It's easy to argue that celebs have all the money in the world to look their best, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't look to them for advice and recommendations to find some gems we can actually afford from time to time. It's not the price that matters, after all, and we know these beauty experts know that. You'd be surprised at how many celebs opt for affordable brands for some of their best looks—host and blogger Kim Jones as well as actress Julia Barretto have been known to use the P350 Lucas Papaw Ointment, and makeup artist Krist Bansuelo once revealed that Toni Gonzaga's wedding look was composed mostly of drugstore brands like Maybelline and Etude House.
This isn't just limited to the local celebs, either. Gal Gadot has revealed her go-to lippie is Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Certainly Red, and Emma Stone, Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr are just a few of the many who swear by coconut oil.
And now, here's another to add to the list: Kim Kardashian-West. In a blog post called "How I Slow the Aging Process," Kim shared all the 15 (yup, 15!) skincare products she uses regularly, while highlighting the importance of adding anti-aging selections into your rotation. "In any skin-care routine, anti-aging products are SO important," writes Kim. "They can have so many benefits, like reducing dark spots, preventing wrinkles, smoothing fine lines and so much more."
While some products are pretty pricey (of course), like the Fresh Sugar Lip Serum Advanced Therapy ($36 or P2,312 on Sephora.ph), Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial ($80), Peter Thomas Roth’s Retinol Fusion PM ($65), and Lancer Skincare’s Younger Revealing Face Mask Intense ($250); there are a few that won't break the bank, including the Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum ($20).
Most noticeable of all, however, is The Ordinary. Granactive Retinoid 2 Percent Emulsion, which costs only $10 (or a little over P500, if purchased abroad).
The Ordinary. is a British skincare brand with a line of products free of parabens, sulphates, and other harmful chemicals. And for those watching out for cruelty-free products, don't fret as they neither test on animals, nor do they work with suppliers who do. Their Granactive Retinoid 2 Percent Emulsion, in particular, is known for its "low likelihood of causing irritation (a rarity for many retinol-based products) and ability to speed up cell regeneration and eradicate acne," says a feature on Marie Claire.
This product quickly became a beauty cult favorite, and often sells out quickly (expect this to happen faster now that Kim wrote about it). The emulsion is currently out of stock on BeautyMNL where it retails for P850, but you can sign up to get notified when stocks replenish.
