There’s no use denying it: the holidays just won’t be the same this year. But it doesn’t have to be all bad — the way I look at it, the lack of Christmas festivities offers all the more reason to go all out with gift-giving! On top of that, this holiday season is the perfect time to put the spotlight on local brands and small businesses, most of which deserve way more attention.
First up on our list of homegrown products that deserve more love? Beauty products — and lots of them! The Philippine beauty industry is so underrated; look beyond the Filipino makeup brands you see on ads and store shelves, and you’ll find that so many worthy local brands are lying just under the radar and within easy reach.
This Christmas, consider gifting your beauty-crazed loved ones (or, you know, yourself) with a local beauty product or two! By supporting local businesses and allowing others to discover a new Philippine makeup or skincare brand, you’re hitting two birds with one stone. Below, we share a list of Filipino beauty brands you should definitely add to your Christmas list!
Also read: Shop Local for a Cause: This Online Platform Supports Frontliners and Small PH Businesses
Filipino makeup and skincare brands you have to add to your cart
1. Luxx Lash
Our top pick: Luxx Holiday Beauty Kit
If you consider yourself a beauty addict, then Luxx Lash should have a spot on your radar by now. Best known for their magnetic lashes (which are good for a whopping 50 uses!), this local beauty brand has since widened their array of offerings — and you’ll certainly want to add them to your wish list!
Just in time for the Christmas season, Luxx Lash has put together the Luxx Holiday Beauty Kit, featuring their signature magnetic lashes, recently launched Luxx Liner and Lashes (reusable falsies that you need only stick on with their adhesive eyeliner — so easy!), and their latest product: STYX by Luxx nail wraps. The all-new designer nail wraps provide you with an instant manicure, minus the drying time — plus, they include super-cute designs exclusively made for STYX by local artists.
In a nutshell, this beauty kit has everything you need to give yourself a salon-quality pampering in the comfort of your own home! To add to all this, each kit is customisable, allowing you to choose styles that perfectly meet your preferences. Every purchase of the holiday kit also gets you access to exclusive holiday freebies and personalised note cards for gifting. What more could a beauty lover ask for, really?
For more information, visit Luxx Lash’s official website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
2. Finn
Our top pick: All Around Palette 2.0
Eco-conscious beauty lovers, this one’s for you. Finn’s products are locally made and naturally sourced — and delivery within Metro Manila is plastic-free and done in scheduled batches. To top it all off, Finn even offers refills for all their products. Yay for sustainable beauty!
One of their best-selling items, the All Around Palette 2.0 is the ultimate must-have for a complete, no-fuss makeup look — and it’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Choose between the ‘Nudes’ and ‘Reds + Pinks’ palettes, which include a lip balm, shades for highlighting and contouring, plus four lip and cheek tints. All the shades make for pretty eyeshadows, too!
For more information, visit Finn’s official website and Instagram pages.
3. Cloud Cosmetics
Our top pick: Puff Puff Tint (liquid blush)
I can’t lie — Cloud Cosmetics’ super cute packaging was the first thing that got me to try out their products. More than anything, I was amazed to find that Filipino makeup brands of this quality actually exist; and at an affordable price at that!
This cruelty-free brand offers a whole lineup of beauty products, from skincare needs to makeup essentials. Out of all of these, though, my favourite would have to be their Puff Puff Tint (liquid blush). They’re beautifully pigmented to fit morena tones, light on the skin, and just a little goes a long way!
For more information, visit Cloud Cosmetics’ official website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
4. Beach Born
Our top pick: Dry shampoo
BeachBorn has already been around for years (and even has a cult following of their own!), but I still find it quite underrated. Their products are 100% natural, locally handcrafted, and easy on the wallet; plus, I love that they make choosing sustainable beauty a more accessible option!
They have a wide range of hair, lip, and body products to choose from; of all these, their haircare offerings are not to be missed. Their dry shampoo is a personal favourite, especially since this is the first one I’ve found that wasn’t too expensive — it smells great, too. In addition, they also offer shampoo bars, purple shampoo, and texturising sprays that you’re sure to fall in love with!
For more information, visit Beach Born’s official website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
5. Filipinta Beauty
Our top pick: Diwata eyeshadow palette
A portmanteau of ‘Filipina’ and ‘pinta’ (loosely translated, ‘face paint for Filipinas’), Filipinta Beauty was made specifically with Filipina makeup lovers in mind. This cruelty-free brand is all for inspiring Pinays to feel comfortable in their own skin, and to better appreciate local culture.
Their eyeshadow palettes are well-known among Filipino beauty brands, and we believe their Diwata palette perfectly represents what they stand for. The palette features a lovely mix of highly pigmented browns, oranges, and greens — colours that have been handpicked specifically because they compliment a whole range of Filipina skin tones!
For more information, visit Filipinta Beauty’s official website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
6. Bloom & Topiary
Our top pick: Marula Seed Cleansing Oil
Bloom & Topiary deserves a spot on your wish list if you’re all about simple, clean beauty. You don’t need to look any further to meet your skincare-related needs — their products are formulated with carefully researched, gentle yet high-performing natural ingredients.
If we had to choose just one item, then their Marula Seed Cleansing Oil would have to be our top pick. Made with marula seed, sunflower, and grapeseed oils, this gentle cleanser is perfect for everyday use and removing your makeup after a long day. Plus, it’s packed with anti-ageing and wrinkle-fighting properties, too!
For more information, visit Bloom & Topiary’s official website, Facebook and Instagram pages.
7. Lana
Our top pick: Skin protect brightening sunblock
As a morena, my battle with sunblock has been a long and epic one. I avoided using it for most of my life, thinking my dark skin didn’t need any protection from the sun; plus, I just abhorred the white cast that would inevitably settle on my skin. Lana is one of the few Filipino makeup brands that has finally addressed this issue, which I know I share with many fellow Pinays!
With its all-natural, reasonably priced products that are proudly made in the Philippines, Lana certainly levels up the local beauty scene. After all, how could we say no to high-quality products made specifically with Filipino skin in mind? Their SPF80 skin protect brightening sunblock is lightweight, matte, and designed for all skin types. Bonus points: it acts as an excellent makeup primer as well!
For more information, visit Lana’s official website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Also read: How Travelling Made Me a Proud Morena
8. Tala Beauty
Our top pick: No Bad Days creamy matte lipstick
One swipe of Tala Beauty’s No Bad Days creamy matte lipstick, and you’ll be asking yourself why you’ve been splurging on crazy expensive cosmetics. This Filipino makeup brand’s lipsticks are not only budget-friendly — they’re smooth, richly pigmented, and designed to empower anyone who wears them.
To add to all this, the No Bad Days line is cruelty-free, paraben-free, and available in four different colours. And yes — they’re made to flatter a whole range of skin tones! From everyday-appropriate nudes to vibrant reds, Tala Beauty’s creamy lippies are a must-try for anyone who loves a pretty pout!
For more information, visit Tala Beauty’s official website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
9. Brow Magic
Our top pick: Brow soap
If “Kilay is life” is your motto, then you won’t want to sleep on the wonder that is brow soap. A go-to for that feathered brow look, Brow Magic’s brow soap is a natural styling product that lets you up your kilay game even better than synthetic gels. It’s also infused with castor oil to help boost hair growth — so those with sparse brows who long for that bushy, brushed up look will surely want to try this!
With every brow soap purchase, you get a small tin can of product, two spoolies, and an instruction sheet. According to reviews, one tin may even last you a whole year. The best part? It’s not expensive at all!
For more information, visit Brow Magic’s official Instagram page.
10. Pili Ani
Our top pick: Deep Detox Volcanic Exfoliating Mask
Among the more established Filipino makeup and skincare brands on this list, Pili Ani is named for Bicol’s Pili tree. Dubbed the ‘Chosen Tree’, it withstands the most powerful storms, and even bears more fruit during the typhoon season. The Pili tree produces two unique oils, Pili and Elemi, both of which are included in all of Pili Ani’s products.
Our top recommendation? Their Deep Detox Volcanic Exfoliating Mask. Made with ash from Mayon Volcano, this all-natural mask is ideal for regular exfoliation to unveil smooth, radiant skin. Who knows — it might just be your next holy grail product!
For more information, visit Pili Ani’s official website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Also read: 5 Ways You Can Support Small Online Businesses
Which of these Filipino makeup brands are you eyeing for the holiday season? We hope this list inspires you to shop local for all your beauty-related needs; after all, no one knows Pinoy beauty better than, well, Pinoys! Happy shopping, beautiful!
Special thanks to Luxx Lash for choosing TripZilla Philippines as an official media partner.
