Beauty challenge: The 1000-peso makeup look

Aug 14

There's this perception that dirt cheap, local cosmetics are no good and that they irritate the skin. That's not true. There are lots of affordable local gems that will not disappoint you or aggravate your skin! Their quality might not always measure up to mid-range and high-end brands, but if you're in a tight financial bind then cheap kilay is better than no kilay.

And yes, local brands are better than fake imported imitations because at least they go through the FDA and they have the necessary permits. There are also imported but super affordable brands available here now so it really doesn't make sense to resort to beauty piracy or to turn your nose up at a good bargain.

That being said, I decided to challenge myself by coming up with a full makeup look that costs a little under 1,000 pesos. I wanted to do an FOTD that looks sophisticated yet very easy to put on! Staying power and the colors are also important to me. I made sure to pick products that are (mostly) reliable and will not look cheap even to a trained eye. Here's what I used!

Nichido Foundation Stick in Natural (P150). Ahh, this takes me back. This was my first ever concealer ten years ago! I'm happy to report that it's still quite good for the price. The coverage is medium to heavy, and it blends out wonderfully. This can be used to conceal blemishes and eye bags or as a cream foundation.

Pixy UV Whitening Perfect Matte Foundation in True Beige (P145). I raved about this Japanese-slash-Indonesian foundation before. In my opinion it's the best, cheapest powder foundation in the market! The refill is just P145 and comes in it's own case + a sponge. If you want the full case, the foundation is around P275. Pixy can be found inside Watsons.

Essence Eyebrow Designer in 04 Blonde (P129). Essence is a German brand that arrived here in the Philippines about two years ago. I've tried quite a lot of items from their line and a majority of them performed impressively well despite their dirt cheap price tags. My latest Essence find is this eyebrow pencil. I love its soft waxy texture - it tames my brows - and its neutral brown color that never makes my brows look overdone. It's a great buy at just P129!

Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in 02 Hot Chocolate (P149). I've raved about this eyeliner many times already. I think I have five or six colors in my kit! I love the pigmentation, smoothness, and staying power of this automatic pencil. You're missing out if you haven't tried it yet! Essence is also available in Watsons.

Ever Bilena Thick Lash Mascara (P85). This is my first time to try an Ever Bilena mascara. I can't say it blew my mind away as it smudges easily, but to its credit it didn't clump and the brush is so similar to my fave Maybelline Great Lash. Just get the Great Lash if you can extend your budget a bit, it's only P350.

E.l.f Contouring Blush and Bronzer (P250). I reviewed this before and found it super sulit for the price. There are two pigmented shades with a staying power that might put your NARS blushes to shame. The brown contour shade is also great as an eyeshadow; I used it on my lids in this FOTD!

Nichido Juicy Lips Lipstick in Hawaiian Punch (P88). A toasty MLBB pink is a must-have color no matter how young or old you are, where you're going, or what you're doing. I really like this shade! The lipstick feels waxy and has a cheap smell, but the color is impressively soshal.