“I’ve at all times been very in between being American and Filipino. I used to be born in Manila, the place I stay now, however my household moved to the USA after I was six. I grew up in Orange County, California and later labored in LA.

I’ve at all times, at all times been into magnificence. As a child, I beloved going to the division retailer and portray my complete face. In highschool, throughout profession day, I advised everybody that I used to be going to have a magnificence model. A part of that got here from seeing my mother put make-up on, but additionally as a result of my household has been within the leisure trade my complete life. Within the Philippines my godmother was an actress, my aunt was a magnificence queen, and even my brother was an actor—he’s an inside designer now, however I jokingly name him the Joey Tribbiani of my life.

CAREER
In faculty, I’d submit photographs of me and my bunny in my bra on my weblog. It was a bizarre time for the web. [Laughs] American Attire employed me as a result of I had some form of web presence, and so they wished any individual who knew navigate social platforms. It was a whirlwind expertise. I nonetheless keep in mind after I got here into work the primary week carrying purple eyeshadow, and, in entrance of everybody, the CEO advised me to wipe it off… However I realized a lot, particularly about staying true to a imaginative and prescient and having a very robust identification as a model.

Round 2013, my now co-founders and shut mates Bea and Eric began an attire line known as Charlie. Their eyewear actually took off, and they also approached my cousin Georgina Wilson, who was the host of Asia’s Subsequent High Mannequin, to companion with them on a spin-off model. She was in command of making a advertising and marketing plan, however Georgina had no concept how to try this, and so she tried to persuade me to come back on board. I by no means imagined that I’d transfer again; I used to be so deeply into my life in America, however I agreed. To at the present time, shifting again was one of many greatest dangers I’ve ever taken—however it’s paid off.

We began off with simply sun shades by way of Sunnies Studios, and each time we shot a Filipina in our campaigns, it was at all times a wrestle getting the appropriate lip. Traditionally, Southeast Asian ladies have been so underrepresented [in beauty]. There’s a subtlety to our tones that firms didn’t get proper—nudes regarded ashy, for instance. So for our campaigns I’d combine these good lip colours on set utilizing totally different lipsticks. When individuals noticed our campaigns, they had been consistently asking, ‘What lip merchandise did you guys use?’ That is how our cosmetics model Sunnies Face was born.

We examined over 300 totally different samples of colours for Fluffmate, our matte lipstick and hero product. Within the Philippines we’re fairly a melting pot, and we wanted to have colours that suited that complete spectrum. I keep in mind I used to be so nervous to launch, however once we did, the response was in contrast to something I had ever imagined. I imply, individuals had been ready for eight hours to get lipstick! We had put in an order that we thought was going to final six months, and on the fee that folks had been shopping for, we had been going to expire in three weeks. We needed to prohibit the quantity individuals might purchase as a result of they had been shopping for like 100 lipsticks after which reselling them for triple the fee. It floored me. Even to at the present time, I am like, ‘How did that occur? That was wild.’

SKIN
I’m not that one that has a 15-step routine. My pores and skin’s fairly low upkeep in that means.

I don’t wash my face within the morning as a result of I wish to hold the pure oils on my face. As an alternative, I’m going straight into the Cocokind Barrier Serum. It’s actually cheap, and it makes my pores and skin really feel so hydrated. Then I take advantage of the Sunnies Face Dream Cream. My pores and skin soaks it up like a sponge. I’m obsessive about the serum-gel formulation, which is nice for delicate pores and skin, too.

As a mother and as somebody who runs a enterprise, generally I don’t get a lot sleep and my face wakes up fairly puffy. I really like freezing inexperienced tea baggage and utilizing them to depuff. The caffeine constricts blood vessels, and I discover they work higher than any of these costly eye merchandise on the market. Additionally, it’s fairly sustainable: If I make a inexperienced tea for breakfast, I’ll chuck the tea bag within the freezer for later.

I’m presently utilizing our Sunnies Face Sunsafe for sunscreen. It’s fully modified how I view sunscreen; placing on SPF was once such a chore, and now I discover it such a pleasure. It’s invisible, fragrance-free, and it’s issue 50 with a broad spectrum.

At evening, cleansers are the one factor that I combine up relying on how my pores and skin is feeling. I’ve a make-up remover from Sunnies known as Face Erase, and I actually love that a lot, however generally, after I’ve worn a full face of glam, I really like utilizing the Tata Harper Nourishing Cleaning Oil to dissolve my make-up. I additionally love Avène’s XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleaning Oil as a result of it’s nice for delicate pores and skin, and iS Medical’s Cleaning Advanced has been a relentless repurchase for years. I really like the slippery, mucus-like texture of the formulation. If it’s been a light day, the Biologique Lait U Cleaning Milk [note: discontinued] is my go-to. It feels nourishing and cleaning suddenly.

Typically I take advantage of a bodily exfoliator—Tatcha’s Rice Polish is nice for days the place my pores and skin feels a bit grimier—however I really like utilizing chemical exfoliants. In the course of the pandemic, I did a deep dive on the cult-following merchandise I hadn’t tried but, and Biologique’s P50 was on the high of my checklist. I haven’t regarded again since I purchased it. It leaves my pores and skin buttery easy, and the morning after I take advantage of it, my pores and skin seems poreless and tight. It’s true what they are saying although: It smells terrible—however it’s terrible in a means the place I’m like, ‘There should be issues in right here that work very well.’

I take advantage of the Cocokind Barrier Serum and the Sunnies Face Dream Cream at evening, too, but when I want a richer cream, I like Drunk Elephant’s Protini as a result of it by no means feels heavy on my pores and skin. I’ll usually high that off with the Caudalie Magnificence Elixir Face Mist. It’s a should, particularly throughout the summer season and after I’m touring. Lesse’s Regeneration Mist can also be nice.

I am actually shut with my dermatologist in Manila. Her title is Dr. Victoria Belo and I’m going to her for all of my remedies. Particularly, I’m a laser fanatic. If there’s a new laser out there, belief me, I’ve tried it. I do a variety of PicoSure, which is form of like a mini Fraxel. I’ve performed Softwave. I’ve performed Ulthera. For post-treatment restoration, I take advantage of Avène’s Cicalfate+ Restorative Protecting Cream.

I’m a giant advocate for dry brushing; I don’t drink espresso, however a fast dry brush earlier than my bathe wakes me up like nothing else. On the whole, I really like any ritual that promotes lymphatic movement and drainage as a result of throughout my being pregnant two and a half years in the past, I got here down with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which paralyzed half of my face. Gua sha, and doing a variety of lymphatic workouts, has been extremely therapeutic for me. I really like the actual form of my gua sha from The Beetox Methodology for sculpting my jaw.

For facial lymphatic remedies, I’m going to April Bodie in Melbourne. She has a way the place she actually stretches out your mouth. I additionally love working with Bee Czarnota, the founding father of the Beetox Methodology. I swear she has therapeutic powers. Once I’m in LA, I’m going to Ricari and Face Gymnasium.

RAMSAY HUNT SYNDROME
Ramsay Hunt is a facial paralysis brought on by shingles. Shingles is principally the dormant chickenpox virus that lives on in your nervous system and is woke up when your immune system is compromised, like whenever you’re burdened or pregnant. In my case, it was each—good day to my 2020 expertise. The virus assaults a facial nerve which may go away half of your face paralyzed. Statistically, for those who contract it whereas pregnant, your probabilities of your restoration are fairly slim. Or so I’ve been advised.

Once I got here down with Ramsay, I assumed, ‘How am I going to face the world with a face that isn’t the identical one which I had pre-pandemic?’ In a means, the pandemic let me conceal. I used to be in Australia—my husband and I’ve been in an extended distance relationship for over a decade—and we had been in lockdown for 160 days and I simply didn’t go away the home. Though that was exhausting, it additionally let me heal and are available to phrases with my paralysis, which was actually, actually tough emotionally and mentally. I’ve had three years to simply accept it and be OK with it, and I’m in place now.

MAKEUP
As trite because it sounds, placing on make-up made me really feel actually good in coping with Ramsay. I really like no-makeup make-up, however I actually additionally love a cat eye, a feathered forehead, a shiny cheek, and a very stunning matte lip that’s blurred out. I’m all about heat, peachy nudes—a tonal form of magnificence.

I begin off with both the Fenty Magnificence Professional Filt’r Prompt Retouch Primer or the Sunnies Face Perfector. For basis, I change between Make-up by Mario’s SurrealSkin Liquid (in shade 6W), Saie’s Slip Tint (in shade Three + Half) and Fenty Magnificence’s Professional Filt’r Mushy Matte Longwear Liquid (in shade 5 Gentle Medium). I high it off Kosas Revealer Concealer in shade 05 and Sunnies Face Pores and skin So Good Multistick in Cashew.

I’ve a love affair with our complete lip vary from Sunnies Face. From our Fluffmatte vary, I’d say my signature coloration is Vacay, which is a peachy nude pink. It’s notably near my coronary heart as a result of for years I couldn’t discover a wearable peach for my pores and skin tone. We’ve an thrilling new lip product known as Fluffbalm. It’s a lip balm and lipstick hybrid, and it’s good for day by day put on. I particularly adore it within the shade Good Pink.

I seize Saie’s Tremendous Gel in Starglow for highlighter. I really like how glowy and dewy it makes my pores and skin. For bronzer, I’ve been utilizing Profit’s Hoola Bronzer since I used to be 14 years previous, and it’s by no means failed. I additionally love Chanel’s Wholesome Glow Bronzing Cream in shade 392 Soleil Tan Medium Bronze. And Glossier’s Cloud Paint—the peachy Beam and the brownish Nightfall—was one of many first merchandise that made me love a brand new strategy to blush.

To curve my lashes, I take advantage of the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Roller, however I’ve no loyalty to any mascara to be sincere. Clearly, I’m a fan of Sunnies’s Lashlift, however after I need one thing a bit extra dramatic, I take advantage of Maybelline’s Sky Excessive. For eyeliner, I take advantage of the Revlon ColorStay in Black Brown. I’ve been utilizing it since I used to be in highschool, and I don’t assume the packaging has modified in 20 years.

HAIR
I’ve to be excessive upkeep in a salon chair in order that my hair could be low upkeep in between visits. That’s my philosophy.

Once I’m in LA, I be certain that to see my stylist Mina at Easthaven Salon, and I by no means coloration my hair with anybody aside from Anna-Lee Fiorino at Chaz Dean Studio. She does essentially the most good coloration—belief me, I’ve tried many various colours and cried many occasions in lots of, many salon chairs. I’ve actually darkish hair, and he or she retains its softness whereas lifting the colour. I’ll actually fly to see her.

Anna-Lee takes you exterior and sees the place the solar naturally hits your hair, and he or she’ll paint that in. I’ve regarded on the large, thick e book she has for me, and it has numerous calculations from over a decade of seeing her. She actually approaches hair with such a science and an artistry that I’ll by no means cheat on her… once more. I cheated on her as soon as throughout the pandemic and I used to be so unhappy. I went to her apologetic, like, ‘I could not go away the nation. I wanted to do one thing, and I made a mistake.’

In between visits, I attempt to wash my hair each different day. I take advantage of both Sachajuan Ocean Mist Quantity Shampoo or the Philip B. Peppermint Avocado Shampoo. I truthfully infrequently use conditioners; I can’t even keep in mind the final one I purchased. To type it, I take advantage of the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and GHD Curling Iron.

FRAGRANCE
I ended carrying perfume for fairly a while whereas pregnant and breastfeeding, so I’m solely semi-discovering my love for scents once more. I like unisex ones the very best. I at all times come again to Tacit from Aesop as a result of I really like how contemporary and clear—and never overly candy—it smells. I additionally love One other 13 from Le Labo, and for the evenings, White Suede from Tom Ford.

BODY AND WELLNESS
In relation to wellness, I subscribe to all of it. I do not essentially take dietary supplements, however I really like all the Moon Juice tinctures. They actually work for me. Once I take Ting within the morning, I really feel my mind get up, and after I take Magnesi-Om at evening, I really feel my mind calming down. Magnesi-Om additionally helps regulate your digestive system, which I actually admire.

Indulging in toothpaste has develop into one in every of my final grownup luxuries. The Aquatic Mint taste from Marvis has the right stability of a yummy aromatic mint blended with a pleasing crisp sweetness. I can’t suggest it sufficient to make your brushing expertise that rather more pleasurable.

Talking of delight, I not too long ago invested in Filipino-based sexual wellness firm Jellytime. They’ve wonderful toys and private lubricant. I’m a giant believer in altering the dialog round sexuality, particularly in a extra conservative nation just like the Philippines.

Within the bathe, I really like Dr. Teal’s Eucalyptus and Spearmint Physique Wash and European Spa Supply’s Eucalyptus Showerspa Mist, which is game-changing for a spa-at-home really feel. I’ve been utilizing Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Cleaning soap since I used to be in highschool, and I really like how the peppermint makes my pores and skin tingle.

I’ve tried to wean my physique off of lotion as a result of I don’t need my pores and skin to be so reliant on that—and I truly don’t assume your physique essentially wants it—however generally I like Avène’s XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Balm.”

— As advised to Daise Bedolla

Photographed by JM Tubera in Manila on March 25, 2023