Chab Ocampo

In times of economic downturns, inflation, recession, and financial uncertainty, we usually cut down spending on extravagant purchases like vacations, real estate, tech, and cars. Interestingly enough, while these high-cost expenses decline, beauty sales often remain steady—or even rise—during recessions.

These content creators have shaken up the Philippine beauty scene with their captivating content. Here, we celebrate their creativity and the impact they have in the beauty industry.

The past year marked a turning point for local beauty brands, with innovative launches, bold collaborations, and memorable campaigns.

We’ve all been there: spending an hour or more at the vanity, meticulously applying makeup and dousing our face in setting spray, only to have it all melt away the moment we step outside. It may sound dramatic, but the struggle to keep makeup intact all day—especially in our unpredictable tropical weather—is all too real.

One of the world’s key capitals for beauty innovations is Japan, where the craziest cosmetic innovations and the most complex skincare formulations abound. Sunscreen, for one, has always been one of J-Beauty’s strong categories at top stores, from Don Quijote and Matsumoto Kiyoshi to department stores and drugstores. One is sure to find shelves and shelves full of sunscreens in different formulas, finishes, and textures.

When you think back to what your first makeup product was, you would probably think of a tinted lip balm or clear gloss. They were usually subtle enough to pass your school’s dress code but noticeable enough to make you see and feel a difference. They stopped your lips from getting dry, and you didn’t even need a mirror to reapply them.

In 2022, the “clean girl” aesthetic dominated social media, with influencers and amateur beauty enthusiasts alike sharing their no-makeup makeup routines on Instagram and TikTok. Two years later, it’s safe to say that the clean girl look is here to stay—and even newer trends like the strawberry makeup trend, the tomato girl summer look, glazed donut skin, and the latte makeup look are all just iterations of the clean aesthetic.

The story of color cosmetics has always intertwined with tradition, cultural shifts, and scientific advancement. It begins in the ancient cradle of civilization, where makeup first adorned the faces of Egyptian nobility, around 6,000 BC, serving both aesthetic and protective purposes. This narrative took a dramatic turn in the 1920s, a decade marked by societal changes and the emergence of color cosmetics into the mainstream. Icons of the silver screen such as Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo...

We all know by now that TikTok is the Wild West of beauty trends—open the app and you’ll find the best lip product combos, ways to apply your foundation for the most natural finish, or swatches of soon-to-be-launched makeup products. In fact, we’ll be the first to admit that our beauty routines are highly influenced by TikTok. And if you’ve been on the beauty side of the app lately, you might have come across the high versus low visual weight trend—and how people are basing their 2024 glow-up...

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the beauty market has become oversaturated in recent years. New brands crop up all the time and makeup companies launch something new every season, leaving consumers spoiled for choice. Meanwhile, a number of brands, such as BECCA and Bite Beauty, have had to shut down after suffering losses from the pandemic.

The makeup artist, one of the most revered in the industry, recently collaborated with John Galliano to create porcelain makeup looks that the internet won’t stop talking about.
Time stopped for beauty lovers worldwide when John Galliano and Pat McGrath unveiled their creations at Maison Margiela’s Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show in Paris.

Coming from the pandemic lockdowns and the unfortunate travel restrictions, many have chosen Japan as the first country to escape to once borders were opened. It comes as no surprise that in 2023, Japan welcomed almost 20 million tourists!

When you’re feeling embarrassed, when you’ve just finished exercising, or when you’ve braced yourself through cold weather, blood flows to your face and dilates, giving your cheeks a flushed look. Blushing cheeks are often associated with youth, vigor, and passion, so it’s no wonder that humans have found ways to emulate this bodily phenomenon.

Shopping the Filipino beauty scene has never been more exciting. Ten years ago, you would be pressed to find a lipstick shade that would suit your skin tone or an eyeliner that would last all day—let alone products for a complete Filipino makeup routine. Now, we’ve become spoiled for choice with the number of products local beauty brands have been coming out with.

Celebrities, no doubt, are at the forefront of beauty trends (it comes with the job!), and so it only made sense when they began making their own beauty products so that fans and followers can achieve their signature looks.