LOVI POE WANTS WOMEN TO FEEL EMPOWERED WITH MAKEUP LINE

FOR LOVI POE, COMING TO TERMS WITH HER looks didn't happen overnight. She recalled being criticized for being "too dark" and, consequently, having to wear heavy makeup just to lighten her skin color for on-screen roles.

- By NATHALIE M. TOMADA

That's why she's the last person to imagine that one day, she would come up with her own makeup line that matches one's natural beauty rather than changes it.

Under the beauty brand Ready Set Glow (RSG), the actress and film producer has poured some 20 showbiz years' worth of learnings about beauty and self-acceptance in Love, You by Lovi.

The "inclusive" makeup line boasts of products like Love and Light, a dual-ended stick that works as both a contour and highlighter; Me Myself and I, an all-in-one lippie that serves as a balm, treatment, gloss, plumper, or "long-lasting pink stain"; Heart in Bloom, a cream and powder blush duo; Statement Setter, a brow trio consisting of a pencil, gel, and spoolie for grooming; and Skin Poetry, a body shimmer spray. RSG products are available at SM Stores and Watsons nationwide, as well as on e-commerce sites like Shopee, Lazada, and Zalora (check Ready Set Glow's official social media pages for the complete list of stores).

"I felt like my younger self would never have imagined this to happen. I got a lot of flak when I was starting out (in showbiz) because I was too dark and that made me feel so ungrateful (for my natural beauty)," she said in response to a STAR question. "Imagine, my first series, for me to be called beautiful, they wanted to lighten my skin and paint over my skin with light foundation."