Beauty buys under P300
If you're still on an allowance, or if spending money on cosmetics is not a priority to you, not to worry. There are products out there that prettify without costing a pretty penny. Here are five products under P300 that have worked well for me and most people I’ve heard of who have tried them out. You don’t have to worry about scouring dozens of online shops to find these. These are all products that are available right now in Watsons or the department store. (Please forgive me if the prices aren’t all exact, as I bought most of these months ago.)
Maybelline Baby Lips tinted lip balmThis is perfect for anyone who loves a decent amount of color in a lip balm formula. I have it in the shade Neon Rose, which despite the name, adds just a pretty reddish pink tint that is very wearable during the day, and is really not too neon at all for work or for school. It’s also moisturizing without feeling too sticky. Price: P119.
Ever Bilena lip pencilThere are a few brands offering affordable lip pencils, but some of them hardly last. The lip pencils by Ever Bilena offer amazing pigmentation and staying power. I like that they are all matte, because unless you have the exact lipstick to wear with a frosty lip liner, the contrasting effect is going to be too 90s in a bad way. The Ever Bilena pencils are not too soft that they wear down with every use, but also not too hard and don’t scratch or tug during application. The only down side is the color selection is quite limited with only a couple of natural colors, but I can deal with it. Price: P100.
Ever Bilena matte lipstickThis is one of my favorite budget finds, and it’s a popular product for good reason. The finish is matte but the product still feels satiny on the lips. It does not dry out my lips like some other matte lipsticks can, and applies smoothly on its own without having to put on lip balm first. Shade range is very good and seems to really have been considered for Asian skin, whether you’re morena, chinita or mestiza looking for a subtle or trendy color (no oranges or purples, though). Price: P165.
Nichido tinted brow gelIf, like me, you use brow gel every day, using a high-end brand can get quite expensive. Honestly, most of them seem to do the same thing, but the wand matters a lot in not clumping on the product, and staying power varies. I have this in two colors, but the shade Ash Blonde suits me better. Be warned that this product does not last the whole day. If you have an oily T-zone like me, it will be pretty much gone after six hours. Price: P238.
LA Girl Pro Conceal concealerIf you follow a lot of beauty accounts on Instagram or YouTube, you’ll notice this is one of the most hyped-about complexion products this year. It’s a liquid concealer that’s very blendable even though the consistency is quite thick. It offers medium to full coverage depending on how much you use. Be careful not to squeeze too hard, or too much product is going to come out. Price: P299, although I think I may have gotten mine on discount. The regular price could be around P330.
A version of this post was published in SunStar Cebu on November 20, 2015, and can also be found on the SunStar website.
