Celebrity Andrea Brillantes has always wanted to be the CEO of her own cosmetics brand. She wanted her vision to be front and center and come up with products that are representative of her own beauty routine and ultra feminine vibe. And so Lucky Beauty was born. “Makeup is a wearable lucky charm,” Andrea says. For her, it helps her feel more confident and in control of her fate.

This year has seen such a rapid development in the quality and diversity of local makeup product options and with just a little under two months left to 2022, Filipino brands do not seem to have any plans of slowing down.

Issy & Co. has definitely shown that they will be finishing this year strong with their latest launch that revealed a total of 48 products for all of us to enjoy!

What makes a makeup product iconic? Many things are pretty, but reaching icon status requires passing the test of time. The product has to be universally flattering (not just on different skin tones but with other products), wear on the skin well in terms of staying power, and a good deal in terms of cost-per-wear. THE NARS Orgasm blush definitely passes all these categories with passing colors! (Get it?)

Recently NARS expanded the Orgasm universe with a new cheek palette and a jumbo version of the beloved blush. Let’s take a look!

Honestly, makeup has taken a backseat for me because of the pandemic. I’ve been working in beauty for almost 13 years so it was quite strange to not be as involved with makeup as I always have. There aren’t as many new products and there aren’t huge waves anymore when it comes to trends. Definitely not normal. But this has given me an opportunity to re-examine my beauty look and go back to the basics. I still do want to look good, after all! This blog is called Project Vanity, haha.

If Issy & Co. Cosmetics is still not on your radar then you’re missing out. This Filipino brand - only less than a year old - is hitting its stride with amazing releases so far, and its newest collection with celebrity Alex Gonzaga is the brand putting pedal to the metal! In line with the brand’s promise of “beauty made easy,” this big release features three multifunctional and no-fuss products: highlighter slimsticks, créme blushes, and lip mousses. Here’s my review and swatches of the entire collection!

If there’s one thing that I changed in my beauty routine in the past year, it’s to rely less on contour and focus on highlights. I used to regularly hit pan on my contour powders but I’ve since changed my makeup look to focus on glowy skin. I love how a touch of well-placed highlighter can instantly brighten my face and make me feel like the star of a Kdrama! It’s also perfect for days when I feel gloomy or lack sleep. as it makes me look alive and put together. However, some highlighters look great on camera but too much for real life. If you want something that’s more subtle and natural-looking, we’ve put together some picks to suit every kind of budget!

Hum-hallelujah, Shimmertints have arrived! After a confluence of events (aka popular demand and product development timing), Colourette finally released a new category of their liquid tints: highlighters. After a game-changing experience with their Face Gloss (which is NOT a liquid but a powder designed to look like liquid), and a lovely time with their liquid lipsticks for Valentine’s, I was actually pretty excited to try these new products, especially when I saw that they decided to release four shades! Y’all know I love a bronze glow, too. The best part: each bottle just sells for P349. I tested them for two weeks, and here’s how they fared:

Hello, brown people of the Philippines! I know. I know the culture loves our tisay sisters, but I also know we’re headed towards a beautiful, bronzy future where brown (and dark!) people are also appreciated. Anyway, if you want to be in the forefront (wow) with me and have been yearning for products that cater to your coloring, then this list is for you. I’ve tried around twenty plus highlighters and reviewed fourteen of the best products for morenas so you have something for every purpose and price point.

It’s a great time to be a makeup junkie. The past few years have witnessed the birth of several new local makeup brands, and each one of them has been bringing their A-game to the table. One of these new players is Vice Cosmetics, which just launched last year. With the success of several lines of lipsticks and their first collab, Vice is upping the ante with a range of powder highlighters, blushes, and contour called the Aura Collection.

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

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

How did we get from being afraid of looking even the slightest bit greasy to attempting to replicate dewy skin with the clever use of makeup? I’ll tell you how: pure, shimmery magic! Highlighter has become a permanent fixture to the #FOTD in recent years, deflecting from tired eyes, subtly defining bone structure, and adding brightness to dull skin. We’ve gone the Splurge vs. Save route and even dished on the ones that we can’t live without. So it’s pretty much a no-brainer to revisit the budget picks that’ll help you shine more for a lot less!

Hello from Tokyo! It's about 9:45 AM and I can't wait to start eating at Tsukiji Market. It's my favorite place in my favorite city, because the sushi is amazing and the snacks are perfect. Anyway, before I leave, I thought I'd write a quick review on a pretty popular complexion powder: the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (P3,900 at Sephora.ph).

When we say ‘face or base products’ in cosmetics, we automatically think of different kinds of foundation, maybe primers and setting products for those who use them. However, this category actually includes a larger, oft-forgotten collection of products, including those that you do not necessarily put all over your face. These are bronzer, blush, contour and highlight.

Glowy yet natural-looking skin might take a village of products to achieve, but for those in the know, the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Highlight 01 makes it practically effortless. The highlighter is described as “an ultra-smooth baked face powder that provides natural color with soft matte radiance”. This is the lone highlighter shade in the line.

The fact that it's "matte" yet "radiant" at the same time is what makes this unique formula the recipient of many raves from the beauty community. Priced at P1,750 for 7.5g (Rustan's Beauty), this highlighter isn't a practical option for many so I had to ask: is it possible to look glowy without having to break the bank?

I love myself a pretty, natural flush that takes no time to apply. That's why I keep a few cream blushes on hand, just in case I need to step out quick without looking like a zombie. You guys may remember my review of the Glossier Cloud Paint, which I liked a lot, but there's something similar and locally available: the Inglot AMC Face Blush (P1,195 /15ml) and the Face and Body Illuminator (P1,195 / 15ml).

It's a gloomy day today and I am in the middle of packing for a trip. There are so many last minute things to do! I thought I'd take a break though by talking about some of my favorite highlighters at the moment - these are the ones that never fail to brighten my skin and my day. Here are my top five!

So, I just recently realized that the Lunasol Pressed Face Color I included in our Staff Picks last time is actually an illuminating powder. Yep, such a fail, I know! For those of you who like me did not know the difference, a highlighter is generally applied on a concentrated area to emphasize certain features such as the cheekbones, nose bridge, and bow of the lips. On the other hand, an illuminator is used to create a lit-from-within look so it's usually applied to a larger area or even the whole face.

Highlighting is one of those makeup tricks that takes so little work but creates a huge impact on your finished look. Placed in strategic areas, it can make your skin look real good and your expression brighter, more well-rested! Highlighting used to be something only makeup artists do. However, along with contouring, it has become so accessible that even beginners and the laziest makeup junkies can get on board.