Beauty on a Budget: Drugstore makeup kit
The quality of drugstore makeup has definitely come a long way. Five years ago, you’d be hard pressed to find a decent face base under the P500 mark but now we have great picks under P400! I can’t deny that I swoon over luxury cosmetics more than drugstore numbers but I’m going to be honest here and say that it’s mostly because of the wowza packaging and the marketing strategy of high-end brands. If you’re still wondering whether it’s still worth to splurge on expensive makeup, no one could have explained it better than Liz in this post.
In the end, I’m a firm believer that you CAN dupe almost anything and you CAN create an all-drugstore kit that would hold its ground to one that costs an arm and leg. Fresh grads can easily build a five-piece beginner makeup kit that contained our favorites for light, office-friendly makeup. If you want more options, we’ve also shared these lists of our best under P500 picks for face primer, lid primer, eye liner, blush, contour kit, and even makeup brushes. But many of you have been requesting for updated suggestions for an all-drugstore makeup kit. Consider that wish granted! ;)
Suesh Pot Concealer (P105/pot) / Available in Suesh stores and Suesh.com
I’ve always had trouble finding my HG undereye concealer from the drugstore. I’ve tried, really I have, but I always seem to find issues with pigmentation, caking, and staying power. While Suesh is technically not a drugstore brand, at P105 per pot, their pan concealers are even cheaper than what you can normally find from Watsons. It’s richly pigmented and staying power is decent for the price, plus the formula is very creamy so it can cover dark circles without settling into fine lines.
The shade C207 is a bright yellow corrector that works best to conceal and brighten up those dark circles. If you prefer a neutral shade that’s a tad lighter than your skintone, however, you can still find your shade match from Suesh cause they do offer these at a wide shade range.
Pink Sugar Our Lil’ Secret Concealer (P299) / Available in Watsons and SM Beauty Stores
When I first got this Pink Sugar Our Lil’ Secret Concealer, I didn’t love it. Heck, I didn’t even like it! I tried it on my undereyes and it caked on me so much that, brutal truth, I might as well have topped it with frosting and called a party. But now I’m singing a different tune after having tried it on breakouts. The heavy pigmentation leaves no trace of pesky pimples and dark acne scars, and the thick, stiff formula ensures that it doesn’t budge so your blemishes never get the chance to peek through. I finally get the hype!
With just a little over P400 for two trusty concealers, I’d say that’s a steal! It’s hard to find an all-in-one concealer even at premium prices, so I’d really rather get two different concealers for different jobs. I like a blendable creamy formula for eyebags so I can avoid caking and keep my undereye area still look very natural. For blemishes, I’d prefer a thick, stiff, even hard formula that would flatten bumps and set like cement.
L'Oreal Mat Magique All-In-One Powder (P499) / Available in Watsons and SM Beauty Stores
Whether you’re looking for a foundation or setting powder, the L'Oreal Mat Magique is a drugstore gem that delivers. Applied with a dense kabuki brush, it gives a smooth even-toned canvas that stays matte for the most part of the day. If you want to use it as a setting powder on the other hand, just use a regular powder brush and lightly dust onto parts where you normally get oily. It’s oil-free, it doesn’t clog your pores, and to top it all off - it has SPF35 PA+++.
BYS Nude Eyeshadow Palette (P1199) / Available in Watsons and SM Beauty Stores
When Sephora finally launched in the Philippines, I searched for Urban Decay right away only to be heartbreakingly disappointed. Woe is me, the best-selling Naked palettes still remain elusive in this side of the globe. But thankfully, we have the BYS Nude Palettes which is a pretty excellent dupe! The colors are lovely, the payoff and blendability impressive, and the staying power is decent even without a primer. It’s a little pricey for drugstore, but you do get 12 richly pigmented shadows that you can take from day to night! If you want to see it in action against the UD, you can watch this great review I found!
Image via Wet n' Wild Facebook page
Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Palette (P499) / Available in Watsons and SM Beauty Stores
If you want something even cheaper though, you can always count on Wet n’ Wild. IMHO, no one makes drugstore color makeup as well as the brand. Whether it’s blush, lipstick, or eyeshadows, all of the ones I’ve tried are just “KA-POW, PIGMENT!” with blendability and staying power to boot. Get the eight-color Icon Eyeshadow Palettes so you get the best bang for your buck! These are available in so many shades that I can bet 100% you’ll find something that suits your taste.
Image via rosychicc.com
Essence Lip Liner (P100) / Available in Watsons and SM Beauty Stores
Last but definitely not the least, the cult-favorite Essence Lip Liners! These lip liners are soft, creamy, long-lasting and richly-pigmented that it feels almost criminal that they’re this cheap. Seriously. It’s available in so many beautiful BEAUTIFUL shades and it comes in a retractable pencil form too, if you’re into that. Granted you can go through one pencil pretty fast if you’re using it as a lip color on its own but still, at P100? Hoard while you can!
And that’s it for our best of the best drugstore makeup kit! We hope this helps you out in your next makeup shopping trip!
