Standout beauty

MANILA, Philippines — Beauty “vlogger” Anna Cay’s eyes speak of her hopes and dreams that inspire her to pursue her passion. With this, her beauty stands out even more.

Anna, whose eponymous YouTube channel has more than 200,000 subscribers and more than 23 million views to date, started “vlogging” in 2015. Before she started to pursue “vlogging” as a passion project, Anna was poised to take an engineering career after she graduated from Mapua Institute of Technology with a Civil Engineering degree. But instead of taking that paved road, she was called to help in her family’s jewelry business.

“In our family business, I mostly do administrative work where I don’t have a lot of outlets for creativity. Before, my only time to film for my YouTube channel was after work hours. When more opportunities started to come in (by making videos) and my responsibilities in the family business became stable, that’s when I added more time in making videos,” says Anna, who, despite having a successful run in her fast-growing YouTube channel, continues to work for the family business and creates videos part time. She also finished a certificate course from the  Gemological Institute of America.

Anna’s makeup fancy began in college. Initially, she used makeup just to conceal her dark undereye circles but eventually, she deepened her interest by regularly watching makeup tutorials of renowned foreign beauty vloggers. Watching her favorite “YouTubers” inspired her to create her own content. And she says, through this process, she overcame her extreme shyness and tapped her gift of gab.

“Before, I could not even start a conversation with others. I believe I overcame my shyness through vlogging. Making videos also helped me improve my self-confidence. When I started, it was awkward talking in front of the camera but in time, I became more comfortable with it,” shares Anna, who learned her skills by watching videos on YouTube and attending makeup classes.

Today, Anna reflects on the lessons she learned from her journey as a beauty vlogger. “I learned that there are things in my everyday life that may seem normal to me but could be interesting to the viewers. When you share your experience in the littlest details, there are people who could learn from it.”

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Anna’s alabaster skin is the perfect canvas for the different looks and products that she tries on. In her videos, Anna is often seen in full makeup. But on regular days, she keeps the “fresh look” with a product she swears by — Ever Bilena’s well-loved Lip and Cheek Tint. “This lip and cheek tint is nice because it lasts long, especially if you blend it well.”

Today’s local cosmetics arena is full of an exciting mix of international and local brands that cater to the changing needs of women. Ever Bilena remains to be one of the top picks as a go-to brand for Filipinas. The trusted brand shares its products that are easily accessible in the market.

Ever Bilena Matte Two Way Cake in Fair Oriental

Anna likes this two-in-one foundation because she says it matches her skin’s yellow tone. It also creates a weightless feel for a natural matte finish and provides full coverage that lasts all day.

Ever Bilena Ultra Matte Lipstick  in Innocence

This waterproof, long-lasting matte lipstick offers intense matte pigment and provides lips with maximum smooth coverage. A tried-and-tested tip from Anna when using matte lipstick: “Apply lip balm first to ensure your lips are moisturized. It will last longer, too, as the lip balm will serve as a base for your lipstick.”

Ever Bilena All Day Eyeliner Pen

“I like this eyeliner pen because it has a soft pointed tip unlike other brands that have a flimsy brush. For those who are not big on using eyeliner like me, you would want a product with a steady tip like this one,” Anna shares. Aside from its soft pointed tip, this eyeliner pen is also long-wearing and smudge-proof.

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For Anna, using makeup was initially for a boost of confidence. But through vlogging, she has learned to accept what she truly is and thankful for what she has. “In my channel, I try to inculcate in my viewers that we are normal people and we should not succumb to the pressure of looking perfect all the time. I always believe that true beauty comes from within. I believe if you have a good heart, you exude positive vibes. And what you exude from within is much more important than what is on your face,” she ends.

Photography by Claudine Cervantes Callanta of Larawanmo • Styling by J-em STA. Ana • Makeup and hairstyling by Ever Bilena • Old rose dress by Me-an Marqueda and white top by Elyanna Amor