Filipino beauty brands are making beauty consumers reevaluate their purchasing choices. They’re also the cool brands right now if you’re talking about the Gen Z demographic, who would rather spend their money on a tube of lip tint from a homegrown brand than a lipstick from a foreign luxury label.
Being in quarantine has given beauty enthusiasts the opportunity to look at local brands and see how formulations, textures and shades, especially in the case of makeup, have improved. Filipino brands having access to manufacturers in Korea and Taiwan has been a win-win situation for consumers. Yes, it’s not ideal that the most of the manufacturing facilities aren’t in the Philippines but these brands still provide employment to Filipinos. In the case of direct-selling companies, the brands are a source of livelihood for sellers and distributors.
COLOURETTE, BOSS BABES AND COLOURTINTS
If you’re a beauty enthusiast living in the Philippines, you have most probably heard of Colourette Cosmetics and Nina Dizon Cabrera, the company’s CEO. Cabrera is an entrepreneur, wife and mom of two whose beauty company makes one of the most sought-after products on Lazada and Shopee and that’s the Colourtint.
The Colourtint is not styled after Korean lip tints. It’s more of a lipstick-tint hybrid. These Colourtints, of which 1.7 are sold every minute, comes in many colors.
“Boss Babes” is what Colourette calls its loyal consumers. Boss Babes are mostly in their late teens to early 20s who find good value in Colourtints, which can be worn as a lip color, eyeshadow and blush. They’re not drying on the lips, as most lip tints are. Colourtint shades are mostly in brown/brick/terracotta shades and the two bestsellers are Zola and Emma.
Colourette has just released its Boss Babe x Clique collection of four Colourtint shades. “Clique” is composed of Colourette’s ambassadors and creators.
The four shades were culled from wishlists and suggestions of members of the Boss Babe (over 46,000 members) and Clique communities on Facebook.
“Colourette has always been consumer-centric. We let our Boss Babes decide our new Colourtint shades,” said Cabrera on her YouTube channel.
The collection and shade names—Isla, Rosa, Mara and Morena—are very Filipino. Isla is the perfect nude. Mara is a rosey taupe. Rosa is a muted wine. Because Manila is known for its beautiful sunset, the Manila shade is a sunset peach.
Just in time for this launch, Colourette also announced a collaboration with Real Techniques, an international beauty brand that makes makeup tools like brushes and sponges. For every purchase of the Boss Babe x Clique collection (P999) on Lazada, the Boss Babe gets a free Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. They also get a free clear orange pouch.
ISSY & CO. LAUNCHES HYDRAGLOSS
Issy & Co. has made a name for itself with its affordable price range, beautiful shade range for color cosmetics, and minimalist white packaging. Its latest launch was a skin tint with SPF and loose powders.
Issy & Co.’s new product is called Hydragloss. Is it a lip oil or is it a lip gloss? It’s both!
“Hydragloss is a product that’s good for you, but can also go glam. While it is a lip treatment and it’s main purpose is to nourish the lips, we want Hydragloss to also function as a beauty product that makes you look good and feel great,” said Issy & Co. co-founder and creative director Joel Andrade.
Hydragloss has humectants and occlusives. It contains hyaluronic acid and aloe juice to hydrate the lips; while the jojoba seed oil, coco nucifera oil and shea butter lock moisture in. The formula glides on smoothly for a soft and comfy feel, and a slick vinyl look. Andrade spent a lot of time in conceptualizing Hydragloss’ custom applicator so that it perfectly suits the curve of the the lips. The applicator is shaped like a spoon and its curve feels like a hug on the lower lip upon application, while the other side is used for a precise application on the upper lip. One dip gets you just the right amount of product to apply on your lips, said Andrade.
Issy & Co.’s Hydragloss is priced at P299. It comes in a clear color called Surf. Bikini is a nude, Loveboat is a rosy shade, while Baywatch is a sheer red.
Hydragloss is meant to be a multifunctional product. It can be used as a lip mask, a lip primer, a lip balm, a lipstick topper and, of course, a lip gloss.
Issy & Co. is available on Shopee and Lazada.