourse - not the first! And don't get me started on lemon juice, baking soda, and other popular home remedies. They might irritate you more and add scaly, red skin to the existing issue.

In my experience, cleansing the right way helps a lot in dealing with acne. I know, it sounds like such an impossibly simple solution, but you'd be surprised by how much of our acne is caused by poor cleansing! Just imagine all the dirt, oil, and bacteria stuck on your skin all day just doing the devil's work. On top of that, wearing makeup (especially the long-wearing, water-resistant kind) and not removing it thoroughly causes the product to sink into your pores, blocking them and causing your skin to react. Imagine layers and layers of that just sitting on your skin and coating it with a layer of nastiness impervious to just normal soap!

So yeah, cleansing correctly is a good first step. I recommend double cleansing since you like to wear makeup. First, take everything off with a gentle makeup remover like the Cetaphil Cleansing Cloths (P230). I like to focus around my nose where the makeup settles and my chin where I use heavy coverage products. Wipe your eyes gently - no rubbing! - to take off eyeshadow, eyeliner, and non-waterproof mascara. I love these Cetaphil cloths because they are efficient, scentless, and feel so smooth on skin.

Once everything is gone, massage a peso-sized amount of the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser all over your face and rinse with water. You can also wipe it off with a clean dry cloth, if you wish. This cult fave cleanser is a dermatologist fave for a reason! It's great for all skin types, although it's especially ideal for sensitive skin as it's mild and non-irritating. Pro tip: it can also be used as a body wash if you have issues in other parts of your skin too (i.e. bacne, chicken skin, eczema, etc.).

Double cleansing adds an extra step, but I promise it will do wonders in keeping your skin healthy and clear. ^_^ You can use a toner and moisturizer afterwards to keep your skin hydrated. I've been doing this for years so it's automatic for me already and yup, it's well worth the time and cost! However, if your pimples persist, it might be time to see a dermatologist. Give this a try first though, and let me know how it goes!

By the way ladies, Cetaphil has a special promo this holiday season! If you buy two bottles, you can get one for free - the whole set is P778 only. This is available in Watsons and all major retail partners. If you're a fan of the iconic Cetaphil cleanser and stock that stuff for your sensitive skin, now is the time to get hoardin'!

This story is brought to you by Cetaphil. The promo is per DOH-FDA CCRR Permit No. 745 s. 2016.

Header image via Bustle

Put away those plastic pumpkins and try to recover from all that candy because the more festive “ber” months are upon us. Hello November! Packed with even more new launches and a few beauty collaborations, this week’s roundup features some really exciting things we just can’t wait to get our hands on (so we can slather them on our faces). From MAC’s new highlighter collection and more Glossier goodness to a cult Korean brand that’ll be hitting the drugstore aisle soon, this first week of November will leave you craving for more!

We can't have too much Disney

It seems that Happy Skin's collab with Disney goes deeper than we thought! We just found out that Happy Skin will be selling singles of their new lippies for P699 (yay), as well as two new formulations in their lineup. Check out the Luminous Mesh Blush (P899) and the Brightening Powder Foundation (P1,499). The keen eyes of the PV team spotted the powder foundation (part of the photo above) sold at Zalora yesterday but it seems to have been pulled out as of the time of publishing. We'll find out more on the launch event next week so stay tuned for that!

Image via Temptalia

On a highlighter high

Shining, shimmering, and oh so splendid! Known for their iconic highlighters like Soft and Gentle and the Strobe Cream, MAC Cosmetics is at it again with a full-on massive collection! In The Spotlight is devoted entirely to highlighters in both cream and powder forms, and there’s plenty to fall in love with.

Image via Popsugar

Their famous Strobe Cream will be renamed “Pinklite” and include four more shades of pearly, glowy goodness: Peachlite, Silverlite, Redlite, and Goldlite ($33). If creams aren’t your thing though, the Extra Dimension Skinfinish Powders ($33) are sure to wow you. These buttery powders feature a unique duochrome effect that flashes two different colors when applied on the skin. Choose from Doublegleam, Show Gold, Soft Frost, or Beaming Blush, though they’re all so pretty that it’s hard to pick just one. Check your MAC counters ASAP, or head over to maccosmetics.com right after reading the rest of this story!

Full story on Popsugar

Image via Allure

Glossier and glossier

You know a cosmetics brand is good when, despite the hype, their products perform super well and need little to no promotion. Well, it looks like Glossier is at it again, and they’re upping their makeup game just in time for the holidays.

Their Glossier Black Tie Set is every minimalist’s dream collection: Glossier Lip Gloss (a translucent rose-hued gel balm), No. 1 Pencil in Graphite (a self-sharpening eyeliner with silky pigmentation), #GlossierPink Nail Polish (the signature petal pink color of the brand), and the new Moonstone highlighter stick (an opal shade that gives an amazing glow on the cheeks). The limited edition collection is available at Glossier.com and retails for $50.

Full story on Allure

Images via Instagram user @toofaced

The holidays are all about the fun(fetti)!

You may want to sit down before you read this next bit because, believe it or not, Too Faced is hitting us with yet another adorable collection!!! Introducing the Funfetti Palette: 12 shimmer and matte eyeshadow shades in the cutest baby pink and heart-shaped packaging ever. It includes an entire spectrum of “girly girl” pink shades then dives to a deep plum. To make things even cuter, the Funfetti collection will also include a Love Flush Blush, a lipgloss, a deluxe tube of the Better Than Sex mascara, and a heart-shaped kabuki brush! The collection is already available on toofaced.com.

Full story on InStyle

Image via Refinery29

Nothing shade(y) about Sally

Between shopping for gifts and attending all the holiday parties, something from our usual beauty routine is bound fall through the cracks. With barely any time to sit still, much less go to the parlor, we’d have resigned ourselves to chipped manicures and untended cuticles if not for Sally Hansen’s Color Therapy Collection ($8.99). These nail polishes include skin-caring ingredients like argan oil, acai, and evening primrose oils so that they also nourish and moisturize your nail beds. It’s nifty and long-wearing so you can opt to skip your weekly appointment and spend the time enjoying the holidays instead!

Full story on Refinery29

Image beautyediter.com

Like yin and yang

With so many new brands and products coming up, heritage brands are finding ways to stay relevant and on-trend. Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder isn’t one to get left behind with their Estée Edit line, a specially curated goldmine of all things current and trendy. Their latest additions, the Gritty and Glow Palettes ($58), are definitely something to latch on.

Composed of 12 eyeshadows and highlighter shades, these limited-edition holiday palettes are ready to go as wild or as glam as you please. You can bring your peepers to life with some exciting, party-ready jewel tones, or use the nudes for a more subtle, simply pretty look. And did we mention that the packaging is magnetic? No word yet on the release dates but keep checking back on sephora.com for updates!

Full story on Bustle

Image via Vogue

Victoria’s Secret? Here’s a (Max) Factor

One of the world’s most awaited events on TV is happening on December 5th, and apart from the cute underwear and intricately-crafted wings, the VS Angels will be wearing something extra special. The brilliance of Max Factor will be shining on the runway as the official makeup partner for Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2016!

The heritage cosmetics brand will be responsible for recreating that signature sexy, glowy, “no makeup” makeup look, and we’ll be keeping a keen eye out on which products appear backstage so we know what to add on our lists. One thing’s for certain: the main star of the show is touted to be Max Factor False Lash Effect Epic Mascara!

Full story on Vogue UK

Look out cosrx at watsons Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan 😉 #rg 🌸 @jolenengg That excitement when you see @cosrx at Watsons in Singapore 😍 Please bring in more products! #COSRX #Watsons . . . . . #코스알엑스 #뷰티 #화장품 #코덕 #skincare #kbeauty #haul #beautyhaul #skincarehaul #bblogger #bblog #beauty #beautycommunity #beautyaddict #beautyjunckie #skincareaddict #skincarejunkie #skincareblog #skincarediary #skincareblogger #skincareproducts #skincareroutine

A photo posted by COSRX_코스알엑스 official (@cosrx) on Oct 26, 2016 at 6:07am PDT

Cos we can’t get enough of Korean skincare

If the famous 10-step regimen is much too crazy for you, you can at least add some cult skin care products to boost your current regimen. CosRX teased that they’ll soon be coming to Watsons Philippines, and we hear that a few products have already been spotted in SM Megamall and SM Aura! This is the first time the K-beauty brand will officially be available in physical stores, though you can also get your fix by shopping online at beautymnl.com or theskincarecurator.com.