The Old Guard

November 25, 2022

Written by Nicole Morales

November 25, 2022

Written by Nicole Morales

By HANNAH LAZATIN

Collage Art by SANDY ARANAS

Very few of the latest beauty products launches can compare to the Old Guard of beauty. We're referring to the brands steeped in heritage—the ones who have been reformulating their bestselling products for years, constantly finding ways to improve them.

Here, we pay tribute to these iconic brands and their top creations, those that live up to the hype and have paved the way for even for newer brands. More than preserving their formulations, we recognize these brands' ingenuity and quest for perfection. These products have undergone years of research, trials, and consumer feedback, only to emerge even better than when they had first launched. We present to you the beauty classics and some of their products that deserve that coveted shelf space at your homes and in your beauty kits.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

It's commonly said that 10 bottles of Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Serum are sold every minute. If a product could be an institution in itself, this serum would be it. Fondly abbreviated as ‘ANR,’ the serum is ever-changing and has recently been renewed with Chronolux Power Signal Technology, which is a technical way of saying that it works double-time in hindering the signs of aging. A single night's use is guaranteed to help reset tired and dehydrated skin, while one bottle in will make the skin ultimately firmer.

P3,050 | SHOP NOW

Estee Lauder Eye Concentrate Matrix

Bid adieu to crow’s feet, “11” lines between brows, wrinkles, and dark circles after trying out the Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix. With Chronolum Power Signal Technology, the serum increases the skin’s natural repair ability for visible renewal. It's a delicate serum formulated for perhaps the most delicate part of the face. Apply by gently sweeping outward and up in a circular motion, from under eye to above the lid and other areas.

P5,300 | SHOP NOW

Shiseido Ultimune

The Japanese have always strived for excellence, and this shines through in Shiseido's Ultimune Power Infusing Serum. Its antioxidant-rich recipe delivers on its promise of reducing the signs of skin aging and leaving the skin plumper. Studies have shown it to help the skin retain moisture for consistent hydration. Apply it after cleansing, and just before you apply other serums.

P4,200 | SHOP NOW

Shiseido Eudermine

Introduced in 1897, the Eudermine is a Shiseido classic, having centuries of trials and reformulations to perfect it. It was actually Shiseido's first skincare product, going as far back as being used by the geishas to help hydrate skin despite their heavy makeup. Armed with Bio-Hyaluronic Acid and TMG & Bio-Compatible Amino, it helps the skin retain moisture and encourages epidermal cell turnover, leaving skin soft and supple. Using facial cotton, apply daily in the morning and in the evening.

P5,300 | SHOP NOW

Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum

We like to call Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum a time machine in a bottle. This powerful serum is formulated with actives such as pure retinol, ceramides, and peptides. Ultimately, it lessens wrinkles, firms skin, evens skin tone, and visibly reduces pores. It's suitable for all skin types and may be used nightly.

P1,500 to P4,950 | SHOP NOW

Guerlain Abeille Royale Scalp & Hair Youth-Oil-In Serum

A hair transformation is within reach with the Abeille Royale Scalp & Hair Youth-Oil-In Serum. Revitalizing from scalp to tip, the serum is a no-rinse care to be applied directly on dry or damp hair. It visibly thickens hair with the use of black bee honey from Ouessant Island, leaving it conditioned but not greasy. Apply to the scalp and stimulate your cranial muscles with Guerlain’s unique massage technique for best results.

P5,280 to P7,897 | SHOP NOW

Bright Healthy Radiance Perfecting Serum, Instant Radiance Mask, and Gentle Renewing Cleanser

Designed for sensitive skin, the Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance line is a full regimen intended to specifically target dark spots. Now with a Gentle Renewing Cleanser, Instant Radiance Mask, and the impressive Perfecting Serum, this complete line is proven to boost skin’s radiance and lessen the appearance of dark spots. And as what we love about Cetaphil, its gentle formula makes it perfect for everyday use and alongside your usual regimen.

P160 to P1,790 | SHOP NOW

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick

We’ve found a lipstick to last, come hell or high water, with Maybelline’s Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick. Its formula gives a flawless matte finish for up to 16 hours. Not only highly pigmented, it also features a no-transfer liquid and comes in 36 different shades. To help with application, it comes with a unique arrow applicator for precision. It’s best paired with Maybelline's SuperStay Eraser lipstick remover.

P399 | SHOP NOW

La Mer the new Treatment Lotion

La Mer's Creme de La Mer frequently hogs the spotlight, but we'd like to shed it on another revolutionary product: the New Treatment Lotion. This light and hydrating lotion is the quintessential step to achieving a natural glow, no pressure. It also helps prep the skin for the environmental elements and to take on the next layers of skincare products. It's fortified with the brand's signature Miracle Broth and a Revival Ferment, which soothes sensitive skin and improves its complexion.

P6,900 | SHOP NOW

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Body Oil

This luxurious body oil is a godsend for moisturizing the skin. Jojoba and Limnanthes alba oils comprise this fragrant concoction, which promises to leave the skin soft and smelling like amber. The best part about the experience of applying this body oil is that it's non-sticky and we can instantly see and feel a supple difference.

$80 | SHOP NOW

La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid LIft

This revolutionary serum elevates the already luxurious caviar and defies gravity. Formulated with rich ingredients from caviar oils and caviar proteins, the La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift provides an immediate lifting sensation and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in mere moments. Despite its hefty price tag, we're adding this one to our carts. Apply one to two drops in the morning and evening for a firm and elastic appearance.

P40,500 | SHOP NOW

Elizabeth Arden Visible Brightening CicaGlow Concentrate

Introducing the new Visible Brightening CicaGlow Concentrate by Elizabeth Arden, a gentle peel that leaves your skin looking clearer and brighter. This Cica-rich formula promotes the skin’s natural exfoliation, reducing the appearance of dark spots and discoloration for a more youthful glow. It only takes 2 to 5 drops daily for a full face coverage.

P5,300 | SHOP NOW

L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara

L’Oreal has always been one to beat when it comes to its mascaras. The L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara is no exception and is already flying off the shelves in the U.S. Its highly pigmented formula both volumizes and lengthens your eyelashes giving them a fuller look. Its 200+ bristles catch every lash, providing voluptuous, feathery lashes. Place the applicator at the base of your lashes and gently sweep up. Layering the product is key for a more eye-opening look.

P599 | SHOP NOW

Laura Mercier Tinted Blush

There's always been a divide between prioritizing skincare or makeup. Laura Mercier resolves that discussion with its blend of makeup and skincare. A great example of this marriage is the Tinted Moisturizer Blush, which leaves behind a glimmering cheek color with impressive staying power and all the earthy benefits of especially chosen botanicals to hydrate the skin for a recorded 12 hours. It's also buildable, lightweight, and multi-purpose, as it can serve as lip color, cheek tint, and eyeshadow.

P1,650 | SHOP NOW

NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

NARS ones up the competition by doing something that other foundations fail to do: overtime, this silky liquid improves the skin's texture and helps strengthen its barrier. All that happens underneath while on the surface, it discreetly conceals blemishes and evens out the skin tone, ridding the skin of redness and spots. To cap it off, the foundation is a vegan formula that utilizes natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin.

P2,950 | SHOP NOW

Make Up For Ever HD Skin

Frequently lauded as one of the best foundations in the market for years, Make Up For Ever's HD Skin is a long-wearing, medium to full foundation that erases any impurities for 24 hours. It works for almost all skin types, from oily skin, to normal, to combination. We love that it has minimal transfer, it feels light and breathable, and comes in 18 shades to cater to various skin tones.

P2,450 | SHOP NOW

Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist Color Pencil Eyeliner

We once swatched this eyeliner and you can trust us when we rave about its infallibility and stay power. After multiple hand washes, the dark pigment remained, which is a favorable feature especially when living in a tropical country where heat and sweat cannot be avoided. The smudgeproof and waterproof pencil applies like butter on the skin and comes in a fun variety of dark and moody gemstone shades for us to experiment with.

P1,250 | SHOP NOW

Benefit new Blush shades / formulation

Benefit has a special place in our hearts as a brand that grew up with us, and one of its reliable offerings that we still swear by to this day is its cult-favorite blush. Now even better than we remember, the blush has been reformulated and comes in even more shades. The pale pink and crowd favorite Dandelion remains on the roster, and is joined by shades such as Peachin', Butterfly, Moone, Pompom, Shellie, Crystah, Starlaa, Willa, Sunny, and our personal picks, Java and Terra. They also come in new packaging that does away with the brush.

P1,990 | SHOP NOW

Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Pencil

The iconic Gimme Brow has also undergone a makeover and now comes equipped with a brow pencil and powder and its built-in spoolie brush. The pencil still does an amazing job of creating fine, hair-like strokes while this new variant can work to fill in the brows for a, well, fuller look. It also stays in place by boasting its waterproof and transfer-proof properties.

P1,730 | SHOP NOW

Bobbi Brown Full-Coverage Dark Circle Corrector

Long, sleepless nights can take a toll on the eyes, but Bobbi Brown has the answer, and it's more effective than a cup of coffee. Bobbi Brown’s Full-Coverage Dark Circle Corrector gives us an instantly well-rested look. Providing full coverage, it is easy to blend and won’t crease. Not only does it blend well with other products, it is also waterproof and sweat- and humidity-resistant, keeping you fresh-looking throughout the day. To apply, just swipe your brush under the eye and gently blend with your finger.

P2,100 | SHOP NOW

Bobbi BrownLong-Wear Cream Shadow Stick

This handy little shadow stick is not only convenient to apply when we're in a rush, and easily blendable, it also lasts throughout the day or the night. It's the perfect travel companion and no-fuss eyeshadow when we're on the go. Simply swipe on it on the eyelids and spread using your fingers or a brush. It comes in variations of matte and shimmery finishes so we're spoilt for choice.

P2,150 | SHOP NOW

Tom Ford Beauty Shade & Illuminate Foundation

Tom Ford has delivered us the stuff of foundation dreams, with a medium to full-coverage formulation that enhances the skin with its light-diffusing ingredients. It's fueled with hyaluronic acid that ensures your skin keeps hydrated and your complexion is dewy. It comes with sun protection in the form of SPF 50 so we are assured of flawless skin, safe from the sun's harsh UV rays.

P7,500 | SHOP NOW

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Contour Wand

Who better to develop the highest quality of makeup than actual makeup artists who use the stuff themselves, every day. Charlotte Tilbury has built her beauty empire, one best-selling product after another. Dozens of other makeup artists, especially those working for celebrities, swear by her products. In contouring, she has brought forth another champion: the Hollywood Contour Wand, which instantly lifts the face for a younger look through its buildable formula and foolproof applicator. It's almost a crime for contouring to be this easy and look this natural.

P2,575 | SHOP NOW

L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Emulsion

Living up to its name, L'Occitane's Immortelle line holds a perpetual place in our beauty bags. It gets its potency from the immortelle flower, sourced from the island of Corsica in France. The flower is harvested to get a delicate dose of essential oil, which is rich in anti-aging properties. We especially love the Divine Youth Oil, a nourishing multi-use oil that works as well as a retinol and leaves the skin smoother and more supple. Use it with the Cleansing Foam and Divine Cream, and it's practically the fountain of youth.

P1,100 to P6,300 | SHOP NOW

Stilla Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

Experimental eyeliner has been making its rounds on the runways, and to achieve it, we look to fine brushes that can draw accurate lines. Stila's liquid eye liner seems to have been made for these fun looks, as it deploys a thin tip for fine lines. After applying the waterproof and smudgeproof liner, it takes mere seconds before it dries and becomes nearly impossible to remove. It also comes with a micro tip variant for even more delicate eye looks.

P1,350 | SHOP NOW

Bioderma Sensibio Light Cream

Don't let its drugstore appearance fool you, there's much to love about Bioderma's Sensibio Light Cream, starting with how it actually fortifies the threshold of sensitive skin. This hard worker acts as both moisturizer and makeup base. It feels light enough as a moisturizer to work for both day and night and for everyday use. We also count it as one of the most skin-friendly products we know, as it's fragrance-free, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic.

P1,218 | SHOP NOW

Tarte Cosmetics Shape Tape Cloud Foundation

There are certain expectations when a brand uses “cloud” as a descriptor for its product, let alone as part of its name. Tarte fulfills these expectations when it produced a lightweight foundation that feels close to nothing after it’s applied on the face. This medium-coverage foundation is a dream to use, as it's blendable and creates a natural, second skin finish. Might we add that it's crease-proof, mask-proof, and comes with SPF properties for sun protection.

P2,400 | SHOP NOW

The Body Shop Edelweiss collection

From across Europe and South America, the wooly Edelweiss plant has been known to provide antioxidants and sun protection. It's almost like a superfood for your skin, as it works overtime to soothe irritation and cleanse, as well. The Body Shop's Edelweiss collection brings this natural and potent ingredient front and center, as it doubled the concentration of Edelweiss for a fast-working formula that feels weightless on the skin.

P4.595 | SHOP NOW

Benefit The Porefessional Super Setter

The Super Setter is a welcome addition to Benefit Cosmetics' Porefessional line. The setting spray not only locks in makeup for up to 16 hours, it also helps blur pores and hydrates and refreshes the skin. The formula also includes blurring powders that give your skin a soft-focus effect. One of the best parts about this setting spray is its mister, which delivers an even cloud that lightly coats the entire face.

P2,200 | SHOP NOW

Benefit The Porefessional: Lite Primer

Even on barely there-makeup days, we prime, and Benefit's The Porefessional Lite Primer is perfect for these occasions. The water-based primer still does all the things we love about The Porefessional: blurs pores, extends makeup wear, and smoothes and refines the skin. But the Lite version has the added bonus of delivering a refreshing, cooling sensation to the skin.

P2,200 | SHOP NOW

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Setting Powder

This micro-finishing powder was created for TV and film, which is why we can trust it to be completely invisible when we're out and about. It delivers a light matte effect that doesn't take away the glow from your skin. In face, its micro silica spheres help give your skin a natural luminosity that looks flattering both in person and in photos.

P2,350 | SHOP NOW

Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix Hydrating

When we know we're going to be out all day, we keep our making pristine by misting our faces with Make Up For Ever's Mist & Fix Hydrating Setting Spray. It prolongs makeup wear for 12 hours and even helps keep makeup in place when you're wearing a mask. It also helps moisturize the skin and boosts skin radiance, thanks to its O2 Skin Complex. Spray it on throughout the day to refresh your skin and revive your look.

P1,900 | SHOP NOW

Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 25

Full coverage with a weightless feel? Sign us up. Clinique's Serum Foundation is formulated with skin-loving ingredients like vitamin C, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid to help improve the look of your skin while also giving you a flawless base. It also has an SPF of 25 to help protect your complexion against sun damage and hyperpigmentation.

P2,600 | SHOP NOW

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour

Even years after being launched, we'll never stop singing praises for Laura Mercier's Caviar Stick Eye Colours. The creamy eyeshadow stick blends easily into the eyes and stays on for up to 12 hours, making it great for those with oily eyelids. We also love how easy it is to achieve a sophisticated look, even when using just one color.

P1,695 | SHOP NOW

Shiseido Future Solution LX line

Future Solution LX is Shiseido’s best-selling anti-aging line, and rightly so, as it offers the full range of prime products to spoil your skin with: from a regenerating cream, to a primer with SPF, a loose powder, and more. Luxurious and ultra-potent, each item is power-packed with targeted formulations, which include Enmei Herb Extract, the brand’s exclusive youth-prolonging ingredient known to revitalize and restore.

Starts at P4,100 | SHOP NOW

The Old Guard

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Estee Lauder Eye Concentrate Matrix

Shiseido Ultimune

Shiseido Eudermine

Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum

Guerlain Abeille Royale Scalp & Hair Youth-Oil-In Serum

Bright Healthy Radiance Perfecting Serum, Instant Radiance Mask, and Gentle Renewing Cleanser

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick

La Mer the new Treatment Lotion

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Body Oil

La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid LIft

Elizabeth Arden Visible Brightening CicaGlow Concentrate

L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara

Laura Mercier Tinted Blush

NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

Make Up For Ever HD Skin

Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist Color Pencil Eyeliner

Benefit new Blush shades / formulation

Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Pencil

Bobbi Brown Full-Coverage Dark Circle Corrector

Bobbi BrownLong-Wear Cream Shadow Stick

Tom Ford Beauty Shade & Illuminate Foundation

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Contour Wand

L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Emulsion

Stilla Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

Bioderma Sensibio Light Cream

Tarte Cosmetics Shape Tape Cloud Foundation

The Body Shop Edelweiss collection

Benefit The Porefessional Super Setter

Benefit The Porefessional: Lite Primer

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Setting Powder

Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix Hydrating

Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 25

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour

Shiseido Future Solution LX line

Continue reading

What's In A Name?

Moments & Milestones

Science & Technology

Your Cart