Even actress, TV host, and, now, social media influencer Kris Aquino, who is blessed with clear skin—thanks to good genes, needs makeup to look presentable.
The Queen of All Media is a self-confessed makeup addict. In fact, according to her makeup artist RB Chanco, “She has makeup [products] that can last her 10 lifetimes,” enough to fit a 60-square meter condo unit.
But that doesn’t stop Aquino from getting more. On a trip to New York, she went through each row at Sephora for four hours. When she was about to pay, the cashier, who was surprised to see her haul, said, “Wow, so much makeup,” to which she simply responded, “I love makeup.”
Aquino reportedly bought about $15,000 worth of makeup on that shopping trip.
“We all have our joys and ang number one ko talaga is shoes, ang number two is makeup,” the 47-year-old mom of two said in defense of her purchase decisions.
It should be no surprise that a person with her kind of prestige has the means to satisfy all of her wants regardless of how many zeroes there are on the price tag. But despite being able to afford all the expensive makeup brands there currently are, Aquino collaborates with local cosmetics brand Ever Bilena, which is known for its affordable products.
Kris’ Life Kit
Aquino has recently launched her own makeup line under Ever Bilena, dubbed Kris’ Life Kit. The line consists of lipsticks, liquid lippies, eyebrow pencils, mascaras, powders, and blush-ons.
The initial products available from the line are the Kris Matte Matic Lipstick in Life (pink) and Love (red), and Kris Brow Liner and Brow Mascara in Happy Taupe and Beyond Brown.
More products are soon to be launched, including Kris Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Life, Love, Laugh, Lucky, and Loyal, according to Ever Bilena key accounts manager Denice Sy.
Aquino excitedly shared that she was able to pick the names for the lipstick shades. “May hugot yung mga names, (the names tug on the heartstrings)” she said.
“I wanted a lipstick named Loyal because you want the lipstick to stay put. The other one is called Laugh because everybody has to be able to laugh at themselves. The next that will also come out is called Lucky because sometimes you also need a bit of luck,” she shared.
Choosing the right shades for lipsticks is a vital matter especially if you want to be inclusive. According to Aquino, during the product development, Ever Bilena chief executive Dioceldo Sy reminded her to pick shades that would fit everybody.
“Yung skin type ko is parang five to 10 percent of the population lang, so 90 percent won’t be served daw, but I said, ‘No, boss. I’m gonna prove to you that yung choices ko can be universal’,” related Aquino.
Aquino also shared how she prefers to use her products. “You have to buy both (Matte Lipstick and Liquid Lipstick) because what I do, I mix the Matte Matic Lipstick and Liquid Lipstick and you’re alive for the rest of the day.”
‘Kilay is life’
True to her “kilay is life” mantra, Aquino made sure her Life Kit includes a brow liner with a retractable pencil that helps beginners follow the natural shape of their brows, as well as a matching brow mascara on the other end to keep their drawn on brows in place throughout the day.
“I really felt that for eyebrows to stay in place, kailangan mo ng brow mascara and you don’t want twenty million things,” she opined.
In fact, Aquino divulged that behind those “no makeup” makeup look selfies on Instagram are drawn on eyebrows. “I’ll admit kunwari nagpo-post ako ng patulog look with my kids na no makeup? I always put kilay. I don’t [put] naman a #NoMakeup [hashtag].”
Eyebrows are still important even during emergency situations, thus the additional step to her bedtime routine.
“Before sleeping, after I put on everything, nagki-kilay talaga ako just in case masunugan kami. Para kung magtatatakbo man kami sa labas, I have kilay,” she candidly said.
