Local base products have exploded in the last two years. Vice Cosmetics, Issy and Co, GRWM, Colourette, Happy Skin – every week there seems to be a new foundation or skin tint promising oil control, long wear, and a natural finish. But which ones actually deliver when the humidity hits? In this head-to-head review, I tested two of the most popular local base products: Vice Cosmetics Blurrfection Foundation and Issy and Co Skin Tint. I wore each for two full days under identical conditions. No primer. No setting spray (to really test the formulas themselves). Same skincare routine. Same daily activities: morning commute, indoor work, outdoor lunch, afternoon commute, and evening errands. Let me break down the results. Vice Cosmetics Blurrfection Foundation – Overview. Vice Cosmetics built their name on affordable, trendy makeup. The Blurrfection Foundation comes in a squeeze tube with a sponge tip applicator. Price is around ₱299 to ₱350 for 30ml. Shade range is 10, which is decent for a drugstore local brand. The formula claims to be lightweight, buildable, and mattifying with pore-blurring effects. First impressions: the texture is thicker than expected. It feels almost like a mousse but spreads easily with fingers or a sponge. The sponge tip applicator is convenient but unhygienic if you apply directly to the face. I prefer to squeeze product onto the back of my hand first. The smell is mild and slightly floral – nothing offensive. Issy and Co Skin Tint – Overview. Issy and Co positions itself as a cleaner, more thoughtful local brand. Their Skin Tint comes in a frosted glass bottle with a dropper applicator. Price is around ₱299 to ₱350 for 30ml, similar to Vice. Shade range is 16, which is wider and includes olive-friendly options. The formula claims to be lightweight, hydrating, and natural finish with buildable light to medium coverage. First impressions: this is a true skin tint – very thin, almost watery consistency. It spreads like a dream with fingers or a brush. The dropper is messy, though. I wish it had a pump. No strong smell. Wear Test – Vice Cosmetics Blurrfection. Day one was Vice. Application was easy using a damp sponge. Coverage started at medium and built to full with two layers. Fresh finish was velvety matte, not flat. Pores around my nose looked noticeably blurred. Hour two: still perfect. No shine. Hour four: minimal shine on forehead. Foundation still intact. No settling into smile lines. Hour six: moderate shine across T-zone. Blotted once with tissue – only oil came off, no foundation. Hour eight: foundation still looked good from a normal distance. Close up, there was slight separation around my nose. Color had not oxidized. Final verdict for Vice: excellent oil control, good blurring effect, lasts 6 to 8 hours before needing touch-ups. Best for oily and combination skin. Not for dry skin. Wear Test – Issy and Co Skin Tint. Day two was Issy. Application was even easier than Vice because the texture is so thin. Coverage was light to medium, not buildable to full. Fresh finish was dewy but not greasy – very skin-like. Hour two: still fresh. Dewy but controlled. Hour four: natural glow intensified. No patchiness. Hour six: definitely shiny on forehead and nose. Blotting removed oil but also some product. The tint had faded overall to about 60 percent coverage. Hour eight: very little coverage left on oily areas. Cheeks still had some tint. The finish was no longer dewy but slightly greasy. Final verdict for Issy: beautiful for the first four hours, fades gracefully but not long-wearing. Best for normal to dry skin, quick errands, or air-conditioned environments. Not for long humid days. Direct Comparison. Oil control: Vice wins clearly. Vice kept me matte for 6 hours. Issy needed blotting by hour 4. Longevity: Vice wins. Vice lasted 8 hours with minor separation. Issy faded significantly by hour 6. Skin-like finish: Issy wins. Issy looked like skin. Vice looked like makeup (but good makeup). Shade range: Issy wins with 16 shades including olive undertones. Vice has 10 shades, mostly warm. Price: tie, both around ₱300. Application ease: Issy wins for texture, but the dropper is annoying. Vice wins for packaging convenience but the sponge tip is unhygienic. Which One Should You Buy. Buy Vice Cosmetics Blurrfection if you have oily or combination skin, you need 6 to 8 hours of wear, you prefer matte finish, and you want real pore-blurring effects. Buy Issy and Co Skin Tint if you have normal or dry skin, you stay mostly in air-conditioned spaces, you prefer dewy skin-like finish, and you do not need full coverage. Can you use both? Yes. I keep Vice in my bag for long humid days outdoors. I reach for Issy on weekends when I am mostly at home or in aircon. Two different products for two different situations. Final Thoughts. Local beauty is getting better every year. Neither of these products is perfect. Vice can look slightly cakey if you apply too much. Issy simply does not last long enough for Philippine humidity. But both are excellent for their respective audiences. Try Vice first if you struggle with oil. Try Issy first if you hate the feel of foundation. And as always, patch test and adjust based on your unique skin.
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