The rise of bespoke makeup palettes is giving local beauty lovers exactly what they want—choice, power, and style
Makeup bags are chaos in a zipper, brimming with oversized palettes, wasted shades, and products that take up space but never see the light of day. Customizable palettes bless this mess. They strip away the chaos and unusable, perfect for the ever-moving Filipino where space and time are a luxury. Finally, beauty adapts to life, not the other way around.
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Today’s brands hand you empty palettes and customizable inserts, letting you curate your own kit in any way you’d like. This means free reign. But is it only the autonomy that draws in the local scene?
A Crafty Affair
We’ve long had an eye for crafts—it’s woven into our way of life, from artisan traditions to fashion, food, and beauty. Customizable palettes allow users to handpick products tailored to their preferences, curating a one-of-a-kind palette of their own. You get to decide what’s worth it and what isn’t.
Half the fun is in its Tetris-esque appeal. The process of picking, mixing, and matching becomes a satisfying joy ride for your inner perfectionist. Each pan is a deliberate choice, turning your everyday makeup into a reflection of your real taste, needs, and lifestyle, all while keeping the fun.
Beauty On the Go
We argue that the other half of the fun lies in the convenience. For Filipinos constantly on the move—from braving long commutes to juggling a packed day—keeping custom palettes may be the smartest move.
Late last year, Issy introduced a refillable and reusable palette system designed to build bespoke makeup combinations. They started with three-, six-, and 12-pan sizes for everything from the eyes to cheeks. Once the local beauty crowd was hooked, they went further, rolling out petites—the micro and nano, which is half the size of an average palm. It couldn’t get any more compact and purse-friendly than this.
It’s particularly beneficial for professional makeup artists who usually cart around massive sets and spend too much time de- and repotting to save space. In fact, it’s what drove celebrity makeup artist Jelly Eugenio to develop an on-the-go makeup palette system with Vice Cosmetics.
These V x Jelly Filter Palettes have it all from concealer to contour and lips to cheeks. With these, you grab what you need and love, pack them into the magnetic palettes, and you’re good to go. It’s maximum efficiency at its finest.
Price-Smart Palettes
While on the topic of saving space, know that these also deliver a good economic bargain. Full-sized makeup is great, but buying them for one-off uses can be a little more expensive than we’d like. Bespoke palettes are the smart shopper’s choice, the more affordable way to build your collection without needing to splurge on a palette you’ll never use half of.
The hype hasn’t faltered with time. Case in point: GRWM Cosmetics released its Face Card customizable palettes, which have everyone swapping shades like a beauty buffet. Like Issy, the system lets you curate your dream kit effortlessly, offering two sleek case sizes, many possible inserts, and pre-curated palettes that have many biting into them.
And, when you get to pick what works, you’re only paying for what you’ll actually wear. It’s no wonder this concept has attracted the younger crowd, especially students. They fit right into your makeup kit—and more importantly, right into your budget.
The Next Big Thing?
They essentially hit all the right marks; they’re convenient, budget-friendly, and refreshing. Custom palettes are the kind of innovation that catches the local eye, especially in a market where sameness can get old fast, and fresh piques interest.
But just because it’s relatively new doesn’t mean it’ll immediately make it into the cart. Filipinos, with all their love of beauty, tend to stick with what they know and are a little slow to jump onto the “next big thing.” Innovation still needs to prove itself. But with the way this system actually works for our on-the-go lives, this trend could stick around. That said, could this be the next makeup staple? It’s still early days, but it’s a strong contender.
Featured Image and Photos: MEGA ARCHIVES, ISSY, VICE COSMETICS, GRWM (via Instagram)
