Here are 10 brands near and dear to our hearts (and bank accounts) for their highly esteemed goodies that won us over completely—and will definitely win you over, too!
TheBalm is a cult-favorite brand that seems to have been around forever yet can never lose its novelty! It’s one of the brands that I’ve always wanted to own as a teenager, and one that I impulse-bought the minute I made money of my own—I regret nothing! With their gorgeous vintage packaging, adorable product names, and high-quality products, TheBalm makes sure to leave the least room for doubt on how bomb they really are.
Its light-reflecting formulation gives your skin an ethereal glow, as well as a subtle just-pinched flush of pink—perfect for looking gorgeous without trying (even if we all know that you did). This powder is easy to blend and is so pigmented that you barely need any product to get the results you’re looking for!
For those looking for a natural-looking glow up, Betty’s your best bet. This silky-smooth bronzing highlight powder is the perfect way to bring a little warmth into your look while adding a subtle shine. While it doesn’t reflect light quite as much as its other Lou Manizer siblings, its warm golden reflects are the best for creating that faux sun-kissed glow.
Lo and behold, the granddaddy of all beauty sponges! As a main contender in the heated sponge versus brush debacle, Beautyblender has made such big changes to the makeup game since it blew up that I can’t even remember what the world was like before I first learned about it on YouTube. In this day and age, having never tried a Beautyblender is like a makeup lover’s mortal sin. Whether you’ll love or not is up to you, but I definitely think it’s worth a try at least ONCE in your life.
Like its original pink sister, this beauty sponge is a great tool for creating ultra-smooth and gorgeously blended results—now in a stunning sophisticated sapphire shade!
Sponges are great for creating flawless looks but taking good care of them is key to making sure they last longer (and don’t break you out by housing bacteria!). This cleanser is specially made to break down makeup and grime while maintaining the integrity of your lovely little blender.
Another cult-favorite brand in the beauty tool category is Real Techniques! With products ranging from sponges to all the makeup brushes you could ever need, beauty junkies new and old are sure to find something they’ll love and keep for years to come!
This set is perfect for makeup beginners who want to start getting into more intricate eye looks but don’t know where to start. With 5 different brush types for shadow, liner, and lashes (also comes with a brush holder!), you’ll be on your way to creating banging MOTDs in no time!
A good, trusty powder brush is essential for any beauty nerd’s arsenal. With soft, synthetic bristles and a fluffy dome shape, applying powders and mineral cosmetics like a pro is no problemo!
What’s a listicle on cult-favorite brands without CosRX? K-Beauty addicts (myself included) have gone OFF about what these products can do so many times that an introduction is hardly necessary. But for those unfamiliar, CosRX is an affordable and fuss-free Korean skin care brand that has such a wide array of products that any skin type and condition are sure to find something suitable for them.
Liquid exfoliators are essential for unclogging pores and lifting away dead skin cells-this power liquid does just that! With 7% Glycolic Acid, this product melts away whiteheads and sebum, giving you clearer skin. A personal favorite of mine that I will definitely be repurchasing after I go through the bottle!
Some moisturizers can get too heavy and don’t sit well under makeup, but this moisturizing lotion isn’t like that in the slightest. It’s super lightweight, non-greasy, and has a soothing sensation that really helps calm down redness and irritation! My favorite part? It doesn’t clog the pores! Highly recommended for those with oily skin looking for a boost of moisture.
When a brand is already held in such high esteem like Banila Co. is, I find it a little hard to write an introduction when their name is introduction enough. Like a Beyoncé of skin care, this brand churns out magical powerhouse products one after the other that the mere mention of Banila Co. strikes excitement in the hearts of weak, beauty-hoarding souls! With effective yet gentle products and gorgeous packaging to boot, is there any room to reason why we love this brand so much? Spoiler alert: no.
Banila Co. has created one of the most coveted primers I know—and 5 new variants to cater to its mass appeal. Understandably so, as its original variant effectively blurs pores, evens out skin texture, and helps makeup stay longer throughout the day.
After a month-long breakout that I thought would never end, I knew I needed to rethink my skin care routine. Of all the changes I’ve made to my regimen, this mild cleansing balm was one of my saving graces for sure. Just like its predecessor, its formula makes it super effective in breaking down waterproof makeup while making my skin softer and smoother; this time, however, Banila Co. made sure to cater to even the most sensitive and acne-prone skin types!
As the brand that had famously accumulated a waiting list of 25,000 during the release of their serum foundation, The Ordinary has lived up to its hype and then some. At such an affordable price point, their effective, straightforward, and no-nonsense products have earned their spot on beauty lover’s shelves all over the world! If you haven’t hopped on The Ordinary’s bandwagon, now’s the time to start!
Now that I’ve brought it up, I may as well talk about it, right? This famous serum is renowned for its lightweight consistency, medium coverage, and a flawless demi-matte finish—the perfect foundation for a breathable, skin-like look. A little goes a long, long way—so you know you’re getting a bang for your buck!
If you’re looking for a potent product that really goes in on dark marks and scarring, this is going to be your best friend. Vitamin C is known for fighting against free radicals, brightening dark spots, and increasing collagen production in your skin, but can be a difficult ingredient to keep stable. What The Ordinary achieved was a way to ensure the complete stability and effectivity by using only 4 ingredients—3 of which are silicones meant to hold Vitamin C securely while enhancing texture. Though I will warn you now that its high concentration of Vitamin C may be too strong for sensitive skin, so always patch test first!
When the hype of double cleansing rose, Heimish was at the forefront with their ever-famous All Clean Cleansing Balm—but there’s so much more to love! This cult-favorite brand from Korea houses gentle skin care and cosmetics so wearable that they’re specially suited for our modern everyday lifestyles.
A Heimish review without talking about their lip tint would be sacrilege. Whether you’re aiming for the Koreana-gradient or the fuller, more vibrant lip, this tint is everything and more. One of my peeves with tints are the strange way they settle into my dry areas, but this tint glides on so smoothly and stays comfortable to wear all day long.
Fans of luminous, dewy (but not oily!) finishes are sure to love this. This base not only evens out skin texture and tone but keeps the skin soft and radiant throughout the day—all while protecting it from harmful UV rays! While it’s typically used under makeup, you can opt to use it on its own for that fresh-faced dalagang-Filipina glow.
If you weren’t aware, Physican’s Formula is a brand known for being incredibly ingredient-conscious—hence their name, after all. That being said, they make sure all the products they make are safe and toxin-free! A win for sensitive skin!
This bronzer has long been loved for many reasons. Its formulation makes it so creamy and blendable that application is a breeze! It won’t look patchy even if you tried and melts so perfectly into the skin, you’ll forget you were ever born without it. It’s also infused with Murumuru butter known to contain essential fatty acids that condition the skin, leaving it silky and soft. Plus, it smells amazing!
Being an all-in-one palette, this product is extremely useful to have around. It functions as a blush, highlighter, bronzer, and eyeshadow palette that is easy to mix together to create a plethora of different looks. The different colors add beautiful shimmery dimensions to your look, blend easily, and don’t crease!
As someone who has gladly binged on makeup tutorials and reviews for hours on end, I’ve known about the powerhouse that is Rimmel for as long as I can remember. With such affordable prices and dupe-worthy products, its known far and wide across the expanses of the kingdom of cosmetics as a brand that delivers real value for money.
If you’re looking to really stay matte in the Philippine heat, then this is a great option. This affordable mousse foundation gives longevity well beyond its price point and boasts effective oil control without feeling like it clogs up your pores. But be warned! A little goes a long way, so don’t get too excited when squeezing out the product.
From a gorgeous selection of rosy reds to an interesting variety of shocking bright colors, you’re bound to find a hue that’s perfect for you with these palettes from Rimmel. These are the perfect way of amping up your eyeshadow game and trying new colors without the guilt of overspending!
I remember when these blushes were all the rage in the YouTube scene, and even if the hype has died down, I still stand by it. These baked blushes give gorgeous pigment while adding a fresh luminous glow. For those that love feeling fresh-faced, this blush is a must-have for sure.
Perfecting that base isn’t always easy, but it can be. That’s what this dual-purpose foundation and concealer excels at; it creates a smooth, full coverage base that hides all skin imperfections without that heavy, cakey feeling! It’s even water resistant, so you don’t have to worry too much about it slipping around throughout the day.
Written by:
Julia Benito
Julia is Calyxta’s resident crazy plant lady with an unstoppable caffeine addiction and an ever-increasing love for glitter eye shadow. When she’s not staring out the window mulling over the correctness of her grammar, she can be found drawing on eyeliner, watching anime, reading books, or petting strangers’ dogs.
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