There’s a new local makeup line in town called Spotlight and I’m here to walk you through it! This is a pretty extensive line, which is great, because it even has some interesting eye makeup formulations. Everything is under P500 so it’s quite affordable. Still, this is targeted for those looking to level up their makeup collection as it has that pro MUA vibe to it (at least to me). You can check it out in Lazada and Shopee online.

Let’s see what Spotlight has to offer!

The big news flash of my life these days is that I’m getting married next month. I’m starting to plan my makeup already, which is exciting, because I have so many ideas! I’m going to do my own makeup, of course. Better put all my beauty kung fu to work, right? Initially I was thinking of doing the classic bridal look - very natural and neutral on the eyes and lips - but right now I’m considering a big bold red lip. I’m so torn! What do you think? The lipstick will really determine what I do with the rest of my face.

EB Advance, Ever Bilena’s more sophisticated sister, has an exciting new release called the EB Advance Power Paint Multi-Use Color Cream (P199 at Lazada). It comes in four wearable shades that are formulated to be used on the eyes, cheeks, and lips. Before we go on the full review though, I think it’s important to address the elephant in the room! Yes it looks almost exactly like the Glossier Cloud Paint, but that’s pretty much where the sameness end.

While K-Palette remains to be a crowd favorite in the kilay department, this universally-loved Japanese brand has also brought us some keepers on the lip and cheek front. And if you’re like me who still has a lot of reverence for classic bullet lipsticks, you’ll want to check out all four Pinay-friendly shades of the K-Palette Lasting Lip Tint Stick (P795 each at Beauty Box Corp. or P2,880 for the full 4-piece set).

Staying at home all day doesn’t mean that we should stop looking pretty. In fact there are more meetings now than before (how is that even possible?) so there’s a constant need to look presentable on a webcam! If you’re looking to do a complete look without spending a lot on extra products, allow me to present a solution that’s multifunctional and affordable.

Project Vanity writer Firas Abboud declared in his story, “Makeup knows no gender, so every makeup product is technically universal.” I can’t agree more! I think everyone should not be judged when they wear cosmetics, no matter how they identify, or their age, or how their body is. Everyone is allowed to be more beautiful in all the ways that make them feel so! I think that’s why local brand blk Cosmetics, Anne Curtis and Jacqe Yuengtian-Gutierrez’s brain child, hit a nerve when they launched the first Universal collection last year.

Since wearing a mask whenever stepping outside the house is a must, some of us have chosen to skip wearing lip colors. After all, no one gets to see it and wearing a lipstick underneath a mask can be quite messy! If you are one of those people, I feel you as I’m guilty of it too. But allow me to give you an excuse today, if you will.

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!

Generation Happy Skin has always been about high-performance, everyday-wearable makeup. And with superstar Kathryn Bernardo as the face of this line, her minimalist beauty philosophy of combining healthy, glowing skin with touches of flattering color is a spot-on fit with the brand’s latest releases. After trying several pieces out, I have to say that the Here to Bloom collection isn’t just an inspiring statement. It’s a promise.

Happy Skin first came out with their Lip Mallow formula last February and reviews confirmed that it stays true to its “velvety air-whipped formula that wraps the lips in a weightless cloud of smooth color with a cushion-soft powder matte finish” promise. Just a couple of months after and we are getting six additional shades in the line. The bonus? These new ones are coffee-inspired and mostly nude tones that are perfect for every day.

I am a self-confessed lipstick lover but I found myself reaching for a different type of lip product lately. Even with 16 lip balms currently in rotation, I’m afraid I have a couple more ready for checkout! There’s something comforting about slathering moisture all over my perpetually dry lips as I usually get flaky bits that hurt and bleed when accidentally peeled. I’ve grouped the balms according to “function” for ease. Let’s discuss!

Yesterday Happy Skin released the Fresh Morning Dew Collection, which aims to deliver a fuss-free fresh face that’s comfortable to wear during the crazy hot summer. I find this collection tight and well-conceptualized; if you don’t like spending a lot of time on makeup, hate the makeup-y feeling on skin, and love to use flattering multi-use colors, then this line-up is made for you.

Let’s take a look!

The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (P950 for 20 grams) has been around a few years now following the massive success of the Laneige Sleeping Mask. It was the first overnight lip treatment I’ve heard of - not the say it’s the first, of course, but it seems to be one of the first products in this category that became popular. ANYWAY. I just want to rave about this little pot of goodness, because it’s been keeping my lips alive these days.

Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink is a big favorite in the drugstore liquid lippie category, and earned the first runner-up spot during Project Vanity’s 2019 Beauty Awards! I don’t often use liquid lipsticks but I’ve been curious to know what the hype is about. The arrival of the new Superstay Matte Ink Pink Edition (P299 each) presented the perfect opportunity for me to finally try this cult favorite.

I’ve become a super fan of shiny, plump, and slightly overlined lips. They look fresh and youthful compared to the matte lip look, and the juicy finish just feels more apt for summer! It also used to be a challenge to find a glossy lip product that wasn’t sticky and provided opaque coverage, but that all changed with the new Ellana Satin Stain Shine Liquid Lip and Cheek (P699 from Ellana).

Maine fans say hey! After two years Maine Mendoza gets another shot at #MACMaker - check her first color here. Now only is she the first influencer to do a second collab with MAC, she’s also the first to launch a Lipglass! Are you guys ready?

If you’re familiar with Korean airy velvet tints then the concept of the Revlon Cloud Blotted Lip Color (P475) is no stranger to you. This 19-color collection promises a weightless formula that feels like a cushy cloud on the lips, with a true blotted matte finish that looks smooth as you apply it. This isn’t even out yet in the Philippines (it’s coming next month!) so you’ll be the first to see how this product performs.

Pinays just looove their lipsticks. Most local brands will only have one or two foundation shades, but a boatload of lip products. It just makes sense. This country is too hot and humid, so foundation, which tends to break and smear with the heat, is just an added stress. Lipstick application is easy, and playing with color is a quick way to transform your look. Let’s take a few pointers from today’s hottest celebs and break down what makes a celebrity smooch.

I’ve tried hundreds and hundreds of lip products in my career as a beauty blogger and editor these last 12 years. You only need to look at all the lip swatch photos and reviews I and the PV Team have published in the past to see that trends in color and formulations come and go; what’s hot right now might roll on for a few years, and then not be seen again until its turn on the line has come.

What I’ve noticed though is that there is one thing that never goes out of style - comfort.

With velvet lipstick being such a popular option these days, it’s not surprising that Happy Skin has finally thrown their own hat in the ring. The new Happy Skin Lip Mallow (P549 at happyskincosmetics.com) is described as a “plush matte lip mousse…weightless, intensely pigmented, and gives you that cloud-like feel on the lips”. It features eight morena-friendly shades that have brown undertones. This also has SPF15.