Ahh, 2021, what a crazy year it’s been! It’s tough for sure but there are moments of hope and beauty to be found in between, don’t you think? I want to congratulate you for surviving and for being brave in persevering towards your goals, no matter how big or how small. What you’ve done this year is no inconsequential thing - you know how hard the struggle was, but I hope you remember what you’ve achieved as well. Just putting on your skincare and makeup is an act of defiance. It’s you telling the world, “You will see me, and you will listen.”

And so, it’s 2022 in just a few days, and we’d like to end the year by celebrating the best beauty products that the Project Vanity Community has tried in 2021. The Community has spoken and here’s what you absolutely need to try (if you haven’t yet)! Did your faves make it to the list?

After first discovering Mae Layug’s GRWM Cosmetics and being pleasantly surprised by the Multi-Use Creamy Tints, I’m back with reviews and swatches of their latest multipurpose makeup offering! The Radiance Tint (P349 / 8ml via LazMall or ShopeeMall) is a tubed concealer line that comes in 12 shades and 12 possible uses.

Are you looking for makeup inspo? Well then, you’ve come to the right place! Celebrate the holidays in glamorous style with my handpicked looks from some of the people I follow. These are easy to do at home with products you might already have. Let’s go!

Makeup brands always go all out during the holidays and this year, MAC’s is certainly one to look forward to. With gorgeous sets in hypnotic optical-illusion packaging, the Hypnotizing Holiday Collection dares you to “be your own masterful makeup MACgician!”

Are you done with your holiday shopping, PV Community? If you’re still doing some last-minute shopping, whether for yourself or the special people in your life, then you might want to consider what’s new in beauty this week.

Coco Chanel described perfume as the “unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory.” As a perfume addict, I would have to agree. We can spend a lot of time planning our perfect makeup, clothes and accessories, but a scent adds another dimension to your self-expression. It’s the invisible finishing touch that pulls our whole look together.

Much like a collection of clothes, skincare, or jewelry, a fragrance wardrobe contains a selection of scents for every occasion. If you don’t have a fragrance wardrobe yet, here are some tips to get you started!

I’m fiercely loyal to my sunscreen so it’s a cosmic shift for me to switch sunscreens, after pretty much using the same thing for eight years. I do try and love other sunscreens of course, but I keep coming back to Biore. You all know this. And yet a couple of months ago this changed.

I’ve actually tried Anessa sunscreen even before it arrived in the Philippines. It’s touted as the #1 sunscreen brand in Japan!

Many children around the world are born and are living with untreated cleft lip and/or palate, a common birth defect where a baby’s lip and/or mouth do not form properly in the early stages of pregnancy. In the Philippines alone, 1 in 500 children are born with this condition. Every year, about 4,500 babies are born with this facial and oral malformation and not everyone is given a chance to have a new, beautiful smile.

Makeup is my life because it’s part of my job as a beauty editor and product developer, but even I use makeup much, much less than I did before. My guess is that it’s the same for you too! The last two years saw our makeup kits languishing in half-forgotten drawers, waiting to see the light of day. Now that the world is opening up a little bit more, you may not help but wonder: is this still ok to use? How do you decide what to keep and what to throw away?

We finally entered the month of December, PV Community! Let’s make the last month of 2021 count, shall we? Speaking of making things count, this week’s beauty roundup is one that really counts. Why? Well, continue reading and you’ll find out.

Shampoo bars have been in the market for years. Lush released their first shampoo bar in 1988 and has produced a wide range of varieties to cater to different hair needs since then. Local brands like Zenutrients, Human Heart Nature, and SMEs like Beach Born, Ecobar, and Rinse & Repeat have their own versions too. But more than the availability in the market, the human drive towards becoming more environmentally conscious has brought these hair cleansing soaps on to a different level. Now, shampoo bars are no longer confined to a small niche as more and more people are ditching traditional shampoo bottles and sachets for it.

Do you ever see products and think, wait, this looks a lot like this other one that came before it? It’s becoming more and more common as supply chains become global. The good news for us here in the Philippines is that our local brands are truly world-class and highly competitive, with brands like Hello Glow (under Ever Bilena) investing heavily in their product development. I love that they have their ears on the ground and commit to making products that can go toe-to-toe with other global brands.

Have you started your holiday shopping already? If not, then you might want to consider looking at previous beauty roundup articles for ideas. After all, it’s nice to give someone a product that’s fresh on the market. Now, if you need more ideas, then here are more beauty releases to choose from!

Just as we care for the skin on our face and body, our lips shouldn’t be taken for granted even if they are covered with masks. In fact, I’ve noticed that mask-wearing sometimes parches and dries out my lips and throat. Hence, even without statement lips, I’ve appreciated lip balms more as this helps to hydrate. I’m always on the lookout for lip balms that actually do its job of moisturizing the lips rather than just coat it with a waxy coating which doesn’t do much.

Even just three years ago, my wardrobe was dictated by the events I needed to go to. I would buy dresses and pieces specifically for an activity and usually I would be under duress because I don’t have that much time to shop. Most of the time, I’d end up with clothes that don’t fit really well or are overpriced off-the-rack because I was in a rush and needed something ASAP. My wardrobe was a mess. Things didn’t really match because there wasn’t any planning whatsoever!

A fascinating truth: Even before you become fully aware of it, cleansing is the earliest form of skincare you take on. It’s a ritual most people even take for granted. But why aim for just getting it over with, when you can pay attention to flaunting that fresh, oil-free glow by choosing the ideal cleanser to deliver those results?

You know the holidays are just around the corner when there’s a sudden influx of beauty releases. After all, beauty is a gift that keeps on giving. Speaking of giving, it’s that time again - it’s time for me to give you what’s new in the beauty industry, both local and international.

Blemishes are the bane of my existence. If you’ve been reading this website long enough, then you know it’s something I’ve struggled with since I started this blog! Most of the time it’s hormonal, sometimes it’s products, but whatever it is I’m left with these dark marks that take some time to fade.

Hence, I only mean business when it comes to my concealer choices. I do not take them lightly. That’s why I had to try the KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm (P2,450 at Sephora.ph) when I saw it on TikTok.

What was your foundation game like five or ten years ago? Or if you’ve been using makeup for longer than that, do you remember what the formulas were like when you first started? There was a time when it was all about matte, and the coverage options seemed to be either full or fuller and, dare I say, cakey. We’ve come a long way since then, and the formulas feel more... efficient. The wear is generally more comfortable, while the finish of some varieties look more skin-like than ever. Most of all, these innovations are premiering at a fast pace while becoming more affordable!