Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi has recently reached another milestone: launch her own beauty brand.
Her dream became a reality on October 10, 2024, when she introduced her lip-care brand, Azul, at Manila House in Bonifacio Global City.
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Celeste beamed, "This is my first brand.
"It's a lip-care brand and we came up with our first product, which is a lip plumper."
Celeste was very proud about the outcome of her passion project, which was two years in the making.
"Actually, guys, I've been working on this for already two years, right after Miss Universe," she said.
"I'm so so proud that it's finally happening. And I just love it so much."
Why did she name her brand Azul?
Celeste answered, "Azul because 'Celeste' means 'Asul.' So, you know, I was playing with some different languages, like Tagalog and Spanish.
"And, of course, 'Azul' in Spanish and Tagalog means 'Celeste.' That's why it really represents me one hundred percent."
CELESTE CORTESI: CREATING AZUL
When asked why she ventured into lip care, Celeste explained that it's one of the quickest ways to boost confidence. For this reason, she prioritized delivering a product that combines premium quality with affordability.
In her words, "I've always been so obsessed with my lips and lip care in general.
"So I really wanted to create something that will help people feel confident when they're wearing it.
"And also, you know, something that is very premium, very affordable, at the same time."
Celeste also mentioned spotting a business opportunity, observing that there are not many brands in the Philippines dedicated solely to lip care.
"I just felt like there is kind of a niche here in the Philippines. Like there is no brand that really focuses on only lip care."
The Sparkle GMA Artist Center talent added, "And I really wanted to focus on that only because, you know, sometimes people really tend to neglect their lips and just take care of other parts, like their faces and everything.
"But, you know, lips really contribute to the overall beauty. They're very very important and we should really take care of our lips just as much as others."
What makes her brand stand out?
Celeste said her lip-care product, which comes with premium ingredients, is priced at PHP399.
"I think what really makes it stand out is the premium formula. And the fact that it's very accessible and affordable for everyone.
"There are some key ingredients, like, for example, shea butter, menthol, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and my favorite, peptides."
Celeste has begun her journey with a lip plumper, but her vision for her beauty brand includes expanding into a wider array of lip-focused products.
"This is only our first product. Actually, I'm so overwhelmed because we're already thinking of our next product.
"We're already, you know, working on it. And you guys, I'm listening to every request.
"So I hope guys can also give me feedback on what you want to see new from Azul."
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