CROWNING GLORY

Babe Formula founder Paula Hilario talks about her vision of helping people grow their business and making them feel confident about their crowning glory

- BAM ABELLON

The color combination of the conditioner shampoo and bottles created by Paula Terese Hilario, 26, emit feelings of lightness and joy. They hit the mark, if one were to look at Paula's vision for her hair care brand, Babe Formula: a product surrounded by a community that encourages support and deep friendships. But unknown to many, the story behind the brand's success is far from the feelings those bottles emit.

Since it was launched in November 2019, the woman behind Babe Formula has put years of heartrending work just "to make it work." And it all began with one tiny, courageous step.

THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR

The business of selling was simply fun for the little Paula, but it became a bit more serious when she was in high school and college. At the time, she started becoming curious about anything that was related to the beauty industry, especially makeup and skincare. "That's why my skin has become sensitive," she explains. "I tried them all." It was also during this period in her life when she started selling makeup brushes, makeup bags, etc. After she graduated from college with a degree in communication arts, she took an internship in Metro Manila and saw another opportunity to expand her business. Unfortunately, the business didn't work. "I think I wasn't able to study the market that I wanted to target back then," she says.