Boogsh! ‘Drag Race Philippines’ is back!

Rapture! Get ready because this season will be fierce! This is the beginning of THE MAOY SEASON!” (9,732 followers) n Astrid Mercury: “The beauty is here. Serving you regal, elegance and sophistication for Drag Race Philippines S2 Premiere night. Congratulations to us S2 girlies. We made it.” (5,290 followers) n Bernie: “The trans queen, the drag daughter of the legendary Eva Papaya, shared a quote: “Your skin should always make you feel invincible, never invisible.” (6,540 followers)

Montblanc Presents

‘soft’ leather collection

RECOGNIZABLE for its multi-use shapes and comfort in soft leather, Montblanc’s Soft collection introduces new practical styles and an elegant color palette, reimagining the classic spirit of travel for the contemporary age.

The extended color selection includes a dusty grey, a light brick, a spicy orange, a Scottish green color and ottanio, a petrol blue color. New styles in the collection will also be launched in black as a Montblanc signature.

IN its sophomore season, Drag Race Philippines once again brings to the fore a dozen dazzling contenders. I missed the viewing party at Xylo at the Palace in Taguig City on August 1, which ushered the airing of the first episode the following day.

But I wouldn’t miss out on featuring these fierce and fabulous queens who exemplify Filipino drag excellence. Mama Rupaul serves as an executive producer of the series. Acclaimed actor and drag artist Paolo Ballesteros returns as host along with resident judges, such as Drag Race alum Jiggly Caliente; writer, TV personality and activist KaladKaren, impersonator Jon Santos and fashion designer Rajo Laurel.

We can witness the queens’ stunts, shade and shenanigans, as well as their AIDS Awareness and LGBTQIA+ rights activism every Wednesday, 7:00 p.m., only on HBO GO and WoW Presents Plus. Also returning is the official after-show, Drag Race Philippines: Untucked.

Here are the queens’ thoughts on the new season and being part of the Drag Race juggernaut, as shared on their socials, as well as their Instagram followers count (as of writing), which will definitely blow up as the season progresses: n Arizona Brandy: “Are you ready to take a sip of Arizona Brandy? Hello mga MAOYs! Alam kong uhaw na uhaw na kayo. Finally, I can officially say that I AM A RUGIRL! Lets go Drag Race Philippines

Season 2! AHHHHHHHH! I can’t wait for the world to see what CUBAO DRAG is! CUBAO REPRESENT! I am sooo proud to carry the torch for my home bar,

BY this time, if you’re a beauty enthusiast, you’ve already heard of Teviant’s new product Velvet Drop, a multi-use mousse that can be applied to the eyes, cheeks, and lips as color, contour, and highlight.

I was chatting with a friend earlier and said I wasn’t in much of a mood to influence nor convince people to buy beauty products because times are hard. I’m sure people would rather buy groceries than new makeup, or maybe that’s just me. However, I make exceptions when brands exert extra effort on a new product. Extra points if the product is from a local brand.

According to Teviant founder Albert Kurniawan, Velvet Drop was developed for two years and began with 17 shades. They ended up with eight after selecting the most flattering and wearable options. This includes six matte colors: Revel (pomegranate), Gala Night (dusty pink), Sucre (cool-toned pink), Garden Rose (muted Bordeaux), Sex Appeal (muted toasted peach), and Cacao (cool-toned brown). Then, there are two illuminators: Holly Glow (frosted pearl) and Celestial (champagne).

Teviant product claims are that Velvet Drop contains skinnourishing ingredients such as cutleaf groundcherry extract, caprylic/capric triglyceride, Vitamin E, rosemary leaf extract, and sunflower seed oil.

Velvet Drop is a mousse but very wet and very pigmented. One dot is enough for both cheeks if you just want a subtle n Captivating Katkat: “WHEN A DREAM TURNED INTO REALITY. Finally!!! No more hiding, no more lying and no more denials! I am now officially a RU GIRL!!! It’s time for me to show the world my charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent. And It’s time for you to know who Captivating Katkat really is! Am i the villain? Am I the drama?” (5,447 followers, with blue check) n DeeDee Marié Holliday: “My drag is a love letter to old Hollywood. Your mama made it to Drag Race Philippines! It finally happened. Dreams really do come true. Maraming salamat po, my darlings.” (5,491 followers) n Hana Beshie: A pride of Cagayan de Oro City, from the House of LaFeya: “Ang Alamat Ni Hana Beshie So ayun na nga sa mga di pa nakakaalam. 4/5 Years ago nag iisip kami ng jowa ko ng drag name tas may isang mahiwagang nilalang na tawagin natin sa pangalang electric fan ang umagaw ng pansin ko. Yes, Oo, kayo po ’yun @myhanabishi.” (6,558 followers) n Matilduh in Kian Pascual: “My entrance look is an ode to classic drag- duh bigger, duh better. An exaggeration of femininity.” (8,157 followers) n M1ss Jade So: “#DollDomination. It is my POWER to TOP all men that I want to. We live in a world full of judgement, but I am here to break the stigma for some Trans Women as tops. It is also my advocacy for Transgender individuals! Being able to walk outside without fear of judgement and violence is a must! We should be seen. We need to stand up our ground. It is ours, no one can tell otherwise. Trans rights are Human rights! Eat this Stuntianna as how you like my Diccianna to be eaten.” (47.9K followers, with blue check) n Nicole Pardaux: “The Face of Cebu Drag and “your favorite MILF,” with a testimony from the Apex Superclub in Cebu: “Her journey in #DragRacePH might have been cut short but her reign as a CEBUANA DRAG QUEEN Regent has already set ablaze, giving hope and inspiration to many Drag Artists from the South, young and tenured, Nicole Pardaux represented what Cebu Drag is all about- PURE TALENT, FEROCITY, & THE SOUTHERN CHARM. Some might have doubted, but MANY have witnessed and agreed. Definitely. Absolutely. ULTIMATELY!” (3,639 followers, with blue check) n ØV CÜNT: “Are you ready for the CÜNTIEST season ever? I’ve been waiting so long for this moment. FINALLY it’s my time to shine. But this journey is more than just me being a Rugirl. This is the fulfillment of the CÜNT Prophecy. Our fantasies are now finally our reality. Blessed be the collective especially those who has been there since day one. I CÜNT wait to take you all on this ØVAHNESS of a journey with me.” (7,502 followers) n Tiny Deluxe: “They knew I was coming, so they had to make the werkroom twice as big!! And oh zoom in to that Anastasia Beverly Hills wall. Can’t wait to sashay into the Werk Room or @dragraceph #DragRacePH Season 2!!! I started watching drag race since I was 12 and I’ve always dreamed of walking into that werk room, even just as a guest! But now I did, AS A RU GIRL!! You are never big enough of a person to dream the biggest dreams you can possibly think of!! Can’t wait for ya’ll to see our werkroom shenanigans this season!” (18K followers) n Veruschka Levels: “The Hong Kong-based queen wore a Leo Almodal couture piece at the viewing party estimated to cost P800, 000. “Dreams do come true! and thank God i ended up in Drag Race Philippines franchise. At the end of the day , all the talent and creativity we show to the world is dedicated to all filipino people , we may not have the same privilege as others , but we can make it out there. It may not be an easy way but there is a way & fabulously all the roads i have been through ends up here ! Welcome to the Werkroom. I Love You!” (7,985 followers) n spatula to apply the color but blend it on my cheeks with my fingers. While it needs a little work and is not as effortless as my favorite Tower 28 BeachPlease Cream Blush, Velvet Drop’s advantage is that, in my opinion, it’s perfect for mixing so you can create your own shade. The illuminators reign supreme and if you’re looking for an easy-to-use highlighter, Velvet Drop is a good one. As for the other colors, my current favorite is Garden Rose. It was Gala Night last week. I also like Cacao as a bronzer to warm up my face. look. Here’s my honest review of Teviant Velvet Drop: From the beginning, I preferred the illuminators, especially Celestial. They are easy to work with; you can actually use your fingers. The look is wet so that your skin looks dewy. They last quite a bit, from three to four hours, which is not bad at all. I’ll be honest, though: I had some initial difficulty working with the ones that had more pigment. I initially tried Revel and it was patchy. I also tried Gala Night and it barely showed up on my face. But after a week of trying it, I realized I was doing it wrong. I would apply the color directly to my skin and blend with a brush. After a while, I decided to use Velvet Drop by first blending a small amount on the back of my hand with a spatula that came with the press kit. I would also use that

I haven’t used it on my eyelids and lips but as a cheek color, Velvet Drop is a quality product for P595.

“When you travel, whether for a commute or for a long voyage, you want something that is comfortable, light and effortlessly stylish, a companion that is familiar and makes you feel at home. That’s why we chose a very soft, supple leather in original colors for this collection, and why we added new shapes that are not just practical but also sensual, fun and elegant,” says Marco Tomasetta, Montblanc artistic director.

In the Soft collection, functional elements such as compartments and organization solutions are placed on the outside of each piece rather than remaining hidden on the inside, becoming part of the design.

The detailing throughout the collection is consistent with the design codes of the Montblanc Meisterstück line, with features linking back to the iconic Meisterstück writing instrument. The nib is referenced in the leather details and particularly in the nib-shaped leather zip puller. Some small leather accessories also carry the shape of an envelope thanks to their overlapping leather sections.

The collection’s large leather pieces allow for ample packing space no matter the destination, including a versatile 24/7 Bag in dusty grey, suitable for life on-the-move, and a Suitcase in signature black with classic leather straps for longer trips.

The small leather assortment features leather wallets, a card holder, a passport holder, a phone pouch, pen pouches and a round case to be worn over the shoulder or cross-body in a mix of colors.

Supple, smooth and light, the Soft collection moves with its wearer with ease and elegance through their journey.

Teviant is available on Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop, the Teviant website, BeautyMNL, Edamama, GrabMart, and Zalora. You may also find them in SM Makati, SM City North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Lanang Premier and LOOK at SM Aura Premier.

UK’s bestselling fragrance is here

SO...? is the #1 best-selling self-select fragrance brand in the UK. The brand’s mission is to offer high quality fragrances that suit all tastes and budgets. I am no longer a fan of overly fruity fragrances and while So...? does have them, what I like are the destination scents.

By the way, So...? claims a cruelty-free brand with bottles that are made from recycled materials. Here are my picks from So...?, which is now exclusively available in the Philippines at Watsons and SM Beauty: n MyKonos nights (P379 for 200Ml). This has notes of sweet vanilla and tonka bean combined with zesty lemon and sweet mandarin. Mykonos Nights, which also has notes of orange blossom and jasmine, is my favorite among the 10-plus fragrances of So...? It smells—for lack of a more appropriate word—expensive. n ibiza DreaMs (P379 for 200Ml). Ibiza Dreams is one of the most popular fragrances of So...? It has notes of sweet red apple, raspberry, and pear with florals like violet, peony, and orchid. The smell of Ibiza Dreams is not extraordinary or unusual but it had good projection and lasting power. n Vanilla (P210 for 100Ml). You can’t go wrong with vanilla and this one is quite good worn on its own or layered with other fragrances. I like wearing this with Fresh Floral. n fresh floral (P210 for 100Ml). This has notes of peach blossom and peony and wears surprisingly well. This would be a great starter set for a teenager because it smells fresh and clean. n bali breeze (P210 for 100Ml). This smells like a vacation with notes of coconut, pineapple, and orange blossoms.

The So...? fragrances can also be mixed and matched, which is one more thing I like about them.