Reader question: Your first makeup kit for your first job

Aug 11

Hi Miss Lanuzo! Before anything else, I would just like to say that I am soooo amazed by how you do your make up! Never too loud, yet it never looks undone! So, I am currently in my fifth year as an accountancy student. Because make-up isn't required in our college, I never got the urge to buy and learn how to put make up on!

As time passed by, and as I imagine how my future professional life would be in the corporate world, I realized how badly I need to learn how to use make-up. What products can you recommend for a beginner like me? Hoping for your reply. Thank you very much and more power to you, Miss Liz! - Dana

Hi Dana, thank you for the compliment! I love my makeup to be understated yet as interesting as possible. I have a good collection of flattering colors, plus long-wearing formulas that never let me down. As you get into makeup more, you'll be able to find even more things to add to your arsenal. It's a fun journey. ^_^

Now, I've answered this question before, but I thought I'd include some new products in this round. These are all fairly affordable since you're still in school (except for one, but I will explain why that is)! Let's go!

Pixy Ultimate Cake Foundation (P400). This is a long-wearing, heavy coverage foundation that you can easily find in Watsons. I love the petal-like matte finish and how easy it is to adjust the coverage. You can apply more under the eyes to lighten them, if you wish! It also has SPF20 PA++ for a boost in sun protection although you will still need to wear your sunblock before it.

If you have sensitive skin and would like a more natural, skin-like finish (but still with heavy coverage) I highly recommend the Ellana Pressed Mineral Foundation (P650).

MAC Studio Finish Concealer (P1,050). I searched my collection for a less expensive concealer to feature, but this still comes out on top. It's the one concealer that I ALWAYS repurchase. I mean, I like a lot of other ones but the Studio Finish is the easiest to apply and the most reliable. I've gone through pots and pots of this! It usually takes me about a year and a half to use up so I find it sulit for the price. ^_^

This is great for blemishes and uneven areas; apply this first before your powder foundation. For under eyes, you can apply a tiny bit of eye cream on the back of your hard then mix the concealer with it with your finger or a brush. This will sheer out the concealer, making it a perfect for hiding eye bags more naturally!

Ellana Lip & Eye Cream Palette (P450). This is new from Ellana! It's not yet on the website but you can still get the singles - the duos are technically the old cream palettes partnered up (plus two news shades). Anyway. I recommend this to beginners because you can use these both as blush and as lipstick. You can even mix the two colors to create a new one!

Illusion is a pretty, nudey peach while Icon is a bright, almost coral pink. You can apply them with your fingers or with a synthetic buffing brush.

Ellana Mineral Eyebrow/ Eyeshadow Quad (P400). Yet another multi-tasker! I love how Ellana makes these neat 2-in-1s. This quad has pigments that would suit any skin tone or hair color - just mix them together to create a natural, soft-looking eyebrow shade. The four matte colors can also be used as eyeshadows, perfect for work. They give you enough definition and polish, plus, you can use them as blending colors once you're ready to play with other eyeshadow shades.

Heavy Rotation Perfect Eyeliner. This is the current pencil eyeliner I've been using. It's creamy, super black, and does not smudge. It comes with a rubber smudger tip to soften the line if you want a slightly smoky eye effect. If you're wondering, Heavy Rotation is available in Watsons where Heroine Make is!

Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara (P600). My current HG mascara! It's tough to remove (use an oil-based makeup remover) but it creates the most unbelievable lashes. You can definitely tone it down by only using one layer. If you prefer washable mascaras, I highly recommend the Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara which is around 600 bucks as well! That one barely smudges and can be removed with soap and water.

Aside from the cosmetics, you might want to invest in a few brushes to help you get the best application. I would go for the Charm Double Duty Makeup Brush Set (P1,599) which is fairly affordable for a set of eight.