YSBB: Your Skin, But Better. I’m into this makeup motto. Interacting with nothing but your phone and laptop screen has distorted our understanding of what skin should look like. Texture is natural, marks are a part of life, and we can’t meet every standard of beauty. We can instead, understand, that the beauty we carry is unique and can’t be manufactured.
If we were to follow every other requirement of the perfect face, we probably end up looking like the Pillow Face by @jhonyaugust filter on Instagram. See below.
View this post on Instagram
Yikes! We’ve been searching for something beyond what we could manipulate. We are desperately searching for something real. Cue that throwback song from Plumb. And also look in the mirror! The one in the bathroom doesn’t have a “Beautify” button like the TikTok interface.
In this trend, here’s a list of beauty products made not to bury our natural look in pigment but are here to help us show off our skin—the body part does so much for us 24/7.
Nivea SUN Face BB Cream SPF 50
When it comes to sunblock, just about everyone trusts Nivea. They continue to deliver reliable products, adjusting to the needs of the time. This BB Cream is just proof of that. This is a tinted face sunscreen that provides SPF 50, has a sheer tint that adapts to every skin tone, and is eye-friendly. As someone who fights tears all day when I get too heavy-handed with the SPF, this product is a godsend. Available via BeautyMNL
Issy & Company Active Skin Tint
This is my favorite launch from the local brand. It provides light to medium coverage with a formula that’s easy to apply with your fingers. It blurs over lines and imperfections. I also love how it’s not sticky and does feel like a second skin. An added benefit: The formula has niacinamide that helps with redness and hyperpigmentation. Available via Shopee
Nudestix Nude Bloom 5-Piece Makeup Kit
Nudestix’s philosophy is creating makeup that requires almost no brushes and minimal technique. This kit is a perfect example. The Cherry Blossom Blush and Illumi-Naughty Highlighter come with their own blending brush. The Magnetic Luminous Eye Color in Praia is a versatile, flattering copper brown that can be easily applied with your fingers. The Lip Glace in Nude 04 is perfect on its own or as a topper to your favorite lipstick. Available via Sephora PH
Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush
The Maybelline Cheek Heat delivers a natural flush of color with just a small dot. But you don’t have to worry about using too much even when you give the tube an extra squeeze, as it blends easily into the skin. The four available colors Nude Burn, Berry Flame, Fuschia Spark, Rose Flush, can be used on their own or even mixed to make your own custom shade. Available via Lazada
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze
The brand that built much of its reputation on creating the best brow products is up to it once again with this innovative product. Brush this clear gel-like product through your brows for that neat and natural effect. The formula guarantees an all-day hold without leaving your brows feeling crunchy. It took me a few tries to get the trick just right: Light run your spooli over the top, no need to dig, so you can get the right amount of product to go over your brows. Available via Sephora PH
NARS Air Matte Blush
When NARS comes out with something new, I’ll always want to hoard it. This is no exception. The mousse to velvety powder formula is pigmented and easy-to-blend. I like working this over bare skin and even dotting a bit on the eyes for that beachy look. I also put some on my lips too. This range leaves little for want in a blush collection with eight colors, including the iconic Orgasm and Freedom, a mauve color that I favor as a morena. Available online
Colourette Cosmetics ColourBalm
Who wouldn’t want a lip balm that takes it back to your childhood with a watermelon scent? But this ain’t like your grade school balm as it delivers hydration without the stickiness. It also gives that subtle sheen that leaves behind a wash of color as the day goes by. Instant hits for me are the colors Morena (caramel tan) and Tropic (gumamela red). You will also love Cosmo (watermelon pink) and Bikini (sunset coral), as all the shades were made to flatter all skin tones. Available via Shopee
