I always find myself looking forward to Happy Skin’s latest releases because it seems that the homegrown beauty brand just keeps on raising the bar with every new collection. What beauty girl didn’t swoon over their magical Disney collection, or try to collect each makeup artist-approved piece in the Glam Squad collection? This time around, they are going back to their roots and celebrating their cheery and fun aesthetic with their first collection for 2017: the Festival of Colors Collection!

Happy Skin founders Jacqe Yuengtian-Gutierrez and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo demonstrating the transforming powers of the Bye Bye, Blues Brightening Concealer Wand

Luckily, our EIC Liz was able to get a sneak peek on some of the products before the official media launch. Knowing that she loved them made me even more excited to try them for myself at the event, as well as test the new lip kits and beauty sponge. Here’s a quick look at everything in the collection!

Left concealer swatch in Light, right concealer swatch in Medium

The Bye Bye, Blues Brightening Concealer Wand (P899) comes in two shades, Light and Medium. It was formulated specifically to lift up and transform the face with its light-diffusing technology and brightening tangerine peel extract. I use the Light shade to cover up my stubborn dark circles, and I’m happy to report that the coverage lasts all day and incurs minimal creasing, mostly due to my fine lines. You do have to set it with powder though to make it last longer.

The Tickled Pink Skin Perfecting Super Absorbent Charcoal Blotting Sheets (P149) are perfect for on-the-go, busy women who hate reapplying powder. The cute packaging makes it a pretty purse staple, and the charcoal plus special mattifying powder combo is highly effective against oil! I only use one sheet as they are massive compared to others and the black sheets are really cool to look at, too.

They also relaunched their Eye Am Here To Stay 24H Gel Pencil Eyeliners (P599 each) in Perfect Black and Chic Brown. These MUA-favorite eyeliners now come in blue and orange packaging, which makes them a breeze to spot in the sea of mostly black eye pencils you probably have in your stash. And yes, they still glide on as smoothly as ever with the help of argan oil.

Another relaunch is the crowd-favorite Glisten Up! Precision Cheek Stick Set (P1,199). These are the same shades from the Happy Skin x Plains & Prints collection, repackaged in a sleeker pencil form to allow for more precise application. As with all Happy Skin products that have ingredients that care for your skin, the two sticks come with grapefruit extract to help refine the appearance of pores on the cheeks. I love how portable these new sticks are – they will definitely take up less space inside the makeup bag.

Left to right: Dance All Day, The Morning After, and Honeymoon Glow

And then there are the lip kits! Happy Skin launched three Festival of Colors Lip Kits in Honeymoon Glow, The Morning After, and Dance All Day (P1,149 each). Honeymoon Glow and The Morning After are two of their most iconic shades, while Dance All Day is an all-new earthy mauve shade. Each Lip Kit comes with a liquid matte lipstick and a matching creamy lip liner. The liquid matte lipsticks come in the same formula as their previous releases, which we’ve awarded Best in Longevity in our recent liquid lipstick throwdown.

Another repromoted Happy Skin fave is the Air Touch Sponge (P499), which now comes in yellow and pink. I’ve been road-testing this sponge as my introduction into the world of sponges and I find the unique shape quite useful!

I use the round portion for most of my face but I love the coves for my under eye area. I use the sponge to apply foundation, concealer, and corrector, though I find the latter two a bit harder to remove during clean-up. You also have to be very gentle when cleaning the sponge; I’ve never used a sponge before so I may have squeezed it too hard and ended up causing some tears.

Finally, Happy Skin launched its first-ever sun care line called Catch the Sun! There are two products in this line, the first being the Catch the Sun Brightening UV Gel Cream SPF 40 PA+++ (P999). This is a gel cream that comes with SPF 40 and a mattifying finish, so you can use it as primer or to quickly put on over your skincare without the extra grease. It is a water-based gel formula that feels lightweight and comfortable to wear. Bonus skincare ingredient: it contains moringa seed oil to help shield the skin from pollution and free radicals!

My personal favorite is the Catch the Sun On the Go Hydrating UV Mist SPF 35 PA++ (P699). It’s like a spray-on sunscreen and moisturizer in one! This helps me to remember to reapply my sun protection every few hours, without worrying about disturbing my makeup. It also works under makeup so I’ve added this as the last step to my skin care. As Jacqe said, “It’s designed to act like a setting spray and a sunscreen in one.” Rissa explained, “What makes the formula different from the rest is its unique makeup fit polymer, which adheres to the skin and prevents makeup from coming off. It’s perfect to use before makeup as a first layer of sun defense, or over makeup to create an instant protective shield without ruining your look.”

The Happy Skin Festival of Colors collection is now available nationwide at Happy Skin counters, and online via their website and on Zalora.

Have you tried any of these new releases? What is your all-time favorite Happy Skin product?

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

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?

I've read the raves about the Yves Rocher Rinsing Vinegar (P495 at Yves Rocher stores) many, many years ago and have occasionally tried it in the past. I didn't like it though. I found the fruity vinegary smell annoying and it did the opposite of what it promised; my hair felt heavy and sticky after a few hours. But that was then. Recently, I've been plagued by a scalp so oily that I've almost given up! I've lost all hope until I tried my old bottle of this legendary hair rinse.

But wait, what is it exactly? The Yves Rocher Rinsing Vinegar is based on the good ol' vinegar rinse concept, wherein you use vinegar to remove product build-up on the hair and thus improve its shine and bounce. There are many versions of this DIY rinse, but all of them are, well, made out of vinegar and smells like it too! The one from Yves Rocher is made out of vinegar and water, but the vinegar is mild and mostly masked by a pleasant berry scent. I quite like it now!

To use, I shampoo my hair and then splash the Rinsing Vinegar all over my scalp. The bottle has a small opening that allows me to do this with some precision; it's simple but it works. I massage the liquid all over my hair then leave it on for a few minutes while I soap and exfoliate the rest of my body. I wash it off completely before I leave the shower.

I've been suffering from a ridiculously oily scalp, as I've mentioned above. Before I was able to fix it with some clarifying shampoo once or twice a week, but that stopped working! :( I tried changing shampoos and using dry shampoo, but those were only temporary solutions. I was at my wit's end until I randomly saw this bottle of Yves Rocher Rinsing Vinegar in my stash (it is probs almost two years old)! After just one use, it's like my scalp re-balanced itself and its oiliness has decreased dramatically.

I am so happy. Now I rinse with this about once a week and it keeps my hair fluffy and far from greasy. Definitely stocking up on this stuff! Have you tried a vinegar rinse before? How was it?

Yves Rocher Branches:
Level 2 SM Aura Premier
C5 Road cor MH del Pilar Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

G/L SM Southmall, Las Piñas City
(632) 478.2252

G/F Paseo Solano Wing Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City
(6332) 266.1458

G/F TriNoma, Quezon City
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Skincare is an easy obsession to fall into. It could start as a small feel-good reward at the end of a long day, or as a solution to a specific concern (wrinkles, dullness, acne, etc.). Some of us even go as far as trying out the full 10 Korean skin care steps to get soft, smooth, radiant-looking skin! In all this pomp and pageantry though, we often neglect that other used and abused part of our face: the lips.

We use drying matte lipsticks, forget to drink enough water, eat spicy, sour, or greasy food, and do some lip-biting when nervous or obsessing on a flaky bit of skin. Our lips regularly take a beating, so it actually makes sense to incorporate products in our beauty regimen to make sure that they stay healthy. There’s a lot more out there than just our standard lip balm, so we put together several treatment options and tried one nightly to find which solution takes the cake!

Kiehl’s Scented Lip Balm #1 in Pear (P535 at Kiehl’s)

This is a standard petroleum-based lip balm. It lends a velvety, coated feel on the lips with the addition of a slight sheen. In the morning, it doesn’t feel like there’s a lot of moisture left over from the overnight application so it may be more appropriate to use this (and reapply it) throughout the day. The formula sits well under other products though so you can apply a coat before putting on a drying lipstick formula.

Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla Macadamia (P129 at department stores)

Lip butters offer more moisture in a thinner, more emollient form compared to balms. It has none of the waxiness of solid lip balms, and it doesn’t feel oily at all! I find the Vanilla Macadamia scent particularly comforting for bedtime use, and the resulting softness of the lips lasts well into the next morning. If you hate the thick, heavy feeling of regular lip balms, go for lip butters instead!

The Saem Eco Soul Lip Oil in Honey (P320 at Althea Korea)

Have you ever shopped for face serum with the assumption that the formula would be a gel or liquid but then it turns out to be an oil instead? Well, the reverse happened here. I expected lip oil to be slick and greasy as the name suggests. However, I was surprised to put on what felt more like lip gloss. Eco Soul has the high-shine and slight tackiness of a good-quality gloss.

Initially, I felt silly wearing this before bed but my fears were unfounded as the formula turned out to be quite moisturizing. I woke up feeling like moisture was locked in, and the tackiness had faded into a velvety texture. Also, the honey scent (which is actually flavorless) smells like breakfast cereal. Yum!

Petitfree Oil Blossom Lip Mask (P400 at Althea Korea)

I was expecting a bouncy, whipped, jelly-like lip texture but it felt more like a traditional lip gloss with the heaviness of an extra thick balm. It has more tackiness than the lip oil, and there is a strong floral scent that strikes me as a little bit strange to have on the lips. It smells more like something that you should be spraying on your body instead! The next morning, the texture feels similar to your average balm but I feel like it doesn’t particularly add or lock-in moisture.

Pure Smile Choosy Lip Pack in Peach (P40 at Althea Korea)

I thought the packet would contain a lip-sized cotton sheet mask but I was surprised to see a cellulose-like hydrogel patch instead! I followed the instructions to leave the moist, silicone-like pack on the lips five minutes but it honestly felt bitin for something that is supposed to be a deep moisturizing treatment.

Aside from the interesting sensation of having a cool, jelly-like patch covering my mouth, it didn’t actually feel like I was soaking up a whole lot of moisture. The formula even stung on the edges of my lips. Perhaps this would be more suitable going over another layer of lip product to help keep the treatment from evaporating too quickly.

And the winner is 

The most cost-effective lip treatment with the most long-lasting effect is the Nivea Lip Butter! My lips stayed super soft and moist until the next morning, and the available scents are all crowd-pleasers. The runner-up is The Saem Eco Soul Lip Oil for doubling as a moisturizing layer that can be worn day and night. It’s also available in Berry and Grapefruit scents, in case you want something fruity.

Have you been kind to your lips? What steps and overnight treatments do you use to keep them soft and flake-free?

Yep, you heard it right - this one is one of those hidden gems at the drugstore! We actually featured the Deborah Milano Absolute Lasting Liquid Lipstick (P649) last October as one of our 10 most long-lasting drugstore makeup picks, but never really got around to doing a full feature as we only had a single shade. Yes, yes, excuses, but here's a review finally! 

Before, when people asked me what the most long-wearing lipstick I've ever tried is, I'd always say that it's the  Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge Waterproof Liquid Lip Color. It had to be applied in two steps: the satin base that sets like cement must be swiped first, to be followed by the clear gloss. It works because the gloss moisturizes the drying color base, and "seals" it in much like a nail polish top coat would. This is truly water and transfer-proof! It's my go-to when I know I won't be able to retouch much during special events or a long day of errands.

The catch? It's around P1,300. That's why I was surprised to find something that performs exactly like it in Watsons for only P650! The packaging of Deborah Milano is similar - nay, identical - to the MUFE liquid lipstick. It works and feels exactly the same way too! The wear time of the DM lipstick is about 6-7 hours without retouching, and will barely fade after a full, oily meal. It also does not transfer on cups and skin, same as the MUFE.

To maximize the formula, try not to apply lip balm before the first coat of color so that it will set properly. The gloss coat will take care of any dryness (unless you have severe chapped lips in which case you shouldn't be wearing something like this) without the sticky feel! Then, enjoy the rest of your life as you frolic without worrying if your lipstick is smearing after that leg of lechon.

I have three shades here. Shade 07 is almost the exact same color as my lips, which makes it my ideal nude! Shade 09 is a berry-ish mauve that's versatile yet eye-catching. Shade 11 is a deep red with some fine gold sparkle - I wore this a lot during the holidays. The colors when freshly applied are demi-matte while the gloss adds a healthy amount of shine. Do note that you can't wear just the color or your lips will protest. It is waayyyy too drying by itself! You can wear the gloss as is though, or on top of other colors.

Overall, I highly recommend the Deborah Milano Absolute Lasting Liquid Lipstick to anyone who's looking for a bulletproof lip product. There are plenty of pretty shades available! I'm really loving 07 as it's a beautiful nude on me. Perfect for chill days and smoky eyes!

What do you think of these lipsticks? Have you tried one already?

Deborah Milano is available inside SM Beauty and Watsons stores.

Gone are the days when we can actually spend an hour or more in front of our vanities doing our makeup. Traffic in the metro is just insane, so unless you’re able to do your full makeup in the car while stuck in EDSA, a five-minute face before you leave the house is a practical life skill. It's like knowing how to do your taxes or plan for your groceries!

This time, we’re doing a fresh and youthful FOTD popularly called the “polbo and lip tint” look. It’s inspired by Ellen Adarna’s no-makeup makeup at last year’s Star Magic Ball, which was refreshing amidst all the faces that had been contoured and highlighted to perfection. It’s easy but pretty - perfect for on-the-go, busy girls who want to keep their look natural and their makeup light.

Here's what you’ll need!

• Eyebrow mascara
• Brightening concealer
• Lip and cheek tint
• Oil-controlling pressed powder
• Lip balm

Step 1: Brush up your brow hairs with an eyebrow mascara like Happy Skin Glam Squad Arch Definer & Brow Mascara (P949 at happyskincosmetics.com). If you already have full or thick brows and your hair is not colored, you can opt to use a clear brow gel instead of a tinted one to simply fix the hairs in place.

Step 2: Apply brightening concealer on the undereye area to keep those dark shadows at bay and look like you got your full beauty sleep. The recently launched Happy Skin Bye Bye, Blues Brightening Concealer in Light Beige (P899 at happyskincosmetics.com) is a great option! You can also apply a bit of the concealer down the center of the nose for a subtle highlight effect.

Step 3: Fake a natural flush with a lip and cheek tint. The Skin Genie Lip and Cheek Stain Alive in Tulip Red (P80 at beautymnl.com) is one of our cheap beauty thrills for this purpose. Apply on your cheeks and lips and blend, blend, blend!

Step 4: Lightly dust powder all over the face to set the concealer and even out the complexion. Use a large fluffy brush for a more natural finish. Oil-controlling powders like the Avon Belle in Bloom Ideal Oil Control Pressed Powder in Neutral (P199 on sale at avonshop.ph) are particularly helpful to keep shine at bay for longer.

Step 5: Pat on a lip balm like the In Her Element Nourish & Cleanse Balm (P595 at inherelement.ph) over the lip tint for that trendy glossy lip look. You can also apply it on top of your cheekbones for a natural glow and added moisture!

It actually took me less than five minutes to get done, and I’m pleased with how well it makes me look for just a tiny bit of effort. The power of makeup, indeed!

before and after

The PV girls have been obsessing over Korean beauty since last year, and we’re so glad that the K-beauty wave is here to stay! It’s gotten such a huge following over the past few months that another website has set up shop to indulge our lemmings. Meet Yeppunonnie, an online shopping destination from the Korean words “yeppun” (beautiful) and “onnie” (big sister). Unlike other retailers, however, Yeppunonnie will be open to wholesale purchases to support their vision of making the Philippines “a nation of confidently beautiful and happy women.”

Koreans have some pretty interesting makeup techniques as their approach to beauty is pretty different from the more mainstream Western practices that we’re used to. At the soft launch of Yeppunonnie, we learned that instead of applying foundation in a downwards motion (supposedly to brush any fine facial hairs down and thus create a smoother-looking appearance), Korean makeup artists recommend applying foundation starting from the neck going up to help prevent sagging skin. Considering how ageless Korean women seem to look, this tip surely merits looking into!

The site is already live! You may visit them at www.yeppunonnie.ph and get updates over at their Facebook page.

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! ^_^

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!

Over the years, there are two things that have become crystal clear to me about skincare: the first is that cleansing gently and thoroughly prevents so, so many problems like acne, flakes, and dullness. The second is that maintaining the skin's moisture barrier is non-negotiable no matter how oily or lazy we are. This means that we have to cleanse and moisturize every day, twice a day, if we are to keep our skin balanced and healthy! You can forget everything else but these - and well, sunscreen - are the absolute basics when it comes to caring for your face.

That's why for In Her Element Skincare's next product, we worked on a brightening, moisturizing, and boosting cleansing oil. The First Wash Cleansing Oil (P450 for 100ml) is designed to remove makeup quickly and thoroughly with its emulsifying formula. This is non-drying compared to micellar waters and will not require a separate lip and eye remover to wash off waterproof formulas. Yup, it can take off the toughest mascaras and eyeliners, as well as cut through heavy layers of foundation.

Even if you don't wear much makeup though, I would still recommend using this as a first (or even only) cleanser to take out water-resistant sunscreen. You know how some people break out after using sunscreen for the first time (or just a new formula)? It's because most sunscreens are designed to be sweat-resistant and thus do not wash off easily with just a soapy cleanser.

The First Wash Cleansing oil is a gentle cleanser that won't strip your skin of its moisture barrier. To use, just shake the bottle thoroughly, apply one pump to dry skin, and massage to break down makeup. This rinses off with just water! You can follow up with your fave foaming facial wash, or go straight to your skincare routine if you feel that your face is already clean. 

Here it is in action! I used some of my toughest eye makeup here and possibly the most pigmented, thick lipstick in my stash.

Cool right? This cleansing oil has literally five ingredients: Grape Seed Oil (to brighten), Sweet Almond Oil and Coconut Oil (to moisturize), Polysorbate 80 (non-comedogenic emulsifier), Vitamin E (anti-oxidant). I made sure to have only premium oils in the formula to maximize the oils' skin benefits. I mean, mineral oil is totally fine, but it doesn't do much for the skin! It's one of the cheapest oils around too, but we wanted to do better than that and offer something more for our customers.

Did I mention it's fragrance-free? It has a very mild coconut-y scent but we chose not to add fragrance, as it may be too overwhelming while cleansing. Everything is made right here in the Philippines, and features botanically-derived main ingredients with no preservatives.

I hope you guys enjoy the new In Her Element First Wash Cleansing Oil as much as I do. We worked so hard on it, and it'd be awesome if it became part of your skincare routine. <3 You may purchase it at inherelement.ph for only P450!

Product photography by Samantha Gonzales

Collecting makeup can be quite a challenging feat. Aside from the obvious monetary expenses, makeup hobbyists can face the very real problem of not being able to keep track of every single product in our collection. It may not seem like such a big deal until you realize that:

• You keep accidentally buying multiples of the same product because you forgot that you already have it
• You can’t remember what your foundation shade is so you end up buying the wrong one
• Or you unearth barely-used or even unopened makeup that you have to throw away because it has already expired.

Sounds like such a waste, right? And even if your collection isn’t massive enough to experience those hoarding boo-boos, chances are you only end up using a small portion of your collection because, well, they’re in the most accessible part of your vanity or have never left your kikay kit. If you love your makeup collection and want to make the most out of it, then makeup cataloging is your new BFF!

The Analog Album Catalog

Yup, it’s pretty similar idea to the sales catalogs you see from Avon and Mary Kay. The goal is to provide you with an overview of what you have, including important details like when you bought it and first used it. It’s a lot of work at first but once you get a hang of logging in all your purchases, it can be pretty fun to do! Your catalog should also be able to help you with how you store your makeup as you’ll know when products are about to expire and should be used first, or if you want to change the lineup every month. Here are some great ideas to get you started on tracking your collection!

Ever been gifted a photo album that you don’t use because all your photos are stored online? Turn them into a pretty display of all your lippies! Include actual shade swatches so you can just leaf through it when looking for the perfect lip to complete your look. It’s best to dab some tissue on the product swatch to absorb any excess oil but since the pages are usually covered in plastic, you won’t have to worry about them smearing.

The Digital Catalog

A good friend of mine has drawers after drawers of lippies, and she recently told me that she keeps an Excel file to keep track of them. They’re sorted by shade families (Plums & Berries, Pinks, Reds, Browns) and she makes sure to update it whenever she buys a new one. Of course, you can use this for every other beauty item in your collection - just create separate tabs. A digital makeup catalog like this can also be easily stored on your phone, so you can access it wherever you are. Add as much information as you like: where you bought from, what was the price, even mini reviews to help you decide on whether or not to repurchase. And if you want to rotate your items, you can create your schedule here and make sure that none of your products are neglected.

Image via beautykeeper.com

There's An App For That (of course)

There are actually a lot of useful beauty apps that you can get for your smartphone, and it’s probably the easiest option to go for! Beauty Keeper (iOS) tracks the expiration dates of the products that you own and sends reminders when it’s time to chuck something out. As their names suggest, My Makeup Collection (iOS/Android) and MyBeautyCache (iOS) make tracking your collection very convenient. You can even sort them by product type or brand, so you can easily pull it up when you spot a sale and stock up on your favorites.

“Out of sight, out of mind” is the most common problem we encounter when it comes to high piles of makeup. Aside from decluttering your collection, it helps to create visual reminders to give some TLC to products that you neither hate nor love. Use acrylic containers or small pretty boxes that you can display on your vanity, and put the products currently in use (or encouraged for use) in there. You may want to keep newer items inside your drawers or somewhere that’s not within easy reach, so you won’t be tempted to use them and grab the more easily accessible ones in the box instead.

There’s no one best solution for cataloging your makeup; it really depends on what your goals are and what system you find to be most useful for your needs. Just keep trying until you find what works best for you, and above all, have fun!

How do you keep track of your makeup collection? Share your tips in the comments section below!

I remember someone asking before why I often get the wrong foundation shade even though I should already know by now what works for me. Well, the answer is simple: I don't always get to choose my shade! Brands often send me foundations to try out and sometimes it's perfect while sometimes - not so much. I'm not complaining, but this is why it's such a good day when I get a good match from a new foundation line! 

And so we come to the new Revlon Colorstay 2-In-1 Compact Makeup & Concealer (P975). When I saw that I got the shade 200 Nude, I thought it wouldn't work for me, but it did! I am a bit paler now than before so it fits my skin tone at the moment. More than that though, I quite like the formula of this cream foundation as it's long-wearing, offers heavy coverage, and is super easy to apply - pretty much my laundry list for a good foundation.

I only need one layer of the buttery cream foundation to cover most of my spots; it has a demi matte finish which keeps it from looking one dimensional. The concealer has a harder texture and a bit more coverage, but since it's about half a shade lighter than the foundation, I prefer to use it on my eye bags rather than my blemishes. Staying power is about six hours on my combi skin before retouching; it lasts for about 10 hours with little fading. I noticed the foundation has an almost powdery texture when dry so it does set nicely compared to other cream formulas.

Just watch out for creasing though; it's easy to over-apply if you're not careful! The cream foundation is quite wet so you may pick up more than you need.

Coverage for days, without looking like a thick mess! I used the cream foundation all over + the concealer on the under eyes. I set everything with translucent powder.

The compact has three layers: the topmost is the concealer, the middle is the cream foundation, and the bottom contains the sponge and mirror (it has holes so the sponge will dry properly). It's an innovative way to fit everything in no? But while I normally won't use sponges in the compact, Revlon's is something special. It's so soft - like Beauty Blender levels of softness - and applies the creams like a dream. It's just the perfect shape too, as the rounded corners can get into the under eyes and around the nose!

Pro tip: I dampen this sponge with a bit of water or makeup setting liquid to get a more skin-like finish.

The catch is that this sponge is hard to clean. It kinda stains! I think this needs a good soak-through to remove most of the foundation rather than just soaping it quickly.

Overall, I do recommend the Revlon Colorstay 2-In-1 Compact Makeup & Concealer to girls who have oily to combi skin. Dry folks have reported that it highlights their flakes, but if you don't have that problem, it should look flawless on you. I love how it gets my skin from blah to pak na pak (if I may use that term) in under three minutes with the sponge. Perfect for I-needed-to-leave-15-minutes-ago days! 

What do you think? What has your experience been with the Revlon Colorstay line so far?

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?

I've read the raves about the Yves Rocher Rinsing Vinegar (P495 at Yves Rocher stores) many, many years ago and have occasionally tried it in the past. I didn't like it though. I found the fruity vinegary smell annoying and it did the opposite of what it promised; my hair felt heavy and sticky after a few hours. But that was then. Recently, I've been plagued by a scalp so oily that I've almost given up! I've lost all hope until I tried my old bottle of this legendary hair rinse.

But wait, what is it exactly? The Yves Rocher Rinsing Vinegar is based on the good ol' vinegar rinse concept, wherein you use vinegar to remove product build-up on the hair and thus improve its shine and bounce. There are many versions of this DIY rinse, but all of them are, well, made out of vinegar and smells like it too! The one from Yves Rocher is made out of vinegar and water, but the vinegar is mild and mostly masked by a pleasant berry scent. I quite like it now!

To use, I shampoo my hair and then splash the Rinsing Vinegar all over my scalp. The bottle has a small opening that allows me to do this with some precision; it's simple but it works. I massage the liquid all over my hair then leave it on for a few minutes while I soap and exfoliate the rest of my body. I wash it off completely before I leave the shower.

I've been suffering from a ridiculously oily scalp, as I've mentioned above. Before I was able to fix it with some clarifying shampoo once or twice a week, but that stopped working! :( I tried changing shampoos and using dry shampoo, but those were only temporary solutions. I was at my wit's end until I randomly saw this bottle of Yves Rocher Rinsing Vinegar in my stash (it is probs almost two years old)! After just one use, it's like my scalp re-balanced itself and its oiliness has decreased dramatically.

I am so happy. Now I rinse with this about once a week and it keeps my hair fluffy and far from greasy. Definitely stocking up on this stuff! Have you tried a vinegar rinse before? How was it?

Yves Rocher Branches:
Level 2 SM Aura Premier
C5 Road cor MH del Pilar Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

G/L SM Southmall, Las Piñas City
(632) 478.2252

G/F Paseo Solano Wing Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City
(6332) 266.1458

G/F TriNoma, Quezon City
(632) 576.3662