My sister, Bianca, is a makeup junkie. We both love makeup, but she’s more into learning the craft. Pang-arte lang sa’kin ang makeup. Haha! She influenced me in watching vlogs (video blogs) of different YouTube bloggers, such as Say Artillero, Bethany Mota, and Meghan Rosette. I used to laugh at them ‘coz it sounds silly to share the random things you buy at the mall. It’s like saying, “These are the things I bought at SM Department Store: Ever Bilena lipstick, Nichido eyeliner, etc.” I have nothing against these local brands; it just seemed funny for me.
However, sharing their “makeup haul” also opened doors for me: I now know which drugstore brands are the best, which products I can save money with, the different dupes of higher-end products, etc. Nakakaaliw lang panoorin sila. Plus, I gained more background on putting on makeup.
So, when a friend from the US was coming home to the Philippines, my sister and I became wide-eyed and started online shopping! I enjoyed scouring through different drugstore sites, such as WalMart, Ulta, and Target. To be honest, the variety of makeup brands was really overwhelming! But a big thanks to these Beauty Vloggers, I now have an idea which items to purchase.
Online shopping, especially for makeup, is really tricky. If items are available here in the Philippines, I suggest you visit the makeup counter to swatch on the products. You’d know if the product would suit you or not. If the makeup brand is not available, then seek help from the different Beauty bloggers and vloggers online.
Here’s my makeup haul from Target and Nordstrom, which I got last December!
First row: Real Techniques Stippling Brush, Real Techniques Core Collection Set [one brush is missing, can’t find it haha], Revlon PhotoReady Powder
Second row: Maybelline Great Lash LOL Mascara, Maybelline Great Lash Big, Maybelline Volum’ Express One by One Mascara, Revlon Lash Potion Volume + Length Mascara, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, MAC Retro Matte Lipsticks
I won’t be doing a makeup review because I may not know what I am talking about. Haha. I either love or hate the product, that’s it ;)
My sister and I own a handful of affordable brushes from Shawill, Forever21, ELF, and Nichido. Since we’re just starting out with makeup, we wanted good brushes at good prices. But then came these Real Techniques brushes posted all over the Internet. We wanted to get a set, but we don’t want to spend Php950 to Php1050 for a set of brushes! Good thing, there’s Target! Haha. The brushes were on SALE.We got the Stippling Brush (pink handle) at only US$7.49 (around Php320; original price is US$9.99). This retails at around Php550 to Php650 online. The Core Collection Set (gold handles) was also on sale at US$13.49 per set (around Php600; original price is US$17.99). This retails at around Php950 to Php1050 online.
I love these brushes. They’re soft on the face, which is the first thing I look for in a brush. I use the Stippling Brush (first brush) for my BB cream and liquid foundation, the Buffing Brush (fourth brush) for powder, the Pointed Foundation Brush (third brush) for my concealer, and the Contour Brush (second brush) for contouring. I haven’t much figured out how to use the Detailer Brush (not in picture) though.
One of my makeup obsessions is mascaras. As of posting time, I have 11 mascaras, including these 3 unopened ones. I’m super in love with Maybelline mascaras. They’re my absolute go-to mascaras because they lengthen and add volume to my lashes. I actually have 6 Maybelline mascaras now. Haha! Talk about hoarding ;)
I bought mascaras that aren’t available here in the Philippines, namely (L to R) Maybelline Great Lash Big in Blackest Black (US$3.99; around Php180), Maybelline Great Lash LOL in Very Black (US$3.99; around Php180), and Maybelline Volum’ Express One by One in Very Black (US$5.99; around Php270). Super excited to use all these mascaras!!! (Note: Read a mascara wars blog post here against Benefit They’re Real, and guess who won? Now I’m more excited to open this tube!)
I also bought the Revlon Lash Potion Volume + Length Mascara. I bought it at Target since it’s expensive here in the Philippines! Haha. The tube retails at around Php700, I think. I got this at only US$4.99 (around Php230)! Pretty cheap, huh? This is my current favorite, alongside Maybelline’s Volum’ Express Rocket, which I got at only Php319 at Watson’s during a sale.
Another makeup obsession is lipsticks! I just can’t get enough of them! As of writing, I own 25 lipsticks (plus another 5 more are in the mail. Can’t wait to share this with you!!!). Yes, I am a hoarder!
I bought these at Nordstrom.com, and not Target (Target doesn’t carry MAC). Left is MAC Retro Matte in Steady Going (Limited edition; US$15 or Php670), middle is NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp (US$5.99 or Php270), and right is MAC Retro Matte in All Fired Up.
My least favorite of the bunch is MAC in Steady Going. I was debating whether to get Flat Out Fabulous or Steady Going, and I went for the latter because it’s limited edition only. It’s quite easy to apply, but it tends to settle on the cracks of my lips. So ang pangit niya tignan sa lips. The MAC MUA says I should use a lip primer, which is on my next shopping list (currently looking for cheap lip primers since MAC's so expensiiive).
My favorites are both NYX Lip Cream in Antwerp and MAC All Fired Up. They’re just soooo pretty on the lips! Antwerp is coral on the lips. I just had a sudden love of coral lipsticks through Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Coral Crush, which came in my BDJ Box last year. Lakas maka-girl next door peg ng coral! Haha. I also love MAC All Fired Up, which is pink red under good lighting conditions. Such a pretty way to make a statement.
Next on the list is Revlon PhotoReady Powder in Light/Medium. It costs US$10.99 (around Php500). I love this powder because it’s light on the face. It also has a matte finish to keep the oil at bay. It has sparkly shizznick on the powder, too. I really have no idea what it does, but it’s so pretty to look at! Haha. It also comes with a flat brush (not in the picture, but it’s somewhere on my dresser, I swear). I don’t like to use that, but I use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush instead.
So yeah, that’s my makeup haul from Target & Nordstrom. Total cost is US$86.92 + sales tax, which is around Php4000. But, if I bought everything here in the Philippines, this would cost me around Php6700. Saved roughly Php2700!! Great deal, I must say! How about you? Do you have a makeup haul? Love to hear from you!
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