Skin first, please: Game changer pot concealer for Filipinos

When makeup artist Christian Ray talks about where beauty is headed, he starts with the face.

Asked which trend is here to stay, he does not name a color or a technique.

“I don’t think it’s a trend,” he told the DAILY TRIBUNE. Instead, he believes that in the coming years, people will embrace “letting that base shine through as it is.”

The goal is a complexion that looks like real skin rather than a mask.

That does not mean coverage is disappearing. Quality base products continue to address concerns such as dark spots and redness, and consumers are taking notice. “They’re able to get that coverage,” he said, adding that a well-made base should be able to stand on its own. “You don’t need to add any other product on top of it.”

A shade range that fits

Ray is direct about what sets the Philippine beauty market apart.

Filipino skin tones do not always fit neatly into products created for other markets. Many Filipinos have olive undertones, creating a complexion range that differs from those commonly found in other countries, including India. As a result, foundations developed for other markets may not always provide the right match.

That is why shade range matters, he said. A brand offering around 25 shades, whether local or international, reflects its understanding of its consumers.

Built for the tropics

The second challenge is the weather. “We have a very humid climate,” Ray noted, explaining that makeup developed for cooler countries like South Korea can perform differently when used in the Philippines.

Products formulated for tropical conditions are designed to withstand heat and humidity, which Ray considers one of the strengths of Philippine-made beauty products.

Wear test

To test Ray’s belief in achieving a skin-like finish with full coverage, this writer put the Blurmatte Full Cover Pot Concealer through a wear test.

Coverage. It effectively conceals dark spots, under-eye circles, redness, and blemishes — the same concerns Ray said modern base products should address.

Finish. It creates a soft-focus effect that helps blur texture and imperfections, drying down to a lightweight, crease-resistant, and comfortable matte finish.

Skin feel. It is formulated with skin-friendly ingredients that provide non-drying wear, an important factor when applying layers of coverage.

Efficiency. True to Ray’s point that a good base does not require multiple layers, no additional products were needed to achieve full coverage.

Application tip. Proper skin preparation is essential. Apply moisturizer or eye cream and allow it to fully absorb before using the pot concealer. A brush from the Pro Series by GRWM can also help distribute the product evenly and apply the right amount for full coverage.

For Ray, the future of Philippine beauty lies in products that understand local needs: Shades that match Filipino skin tones, formulas that withstand tropical weather, and bases that allow natural skin to shine through. In this wear test, a concealer that covers, blurs and sets into a lightweight matte finish reflects that direction.