Since time immemorial, apps and smartphones’ built-in beauty modes have allowed us to apply airbrushing, contour, lipstick, blush, and eyeshadow without lifting a makeup brush. But there’s nothing like the convenience of the virtual makeup we get through filters on our favorite social media apps.
Here we’ve rounded up the best makeup filters you should save on Instagram Stories. Apologies for the barrage of selfies you’re about to see!
Francesca
If, like me, your go-to everyday look is the winged eyeliner then Francesca is filter you need to save on your Stories. It’s best used when you haven’t drawn anything on your lids yet as it might be difficult to match your wingtip with the filter’s.
Try the Francesca effect here.
Eyelashes
If you’re the type who can’t leave the house without mascara, Eyelashes is the one you need to save. It won’t curl your lashes in real life, but any selfie you post from here on out will look like you made the effort to look nice even when you just got out of bed. There are 3 different styles of lashes because one size does not fit all looks!
Try the Eyelashes effect here.
Natural
Want to look fresh at 5pm even without retouching? As its name suggests, Natural will remove blemishes and blot oil from your face and the resulting selfie will still look as natural as possible. It also adds a little bit of tint to your lips without going overboard.
Glitter Lips
Smudged lipstick after a greasy meal is a problem we all deal with. Get that selfie on point even without a trip to the powder room with Glitter Lips. Choose from 7 different glossy shades — there’s nude, pink, even gold!
Try the Glitter Lips effect here.
+2 Vintage*Blush II
This filter adds freckles and blush to your cheeks, and smoothens your skin out. But +2 Vintage*Blush II isn’t just a makeup filter — it also changes the mood of your entire photo to something warmer. You get a total of 4 different looks, with two adding noise to the entire image for more of that vintage feel.
Try the +2 Vintage*Blush II effect here.
We all get by with a little help from friends and technology. As with anything, use makeup filters in moderation and with the best of intentions.
Do you use makeup filters on Instagram Stories? Let us know what your favorite is in the comments below.
Accessories
TicNote AI recorder launches in the Philippines
AI-powered transcription, translation, insights, more
Mobvoi has officially launched TicNote, its AI-powered note-taking device in the Philippines for PhP 9,499. The thin and lightweight recorder is currently available offline and will soon roll out on Lazada and Shopee.
The pocket-friendly TicNote comes with 64GB of memory and offers up to 25 hours of continuous recording. Beyond these, it supports real-time translation in over 120 languages through the TicNote app.
Moreover, powered by Shadow AI, the device goes further with advanced insights, including Smart Summary, Mind Map View, Deep Research Reports, Aha Moment, and even AI Podcast Generation.
To complement the device, Mobvoi offers unlimited TicNote cloud storage and 600 minutes of free monthly recording time.
On paper, the TicNote AI recorder has several professional applications. It can be used for meetings, legal and medical consultations, and more scenarios to record high-quality audio.
Meanwhile, journalists can leverage the tool for press conferences and media scrums. Even content creators can use the tool as a microphone as TicNote can process high bitrate audio and save it to .wav format.
Still, there’s a catch. Users will still need a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to make the most out of TicNote’s AI-powered features.
And that raises the dilemma: modern phones already offer AI translation, real-time transcription, and audio-to-text uploads through popular AI assistants.
For consumers, the question becomes whether TicNote offers enough beyond what their phones already do — or if it will just make having both devices redundant.
Apps
Disney Plus: NBA Christmas Day games to stream live
More sports content also available on the platform
Disney+ will stream the entire 2025 NBA Christmas Day games slate live on the platform for Philippine basketball fans to enjoy.
Fans can tune in to the anticipated matchups starting at 1:00 AM (Manila time) on December 26.
Here’s the full schedule:
- 1:00 AM: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks
- 3:30 AM: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- 6:00 AM: Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors
- 9:00 AM: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- 11:30 AM: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets
And in case viewers missed a tip-off, the full replays will also be available on the app. Worth noting is the second matchup, which is a rematch of the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals.
Meanwhile, the third pairing brings long-time former Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson back to the Bay Area in a compelling match.
Plus, the Rockets-Lakers showdown features two seasoned veterans and future Hall of Famers Kevin Durant and LeBron James in their latest meeting.
Beyond the NBA Christmas Day games on Disney+, fans can stay plugged in all day with ESPN’s NBA Tip-Off at 12:00 AM. Inside the NBA, on the other hand, airs at 8:30 AM.
In addition, for something totally different, check out NBA alt-cast, Dunk the Halls, the first real-time animated NBA game.
This playful showdown happening also on December 26 at 1:00 AM reimagines the Cavaliers-Knicks tiff on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom Park, with some help from Mickey Mouse and his friends.
In line with Disney+’s NBA Christmas Day games, the platform has also uploaded highlights of the 2025 League of Legends KeSPA Cup on the app. The tournament features top teams from Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and North America.
Disney+ continues to strengthen its sports offerings on the platform, with an all-new Sports Page for easier access.
In a congested country like the Philippines, using navigation for shortcuts is a requirement. However, these apps can hog a lot of battery. If you forgot your car charger, it’s practically game over for your phone. Today, Google is shipping out a Maps update which can save your phone’s battery for those long drives.
Announced earlier this month, the update will include a Power Saving mode for Google Maps. The new mode will turn the normally colorful interface into monochrome with particular emphasis on black. The interface will reduce all interactable elements, so you can just focus on the display.
Presumably, it also reduces the power required by the app, while still prioritizing navigation. According to Google, smartphones will get up to four hours more juice when the mode is enabled.
Unfortunately, it’s not a widely released update yet. Google is limiting the update’s rollout to the Pixel 10 series for now. It’s also limited to driving mode; it won’t work if you’re just walking or cycling. The option is accessible through Driving options under Navigation in the settings.
In countries where Android Auto isn’t the norm just yet, a power saving mode for navigation is a godsend. Besides hoping that the update arrives on more devices, one can also hope that Google, who also owns the app, will introduce a similar mode to Waze. (To be fair, Waze did have a battery saver option, but it just dimmed the display for long straights.
SEE ALSO: Android now supports AirDrop!
-
Editors' Choice6 days agoBest Premium Smartphones of 2025
-
Editors' Choice6 days agoBest Budget Smartphones of 2025
-
Accessories2 weeks agoKingston launches Dual Portable SSD with up to 2TB storage
-
Gaming1 week agoExpedition 33 cleans house at The Game Awards: full list of winners
-
Reviews2 weeks agoHow the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 fit the life I built from the ground up
-
Deals2 weeks ago12.12 PH top picks: OPPO, Infinix, Xiaomi, Dyson, Laifen, more
-
Editors' Choice6 days agoBest Midrange Smartphones of 2025
-
Gaming2 weeks agoGenshin Impact, Duolingo partner for limited-time quest








