Years back, dipping your toes into beauty for the first time meant dealing with slim pickings. The entire makeup experience touted a maximum of three base shades that are either much too yellow or stubbornly ashy, while blush shades—alternated as cheek tints—were in a tiny loop of flat reds and oranges, topped with overly white-casted powders. It was a frustrating one-size-fits-some approach to beauty that, for the most part, missed the mark on the diversity of skin interested in self-expression.

Local beauty once took a backseat, but it’s certain, shown by the past few years, that it was simply just in its cocoon. It endured for the promise of a remarkable metamorphosis through innovations like a foundation line with a shade range of 28, salt-inspired fragrance notes, or sunscreen formulations specified for the Philippine humidity. As we learned from this Allure Philippines article, Filipino beauty is now at the forefront of change; but these are not just changes in trends, but of standards and norms that shape our identities, our confidence, and our concepts of self. Filipino beauty has officially bloomed in its own right, and it will continue to transcend from hereon.

This shift set the tone for the conversations at the Allure Beauty Lab, the biggest beauty event of the year, held alongside the launch of Allure Philippines Volume 4 issue starring global girl group Katseye. At the lab, we handed the mic straight to the zeitgeist makers for their completely unfiltered takes on this era of Filipino beauty. Read what they have to say here:

How do you think Filipino beauty stands out from the rest of the world?

Charmaine Grace Palermo, founder of Posh Skin Co.

I think Filipino beauty stands out with the color of our skin. It’s a special kind of morana shade, and I also think that our skin just has this different kind of elasticity. That’s why when we age, we don’t really age. I think it’s our skin—I think we should all be really, really proud of our skin color and how our skin looks. 

Chloe San Jose, content creator

Filipino beauty stands out the most because we have so many different types of faces and styles. We have the morenas, we have the chinitas, we have the mestizas […] so I feel like all those different types of beauty really now stand out [to] the world.

Lorraine Galvez, television host & singer

I think Filipino beauty stands out from the rest of the world because we have unique features—like our noses, our eyes are even very unique. So I’m really, really proud that I have my Filipino beauty—as she gestures to her face—here with me.

Bea Millan-Windorski, Miss Universe Philippines 2026

Something that makes Filipina beauty so special is how mixed we are—how many influences are here in the Philippines; from the indigenous people to our mestiza’s, to our morena beauties. I think we could really learn a lot from how diverse our beauty is, and really amplify that to the whole world.

What beauty trait do you think people should celebrate more?

Raco Ruiz, content creator & host

Honestly, and again, this is not surface level, people should celebrate humor more. Because if someone’s funny, that’s instant rizz points. 

Eula Arielle, content creator & model

I’d say morena beauty, but all kinds of beauty should be celebrated. It’s just that it’s very rewarding to see that we’re celebrating morena beauties more now. And I [get to] see myself being represented on billboards, on magazines, on TV, so that’s a big deal.

Winwyn Marquez, model & actress

I think we’re still in that mentality that if you have lighter skin or if you’re maputi, mas maganda ka. But actually, embrace being a morena, because being a morena is just as beautiful. 

Cats del Rosario, hairstylist

I think the best beauty trait is just being yourself. Regardless, you’re not pretending to be who you’re not—so just be yourself.

If someone wanted to understand Filipino beauty in one product, look, or ritual, what would you show them?

Renato Lopeňa Jr., perfumer & founder of Wren Atelier

Sunscreen. Because, you know, we’re always exposed to the sun. We’re a tropical country, so we have to take care of our skin—whether you’re morena, whether you have a white skin— sunscreen is important.

Winwyn Marquez, model & actress

Go under the sun! We’re a tropical island, get that vitamin D! I also think we have super nice products—sunscreen, right? So it’s a perfect combination.

Eula Arielle, content creator & model

I’d say a good foundation shade, especially now we’re being inclusive. The shade range is insane! 

Bea Millan-Windorski, Miss Universe Philippines 2026

One of my favorite rituals is taking time to relax, and that means going to my home province of La Union. It means taking time to really connect with the ocean, whether it be through surfing or swimming, and I think having that moment to relax really is what makes me glow from the inside out. 

What’s uniquely Filipino that deserves to become the next global beauty trend?

Charmaine Grace Palermo, founder of Posh Skin Co.

I think it is more of a beauty ingredient that global beauty should highlight—which is coconut. It’s not only a healthy drink, but it also has a lot of qualities that will be good for the skin and the hair. 

Cats del Rosario, hairstylist

I think just in general, local brands are upping the game, so test them out. They’re really good. They’re comparable to a lot of luxury, high-end, and mid-end. I love local brands.

Chloe San Jose, content creator

I’ve seen a lot of TikTok videos, reels, that have been showcasing our Filipino products, so I think it deserves to be our next global trend, actually.

Lorraine Galvez, television host & singer

Something uniquely Filipino that deserves to be the next global trend is our noses. I’m really contemplating on whether I should change my nose or adjust to the modern trends, but no shade to those who want to change something in our physical traits. Of course, I support that—it’s just that right now, I’m in my season of accepting my natural state 

Frequently Asked Questions

Filipino beauty stands out through its wide range of skin tones — morena, chinita, and mestiza — along with unique facial features and skin elasticity that insiders say deserve far more pride and celebration.

Beauty insiders highlight humor, authenticity, and morena beauty as traits deserving more celebration, noting that morena representation is finally growing across billboards, magazines, and TV after years of favoring lighter skin.

Sunscreen is the product insiders most associate with Filipino beauty, citing the country’s tropical climate and constant sun exposure, with some adding that a wide, inclusive foundation shade range matters just as much.

Coconut is cited as the homegrown ingredient poised for global recognition, valued for its benefits to both skin and hair beyond its everyday use as a drink, alongside strong local beauty brands.

Morena beauty is gaining visibility as insiders push back on the long-held belief that lighter skin is more beautiful, encouraging Filipinas to embrace, celebrate, and see themselves represented in their natural morena tones.