Watsons is a paradise for the makeup and skincare junkie. They carry dirt cheap to high end products that address specific needs - and actually do a good job of it! I heard from a person who markets a brand exclusive to Watsons that its difficult to get the personal care store to carry your product. Their staff tests it rigorously, and it may take months before it gets approved, if at all!

This is not to say that every single thing in Watsons is gold. It's just that I've observed that this year, the store has brought out a lot of new, unique products for every budget - quite uncommon for competitors and even some department store beauty aisles.

I've reviewed a lot of Watsons products in the past so I thought to compile my best finds from the personal care store. It's this thread in GirlTalk that inspired me to write this post! Take note, most of the products featured here are exclusive to Watsons.

Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo with Conditioner

This is my Holy Grail shampoo/conditioner. I am already on my second bottle of this! I love how it makes my hair feel soft and moisturized while minimizing hair fall. 

Finally, my review of Eyliplex-2

Eyliplex-2 claims to lessen your eyebags and wrinkles. Does it work? YEAH! Check out my before and after photos in my review. You have to regularly use it though, like everyday. My bags are bothering me again so I'm using it again. Recently discovered trivia: the day gel is amazing as an eyeshadow primer! It really makes the eyeshadows pop and blend better! However it's too expensive to use as just a primer. ;)

The 12-piece Charm Travel Pro Brush Set was designed by Sophie to be compact, lightweight, and to accomplish simple looks to more complex ones. It's got all you need for a full face of makeup and includes well thought of and well-shaped tools for efficient application. I'd say that this brush set is for an advanced makeup user who needs a smaller brush kit to take outside.

Dark pink faux croc skin case - too luxe!

Charm logo printed on wooden handles

Let's do a quick rundown on the pros and cons of this brush set and then I'll give a short explanation of what each brush is for.

What I love about this

• Soft animal and synthetic hair was used
• Each brush has the right amount of density, firmness, and fluffiness, depending on the purpose
• Doesn't eat the powder/ liquid/ cream makeup
• Applies makeup evenly and precisely. I love the bent eyeliner brush, concealer brush, and angled eyeshadow brush most of all!
• Aced the packaging and appearance category! I love pink and black together, is it obvious?
• It's P1,800 a pop. That may sound a lot, but really the price is very nice for the quality and functionality you get. These will last for more than a couple of years.

I've always wanted to own the famous Shu Uemura lash curler, but whenever I go there with my monies, I blanch at the thought of spending P1,000+ on a mere eyelash curler that doesn't even come with a refill. I know, I say that one should always buy the best products first to learn what true quality means and then find cheaper alternatives once you do. But right now I don't feel the need for a kick-ass eyelash curler - I can do with an okay curler because my Clinique Lash Power Mascara curls and holds my lashes pretty well.

So, while trolling Watsons for a new curler to replace my cheapo Nichido one, I came across the Fanny Serrano Eyelash Curler.

It's pretty famous in its own right, because I remember it having the Cosmo magazine stamp of approval. In fact its mini-version currently does! Seeing as it was only P175, I bought the full-sized curler.

What I love about it 

• It takes only a couple of presses to curl my lashes. 
• It makes my stumpy, stick-straight lashes show up and separated nicely.

This, my friends, is perhaps the cutest thing that you'll see today.

The Charm Luxe Baby Buki brush is a small kabuki made of super soft synthetic hair. You might be wondering, what am I going to use a tiny kabuki brush for? Won't that take me extra time and work to cover my face? Well that's the thing. Baby bukis are not meant to use for full-face makeup. It's for hard to reach areas by your bulky normal-sized kabuki brush like the sides of the nose and under the eyes.

Contouring is a neat trick to have up your sleeves. You can easily loose a couple of pounds off your face, lift it up, and just generally make you look different. Prettier too, if done right!

Now the thing about contouring is that it's quite easy. You just need to remember three things: find the right angle, use the right brush and contouring color, and then blend like mad.

Just a small note: this is a tutorial for basic, everyday contouring on the cheeks. It's not the whole deal for the face, because that's a little more complex and time-consuming.

Step 1: Finding the right angle to darken

The easiest way to do this is to just suck your cheeks in and then apply the color where the hollows are. A slightly harder (but better and more natural) way to do it is this: go under direct light, then observe where the shadows fall on your face. To illustrate -

If you've been to Watsons lately, you've probably seen these uber cheap brushes branded as "Marionnaud". Yes, the logo is even similar to Marionnaud as in the luxury beauty store at the Mall of Asia. I remember Marionnaud (the store) used to sell really expensive brushes at P1,000 to P2,000 per piece but I don't think they're the same as the Watsons Marionnaud brushes. I don't know what's the deal with that, but I was lured in by the cheap prices and good reviews I've read online.

I got the angled blush brush for only P167. So how is it?

What I like about it

• Soft and dense
• Didn't shed when I washed it
• No smell
• Fits my face well and the angle is really good for quick contouring.
• Doesn't feel or look cheap. The brush handle feels sturdy.

I was so surprised when the super chic Sophie handed me this brush as I was about to leave Makati Shangri-La that night. It was very touching, to say the least. For years now, I've followed both her blog, Beautynomics, and her business, Beauty & Minerals. She's one of the bloggers and online entrepreneurs that I really admire!

Enough gushing. Now, meet the newest addition to the Charm Luxe Collection - the Flat Top Brush!

The first thing you'll notice about this brush is its softness. I've never touched a brush as soft, smooth, and dense as this one! I'll stake my name on that. The synthetic bristles are closely packed to ensure that your makeup is spread evenly, with a natural, non-cakey effect. 

Why I love this

• Extremely soft. It feels like a dream on my face! The hair is silky and never scratchy.
• Dense. The closely-packed synthetic hairs pick up powder and liquid/cream makeup well and buffs them evenly. I don't get streaks or patchy application.
• No shedding when I washed it.
• Just the right size for my hand and face.
• Pink n' cute!