Project Vanity has been around for 18 years now, and we’ve done all sorts of events, from counter get-togethers to full-blown summits. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with third spaces: that place that’s neither home nor work, but somewhere you go to pursue what you’re passionate about and meet other people who are into the same things. For a lot of us, that used to be the comments section. I thought it was time we had a real one.
So we’ve come up with Project Vanity Socials, an intimate event for the Project Vanity Community. We’re doing it in the common area of NBS Park along Pioneer St. in Mandaluyong, which happens to be one of my favorite hangout spots. The event is in three parts. And of course, there’s a lovely gift bag for everyone who comes!
Talk
Let’s ask each other anything. I’ll open the floor to a Q&A where we can talk not just about beauty but about confidence and life in general: what we’ve stopped apologizing for, what we’re still figuring out, what we wish someone had told us at 25. I’ll moderate, but it’s not a lecture. Bring your questions, and be ready to answer a few too.
Swap
This is the fun part. Bring a few beauty products that you bought and never got around to using, whether brand new or gently used. You can swap, you can sell to each other, you can haggle, you can just give something away to someone who’ll actually use it. Your call!
A few house rules so everyone feels good about what they take home. New, sealed products are always welcome. For gently used products, stick to things that are easy to sanitize: powders, liquids or creams in pump containers, and tools like brushes. Please skip used mascaras and lipsticks, and anything in a jar you’ve been dipping your fingers into. And please sanitize anything used before you bring it.
Donate
Have more products than you can swap, or just want to straight up donate? We’re partnering with the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs to bring your donated products to Marillac Hills, a DSWD home for girls in Muntinlupa. The girls there have a salon training center where they learn hair and makeup skills they can build a livelihood on, so your products are going to someone who will put them to work. There will be a donation box at the event. Since these are going to young girls in training, donations should be new or very gently used.
About that gift bag
Every seat comes with a bag of full-size products from brands I actually use and have written about for years, so this part I’m especially happy about. Big thank you to Hada Labo, Skin Aqua, Ever Bilena, Beautybox Corp., rom&nd, Tillo, and Kanebo for coming on board for the very first Socials. Between the skincare, the sunscreen, and the makeup, you’re going home with a proper haul before you’ve even touched the swap table!
The details
When: Friday, November 6, 2026, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Where: NBS Park Common Area, Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City
Tickets: P1,200 for your seat, coffee and merienda, and the gift bag. Only 30 seats, so don’t sleep on this.
What to bring: A few beauty products to swap (new, or gently used and sanitized), plus anything new and sealed you’d like to donate.
Reserve your seat here: projectvanity.com/events
I’m honestly a little nervous about this one because it’s so small and so unscripted, but that’s also why I want to do it. If it goes well, we’ll do it again. See you on the 6th!
