They say expensive brushes are some of the best investments you can make if you're serious about getting your makeup right. That may be true five years ago, when only high-end brands would make brushes fit for the high strandards of makeup enthusiasts and professionals alike. But it's different today. It's easy to find good brushes without going over a thousand, maybe even 800 bucks a piece.

You can go even lower, if you like! Take for example this Ecotools 5-Piece Mineral Brush Set (P549 at Kalm Cosmetics). This travel-sized brush collection is a great buy for beginners and those who like to apply their makeup on the go! It's specifically created for loose mineral makeup but it can definitely be used with traditional pressed makeup as well.

The set contains a Mineral Powder Brush, Concealer Brush, Eye Shading Brush, and Mini Kabuki Brush. They're mainly for applying powder base makeup. The synthetic bristles are super soft and dense where it counts, thus turning your makeup into a smooth, even layer all over your face.

During my recent trip to the mall, I was trying to find miself a good concealer. Upon asking for assistance, the first question I got from the sales rep was "Ma'am acidic po kayo?" I didn't know what to say because I really don't know if I am or I'm not, to cut it short she said I am acidic and should get a shade lighter than my color (I'm NC30). Thing is, when I went to the other stall, the sales rep told me I'm not acidic so I ended up confused and yeah, empty-handed. I wanted to find out my skin type first. Any tips on how I can find out? - Purplechef

Hey Iko! Our skin is actually naturally acidic with a pH level between 4.5 and 6.2. It is coated by what is called an acid mantle, which is crucial in protecting our skin from bacteria, fungi, and other irritants that might get into our skin. It's also what keeps our skin moisturized and healthy overall.

Natural factors like age, level of your skin's oiliness, moisture, and sweat, can affect how acidic you are. External factors like the products you use (soaps, cosmetics, lotions, etc.) can also affect your skin's pH level.

So how does this all apply to your foundation or concealer? Some of you might have noticed that your face makeup turns darker or changes color the longer you wear it. That's completely natural, as you really have to give your makeup some time to settle and adjust on your skin's surface. No base makeup ever looks 100% like it does when you first swatch it on your skin!

How dark or off it looks depends on two things, I find: the formula of the foundation and how oily/acidic your face is.