MY HOLY GRAIL IN BEAUTY – Ladies Who Online

I was not born with porcelain skin. At a young age, I remember going to a few dermatologists in my town because I suffered from acne. I also encountered some people gossiping about me behind my back because of my skin problem. I tried several products to keep my acne at bay. So if we were to play a game now of asking me to name beauty products from the Philippines since the 1990s, then I will probably do well with this challenge.

As they say, you will always know yourself better than anyone else. Since I already know what my skin type is, I am more particular now with the skincare and makeup products that I use, especially with my foundation, blush on, concealer, toner, moisturizer, and primer. I don’t go with the trend because I know that not everything will be friendly to my skin. I always try to do my research by reading (plenty of) reviews and watching YouTube reviews. And if I eventually get convinced, that’s the only time that I buy the product.  

Part of my job is to wear cosmetics, and when I say that, it means wearing full makeup for very long hours. Sometimes, even for as long as 20 hours straight (depending on my duty). It’s quite a challenge to find the products that I will always use, especially at work. But I am very proud that I eventually discovered them. I will now share with you some of my favorite products and the reasons why I keep using them.

MOISTURIZER. Honestly, I started using this skincare product quite late because I always reasoned out that I have oily skin. Years ago, I thought people like me who have oily skin no longer need to apply moisturizer, but I was wrong. It was a need to apply moisturizer, especially for someone like me who worked at 38,000 feet. The question was, which was the perfect match for a skin like mine? 

I started with Origins Zero Oil-Free Moisture lotion, which I have used for many years now. My T-zone does not shine at all since it has zero oil (no more breakouts). But as it eventually became unavailable for me to purchase, I now started using Origins Original Skin Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb, which gave me the same result as the previous one.  

PRIMER. Having oily skin and a history of acne left me with big open pores. But Benefit Cosmetics helped me with this concern with the use of their Porefessional Face Primer. I only need to apply a small amount of this product, then it does its job beautifully! Plus, it works well with my foundation. 

FOUNDATION. I have been a fan of Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation since 2015. I wanted a full coverage liquid foundation without applying too much, as one application is enough for me to get the coverage that I want. I have oily skin, but this does not oil on my T-zone. It also does not have any strong smell and does not sting. I did not experience any breakouts too! Apart from that, I have been using the Double Wear Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation, which I apply on top of the liquid foundation. 

EYELINER & MASCARA. I’ve tried several eyeliners, and some made me look like a raccoon after wearing them for a long time. I’ve also tried brands that were budget-friendly, mid-price, and expensive. Sadly, I did not stick with any of those. But then I discovered the KissMe Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner. Pen-type eyeliners are quite tricky for me to use, but this product didn’t give me a hard time at all. What I like most about it is it does not smudge at all, even after wearing it for a long time. I also use the mascara from the same brand: HeroineMake Long and Curl Mascara Super Waterproof. It does not smudge, and it helps in emphasizing my lashes. It does not feel heavy when you wear them too. 

LIP BALM. I give my credits to Carmex for helping me moisturize my dry lips. I get chapped lips with most of the lipsticks I use for work. Most of the time, I see my lips peel while on the job, which ends up looking unsightly. I tried several lip balms too, but nothing worked. Not until I decided to try a medicated one: Carmex. I started using Carmex Medicated Lip Balm and saw the difference. I no longer had to worry about having dry and chapped lips since then.

LIPSTICK. I got asked a few times about what shade and brand of lipstick I use for work, and I am proud to say that it is a Philippine-made product. Well, hands up for Sunnies Face Fluffmate in Major! This shade is a bonus, too, as it creates an illusion of me having white teeth. I mean, why will I spend a lot on a product that gives me chapped lips when I can get this budget-friendly product straight from my home country, right? 

I always thought that finding skincare or makeup products that will suit you is like relearning mathematics. In this subject, there will always be a trial and error method. The same thing goes when finding the perfect product for you. I have tried several cosmetics, and a lot did not work for me even when they have good reviews. Finding the “right one” does not mean you only look for the expensive ones. The price tag of an item does not measure its quality. Sometimes, you only pay for the name or brand that is attached to it. I am not insinuating anything with this, but what I mean is that we are all different. Our skin reacts differently from one another. Product A may work for me, but not for you. 

At the end of the day, knowing yourself is key. And with that, you can eventually decide what may work best for you to try. Who knows, you might end up with your beauty holy grail like I did.