It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this article, because this will be my last as Calyxta’s Managing Editor.

The past three years have been a whirlwind of both fulfilling and challenging times. Calyxta was and will always be the dream job that my 14-year-old self wanted more than anything else—right from the moment I fell in love with Andie Anderson’s job in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and then three years later, was smitten by both Andy Sachs’ and Miranda Priestly’s characters in the Devil Wears Prada—which fueled my passion even more.

It was through Calyxta that I met some of the most inspiring and empowered women, and it was truly an honor to have shared their stories on this platform.

While I genuinely enjoyed working with the most amazing team, in an environment that brought out the best in everyone, we can all agree that at times, in order to grow, we need to step away from our comfort zones. Calyxta has been my home for three years, but now it’s time to close this chapter and start a new one. Rest assured that Calyxta is in good hands with its current editorial team taking the reins.

But before I leave, I wanted to write one last listicle of picks that aren’t exactly beauty-related, but that I hope will help keep you and your families safe and healthy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Metro Manila shifted from ECQ to GCQ, some have reported back to work despite the number of positive cases still increasing. Though it’s still encouraged to continue staying at home until the curve has been flattened, I understand that some already need to leave their homes. And if this is the case, please stay safe by washing your hands often, practicing social distancing, and boosting your immune system. For those looking for extra protection, Calyxta now also carries a medical isolation gown that prevents the spread or transfer of infection or illness. It comes in multiple colors, and you have the option of having it made with or without sleeves. This is ideal if you need to run an important errand or shop for essentials. Just be sure to properly remove it before entering your home, and wash it well with disinfectant bleach solution.

Frequent handwashing may result in super dry hands. I didn’t realize this until I noticed that my own hands started to feel rough, and I could see white patches beginning to form. To alleviate this, I would apply some of my facial moisturizer (because I didn’t have hand cream at that time)—which works just as fine! If you’re looking for one that gets absorbed quickly so you can get back to what you’re doing, try going for a gel-type moisturizer like Face Republic’s.

With this list, I hope that you continue to stay safe and healthy. As my parting message, I urge everyone to support and show your love for local businesses like Calyxta. It’s a small way of helping the economy get back up on its feet.

Gretchen Gatan

MANAGING EDITOR

Gretchen is a writer, makeup artist, and the beauty and lifestyle blogger behind www.gretasjunkyard.com. Her love for beauty all started when she discovered the wonders of doing her brows with a good eyebrow pen. Despite her girly ways and obsession with skin care, she loves watching wrestling and gets competitive while playing Ultimate Frisbee.

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With the enhanced quarantine put into place by the government, and with a lot of companies implementing a work from home setup to keep their employees and communities safe against COVID-19, taking care of our mental health is something we shouldn’t forget. Isolation and the fear of not knowing what’s going to happen may have a negative impact on our collective mental and emotional health, and so to prevent this, self-care is and will always be necessary.

Here’s a list of things to help uplift your mood, and to preserve your mental well-being while on self-quarantine.

SCENTED CANDLES

Something as simple as lighting up a scented candle after a whole day of sitting in front of your laptop answering emails and attending conference calls can help you wind down and remind you that work is over. This is especially important when work seeps into our comfort spaces. In my case, since I live in a studio unit, my bed is very close to the desk where I work. And as a way to completely forget about work at the end of the day, I associate my desk with only work-related things. I never bring work to the bed, or any other areas in the studio. Scented candles can definitely help ease us back to our comfort spaces.

 ESSENTIAL OILS

Ever since I was introduced to essential oils a couple of years back, I’ve been obsessed with them. I especially love diffusing them or pouring a few drops on the palms of my hands and inhaling the scent. My top two are Lavender and Lemon. The scent of lavender helps reduce levels of the stress hormone, while lemon enhances concentration. If you have fur babies at home, lavender is also pet-friendly!

SHEET MASKS

Being at home sometimes tends to make me forget to drink water as often as when I’m at the office. The dehydration became a lot more evident when my skin these past few days became dry—and to think: my skin type is oily! To help alleviate this, I’ve been wearing sheet masks every night to soothe my dry skin. It’s also a quick and easy way to de-stress and unwind at the end of the day.

 SUNSCREEN 

I can’t stress enough how important it is to apply sunscreen—even if you’re just indoors the whole day. This is because gadgets like our phones and laptop screens emit a low level of radiation, which can still cause damage to the skin. You can easily prevent this by applying sunscreen daily.

UNIVERSAL HEALING BALM

Ever since the spread of COVID-19 started in the Philippines, I’ve had a harder time falling asleep. I worry so much for my family, especially my 77-year-old grandmother who suffers from asthma. To help me fall asleep, I’ve had the Zenutrients All is Well Balm on my bedside table that I like to rub on the palms of my hands and inhale to try and calm myself. I use the same balm whenever I suffer from a cough, headache, or flu. I just rub a little on my chest and back, temples, or my upper lip—and it soothes me immediately.

FACIAL MIST

If you need a way to refresh or reenergize yourself in the middle of the day, all while boosting your skin’s health, try spraying facial mists! I was never really into this until I started during the enhanced community quarantine. I’d have a bottle beside my laptop that I would often spray—it helps improve my mood and encourages me to finish all my tasks for the day.

YOUR FAVORITE LIPSTICK

Even if there’s no where else for you to go, and you tend to spend all day in your pajamas (unless there’s a conference call, and you need to wear more appropriate upper clothing) applying your favorite lipstick can certainly have a positive impact on the way you feel. So go ahead and swipe on that lippie!

Gretchen Gatan

MANAGING EDITOR

Gretchen is a writer, makeup artist, and the beauty and lifestyle blogger behind www.gretasjunkyard.com. Her love for beauty all started when she discovered the wonders of doing her brows with a good eyebrow pen. Despite her girly ways and obsession with skin care, she loves watching wrestling and gets competitive while playing Ultimate Frisbee.

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Writing my picks for the month since October last year has been something that I genuinely look forward to. There’s just something so fulfilling about sharing my favorite beauty products with everyone—not to mention, I’m always encouraged to try new ones every time!

Since February is about celebrating all kinds of love, including self-love (which I know isn’t always about bubble baths and face masks), below are my top picks when it comes to pampering myself a little more than usual. These are products that have helped uplift me or give me motivation—especially on days I feel low or emotionally drained. And I hope that these products will do the same for you!

I was never really into scented candles (because I preferred diffusers with essential oils more), but I made an exemption for Happy Island when I first discovered them on Calyxta. I bought the Pinacolada, and was immediately addicted to its pineapple and coconut scent. I recently got a whiff of the Clean Linen, and the comforting fragrance reminded me of the accomplished feeling I usually have after doing the laundry—my least favorite chore of all!

Ever since I turned 30 and became even more minimalist with my everyday makeup look, Glossier really cemented itself as my staple makeup brand. The very act of pulling out my Cloud Paint in Beam or Storm from my bag, squeezing out a pea-sized amount on my finger, and blending it all over my cheeks and lids (most of the time, I don’t even need a mirror!) sparks a certain kind of joy that borders on giddy. On top of that, I suddenly feel more confident with myself!

Whenever I book a massage at the spa across my condominium, I used to just rely on their selection of massage oils. Until one day, Zenutrients sent over their Therapeutic Eucalyptus Green Tea Coconut Massage Oil. As someone who is obsessed with anything coconut, seeing the word “coconut” on the label really did it for me. I started bringing the bottle every time I booked a massage, and would request for the therapist to use it instead.

Before this device, I used to always book diamond peel sessions at a nearby skincare clinic once a month. In case you didn’t know, there are many benefits to getting a diamond peel regularly, which you can read here: Why You Need to Get a Diamond Peel Once a Month. One session is about P800 to P1,500, which if you think about it, can be quite expensive if you do it monthly—until Aesthetique sent over their Microdermabrasion Device. It’s practically an investment for my skin, because the price is equivalent to just six sessions at the skincare clinic! Now I get to do my own diamond peel sessions in the comforts of my home without the need to spend P800 every time.

Written By:

Gretchen Gatan

MANAGING EDITOR

Gretchen is a writer, makeup artist, and the beauty and lifestyle blogger behind www.gretasjunkyard.com. Her love for beauty all started when she discovered the wonders of doing her brows with a good eyebrow pen. Despite her girly ways and obsession with skin care, she loves watching wrestling and gets competitive while playing Ultimate Frisbee.

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It’s the beginning of a new decade, and for most of us, it probably feels like a clean, new slate—a blank canvas where we can be as creative as we want in coloring our lives with love, laughter, and adventure. Which is why I thought it would be fitting to focus this month’s picks on the very products that build the foundation for our makeup looks—products that create a smooth and flawless base before all the artistry begins!

Below are base products that I’ve tried, tested, and even repurchased throughout the years. These are all products I swear by, and I hope you find your next holy grail base here!

I want to start this list with my favorite drugstore foundation: Maybelline’s Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation. It gives a light to medium coverage that’s so easy to build and blend using just a Beautyblender, and I love how it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing foundation whenever I use it. This product is such a staple in my makeup kit that I actually used it during my engagement shoot for my wedding last year!

MAYBELLINE FIT ME MATTE + PORELESS

FOUNDATION, P 399

Would you believe that Rimmel’s Stay Matte Primer replaced a high-end primer in my makeup kit that I never repurchased again because I preferred the drugstore brand’s primer more? As someone who has oily skin, I stay away from primers that give a dewy finish and prefer ones that give a matte finish instead. The Stay Matte Primer has become my ultimate favorite, and it’s been used in all my makeup looks since 2017.

RCMA’s Five-Part Series Favorites Palette was my first purchase as a certified makeup artist back in 2015. I bought all three palettes, because I wanted to have a wide range of shades that could cater to my different clients. I also used it on myself, because the coverage was so smooth and flawless! It lasted longer compared to my drugstore foundations as well. Nowadays, I like alternating this with Maybelline’s Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation!

Written By:

Gretchen Gatan

Managing Editor

Gretchen is a writer, makeup artist, and the beauty and lifestyle blogger behind Greta’s Junkyard. Her love for beauty all started when she discovered the wonders of doing her brows with a good eyebrow pen. Despite her girly ways and obsession with skin care, she loves watching wrestling and gets competitive while playing Ultimate Frisbee.

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We’re down to the last month of the year, and before closing the decade, I feel like it’s only fitting that I share with you all my top beauty discoveries for 2019! These aren’t necessarily new products, but mostly existing ones that I only discovered, tried, and tested this year.

When I entered the world of beauty and experimented with different looks, one product I never really paid attention to was highlighter—simply because I already had oily skin, and didn’t want to look even oilier! But as the years passed, I realized that all it takes is the right product and technique to achieve that lit-from-within glow. And since then, I’ve loved incorporating highlighters in all of my looks. I’d use it not just for the high points of my face (cheekbones, tip of the nose, and cupid’s bow), but also my brow bones and inner eye corners. Rude’s Baked Highlighter was quite the game changer for me.

I was first introduced to this product when Dove invited me to its launch last July. At first, I was a little bit skeptic—but after two weeks of using the Collagen and Vitamin B3 variant, I was amazed that it did slightly even out my underarms and reduced the appearance of chicken skin. I’ve been using it since then, and I intend to buy another tube once I run out!

I tend to be a lipstick snob, and when I find a “flavor of the month,” it usually takes me a while to get over my obsession and try other products or brands. But a lipstick that I’m so glad I got to try when I was sent a few shades by L’Oreal was their Rogue Signature Matte Liquid Lipstick. I was instantly amazed by the lightweight and long-lasting formulation. The shade, I Am Worth It, is my favorite.

Another favorite from La Localita is their clear Lash Express Mascara. As someone who frequently gets her lashes lifted, I also find ways to prolong it—and wearing clear mascara everyday surely does the trick. Because the Lash Express is infused with La Localita’s lash-growing  ingredient as well, redensyl, it helps my lashes grow thicker and longer, too!

Gretchen is a writer, makeup artist, and the beauty and lifestyle blogger behind www.gretasjunkyard.com. Her love for beauty all started when she discovered the wonders of doing her brows with a good eyebrow pen. Despite her girly ways and obsession with skin care, she loves watching wrestling and gets competitive while playing Ultimate Frisbee.

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Calyxta turns five this year and so a trip down memory lane had me bookmarking my favorite looks as seen on all our Calyxta Girls—from 2014 to this year! Find my picks below, plus a few products to get you started in case you’re looking to try their looks:

I’m falling hard for this look because these days, it’s rare to see girls stepping out while sporting major smokey eyes. To me, it’s oddly refreshing and sends such a strong statement.

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

2018 saw the beginnings of the monochrome trend (which is widely still favored to this day!), so this unapologetically red-on-red-on-red take stands out and is definitely a fave for me!

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

I love a boss woman look that’s bold, dares to be different, and isn’t afraid to stand out.

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

2017 reminds me of two things: one, girls were still obsessed with the nude, matte lips from the previous years; and two, many were slowly catching up with K-beauty’s obsession with natural-looking makeup trends. And so in the middle of all the nudes and naturals, this galactic look is memorable for me.

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

Okay, but at the end of the day, we all need a go-to beauty peg that’s close to natural, and this glowy, dewy version is what’s on my list.

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

Aren’t oranges, corals, and peaches the go-to hues these days? I love how this bright and sunshine-y look was done way back in 2016—a look that’s a cross between a classic and one that’s ahead of its time.

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

Here’s a look that brings back so much memories—of going to gigs a concerts. Instead of super dark eyes, lips, nails, and all, I love how this version plays with blue eye shadow and a soft pink lip.

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

Can’t turn away from this ’90s inspired, made-for-the-summer-girl look! Remember in our early tweens when colorful cosmetics—from lipsticks to eye shadow and even to hair mascaras—were all the rage? 

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

Back in my early days of experimenting with makeup, I learned that the cardinal rule of highlighting your features is having only one key focus. So yes—fierce eyes, nude lips.

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

The classic red lip, wavy hair, and defined eyes will always be…well, a classic, and so this look deserves to be on this iconic list. A girl can never go wrong with a classic!

PRODUCTS TO START WITH:

Written By:

Patti Sunio aka Tita Pacita

BEAUTY CONTRIBUTOR

Tita Pacita of www.titapacita.com is a lifestyle, culture, and fashion & beauty writer from Manila. With her wisdom and almost thirty years of life experience, she likes to share what she knows and give unsolicited advice, true to her Tita ways. Her makeup choices are primarily based on instinct, and, believe it or not, K-Beauty.

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Last October, I started a series on Calyxta.com focusing on my picks of the month. You can read the article here. After having worked in the beauty industry and blogging about beauty for nearly seven years, I must have encountered hundreds of products that allowed me to ultimately discover my holy grails—and I’d like to share them with you!

While last month focused on my top skincare picks, this November will be highlighting my holy grail makeup products. These are products that I’ve tried or purchased myself, or have used on my clients as a makeup artist.

Check them out below:

I bought this during one of Calyxta’s offline sales, because I was running out of my Benefit Porefessional Primer and I wanted to look for a more affordable alternative. Apart from reading reviews about the brand online (it’s every Beauty YouTuber’s favorite!), a former colleague of mine loved hoarding their Stay Matte Pressed Powder from the States—so I felt confident in trying out their primer. I’ve been using this on myself and on my clients for almost two years now. I love that it really does keep my oily skin at bay, while allowing my makeup looks to last longer. I especially love using it for weddings, when I know I’ll be out and about all day!

If you follow me on Instagram and watch my stories, you’ll know how obsessed I am with this little tube of wonder. So obsessed to the point that I’ve purchased four since I started using it last year. I’ve tried so many other brow gels in the past, but I never really stuck with them as much as I’ve stuck with Glossier’s Boy Brow. It’s just so easy to use that I can even apply it in the car while my husband is driving! But more than its easy application, what makes it incomparable is its formulation. I can use it alone, and it gives my brows volume and definition. But it doesn’t leave the hairs feeling stiff unlike most brow gels I’ve tried. This is no doubt a product I’ll be using until the end of time!

This list wouldn’t be complete without Glossier’s Cloud Paint—a product that has lived in my bag ever since I turned 30 and got too lazy to do a full face. After brushing up my brows with their Boy Brow, I just apply a little bit on my lids and cheeks to give me a flushed or sun-kissed look! I can’t count the number of times this product has saved me when I suddenly have an event or meeting to attend.

I’ve gotten so addicted to using this concealer that I actually reach for it more than my original holy grail (NARS’ Radiant Creamy Concealer). It provides ample coverage for my undereye area, but also doubles as a cream highlighter. The best part? It contains ingredients that slows down the appearance of fine lines, so double yay!

When it comes to doing any makeup look, I always make sure to set it in place with setting spray. I’ve used a few brands, but one I always use on myself and on clients is this one from L’Oreal. Even if I use a drugstore primer and foundation as my base, it doesn’t cake nor melt—and I can thank L’Oreal’s Infallible Spray for it!

Gretchen is a writer, makeup artist, and the beauty and lifestyle blogger behind www.gretasjunkyard.com. Her love for beauty all started when she discovered the wonders of doing her brows with a good eyebrow pen. Despite her girly ways and obsession with skin care, she loves watching wrestling and gets competitive while playing Ultimate Frisbee.

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Being in the beauty industry and having blogged about beauty for almost seven years now, I’ve scoured through hundreds of products, discovered my holy grails, got introduced to new ones, and continuously tried and tested different brands to see which ones I should write about and share with my readers, and ultimately deserve a spot on my dresser.

Which is why it’s exciting for me to start a new series on Calyxta focusing on my picks of the month! It’s a quick rundown of new products I’m excited to try, or oldies-but-goodies that have withstood the test of time.

For this month, since I’m a big believer of skin care first before makeup, below are some products that I’ve personally purchased to enhance my routine or have been on my wish list for a while now!

A deodorant that I fell in love with so much, I have three—one in my bathroom, one in my travel kit, and one in my parents’ house (for whenever I sleep over during weekends). I don’t think I’ve seen a deodorant work as good as the Intensive Renew from Dove. More than protecting my underarms and making sure I stay fresh and sweat-free all day, I love the effects of the Niacinamide variant! It’s brightened and smoothened my underarms—giving me even more confidence to wear whatever I want, and not be conscious.

This product was automatically added to my wish list when a friend mentioned that it had a similar consistency as Biore’s Face Milk (which has been my sunblock since college). Though Dear Klairs is slightly more expensive, I don’t mind spending a little more to try their formulation.

Fun fact: the reason I bought this (despite having a full stash of Biore’s Face Milk) was because Maggie Wilson kept raving non-stop about it during our cover girl interview. The Invisible Shield ended up as the sunscreen in my daily bag, which was especially useful when I traveled to Europe last year! There were a lot of walks under the sun during our tour, so I always made sure to apply and reapply sunblock. The great thing about the Invisible Shield aside from being so lightweight is it doesn’t leave a white cast, so I didn’t have to worry about taking pictures.

I’ve used this countless times whenever I stayed up too late binge watching The Big Bang Theory on Netflix, or if I needed an instant way to brighten my eyes for an event the following the day (like a friend’s wedding!). In my opinion, it’s great for prepping the undereye area, before applying makeup (especially a heavy concealer)—it prevents the concealer from caking or settling into fine lines.

Gretchen Gatan

MANAGING EDITOR

Gretchen is a writer, makeup artist, and the beauty and lifestyle blogger behind www.gretasjunkyard.com. Her love for beauty all started when she discovered the wonders of doing her brows with a good eyebrow pen. Despite her girly ways and obsession with skin care, she loves watching wrestling and gets competitive while playing Ultimate Frisbee.

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Here are 10 brands near and dear to our hearts (and bank accounts) for their highly esteemed goodies that won us over completely—and will definitely win you over, too!

TheBalm is a cult-favorite brand that seems to have been around forever yet can never lose its novelty! It’s one of the brands that I’ve always wanted to own as a teenager, and one that I impulse-bought the minute I made money of my own—I regret nothing! With their gorgeous vintage packaging, adorable product names, and high-quality products, TheBalm makes sure to leave the least room for doubt on how bomb they really are.

For those looking for a natural-looking glow up, Betty’s your best bet. This silky-smooth bronzing highlight powder is the perfect way to bring a little warmth into your look while adding a subtle shine. While it doesn’t reflect light quite as much as its other Lou Manizer siblings, its warm golden reflects are the best for creating that faux sun-kissed glow.

Sponges are great for creating flawless looks but taking good care of them is key to making sure they last longer (and don’t break you out by housing bacteria!). This cleanser is specially made to break down makeup and grime while maintaining the integrity of your lovely little blender.

Another cult-favorite brand in the beauty tool category is Real Techniques! With products ranging from sponges to all the makeup brushes you could ever need, beauty junkies new and old are sure to find something they’ll love and keep for years to come!

A good, trusty powder brush is essential for any beauty nerd’s arsenal. With soft, synthetic bristles and a fluffy dome shape, applying powders and mineral cosmetics like a pro is no problemo!

Some moisturizers can get too heavy and don’t sit well under makeup, but this moisturizing lotion isn’t like that in the slightest. It’s super lightweight, non-greasy, and has a soothing sensation that really helps calm down redness and irritation! My favorite part? It doesn’t clog the pores! Highly recommended for those with oily skin looking for a boost of moisture.

When a brand is already held in such high esteem like Banila Co. is, I find it a little hard to write an introduction when their name is introduction enough. Like a Beyoncé of skin care, this brand churns out magical powerhouse products one after the other that the mere mention of Banila Co. strikes excitement in the hearts of weak, beauty-hoarding souls! With effective yet gentle products and gorgeous packaging to boot, is there any room to reason why we love this brand so much? Spoiler alert: no.

After a month-long breakout that I thought would never end, I knew I needed to rethink my skin care routine. Of all the changes I’ve made to my regimen, this mild cleansing balm was one of my saving graces for sure. Just like its predecessor, its formula makes it super effective in breaking down waterproof makeup while making my skin softer and smoother; this time, however, Banila Co. made sure to cater to even the most sensitive and acne-prone skin types!

If you’re looking for a potent product that really goes in on dark marks and scarring, this is going to be your best friend. Vitamin C is known for fighting against free radicals, brightening dark spots, and increasing collagen production in your skin, but can be a difficult ingredient to keep stable. What The Ordinary achieved was a way to ensure the complete stability and effectivity by using only 4 ingredients—3 of which are silicones meant to hold Vitamin C securely while enhancing texture. Though I will warn you now that its high concentration of Vitamin C may be too strong for sensitive skin, so always patch test first!

When the hype of double cleansing rose, Heimish was at the forefront with their ever-famous All Clean Cleansing Balm—but there’s so much more to love! This cult-favorite brand from Korea houses gentle skin care and cosmetics so wearable that they’re specially suited for our modern everyday lifestyles.

Fans of luminous, dewy (but not oily!) finishes are sure to love this. This base not only evens out skin texture and tone but keeps the skin soft and radiant throughout the day—all while protecting it from harmful UV rays! While it’s typically used under makeup, you can opt to use it on its own for that fresh-faced dalagang-Filipina glow.

Being an all-in-one palette, this product is extremely useful to have around. It functions as a blush, highlighter, bronzer, and eyeshadow palette that is easy to mix together to create a plethora of different looks. The different colors add beautiful shimmery dimensions to your look, blend easily, and don’t crease!

As someone who has gladly binged on makeup tutorials and reviews for hours on end, I’ve known about the powerhouse that is Rimmel for as long as I can remember. With such affordable prices and dupe-worthy products, its known far and wide across the expanses of the kingdom of cosmetics as a brand that delivers real value for money.

From a gorgeous selection of rosy reds to an interesting variety of shocking bright colors, you’re bound to find a hue that’s perfect for you with these palettes from Rimmel. These are the perfect way of amping up your eyeshadow game and trying new colors without the guilt of overspending!

Perfecting that base isn’t always easy, but it can be. That’s what this dual-purpose foundation and concealer excels at; it creates a smooth, full coverage base that hides all skin imperfections without that heavy, cakey feeling! It’s even water resistant, so you don’t have to worry too much about it slipping around throughout the day.

Written by:

Julia Benito

Julia is Calyxta’s resident crazy plant lady with an unstoppable caffeine addiction and an ever-increasing love for glitter eye shadow. When she’s not staring out the window mulling over the correctness of her grammar, she can be found drawing on eyeliner, watching anime, reading books, or petting strangers’ dogs.

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Spot the K-trend: A juicy pink lip and blush on the cheeks and eyelids.

Products to try:

Chihuahua’s crème lipstick for a sweet, pink lip, topped with a small amount of B. By Banila’s lip balm for a subtle shine.

Spot the K-trend: The perennial gradient lip, glittery eyes, and a youthful
drunk blush.

Products to try:

This Painted Cosmetics lippie that’s made exactly for ombre lips!

Spot the K-trend: Puppy liner, aegyo sal, and straight brows

Products to try:

Maybelline’s eye shadow highlight palette to “contour” your eye bags

Spot the K-trend: A dewy dumpling look, aegyo sal, a super glossy lip, and
thin lashes—separated and sparse!

Products to try:

Maybelline’s bloom mascara to spread out and lengthen your lashes, sans the clumpy volume!

Spot the K-trend: Bold pink-on-pink and highlighter on all the right places!

Products to try:

Sunday’s creamy highlighter to get
your glow on!

Spot the K-trend: Barely-there base, juicy lips, and highlighter

Products to try:

Pink Sugar’s lip and cheek tint for slightly glossy puckers and a subtle cheeky glow

Spot the K-trend: Dewy dumpling and orangey coral hues everywhere else

Products to try:

Paprika’s shimmer eye shadow palette that has all the best coral-tinged colors!

Spot the K-trend: Made for K-drama wispy bangs, a bold fuchsia lip, and
under eye color

Products to try:

This eye shadow palette from Physician’s Formula, which has fun, pastel colors you can use to line your under eye with

Spot the K-trend: Glitter eyelids and barely-there base

Products to try:

This eye shadow palette by Milani that’s packed with glittery shades and
nudes

Spot the K-trend: Colored eyelids, a drunk blush, and doll-like gradient
lips

Products to try:

Detail Makeover’s lip ink for a soft ombre

BEAUTY CONTRIBUTOR

Tita Pacita of www.titapacita.com is a lifestyle, culture, and fashion & beauty writer from Manila. With her wisdom and almost thirty years of life experience, she likes to share what she knows and give unsolicited advice, true to her Tita ways. Her makeup choices are primarily based on instinct, and, believe it or not, K-Beauty.

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August is always an exciting month for us here at Calyxta Beauty, because it’s when we ask our readers and followers to vote for their holy grail picks and top beauty products on Calyxta, and we award these products at the annual Calyxta Beauty Awards. Part of this is also asking our Calyxta Girls, both past and present, what their holy grails are—whether makeup or skin care!

Here’s what four of our previous cover girls had to say:

MARTINE CAJUCOM

I’ve been using St. Ives Apricot Scrub since I was 13. I love it. I’ve been using it since, seriously, I was in Junior High. I still use it to this day. And it’s kind of been like probably the only staple in my skin care routine. I can say that because I actually still use it. It is awesome, and it’s cheap! Yeah, skin care doesn’t need to be expensive to be good. I firmly believe that because I know the costing of what goes into it. It doesn’t need to be expensive to be good. And St. Ives is one of the few products that I think has been consistent with that. And what’s in it is good for you. No parabens and stuff like that. I love it. I actually really do love it.

ANDI EIGENMANN

Skin care, La Mer is my favorite just because I never really understood before. I was like, “I don’t know what I’m doing to my face right now.” It was more, I just really don’t want to damage it. So I just kept going but when I discovered La Mer, I really felt the difference. Like, “Wow! My skin is so nice.” Even my mom pointed it out. And she’s the one that’s been bugging me to really start taking care of my skin. Glossier also is one of my favorites because it works well and at the same time, like example, they have invisible sunscreen and I really don’t like that my face is white. Yeah, that’s one of the reasons why I don’t want to wear sunblock. It’s because I don’t like that my face is white. Glossier’s is invisible and really thin. I honestly thought it wouldn’t work but it does. Makeup, Ellana because it’s vegan, it’s cruelty-free and it’s very skin safe. And The Ordinary! That’s also vegan.

MAGGIE WILSON

Morning, I wash my face, then sunscreen. Sunscreen is my best friend. I always carry a little bottle with me everywhere I go. Even in the city. And I like to use Glossier. It’s super thin and it’s not icky at all. It dries nicely. I put that on every four hours. I like to put it on my forehead, my nose, and my cheeks, because it’s the first things that burn and get dark. You don’t realize that just because you’re in the city, doesn’t mean that you’re safe. People always only think of using sunblock when they go to the beach, but you should also use it when you’re in the city, too.

ERIKA HOCSON

I automatically just focus on cheek tint, so I use Glossier Cloud Paint, and then my go-to before was eyeliner. If you ask any of my friends, it was like the cat-eye liquid eyeliner. But because I did lash lift (lash lift is the best!), normally I don’t have to anymore, so I’d just have to put clear mascara. And then I’d put lipstick, normally nude shades for day-to-day. For evening, if I’d go out after, I’d always have bronzer, so I’ll add on to the tint because by nighttime it’s already a bit faded, and then I’d put a little eyeshadow, like browns, and eyebrow tint. And then I add on the lipstick. So, for me, it’s more lips and eyes.

Speaking of holy grails, one that the Calyxta Crew recently discovered and have all been using (just in different variants!) is the Dove Intensive Renew Deodorant Dry Serum, because it’s more than just a deodorant! It’s practically skin care for your underarms. Apart from collagen, which improves your skin’s elasticity, each variant is infused with an activated vitamin to cater to different needs—like the purple variant containing Omega 6 to achieve smoother and firmer underarm skin, the pink variant containing Vitamin B3, commonly known as Niacinamide, to remove underarm dark marks, and the green variant containing Vitamin E to minimize underarm pores.

It’s everything you could ever want in a deodorant, and more! Be sure to grab the  variant of your choice right here on Calyxta Beauty.

Gretchen Gatan

MANAGING EDITOR

Gretchen is a writer, makeup artist, and the beauty and lifestyle blogger behind www.gretasjunkyard.com. Her love for beauty all started when she discovered the wonders of doing her brows with a good eyebrow pen. Despite her girly ways and obsession with skin care, she loves watching wrestling and gets competitive while playing Ultimate Frisbee.

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There is nothing I love more than a listicle of must-haves, so you can only imagine how pleased I am in putting this list together. Calyxta is an endless wellspring of beauty goods and even more so an online resource of the best and most promising local beauty brands, too.

I strongly suggest you bookmark this list or screenshot your favorites to serve as a guide for your next shopping splurge! Here are my top picks of local finds I’d love to try.

In my experience, serums are often the most expensive—in fact, it’s usually the most expensive of my nighttime routine lineup! So this product is quite a steal at such an affordable price.

I’m all for natural ingredients, but the truth it is, as with chemical-infused ones, it takes a while to find the perfect match. I’m not giving up on my search, however, and this multi-purpose floral oil has recently caught my eye.

Other than the obvious factor that it looks lovely, I’m enticed by the fact that it can be used on almost everything: skin, lips, nails, and for removing makeup. It’s skin-firming, refines pores, and hydrates the skin, too!

When it comes to beauty routines, my secret wish is to be able to skip exfoliating, primarily because I haven’t found the product that would work on my sensitive skin yet. I’m willing to try this lightening and exfoliating bar as it promises a gentle stripping away of dead skin and other skin impurities.

While there are many shampoo formulations, both chemical and natural, that has worked for me, I have yet to find a shampoo bar that does the trick. I love how this shampoo bar is designed for travel, and is infused with the ingredients I believe I need: castor oil for hair growth and grapefruit to balance oiliness.

One look at the bottle and I’m sold. It feels as if the formulation is potent but gentle, and I can’t wait to try and see the wonders it can do for my skin! This is a multi-purpose and all-natural face and body oil, by the way, which makes it all the more convincing.

By now you might have noticed how I gravitate towards beautifully-packaged products, or those that simply look nourishing and nurturing on the outside alone. And while I may judge products by its cover, do note that I read what it’s inside and what it can do, too.

I once watched a prince from the Joseon era in a K-drama who bathed in rose water, so of course I’d want to try that, too!

It’s no secret that I’m such a coffee fan; in fact, I have a cup I’m slowly sipping now as I write. I don’t religiously submit myself to scrubs, but I am fond of how relaxing and pleasant it feels after! Picking this one from many scrub options is a no-brainer for me. I love coffee and I’ve never been to the Dead Sea!

This might sound odd, but I grew up watching and reading about Winnie the Pooh and so it developed an unexplained fondness for honey. Don’t get me wrong, at home we still have muscovado sugar—not honey, which is why my curiosity for it has yet to be appeased. I’ve tried other Zenutrients shampoo variants, and so far, I’ve had good experiences. This one is next on my list.

Another odd story: I also grew up reading Heidi. And if you did, too—do you remember how she would always have fresh goat milk and cheese for merienda? It gave me a strange fondness for milky things, too. And while I’ve only tried a chocolate bar soap before, I don’t recall a milky bath. Other than its nourishing, milky properties, this lotion and bath set promises to deeply cleanse, moisturize, and soften the skin.

Melon and other fruity fragrances will always remind me of summer and I’d love to try this melon and cucumber combination. I look forward to that fresh, after shower feeling with hints of light little musk and wood notes!

Written By:

Patti Sunio aka Tita Pacita

BEAUTY CONTRIBUTOR

Tita Pacita of www.titapacita.com is a lifestyle, culture, and fashion & beauty writer from Manila. With her wisdom and almost thirty years of life experience, she likes to share what she knows and give unsolicited advice, true to her Tita ways. Her makeup choices are primarily based on instinct, and, believe it or not, K-Beauty.

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It’s 2019: Everyone—and we mean, everyone—deserves some holy grail products to pamper themselves with. Gone are the days when self-care was a “girl thing”; loving your body enough to give it the TLC it wants and needs is not a gender-specific goal, and from here on out, should always be seen as a top priority regardless of what you identify as. In Calyxta, we believe that beauty is a you thing, so as long as you’re ready to give your skin the best treatment it can have, you can find home in our community just like anyone else!

This face mask didn’t get its reputation as “the world’s most powerful facial” for nothing! With its 100% natural Calcium Bentonite clay, it deep cleanses the pores while stripping the skin of dirt and other obstructions.

The name says its all. After a long day out and about, you can’t afford to go to bed without letting this facial soap remove dirt and/or matted makeup from your skin. The activated charcoal infused makes for good oil and acne control.

Guys, don’t be scared of a little makeup. Everyone has dealt with bad skin days when a zit or two appears at the least opportune time, and we know that you wish for a quick fix just as much as the ladies do. With this blemish balm, you can even out any imperfections while concealing it with a natural coverage. No proof, no irregularities—just pure removable magic!

This product needs no introduction. After all, it is one of the most sought-after eyebrow products in the makeup game right now. But in case you need a reminder, this all-in-one fluffer, filler, and shaper makes brows look seamlessly and naturally fuller without flaking or stiffening.

In just one swipe, this alcohol-free toner hydrates, softens, and energizes the skin. With its activated charcoal, it subtly exfoliates any dead cells—leaving you looking refreshed and radiant.

Written By: 

Frances Beltran

BEAUTY CONTRIBUTOR

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