Agree or not? Nylon Magazine thinks Filipino Beauty is poised to become the next K-Beauty
We don’t want to jinx it, but F-Beauty may just be the next big trend you’ll hear the global beauty community buzzing about. Earlier this year, Nylon published an article heralding the entry of Filipino Beauty to the global stage. Nylon’s fearless forecast? Filipino Beauty, or F-Beauty in short, is on its way to achieving K-Beauty status.
With a home-grown brand like Sunnies Face capturing global attention with their chic campaign images on Instagram, the Nylon hazards that Filipino Beauty may soon rival K-Beauty. Considering the clamor for worldwide shipping on their comments section, we’re inclined to agree!
Here’s a run-through on Nylon’s take on F-beauty to fill you in.
What is F-Beauty?
According to Nylon, Filipino Beauty, or F-Beauty, is defined by “innovative formulas, Instagram-ready packaging, and tons of color.” Sounds about right!
Add those to the fact that F-Beauty caters to a wide array of skin-tones, is paraben-free, and cruelty-free, and you’ve got yourself a hit with the increasingly conscious American consumers. Paired with brilliant marketing and price tags that are pegged lower than most US brands, F-Beauty is heaven-sent for anyone looking for affordable and inclusive products from ethical brands.
Nylon credits Sunnies Face for drawing global attention to other Filipino Beauty brands. Thanks to the overwhelming social media reception that the brand has enjoyed on Instagram, international beauty publications began to take notice of the Philippine beauty industry.
Nylon lists Sunnies Face along with BLK Cosmetics, Careline, Happy Skin, and Vice Cosmetics as F-Beauty brands to look out for. Needless to say, this is a major moment for any Filipino beauty brand, and we couldn’t help but gleam with pride!
What else we wish F-beauty could be
Now that we got F-Beauty according to Nylon covered, let’s talk about the flip side. I came across a riveting subreddit discussion that argues that the Filipino brands Nylon featured were heavily patterned after K-Beauty. At face-value, you can certainly see the K-Beauty influence. Personally, I don’t see it as a demerit per se. Brands taking inspiration from their contemporaries and existing trends isn’t new.
Admittedly though, this begs the question; how can F-Beauty differentiate itself from K-Beauty?
When we hear K-Beauty, we think of the 11-step skincare routine, the glass skin obsession, the popularity of BB creams, and other lighter coverage complexion cosmetics. K-Beauty heavily reflects the South Koreans’ natural and skin care-focused approach to beauty. K-Beauty, for all intent and purpose, is a lifestyle - one that has gone global.
We want that for Filipino Beauty. Thanks to the Nylon Feature, we just might. However, Nylon’s discussion on F-Beauty mainly revolved around the featured Filipino beauty brands, as opposed to makeup and skincare trends observed in everyday Filipinos. While we love the shoutout to local brands, I believe a discussion on the latter could portray Filipino beauty better.
How great would it be if the Filipino Beauty the rest of the world sees is one that is entwined with the Filipino experience? I’d like to believe this is within reach.
Aside from being easy-to-use, inclusive, and multipurpose; F-Beauty can carve its place on the international beauty map with sweat-resistant makeup that can withstand commuting in hot and humid climates similar to the Philippines, long-wearing plus sun-care infused makeup to battle sun damage in tropical regions, packaging that features world-class Pinoy artistry, and product concepts that reflect the Philippine’s vibrant traditions and cultures. The best part? There are already a number of home-grown brands that fit the bill.
Beyond the five Nylon featured, these local beauty brands deserve the love too:
Ellana Mineral Cosmetics offers heat-resistant & SPF-infused makeup for every Filipino skin tone.
Colourette’s multi-functional and Filipina-friendly products are locally-made.
Filipinta creates vibrant eyeshadow palettes and lip products heavily- inspired by Filipino culture.
VMV Hypoallergenics’ research-based skincare can give international brands a run for their money.
Celeteque is another science-driven brand that offers makeup for different skin types and issues.
Issy & Co prides itself for providing on-the-go Filipinos with long-wearing and affordable products
What else did I miss? Sound off in the comments below and share your go-to local brands and your favorite product from them!
So, to answer the question, F-Beauty can differentiate itself from K-Beauty by honing in on the features that make it intrinsically Filipino. Should other international beauty and fashion publications cover F-Beauty, we hope that this time, they will highlight the characteristics that reflect the unique yet relatable Filipino experience. This might just cement F-Beauty as the next big global beauty trend we believe it can be.
