Switch and save now: Six ways to save on essentials at the drugstore

A well-known brand selling generic products? Wait, what? Generics are often associated with the more obscure brands so this new concept was tackled at the recent Watsons Switch and Save event. During the Switcher’s Feud game in the program, celebrity contestants were asked to guess the reasons a hundred survey participants made the switch to generics. In addition to affordability and accessibility thanks to a growing number of store locations, brand recall actually came up as one of the main reasons to make the big move. Consumers look for quality even as they choose more economical options, and Watsons’ impressive in-house selection of personal care items and pharmaceuticals offer value without breaking the bank.

For busy people who don’t have time to visit multiple stores, Watsons is a one-stop for bath and hygiene essentials, beauty treats, and even medicines and supplements. Here are just some of the things that you can grab for less on your next store visit!

• Facial tissues are something we reach for on the daily, and you can get 20% savings just by taking home three boxes of Watsons Velvety Soft Box Tissues for P129 versus the three boxes of Brand A tissues at P56 a pop.
• A set of two half-liter bottles of Watsons Cream Handsoap retails for P149, while another brand offers a similar buy-1-take-1 promotion but for P199 a set.
• Even lathering up after a long day can save you money, with the 70% savings that two liters of Watsons Cream Bath afford you for only P269 instead of paying P190 per 400 ml bottle of another brand.
• To keep your body supple, you can bag a 500 ml bottle of Watsons Body Lotion for P149 versus another brand that offers 473 ml of product for P1,010.
• For dental health, the Watsons Charcoal Toothbrush goes for just P59, while another brand sells it for P115.
• At P249 for two bottles of 500 ml each, Watsons Mouth Wash trumps the P158 for one 250 ml bottle of another brand. That’s 60% savings! 

Shoppers can save as much as 80% by switching to the Watsons brand, all without sacrificing quality. Six brand ambassadors took a blind test to differentiate between the product quality of the leading brand versus Watsons, and if I were in their shoes, I’d have a hard time telling the difference, too! Edu Manzano, Lorna Tolentino, Christian Bautista, Iya Villania, and Tessa Prieto-Valdes have all appeared in past Watsons ads so at the event, we were introduced to the newest member of the Watsons family, Kylie Padilla! She was particularly wowed by the 65% savings she could get from the Watsons Treatment Wax that felt just as soft on her locks as another brand’s hair treatment. You can watch the celebrity blind test on Watsons’ Facebook page.

Actress and new Watsons endorser Kylie Padilla gets a warm welcome from members of the media

Iya Villania and Kylie Padilla face off during the Switchers Feud game.

In addition to counting the potential savings, the celebrity endorsers shared their personal Watsons experiences. Soon-to-be mom Kylie Padilla recalled how she and her Australia-based sisters make a bonding activity out of hauling inexpensive essentials whenever they come to visit. Christian Bautista shared how he went undercover as a Watsons employee for a day and was proud of garnering particularly high sales for the branch that day. New mom Iya Villania-Arellano admitted that she likes to save with generic options in order to allot more of her budget to her baby’s diapers. Tessa Prieto-Valdes also humorously recounted how her house guests often rush to grab the promotional Watsons products she receives. 

Do you use Watsons brand products at home? I’m actually on my nth box of their facial tissues, and I’ve also tried their hand washes and body washes in the past. And if you missed it, we found that their makeup wipes are the best sulit option!