‘YOU want to know the truth about beauty? It gets better with time. It gets better with life.” So goes the latest affirmative mantra of Max Factor, the global makeup brand, which is burnishing its presence in the country with the introduction of its first Filipina ambassador—Jennylyn Mercado.
“She’s not only super beautiful but she’s also super talented,” gushed Jerome Dubois, the general manager of Coty Consumer Beauty Southeast Asia, at Jennylyn’s launch at SM Megamall.
The most acclaimed young actress of GMA, Jennylyn joins legendary Hollywood women beautified by Max Factor, who made Clara Bow’s trademark Pierrot lips; Joan Crawford’s exaggerated full lips; and special shades for Jean Harlow (platinum), Claudette Colbert (dark) and Lena Horne (Light Egyptian).
“I’m gonna tell you why Max Factor is here. The reason is, in this region of Southeast Asia, the Philippines is very important, along with Malaysia and Thailand,” Dubois disclosed, while waxing nostalgic. “Max Factor, the man, came from Europe to New York. He then moved to Hollywood. He even created the term ‘makeup.’ He helped a lot of celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and did their makeup. That’s the heritage of Max Factor.”
With the brand having a partner in Rustan’s Marketing Corp.’s Michael Huang, Dubois is confident about its continuing prospects: “The future is really about Max
Factor in the region. We think that with beauty, you can give the best of yourself, and with age, your beauty is getting better and better. So, we are excited to introduce our new campaign with Jennylyn.”
The global campaign is called “You X Max Factor,” which embraces the beauty of women from all angles and encourages them to celebrate the true depths of their beauty, both on the outside and within. It also aims to be “an essential tool to empower women to be the best version of themselves and be proud to tell their own beautiful story; to enhance their natural features and who they’ve become—not try to cover up flaws, look like somebody else, or transform their look completely.”
“I’m so grateful. I feel so blessed. I’m really thankful,” an overwhelmed Jennylyn, 31, said. On her story of fearless beauty which she shared in a video, the single mother testified:. “Every woman has a story to tell. Mine was of fear, heartache and loss. But also of passion, love and joy. I didn’t think I was beautiful until I found myself. Until I believed in myself. I aspire to be grateful every day. To see beauty in everybody. To be real at all times. And for this, I must be fearless.”
“With the many roles modern women play in life—a stay-at-home mom, business executive, athlete, entrepreneur, advocate—finding the time to do makeup is but one of many challenges they face every single day, which is why Max Factor continues to offer easy-to-use, value-for-money products busy women can trust to last and multitask like they do,” Max Factor Senior Brand Manager Monica Sangalang said in a statement.
Outside of her showbiz commitments and responsibilities as a mom, Jennylyn is also a serious baking enthusiast and triathlete. It doesn’t mean, though, that she neglects her movie-star looks when the cameras aren’t rolling.
She shared her essential makeup tools from the brand: “I need a pop of color on my lips. I’m so pale kung walang nakalagay na makeup. I use the LipColor Elixir, which is nude, matte, creamy and moisturized. Hindi nagtsa-chap ang lips. My favorite is the Miracle Glow Duo, pwede sa cheekbones, noseline, body shimmer at pwede din sa legs; the other side for shimmer and glow while the other side gamit ko to conceal. The Facefinity Compact Foundation is very light. Para ka lang nag baby powder but talagang nako-cover n’ya ’yung red spots and pimples.”
Jennylyn is currently taping for a romantic-comedy series for her home network with a leading man she didn’t reveal. Since winning the first StarStruck artista search, she has always been a poster girl for dreaming and surviving. As the first Filipina face for Max Factor, she deserves this beautiful development in her multifaceted life.
“For me, makeup is a way to express yourself. The power that gives you the freedom as an individual to bring out the best version of yourself. There is something special about makeup na when you put in on, parang you’re in charge of any situation, parang feeling mo everything will be OK,” Jennylyn said. “Whatever life has to offer you, face it. Conquer it. Laban! I embrace life, celebrate beauty and write my own story. Despite all our struggles and hardships, we become stronger than ever armed with powerful beauty that gets better with life.”