Last Sunday, the latest lipstick shade from Happy Skin Cosmetics was featured on the front page of The Philippine Star. Have you heard of something like that before, a lipstick being mentioned right above the headline of a national daily? It's such a huge coup for Happy Skin - a local brand, no less!

But what's the fuss about? Kris Aquino, perhaps the most influential lifestyle personality in the Philippines and a cultural icon in her own right, recently collaborated with Happy Skin to create her first ever lipstick shade: The Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me in Valentine Kiss (P549). She was quite involved in the process, swatching different shades of pink and being very specific about the color she wants to have for her limited edition shade.

I was actually surprised that Kris hasn't done something like this earlier considering how much of a beauty fan she is. Apparently, she really loved the formula of Shut Up & Kiss Me and asked the co-founders, Jacqe Yuengtian-Gutierrez and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, to help her make her perfect pink.

So that's how Valentine Kiss came to be. I've already reviewed the formula of Shut Up & Kiss Me, so this post will really be more about the shade and swatch comparisons. Read on! 

Kris Aquino is on Preview magazine's cover this May! Saw it on Twitter the other day and I was instantly transfixed. We've seen Kris in ball gowns, elaborate cocktail dresses, even smart casual wear, but never in a menswear-inspired look. I think it's a fresh and interesting take on her, even though "gorgeous" is not the first word that comes to mind.

Try "whoa".

More behind the scenes photos from Stylebible!