K-Beauty to Drugstore: My Top 5 Favorite Beauty Products This Month

 

Hi! It’s been a while since I last shared my beauty favorites, and coincidentally, Davao Bloggers is currently running a biweekly challenge where members get to write about a specific topic. I thought to myself, why not join in?

This week’s theme is My Current Favorites, and as someone who started blogging because I was inspired by beauty bloggers’ reviews, I’m excited to share my top 5 beauty favorites and the reasons why they’ve made it to my list.

1. d'Alba White Truffle First Spray Serum 

 

 This product wasn't very well-known when I first found it in 2024. I signed up right away after seeing the ingredients when a UGC group at the time invited content creators to try it. The rest is history. I fell in love with it right away, and it has since remained one of my skincare essentials. 

 

My skin is radiant and incredibly hydrated after every spray. Its potent ingredients, which work together to nourish and revitalize the skin, include White Truffles, Vitamin E, a Signature 8-Oil Blend, and a 9-Herb Complex.

I keep both sizes on hand because I love them so much: the full 100 ml bottle that I keep at home and the handy travel-sized version that I always have with me.

2. MAC Hyper Real Serumizer 

 Ever since I learned that prepping the skin helps prevent a cakey base, hydration has been my top priority, especially as someone with dry skin. My favorite is the MAC serum-moisturizer hybrid because it leaves my skin hydrated and smooth without any sticky or heavy feeling. I tried another serum recently, but nothing compares to this one.

It is designed to work with or without makeup, helping to reduce dark spots and pores, retexturize, strengthen the skin barrier, and add a natural glow. Powered by Japanese Peony Extract, 4% Niacinamide, 12% Hyaluronic Acid, and Ceramides, it delivers both instant hydration and long-lasting results. The pearlescent particles give that lit-from-within radiance.

This has become my ultimate prep step for a smooth, radiant base or healthy-looking skin on its own.

3. d'Alba Waterful Tone Up Sun Cream Purple

 K-beauty requires tone-up creams, and the Purple Tone-Up Cream is my personal favorite. In addition to correcting my yellow skin tone, this tone-up cream also serves as a lightweight SPF 50 sunscreen, which is ideal for the Philippines' intense heat. Because it feels so much lighter than foundation, I love using it as my base for casual or everyday makeup.

I appreciate that it offers three advantages simultaneously: brightness, wrinkle prevention, and sun protection. It also makes me shine brightly and uniformly. Because it successfully balances out yellow undertones, purple is a great color for Asian skin tones. It’s my go-to for radiant, hydrated, and protected skin every day.

4. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer

I finally get why everyone raves about this concealer! I've pared back my routine to just moisturizer, a bit of purple tone-up cream, and Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, and it melts right into my skin. If it helps, I wear NC20 in MAC Studio Radiance, and shade 120 is the perfect fit for me.

This concealer seriously does it all: hydrates, covers, corrects, contours, and highlights, plus, it keeps your skin looking fresh for up to 12 hours without creasing. The sponge tip makes getting ready a breeze, and I love that the formula is vegan, non-comedogenic, and skips all the not-so-great stuff like mineral oil, parabens, and talc. There’s even Haloxyl to help with dark circles and goji berry for a little antioxidant boost.

It’s light, hydrating, and it actually lasts.

5. Torriden Lip Essence

I discovered this lip essence during Shopee's Korea Mega Day Sale. It came with a keychain, which is perfect for me because I always forget to bring lip care, plus it was on inexpensive. In addition to becoming a 2024 Olive Young Award and 2023 Qlon Beauty Award winner, I received the limited edition with a keyring.

The essence provides instant and sustained hydration, smoothes away dead skin cells, and leaves lips glossy without being sticky. Its 5D Ceramide Complex, 2% Fuligo Wax, Jeju Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, and jojoba seed oil improve the skin barrier, provide deep moisture, and maintain lips full and smooth.

That wraps up my current beauty favorites! These products have truly earned a spot in my everyday makeup bag, not just because they work, but because they make getting ready feel so much easier. I hope this little roundup helps if you’re on the lookout for something new to try or if you’ve been unsure about what’s actually worth adding to your routine.