If you’re anywhere in the Philippines’ 7,641 islands, keeping up with beauty tips and trends from the other side of the world can feel like tuning into an entirely different universe. On social media, Los Angeles can seem like the center of that universe, with its celebrities and creators dominating our algorithms. While that’s part of the modern-day social media scrolling experience, it can feel pretty easy to feel removed from their rituals, with each post telling a different version of beauty and wellness from a standpoint thousands of miles—and probably pesos—away.

But that’s also what makes the beauty perspectives of our kababayan’s voices feel all the more distinct. Take Los Angeles-based Filipina manicurist Marielle Co. At Girlfriend Bar, the nail studio she founded, she designs razor-sharp nails—sometimes bedazzled, sometimes plain, sometimes polka dotted—for a clientele list that spans Britney Spears, Audrey Nuna, and Lisa of Blackpink. She has also collaborated with brands like Nike and Bratz as she continues to make moves with ease across beauty, fashion, and music.

Co has long mastered the art of in-between as a Filipina living in California, with her parents immigrating from the Philippines in the ‘80s. And much as she’s an LA girl through and through today, it’s no surprise when she echoes a feeling familiar to Filipinos raised away from home as they grew up: the lack of representation.

“Growing up, I didn’t see a lot of Filipino or Asian representation in beauty or mainstream media, and as a little girl, that absence stays with you.” 

But the further the manicurist moved into the creative spaces she inhabits now, the more she saw her beauty reflected back. “Seeing Asian and Filipino creatives confidently taking up space in beauty, fashion, and music was incredibly healing,” she says. 

Today, gone are the days of being asked to fit a narrow standard—and it’s voices like Co’s that remind us beauty is most compelling when it makes room for individuality, culture, and the people who bring both to life. 

On the LA beauty ritual she swears by

LA has no shortage of ways to unwind, but for Co, one of the treatments she keeps coming back to are lymphatic massages. “Lymphatic massages aren’t necessarily unique to Los Angeles, but they’re something I stand by wholeheartedly. There’s so much stress and chaos in the world, and sometimes we carry the weight of it internally without even realizing it. Lymphatic massages and facials help release tension and buildup you didn’t know you were holding onto, both physically and emotionally.”

There’s also something about the ritual that feels familiar to her as a Filipina. “Even when tensions are quietly brewing beneath the surface, we have this beautiful ability to welcome people with open arms and a plate of food.” But that can also mean putting your own needs further down the list. “I think we also tend to prioritize everyone else’s well-being before our own, and sometimes that means pushing our own stress deeper down,” she says.

Lymphatic massage, then, has become one way for Co to slow down and reconnect with herself. “Treatments like [these] have become a way for me to slow down, reconnect with myself, and relieve some of those burdens.”

On what LA gets right about beauty

Co has been a California girl her entire life, so LA beauty culture is something she grew up around. “My perspective has always been shaped by both Filipino and California culture,” the manicurist says. But of the two, LA has given her a beauty philosophy she particularly appreciates: “Los Angeles beauty culture feels less centered on perfection and more centered on identity, individuality, and wellness, which is something I really love.”

Travel has expanded that perspective. Seeing how different cultures approach beauty has made her less convinced that there is one way to define it. “It’s deeply connected to tradition, confidence, self-expression, and the way people care for themselves and one another. Being surrounded by healthy, creative, and inspiring people in different parts of the world genuinely encourages me to pursue that same sense of balance and self-confidence.”

On the cleanser she keeps by the sink

Her beauty routine is all about finding things she genuinely believes in. One of those is Youth To The People’s Superfood Cleanser, which Co says leaves her skin feeling “incredibly clean and refreshed with every wash.”

But the appeal goes beyond what the cleanser does for her skin. “Beyond the product itself, they’re a brand that stands for all the right things: community, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. I think it’s important to be vocal about your values, and it’s easy to support a brand that communicates its commitments with such clarity and conviction.”

On seeing more women who look like her

For Co, representation became more tangible once she began moving through creative industries. “I’m incredibly proud of my heritage. Filipinos are beautiful, talented, resilient, and deeply caring people. Growing up, I didn’t see a lot of Filipino or Asian representation in beauty or mainstream media, and as a little girl, that absence stays with you whether you fully realize it at the time or not.”

Fashion, beauty, and music introduced her to more Asian and Filipino creatives—and to women who were shaping those spaces on their own terms. “Seeing women who looked like me celebrated for their individuality instead of being asked to fit into a narrow standard was incredibly impactful.”

And while there is still room for more representation, she finally says the shift has changed her relationship with beauty itself. “It’s made me view beauty less as fitting into an ideal and more as embracing your identity fully and unapologetically.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Marielle Co is a Los Angeles–based Filipina manicurist and founder of Girlfriend Bar, a nail studio known for detailed, sculptural designs. Her clients include Lisa of Blackpink and Britney Spears, and she has collaborated with brands such as Nike and Bratz.

Marielle Co credits lymphatic massage as a grounding ritual, saying it releases physical and emotional tension often carried unconsciously. She connects the practice to a broader Filipino tendency to prioritize others’ well-being before addressing personal stress.

According to Marielle Co, Los Angeles beauty culture centers identity, individuality, and wellness rather than a single standard of perfection. Travel reinforced this view, showing her that beauty is shaped by tradition, confidence, and self-expression across cultures.

Marielle Co uses Youth To The People’s Superfood Cleanser, which she says leaves her skin feeling clean and refreshed. She also values the brand’s stated commitments to community, sustainability, and environmental responsibility.

Marielle Co says the lack of Filipino and Asian representation in beauty media growing up left a lasting impact. Seeing Filipino and Asian creatives embraced in beauty, fashion, and music later reshaped her view of beauty as identity, not conformity.