“I’ve been torn between Americans and Filipinos. I was born in Manila and live there now, but my family moved to the United States when I was six. I grew up in Orange County, California, and later worked in Los Angeles.
I’ve always loved beauty. As a kid, I loved visiting department stores and painting my whole face. In high school, I told everyone I would own a beauty brand on job day, partly because of seeing my mom put on makeup and because my family has always worked in the entertainment industry. In the Philippines, my godmother was an actress; my aunt was a beauty queen. Even my brother was an actor – he’s an interior designer now. Still, I jokingly call him the Joey Tribbiani of my life.
career
In college, I would post pictures of me and my rabbit in bras on my blog. It was a strange time for the Internet. (Laughter)American Apparel hired me because I had a certain amount of Internet visibility, and they wanted someone who knew how to navigate social platforms. It was a whirlwind experience. I remember my first week on the job. I was wearing purple eyeshadow, and in front of everyone, the CEO told me to remove it… But I’ve learned a lot, mainly when sticking to my vision and having a solid brand identity.
Around 2013, my current co-founders and close friends Bea and Eric started a clothing line called Charlie. Their glasses took off, so they approached my cousin Georgina Wilson, the host of Asia’s Next Top Model, to work with them on a spin-off brand. She was in charge of creating a marketing plan, but Georgina didn’t know what to do, so she tried to convince me to join. I never thought I’d move back; I was so deeply immersed in American life, but I agreed. To this day, driving back was one of the most significant risks I ever took, but it paid off.
We started wearing only sunglasses through Sunneys Studios. Whenever we shot Filipinos at promotional events, it was always challenging to find the correct lips. Historically, Southeast Asian women have been underrepresented. There was a subtlety to our tone that the company didn’t get right – like, nudity looks pale. So, I’ll be on the spot mixing these perfect lip colors with different lipsticks for our campaign. When people see our ads, they ask, ‘What lip products are you using?’ That’s how our cosmetics brand, Sunnies Face, was born.
We tested more than 300 different colors of Fluffmate, our matte lipsticks, and hero products. In the Philippines, we are a melting pot and need colors that fit the whole spectrum. I remember being very nervous when we launched. Still, when we launched, the response was completely different from what I had imagined. I mean, people waited eight hours to get their lipstick! We placed orders that were supposed to last six months, but at the rate people buy, we’ll run out of product in three weeks. We had to limit the amount people could buy because they bought about 100 lipsticks and resold them for three times the price. It shocked me. To this day, I wonder, ‘How did this happen? That’s crazy.”
skin
I’m different from the kind of guy who has a 15-step plan. I take good care of my skin.
I don’t wash my face in the morning because I like to keep the natural oils on my face. Instead, I go straight to the coconut milk barrier Serum. It’s cheap, and it makes my skin feel moisturized. Then, I use Sunnie Face Dream cream. My skin soaked it up like a sponge. I like the essence gel formula, which is also very useful for sensitive skin.
As a mother and a businessperson, sometimes I don’t sleep much and wake up with a puffy face. I like to freeze green tea bags and use them instead. Caffeine constricts blood vessels, and I’ve found it more effective than any expensive eye care product. And it’s sustainable: if I make a cup of green tea for breakfast, I throw the teabag in the fridge and use it later.
I now use our Sunnies Face Sunsafe sunscreen. It completely changed how I look at sunscreen; Wearing it used to be a chore, and now I feel so happy. It’s invisible, fragrance-free, and 50 times broader.
At night, a facial cleanser is something I mix and use according to how my skin feels. I like a makeup remover from Sunnies called Face Erase. Still, sometimes, when putting on my face to shine, I want to use Tata Harper Nourishing Cleansing Oil to dissolve my makeup. I also love Avavent’s XeraCalm ad lipid supplement cleansing oil because it’s so good for sensitive skin, and iS Clinical’s cleansing compound has been a recurring purchase of mine for years. I love the slippery, slimy texture of this recipe. If the weather is mild, I opt for Biologique Lait U cleanser (note: discontinued). It gives a feeling of nourishment and cleanliness.
Sometimes, I use a physical exfoliator – tatcha’s rice polish works well when my skin feels dirty -. Still, I like to use a chemical exfoliator. During the pandemic, I delved into the cult products I hadn’t tried yet, and Biologique’s P50 was at the top of my list. I have yet to look back since I bought it. It makes my skin as smooth as butter and seems pore-free and firm the morning after use. It was true what they said: it smelled terrible, but the smell made me think, ‘There must be something delicious here.’ ‘
I also use Cocokind Barrier Serum and Sunnies Face Dream Cream at night. Still, I like Drunk Elephant’s Protini if I need a more decadent cream, as it never feels heavy on my skin. I usually finish with a Caudalie Beauty Essence mask. This is a must, especially in the summer and when I travel. The Lese’s blood mist is excellent, too.
I have a good relationship with the dermatologist in Manila. Her name is Dr. Victoria Bello, and I use her for all my treatments. Specifically, I’m a laser enthusiast. If there’s a new laser on the market, I’ve already tried it. I made a lot of PicoSure, which is like a mini Fraxel. I have used Softwave. I did Usra. For recovery after treatment, I use av<e:1> Cicalfate+ Repair protective cream.
I’m a big advocate of dry brushing; I don’t drink coffee, but brushing my hair dry quickly before showering wakes me up. In general, I like any ritual that promotes lymphatic flow and excretion because, during my pregnancy two and a half years ago, I developed Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which paralyzed half my face. Scraping, as well as doing lots of lymphatic exercises, has been incredibly healing for me. I love the unique shape of my glasses carved from the Beetox method for my chin.
For facial lymphatic treatment, I went to April Bodie in Melbourne. She has this technique where she sticks your mouth out. I also enjoy working with Bee Czarnota, the founder of the Beetox method. I swear she has the power to heal. When I’m in LA, I go to Ricari and Face Gym.
Ramsey Hunt syndrome
Ramsey Hunt has facial paralysis caused by shingles. Shingles is a latent chickenpox virus that lives in your nervous system and wakes up when your immune system is compromised, such as when you’re stressed or pregnant. In my case, this is my experience in 2020. The virus attacks the facial nerves and paralyzes half your face. Statistically, if you contract the virus during pregnancy, your chances of recovery are very slim. At least, that’s what I’ve been told.
When I got Ramsey’s disease, I thought, ‘How am I going to face the world without my pre-epidemic face?’ In a way, the pandemic made me hide. I was in Australia – my husband and I had a long-distance relationship for over a decade – and we were locked down for 160 days, and I didn’t leave the house. While it was hard, it also allowed me to heal and come to terms with my paralysis, which was very, very difficult emotionally and mentally. It took me three years to come to terms with and embrace it, and I’m in a great place now.
Makeup
As corny as it sounds, makeup makes me feel good when dealing with Ramsey. I love no makeup, but I also like cat eyes, feathery eyebrows, smooth cheeks, and nice matte lips. I love warm, peachy nudes – a tinted beauty.
I started with the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer or the Sunnies Face Perfector. As for foundation, I’ll be wearing Makeup by Mario’s SurrealSkin Liquid (6W shades), Saie’s Slip Tint(3 + half shades), and Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’ r Soft Matte Longwear Switch between Liquid (5 Light Medium chromaticity). My favorites are Cosas Concealer, Concealer Shade 05, and Sunny Face Skin, which are excellent in cashews.
I absolutely love the whole lip line at Sunny Face. In our Fluffmatte collection, my signature color is Vacay, a peachy nude pink. It’s especially close to my heart because, for years, I couldn’t find a peach that suited my skin tone. We have an exciting new lip product called Fluff Balm. This is a mixture of lip balm and lipstick, perfect for everyday use. I especially like the perfect pink one.
I took some Super gel as a highlighter in Starglow. I like how it makes my skin shine and moisturize. As for the bronzer, I’ve been using Baige’s Hura bronzer since I was 14, and it’s always been successful. I love Chanel’s 392 Sun Brown Medium Bronzer for a Healthy-Gloss Bronzer. Glossier’s cloud paint – peach beams and brown dusk – was one of the first products to make me fall in love with a new approach to blush.
I use Kevyn Aucoin eyelash curlers to curl my lashes but to be honest; I’m not loyal to any mascara. I’m partial to Sunneys’ eyelash lift, but I go with Maybelline’s Sky High when I want something a little more dramatic. For eyeliner, I use Revlon’s ColorStay in Black and Brown. I’ve used it since high school, and its packaging has not changed in 20 years.
hair
I had to be well-maintained in the salon chair so my hair could be less maintained between visits. That’s my philosophy.
I visit Mina, my stylist at Easthaven Salon, when I’m in LA. I only go to myself to dye my hair if Anna-Lee Fiorino at Chaz Dean Studio. Her colors are the most perfect – believe me, I’ve tried many different colors and cried many times in many salon chairs. My hair was dark, and she kept it soft when dyed. I’ll fly over and see her.
Anna-lee will take you outside to see where the sun naturally hits your hair, and then she’ll put it on. I read the big, thick book she had given me, which contained countless calculations I had made over a decade of meeting her. What she did with her hair was so scientific and artistic that I would never cheat on her again. I cheated on her during the pandemic, and I was devastated. I apologized to her and said, ‘I can’t leave the country.’ I needed to do something, but I made a mistake.”
Between visits, I try to wash my hair every other day. I use either Sachajuan Marine Mist shampoo or Philip B. Peppermint avocado shampoo. I have never used conditioners; I am trying to remember the last one I bought. I style it with a Dyson supersonic hair dryer and GHD hair curlers.
fragrance
I didn’t wear perfume for long during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so I just rediscovered my love for perfume. I like neutral best. I always go back to Tacit from Aesop because I like its fresh, clean taste, which could be sweeter. I also like Another 13 at Le Labo and Tom Ford’s White Suede at Night.
In good health
When it comes to health, I subscribe to everything. I don’t have to take supplements but love all the Moon juice tinctures. They fit me. When I take statins in the morning, I feel my brain is awake, and when I take magnesium in the evening, I think my brain is calm. Magnesium also helps regulate your digestive system, which I appreciate.
Indulging in toothpaste has become one of the ultimate luxuries of my adult life. Marvis’ aquatic mint flavor perfectly balances a delicious minty aroma with a delightful crisp sweetness. I can’t recommend it enough to make your brushing experience more enjoyable.
Speaking of happiness, I recently invested in Jellytime, a Filipino sexual health company. They have great toys and personal lubricants. I strongly believe in changing the conversation about sex, especially in a more conservative country like the Philippines.
In the shower, I love Dr. Till’s Eucalyptus and Peppermint body wash and Eurospa Source’s Eucalyptus Bath Spray, a game-changing home spa feel. I’ve been using Dr. Bronner’s pure Castile soap since high school, and I love how the mint makes my skin tingle.
