Articles - Project Vanity

Did you know that there are pro-quality, super affordable European makeup brands at SM Beauty? We’ve only recently started discovering them as they’ve slowly been popping up all over the local beauty scene. To allow give us the chance to try these products, Bhagi’s International treated us to the Beauty Backstage shopping party! Whitespace Makati was transformed into a mini beauty fair where beauty writers got to shop each of the eight beauty brands carried by Bhagi’s.

We’re no strangers to Essence Cosmetics here in Project Vanity. We’ve raved about their best-selling All about Matt Compact Fixing Powder (P299) and I Love Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base (P249), hoarded their lip liners and eyeliners, and even hosted an eyebrow workshop for the Little Eyebrow Monsters Line. I’m so excited to finally try the Pure Nude Highlighter (P379) for myself as it’s constantly sold out! I also picked up two palettes: All About Roses eyeshadow palette (P379), which features some pretty shimmers; and Vintage Rose (P499), a rose-toned palette that includes eyeshadows, a highlighter, and cream eyeliner.

Catrice Cosmetics is another favorite German brand of ours here at PV. It’s inspired by fashion trends around the world so they’re always adding new products to match the seasons! Brand manager Katrina Chu excitedly shared her favorites from the brand. The Matt 6hr Lip Artist (P499) is a crayon-type lipstick that promises six hours of no smudging, while their 7-pan eyeshadow palettes (P499) come in four different collections: Essential Nude, Modern Matt, Nude Blossom and Precious Copper.

They also have the Deluxe Glow Highlighter Palette (P499) which consists of three luminescent shades that give the skin a soft glow, while the Blush Artist Shading Palette (P499) comes in three different collections each consisting of two blushes (one matte and one shimmer) and a highlight.

I’m looking forward to trying the Re Touch Light Reflecting Concealer (P399), which looks very similar to YSL Touch Eclat. I made sure to get the Prime and Fine Mattifying Powder Waterproof (P499) for my crazy oily skin, and Pret-a-Volume Smokey Mascara Waterproof (P499) which is the most long-wearing mascara of the brand.

As you may have guessed, Deborah Milano hails from Italy. Its bestsellers include the Daily Dream DD Foundation (P799), which features anti-aging properties and is said to be best suited for dry skin. I have very oily skin though so I decided to go for the Comfort Matt Foundation (P749) instead. Liz raved about how The Absolute Lasting Liquid Lipstick (P649) survived through a buffet meal so I got two shades of this transfer-proof goodness!

Aside from makeup, Bhagi’s also brought in the Il Salone Milano hair colors from Italy. These home coloring kits are gentler on your hair because it has only 0.7% ammonia content, plus they’re free from parabens, paraffin and ethyl alcohol. The scent is quite neutral, too, so you don’t get a headache while undergoing the treatment. It comes with a pre-treatment to protect your hair before coloring, as well as a post-treatment to nourish your hair after. Currently there are six shades available locally. The most popular ones are 9.03 light golden blonde and 8.3 medium golden blonde. For just P369 per box, these are very affordable and safe hair coloring options!

I didn’t even know that we had Turkish beauty products available here until I learned about Flormar Cosmetics. Their star product is the Illuminating Primer Base (P699), which brightens and hydrates the face while prolonging the wear of makeup, making it a must-have for dry-skinned gals. For my fellow oily-since-birth girls, they recommend the Mat Touch foundation (P749) for a matte, medium coverage and Perfect Coverage Foundation (P799) for full coverage. Another bestseller are the Deluxe Cashmere Lipsticks (P399), which are infused with shea butter, cacao butter, and other antioxidants. Even the Eyebrow Pencil in 402 (P199), a dark brown shade with a brush, usually sells like hotcakes!

I decided to go for the powders because summer will be upon us pretty soon and I usually ditch my liquid bases completely. I got the Loose Powder (P399) to control oiliness while locking in moisture. I also grabbed a Compact Powder (P449) as well as a Wet & Dry Compact Powder (P499). Both were wonderfully creamy to the touch when I swatched them.

The only non-European brand in the lineup is Jordana, which is made in the USA. Jordana aims to offer every girl the chance to experience superior quality, fashion forward cosmetics at extremely affordable prices. Their star products are definitely their lip products! Their bestselling Sweet Cream Matte Liquid Lip Colors (P399) are frequently run out of stock because beauty girls love the transfer-proof formula. They have outlandish colors such as blue, gray and black but the most popular shades are Rose Macaron (a soft pink that we featured in our Naughty and Nice kit), Tiramisu (rosy brown), and Crème Bulee (nude pink).

Another bestseller is the Complete Cover 2-in-1 Concealer Foundation (P499), which offers as full a coverage as its name suggests. You can also use this as a spot concealer. I found 03 Golden Beige to be a good match for my NC20 skin. I’m also looking forward to trying the Prime No-Shine Mattifying Face Primer (P699) because my oily skin needs all the help it can get!

I love collecting perfumes so I was really excited to see that Bhagi’s also brought in some new fragrances! Those who are just looking for a mild splash of scent will enjoy the Romantic Collection perfumed body mists (P299). There are six available variants, all with fresh, floral scents. I personally adore floral scents, and chose Memories of You and Hush of Blush. Those looking for something sweeter will enjoy Good Mornings.

If you prefer a more personalized fragrance, however, then check out Joe of London Eau de Parfum, which are made with fragrance oils from France. These scents can be layered on top of each other to create your own unique fragrance! And it’s so affordable, too: it’s Buy 1-Take 1 for just P469! There are eight scents to choose from and each has its own unique character. You can take your pick among citrus, floral and woody scents, then layer them according to your liking or wear alone. Their bestseller, Sage, is a woody, earthy scent with a hint of sea salt.

Eileen de Guzman, General Manager of Bhagi’s International, personally recommends Orangy, which is scented with fresh orange blossoms. She says that she always gets compliments whenever she wears it! I decided to follow her recommendation and I do love how it smells on me. I also got Lily, a powdery floral which I feel could be unisex despite the name. My hubby likes it too, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he started using it!

Blogger Julia Arenas, Liz, vlogger Say Tioco, and Ms. Eileen de Guzman

So there you go! As someone who studied makeup professionally, I’m so glad that these pro-quality products are now so readily accessible at SM Beauty, and at such reasonable prices, too! Have you ever tried any of these brands? Which of these products have become faves in your kit?

Disclosure: Our mother company provided press relations services for this event.

While last year’s trend was covering up every flaw and pore, this year is all about lighter bases that show some skin! In the eternal summer that we experience here in the PH, we could really do without that heavy feeling that normally comes with using a full coverage foundation. While it makes us look perfect and flawless, too heavy foundations can also appear and feel mask-like. They also don't look so hot when viewed up close and personal. Not to mention that it’s more likely to cake throughout the day!

So, do you really need a full coverage foundation? The truth is, you might not actually need as much as you think. We’ve listed the top reasons women use to justify the heavy coverage on a regular basis, and how you can start changing up your makeup game into one that allows you to embrace your imperfections and your skin to breathe.

Reason #1: I already have a foundation that I love and I don’t want to stop using it.

Solution: Thin out your coverage with moisturizer.

We know the struggle of finding that perfect foundation, as well as needing to scrounge up funds before being able to shell out for a new bottle. Instead, why not just thin out the coverage of your favorite foundation by mixing it with a bit of moisturizer? You can control the coverage depending on the ratio of foundation to moisturizer you use (more moisturizer = less coverage). This way, you can still enjoy the benefits of your favorite foundation while letting your natural skin peek through. You can even take it up a notch up by making your own cushion!

Reason #2: Sheerer formulations slide off my face.

Remedy: Use a primer.

Adding a primer can seem like an additional step but if foundations can’t seem to stay put on your face, then it’s worth the extra effort and offers a better solution versus just packing on product. A PV favorite is Benefit ThePorefessional Matte Rescue Gel (P1,600 at Benefit) - it’s a bit pricey but a tiny amount is all that’s needed for the whole face. If you’re on a budget, try our primer picks for under P500.

Reason #3: I want to cover my pores.

Remedy: Try a sheer foundation that illuminates your skin.

Adding more coverage is not the answer to covering up pores. Instead, go for a light face base with pore-blurring properties. We love Benefit ThePorefessional Pore Minimizing Makeup (P1,700 at Benefit) for this. In addition, pore-blurring powders like Benefit ThePorefessional Agent Zero Shine (P1,600 at Benefit) can also help.

Reason #4: I have blemishes I want to conceal.

Remedy: Apply concealer only where you need it.

As someone with extremely oily skin, trust me when I say that concealers have a better chance of staying put all day compared to a long-wearing foundation. The heavier formula and more intense pigmentation makes it easier for blemishes to stay hidden all day, too! I’ve found that MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (P1,250 at MAC) can survive my 16-hour workdays and extremely oily skin. The price is worth it because the tiny amount you need makes even a small bottle last forever! Other cult faves are the NARS For the more budget-conscious, Pink Sugar Our Li’l Secrets Concealer (P299 at SM Beauty) is a PV favorite because the tiny tube packs heavy coverage and sets like cement!

Have you ditched your heavy face bases for something more light, comfortable and natural? What products would you recommend for that second skin feel?

Heads up! If you or someone you know loves shopping at Estee Lauder, you shouldn't miss their yearly Gift Time. This February they have a new tote and pouch design that I've really been enjoying for my casual days out lately. The zebra print is cute and a touch sporty according to how I style it! You can get the pouch and skincare set for free at a minimum purchase of P6,000, and both the pouch and tote with a minimum purchase of P7,000.

The travel pouch includes luxe sizes of the following: Perfectly Clean Foam Cleanser/Purifying Mask, Micro Essence Serum, Advanced Night Repair Serum, Advanced Time Zone Moisturizer, Advanced Time Zone Eye Cream, Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara, and Pure Color Gloss in Jealous Blush. These products should set you up for your next trip, or just let you sample some of Estee Lauder's best-sellers! I love bringing the travel tube of Perfectly Clean Foam Cleanser as it is powerful enough to remove light makeup on its own; I don't have to tote a separate makeup remover if I don't want to make space for it.

This offer is available in Estee Lauder counters at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-la, Rustan’s Alabang, Rustan’s Gateway, Rustan’s Cebu, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and SM Aura only until February 28. Catch it while you can! ^_^

With just a few days left to V-day, we're looking forward to heart-shaped chocolates, bouquets of red and pink, and of course, traffic. Ew. Now don’t fret because despite how crazy things will be getting in the coming days, we’ve got a roundup that’s sure to perk up your spirits and get you all giddy inside! There's so much to L-O-V-E from this week's new releases, you'll want to nudge to your bae here for gift ideas. Even love stories have endings though so get ready for some heartbreak as we say goodbye to yet another well-loved beauty brand leaving the PH.

Image via facebook.com/cathydollphils

Take a Brow

Who would’ve thought that the little patch of hair above our eyes would turn out to be one of the most important features on our faces? From eyebrow threading to tattooing, pomades to pencils, brow gels and tints, we'll do pretty much anything to keep our arches looking perfect and on fleek. So when our radar picks up a new brow product, we get very, very, very excited!

Korean-inspired brand Cathy Doll has come out with a new brow product called the REALBROW 4D Tattoo Tint. A marker-like tool with four mini spiked tips that not only promises to give you a more natural looking brow but also to make it last up to 24 hours! Available in three shades (Light Brown, Ash Brown and Dark Brown) the REALBROW 4D Tattoo Tint will only set you back P399 and is available at select 7-Eleven, Watsons, and Zalora!

Image via beautyalmanac.com

Do It Yourself Coverage!

Talk about starting a trend! Clinique has just released a revolutionary product that promises to give you the exact coverage that you want from your base makeup. How? By doing it yourself or more accurately, blending It yourself! The BIY Pigment Drops is a two-phase formula that allows you to blend the foundation with your favorite moisturizer, making your skincare and makeup routine that much easier. One drop gives you a sheer, healthy finish while 2-3 drops can give you full coverage. Only available so far on Ulta, the drops cost $33 each and come in 12 shades.

Full story on Refinery29

Image via PopSugar

Perfectly Puckered Up

Known for making high quality brushes at affordable prices, YouTube stars Sam and Nic Chapman have come out (yet again) with a collection that have been missing from our makeup vanities. The limited edition Real Techniques Prep + Color Lip Set ($20) comes with four brushes that promise to help carve and color your pout. The Lip Smoothing Brush is for applying your lip balm, as this priming brush gently exfoliates your lips, too. The Lip Fan Brush helps you glide on your lip color down to your cupid’s bow. The Lip Lining Brush is perfect for cleaning up any edges and defining the edges of your lips. Finally, the Lip Brush is perfect for final touches - be it a touch of gloss or an ombre lip.

Full story on PopSugar

Image via facebook.com/maybellinephilippines

It’s a Maybelline Birthday Blowout!

Get yourself the perfect gift for your special day! If you’re celebrating your birthday this February, you get an extra treat, care of Maybelline Philippines! Receive 10% off your favorite regular priced products from Maybelline in all Robinsons Department Stores nationwide from February 1 to 28. Don’t forget to bring a valid ID with a picture and your birthday on it to avail of this exclusive promo! It’s definitely time to #TreatYoSelf.

Image via Allure

Fall (even more) in LOVE with ColourPop

Where my fabulous ladies at?! We know that February can be a tough month for some, not because they’re single but because restaurants are packed, malls are crowded, and couples are just EVERYWHERE. Well, ColourPop Cosmetics is giving us a reason to fall back in love with February with their latest launch: The Love Collection!

Image via Instagram user @colourpopcosmetics

The Valentine’s Day themed collection features three new Lippie Stix ($5 each) in Sure Thing, Only You, and I’m Yours, which basically have every nude lippie lover dying. There’s also an awesome new tie-dye pastel pink highlighter called Tough Love ($8), a Mini Lipstick Kit ($18), Pressed Powder Eye Duo Palettes ($10), and a Yes, No, Maybe So Super Shock Shadow Kit ($18) with four pink and burgundy shadows. The collection will also feature brushes! The baby pink and rose gold beauties will cost you $6. Take your pick and snag the Blending Brush, Shader Brush, or the Angled Eyeliner Brush (or just get all three)!

Full story on Allure

Image via finder.com.au

An Italian Beauty (and the Beast)

First of all, can we just talk about how amazing the trailer for the live action reboot of Beauty and the Beast is? Emma Watson makes the perfect Belle, it’s insane! With that said, some other photos have been making us hum about the tale as old as time - an actual makeup collection inspired by Beauty and the Beast! But is it real? Well, PV girls, we’ve got good news and bad news.

First, the good news is that the collection is 100% REAL! L’Oreal Cosmetics has verified the authenticity of the products, which means we can actually get our hands on these beauties. The bad news is that the entire collection is exclusively available on Amazon Italy only (insert 5,000 sad face emojis). The website does ship worldwide so you could still try your luck at scoring these enchanting lippies with matching polish.

Image via revelist.com

The Color Riche Lipsticks and Color Oil Enamel Polishes have seven shades each and are all inspired by the story’s characters, down to the gorgeous packaging. The entire collection will cost you $97 (and is available for pre-order on the site) while individual lippies are $11 each and the nail polishes are at $8 each. If you have any friends or family in Italy, please get in touch with me in the comments section!

Full story on PopSugar

Sneak Your Way Into Their Heart

Looking for a unique and practical V-day gift for your significant other? If they're The One you see yourself going places with, a pair of customized sneakers will carry your message across! Give them Keds that are specially illustrated by top female visual artists Paola Esteron, Anina Rubio, and Geli Balcuz. Find out how over at the Keds Facebook page or @kedsph on Instagram.

If you want to pick your design or want to be matchy-matchy, you can head over to to the Keds Glorietta 3 branch on February 12, from 11am to 2pm, to have Paola Esteron customize your sneaks. Plus, you can get a 10% discount for your purchases!

Au Revoir, Lancôme

I know, I know: we’re all still trying to get over the fact that Shu Uemura is leaving the country very soon and sadly, another amazing brand is following in its footsteps. The L’Oreal Group has just confirmed that the French brand will be pulling out of the country some time this year. Lancôme stores have already stopped replenishing stocks of their cult favorites, so if you’ve got an HG there, better hoard while you still can. Despite the recent buzz of the brand’s revolutionary customizable foundation, L’Oreal has decided to go ahead with the pull out. The exit of these brands do have us hoping that it leaves room for newer names to enter the country. L’Oreal did purchase brands like IT Cosmetics, YSL Beauty, and Urban Decay, so here’s hoping that we have better news to look forward to!

Full story on Town and Country

Editor's Note: We believe that virginity, birth control, and sex are still opaque topics here in the Philippines. A discussion about these things with our parents mostly involves them telling us never to have intercourse or get pregnant until we're married. However, that is hardly a deterrent for women to make unwise choices. At Project Vanity, our ultimate goal is to empower women by providing them information about their own bodies so they feel more confident navigating their world.

In The Sex Talk, a new section here at PV, we aim to consult with doctors and experts about common questions we feel should be answered by women, for women.

Ready for a dose of cold, hard reality? Accidents happen. No judgment here. And it’s not always the scenario you’d expect, either. Yes, incidences of unprotected sex can be caused by the heat of the moment but it can also result from a failed primary birth control option like a broken condom, or even something as severe as sexual assault. Whatever the case, it’s important to know that you have options readily available to you in that time of need. Yes, even though the deed has been done without protection, there is still a way to lower or remove your risk of getting pregnant.

Emergency birth control is something that's not common knowledge here in the the Philippines, so we had a chat with Dr. Rowena Rivera, an OB-GYN at The Medical City and instructor at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health to tell us more about it. After helping us navigate the hymen, she’s back to talk about last-minute options for preventing an unplanned pregnancy.

The long and short of it

Emergency birth control? Morning-after pill? What’s the difference? They are often used interchangeably, because the morning-after pill is a form of emergency birth control. Do note that these measures are designed to prevent pregnancy even before it happens, which also means that there is only a small time frame in which it can be effective.

What are your options?

If you’re familiar with American pop culture, you’ve probably heard of Plan B. It’s just one of the emergency contraceptive options available in the US, along with ella and Next Choice. Unfortunately, none of these morning after pills are available in the PH but you still have two options.

“What’s available in the country and what’s most effective is the IUD,” says Dr. Rivera. Though the intrauterine device is primarily as a long-acting, reversible artificial contraceptive, it’s also effective as an emergency option if placed by your doctor within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Aside from the immediate efficacy, it can provide you with continuous birth control for as much as the next 10 years. As an intrauterine device though, it cannot protect you or your partner from getting sexually transmitted diseases so it’s still a good idea to use a condom.

Alternatively, you can take a powerful dose of OCPs (oral contraceptive pills) following the Yuzpe method. Depending on the type of pill, you usually take several pills in two doses to boost the contraceptive effect. This is best done within 24 up to 72 hours after sex and with your OB-GYN’s guidance to ensure its safety and effectiveness. The sudden surge in hormones can result in some side effects like nausea and vomiting so do make sure to contact your doctor if this happens, as the vomiting may cause you to throw up the pills and render this option ineffective.

You can check the different doses for different types of pills here. The easiest to access birth control pill which you can use for the Yuzpe method is Nordette, four of which you can take 12 hours apart (total of eight pills). Nordette can be purchased in most drugstores in the Philippines. Please do make sure to contact your health care provider for advice before doing this, especially if you have an existing condition.

The A Word

So much controversy surrounds the nature of emergency birth control, especially in our country where a strong opposition to artificial contraceptives can lead to fear-mongering and misinformation. Let’s address the burning question: are emergency birth control methods considered an abortifacient? The answer is NO. “With the morning after pill, IUD, and Yuzpe method, you want to prevent implantation. Abortion only occurs when implantation has already taken place,” explains Dr. Rivera.

If implantation has already occurred or if the pregnancy is already underway, taking birth control pills or even the morning after pill will not harm the developing baby. “The pill is proven to be without effects on the implanted embryo,” she clarifies.

In the case of IUDs, they will also not disrupt an implantation that has already taken place. However, early detection of the pregnancy is a must as there are cases where an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage can occur because of the presence of IUD. If this happens, the doctor will advise you whether to leave the IUD in or have it taken out, depending on the condition of the embryo.

If you find yourself in need of emergency birth control, it’s very important for you to take a proactive stance in finding safe and medically-proven solutions rather than looking online for sketchy DIYs.

Keep calm and don’t panic but understand the urgency of the situation. Emergency contraceptives only have a small window of time to be effective, so act fast but stay smart. Think about the options available to you and consider which one may suit you best.
Call the doctor very quick. Self-medication can lead to some serious consequences so don’t try to Yuzpe all on your own. Get yourself an appointment with your OB-GYN ASAP. If you decide on an IUD, let them know in advance so they can order the implant and have it ready for when you visit.
Get support. This is naturally a nerve-wracking experience, so the presence of your significant other or a friend during the doctor’s appointment and through the entire ordeal can help keep things in perspective.
Prepare for sudden changes. If taking pills, higher doses of hormones are involved, so your body might be put through the wringer. We’re talking sudden mood swings, headaches, and the tendency to feel ill. Your doctor should advise you on how to handle them, and which side effects may require you to give them a call or schedule another visit.
Check back. To be sure, you may want to purchase a pregnancy test to use a few weeks after your close call.
Plan for the future. If you plan to continue to be sexually active, talk to your doctor about getting on regular contraception. You may want to continue to take pills, or get an injectable or an implant if you tend to forget to take them.

Supplementary Sources: ACOG, Planned Parenthood, British Pregnancy Advisory Service, Cosmo, Parents.co

Did you feel the love in the air this Valentine’s? Well, you certainly will when you see this week’s beauty roundup! From a timeless Hollywood actress looking absolutely fresh-faced for her newest endorsement, to an iconic animated character getting her own lipstick, these stories are going to have you swooning!

Image via People

You wouldn’t believe that she’s 49

Celebrities have always been a popular option for endorsing beauty products and this case is no exception. What we do love is that Neutrogena’s latest face perfectly reflects the brand’s own timelessness and reliable performance. Exuding class and a flawless look, Nicole Kidman now joins fellow brand ambassadors Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner, Kristen Bell, and Hayden Panettiere as Neutrogena’s newest endorser! Kidman says that the key to her amazing skin is really down to three letters: SPF. Her first Neutrogena commercial will air at the 2017 Oscar Awards, and we honestly look forward to seeing what this partnership means for the brand!

Full story on Elle

Image via wunderground.com

Another goodbye?

Another bit of sad news, PV Girls: it looks like L’Oreal is looking to cut yet another favorite from their beauty portfolio. The cosmetics giant has confirmed that they aim to sell The Body Shop chain, which they acquired in 2006. The brand is known for using all- natural ingredients and tying up with environmental advocacies but L’Oreal has disclosed that the cut will give the brand better opportunities to continue to fully develop as a company. No word yet if this sale will mean yet another pull out in the Philippines – please, God, no! We’ve known (and loved) TBS since forever!

Full story on BBC

Image via Althea PH

Add a spring to your step

We may not actually have this season here in the tropics but Althea Philippines is making us feel the gorgeously pastel season of spring! Our fave online K-beauty source is offering an additional 10% discount code on Spring collection products, which means you can get more stuff for less! I’m definitely eyeing the Missha x Frida Kahlo foundation compact (P900), The Banila Co. Prime Primer Blur (P1,060), and the Peripera Ink Moist (P430) – has anyone tried these yet? The discount only applies while stocks last, so better start filling that cart, girls!

Image via PopSugar

Mermaid Meow-zah!

Remember when we totally freaked out about Katy Perry’s Collection with Cover Girl Cosmetics? Well, the Pop Kitty Cat is launching yet another amazing collection with the brand, and it’s got our inner mermaids flailing with excitement! The new collection, which is set to debut some time in the coming months, is inspired by the ethereal and colorful vibes of the mythical creatures that the singer is a big fan of. The lineup includes four new eyeliners, four new lipstick shades, and two shadow-highlighter duos!

Images via PopSugar

Adorably called the Katy Kat Pearl Collection, the dual-ended Katy Kat Eyeliners ($8) include a smudger tip to soften the edges of green, black, metallic black, and white liners. The Katy Kat Pearl Lipsticks ($8) are a set of magnificently pastel pearl shades like Blue-tiful Kitty (baby blue), Purrty in Pink (baby pink), REDdy to Pounce (true red), and Apricat (coral orange). What looks to be the game-changer for the collection is the Katy Kat Pearl Shadow + Highlighter ($8), a cream shadow that doubles up as the perfect metallic color on the lids and for popping a highlight on the cheeks! It comes in Tiger’s Eye (champagne) and Tiger Rose (rose gold). Is anyone else freaking out?!

Full story on PopSugar

Images via Glory.News

Ruby Who? It's Betty Boop!

Oh. Em. Gee. Step aside Ruby, Betty is in town! MAC Cosmetics has just made an announcement that has all us red lippie gals bubbling with excitement – they’re coming out with a new red lipstick inspired by one of the sexiest cartoons ever, Betty Boop! Although Ruby Woo is a cult classic and constant staple in many a ladies’ purse, MAC has decided to take the red lip game a step further by bringing in the MAC Betty Boop Red Lipstick. The bright cherry red lipstick promises to be flattering on all skin tones, and was released on the MAC website for $17 on V-day. I personally cannot wait to get my hands (or should I say lips) on this gorgeous beauty!

Full story on Allure

Image via buro247.sg

The prettiest highlighter we ever did see

This rose is pink / violets are blue / I want this highlighter / and you will, too! Lancôme’s latest creation, the La Rose a Poudrer, is hands-down the most ridiculously gorgeous highlighter in the world. Undoubtedly the star of their limited edition Absolutely Rose collection, the perfection that is this product has made us weak in the knees. Priced at $60, the powder highlighter is cleverly packaged in between those silky petals and is said to give a “lit from within” glow in a single swipe! Lancôme’s spring collection also features a cotton candy pink shadow and lip palette ($50), and a pearlescent white eyeliner ($26). I’m not personally fond of roses but this beauty would make for an even more memorable farewell purchase from Lancôme.

As you guys may know, Lancôme is pulling out, but it's pretty easy to order abroad depending on how badly you want it.

Full story on Refinery29

Image via facebook.com/maybellinephilippines

Pillowy soft and powdery smooth

If matte lipsticks squeeze the moisture out of your pout and leave them feeling suffocated by a heavy formula, Maybelline Philippines may just have the solution. The brand is offering a special discount on their revolutionary Powder Matte lippies! Get P100 off from February 17 to 19 exclusively at Watsons stores nationwide, and test out Maybelline’s most lightweight lipstick formula for just P199. There are 15 shades available and the nudes look really promising. Are you hoarding? Which shades will you be getting?

Header image via Airfrov

Red is the color of love, of passion, of blood. It's the color that gives us life and inspires us to action when we feel defeated by our circumstances. This is why the PV Team loves red lips: it's a quick way to brighten our day and our skin even when the odds seem impossible! For the first kit of the year, we've curated three lipsticks that will rekindle the passion you have for the things that matter to you. The Project Vanity Passion Kit is also our very first mini kit, and only retails for P600 at The Project Vanity Store (projectvanity.com/store).

Here are the details!

The Everyday Pink Red

Revlon has new colors under their best-selling Ultra HD Line (P575), and one of them is a wonderful pink red called Kisses. This is a perfectly wearable shade that should be versatile enough to wear for all your daytime engagements. In person, it has more of a reddish tint and a brown undertone - it's super flattering for morenas!

The Fun, Outgoing Red

TheBalm's Read My Lips Lip Gloss in Wow! (P675) is one heck of a showstopper. A glossy cherry red, Wow! is a beautiful, instantly brightening color that will make your skin come alive. If you're digging the K-Beauty look with innocent eyes and stained lips, this gloss is a must-have in your kit!

The Sexy Red

The Pink Sugar Creamy Matte Lipstick in Diva (P349) is a classic deep, sexy red. Swipe it on for your dinner dates, or just wear it for your special someone - nothing but Diva! ;) We love the creamy texture and staying power of this demi-matte lipstick. We reach out for this often as it's a dupe for one of our fave shades from a high-end brand.

If you're loving what's inside our Passion Kit, grab it now for only P600 at the Project Vanity Store (plus P40 for shipping within Metro Manila and P135 for provincial locations). The total value of the kit is P1,799 including the custom pouch with my watercolor artwork. Have fun with your new lipsticks!

Makeup means different things to different people. Some turn their talent and knowledge into a paying job, others obsess about it like any other hobby, while many simply enjoy enhancing their good looks with it everyday. We get it though - not everyone understands our love for makeup. We don’t all have to die for the perfect MLBB lipstick or understand the importance of kilay but can non-makeup lovers just not rain on our parade? Some remarks are simply annoying, spoken out of ignorance, or even downright rude. We’ve compiled a list of the usual comments we encounter and our tips on how to deal with them!

“Are you sick?” (if you don’t have makeup on)

You may hear this if people around you are used to seeing you wear makeup and have never seen your dark circles before. There are just days when don’t have time to put on makeup or simply don’t feel like it. And that’s totally fine! Just brush off the remark, assure them that you’re fine, and go about your life.

“Why are you wearing red lipstick? May ganap?”

Red lipstick has a rep for glamour and sexiness. It may apply tediously but it’s such a flattering color, especially if you find the right shade of red for you. Wearing blue-based reds can even make your teeth look whiter. There’s no good reason why it has to be reserved just for special occasions – bust it out if you want to look put together without having to apply much else for the rest of your face! Give them a smile that shows of your pearly whites and reply, “Ang ganda, noh?”

“Eyeliner is for goths.”

First off, there’s nothing wrong with doing a gothic look. But if you wear a smudgy formula that gets all over your face or apply it incorrectly, you may end up looking like you have panda eyes. It’s possible that this comment means you need to work on your liner application. Make sure you use a good product and apply in a way that actually flatters your eye shape. If your line is fine and the other person is simply expressing a bias, ignore the remark or come up with a snappy “It didn’t say so on the product label.”

“Why buy a 1k lipstick if you can get it for P50?”

We pay a little more for good and safe ingredients and for what we value; if you can afford it, go ahead and treat yourself to luxury makeup. While there are great makeup products you can find for less, at the end of the day, it’s all about your priorities. If they’re bragging about a Kylie lip kit that they “scored” for a tenth of what you know it actually costs, consider carefully if you should tell them about fake makeup. While it’s technically the responsible thing to do, some people may just not be receptive.

“You have too much makeup on!”

IMHO, swiping on a bold lippie or sporting a cool eyeshadow look isn’t “too much makeup”. But to someone who barely swipes on lip balm, your tiny winged liner may look too dramatic. Consider also that you may have been using too much product or not blending it in well enough. Make sure to apply in thin layers, slowly building up to the coverage or color you desire. Always moisturize properly, and blend, blend, blend to avoid your makeup from looking cakey!

“May tinatago ka ba? Baka insecure ka.”

We all have our reasons for applying makeup. For me, it’s to feel extra ready to take on the day and add a spring to my step. Whatever your reason may be, just brush off what people say – we believe in the empowerment that makeup gives!

“Makeup is bad for your skin.”

This is a valid point, if you don’t take care to remove your makeup completely or buy fake cosmetics that have questionable quality. Otherwise, take this as an opportunity to tell them about local brands like VMV Hypoallergenics and Happy Skin, which focus on coming up with skin-friendly products that won’t irritate skin. Be familiar with what ingredients irritate your skin and research on what you should avoid.

“Pahiram ng makeup!”

Makeup is a personal thing, literally! Maybe you can lend say, bottles of foundations where the product is just pumped out but for things that require skin contact like powder, lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, and tools, there’s a good reason for you to be selfish and not want to share. Gently decline and explain that makeup can be a breeding ground for bacteria, and you certainly don’t want to pass on your germs to them even if you don’t appear to be sick for their own safety.

“Drag makeup is only for drag queens.”

To be clear, you don’t need full-on drag makeup unless you’re going onstage and under bright lights. The queens’ techniques have found their way to everyday makeup though, like baking and applying contour. If you like how they make you look, just go for it and don’t be afraid to strut your stuff!

“Ka-vogue ka ngayon! May party ka, noh?”

High fashion or editorial makeup are best reserved for runway and the glossies because they’re often unrealistic and possibly even uncomfortable to wear IRL. But you can totally make these unwearable looks wearable! They can be adapted to play into your daily look, just like when we recreated the glossy eyes trend to not look out of place with everyday makeup. The technique is to keep things understated, and to keep the focus on a particular feature.

In any case, at the end of the day, it's none of anybody's beeswax how you choose to dress up your face and the rest of your body. You don't owe anyone an explanation, least of all an apology, for how you choose to live your life. If you're happy and spending your own money then do yourself a favor and don't let those around you control you.

Ever had the things above said to you before? How do you address them? We’d love to hear your stories!

Today I turn 29. Now if you've been following Project Vanity and my old personal blogs for a while, you might have already pieced together my story - how, as a poor college student, I started blogging and turned my hobby into the beauty company it is today. I'm not particularly rich or famous (and I might never be), but it's a point of pride for me that I'm able to run my own business, employ an amazing staff, and pay myself my own salary all before I turned 30. I stay in my own place and I can afford to travel occasionally.

But how did I get here? And why do I want to talk about this now? The latter question is easier to answer. I know many women who were or are currently in a situation similar to mine when I was younger. They feel like their dreams are impossible or just too hard to even look at. They feel like they're not rich, pretty, smart, or confident enough to go after the thing that they know would make them happy. Not for lack of trying, they fail. Eventually it hurts too much to try again.

I'm writing this because I'm a good example that with some luck - that is, when a person works hard enough and takes enough risks that she is able to maneuver herself into a position to be lucky - anything is possible. Take it from a crude girl from the province who could never have imagined writing something like this in a fancy tea restaurant in the middle of the day because dammit it, she's the boss.

How I got here has a longer, more complex answer. I started working full-time two weeks after I graduated college, but I've actually been freelancing since my third year at university. I left my full-time job after eight months - I liked it well enough, but I wanted to be able to blog more. Can you imagine how ridiculous that sounded at the time? I was 22. I didn't know jack shit about anything.

Fortunately, due to my blogging connections, I was able to score freelance projects from different media and ad agencies. Eventually I grew my own list of clients - still blogging almost everyday all this time! I would do community management as well as marketing and PR for them on retainer. That's fun but I had to scale up. Should I open an agency or can I turn Project Vanity into something else? The answer was obvious. In late 2015 I raised money from investors, incorporated a company, and now here we are.

I was - still am - afraid every step of the way. I often feel inadequate for the job and the goals I set for myself. I make a lot of mistakes and I fail often. But I also succeed often and I do many things right. It's all part of the process of learning to navigate the next stage of my personal development!

I have so much advice I want to write down but since this is getting long and I don't want to repeat all the things I've said before, let me just say one thing.

If you already have a goal but don't know what to do to get there, find someone who has already done it or is in any stage of doing it. I would use the word mentor but it doesn't have to be so formal; the relationship could be as simple with you being curious and your friend being willing to share his or her experiences.

Ask them a lot of questions. Ask them for their story, their opinion, the things that keep them busy day to day. I was fortunate enough to work with amazing women early on in my career, and I was able to observe how they solve problems and how dedicated they are to their businesses first hand. If you have someone that you work with and look up to, learn from them. If you don't work for them yet, well, what are you waiting for? (Kidding, I know it's not always an option. But if it is, stop dawdling.)

No dream is impossible until you exhaust all means of making it possible. Dreams are like Schrödinger's cat - they're both possible and impossible until you actually open the box to check. The sooner you accept this, the less time you waste on meaningless distractions and pointless what ifs.

So, do something for yourself today. Ask someone you look up to for coffee. The worst that can happen is they say no or ignore you. Otherwise, you might just pick up a new idea that will inspire a change in the way you think or go about your life. That's priceless and worth the risk of rejection.

The local beauty scene has gotten a lot more exciting in the last few years as so many more brands and tons of new products become more readily available to Filipinas. It’s definitely a great thing but it can also feel so overwhelming! When I was in makeup school, my classmates and I would ask our teachers about the products that they considered to be their “holy grails”. They would sometimes admit that it’s sometimes difficult to find a product that they really liked because you often had to try so many meh ones before finding one that became a favorite!

Another barrier: artists usually have different styles, so what works for one is often pretty unique to them. The upside to this is that there’s a variety of products for us to choose from and to consider for our own needs. I talked to four wedding makeup artists and asked them to dish on the products that they rely on to turn their clients into their bridal best. Here’s what never leaves their kits!

Vannie Eribal | website

I always use Physiogel Lotion to prep the skin before applying any makeup. Moisturizer is an important pre-makeup step, and this does a great job of making skin feel smooth and supple. It also works well for all skin types so I don’t have to buy different moisturizers! It has enough moisture for dry skin, yet it has a light consistency that is easily absorbed by the skin, making it good for oily skin. Those with sensitive skin can also use this because it’s gentle and unscented.

Having a good primer is important for building the base. For this, I’m loving my Happy Skin Insta Beauty Blur Cream! It blurs the imperfections of the skin and also controls the production of oil. When I use this before foundation, I find that it really helps the foundation apply more smoothly. I like that it feels like a creamy foundation and is very comfortable on the skin. The tint also blends well with our Filipina skin tones.

Elaine Jacinto | website

Foundation is the most important product in my kit because it will hold all the other products that will be applied to the skin. I love using the Kryolan TV Paint Stick for this. Because it’s a full coverage cream foundation, it can easily cover imperfections like discolorations, dark undereye circles, and acne marks with just one layer. Sometimes I don’t even need to use concealer anymore. It can even cover tattoos if applied correctly together with a color correcting concealer. As a cream type foundation, it doesn’t dry too fast like liquid foundations do, so I have enough time to blend and adjust the color as needed.

Kristine Lucas | website

I can't live without my Kryolan Dermacolor Camouflage Crème concealer kit. It’s my magic potion for making sure the skin looks flawless! It has heavy coverage and stays put even if you don’t set it with a lot of powder. Shade D4 is my favorite as it fits the Filipino tone. When I apply it on the undereye area, it instantly covers the dark circles. I like applying concealer the traditional way even when I do airbrush makeup so that it doesn’t get on the lashes, and this is the only concealer that works with my airbrush products.

I also love the Anastasia Contour Kit because it gives my clients the superstar effect! This palette is more than just hype--it creates the perfect balance of glow and shadow. I find that the six shades included are enough to suit every skin tone, including a warm-toned highlighter that glows without looking too shiny. The texture is also not too powdery so I always seem to pick up just the right amount of product that I need; no need to tap the brush to remove (and waste) excess product!

Denisse Martin | website

I love my BECCA Champagne Pop highlighter! It glides on smoothly and doesn't leave chunky patches of shimmer. I find that this product gives an intense highlight that still looks wearable. It reflects flawlessly beautiful on every skin tone, and lasts about 6 hours without having the need to retouch (which is a long time in Philippine weather). It is best used with Real Techniques Setting Brush.

What are the HG products in your kit? What makes them so important to you?

Header image via beautifie.com

Blogger Julia Arenas, Liz, vlogger Say Tioco, and Ms. Eileen de Guzman

Disclosure: Our mother company provided press relations services for this event.

Fragrances hold a special place in our hearts. Scents can trigger memories anew, which is what I experienced when I recently sniffed Avon’s classic fragrance, Sweet Honesty. It’s the scent I wore when I was still in high school: I used to save up my allowance for a bottle! I was so enchanted by its trademark pretty and pink packaging. This is why every time I catch a whiff of this cologne, I am reminded of all the fun of those golden teenage years.

It’s only fitting that these memories of first love and carefree youth encapsulate the fragrance that Liza Soberano, one of the industry’s freshest and prettiest faces, now endorses. Liza joins the Avon Philippines family of stellar female endorsers including Jodi Sta. Maria and Marian Rivera as Sweet Honesty’s Fragrance Ambassador.

Just like things that are meant to be, Liza recalls having auditioned as a young teenager to be an Avon model. Having grown up with the Avon brand, she now comes full circle as she joins the Beauty for a Purpose campaign of empowering women and fighting against breast cancer and domestic violence.

The best-selling Sweet Honesty fragrance is a fresh floral scent that is perfect for young women like Liza. She shares, “That’s what I love most about Sweet Honesty – it brings me back to the unforgettable innocence of first love. It’s like feeling the butterflies in my stomach all over again. Sweet Honesty is the perfect scent for me because it’s light and sweet. Also, the scent is timeless so it’s really perfect for anyone.”

This February, Liza shares her Sweet Honesty journey with a limited edition Sweet Honesty Eau de Cologne Bottle (P399). The classic bottle is refreshed with Liza’s own signature.

The fragrance is also available in a limited edition Sweet Honesty roll-on fragrance (P155) for those on-the-go, kilig-worthy moments.

The Liza Soberano for Sweet Honesty Fragrance limited edition bottles are now available nationwide from your favorite Avon ladies or via www.avonshop.ph.

Did you use Sweet Honesty when you were younger? What’s your favorite Sweet Honesty memory?

I picked up this Too Cool For School by Rodin Shader (P640) at Althea a few months ago but didn't open it until a few weeks back. I didn't know why I got it, I mean, Korean contour powders are basically just foundation shades for me! But I thought I might give it a chance as I am in desperate need of an idiot-proof daily contour powder. The price is not too bad and hey, the packaging looked interesting. (Said every girl who bought something she didn't maybe need!)

So how is it? Well, I love it. The swatches are kinda blah, but on my face it creates a natural contour that's almost invisible. It's there - my face is more defined, certainly - but it never gets obvious even though I apply a heavy layer. The lightest strip is indeed my skin tone shade, but the mid and dark strips are exactly what I need for that subtle contour job.

The colors are warm with a taupey hint. Mixed together, they warm up my skin nicely without looking too orange or muddy brown. In the photo below I used it on the hollows of my cheekbones and jawline!

The powder does need to be layered a couple of times with a nice dense yet fluffy brush. I don't mind though, as it means I can't really go wrong no matter how heavy-handed I get!

Overall, I think the Too Cool For School by Rodin Shader is a great find! I've been using it regularly, and I think I'll be adding it to my regular rotation of products. ^_^ What's your current contour powder? Any faves we should know about?

Who doesn’t want to wake up with brows that are always #onfleek? Very few people are blessed with genes that give them perfect brows; the rest of us have to spend quite a bit of time and money looking for the right products and applying them to shape our arches into perfection. And that’s if you’re lucky enough to even have brows to shape - some women have such sparse hair growth that their eyebrows are barely visible or are too short to create a proper arch.

Whether you’re in need of actual eyebrows or just want to be able to head out in the morning without scrambling to get your brows on, eyebrow tattoos are a practical solution to consider. The procedure promises a good set of well-defined brows that require very little to no maintenance that last for about two years. Imagine all the time you could save every morning!

Some real talk, though: not all brow tattoos are created equal. Some people may even cringe at the mention of “brow tattoo”, thinking of all the harsh black or weird green solid blocks of color sported by older ladies who’ve opted to have them permanently tattooed. The technique and technology for eyebrow tattooing has since evolved to something a lot more natural-looking (often called feathering or embroidery) but if you’ve had the misfortune of getting stuck with perpetually bad brows, it’s not the end of the world! We talked to brow tattoo expert and Suesh owner Sheryll Kim (who did great work on Kim’s tattooed brows) and her sister, makeup artist Suzzane Tan, about how to save your brow tattoo disaster.

Photo courtesy of Sheryll Kim

Houston, we have a problem

While it’s easy to ditch a bad product or regrow overplucked arches, the permanent or semi-permanent nature of brow tattoos can leave one feeling hopeless. Some experience tattoo mishaps like discoloration, use of the wrong color, multi-tailed brows (more on this later!), improper placement, misshapen or uneven arches, or having a solid stroke of color that looks like you went over your brows with a marker. Discoloration (often once-black ink that has turned green) is particularly common with permanent tattoos as exposure to sunlight and chemicals in skin care can affect the dye. If the tattoo artist doesn’t follow the natural shape of your brows, you may even end up having two brow tails!

Sheryll has seen quite a lot of these mishaps and has had people come to her asking for help with correcting them. Choosing a reliable artist is very important for an alteration that can last a long time. She shares, “If you’re thinking about having your brows tattooed done permanently, you have to ask past clients about their experience and see the finished look. It's bad enough to have a semi-permanent tattoo that looks wrong, and it's worst for those who have it done permanently. Bad brow tattoos are very easy to spot when they're not done properly or the shape is not right for the face.”

Courtesy of Sheryll Kim

Get your fix

Just like dark circles and ugly zits, makeup is a great lifesaver. “Concealing should do the trick, or drawing over the tattoo,” says Sheryll. Suzzane recommends using concealer correctors (like these affordable pots from Suesh) to cover it up, and applying dimensional eyebrow makeup. To make it all come together, she recommends, “Choose the closest color to the tattoo, or a shade darker to conceal the old tattoo.”

If you’re looking for a more lasting solution, you may be able to cover it up with a new tattoo. For errors that aren’t too glaring or tattoos that are fairly light, color correction may be done to cover up the old tattoo. But if you’re worried about another mishap, your best option is to have the permanent tattoo removed via laser in skin care clinics.

Semi-permanent brow tattoos, like the ones done by Sheryll, are a bit easier to deal with. Suzzane says, “You can opt to have skin peeling to quicken the fading.” Since you can’t correct errors like wrong placement, solid lines, or an obvious failure in color matching by simply putting another tattoo over it, you have to get rid of the previous one first. However, it should be taken into consideration that this takes time as the treatments are done in sessions. “Usually, it would require around 5 to 10 sessions, depending on the how the tattoo has faded. The rate per session is roughly P5,000 per session,” says Sheryll. If you’re still up for a brow tattoo job after the removal, it’s best to get the go-signal from your specialist first before scheduling another tattoo session.

Tips for those taking the plunge

Deciding to get your brows tattooed shouldn’t be 5-minute decision as it can last for a few years. The consequences of a bad tattoo job can also be both traumatizing and costly. After all, didn’t you want to get them to make your life easier? If you’re emotionally (and financially) ready to go under the needle, take note of the following tips:

Consider your age and skin sensitivity. Sheryll recommends being 18 or older before having your brows tattooed as younger people have more sensitive skin and may have a negative reaction to the dyes or process.
Let your brow hairs grow. It’s tricky to see what shape your brows really are if they’ve been drastically plucked and shaped. Leave them alone until it’s time to have them tattooed so your tattoo artist will know how to design your tattoo.
If you have colored hair, decide on how long you’ll be keeping your hair color. Otherwise, it may be wise to stick a brow tattoo that matches your real shade.
Ask and research. Go online for rants and raves of the service you’re eyeing, not counting celebrity reviews that may actually be endorsements. Since different artists may use different techniques, Sheryll advises, “It pays to do a some research on the procedure. Consultations are usually free, so you can talk to the eyebrow tattooist if you have any questions or reservations”.
Really, really think about it! After doing your research, take a night or two to decide if you actually want to have your brows tattooed. Don’t get swayed by promos or service discounts that pressure you to purchase before you’re actually ready.

Have you had your brows tattooed? Ever thought of considering such procedure? Tell us your brow story in the comments below!

From talking about daring to go makeup-free or donning it full-on, to sexual harassment and consent, the female body seems to be the hot topic of discussion these days. Even though it has exposed the backward and sometimes twisted views of some people, I think it’s high time that we stopped whispering about our bodies as though they were something to be ashamed about!

Here at Project Vanity, we’ve started a series called The Sex Talk to educate women about what they need to know about their bodies to help them make healthy decisions. We talk to medical experts who provide accurate and factually-grounded information but there are some things that science doesn’t quite have an answer for.

Today, the PV team weighs on what we think is the best time for to have your first time, which, like it or not, is a huge deal for many women. There are no right or wrong answers here; we only hope that what we have to share will help others make the best decision for them.

Liz: Age, for me, isn't as important as preparedness when it comes to the first time. Different women (and men) have different pre-conditions, but never mind all of that - at the very least, one should know how sex actually works and how to deal with its side effects, like disease or pregnancy. It's not romantic, I know, but it helps to research first and talk to someone you trust before your first ever sexy time.

I think it's also important to understand that sex isn't intrinsically bad - it's ideally a healthy expression of your affection for someone you care about. Do it when you're mature enough to understand that, enough not to harbor feelings of guilt or worthlessness. Sex is something you do, and it doesn't necessarily define your value.

Den: I think the way our culture puts such an emphasis on virginity weighs very heavily on women, so that having sex for the first time becomes memorable even when the act itself isn’t all that pleasurable. At least emotionally, I think women do prepare themselves for it whether consciously or not. If you find yourself with a partner that you are sexually (and not just romantically) attracted to, best to start educating yourself about how to do it safely and consider bringing a condom or two. Sounds weird but that way, when the opportunity presents itself, you can make it “the right time” because you’re prepared. Don’t just rely on your partner; be proactive for your own safety.

Kim: Kapag walang tao. Kidding aside, I think it's more of deciding on the right person than just the right time. Unless I know and trust a partner well enough to co-parent a child, I'd prefer to keep my legs closed. Sex isn't equal babies, of course, but it's an intimate experience that I would not want to share with someone I can't see as a potential life partner.

Crystal: It would be really romantic to talk about doing it with the right person, waiting until marriage, etc. but I believe that monogamy isn't for everyone, especially among young adults. More importantly, it's about being emotionally and mentally ready. Being mentally ready involves having a clear idea of what doing the deed actually entails - what are the risks involved like pregnancy and STDs, and being responsible enough to protect yourself. Also just as important is being emotionally ready. One should do it because she really wants to, not to crave attention or because he/she is being manipulated or pressured into it.

Gett: It's not so much about the right time but more of if you and your partner are both ready for it. You both have to educate yourselves on the consequences that sex can bring (i.e. pregnancy, STDs), and to know how you can protect yourselves from these risks. You also have to be mature enough to communicate with the other on your needs and expectations.

Claire: Moral and religious beliefs aside, both men and women should engage in sexual activities only when they're ready for its possible consequences - physically, emotionally, and mentally. Women always have more to consider; both sexes are at risk to STDs but only women have to worry about getting pregnant. It's just the way the human reproductive system works! And of course, mutual consent should be present always.

Angela: I agree with Kim's answer. It's best when you know that you are with the person you want to spend your life with and when that person wants the same thing. I know a lot of people have different opinions on this topic and I respect whatever they may be. But for me, the right thing to do is consider first if you both want to do it already and take into account both your own values, faith, health, readiness, and maturity. Then you can decide when the right time is.

Stacie: I asked my mom and Mama Chan said, “At night!” The right time will be when both parties knows their responsibilities. I'm not just talking about heterosexual relationships here; responsibility is not limited to pregnancy and STD. Concerns on emotional and mental health matters just as much or even more than the physical consequences one faces before, during and after sex.

I guess the right time is also when you know you're ready to face the sneers of the conservative, something that I believe hinders our society from accepting a more liberal state of mind. Personally, I would rather wait until marriage. I currently don't have any dating experience and am not planning on having one anytime soon. I have other things up my priority list!

Marielle: When both parties fully understand the massive responsibility it entails, then they can go ahead and do the deed. That encompasses the risk of unplanned pregnancy, disease prevention, and the like. Dapat kayang panindigan. If you and your partner are faced with difficult decisions and awkward announcements, can you both handle it together? Or is there someone who will flake?

And here's some food for thought: As it is, there are already a lot of adults who are iffy about commitment. What more for young adults who are not hardwired to commit at that age? It's a time for finding yourself, not limited to who you should be (sleeping) with. It sounds like a cliche, but it's best to enjoy that time and be assured that there will be plenty of sex to come—pun intended—when you're finally ready for it.

Katsy: I honestly believe that the right time to sleep with somebody is when both parties are fully aware of the consequences and potential changes that the action may yield. That whatever happens, they are ready to face it. Whether they grow closer, or farther apart from doing the deed, both have to be physically, mentally, and emotionally strong and prepared to survive as sleeping with anyone sort of stays with you for the rest of your life.

Charlie: I think the “right time” is relative to the point when both people are ready—whether that’s emotionally, physically, or mentally. I agree with Katsy. Sleeping with somebody is going to trigger life changes or blur lines in both the parties’ lives, or chances are, maybe it even won’t. But if consequences do happen and if they’re truly ready to face that after they do it, then maybe that’s the right time.

When do you think is the right time to have sex? How do you think should women prepare for it? Let's keep the discussion friendly!

Living in the city is no picnic. All too frequently, we find ourselves scampering out of the house in the morning to beat the rush hour traffic that we don’t always have the time to nail down our morning beauty routine. Sometimes we end up taking shortcuts to get through it faster but some of these habits might be harmful for your skin. If you find yourself guilty of one or more of these, it’s time to kick the habit!

Bad habit #1: Taking hot showers

Sure, a hot shower feels so good in the morning but hot water can dry out the skin. Stick to a warm shower with a temperature that is just slightly higher than room temperature. It also helps to limit the length of time you are exposed to heated water by turning off the shower in between rinses, plus you conserve water. If you must have a hot shower, though, you can help compensate for the dryness by adding an in-shower moisturizer to your routine like the Nivea In-Shower Conditioner (P124 for 100 ml at department stores).

Bad habit #2: Skipping facial cleansing

So you did your 10-step Korean skincare routine the night before and you might think that you can get away with just splashing your face with water the next morning? Wrong! Skin oils continue to accumulate even while we sleep so it’s best to cleanse the face again in the morning to clear our skin and allow maximum absorption for our morning beauty products. There’s no need to deep clean; a simple cleanser (like these under P500 picks) will do. Just make sure you’re doing it correctly!

Bad habit #3: Picking on your blemishes

Staring at your reflection as you brush your teeth in front of the bathroom mirror can suddenly make you aware of a surprise zit or two. I know it’s hard but resist the temptation to pop them! The resulting wound can leave your skin vulnerable to bacteria and even delay its healing, leaving you stuck with a blemish for longer. Leave the zit-popping to the professionals and apply an acne patch over it instead. We love the CosRX Acne Pimple Master Patch (P170 for 24 patches at theskincarecurator.com) which treat pimples quick and allow them to heal without leaving marks.

Bad habit #4: Applying products in the wrong order

Skin care can get expensive; it would be a waste if we don’t get to maximize its effectivity. The general rule is to apply starting with the thinnest consistency to the thickest, otherwise the lighter formulas may not be able to penetrate the other layers of product. If you’re still unsure about when to apply what, check out our guide for layering skin care!

Bad habit #5: Tugging on your eyelids

Having to get up even when you don’t want to leave bed sucks but don’t rub the sleep out of your eyes! The skin in the eye area is the thinnest part of our face and also the most delicate. Rubbing, whether upon waking up or as you apply your eye cream, can stress your skin and cause unnecessary fine lines in the long run. Splash your face with water instead and use your ring finger (which has the least amount of strength among our fingers) to gently pat the eye cream on. Don't have one yet? We've shared our fave products for our peepers!

Bad habit #6: Foregoing moisturizer

Even as an oily-skinned gal who struggles with her skin every day, I’ll be the first to tell you: yes, you still need to put on some moisturizer! No matter your skin type or how hot and humid the weather feels, there is just no excuse for skipping this step. If you don’t like the heavy, sticky feeling of creams, try a gel formula. They’re water-based, lightweight, and easily absorbed by the skin, making it perfect for people on the go.

Bad habit #7: Ditching sunscreen

If you haven’t incorporated sunscreens into your daily routine yet, it’s the single, most important skin care product in your entire routine. Aside from the anti-aging benefits, it’s your best protection against skin cancer! Formulas like our favorite Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50 PA+++ (P420 at leading department stores) no longer have that sticky feeling, white appearance, or annoying scent. You can even buy sunscreens on a P500 budget. Remember that although your makeup may have SPF, you’ll have to apply a whole lot of product to get that amount of protection, so it’s still best to use a dedicated sunscreen.

Bad habit #8: Neglecting your lips

We nitpick every pore and wrinkle on our faces that sometimes we forget that our lips need some TLC as well. Just like the rest of our skin, they can also experience dehydration. Aside from regularly applying lip balm, you can actually show your lips some love by putting a bit of your favorite serums and moisturizers on them as with the rest of your skin! You can also prime your lips with something like the In Her Element Nourish & Cleanse Balm (P595 at Inherelement.ph) so your fave lip colors won't dry out your kissers.

Bad habit #9: Using dirty makeup brushes

Cleaning makeup brushes can be such a chore sometimes but neglecting to do so can undermine all the good skin care work you’ve been doing. Makeup brushes can get loaded with bacteria, oil, and dirt that can clog your pores and cause breakouts. You can always use baby shampoo or make one yourself. No time to deep clean your brushes? Clean your brushes in a jiffy with quick solutions like Ellana Minerals Cucumber Melon Makeup Brush Cleaner (P400 at ellana.com.ph) or Pure Instant Color Cleaner Solo (P275 at suesh.com).

Which bad morning habits are you guilty of?

Sources: Stylecaster, Byrdie, Bustle

Being around fellow beauty lovers is great fun and our group chats are often very lively. My one complaint though is that their recommendations give me serious cravings for new products! While it would be so awesome to have all the moolah to tick off everything on our beauty wish lists, I think that part of what makes a new purchase so enjoyable is knowing that we’ve earned it. I’m personally not looking to get anything new but I asked my fellow PV girls about the product they’re planning to buy next. Here’s a quick list of our current lemmings!

Crystal: I have been eyeing a Chloe perfume (P5,000~ at Rustan’s Beauty) since forever! I love almost all of the scents from the signature collection and would be delighted to get my own full-sized bottle! I don't usually like rose scents but Chloe just does it so well. It's sophisticated but young at the same time.

Marielle: I want to grab a bottle of La Vie est Belle (P3,500 at Rustan’s Beauty) before Lancôme leaves the Philippines! Last Christmas, I had to pass by their counter to run an errand for a relative, and I was able to catch a whiff of what smells like the kind of sophisticated woman I want to grow up to be!

Image via ebay.com

Katsy: I am in love with the Shiseido Snow Beauty Powder (P4,000~ at Shiseido). It's a translucent finishing powder that you can wear during the day, and also at night over your skincare! I've always wanted to go out with just skincare and sunscreen on but my face looks a tad greasy without anything on top. I feel like this powder will solve that, not to mention the to die for packaging that will definitely up the pretty factor of my vanity!

Charlie: I’ve had quite a good run with Maybelline’s Eye Studio Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze and I’ve been on the lookout for a similar product. Moonshot’s Jelly Pot in Deia (P1,117 at Sephora.ph) is something I’ve been hearing a lot about and when I saw that it was available at Sephora, I got super excited because I really want to try it out. The price tag is pretty steep for me as I rarely purchase single eyeshadows that go over P200 a piece but I'm really curious about it as the swatches online look amazing and it’s said to be water-based and have a cooling effect.

Jenn: At the top of my shopping list is the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder (P1,750 from Rustan's Beauty). I was initially hesitant because of the price but having tried it for several times has completely changed my mind. I'm impressed with how it compares to my other setting powders! The powder gives the perfect finish - neither too white nor too powdery - and actually did extend the wear of my makeup.

Stacie: My foundation game needs a serious upgrade! I've been saving up for a bottle of either Too Faced's Born This Way Foundation (P 2,351 from Sephora.ph) or Estée Lauder's Double Wear Stay in Place foundation (P2,400 from Estée Lauder). The price and performance of both foundations are almost similar so I've been having a hard time deciding which one to pick. I'll save up first and choose then!

Angela: I promised myself that I would buy a really good foundation this year. I've tried the Double Wear Stay-in-Place foundation (P2,400 from Estée Lauder) from my favorite brand Estée Lauder, and I've loved it ever since! I got a week's worth of sample and it just covered up all my blemishes without looking heavy or cakey. It lasted all day, too, which is what I'm looking for in a foundation. It's expensive so I’m cutting my budget on some of my other purchases.

Gett: I'm quite slap-dash with my daily makeup but I'm mad for lippies, hence my decision to splurge on one! I've been eyeing a Chanel or a Tom Ford, but I also reaaaaaally want Charlotte Tilbury's Bond Girl (P1,500 at Rustan’s Beauty).

Kim: I've been pretty content with drugstore foundations in the past but I think it's high time for me to invest on a luxe foundie. Now that I spend long hours outside of the house, I need something that's going to wear beautifully all day long. The Make Up Forever Ultra HD Foundation (P2,700 at MUFE) has been on my list forever!

How about you--what’s on your shopping list? If you have tips for saving up, do share them with us in the comments!

Kiss marks are cute when used as design, not when it’s on someone’s face. You don’t want to Ieave it on people you beso with, or make your date look like he’s wearing lipstick. The Project Vanity team usually has a wide variety of recommendations but finding a lippie that won’t leave tell-tale marks of affection has honestly been even more difficult than finding The One! Today, we spill on the lipsticks that we rely on to get us from a dinner date to the morning after, without ever leaving our pout behind.

Liz: I've been a fan of the Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge Waterproof Liquid Lip Color for years. This is what I wear when I want bullet-proof lipstick all day! It can be quite expensive though, so luckily I found a cheap, near-identical alternative: the Deborah Milano Absolute Lasting Liquid Lipstick, which is just P650. I don't shut up about it if you accidentally ask me, haha.

Den: Red and dark-colored lippies are actually my fave shades but I normally wear something more subtle because I’m paranoid about getting lipstick on my teeth and uneven fading. Luckily, I recently picked up the Deborah Milano Absolute Lasting Lipstick and it’s finally allowing me to wear the colors that I love! It stays on through eating and drinking, and barely transfers. I actually did test it on my husband after getting this, and he no longer complains about having kiss marks!

Crystal: I don't really like liquid matte lipsticks, which are generally the most long-wearing ones (or so I've been told) so I'm glad to have found something with a glossy finish that is the closest thing to cement, the Deborah Milano Absolute Lasting Lipstick! The best thing is, I don't even have to worry about my lips looking cracked or peeling.

Kim: The Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick stays true to its name by being the longest lasting lipstick I have in my collection. Drinking, eating, kissing, and a night of partying? Still no match against my Lolita II.

Angela: Like Kim, my current favorite lipstick (for the past five months!) is Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita II and it never fails me. No matter what I do, it stays put for hours. And the color is just absolutely lovely on my morena skin. I'll definitely keep purchasing this over and over again.

Jenn: I would also have to recommend the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick! It dries up quick and does not rub off easily, although it's very easy to remove with makeup remover. The best part for me is how comfortable it wears, no cracking or drying feeling!

Claire: Still haven't found a lipstick that won't budge no matter what. Liquid matte lippies are long-wearing for sure but I haven't tried one that has survived a ramen date! I stick to stains for lasting color that will for sure fade, but at least do so with dignity. I love Pink Sugar's Sugar Tint, Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Lip & Cheek Mousse, and good ol' Lip & Cheek Stain from The Body Shop.

Karla: Mine has got to be my latest discovery from Korea - the Berrisom My Lip Tint Pack in Bubble Pink! This is an odd product as it applies as a thick gel that you leave on your lips for about a minute or so and then peel off but my goodness, the color payoff is insane! Your lips are colored and it doesn't budge! I've eaten oily food, wiped off coffee, and kissed my boyfriend and my lips stayed a gorgeous (and untouched) pink! The Koreans are geniuses!

Do you wear lipsticks when you go on romantic dates? What products or tips do you rely on to keep the color on your lips and off other people?

In the last ten years, the most significant change we’ve witnessed in the beauty world is the evolution of our brows. Gone were the days when lipstick reigned supreme in our beauty kits! If we were made to choose just one makeup item to grab in a fire, most of us would undoubtedly pick our brow makeup. Now there are different kinds of eyebrow products to choose from but I personally favor the versatility of the brow pencil. You can easily score a decent one for less than P200 but if you want to know which one will give you the best kilay of your life, my month-long brow showdown reveals the answer!

I pitted seven brow pencils against each other and wore them the whole day for three to five days each. My lucky seven consisted of the following:

Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil
Ever Bilena Matic Brow Liner
Eye of Horus Brow Define
Flormar Brow Pencil
K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Lasting 3Way Eyebrow Pencil
MAC Automatic Eyebrow Pencil
Maybelline Fashion Brow.

We did not include Korean eyebrow pencils here because that will need a whole other post on its own (let us know if you want it)!

Bare brows

These are my bare eyebrows for reference. With a clear brow mascara, I’m normally good to go on minimal makeup days, thanks to my semi-permanent brow tattoo. They look too light when I put a full face on, though, so I still need a little help in making them look lush and filled out.

Maybelline (1), MAC (2), Eye of Horus (5), and Benefit (7) all have slim rounded tips of the same size. K-Palette’s (3) is just a tad bit bigger while Ever Bilena (6) is about twice as wide. All pencils come in a twist up form with exception of Flormar (4), which needs sharpening.

The Benefit, Eye of Horus, K-Palette, and Maybelline pencils each come with a spoolie. The Eye of Horus (2nd in photo) particularly deserves special praise for the slim tapering spoolie that’s firm yet gentle at the same time! The Flormar comes with a brow brush (3rd in photo), while Ever Bilena and MAC skipped the blending tool completely.

From left: Benefit, Ever Bilena, Eye of Horus, Flormar, K-Palette, Mac, Maybelline

Here are the swatches! I drew a straight line with each pencil and added small strokes using light to heavy pressure to show how well you can control the pigmentation. Ever Bilena is undoubtedly the most pigmented, while K-Palette looks the most natural.

Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil (P1,400)
Shades: 01 and 02 light, 03 and 04 medium, 05 and 06 deep / Available in Benefit stores, or online through Sephora.ph

The Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil is the priciest one of the bunch. I feel this is the best in terms of creaminess to hardness ratio, because it blends without completely smudging the brush strokes I’ve applied to resemble hair. The slim pencil makes it easy to draw hair-like marks but also takes longer to use on sparse brows with lots of bare areas. The wide shade selection also guarantees that you’ll find a perfect match for your hair.

Ever Bilena Brow Matic Liner (P180)
Shades: Earth (terracotta brown) and Midnight (black) / Available at Ever Bilena counters

If you want something quick and easy, Ever Bilena’s Brow Matic Liner will allow you just that because it’s a chubbier pencil. This is the creamiest and most pigmented of the pencils I tried for this challenge, and it was easy to glide on and blend. It’s an ideal product for people who like the Instagram brow as you can build it up to look as strong as you like. You will need to have a separate spoolie and maybe apply some concealer to cleanup the edges and achieve better definition. If your hair color is more ash brown or even black, the shade Earth may be too red for your liking.

Eye of Horus Brow Define (P950)
Shades: Husk (light ash blonde), Dynasty (medium cocoa brown), and Nile (medium dark taupe) / Available online through Glamourbox.ph

I find that this Eye of Horus product stays true to its name as it gives such a nice soft focus definition for clean, naturally lush-looking brows! It’s a hard pencil that’s best for mimicking individual brow hairs as the pigmentation is on the lighter side. That same soft pigmentation lends to that natural, almost undetectable brow to match light eye makeup that don’t need strong framing.

Flormar Brow Pencil (P249)
Shades: 401 Gray, 402 Brown, 403 Taupe, 404 Black / Available at Flormar counters in department stores

Another pencil featuring a creamy formula, the Flormar pencil feels a lot like a toned down EB Brow Matic Liner in terms of pigmentation. Though I’m used to blending with a spoolie, the brow brush included actually worked better for blending since it gave me better control over the product. It’s very easy to blend but definition can be hard to achieve unless you sharpen the tip every so often.

K-Palette 1Day Tattoo Lasting 3Way Eyebrow Pencil (P795)
Shades: Grayish Brown, Light Brown, Mocha Brown, and Natural Brown / Available at Beauty Bar

Out of all the pencils I’ve tried, the K-Palette pencil is the lightest in terms of pigmentation. It’s best for people who want soft-looking eyebrows that look like your own brows but better (BBB?). This is the most beginner-friendly pencil IMO because it still looks natural even when you use a heavy hand. On the flip side, it may look too light for a full glam look, unless you layer it with other products. To keep it fair, I only used the pencil side for this challenge but it also comes with a matching brow powder! You can use the pencil to create the shape and draw the hairs, and the powder to fill in all the other the gaps and blend everything together.

MAC Automatic Eyebrow Pencil (P900)
Shades: Brunette, Fling, Lingering, Spiked, Strut, and Stud / Available at MAC stores

This is Queen Pia Wurtzbach’s weapon of choice for Miss Universe-worthy brows. Out of all the slim tip pencils, this one is the creamiest and most pigmented, so you can go as glam or natural based on how you use it. You wanna be careful with blending this one out because the creaminess can turn messy real quick! This is also non-retractable, so don’t make the mistake of twisting it all up to check how much product you get!

Maybelline Fashion Brow (P359)
Shades: Gray and Brown
Available through Maybelline counters in department stores

If you can’t justify splurging on the K-Palette just yet, I find that the Maybelline Fashion Brow is a pretty close dupe! This is my fave from the drugstore because of how easily I can achieve a natural-looking brow with this pencil. It’s true what they say on the ads: that you can’t mess this up. One caveat though – it's brittle and breaks easily! Make sure you dispense just about a 1-2mm long tip so you don’t end up wasting product that has fallen off.

Verdict: Overall, I can’t complain about the wear time that I got from any of these products. Even on my oily skin, they managed to stay fresh and plakado until I took them off (usually about eight to ten hours of wear). I find it hard to pick faves though, because I realized that sometimes you need different products to achieve different looks.

If I absolutely need to pick just one, I would have to go with the Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil. It has the perfect balance of creaminess and hardness, so I can use this to create a wide range of different brow looks! Blending the pencil in won’t make it look like you coated your brow with powder. I take my sweet time drawing my brow hair in strokes and I like how I get to retain that definition with Benefit, even after blending. If only the price was more friendly, this would be my everyday go-to!

So let me know, which one of these brows were your favorite? Did your HG brow pencil make the cut?

by Jenn Tan, contributor

Shopping for makeup used to mean going to a cosmetics counter, swatching the items, and depending on the sales assistant's shade recommendations. That’s still a lot of fun, and we PV girls are often guilty of leaving stores with our arms marked from a massive swatch fest! Even then, the Internet has completely revolutionized the way we shop; all you need is online access and you don’t even necessarily need to have a credit card to buy stuff online. We don’t even have to wait for balikbayan relatives and friends to cart imported products for us; there are now a lot services that offer international shipping options so all you have to do is fill up some forms, click some buttons, and wait for your package to be delivered to your doorstep.

Online shopping is a great solution for hauling from brands that aren’t available locally but it has a catch: how do you shop for a foundation you've never touched or swatched? Stores like Althea and Sephora sometimes include swatches in their product listings but it can be difficult to guesstimate your shade based on photos. Before you decide to just take your chances and plop down your hard-earned bucks for a bottle you're not sure about, here are some tips for finding your shade match, even without swatching!

Image via Temptalia.com

Temptalia Foundation Matrix

I'm a big fan of this website because of its detailed and organized reviews. Swatches are always well-photographed and true to color; there's also a "when worn" photo so that you can see it as used. Temptalia's biggest gem is its Foundation Matrix, which allows you to see your approximate shade matches using your current foundation shade as reference point.

There are some other sites that offer the same free service but what makes Temptalia's Matrix stand out is that you can actually find your shade match, even if you're not using any foundation yet. The site includes a helpful guide for identifying your undertone and shade as a basic reference point.

Findation

Launched in 2012, Findation claims to be the largest usable database of matching foundation colors. The interface is basic and straightforward. For more accurate results, it’s best to enter two shades that you use and Findation will match it with other foundations in the database.

To get an idea of how extensive their database is, I tried searching a match to my L'Oreal Infallible 24H and MAC Studio Waterweight Foundations. I was happy to spot brands like Catrice in the list of suggestions, including Korean brand April Skin! Your matches can also be saved for future reference, so you don’t have to hang on to empties just to remember what your shade is.

My shade matches according to MatchMyMakeup

MatchMyMakeup

Similar to other websites, you are matched based on your current foundation shade. What is unique is that search results also include shades that aren't exact but close matches, specifying that it might be cooler or warmer than your skin tone. This is helpful when you're a wee bit more familiar with undertones and want to compare different shades.

I do hope that their database can be expanded to include more brands as matches are limited. It will probably take a while for this to grow though - the team behind the site manually tests the foundations under a professional light box mimicking different lighting conditions. They even use a color reading machine for precision and accuracy!

Iman Beauty App

Among the bunch of apps that I tried, this one by Iman Cosmetics is by far the most user-friendly and impressive! It identifies your color signature - lips, shade and undertone, eyes, and hair color - through a selfie taken with the app. Just make sure to take a clear selfie that shows the whole face under appropriate lighting; the app will indicate whether the lighting is good or bad, and will not take a photo under less ideal conditions.

Unfortunately, the only recommended shade matches here are limited to what’s available in Iman Cosmetics. It’s fine if you’re looking precisely to try this brand, otherwise give this a pass.

It's tricky to get the lighting that the app wants but you can further tweak the photo after the shot if your photo gets distorted in any way.

With the wealth of beauty resources now at our disposal, shopping online for foundation is no longer as much of a chancy affair. No need to feel the pain of dropping precious bucks on a bottle, only to end up with something that’s practically unusable! Has that makeup buying mistake ever happened to you? How do you avoid buying dud shades online?

Jenn Tan is the owner of Cosabella Manila.

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