What products found in Watsons would you recommend for a start up make up kit? Just the basics from eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, blush and foundation/ powder. - Alyson

Hi Alyson! Thanks for your great question. I think Watsons is indeed the best place to visit if you're looking to build your first makeup kit. :) There's a huge selection of brands from the Philippines, Japan, USA, Australia, and even Europe, would you believe! Watsons has definitely gone a long way from being just a boring ol' pharmacy.

I've already posted many drugstore suggestions in the past, but I've picked out an updated list of products for you to try if you're in the process of beefing up your kit. Many of these are just fairly recent finds, and toe the fine line between quality and affordability. 

Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse (P599). This has a great lumi-matte finish with a light to medium coverage. It can definitely hide lesser eyebags and blemishes, great for everyday wear! I'd recommend this for dry to combi skin though; if you're really oily, I'd recommend something like the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup.

BYS Minerals Naturale Compact Foundation (P599). I like the natural, glowy finish of this powder and how well it controls my oiliness. It could be a dupe of the MAC Mineralized Skinfinish powder.

I love Watsons. There's always something new, something interesting in that place! It can be a little bewildering though. Big Watsons branches like the one in SM Aura, for example, offer so many choices that it can be discouraging to look around for new stuff. 

I suppose that's one of the reasons for the existence of the Watsons Health, Wellness & Beauty Awards. This aims to help consumers choose only the best health, personal care, skincare, cosmetics, and hair care products. In turn, being aware of the Watsons Recommends Seal of Excellence can help us get more value for our money.

Wanna know who won the Watsons HWB? ;) The list is after the cut!

What's your favorite Watsons store to shop in? Mine used to be in Mall of Asia, but now I am loving the newly opened SM Aura branch! It's huuuuge, and everything is organized in a way that makes sense. You can go there the first time and easily figure out where stuff are. The new space is also a joy to shop in, with fresh interiors and even new classy counters.

Watsons actually had a recent regional rebrand. You'll notice the new logo, wall decals, even new uniforms when you walk in the store. The look isn't that noticeable unless you're observant, but these changes contribute to the overall fun of shopping in Watsons. If you've been to the one in SM Aura then you'll know what I mean! Everything is just so...bright and fresh.

Don't you just hate it when you buy shoes in the wrong size? It can be an online order so the blame isn't as heavy. However sometimes you go in a store, fit the pair meticulously, then still end up with something that doesn't wear quite right. That's what happened to me when I bought a pair of black pumps some weeks ago.

Anyway, the solution is those black/ lilac shoe inserts to tighten the fit. I don't like using them though because I always have to cut them to fit my small shoes. Besides, they look so obvious in open sandals! Best solution: the transparent Watsons Foot Ease Gel Cushions. I have a few of these and I thought I'd finally write about it. ;)

This is pretty cheap at less than a hundred bucks if I remember correctly. I love to use them for my loose heels, but aside from that these inserts are intended to cushion our foot pads from the stress of wearing high heels. The gel insert is soft and comfy under the feet.

I was at Watsons Mall of Asia last Sunday, looking for a new pair of tweezers as I seem to have lost my old one. Yes, mundane, but not what I found in the racks! I know this twisty hair removal thing has been around for years now but it's my first time to see it in a drugstore. Plus, it's only P89!

Yes it does look like a torture device but it's super neat. Just twist it into a u shape, apply anywhere on your face where fine hair is growing, then twist in and out. It takes out even the finest hair! I didn't find it painful as I'm used to threading/plucking on my face but if you're a newbie then it will sting a little. 

I don't mind spending for shoes and makeup, but I am extremely stingy when it comes to body care products. I think that the stuff we use on our bodies have very basic functions and thus need not be be expensive. In my mind, basic products should be as cheap as humanly possible. On the other hand, complex products we intend to use a for a long time should be things we invest in (cost-per-wear).

I'm a cheapskate where it matters

I mean, why spend more than P30 on a pack of cotton buds? Or more than P200 for a body wash? Hand washes (the ones that come in 200ml bottles mind you!) that cost more than P70 is already highway robbery for me. Yes, I'm very particular about prices when it comes to buying such things! I don't see the point of spending a lot for something when there are alternatives at a much cheaper price that can do the same thing or differs only minimally from the expensive option.

That's why I really appreciate Watsons Switch & Save campaign. It encourages shoppers to turn to incredibly affordable but good quality Watsons label products to be able to save for things that actually matter.

Skincare, whether you are a man or a woman, is not an option. There's no stigma when women take precious care of their skin, but men? It seems that the prevailing thought is that if you're a guy and you use something other than soap and shampoo, you're considered metrosexual or even gay. That's unfair and quite counterproductive. If men can't not brush their teeth, then they also can't not use a proper facial wash, toner, and moisturizer.

Maybe the stigma lies in how products are packaged. Let me share a conversation I had with someone from a giant skincare company. The rep remarked that they are surprised that their new facial wash (then) was so successful, even men were buying them. It appears that men thought the new facial wash was for them simply because the tube was black.

Maybe guys don't feel as shy about skincare when the packaging is very much male. What do you think? If that's the case then they will love Watsons Men skincare line, with it's macho metal tubes and sporty bottles.

A majority of Filipinas may be hesitant when it comes to makeup, but you can bet that we loooove our bath and body products. Actually we just love our baths, period. We're no Frenchmen.

It's no wonder that aisles and aisles of drugstores and supermarkets are dedicated just for the riot of body care products. There's always something new, something exciting to buy and try! One of them is Watsons' latest bath and body care line called H Bella.

It's a pretty solid collection. I tried everything and all of them met my criteria for body products - they're light, non-sticky, not scratchy at all, and most importantly, they smell great. Here's my quick review of each product in the line:

Protect & Nourish Hand Cream. It's very light and gets absorbed by my skin quickly. Do you hate the greasy feeling of hand lotions? Do you hate how they turn greasy again after you wet your hands? This is not one of those hand creams. 

Now that the mega drugstore retailer, Watsons, carries BB creams in their shelves as if they were candy, there is no doubt that the Philippines has been converted to the BB cream religion. And why not? BB creams are extremely convenient for the busy career woman - or even man, for that matter - and they usually provide instant sun protection which is a must in the tropics.

I use one or two BB creams on occasion, myself, usually when I step out of the house. These creams are great, but just don't expect them to deliver their promise of being skincare too, because they're not. BB creams are now completely makeup, far from their original lofty ideals of being "blemish balms" for damaged skin.

That said, meet some of Watsons best BB creams! (And don't forget to read my BB cream/ tinted moisturizer battle royale post).

The Gluta & Placenta BB Cream by Glorious Skin (P169) is probably the cheapest one out there. It's perfect for teens who want to try their first foundation, especially since this one provides natural but good coverage at a nice price.