The Philippine Online Chronicles

Every makeup lover has at least one Holy Grail cosmetic in her stash – a beauty item that you can always rely on for that instant transformation that lasts all day. It’s not always easy to find these Holy Grail items, especially in the super-saturated beauty industry. However, you can start your search with a group of best-selling cosmetics that casual consumers and makeup artists alike can’t live without. These items are called cult favorites. Read on to see what they are and where you can get affordable counterparts.

NARS Blush in Orgasm

NARS Orgasm blush is a pinky-peach shade with subtle shimmer designed to mimic – well, flushed cheeks after a mind-blowing orgasm. Aside from the fact that it looks beautifully natural when applied, NARS Orgasm is said to look good on all skin tones. However, don’t buy this blush simply because of the glowing recommendations from beauty magazines; Orgasm is not the only high-quality NARS blush color out there, nor will it necessarily be the best blush for your skin tone. If you experiment with the other blush colors at the NARS counter, you may find that a different shade looks better on you than Orgasm ever will. NARS blush costs P1,350 and is available at Rustan’s Department Store

NARS Orgasm counterpart: Lumiere Mineral Blush in Ditto O is said to resemble the shimmering peach-coral glow of Orgasm. It may not have the staying power of a NARS blush, but it will give your cheeks that lovely flush without breaking the bank. Available at Get Tickled Pink for P250 (2.4 grams) and P500 (4 grams).

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

It’s difficult to understand why Shu Uemura’s eyelash curler can curl lashes with just one squeeze – after all, don’t eyelash curlers work through the same mechanism? The secret to the Shu Uemura eyelash curler’s secret may lie with the perfectly rounded silicone pads, which captures lash hairs quite easily. On the downside, it’s expensive at P1,000, and it only comes with one silicone pad refill. Once this runs out, you have to shell out another thousand for a new curler.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler counterpart: Fanny Serrano’s eyelash curler is very similar to the Shu Uemura one. Though the curve of the curler itself is much wider, it uses a similar silicone pad for that cushy feeling. Plus, at just P200 a pop, the Fanny Serrano curler is a lot easier on the pocket. Available at Fanny Serrano counters at leading department stores.

Urban Decay Primer Potion

If you’re a fan of eyeshadow, you need a primer to keep the pigments in place and to make the color stand out. Urban Decay’s Primer Potion is a beige silicone primer that keeps shadows crease-free and long-lasting. Although the purple and silver bottle is a sight to behold, its angular shape makes it difficult to get the product when it almost runs out. Available from various online sellers for approximately P1,000.

Urban Decay Primer Potion counterpart: The Proof 10 Eye Primer from the Korean cosmetic company Etude House has a similar texture and feel to the Urban Decay primer and only costs P298. It may not intensify color as well as the Urban Decay primer, but it does the job of keeping the shadows crease-free for hours.

MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo

Choosing the right red lipstick for your skin tone can be a tricky matter, but like the NARS Orgasm blush, MAC’s Ruby Woo lipstick is said to be universally flattering. Although MAC’s matte formula can be rather drying, it keeps the lip color absolutely budge-proof – which is a must for such a strong color like this one. Ruby Woo lipstick costs P950 at MAC Counters.

MAC Ruby Woo counterpart: If you don’t believe in paying over P500 for lipstick, try Revlon’s Matte lipstick in Really Red. The formula is not as drying as MAC’s matte lipstick and best of all, it only costs P450.

NARS Orgasm product photo from My Fashion Life.
Shu Uemura curler product photo from Daily Makeover.
Urban Decay Primer Potion product photo from Addicted to Lipstick.
MAC Ruby Woo product photo from Now.