MANILA, Philippines - Like many Filipinas, actresses Carla Abellana and Karylle Tatlonghari-Yuzon did not only grow up with Disney’s classic fairy tales; they were also inspired by the beauty and fashion of its iconic princesses.
Carla has been fair-skinned since childhood, so she has been a big Snow White fan. In fact, every Halloween, she always dressed as Snow White.
“Growing up, I always had short hair, bangs. I was very fair… Snow White is really my all-time favorite,” Carla enthused in an interview with this writer.
For a change, during the recent launch of Disney’s collaboration with Philippine cosmetics brand Happy Skin, she donned a yellow dress with an asymmetrical neckline to channel her modern version of Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.”
“It’s something different, but it’s also fun,” she said.
Karylle, on the other hand, wore a see-through green tunic on top of a pair of jeans as a contemporary version of Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.”
“When (the movie) came out, I probably watched it for a hundred times!” she shared. “I probably sang all the songs of Disney!”
She, however, clarified in an interview with this writer that she did not play Ariel, but Ariel’s sister, Princess Sapphire, for a local musical.
Together with the founders and owners of Happy Skin, top model and The Philippine Star beauty columnist Rissa Mananquil-Trillo and Jacqe Yuengtian-Gutierrez, Carla and Karylle broke down the ways on how to achieve the looks of Disney’s princesses and interpret these for everyday wear.
Anna and Elsa
Through a consultation with Disney, Happy Skin came up with a new lippie or lip color collection based on each princess’ personality. To complement the collection, the makeup label also partnered with local jewelry brand, Heyjow, for necklace designs also inspired by the princesses.
Though sisters, the royalties from “Frozen” actually do not share the same lip color.
According to Happy Skin, a plum lippie reflects the serious Elsa, while toasted cherry befits the giddier Anna.
For Karylle, Elsa is a beauty muse for the latter’s signature braids. “I actually had those winning braids before she did!” Karylle kidded.
To symbolize “Frozen,” Heyjow created a pendant in the shape of a snowflake, “a charming symbol of winter and of the holidays” with a “delicate feathery quality” that “evokes purity.”
In addition, Heyjow recommends wearing a white druzy stone, which is believed to help in melting away blocked energy, allowing the wearer to find her own inner light.
Cinderella
“If you keep believing, the dreams that you wish will come true,” Cinderella says in her namesake Disney flick.
To fulfill your Cinderella dreams, the key to her look, says Happy Skin, is a mauve lip color that contrasts against her blue ball gown.
To embody Cinderella, Heyjow presents an aquamarine bezel-set gemstone that speaks of quiet elegance and refinement. Its blue color also stands for courage, peace, and kindness.
Ariel
For her off-duty look, Karylle uses a lip and cheek tint or matte lipsticks in what Happy Skin says is the color of Ariel, red-wine. Combine red-wine with mauve to create berry, a trendy shade this season.
It was just recently that Karylle grew a fondness for experimenting with makeup, thanks to her friends. Today, especially when she travels, she makes it a point to scour the sale racks and ransack beauty stores to hoard cosmetics.
Just like Ariel, Karylle relies on her friends, especially when it comes to makeup. “For those who want to start with makeup, it would be fun to start with your friends because it’s nice to know their take on brands,” she elaborated.
Heyjow’s takes on Ariel are playful mermaid tail and starfish charms that evoke fun and exploration, telling of life waiting to be discovered under the sea.
Belle
“Belle is more on neutrals when it comes to makeup,” said Carla.
Happy Skin immortalizes Beast’s true love in a nude-honey lippie enriched with moisturizing shea butter and collagen. Layering nude-honey with mauve will result in a new shade, deep rose.
Meanwhile, Heyjow encapsulates “Beauty and the Beast” in a blooming rose pendant, which is a symbol for love and passion, innocence, admiration, friendship, joy and enchantment.
Snow White
Of all the Disney characters, Karylle’s ultimate beauty icon is the evil queen in “Snow White.”
For Carla: “Snow White always come with bright red lips and bright, big eyes. That’s all!”
An apple-red lippie stands out in Snow White’s porcelain face, according to Happy Skin.
As an allusion to the princess, Heyjow offers a heart charm as “the heart represents the center of emotion.”
“A full heart expresses affection, love, and compassion, and unveils kindness to all,” the jewelry brand adds in a statement.
Aurora
In the lippie collection, the Sleeping Beauty rests on a bed of rose shades, paired with rose quartz for the jewelry line.
“The gentle pink color of a rose quartz evokes feminine energy. This stone awakens unconditional love and also heals the wounds of the heart, dissolving sorrows, worries, and fears,” Heyjow and Happy Skin explain.
Like Aurora, Carla always goes for pink lipsticks.
“I don’t experiment as much. I’m not adventurous when it comes to lip colors, so I just go for pink,” the actress disclosed. “With pink, you can go from day to night. For day, light pink will do. For night, I just make it more intense. For the eyes, I stick with neutrals.”
Rapunzel
“Uncover your hidden royalty and nobility with a purple amethyst. A healing stone, the amethyst also enhances creativity and strengthens the imagination,” Heyjow says of the birth stone that mirrors the personality of the princess known for her long golden hair.
For the makeup collection, her shade is pink with mauve.
For all princesses, the common factor is they all have light makeup, said Carla.
“They don’t put too much or heavy makeup on,” she added.
“I’m always not a fan of heavy makeup, so I always only have fresh, light makeup. As thin as possible. Just a little bit of lipstick, just bright lips, maybe curl the lashes and put on a little blush or cheek tint and I’m ready to go,” she said of her preferred look.
For the holidays, luminous skin is a big trend as “it’s the best sign of healthy, happy skin,” Rissa says in a press report. “The Luminous Mesh Blush and Brightening Powder Foundation are the newest innovations to the Happy Skin brand that help you achieve the glowing, no-makeup look.”
“The Luminous Mesh Blush really gives a subtle, lit-from-within glow,” adds Jacqe.
“Compared to cushion products, this technology is much more hygienic. The mesh layer is separated from the product, and it also encourages the correct amount of product to be dispensed with every use.”
The key to a great makeup is a good canvas and to have one, Karylle uses a reliable makeup remover and cleanser to unblock her pores, as well as go on regular facials with a dermatologist.
“Always start with good skin. Before you put on your makeup, make sure you moisturize; you drink lots of water. You have primer on. That could be an option. And sunscreen, so your makeup would stick or last,” Carla advised.
Apart from Carla and Karylle, other “event ambassadors” included actress and artist Heart Evangelista-Escudero; actress, singer, and songwriter Ylona Garcia; YouTube vlogger Janina Vela; and bloggers Tricia Gosingtian and Vern and Verniece Enciso.
The eight were chosen as they “show us that the modern princess is no longer ‘a damsel in distress,'” says Rissa. “She is an empowered one who is capable of making dreams come true and inspiring other women, too!”
According to Jacqe, they were “ecstatic and thrilled” when Disney approached them for the collaboration.
“I can’t believe they reached out to Happy Skin! It was truly heartwarming to know that our homegrown brand can play in the global field,” she says in a report.
Rissa agrees: “When they approached us, I felt honored because it meant they trusted us. This collaboration is really a global stamp of approval for what the Filipino can do!”
In the same statement, Veronica Cabalinan, general manager of the Walt Disney Company Philippines, says: “What's amazing and magical is that the Princess franchise is so aspirational and relatable that all girls globally fall in love with the Disney Princess brand and develop a special, timeless connection with the characters.
Collaborating with Happy Skin on a Disney Princess makeup range allows us to be a part of the everyday lives of Filipino women in a fun, compelling way.”
The collection can only be shipped within the Philippines through www.happyskincosmetics.com and zalora.com.ph. It is also available in Happy Skin stores nationwide.
On the other hand, the jewelry range is available at www.heyjow.com, Aranaz, Lanai, L’Indochine and The Luxe Resort.
Part of the proceeds from the makeup collection will be donated to the ambassadors’ chosen charities so that others, too, could live happily ever after.