The winners of the first Project Vanity Beauty Awards 2019
Could you believe that we’re only 21 days away from a new decade? And what a decade it has been for beauty! We began our obsession with full, perfectly-groomed eyebrows, our love affair with matte liquid lipstick, and a keen desire for long-wearing, full-coverage, yet ultra-comfortable foundation. K-Beauty became the undisputed trend and technology leader for beauty all over the world. Even so, we saw the rise of Filipino beauty brands as we became more competitive and world-class - now that’s a plot twist!
This 2019, the Project Vanity Community has spoken and voted for their best finds this year. Let’s see what captured our hearts (and wallets) in 2019, shall we?
Best Foundation for Oily Skin: Ellana Minerals Loose Mineral Foundation (P599 for the refill and P199 for the 10 gram jar)
Ellana has been around for 12 years now, but the last two years has seen this brand skyrocket into fame with its ultimate product. The Loose Mineral Foundation is full-coverage and long-wearing; a tiny amount goes a long way! Those with oily skin love this because it actually looks better the longer you wear it, and can stay on for up to 9-10 hours. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup / 2nd Runner-Up: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Best Foundation for Sensitive Skin: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation (P399)
Maybelline has been aggressively improving its formulations in the last few years, and one could say that their Fit Me foundation is a runaway favorite. This is a full coverage, long-wearing foundation that doesn’t irritate sensitive skin. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Ellana Minerals Loose Mineral Foundation / 2nd Runner-Up: Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF15
Best Foundation for Dry Skin: L'Oréal Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation (P650)
L’Oreal’s Infallible line was created to stay on skin without fail, but initially many found their foundation formula too drying. Enter the Infallible Fresh Wear! This is lightweight and non-drying, so it’s comfortable on the face. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation / 2nd Runner-Up: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream
Best Mattifying Primer: Quick FX No Shine Mattifier (P99)
This is a crowd favorite because not only is it accessible in any Watsons in your kanto, it’s also effective while being super affordable. Apply it right before your favorite foundation to keep your skin matte for longer. Shop it here.
1st Runner-Up: Ellana Minerals Blur ++ with Sebocure Primer / 2nd Runner-Up: Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer
Best Pore-Blurring Primer: Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer (P2,120)
An oldie but a goodie. The POREfessional has a cult following worldwide because of its instant smoothing effect on skin. This is a must-try if you have open pores that need to be filled by an ultra-fine silicone primer. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Ellana Minerals Blur Classic Primer / 2nd Runner-Up: Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser
Best Color-Correcting Primer: Ellana Minerals DD + CC Primer (P764)
Ellana’s best-selling primer has a light bluish tint that instantly brightens the skin. It also evens out dark areas in a jiffy! Apply about a pea-sized amount before your base, but if you have a good skin day, this is enough to get that fresh look. Did I say it also has SPF30? Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Primer / 2nd Runner-Up: Becca First Light Priming Filter
Best Spot Concealer: L'Oréal Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer (P450)
This is my current Holy Grail concealer. If you know me, then you know how exacting and specific I am when it comes to concealer. Previously, I only ever use high-end liquid concealers but that pretty much stopped when I started using the L’Oreal Infallible Concealer. It’s opaque, blends like a dream, and wears all day. THIS IS THE BEST, PERIOD. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer / 2nd Runner-Up: The Saem Cover Perfection Tip Concealer
Best Under Eye Concealer: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer (P399)
If dark under eyes are your biggest issue, then the Maybelline Age Rewind is one of the best and most affordable cover-ups out there for you. It’s creamy yet light, softly diffusing dark and depressed eye bags. You can also even use it as foundation! Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: L'Oréal Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer / 2nd Runner-Up: The Saem Cover Perfection Tip Concealer
Best Touch-Up Powder: Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder (P375)
This is a translucent loose powder that instantly banishes shine. It comes in a small, compact jar with a cute puff so you can retouch anywhere! Apply it on the t-zone and it will absorb any excess oil on the surface of the skin. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation / 2nd Runner-Up: Pink Sugar Our Lil' Secret All Day Matte Powder
Best Setting Powder: Ellana Minerals Stay Matte Poreless Powder (P499)
A good setting powder should sit thinly on top of your foundation, keep it intact for longer, and keep it as smooth as possible. This Ellana powder does the job! A small amount goes a long way with this one. The best part is your pores will say goodbye (for the time being). Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder / 2nd Runner-Up: Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder
Best Long-Wearing Blush: Colourette Colourtint (P249)
Colourette’s a local brand that has mastered the art of making multi-functional makeup. The Colourtint is good as a lip color, but SUPERB as a blush! A dot on each cheek is enough to get a pretty and natural-looking flush all day. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Ellana Minerals Lip Drunk Blush / 2nd Runner-Up: 3CE Take A Layer Multi Pot
Best Universally Flattering Blush: Colourette Colourtint in Zola (P249)
Colourette wins this one again! The second thing that Colourette is super good at is creating colors that look good on everyone. Zola is a beautiful peachy pink with a warm brown undertone. It’s the kind of shade that can be used for a monochromatic look on the eyes, lips, and cheeks. The fact that it’s always sold out is the best testimonial, really! Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: NARS Orgasm Blush / 2nd Runner-Up: Ellana Minerals Lip Drunk Blush in Sangria
Best Contour Product: Vice Cosmetics Aura Collection Blush in Confeeerm and Porshur (P150)
Affordable and surprisingly amazing, the Vice blushes were a runaway favorite when they launched just this year. They were nicely pigmented and looked pretty sitting on the cheeks! Go for Porshur if you want a natural contour, and Confeeerm for that beauty queen contour. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer / 2nd Runner-Up: NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder
Best Highlighting Product: Colourette Shimmertint (P349)
Looking for a fine, fine shimmer that makes you positively glow? Then you’ll enjoy the Colourette Shimmertints. It comes in a bottle so you can just dab it on, blend with your fingers, and go. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector / 2nd Runner-Up: Vice Cosmetics Aura Collection Highlighters
Best Eyebrow Gel or Pomade: A tie between the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade (P1,255) and Project Vanity x Ellana Life-Proof Eyebrow Gel (P499)
It’s a tie! Your votes delivered these results down to two decimal points. Of course we love the Life-Proof Gel because it’s waterproof and gives brows a soft look while being defined. The Dipbrow on the other hand is pigmented, and made for creating the ultra-sculpted brow! Shop for ABH here. Shop for Ellana here.
Runner-Up: Glossier Boy Brow
Best Eyebrow Pencil: The Face Shop Designing Eyebrow Pencil (P250)
This one’s a classic. It’s been around pretty much since TFS launched here in the Philippines, and people have kept it going because it comes in on-point shades and delivers a soft, natural finish on the brows. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Vice Cosmetics Gandoll Microbrow Pencil / 2nd Runner-Up: Careline Best Brow Liner
Best Eyebrow Pen: K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasting 2Way Eyebrow Liquid (P895)
This is still the best eyebrow pen out there, hands down. The perfect shades, the fine tip, the just-so pigmentation that can be layered - it’s a cult favorite for a reason! I still use this up to this day; it’s just so freakin’ good. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Maybelline Tattoo Brow Ink Pen / 2nd Runner-Up: Generation Happy Skin Perfect Brows Long Lasting Liquid Pen
Best Eyeliner: K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyeliner 24H Waterproof (P945)
The best eyeliners are Japanese eyeliners. This fairly new K-Palette liner is the best they have; it’s truly water-resistant and pigmented so there’s no need to layer. It also has a fantastic brush that bends to fit the contour of your lids while affording you a lot of control over the depth of the line. Try it if you haven’t yet! Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Maybelline Hypersharp Liner / 2nd Runner-Up: Careline Graph-Ink Liner
Best Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (P399)
Maybelline made their fortune with mascaras, so it's only fitting that they make some of the best mascaras in the world. The Lash Sensational is the best one I’ve tried from the brand because it delivers even, fanned out lashes, loads of length + volume, and - this is vv important - it keeps my straight-ass lashes curled all day. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara / 2nd Runner-Up: Heroine Make Long and Curl Mascara
Best Eyeshadow: Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette (P2,930)
This is THE palette that skyrocketed sunset eyes into mainstream consciousness. With buttery texture and crazy pigmentation, each shade works together to create looks that range from elegant to playful. Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Urban Decay Naked Palette / 2nd Runner-Up: Revlon Color Stay Creme Eyeshadow
Best Bullet Lipstick: Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippie (P549)
This is the product that launched Happy Skin into beauty stardom. Creamy, hydrating, pigmented, and in fabulous cult fave colors (remember Honeymoon Glow and The Morning After?) it’s legit one of the best lipstick formulas out there! Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Sunnies Face Fluffmatte / 2nd Runner-Up: L'Oréal Color Riche Matte Lip Color
Best Lip Tint: Colourette Colourtint (P249)
This can be used both as a full-coverage lip color and as a matte light tint. It looks fantastic both ways.
1st Runner-Up: Peripera Airy Ink Velvet / 2nd Runner-Up: The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain
Best Liquid Lipstick: Colourette Velvetint (P349)
The velvet lip isn’t just a trend - it’s here to stay. Many of us are tired with drying flat mattes on our lips, so velvets are taking over. Colourette makes a lovely one that’s not only in gorgeous shades, but is also super comfy when worn! Shop for it here.
1st Runner-Up: Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick / 2nd Runner-Up: Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Liquid Matte Lippie
And that’s it for the Project Vanity Beauty Awards! Thank you everybody for voting and sharing with us your top picks. Until next year!
Which of your favorites won?
