I grew up seeing Pond’s being used by my female relatives. My mom would talk about how Pond’s was a luxury back in the day, and how they had to source the famous Pond’s Cold Cream all the way from Hong Kong! Today, Pond’s is one of the most accessible and affordable beauty brands around - you can find their products pretty much anywhere you go. And it’s that accessibility and pocket-friendly price tag that made the PV team excited to hear about the new Pond’s Cleansing Balm. 

From 3D sheet masks to shampoos and hair serums, we’ve raved a lot about the products by  Japanese brand Kracie. Now, they have something new to add to our skincare routines with a set of cleansing waters! The Creer Micellar Cleansing Water (P545 for 330ml in stores) joins the Cleansing Water and Clean Water Oil In as the latest in Kracie’s cleansing solutions. These micellar waters come in two variants, Clear and Moist, and are said to be made from Japanese hot spring water.

There was a time when I was all about micellar water cleansing, but after a few years of that I just got tired of using two separate makeup removers for my face. Before, I’d swipe on micellar water or wipe to remove foundation and eyebrows, then use a biphase (oil + micellar water) remover for my waterproof eye makeup. I liked this routine since my skin felt cleaner afterwards as opposed to using oil. I also liked that I didn’t turn my face into old makeup soup - you know what I mean! It’s when your mascara is on your lips and your lipstick is on your eyes na because you used an oil cleanser and massaged it all over.

Nivea is a pioneering skincare brand. Can you believe that their best-selling cream was first introduced way back in 1911? Personally, I have fallen in love with their Facial Cleansing Wipes for those long days where I'm simply too tired for multiple cleansing steps. But here’s exciting news that will #ChangeTheWayYouCleanse: Nivea just launched two new Zero-Alcohol Cleansers with Liza Soberano as the official ambassador!

This was a last-minute airport purchase as I was speed-walking to my departure gate at Narita. I had a few loose coins which I typically save for boxes of Royce chocolate as pasalubong, but this time I gave in and finally tried DHC! It's a popular skincare brand in Japan but they're especially famous for their cleansing oils that some say are better than Shu Uemura. I think that it does give Shu a run for its money!

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

Today’s beauty throwdown features one of my makeup removing staples – the cleansing balm! In case you’re new to the party, a cleansing balm is basically an oil-based makeup remover in solid form. It can also be used as the first step in the double cleansing routine, but the solid formula makes it more travel-friendly. You only need a pea-sized amount to remove an entire face’s worth of makeup, so even a small jar can go a long way!

So how effective are they? Let’s find out as we whip out three popular cleansing balms and test them on waterproof and long-wearing makeup.

I never fail to stalk the beauty aisles whenever I'm in Tokyo. It's, ehem, research for Project Vanity and In Her Element, okay? Last fall, I spotted an interesting development in Japan's beauty scene called "hot cleansing gels". I have never seen or heard of this concept before, but there's a whole shelf just full of them in Tokyu Hands! I chose the one that looked pretty popular (it had the Cosme #1 sticker) and didn't cost as much as the others at P1,880 yen.

While skincare challenges like trying 10-step skincare, 7-skin method, and everyday masking are fun and sometimes worth the effort, there are also days when we just can't be bothered with our regular routine. When we're dead-ass tired from a very long day and desperately want to go to bed, our skincare regimen gets shortened to just a few products. We still want good skin, after all, and dread waking up to find a nasty breakout so even the smallest effort can make a difference. 

Until recently, I have only used micellar water as my makeup remover. It worked for me, so I never thought to try any other types. When I finally got to try a cleansing balm though, I became an instant convert! I loved how easily it removed the makeup from my face, without needing to make several passes with a cotton pad.