Kris Bernal could not help but feel emotional when she finally achieved one of her biggest dreams: Have her own makeup brand.
On Thursday, February 7, the 29-year-old Kapuso actress officially launched SHE Cosmetics, at B.A.D. Late Night Breakfast Bar in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press, Kris said it took her ten months before her latest business project came to fruition.
Tearing up, Kris recalled, "Kasi ang hirap niya talaga gawin as in from the start pa lang, like ini-start ko siya February.
"So, since then hindi na ko tumigil, hindi na ko tumigil magtrabaho for SHE to the point na ang dami nang naapektuhan.
"Naapektuhan na yung work ko, naapektuhan na yung family ko."
Aside from Kris's love for makeup, her inspiration for this passion project was reality star and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner.
She related, "Super love ko mag-lipstick as in... Hindi ako marunong mag-makeup promise, hindi ako marunong mag-makeup talaga.
"Pero lipstick lang ako every day. 'Tapos ano, I have a huge collection din of lipsticks, so love ko talaga siya.
"At saka ano ever since Kylie started her own lipstick line, that’s the time also parang I fell in love with lipsticks.
"Na-inspire talaga ko, 'tapos di ba naging ano na siya, naging youngest billionaire na siya, wow, ang kapal ng mukha ko 'no? Hindi.
"Pero siya talaga naging inspiration ko."
PASSION PROJECT
Kris detailed everything she did before her makeup brand finally materialized.
The Kapuso actress said she carefully chose each ingredient for her matte lipstick, which includes Rose Hip Oil, Bulgarian Rose, Camellia Oil, and Peppermint Oil.
She tested countless formulas from different manufacturers here and abroad until she finally decided on getting a South Korean-based company called Momo Letter Ltd.
When asked how she felt upon seeing her own products, she said, "Alam mo kapag tiningnan mo yung product, iyang buong iyan, ako talaga lahat iyan, e.
"Lahat ng nakikita niyong detalye even nga itong launch, ako nga nag-contact sa mga tao dito. Lahat talaga trinabaho ko."
Kris has joined the roster of celebrities—including Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis—with their own makeup brand.
When asked how her product differs from those of other celebrity-owned makeup brands, Kris proudly said that she did everything on her own.
"Feeling ko yung pinagkaiba niya, tinatanong nga nila ako lagi na parang, 'What makes your product different or your brand different from others?'
"Sabi ko ano, 'It’s because I did it all alone, ako lang talaga mag-isa.'
"I mean others have their own brand collabs or parang they have their own partners or investors, but with this one talaga, all by myself ang peg."
This mindset also inspired the very core of her brand.
"For me, a SHE woman can be an ordinary girl, can be just any girl, who has dreams, who is willing to work hard to take risk, to face challenges and to sacrifice just for her dream."
SHE Cosmetics had its initial online launch last December 23, and the lipstick has an introductory price of PHP349.
So far, she is very grateful for the positive reviews she has received.
She told PEP.ph, "Okay naman siya kasi yung mga tao nagustuhan nila yung [lipstick]...
"Ang dami kong nakukuhang good reviews sa mga famous na vloggers na as in nakikiusap lang ako sa kanila.
"Alam mo yung mine-message ko sila isa-isa, then very cooperative sila and very accommodating pag pinadalhan ko sila ng products.
"At the same time, yung mga tao ang ganda ng sinasabi nila about the lipstick. So... yun yung pinaghirapan ko, e.
"Iyon ang sarap lang talaga ng feeling every time may nagpapadala ng positive feedback."
Her first line of lipsticks is available in five shades: Off She Goes, So She-Ic, She’s On Fire, Go Girl, and She Lovin' It.
The Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko actress admitted that it took her a huge sum of money to produce only five shades.
"Yung mga tao tinatanong nila sa 'kin, 'Bakit hindi ka nag-release ng madami pang shades?'
"Sabi ko ito lang talaga kaya ko for now, but then sabi ko nga pag naging successful, pag kumita na 'ko, 'tsaka ako mag-e-expand.
"At saka marami na kong naiisip na products, e. In the future, pero kailangan ko muna patunayan sa mom ko na kaya ko."
Where does she see her makeup brand in five years?
Kris answered, "In five years, 100 shades na ko... In five years, nakikita ko magkakaroon ako ng sariling store, 'tapos may iba’t iba na kong products 'tapos nakakabenta na rin ako international! Wow, iyon!"
A TEAM OF FOUR
Kris noted that there are only four of them in her team.
She said, "Ang mahirap lang for me, ang struggle for me now, with operations, yung shipping. Tingnan mo, problema ko pa yun, di ba?"
Kris later added, "Sa totoo lang ito, apat lang kaming nagtatrabaho dito, ha: ako, business manager, graphic artist, website. Yun na, 'tapos na!"
The GMA Artist Center talent handles everything—from shipping to customer service—even if she is busy with her work as an actress.
"Yung shipping, yung customer service, hindi nila alam ako yung sumasagot sa kanila sa Instagram, sa email.
"Habang nagte-taping ako, puro tawag, puro ano, yun lang yung medyo struggle sa akin ngayon na feel ko kailangan ko nang kumuha ng mga tao kasi nahihirapan na rin talaga ako, e."
The Kapuso actress is also grateful for having her business manager Sky Gavin to help her with the operations.
"So sobrang suwerte ko rin sa kanya, kay Sky, kasi tinutulungan niya talaga ako kasi sobrang busy ko.
"Siyempre may mga times na hindi kami nagkakasundo, but at the end of the day, the last decision is from me.
"Ako pa rin nagde-decide ng lahat. And then ano, we’re really just four.
"It’s not a company. We’re just four working here nga—me, my BM, I have a graphic artist who’s taking care of my social media accounts, and website, yun lang."
CELEBRITY FRIENDS
Kris's celebrity friends attended her makeup launch to show their support.
Former Eat Bulaga host Patricia Tumulak
Ika-5 Utos star Inah de Belen
Former Kapuso talent Jona
(L-R) Cain At Abel actress Pauline Mendoza; Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko actress Thea Tolentino; Kris Bernal; and TODA One I Love teen star Ayeesha Cervantes
The Cure actress Angela Evangelista
