For many Filipinos, especially those belonging to gen Z and millennials—or zillennials, they call it—it was the YouTube beauty guru boom that ignited our interest in beauty. The rise of beauty influencers, primarily from the West, introduced us to a world of international and luxury beauty brands. These influencers would often rave about products that were not readily available in the Philippines. (Who else remembers having to pasabuy Urban Decay Naked palettes from their relatives traveling abroad or as pasalubong from balikbayan family members?)
But times have changed, not only are some of these brands finally here, many local beauty brands have also stepped up their games, bridging not only the gap of distance but also the gap of cost. But does this accessibility come at the expense of quality?
While the F-beauty industry has definitely grown and still continues to do so, the question remains: Are international luxury beauty brands better than local beauty brands?
We asked local professional makeup artists to share their perspectives on this, and they even shared with us some of their favorite international luxury and local beauty products. Read on below and hear it straight from beauty pros.
Are International Luxury Beauty Brands Better Than Local Beauty Brands?
Raffy Mendiola (@mizraffy)
"I do think that to some degree international luxury beauty products are better than what we have in our local market, but not always. I think that our local scene is making waves when it comes to releasing new formulas and innovations from a Filipino beauty POV, but I also believe that we can still strive for better when it comes to consistency, quality, and creativity, which is something that most international luxury brands have already been doing and are continuing to do."
Top International Luxury Beauty Pick:
"I have always loved and continue to love the La Mer Treatment Lotion, because it hydrates the skin in an instant and I find that it’s perfect for all skin types."
The Treatment Lotion, P7800(100ml) to P10,500(150ml), LA MER, Lazada
Top Local Beauty Pick:
"The recent release of Issy in collaboration with Slo Lopez, specifically the Surreal palette (right), has just been a dream to use whether for glam or creative looks."
issy x Slo Lopez Pressed Shadow Single (Brights), P149, ISSY, Lazada and Shopee. issy x Slo Lopez Pressed Shadow Single (Chromes), P149, ISSY, Lazada and Shopee.
Jake Galvez (@jakegalvez)
"To be honest, It’s not really always about being better or not. It often comes down to personal preference and skin type. Some international luxury beauty products might have advanced formulations, luxurious packaging, or unique ingredients, but local beauty brands often offer specifically to our skin needs and climate. Plus, they can be more affordable and easier to find."
Top International Luxury Beauty Pick:
"I love Guerlain for its unique and sophisticated scents and effective skincare formulations."
Abeille Royale Double R Renew & Repair Advanced Eye Serum, P10,850(30ml) to P14,450(50ml), GUERLAIN, Rustan's
Top Local Beauty Pick:
"I love QUICKFX. Its skin care products are Philippine weather appropriate and their product range caters to different skin types and conditions."
Tinted Moisturizer, P129, QUICKFX, Lazada and Watsons
Muriel Vega Perez (@murielvegaperez)
"International beauty products are better in a way that they have extensive research and development since they have existed for so many years. They have developed global products with adaptability to trends and occasions. Also, they have an extensive array of beauty products—from skincare (depending on your skin's needs), to foundations (with various types, finishes, and lasting capacities, and all colors). Meanwhile, local beauty brands develop products that fit Filipino needs and maybe most Asians'. But I believe we are starting to emerge in the global beauty market."
Top International Luxury Beauty Pick:
"Dior Cosmetics displayed exemplary beauty standards, from skincare to cosmetics and even scents. Their age-delaying skincare products and top-notch cosmetics offer all the needs of a professional makeup artist like me; that's why they are my top pick."
Addict Lip Maximizer, P2550, DIOR, Available at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Greenbelt 5, Podium, Power Plant Mall, SM Aura, SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, and Rustan’s Cebu
Top Local Beauty Pick:
"Detail Cosmetics a local makeup brand is keeping up with the high standards of the beauty industry they have a limited selection but are very durable and economical, also designed for everyday use and for professionals like me."
Glass Stain, P199, DETAIL COSMETICS, Lazada and Shopee
Thazzia Falek (@thazziafalek)
"As a makeup artist, I am not really particular if it’s a local or international brand. It really depends on the formula and the performance of the product I’m using. As both international and local brands continuously release new products with new innovations in terms of their benefits and usage, I can see that it is shaping the world of beauty and the makeup industry positively. Just like how local brands are becoming popular with their new releases, more Filipinos are proud and interested in using their products because of how it improves every time."
Top International Luxury Beauty Pick:
"Dior Forever Glow Maximizer."
Forever Glow Maximizer, $45 (approx. P2,630), DIOR, dior.com
Top Local Beauty Pick:
"Faboulash."
So Snatchural, P249, FABOULASH, Lazada and Shopee
Janica Cleto (@janicleto_)
"Not entirely. Because of the difference in the target market. Local beauty brands may not be able to offer the experience an international luxury brand can offer. But when it comes to quality, the local beauty brands now are competitive and offer great quality for their prices. Some local products may even outperform other luxury products because local brands are catered more to our [Filipino] skin types and tones."
Top International Luxury Beauty Pick:
"I love Dior foundations. The Dior Backstage Face and Body foundation and the Dior Forever Skin Glow foundation."
Backstage Face and Body Foundation, $43 (approx. P2,513), DIOR, dior.com
Top Local Beauty Pick:
"The Sunnies eye crayons for quick eye makeup."
Eyecrayon, P445, SUNNIES FACE, Lazada and Shopee
Justin Soriano (@justinlouisesoriano)
"I do think that it all goes down to each product’s formulation whether it is a local or a global brand. IMO I use both local and global brands depending on my needs. Doesn’t really matter if it's a local or international brand as long as it serves its purpose."
Top International Luxury Beauty Pick:
"I love Makeup Forever’s HD Face Sculpt palette."
HD Sculpting Palette, $88 (approx. P5141), MAKEUP FOREVER, makeupforever.com
Top Local Beauty Pick:
"I’ve always been using Issy’s brow pen and blotting powder."
Brow Detailing Pen, P349, ISSY, Lazada and Shopee
Chuchie Ledesma (@chuchieledesma)
"As a professional makeup artist, I can only talk about the product's performance. So for obvious reasons, international luxury products still deliver better results compared to local beauty products just because it's made to be potent and highly effective, without so much consideration about how they will be priced. It is, after all, luxury—meaning they have more budget and freedom when it comes to creating the product, making it also more expensive.
"Having more budget for production may mean that the ingredients are more potent, finishes are more refined, and the consistency might even be silkier or lighter than other products. So these are the things that I consider because I want to be fair to the local brands that we have now that are performing so well."
"If only pricing and cost weren't issues, I bet local brands can and will create better products because it's tailor-fit for us Filipinos. The products would complement our skin type, needs, color, etc., and they will definitely be made to last in our kind of weather."
Top International Luxury Beauty Pick:
"I love Shiseido's foundations and skincare. They suit our Asian skin well."
Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation, P3050, SHISEIDO, Lazada
Top Local Beauty Pick:
"I have two local brands that I love—BLK and Colourette. They're both easy to use; their color selections bring out the best colors of a Filipina's face; and their packaging feels chic and premium but their prices are affordable."
Creamy All Over Paint, P399, BLK, Lazada and Shopee
First Base Everyday Skin Tint, P599, COLOURETTE, Lazada and Shopee
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