Some beauty products are designed so well that customers are lassoed into purchasing it based on just how pretty the package looks. Here are 8 brands that stand out from aisles upon aisles of makeup counters, but deliver beyond first impressions. Whether you want to leave it on your boudoir display or dab it on your face immediately is up to you.
The newest kid in town, Too Cool For School screams K-Pop meets Nickelodeon. This Korean brand has just arrived in the Philippine shores, but is already capturing the hearts of young fashionistas and beauty bloggers for its adorable pocket-sized designs. Campus cuties include: Max in Pocket, a cute kitten keychain lip balm, Egg Mousse Pack, a cleanser that looks like a kitchen aid, and TCFS’s BB creams that come in mini tetra packs.
Too Cool for School available at SM Mall of Asia and SM North EDSA; toocoolforschool.com.ph; facebook.com/toocoolgirlph
7. Majolica Majorca
There’s a rustic circus mood that greets you whenever you browse through Majolica Majorca’s makeup counters. This little sister of Japanese brand Shiseido has amassed a huge global fan base with its whimsically packaged makeup that helps you get that standout fashion editorial look. Cult favorites include Lash King mascara, Puff de Cheek blush, and Little Humming Book eye and lip palette.
Majolica Majorca click here to view a complete list of branches; majolica-majorca.com; majolica.com.tw/ph; facebook.com/majolicamajorca.phil
Because vintage is all the rage these days, The Balm’s ’50s designs fit just right in. Retro pinup girl packaging aside, the Stepford housewife in you will love that founder Marissa Shipman whipped up these beauty products in her own kitchen. They’re paraben- and cruelty-free, and come in classic, old Hollywood glam colors.
The Balm available at Beauty Bar; thebalm.com; facebook.com/theBalm
Beauty Bar click on http://on.fb.me/hSzTpx for a full list of branches and phone numbers; beautybar.com.ph; facebook.com/BeautyBarPH
5. Benefit Cosmetics
It’s not just the retro-inspired packaging that catches our attention, but also the overall performance of their makeup and skincare products that target our flaws—from pimples to uneven skin tone. This San Francisco-based brand has produced bestsellers that professional artists swear by, such as The POREfessional Pro Balm and Bathina Silky Glimmering Body Balm.
Benefit Cosmetics 1/F Greenbelt 5, Makati; (02) 729-9854
benefitcosmetics.com; facebook.com/benefitcosmetics; facebook.com/benefitcosmeticsphilippines;
Lush’s bath bombs and bath sets make the perfect present for even the strictest of vegans and organic fanatics. Their eco-friendly and hippie-like packaging has inspired hundreds of other up-and-coming organic hubs and copycat soap brands. With each store overpowered by natural and organic bath scents, you can tell you’re near a Lush store when you can smell it a block away.
Lush G/F Alabang Town Center (02) 842-9908; Bonifacio High Street; G/F Glorietta 4, (02) 817-6152; G/F Greenbelt 5 (02) 757-4572; 2/F Shangri-La Plaza Mall, (02) 633-1631; 2/F SM Mall of Asia (02) 556-0463; 3/F TriNoMa Mall (02) 915-3016; Quadrant 7, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City (02) 856-2022; SM The Block; lush.com.ph; facebook.com/lushcosmetics
3. Shu Uemura’s artistic collaborations
A celebrity favorite, this Japanese brand stays true to its art-meets-beauty philosophy by regularly enlisting the help of designers to come up with colorful makeup palettes contained in artsy Zen-inspired packages. Last year it was Karl Lagerfeld for the stylish Mon shu uemura collection. This summer, shu’s artistic director Kakasyu Uchiide helped launch the Eye-Conic 30th Anniversary Collection, which features ’60s-style makeup and mega falsies that even Twiggy would love to get her hands on.
shu uemura Upper Ground Level, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa; Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati, (02) 945-7322; All Rustan’s Department Stores nationwide; shuuemura.com; facebook.com/shuuemuraphilippines
There’s nothing like getting your first set of Guerlain beauty products to celebrate your graduation from experimental teenybopper makeup and into more sophisticated makeup palettes. From their shiny and intricately packaged Terracotta Bronzing Powders to Meteorite Powders, this Parisian brand’s line of luxury makeup is a worthy investment.
Guerlain available at Rustan’s Department Stores; guerlain.com; facebook.com/Guerlain
MAC Cosmetics has cornered the market when it comes to collaborating with comic and cartoon characters such as Hello Kitty, Wonder Woman, Disney Villains, and the most recent sold-out bestseller, Archie’s Girls. Who could resist buying their tried-and-tested lippies and pigments if they’re packaged in limited-edition The Evil Queen or Betty Cooper designs?
MAC available at Rustan’s Department stores in Ayala Center, Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong; Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati; Megamall, Mandaluyong; Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong; maccosmetics.com; rustans-thebeautysource.com; facebook.com/MACcosmetics
