Most Of My Favorite Makeup & Skincare Products Are Below Php 500!

At my age (I am 32) I am at a point where I am willing to invest on skincare and makeup products if they really really work well on my skin. I've been through enough bad breakouts that I appreciate products that are effective and make me feel good about myself. For years, I have invested on a one year card of monthly facials with Flawless because their Acne Control Facial did wonders to my face!

And with that said, it surprises me every time I discover really good products that have student-friendly price tags! Nakakatuwa kasi ang dali tuloy imaintain kahit maubos na sya. I still try other products that I receive as a blogger, or stuff that I picked up during a Korea trip, but right now here are my go-tos for my daily makeup looks that wouldn't break the bank:



1) iWhite Korea Aqua Moisturizer Whitening Vita - Tube (Php 180), Sachet (Php 20)

By now you will think I get my iWhite products for free, but actually I buy them! Hahaha! After trying out samples of this moisturizer, I am sold that it's almost as good as the jar of Laneige Water Bank that I have consumed a few months ago--same watery texture, and smells nice and fresh! I love that it is not sticky on the face, so I use it na even during the day before I apply on my makeup.

I bought a tube via Lazada. They don't sell this individually so I got it with the other sachet products that I don't need, but okay nadin baka magustuhan ko din sila next time and buy full sizes nadin! Anyway, this is available also in Watsons, not sure though if all branches so I just bought one online.

2) Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence with SPF 50+ - Php 445

I've been posting a lot about this product in my "favorites" blog posts, this daily sunscreen is my go-to since 2016. I have tried other brands or variants from Biore, but this one has the best finish and texture for me. It even works well with my BB Cream kahit hindi na ako mag primer. This is available in some department stores and Watsons branches, but I also bought this at The SM Store's online shop via Lazada.



3) iWhite Korea BB Holic - Tube (Php 185), Sachet (Php 25)

Another favorite na nag start lang as samples / sachets for me, I love the finish of this everyday BB cream on my face! It also works well with the Biore sunscreen, and gustong gusto ko yung flawless but dewy effect niya.. very Korean! Coverage is just light. I also bought this as a set sa Lazada, but some Watsons stores also carry iWhite products individually. Naisip ko talaga while buying my nth tube na buti nalang dito ako nahiyang, hahaha! Super affordable!

4) Bench Daily Spell Magic Powder (Natural) - Php 21.50

A Youtube discovery, the Bench Daily Spell is my new alternative to the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder! It is tinted, and does its job in setting my makeup. The best pa sa presyo!! Downside lang is matagal bago ako nakakita ng ganito sa Bench stores, madalas syang sold out kaya when I saw one in Glorietta binili ko na agad just to try!

Since naubos na yung Laura Mercier ko, I used the container para mas convenient gamitin to and dalhin for travels.

5) Avon True Perfectly Matte Lipstick - Php 399

I am not much of a lipstick person (kilay over lippies, hehe), but when I do use one I prefer yung medyo darker shades. I love the variety of matte lippies from Avon, ang daming shades talaga from nudes, to reds, to pinks! They recently sent me different pink lippies, and for sure may shade dun na okay for all Filipino skin tone coz ANG DAMI nila even when they're coming from just one family of color.

Avon lippies are also non-drying, and packaging is durable and classy for an affordable makeup. May mga affordable lippies kasi ako na maganda sana but ang bilis mabuksan ng tube so ang kalat sa bag huhu. Anyway, Avon is available online at AvonShop.ph.

6) Highlighter from Bobbie Cosmetics Insta-Runway Ready Contour Kit - Php 215

I haven't seen this sa department stores coz this was just sent to me last year, but after watching an Anne Clutz makeup tutorial on BLK Cosmetics, sinabi niya doon na "Mas maganda pa yung Bobbie Insta-Runway Ready" when it comes to highlighter. When I heard this, naalala ko na may palette ako na ganun from one of my packages from Robinsons Department Store, so kinuha ko na sya agad and binuksan!

Ever since then, super todo highlight na ako lalo sa cheek bones LOL, and almost ALL events I've been to may magsasabi talaga na on-point or blinding ng highlighter ko HAHA. I've tried a lot of cream type, Korean brands, and even Laura Mercier highlighter, but dito lang ako nakakuha ng ganyang compliments so it says a lot about the product!

PS: I don't use the blush and contour from this palette





7) Careline Jelly Tint - Php 120

Another item I got from an event last year that I now came to love is this tube of lip and cheek tint, and it's not even the highlight of that Careline event! It just came with the box of new goodies with their rebranded packaging, but this one talaga ang naging main stay in my makeup arsenal.

I first heard about the wonders of using Ever Bilena's tube of lip and cheek tint from an Ellen Adarna interview. She HOARDS that product, and even have videos of "gandang kilay at lip tint lang", haha! I think she's also the first one who made "drunk blush" happen! Careline is a sister company of EB, and so it has the same consistency and I love it too! I use it lang for my cheeks, and I think di sya masyado ok as lippie. It is easy to blend as blush, looks natural, doesn't dry agad and leave undesirable patches. I will definitely buy this again pag naubos na! :)

8) Beach Born Aloeha! - Php 150

The third lip balm release from this local brand, I finally found the right consistency, scent, and moisturizing effect in their Aloeha! Aside from using it on the lips, they also publish this as an over-all, universal balm for dry patches and to create that dewy eyelids effect, but I mainly just use this to moisturize my dry lips. I cannot sleep without applying Aloeha!, and it is also perfect when traveling to colder countries or during drying plane rides.

You can purchase this favorite lip balm and my other Beach Born Faves HERE.

9) EB Advance Uncover 2 - Php 395

Last month, I was looking for the perfect orange or terracotta shade of eyeshadow at the mall so I can copy some of my favorite Korean looks. The first store I went in is of course Korean brands like Etude House, but I find their eyeshadow with orange tones a bit expensive at Php 1000+ e isa lang naman ang need kong color from the whole palette. I went to the department store and checked out local brands including Ever Bilena.

I find this new palette super impressive not only because of the range of colors "inspired by sunset", but also because ang cute ng tin packaging nya. Nakaka imported and nakaka expensive when it is actually just Php 395 for 12 eyeshadows already + huge mirror on the cover! It is not travel friendly though, but pwede na for events and daily use. I only use the 10th one na medyo orangey, medyo powdery sya so nagfafall yung colors on my cheeks during application so careful lang sa pag apply. But yung shade is super perfect, and very pigmented pa so worth the price!!

10) Beach Born Healing Toner - 50mL (Php 150), 100mL (Php 280)

I saw this toner back when it's just a tester product! I love using it daily, before applying makeup during the day, and before my nightly skincare regimen. It doesn't irritate my acne prone skin, controls my oily face without drying, and it just smells so good! I am down to my nth bottle so I have no photo of it na na same format as the ones above haha!

You can purchase this and my other Beach Born Faves HERE.

Some final notes:

Since we all have different skin types, some of these products may work or may not work for you, but in case these info might help:

My skin type is oily-combination. I get dry patches around my lips, lips get easily dry so I always have lip balm on my bag or pocket, and I have oily T-zone.

I usually have good skin in colder climates, and my skin is very sensitive that I easily get acne from unsuitable products or hot weather conditions huhu.

I love trying new products, but I also stay loyal with ones that I have proven effective on me. So happy that most of them hindi expensive so I can buy them easily every time maubos ko na sya, ang saya noh hehehe!

Let me know your personal favorites below Php 500! ❤ I love discovering new products!