Makeup on a budget: Get the best for under P5,000!
I need makeup but I don't know anything about it. What should I get? This is a question I get asked a lot. The type of women who ask aren't usually vain beyond lip balm and the occasional foundation, but needed to step up their looks because they're looking for a new job (or their work requires them to be presentable), a new love in their lives, or just a makeover to feel good. At some point, all of us have to look better, and that's where makeup comes in!
I have already written about how important it is to have quality products in your daily routine. I believe that it's best to spend big for items that you will use for at least one whole year. After much thinking, my peg is P5,000 for the whole deal - foundation, concealer, blush, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and lipsticks*. That's actually pretty cheap if you think of it in terms of cost-per-wear.
So here are my suggestions for the ultimate makeup kit!
This foundation has received consistently good reviews from, oh I don't know, most of the beauty bloggers I know! It's cheap and does its job amazingly well. It's TONS better than the MAC Studio Fix, in case you're wondering. The silky texture and feel is quite similar to my Holy Grail foundation, the Shiseido Supplist. The In2It is only ~P450 for the refill, around P600 for the case.
Invest heavily in concealers because they need to provide good coverage and lasting power. My personal favorite so far is this cream concealer from MAC because of the wide color range and pigmentation. Yeah, I take back what I said in my review! I use this everyday now. For a cheap but mindbogglingly limited alternative, try the Etude House Surprise Concealer for P300.
Hands down the best blush I've tried! And I've tried Shu Uemura and MAC, which are also brands that sell great blushes. NARS blushes are worth every single cent of the P1,350 you'll be paying for them.
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack/ MAC Powerpoint in Engraved
Your eyeliner should be a solid black that will stay put on your lid all day. My favorite is the MAC Fluidline (P1,100), but if you want something more convenient but just as long-lasting and pigmented, I suggest the MAC Powerpoint Pencil in Engraved (P850 if I'm not mistaken).
Dollface 15-Color Neutral Palette
This contains neutral, wearable colors that are designed to enhance your eyes, rather than smother them with heavy color. Each shade is smooth and pigmented - well worth beyond the P650 price tag.
These lippies have gained cult favorite status online because of the insanely wide range of colors and affordability. These are very moisturizing and pigmented, but don't count on the lasting power. I suggest you get Thalia and Tea Rose for everyday use. Only P160 at Carefreeshopper if you have an account at GirlTalk.
I don't wear mascara often so I don't have battle stories to tell, but one mascara I've tried and really liked is the Avon Astonishing Lengths Mascara, P225 (though I'm currently using the Clinique High Impact - can't suggest that though because it's P1,000 and won't fit the P5,000 budget limit lol).
Help me out by recommending your own top faves under a P5,000 budget!
*You need a good brush set, but that can wait! Set aside an extra P1,500 to P2,000 to get a nice, quality brush set from either Suesh or Dollface.
