Barbie goes Pinay! First collab with Filipino makeup brand is pretty in pink

Live your Barbie dreams with the new Barbie x Lovely Causematics collab, which features three products — a cream blush, glowy tint, and a highlighter-blush duo

MANILA, Philippines – “Pink makes everything fabulous.” 

So said Barbie. That’s why it’s no surprise that there’s a splash of everything pink when Filipino beauty brand Lovely Causemetics officially launched its limited makeup line, in partnership with Barbie by Mattel, in a recent pop-up event with the theme “Born to Lead.”

This marks Barbie’s first partnership with a local cosmetic brand.

COLLAB. A conversation between Mattel representative for the Philippines Dr. Myrna Yao (center) and Lovely Cosmetics CEO Lovely Geniston (right). All photos by Kevin Lampayan/Rappler

Think pink! What to expect

The new “Born To Lead” collaboration features three exclusively made products, each one in a variety of shades reminiscent of the doll icon’s color palette. However, the brands made sure to make the shades still suitable for consumers of all skin tones — fair, medium, and dark. 

The Soft Glow Cream Blush (P488) emphasizes a long-wearing natural radiance with a pop of color. It has a smooth application that blends well to the skin and adds a light, hydrating feel. It’s also highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way!

DIFFERENT SHADES. The blush comes in compact cases with mirrors.  

The Soft Glow Cream Blush comes in six pink-hued shades: Malibu Magic (soft-light peach), Dreamhouse (shimmery light pink), Doll Life (neutral pink), Barbie Core (neon coral pink), Pretty in Pink (mauve pink), and Style Icon (reddish brown).

Also in the collection is the Water Glowy Tint (P480) — perfect for a whole day of use as it has a long-lasting stain. It is not sticky when applied and provides a faint blurring effect, enough to conceal lip texture and leave it looking soft. The spoon-shape metal applicator also makes it easier to control, well-suited for touch ups, even if you are on-the-go.

It also comes in six pink shades: Fairytopia (rosy brown), Ribbon (warm peach), Girlhood (medium peachy pink), Pink Princess (deep mauve pink), Ballerina (berry pink), and Charm (medium rosy pink).

HANDY. The Water Glowy Tint comes in easy-to-bring-around tubes.

The collab also features the Glass Glow Pressed Highlighter and Blush (P358), a duo that complements one’s glow while adding Barbie’s iconic color. The subtle pigment of the vibrant pink blush balances out the metallic finish of the highlighter. The combination delivers a fresh and youthful shine that can be worn on a casual basis. 

TWO OPTIONS. You can choose from the two varieties of this product: Pop culture and Sparkle Queen.

Historic beauty crossover

Lovely Causemetics is a homegrown beauty brand founded in 2019 by Tiktok influencer and makeup enthusiast Lovely Geniston. It is known for its advocacy of empowerment and self-expression through its vibrant products.

It only makes sense for the brand to partner with Barbie, who has always been a symbol of inclusivity, diversity, and the boundless potential of women since its introduction in 1959. 

CEO Lovely said the collaboration with Barbie seeks to inspire people to embrace their own power and chase their dreams, no matter how big or far-fetched they are.

CEO. Lovely Geniston of Lovely Causematics speaks about the advocacy of her self-owned brand.

“Years ago, women weren’t always encouraged to dream big and success felt harder to reach. But times have changed and we’re proving every day that we can do so much more,” she said.

Upholding her commitment in supporting different causes (hence, the name of her brand “Causemetics”), Lovely revealed that they have chosen the UP Center for Women and Gender Studies as their beneficiary in the collaboration. They will also continue the Lovely Scholarship program, where they provide education to one student at a time. 

POWER WOMEN. Lovely Geniston and Dr. Myrna Yao with UP Center for Women and Gender Studies representative, Dr. Carolyn Sobritechea.

When asked about her message to Filipina kids and women striving for greatness like she did, Lovely emphasized the importance of never giving up on their dreams.

“Dream big, kasi you’ll never know sino makakakita ng potential mo. Kasi ako, hindi ko siya inexpect din. It’s a small brand (Lovely Causemetics), it’s small to medium, and wala pa kaming physical store, so super unexpected. So I hope ma-inspire yung bagong entrepreneurs for that. That they can shine alongside iconic names like Barbie,” she shared.

(Dream big, because you’ll never know who will see your potential. Because in my case, I didn’t expect it either. It’s a small brand, it’s small to medium, and we still don’t have a physical store, so it’s really unexpected. So I hope I inspire budding entrepreneurs for that. That they can shine alongside iconic names like Barbie.)

Barbie and Lovely Causemetics’ “Born to Lead” makeup collection is now available on Shopee, Tiktok Shop, Lazada, and lovelycausemetics.com. – Rappler.com

Kevin Ian Lampayan is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Literary and Cultural Studies at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.