Every year without fail, the Cosmopolitan Editors test the best beauty products in the market, covering all major categories from skincare and makeup to hair care and body care. We're proud to announce that our 2020 edition might be our ~*biggest*~ one yet! We tested over 400 products to curate a list of the best beauty finds that are worth adding to your cart and spending your hard-earned money on. Presenting, this year's Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards:
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MAKEUP
Face
Best Affordable Liquid Foundation: Ever Bilena All Day Liquid Foundation
We haven't stopped raving about this affordable foundation since it was released—it's just that good! We love that you only need a few pumps to cover your entire face, so it's a sulit purchase for sure.
Price: P220/35g
Where to get: Lazada, Watsons
Best Lightweight Base: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
If you're not the type to go for ~*heavy*~ coverage foundations, tinted moisturizers are your new best friend. This one from Laura Mercier is a cult-favorite for being lightweight yet pigmented enough to even out your skin tone.
Price: P2,595/50ml
Where to get: Rustan's counters (Makati, Shangri-La, Alabang Town Center, Cebu, Gateway), SM Megamall Fashion Hall Pop-up, Rustans.com
Best Skin-Adapting Base: Avon Anew Fairness CC Cream
For an all-in-one base product, we recommend using a CC cream. This one from Avon color-corrects uneven skin tone, reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines, and enhances the overall look of your complexion.
Price: P699/30g
Where to get: Avon dealers nationwide
Best Face Powder: Maybelline Fit Me Compact Powder
Oily skin meets its match with this compact powder from Maybelline. It can control shine for up to 12 hours, plus it has SPF 28 to provide you added protection from the harsh rays of the sun.
Price: P149
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Concealer: L'Oreal Infallible Full Wear Concealer
For days when you can't be bothered to put on foundation, go for a creamy, full-coverage concealer. This one from L'Oreal can cover acne scars, pimple marks, and dark spots with ease. Its large doe foot applicator ensures that you get the right amount of product.
Price: P450/10ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Setting Spray: EB Advance Lock That Look Makeup Setting Spray
Reduce the powdery look of your makeup with this hydrating setting spray. Spritz it all over your face throughout the day for that ~*fresh and dewy*~ finish.
Price: P195/100ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Foundation Primer for Glowing Skin: Benefit POREfessional Hydrate Primer
This hydrating primer will transform your face into a smooth canvas so your base will go on much smoother. It's infused with hyaluronic acid to maintain hydration and shea butter to keep your skin soft and moisturized. Your complexion will look dewy but never shiny!
Price: P2,120/22ml
Where to get: BeautyMNL, SM Megamall, TriNoma, SM Mall of Asia
Eye Makeup
Best Eyeliner: Careline Graph-ink Eyeliner
This water-based felt-tip eyeliner will allow you to line your lids as thin or as thick as you want. It dries down to a matte finish that won't budge until you remove it.
Price: P190/0.55ml
Where to get: BeautyMNL, Watsons, Lazada
Best Colored Eyeliner: Revlon Colorstay Creme Gel in Cashmere Plum
If you don't have a steady hand for liquid liners, go for a creamy gel formula instead. This one from Revlon is infused with jojoba oil, Vitamin E, and cottonseed oil that helps it glide easily for a fuss-free application. This particular shade enhances the color of brown eyes!
Price: P575/0.04 oz
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Eyeshadow: Careline Shadow Palette in Dream Catcher
For a beginner eyeshadow palette, you can't go wrong with the Careline Shadow Palette in Dream Catcher. It contains 12 shades that are a good mix of neutrals and shimmers. You can create a variety of looks that work for day and night!
Price: P180/6g
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Eyebrow Pencil: EB Advance Fine Line Brow Liner
If you're going for a natural look, pick an eyebrow pencil with a skinny tip. This will allow you to fill out the sparse areas without making them look chunky and unnatural. The result: feathery brows.
Price: P150/0.05g
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Eyebrow Mascara: Vice Cosmetics Gandoll Volumizing Brow Gel
This tinted brow gel contains fibers that will easily give your arches more definition and shape. It's long-wearing and won't leave your kilay looking stiff and flaky.
Price: P195/5ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Mascara: Avon Euphoric Volume & Length Mascara
This mascara has a soft, hourglass-shaped wand brush that allows you to coat each and every hair for fluttery lashes sans the flakes and clumps.
Price: P349/10g
Where to get: Avon dealers nationwide
Best Drugstore Mascara: Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara
For the look of false lashes sans the maintenance, use The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara. It contains fibers that coat your hairs from root to tip without any clumping or smearing.
Price: P399/3.2g
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Cheek Makeup
Best Stick Blush: Happy Skin Cooling Color Adapt Stick
This blush stick adapts to your skin tone to give you the most perfect, natural-looking flush. Its water-gel formula glides smoothly on your cheeks to grant you a dewy finish.
Price: P599/6.5g
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, BeautyMNL
Best Multipurpose Product: MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipstick
This liquid lipstick isn't like its peers—it has a soft, velvety formula that allows you to use it on your pout, cheeks, and lids for a beautiful monochromatic look.
Price: P1,500/5ml
Where to get: Lazada
Best Highlighter: Vice Cosmetics Aura Glow
Score ~glowing~ skin sans the oily sheen with this powder highlighter from Vice Cosmetics. It's also buildable, so you can go from subtle to blinding in just a few sweeps.
Price: P145/3.5g
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Powder Blush: Careline Oil Control Blush-On
With its crazy pigmentation and staying power, it's no wonder we're long-time fans of this affordable powder blush. You can apply it sparingly for a natural glow, or sweep it across your nose, too, for a beautiful tipsy flush.
Price: P110/3.5g
Where to get: Watsons, BeautyMNL, Lazada
READ MORE:
The Best Blush Shades That Look Good On *All* Skin Tones
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Lips
Best Liquid Lipstick: NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment
Pigmented, matte, and lightweight—this the liquid lipstick of your dreams. Its tip ensures precise application and its smudge-proof formula won't leave you worried about constant reapplication.
Price: P1,500/0.18 oz
Where to get: Rustan's The Beauty Source
Best Matte Lipstick: Avon Power Stay 16 Hour Lip Color
One coat of the Avon Power Stay 16 Hour Lip Color will grant you an even and opaque layer that won't go anywhere once it dries down. Even with its matte finish, it won't feel uncomfortable on your pout.
Price: P299/7ml
Where to get: Avon
Best Lip Gloss: EB Advance Vinyl Lip Gloss
For a glistening, juicy-looking pout, the EB Advance Vinyl Lip Gloss will be your new best friend. It might look orange due to the packaging, but it goes on transparent when applied on the lips. You can use it on its own or as a topper to upgrade your fave lippie!
Price: P135/8ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Lip Tint: Vice Cosmetics BT21 Dewy Tint
Glossy tints are having a ~moment~ right now, and Vice Cosmetics joined in on the craze with their BT21 Dewy Tint. It has a sheer pigment that you can build up to your liking and it won't feel sticky at all!
Price: P195/3.8ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
SKINCARE
Best Micellar Water: Dermaction Plus By Watsons Anti-Acne Cleansing Water
Aside from removing makeup and impurities, this micellar water helps control oil and reduce bacteria growth in the skin that may cause breakouts. It also has witch hazel extract to treat existing pimples.
Price: P299/250ml
Where to get: Watsons
Best Cleansing Balm: Pond's Cleansing Balm
Turn to this drugstore cleansing balm to melt long-wearing makeup, waterproof mascara, and liquid lipstick with ease. It has 100 percent organic French rose water that soothes and moisturizes the face.
Price: P649/100ml
Where to get: BeautyMNL
Best Facial Cleanser: Senka Perfect Whip
This cleanser is sikat because of many things: The whipped foam gets rid of deep-seated dirt in the pores, it leaves the face soft and nourished after every wash, and it's suitable for all skin types.
Price: P129/50g; P249/120g
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Facial Cleanser for Acne-Prone Skin: Neutrogena Deep Clean Acne Foam Cleanser
This cult-favorite facial cleanser is clinically proven to remove dirt and impurities such as excess sebum and dead skin cells to reveal a clear, glowing complexion.
Price: P252/100g
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Toner: Silka Papaya Facial Cleanser
If you're looking for a toner that has brightening ingredients and BHA, this one from Silka is one of the best and most affordable options. With regular use, you'll notice pimples and acne marks disappear!
Price: P49/150ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Toner For Dry Skin: Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion
Not gonna lie, we were ecstatic when we first found out that this Japanese toner was finally available in our country a year ago. It is famous for making "glass skin" dreams come true because it provides lightweight hydration that helps reduce the appearance of large pores and texture.
Price: P195/30ml, P685/170ml
Where to get: Watsons
Best Serum: Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum
This K-beauty serum is a bestseller because it does a great job of hydrating the skin without leaving it feeling sticky or looking shiny. Green tea extract and amino acids create a dewy, youthful-looking complexion.
Price: P1,590/80ml
Where to get: SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, Festival Mall, Lazada
Best Anti-Aging Serum: Olay Retinol 24 Night Serum
We're big fans of retinol and its skin-perfecting benefits so we were delighted when a drugstore serum became available. The Olay Retinol 24 Night Serum helps accelerate the skin turnover cycle and reduces the appearance of fine lines, revealing a smooth, glowing complexion.
Price: P1,999/30ml
Where to get: Watsons
Best Moisturizer: Fresh 98% Tomato Glass Skin Soothing Gel Lotion
Score luminous, glowing skin without spending a lot by getting yourself a tub of the Fresh 98% Tomato Glass Skin Soothing Gel Lotion. It contains tomato extract that helps brighten the complexion and other hydrating ingredients to keep the skin soft. What it doesn't have: Dyes, parabens, and other harmful ingredients! (Tip: You can use this on the face and the body.)
Price: P249/300ml
Where to get: Watsons
Best Brightening Moisturizer: Myra Smooth Glow Whitening Facial Moisturizer
You'll be impressed with the many benefits this tiny tube has: It contains a powerful combination of vitamins E, C, B3, B5, B6 to keep your skin looking healthy and it has LuminaComplex™ that helps even out skin tone. Add this to your daily skincare routine to say hello to a bright, glowing complexion.
Price: P109/40ml
Where to get: Watsons
Best Priming Moisturizer: Clinique Moisturizing Tone Up Gel + Fatigue Cartridge
We get it—stress is part of our lives and having a sleep-deprived complexion is sometimes inevitable. Thankfully, this hardworking product from Clinique instantly brings out your skin's radiance. Apply a sheer layer of this pink-tinted gel on clean skin to create a rosy glow. You can use this alone or as a priming moisturizer under makeup.
Price: P2,650/125ml
Where to get: Lazada
Best Moisturizer with SPF: Olay Regenerist Whip UV
Most day creams only offer up to SPF15, but this one from Olay has a whopping SPF30! Aside from protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, its lightweight, whipped texture keeps your complexion soft and moisturized. This also doubles as a great makeup base if you ever plan on putting on foundation.
Price: P1,999/50g
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
Best Eye Cream: Kiehl's Powerful Strength Line Reducing & Dark Circle Diminishing Vitamin C
If you're a fan of the Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, you'll love its eye cream version! Technically, it's an eye serum, but given its hydrating and line-reducing abilities, you can use this on its own. It has 10.5 percent vitamin C content that brightens dark circles and improves the appearance of fine lines.
Price: P3,150/15ml
Where to get: Kiehl's, Lazada
Best Face Sunscreen: Vaseline Daily Sun Cream
Before anything else, we just want to remind everyone that we still need to wear sunscreen, even if we're mostly indoors. UV rays can get through the windows so you will need protection! We recommend this face sunscreen from Vaseline because it also soothes skin from exposure to heat.
Price: P329/50ml
Where to get: Watsons
SPECIAL CATEGORY
Self-Care Beauty
Best Sheet Mask for All Skincare Concerns: Farmskin Superfood Salad For Skin Set (7pcs)
Our skincare needs change frequently, so we tend to encounter different concerns within a week or a month. This is why we were thrilled when we found this sheet mask set from Farmskin. Every mask is powered by plant-based extracts to address common skin issues like clogged pores, redness, dullness, and many more.
Price: P599/7 masks
Where to get: BeautyMNL
Best Face Mask for Oily Skin: Mary Kay Clearproof Deep-Cleansing Charcoal Mask
ICYDK, charcoal is great for sucking out the gunk stuck inside the pores, so this mask from Mary Kay is what you need when your face needs deep-cleaning. It promises to absorb excess sebum and impurities, and you'll love the refreshed look of your skin after use!
Price: P899/4 oz
Where to get: Mary Kay dealers nationwide
Best Sheet Mask for Special Care: Papa Recipe Honey Bombee Mask
Whatever skincare issue you have, this mask from Papa Recipe is here to save the day! It has propolis and honey extracts that soothe troubled skin, including breakouts, redness, and dullness.
Price: P149
Where to get: BeautyMNL
Best Relaxing Body Wash: Dove Relaxing Ritual Body Wash
After a stressful week, reward yourself with a hot shower. While you're at it, grab this lavender essential oil-infused body wash to relax your tensed muscles and calm down your senses.
Price: P231/400ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Hair Mask: Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Treatment Creme
No salon treatment, no problem! Soak your strands in this rich hair mask to nourish and bring back life to dry brittle strands.
Price: P190/200ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Maskne Essentials
Best Gel Moisturizer: Face Republic Cica Gel Moisturizer
Before you wear a protective face mask, it's important to moisturize your skin with a product packed with soothing ingredients. This one from Face Republic is lightweight and is enriched with Centella Asiatica (cica) that can help prevent maskne.
Price: P379/50ml
Where to get: BeautyMNL
Best Face Oil: Linovera Oil with Centella Asiatica
With frequent mask-wearing, you'll need cica skincare products to prevent maskne and skin irritation. The Linovera facial oil can help soothe existing breakouts and provide moisture that prevents friction between your skin and mask. It also serves as an anti-aging treatment that helps keep your complexion youthful-looking.
Price: P999/50ml
Where to get: BeautyMNL, Watsons
Best Face Mist: Ever Organics Ice Jeju Aloe Face Mist
Refresh your skin after a long day of wearing a mask and face shield with this cooling mist. It has aloe leaf extract which helps soothe sun-damaged skin, and Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum, a cooling ingredient that also helps prevent skin aging.
Price: P198/150ml
Where to get: Lazada
Best Spot Treatment: Celeteque Acne Spot Corrector Gel
This tiny tube has received a lot of praise from Pinays. A small dot of this over a zit can help flatten and reduce redness overnight.
Price: P169/5ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada
READ MORE
These Gentle Products Can Treat And Prevent 'Maskne'
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BODY CARE
Best Lotion: SNAILWHITE Body Booster SPF30 PA+++
Everything you need is in this lotion's formula: It has antioxidants and snail secretion filtrate to brighten, moisturize, and improve the skin's elasticity. We love that it also protects it from UV rays. It's the body care product you'll want to use day and night!
Price: P139/50ml, P449/300ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Lotion for Dry Skin: Nivea Healthy Glow Dewy Sakura Jojoba Oil in Lotion
If your skin is in dire need of moisture, slap on a light layer of this ultra-hydrating lotion enriched with jojoba oil. BTW, its formula doesn't leave a greasy feel at all!
Price: P199/200ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Lotion for Sensitive Skin: Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion
This has a fast-absorbing formula that works right away to soothe and moisturize the skin. This fragrance- and steroid-free lotion is clinically proven to get rid of itchy and parched skin after just one day of usage.
Price: P160/71ml, P695/354ml
Where to get: Watsons, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen
Hands down, this our favorite non-sticky sunscreen of all time! It feels lightweight, plus you can use this both on the face and body.
Price: P579/88ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Brightening Body Lotion: Silka Premium Whitening Lotion Green Papaya with Olive Oil
We turn to this lotion when we want to even out discoloration and soothe rough patches on our elbows, knees, and legs. It has a lovely scent that makes it so addicting to use!
Price: P174/200ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Body Soap: Kojie San Skin Lightening Soap Classic
If bacne and uneven skin tone bother you, you can solve both concerns when you cleanse with this bar soap. It has kojic acid to help treat body breakouts and even out discoloration.
Price: P120/3 bars, P59/2 bars
Where to get: Watsons, leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Body Wash: Safeguard Gentle Micellar Face & Body Cleanser
Just like all Safeguard products, this body wash is guaranteed to remove impurities and 99.9 percent of germs. Although it's tough on bacteria, its formula is super gentle on the skin.
Price: P219/400ml, P339/720ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Roll-On Deodorant: Nivea Anti-Perspirant Deodorant with Whitening Hokkaido Rose Essence
This deodorant is packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and licorice extract that help smoothen and brighten discoloration on the underarms. It's gentle on the armpit's delicate skin, and you're guaranteed to smell and feel fresh for up to 48 hours.
Price: P114/50ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Deodorant: Dove Intensive Renew Deodorant Dry Serum
The serum formula of this deodorant deeply penetrates underarm skin so it works right where the root of the problem is. With daily use, you'll notice smoother and brighter armpits.
Price: P145/50ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Perfume: Dolce and Gabbana Dolce Shine Eau de Parfum
A floral fruity fragrance that will take you to memories of traveling to picturesque places during a warm summer. Its EDP formula lasts all day on the skin—it's worth the beauty investment!
Price: P4,000/30ml, P5,350/50ml, P6,950/75ml
Where to get: Rustan's, SM Beauty
Best Feminine Wash for Red Days: Gynepro Ultra Protection Feminine Wash
Our gynecologists recommend this feminine wash to cleanse our vulva when we get our periods. It contains ingredients that help get rid of bacteria that can cause vaginal odor, itch, and irritation.
Price: P79/60ml, P176/150ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Feminine Wash: pH Care Guava Feminine Wash
If you're looking for a feminine wash that's safe for everyday use, grab this bottle from pH care. It's made with guava leaf extract that provides natural anti-bacterial protection for the intimate area.
Price: P57/50ml, P131/150ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
HAIR
Best Moisturizing Shampoo: Sunsilk Naturals Coconut Hydration
Give your dry and frizzy strands the ~moisture~ they need with the Sunsilk Naturals Coconut Hydration shampoo. It's infused with coconut water, vitamins, and minerals that gently get rid of dirt and grime on your scalp without drying it out.
Price: P119/170ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Repairing Shampoo: Dove 1 Minute Serum Shampoo
Damaged strands meet their match with this serum shampoo from Dove. It's loaded with keratin that will deeply nourish your hair and repair it from within. You'll note bouncier, shinier tresses with regular use.
Price: P169/150ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Conditioner: Cream Silk Hydra Fresh Light Conditioner in Fresh & Hydrated
Dry strands will be a thing of the past with the Cream Silk Hydra Fresh Light Conditioner in the Fresh & Hydrated variant. It's infused with water and Hydrocollagen technology that allows hair to instantly absorb it. It's non-greasy and easy to rinse, too!
Price: P149/15ml, P259/300ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Serum Conditioner: Dove 1 Minute Serum Conditioner
We've raved about this conditioner a lot—so much that we even wrote a ~dedicated~ review about it! It is infused with coconut, almond, argan, and sunflower oils, plus vitamin E. These ingredients will treat and restore your hair back to its healthy state.
Price: P269/340ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Hair Oil/Serum: L'Oreal Huile Original Mythic Oil
This lightweight oil will nourish your hair and add shine *without* weighing your strands down. It has a highly concentrated formula containing natural argan oil that will soften your mane and protect it from external stressors.
Price: P1,099/100ml
Where to get: Salons, HairMNL, BeautyMNL, Lazada
Best Hair Tonic: Naturals by Watsons Aloe Vera Hair and Scalp Tonic
If you suffer from hair fall, one of the easy things you can do to remedy it is by adding a scalp tonic to your product rotation. Massage Naturals by Watsons Aloe Vera Hair and Scalp Tonic all over your strands and scalp after you shower to stimulate blood circulation and encourage growth. This also addresses dandruff and greasy scalp!
Price: P229/120ml
Where to get: Watsons, SM Beauty
Best Anti-Frizz Spray: Pantene Miracles Leave-On Treatment Vita-Fusion Day Mist
This leave-on treatment mist targets dry and frizzy strands and makes them softer and bouncier. It also protects the hair from damage caused by heat styling and excessive UV exposure.
Price: P899/200ml
Where to get: Watsons, Lazada, and leading supermarkets nationwide
Best Hair Tool: Watsons Professional Ionic Hair Straightener
This easy-to-use hair tool has extra-large ceramic plates that will make straightening your strands a ~breeze~. It can reach 230 degrees Celsius in just 130 seconds—perfect if you only have 10 minutes to get ready!
Price: P1,899
Where to get: Watsons
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PRODUCED BY: Cheska Santiago, Ira Nopuente
ART DIRECTION AND PHOTOGRAPHY: Mixi Ignacio
TEAM ART DIRECTOR: Jico Joson
GRAPHICS: Pixabay, Pexels, PNGTREE/Thousand Maps, PNGTREE/Dance To Find Out The Shadow