The "Face Uniform": What's in our dream six-piece capsule makeup kit
Makeup is fun, but you honestly, truly don't need much of it to look fantastic. While we lurrrve makeup here at PV and have been guilty of hoarding and indulging in one too many beauty purchases, our true kikay kit staples are usually products that we reach for over and over again, regardless of what’s trending or the look we’re going for. Because they’re reliable and versatile, it’s easy to pull out these products and quickly create an effortless FOTD to get us through the daily grind. Think of it as a uniform for your face!
If you’ve been jealousy guarding a makeup kit that has more stuff than you actually use, it may be high time for you to do an edit and get rid of the extra baggage. Here are some of our suggested products to help you build your timeless, capsule collection! They're quite pricey but are Holy Grail finds for us. These are the kinds of products we'll use for YEARS until the last swipe so the cost per wear is fairly reasonable.
Face Base: Even out your skin tone and give your complexion some added polish. When deciding on an all-in-one base makeup, powder foundations are your best bet, as you can also use this to take away any oiliness that builds up. Our fave is the Lancome Blanc Expert Powder Foundation (P2,150 for the refill, P750 for the compact, available at Rustan’s Beauty). It gives great coverage without needing to be set, plus it has SPF35 PA+++ for additional sun protection. It’s pricey but definitely HG material – the creamy, silky formula looks just like skin, and stays put for hours and hours!
Brows: Can’t go anywhere without putting on our kilay! While pencils would take up less space, nothing beats the versatility of the Benefit Ka-Brow Eyebrow Cream-Gel Color (P1,400, available at Benefit boutiques). You can easily fill up any sparseness, create a more lush appearance, and fix your brow hairs in place with just one product. It also comes with a brush built into the packaging so we never have to worry about misplacing it. The product sets quickly so you’ll have to work fast but once it dries, it won’t come off until you want it to.
Eye Definition: Whether you can draw a perfect wing or simply trace the outline of your eye, a good eyeliner should have a place in your kit. The K-Palette Real Lasting Eyepencil in Brown Black (P795, available at Beauty Bar) works for both day and night looks, and you can even expect it to stay on for that long. It’s creamy, extremely pigmented, and automatic so you don’t need to bother with sharpening. The other end even has pointed sponge tip so you can easily clean up your line.
Eye Color: Forget about 40-pan palettes and even eyeshadow quads; the Happy Skin Glam Squad Jigs Mayuga Eyeshadow Duo (P899, available at Happy Skin Cosmetics) is the duo you need to create contrast around your eyes. The matte brown and black eyeshadows are similar to MAC cult eyeshadows Espresso and Carbon, and boast of a smooth and highly-pigmented formula. Apart from the obvious, you can use the brown shade to contour, the black shade to set eyeliners, and both to create depth and thickness on brows.
Cheeks: Why pack a separate blush and highlighter when there are products that can do both? Despite its name, the Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Pink Peony (P2,000, available at Rustan’s Beauty) adds a hint of color and illuminatation. It mimics a natural flush but also brightens the complexion with a very fine shimmer.
Lips: It’s tough to pick just a single lippie to add here but in the end, a “my-lips-but-better” shade is the most practical choice as you can pair it with any look or outfit. A color like the Pink Sugar x Project Vanity These Lips Don’t Lie Matte Lip Crayon in Woke Up Like This (P399, available at our store) is easy to apply even when you’re in a rush, and easily doubles as a blush. We love its matte yet non-drying formula, so you can comfortably wear this even without applying lip balm.
Could you survive on a capsule makeup collection? What products and shades would you include in yours?
