Manila, Philippines — You know what they say: Eyes are the windows of the soul. And what better way to emphasize ’em than with stunning eyeshadows, plus gorgeous, flirty eyelashes to boot! 

Celebrity makeup artist Jake Galvez, the beauty visionary behind the glam looks of some of the Philippines’ brightest stars like Belle Mariano, Yassi Pressman and Kim Chui, knows this beauty trick all too well. Being known for his signature soft glam looks that strategically enhance the eyes, Jake shared that lashes are great additional tools that can make his artistry pop. 

Eyelashes have become an important necessity as part of the makeup artist’s arsenal. They make small eyes bigger and brighten any face shape. But many of the eyelashes used are often catered to the Western women, which at times may be unsuited for Asian eyes.

Understanding the frustration of many Filipina women, makeup artist Jake Galvez and Artisan Professionnel decided to launch a set of eyelashes that will suit the Filipina eyes. The premier collaboration is a first for a Filipino makeup artist and the international brand. Artisan Professionnel is a Jakarta-based beauty company known for its premium eyelashes founded by makeup artist Redavell Tjen in 2016.

“One of the most common issues with eyelashes is that they are often too long or short for Filipinas,” Jake said. “I want to make it easy for them with these eyelashes that Artisan and I created. I made sure that they are tailored for the Filipina. As a makeup artist, one of the challenges in enhancing the eyes is how to make them pop out,” he said.

Celebrity makeup artist Jake Galvez with his muse, actress Belle Mariano

“For years, makeup artists like me have learned to rely on eyeliners, eyeshadows to make the eyes pop out. But with eyelashes, it was a gamechanger. They improve the eyes by making them look more defined and big. Thus, this line with Artisan Professionnel is something that excites me as a makeup artist.”

Jake shared that the collaboration is backed up by a lot of testing to search for the right eyelashes that will truly suit the Filipinas.

“We can use them for all types of eyes, whether you’re chinita, mestiza, or morena. The line comes in two types. The first is the natural set which can be worn by anyone daily. It’s soft and wearable for all occasions. The second set is the glam. It’s a pair of eyelashes that are sophisticated and bold. You can even layer the glam and natural together to transform the look.”

The premium eyelash collection showcases two styles: the Voile 5720, which are natural-looking upper eyelashes made with premium silk hair and ultra-soft band; and Touche, a flirtier, longer set made of premium synthetic hair with extra flexible nylon strand.

“I can’t think of a better person to model and represent this collection more than my muse Belle Mariano, a true Filipina beauty that never fails to inspire us with her charm and effortless grace. She can pull off any makeup look, from soft natural makeup, to glittery sparkly eyes, and to a fierce winged eyeliner look and fluffy lashes—she rocks them of all with ease. That’s why she’s perfect!”

The collaboration is just a start for Jake and Artisan Professionnel. As someone who has used the brand himself, he hopes to do more with beauty company in the future.

“I am very optimistic about the collection. These eyelashes for me are an answer prayer because not only will this help me with my clients but also help my other colleagues in the industry. They don’t have to rely on other eyelashes anymore because these are for the Filipina. We finally have a line that suit their eyes,” Jake concluded.

In the Philippines, the collection is exclusively distributed by LuxeBeauty and is available at the Suesh Store in SM Megamall physically, and at LuxeBeauty stores on Shopee and Lazada online. For inquiries, you may follow LuxeBeauty at @luxebeautyphl on Instagram.