This month of independence, we’re all about Filipino pride and celebrating Filipino creatives. Now more than ever, the beauty space has found itself populated by diverse creators who are constantly pushing for representation, authenticity, and creativity. With that said, we’ve gathered some beauty content creators who are making a name for themselves one video at a time.

Read below to know what they love about being a Filipino, their opinions on the current Filipino beauty standards, and their pick for a local beauty product they think is world-class.

Teree Daisuke

TEREE DAISUKE (@tereedaisuke)

What do you love about being Filipino?

Filipinos are very talented, may it be singing, dancing, arts, pageants, etc. We are also very competitive and super supportive of anyone representing the country on a global scale.

How do you think Filipino beauty standards have changed and what else can we do to further promote our own?

Filipino beauty standards have changed by showing more diversity and inclusivity in representing Filipino beauty especially in most local beauty campaigns.

One local beauty product that the world should know about?

I think Filipino brands have mastered the formula of lip tints. Since before, Filipinos love to use it and it keeps on evolving together with the industry.

Kai Javier

KAI JAVIER (@_kaijavier)

What do you love about being Filipino?

I love how diverse the Philippines is. There’s just so much to do, try, and different kinds of beauty to admire! From the super good food, to beautiful spots, and the funniest people, there’s just so much to love about being Filipino.

How do you think Filipino beauty standards have changed and what else can we do to further promote our own?

I’ve always been morena and not gonna lie, growing up, I felt at a young age that I would never fit the beauty standard here. I remember being young and thinking to myself, “Would I be prettier if I was more fair?” because most of the people I look up to and am exposed to have fair skin. When I started getting into makeup and I would ask to be shade-matched in stores, it would either be 1: difficult for me to find my shade (especially with local brands at the time) or 2: they’d suggest a lighter shade. One time, when I asked for a deeper shade that would suit me better, the salesperson said, “Ha? Gusto mo ng maitim?” as if it was surprising. I had to learn to make products work with the options I had. But now, I’m glad to have options that actually fit me.Now that I’m older and have grown to love my skin tone, I’m so glad to see that morena representation and appreciation is more prevalent than ever. I now have more people complimenting my skin tone rather than telling me I’m too dark. Although we still have a long way to go and I believe there are still mentalities re: skin tone that should be unlearned, we have made a lot of progress since then. We have more options for products that fit our skin tone, little morenas and morenos are starting to see more people who look like them in the media, and we’re appreciating different kinds of skin tones now.

One local beauty product that the world should know about?

I try a lot of different local and international products but so far, one product I’ve tried that I believe is super unique is the GRWM Browlift. I haven’t tried an international brow gel like it! And it’s something I always have a backup of.

Lierge Perey

LIERGE PEREY (@pereylierge)

What do you love about being Filipino?

I love so many things about being Filipino! The warm hospitality, the strong sense of community, the delicious food, and of course, the rich cultural heritage!

How do you think Filipino beauty standards have changed and what else can we do to further promote our own?

Filipino beauty standards have definitely evolved, becoming more inclusive and diverse. To promote our own beauty standards, we can keep celebrating our unique features, push for more representation in media and fashion, and challenge beauty stereotypes!

One local beauty product that the world should know about?

One local product that the world should know about is definitely the gel liners from Issy. They have completely ousted my high-end gel liners from Make Up Forever and Stila. They don't bleed, cause panda eyes, or crack even if I put them on my wet lash line. The best part is they're only around Php300+!

Related Story: Add to Cart: Underrated Filipino Beauty Brands 2024

Iya Omana

IYA OMANA (@louiseiya)

What do you love about being Filipino?

I admire how we Filipinos are deeply passionate about the things we love. I’ve watched many Filipinos excel through their hard work and dedication to their craft. I am also proud of our uplifting spirits and the strong support we offer each other.

How do you think Filipino beauty standards have changed and what else can we do to further promote our own?

Gone are the days of only favoring light and flawless skin, straight and rebonded hair, and size two body types. We have realized that beauty goes beyond these standards. We are finally embracing our natural Filipino beauty and authenticity, no matter our skin complexion, hair, and body type.

The main reason I started a YouTube channel in 2018 was because I couldn’t find a shade reference online; most, if not all, featured lighter complexions. Hence, I started a Morena Makeup Tutorial series. It has indeed helped my morena sisters find the right shade and makeup for them. So I really do believe that in our own little ways, we can continue to shape the Filipino beauty scene. Let us be our own representation and inspiration for others.

One local beauty product that the world should know about?

Issy Active Foundation! It can honestly compete with renowned international foundations. It has an inclusive shade range, skin-like, buildable finish, and ultra-comfortable wear.

Jessy So

JESSY SO (@hellojesso)

What do you love about being Filipino?

That we always have room for and reason to smile and make others smile. Non-Filipinos will never understand the joy of repeating words. Words?!? Hahaha if you know you know!

How do you think Filipino beauty standards have changed and what else can we do to promote our own further?

I personally don't think they've changed a lot, but there is more space for different Filipino voices now so there have been more open conversations on skin tones, skin depths, and makeup styles (in the same way there are more fashion styles). If anything, I find that people are less afraid to explore a lot more and just have fun with all things beauty.

One local beauty product that the world should know about?

The Dessert Lounge from local fragrance brand Home Studio Scents! Though they started with candles, I find their perfumes commendable also! With notes like honeydew nectar, creamy milk, iris, oatmeal, fresh honey, and cantaloupe, I think it does a really good job of capturing a loud, playful and festive feeling like a hearty laugh bubbling in your chest.

Cara de Jesus

CARA DE JESUS (@helloimcaradj)

What do you love about being Filipino?

I love our creativity! I’ve worked with many different kinds of people and I’ve always noticed how quick Filipinos are to think on their feet, come up with out-of-the-box solutions and can put their own fun twist on things. From Filipino humor, cuisine, arts, fashion and beauty, seeing the industry transform in the past few years has been incredibly exciting.

How do you think Filipino beauty standards have changed and what else can we do to promote our own further?

I definitely think that while we’re not 100% there yet, we’ve taken several steps towards inclusivity. Growing up, I didn’t have plenty of content creators I could relate to—I was a short and chubby kid which made it difficult to explore beauty when I was younger. Now, I see creators of all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders and I feel so proud of all of them! It’s also refreshing to see some brands feature models in campaigns who are more relatable vs. the usual celebs. We’ve got a long way to go but I’d like to think that the kids of the next generation have good (and realistic) role models to look up to!

One local beauty product that the world should know about?

The Fresh Formula Sgt. At Arms Deodorant! I will not buy anything else. I will constantly hoard this. I will never allow it to be discontinued– ever!

Related Story: The Best Local Blush Shades for Morena Girlies

Rasha Hizon

RASHA HIZON (@rasha_hizon)

What do you love about being Filipino?

Aside from being known as warm and hospitable people, I love how being a Filipino also means being passionate and resilient—we know how to work hard (and smart) and face challenges head on, all in the name of chasing our dreams however big or small. In the same vein, we also know how to have a great time and not take life too seriously. We always find comedy in tragedy—and I think that’s very profound.

How do you think Filipino beauty standards have changed and what else can we do to further promote our own?

Gone are the days when being fair-skinned was the only standard (blame it on our beauty ideals deeply rooted in our country’s colonial past). We’ve come a long way in embracing our unique Filipino beauty and skin tone, and even more so, we are proudly owning it. This is evident with how beauty products are being marketed now — the inclusivity and diversity in campaigns. I’ve read and seen a lot of women and men tell stories about how their skin color used to be an insecurity, but they are now embracing it confidently. Sure, there are still some who have outdated views on Filipino beauty standards, but I’m just grateful that conversations like this are being raised and advocated now. I hope it continues on to raise more awareness and eventually be ingrained in our culture for our current and future generations to come.

One local beauty product that the world should know about?

I must admit, this is a hard question. I have a lot of Filipino beauty faves, but if there’s one thing that truly stands out for me, one that I have used and repurchased over and over, it’s definitely the blk Cosmetics False Lash Waterproof Mascara! Volumizing, lengthening, holds a curl extremely well, long-lasting, and doesn’t give you panda eyes—definitely everything you need in a mascara in one. It easily took over my high end faves (Estee Lauder Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara and Tom Ford Badass Mascara) because it works just as good (if not better) at a fraction of the price. It’s absolutely world class in my beauty book!

Skin by Ruzz

SKIN BY RUZZ (@skincarebyruzz)

What do you love about being Filipino?

Being a Filipino is such an honor for me! Imagine being the world's epitome of resiliency, it's so empowering!

How do you think Filipino beauty standards have changed and what else can we do to further promote our own?

In the past years, I saw how we redefined beauty standards with the help of social media. One that I can mention is if we talk about skincare, the perception of people about acne has changed through the years. Now, we know more about acne and this is something that does not define our capabilities and abilities. Also, Filipinos are now more knowledgeable on how to take care of themselves in terms of beauty.If there's something we can do to keep this momentum, I believe it's us fighting misinformation and disinformation as well as having representation in different aspects of beauty.

One local beauty product that the world should know about?

I think it’d have to be sunscreen! I won't stop telling this to people, sunscreen can save you from skin cancer and help you age gracefully! Do not underestimate the power of your sunscreen!One product that I can think of is, Klued Sunscreen—that's my favorite sunscreen right now! It has everything I like! It gives off that glass skin finish but not sticky! I mean, how can that be possible! The formula is also something that can be at par with global brands! My other faves are J.Skin Beauty Suncreen and Saku Skin Sunscreen! These sunscreens are really great in our weather! Very flexible and user-friendly as well!

David Leoy

DAVID LEOY (@deileoy)

What do you love about being Filipino?

One of the things I love most about being Filipino is our innate capacity for being people-pleasers. While some might see it as a negative trait, I believe it’s a wonderful quality. As a content creator, it brings me immense joy to help my viewers with their health, beauty, and shopping concerns, making them feel great about themselves.We take pride in sharing our knowledge, helping others, and celebrating their achievements, no matter how small. It’s this genuine desire to uplift others that makes being a people-pleaser such a beautiful part of our culture.

How do you think Filipino beauty standards have changed and what else can we do to further promote our own?

The beauty standards in the Philippines have definitely transformed. I do notice Filipinos are now being more vocal about the need for diverse product offerings from brands. And even first hand as a Content Creator, some audiences of mine would comment on some of my product reviews voicing out on the lack of suitable shades for them. I also think large role models for a lot of Filipinos like Nadine Lustre, Liza Soberano, Maine Mendoza, and other morena celebrities alike, have played a significant role in this as they have been very vocal in showing love of their natural beauty.

I really think big local brands and conglomerates should reduce their reliance on imported models for local campaigns. Filipinos want to see themselves represented in advertisements; using more local models can make brands feel more relatable and relevant.

One local beauty product that the world should know about?

Gosh, my top pick has to be Clocheflame’s All-Around-Flush Multi-Use Tint. This gem stands out because it’s one of the few beauty products that’s not only sold locally but also proudly made in the Philippines. The formula is fantastic–no stability issues here, and the shades are perfectly flexible to be sheer or opaque as you like; perfect for everyday looks. I also really think it could compete with, or even outperform, those from international brands. I highly recommend trying the shades Bunny, Pixie, or Soleil – they’re absolutely gorgeous! And let’s not forget the packaging: it looks and feels premium without the hefty price tag, and it’s refreshingly unique compared to other brands.

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