Current makeup faves

Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash

It’s been a while now since I last bought a pair of shoes, a bag, or a nice dressy blouse. I’m still working from home and would only go out for grocery runs, laundry, and other personal errands. Sometimes I do go out to the mall alone but I feel I can do away with those things for now. 

Until very recently though, I’d find myself buying more makeup. 

I know some of you may find it indecorous and hedonistic that I’m more interested in it now that I’m in my forties. Not to mention the bad timing since our face is often covered with a face mask or face shield. I guess I have been watching too many beauty vloggers on YouTube I got so fixated on them. 

I came from a time when there’s not that many step-by-step makeup tutorials as it is now. What little I know were from my own series of hits and misses. I absolutely don’t know the tricks and techniques. I just buy the product which I think is good for me, or maybe a known drugstore brand everyone’s talking about and that’s just it. I don’t know about contouring, highlighting, etc. I don’t know much about tones or formulations that suit me. 

I’ve never been known in the office as someone who’s always “well put together”. I pretty much have a basic routine when it comes to makeup: BB cream, foundation, powder, eyebrow pencil, blush, lip color — in that order. When in hurry I can do away with one—or two, or maybe almost all of it, except for the powder and the lipstick. I’m also lucky I have friends I can go to ask without passing judgment on my lack of know-how.  

The vloggers make it look like putting it on is so easy. I wish I have that skill because when I start doing my own face, I’d realize it’s not as easy as it looks. I find it so fascinating to know there’s so much into it. 

Watching beauty tutorials has been quite an education for me. I know somehow I’m getting better.

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And, no, don’t worry—I’m not a makeup junkie yet. I don’t need to have all the shades of a particular lipstick brand or blow all my money on an overpriced eyeshadow palette. But compared to how I was, my makeup bag is no longer as useless because I have everything one might need to go on a full-face. 

Having said this, let me now share with you some of my current favorite drugstore makeup that really worked on me. (Please do not expect any high-end brands here considering my current financial state). 

Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Powder Foundation

Now that the weather is unforgiving, I ditched my liquid foundation (which can be heavy) and reach for this instead. It has amazing coverage and it does help in controlling oil. It’s priced at 499.00 but I hoarded several of these when Maybelline had their 50% sale recently. I think I have bought enough to last me until the end of the year.

Dr. Sensitive All Day No Sebum Blur Powder

Reasonably priced at 150.00 for a 25g. jar, it does soften the appearance of pores and very effective in controlling the shine. I use this as a finishing powder.

Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Pact

It leaves my face feeling fresh because it has a cooling sensation thanks to the mint and Jeju minerals. I used this only for touch-ups on my T-zone area because it’s quite pricey for an 8-gram pact. 

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Gets rid of my dark undereye and small blemishes like pimple marks. When I’m too lazy to wear my foundation, I just blend this concealer, add a translucent powder and I’m good to go!

Happy Skin Lip Mallow Mousse

I love how easy it’s easy to apply (no tugging!) and it doesn’t feel heavy on the lips, unlike other liquid matte lipsticks I’ve tried. It also does not emphasize the lip lines. The best thing about it is that it doesn’t transfer on the mask (although it does not claim to be transfer-proof). 

Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara

Current favorite mascara (and I’m not even a big fan of mascara—or any eye makeup actually) because it does lengthen my very short eyelashes without the need for me to use an eyelash curler. It does make a difference now that our eyes are the only thing people can see because of the face mask and shield.

Ever Bilena's Pro Brow Duo

It’s a pencil and powder combination and it’s so easy to use even for neophytes like me. I use the pencil to outline and the powder to fill the sparse areas of the brows to give it a more natural look.  

L'Oréal Paris Unbelievabrow Brow Gel

It takes a lot of practice but it’s well worth it once you get used to it because it stays put no matter what. You can do away with eyebrow pomade or soap. I use this after outlining my brows with a hard pencil only because once you make a mistake, it will be very hard to erase. However, the results are just divine! Eyebrows definitely on fleek and it does last for hours (who needs it to last for 48 hours?). The downside is you will need a cleansing oil/balm to remove it because micellar water just won’t cut it.

Luxe Organix Makeup Setting Spray Beauty Mist by Anne Clutz

I can get carried away sometimes and using too much powder on a textured skin like mine may leave it looking dry and cakey. When I'm done with my makeup, I just spray this and it leaves a dewy, healthier glow. It also keeps my makeup longer, especially the blush, which I absolutely love (nagmumukha akong tisay). 

So there you have it— my very own favorites list! If you have any other good drugstore makeup brands, please feel free to leave a comment.