Celebrities are no longer satisfied with being just the face of a brand. These days, your favorite Pinoy onscreen superstars—like Kathryn Bernardo and Anne Curtis—are flexing their business skills by showing that they can also become successful CEOs and entrepreneurs. And a lot of these celebs have chosen to enter the beauty business arena.
To kick off KUBO’s beauty and wellness specials this month, we’re introducing you to beauty brands launched by popular Filipino celebrities. From makeup lines to nail salons, you’d want to try all 10 on your next visit to the Philippines. Check out the list below (in no particular order):
1. Anne Curtis: blk cosmetics
When blk cosmetics started six years ago, their goal was to give Pinays the best of both worlds: premium quality and friendly price points. Anne shared that she wanted to come up with something attainable for everyone, and as blk’s creative director, she was very hands-on about the shades they offered and packaging choices that they made when it first launched.
Why you’ll love it: The brand stays up to date with the latest trends, they have all the products you’ll need to build a solid makeup routine, and they even have an official partner in the US & Canada. When you’re in PH, you can buy their products online through their website, or you can also check them out in person in their stores nationwide.
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2. Gabbi Garcia: Five Beauty
The actress-vlogger just launched the first hybrid beauty brand in the Philippines. It fuses science-based skincare with high-performance color cosmetics, but the real fun is that her products can be used multiple ways. It’s perfect for lazy girl beauty!
Why you’ll like it: Five Beauty can only be found online for now, but their website has a Virtual Try-On feature that helps you find your perfect shade. The Hybrid Colour Stick, PHP699, comes in five juicy colors. This buildable and blendable multi-use stick can be used on your cheeks, eyelids, and lips. The best part? They ship internationally via DHL Express, so you can order no matter where you’re based. Email [email protected] so they can provide more details about shipping lead times and rates.
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3. Kathryn Bernardo: KathNails by KCMB
Kathryn decided to open a nail salon as a gift to her mom back in 2017 (her ex, Daniel Padilla, was even there on the very first day it opened). When she started the business, all Kath really wanted was for her mom and her sisters to have a small business that they can manage together. But thanks to the support of her fans and the quality of services they offer, she now has several branches all over Metro Manila and is even open to franchising both in PH and abroad.
Why you’ll like it: Although they’re known for their impeccable manicures and nail art designs, KathNails can be a one-stop shop for those who need head-to-toe pampering, especially after a long-haul flight. This salon and spa offers massages, threading, eyelash enhancement, and waxing. They even hosts spa parties. If you’re looking for a relaxing bonding session with your little pamangkins (nieces and nephews), try getting a mani-pedi or a foot spa with them here. They have reasonably-priced nail services for kids, so it’s a great, budget-friendly way to create core memories during your visit.
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KathNails has branches at SM North (+63915-1318642), SM Fairview (+63927-4342523), and Robinsons Galleria (+63906-4528157), all in Quezon City; SM Southmall (+63906-4528105) in Las Piñas; SM Mall of Asia (+63915-2811157) in Pasay; and Robinsons Manila (+63919-2702377). Visit their Facebook page for more info.
4. Heart Evangelista: Pure Living
Known as a fashion influencer worldwide, Heart actually has her own lifestyle brand called Pure Living, which she launched with her sister because she wanted women to have “a premium spa experience” from their home. It consists of three different lines: Luxelle (for beauty tools and creams), Vitasense (Korean-made attachable showerhead filters), and Ultima (for aromatherapy needs like essential oils and diffusers). Pure Living also offers a partnership program for women who want to build their own business. Find out more about it here.
Why you’ll like it: From pimple patches worth PHP210 to RF (radio frequency) beauty wands worth PHP8,400, there’s guaranteed to be something for everybody. But what really caught our eye is the Luxelle Low Laser Growth Comb, which uses high frequency soundwave vibration to help promote blood circulation and hair regeneration—perfect for those who are worried about hair fall and want to invest a little more in their beauty routine.
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5. Andrea Brillantes: Lucky Beauty
Inspired by Kylie Jenner, Andrea decided to turn her passion for makeup into a business. She chose this for her first venture because if she stops working in showbiz someday, she wanted her backup plan to be something that she was also interested in.
Why you’ll like it: The actress thinks of makeup as a “wearable lucky charm,” and hopes that everyone can have a feeling of “good luck” when they use her products. If you can only try one product, make sure it’s the Brow Grip, PHP299. Andrea is known for her brows, so this water-resistant, clear gel sold out instantly when it was launched. You can buy it online when you’re in PH via Shopee.ph.
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6. Vice Ganda: Vice Cosmetics
“Ganda for all” (beauty for everybody) is the motto that guides the inclusive brand whenever they create a product. Vice saw how much his mother loved wearing lipstick when he was growing up and felt heartbroken when he realized that she couldn’t really afford it. This served as his inspiration to make sure that no matter what your financial situation in life is, you can always afford to buy lipstick via Vice Cosmetics.
Why you’ll love it: The brand has everything from eyeshadows to makeup tools, but what they’re really known for is their wide range of lip products and lip kits, all of which you can buy in department stores and drug stores in PH, as well as online via Shopee. Bonus tip: The affordable price points are perfect for mini pasalubong treats for your family, officemates, and friends abroad, so they can sample a PH beauty brand, from a celeb to boot.
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7. Georgina Wilson & Jessica Wilson: Sunnies Face
Together with their fellow It girls Bea Soriano and Martine Cajucom, the Wilson sisters founded Sunnies Face back in 2013. After 10 years of success and multiple features in international sites such as Allure, Into The Gloss, Glamour, and Forbes, it’s safe to say that this proudly Filipino brand has truly reached global success.
Why you’ll love it: The packaging is youthful, fresh, and fun to pull out of your makeup bag and you’ll appreciate how Pinay-friendly all their makeup shades are. If you’re looking for a premium makeup brand to bring back abroad from your PH trip, this should be it. Tip: Sign up for the Sunnies Face newsletter on their website to get an extra 10% off your order.
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8. Elisse Joson: Lunch Break Beauty
Actress and former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Elisse is passionate about self-care, so she wanted to help people have a much-deserved break from the comforts of their own home. All you have to do is DM them on their IG account to set an appointment, but thanks to all their success, they’ll be opening up their first on-site branch soon!
Why you’ll like it: This beauty biz offers at-home services like eyelash extensions, eyebrow grooming, various kinds of IV drips, hair services, and of course, mani-pedis. So if you’re not in the mood to brave Metro Manila traffic during your limited time in PH, or just don’t want to risk running into people while you’re not looking Manila-ready yet, sched an appointment to get all dolled up at home.
9. Sofia Andres: Zoe Essentials
Sofia is known as a commercial model and actress (she’s in She’s Dating the Gangster and Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig, among many others), but she’s also a mom and a business owner. Her brand, Zoe Essentials, was named after her daughter and was born out of her desire to protect her loved ones during the pandemic.
Why you’ll like it: Spraying alcohol is a norm for Filipinos, but the strong scent can be too much for non-Filipinos who aren’t familiar with this hygiene practice. Zoe Essentials combines premium perfume essential oils and alcohol in one classy bottle, so you can sanitize your hands and smell good at the same time. Fun fact: The brand’s alcohol sprays became so successful that they launched a hypoallergenic, baby-friendly body wash line with the same signature scents just a few months after. Detailed instructions for ordering online can be found on their Instagram.
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10. Dr. Vicki Belo: Belo Medical Group, Belo Essentials
“Thank you, Doktora!” Nearly 33 years ago, this famous line could be heard all over television whenever celebrities would sign-off from a show—and it was all because of celebrity doctor Vicki Belo. While a celebrity in her own right, having established herself as a leader and innovator in the beauty industry and a popular media personality, her roster of celebrity clients are just as impressive—including the likes of Piolo Pascual, Rhian Ramos, Julia Barretto, Lovi Poe, Janine Gutierrez, Sarah Geronimo, and many more! She offers a wide array of top-of-the-line beauty services (such as Thermage, Botox, specialty facials, and Ulthera) at her clinics that you can try on your next PH trip, and she is also a trusted brand when it comes to the different soaps, sun protection, and baby care products that she’s launched in the local market under Belo Essentials.
Why you’ll love it: Visiting a Belo clinic may seem intimidating at first, but their staff always welcomes you with a smile on their face and they always aim to make you feel like a VIP. Consult with one of their expert doctors to find out how you can get gorgeous, youthful, celebrity-looking skin. Click here for their list of clinics around Metro Manila, as well as in Clark, Cebu, and Davao.
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Just want to try Belo Essentials products? Their best-sellers, such as their sunscreens, whitening soaps, and collagen drinks, are available in department stores and drug stores nationwide and also sold in bulk sets on their website. This way, you can buy at a cheaper price and have enough to give away as pasalubong when you fly back abroad.
