This Makeup Brand Takes Inspiration From Our Filipino Childhood Favorites

Let’s be honest here. When was the last time you bought something because of its packaging? Last month, or maybe just last week? We don’t blame you, and you totally don’t have to keep justifying to yourself that you “need” it.

When we first saw the viral Banana Gloss and Manang Biday All Purpose Gloss by Filipinta Beauty on social media, we couldn’t help but feel the need to get our hands on them. Their packaging based on condiments that we use to add flavor to our favorite fried chicken, lechon kawali, and silog (fried rice and egg) dishes surely hits home. Plus, we heard they even smell like bananas and meat! Okay, the latter may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it's an interesting twist if you ask us.

That’s not all. We also discovered that they have other interesting cruelty-free products, such as Filipin Tops, which is based on Ricoa’s Curly Tops chocolate, and Chap Not, which is based on the classic Choc Nut candy bar. They’re also behind the lumpia makeup that went viral earlier this year as an April Fools prank. That hit eventually became a real product on the market because of its popularity.

With products like these, it’s no wonder why Filipinos (including us!) here and abroad are itching to have one of their creations in their makeup pouches.

Curious about the masterminds behind the witty Filipino-inspired products, The Beat Asia reached out to Filipinta Beauty and had the pleasure to interview one of its founders, New York-based creative director Hana Kirchhoff.

Can you tell us how you first got into makeup. Did you imagine yourself being able to make and design your own in the future?

It all started when I found my grandmother’s huge makeup collection one day as a child. Since then, I’ve been interested in makeup! I honestly didn’t expect that I’ll have my own brand.

We read from your website that you created a faux company called "Pinta Cosmetics" to expand your portfolio and we're curious, what led you to ultimately name the brand as "Filipinta Beauty"?

We were dead set on the name “Pinta Cosmetics,” but found out we’ll have a namesake, even if they are in another country. Filipinta came about because we wanted a fun wordplay on “Filipina” and “Pinta,” and have a meaning behind it, which translates to “face paint for Filipinas.”

How was making the products like? Do you have stories to share when you were bringing your ideas to life?

Jasel and I started brainstorming ideas during the infancy of Filipinta. We created five years’ worth of collections! Some of them are pretty tough to execute with the limited budget we have as a small business, but hopefully we’ll get there in the future.

We would usually do video calls and bounce ideas off each other. The great thing about working with your best friend is your ideas are usually aligned with each other, but at the same time you can offer feedback and criticism without worrying how it will negatively impact your relationship.

Where do you get inspiration for the design and names of your products? We find a lot of them pretty witty!

I think I’m a bad joke [and] dad joke connoisseur, and I use this “skill” of mine to come up with the names! The designs go through a rigorous process of trial and error. It’s a tough job when you are your own design client. Sometimes, it takes months to get that perfect design. Other times, it takes me an hour to draft a design, [create a] mockup [of] the packaging, and post it on the shop like the Banana Ketchup gloss.

I am also always inspired by our culture and the food I grew up eating in the Philippines. Those were great memories.

What was your reaction when you found out that your products like Banana Gloss and Manang Biday All Purpose Gloss went viral?

I was honestly shocked and in awe. Filipinta is pretty much a passion project of mine, and ever since it went viral, it became my main source of income, with those two products being the bestsellers. I’m forever grateful and thankful for the support our fellow Filipinos are showing [for] the brand even just by liking and sharing our content!

We've heard that you're reopening your online store again in the Philippines. What can we expect from Filipinta Beauty this time?

We are still in the long process of getting all the products [to] the Philippines, but we are starting small, with the glosses as the starting point. We are planning to open our own store hopefully if things go well!

Anything you would like to say to those who want to start their own beauty brand?

Keep going even if it feels like success is a long road ahead. Good things take time!

For more information about Filipinta Beauty's products, visit filipinta.com or check out their Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Shopee (for PH buyers) accounts.