Filipino beauty brands have been making waves in the scene for a while now, dominating consumers’ hearts through utilizing eCommerce and social media for their brands. As one of the biggest platforms and eCommerce pioneer in the country, Lazada has been empowering local beauty and skincare brands to flourish by providing an avenue for Filipinos to easily find and buy the products they’re looking for.
Two local brands who have established their presence on the platform are Clocheflame and Apotheke Science. Both companies were founded on the genuine desire to inspire people, and both were built from the ground up on Lazada.
Cultivating Everyday Filipina Beauty
25-year-old Arianne Amante established Clocheflame, a local beauty brand providing quality but affordable make-up products fit for the everyday Filipina. She always knew that she wanted to start a beauty brand, with her inspiration stemming from her college thesis highlighting Filipino’s perception of self-beauty.
She eventually made her dream a reality by opening her shop in 2020, leaving her corporate job to focus on her business full-time.
Launching the business 2 years ago was definitely a challenge with the unexpected hurdles brought about by the pandemic, but she shared that onboarding her fledgling brand on Lazada was an easy decision to make.
“Putting up our business in Lazada was a no-brainer because we knew that it was a vital tool for us to grow our business, and this has been proven true,” says Amante.
The brand is proud of being rooted on the principles of sustainability and helping the economy grow by limiting plastic consumption and partnering with local manufacturers. Like any other start-up, however, Clocheflame encountered hurdles early on. Amante rallied her small team of five full-time members by telling them to focus on the brand’s strengths. Being on Lazada from the get-go also helped them to break through. They saved budget on rent and high commission fees that were reallocated to R&D, and they also enjoyed the platform’s massive reach.
“Lazada is very generous in extending help and offering extra mileages to small businesses like ours, especially when it comes to getting exposure,” Amante said, adding they were immediately listed on LazMall, Lazada’s curated selection of leading international and local brands, establishing their credibility to consumers. “Being on the LazMall channel really added credibility for us to be recognized as a legitimate brand and that’s something we’re truly thankful for.”
Clocheflame also maximized Lazada’s many seller features and resources designed to help business grow. Lazada back-end system presents valuable insight that allows them to strategize their next steps, especially with product forecasting. In terms of showcasing the more human side of the brand, they hop on LazLive.
To date, some of the Clocheflame’s biggest products include the All-Around Flush, branded as “tan in a tube”; the TLC Spray, a restorative facial mist; and the Dream Filter, a weightless soft-focus pressed powder.
Clocheflame also recently launched its newest offering, the Lip Muse, which combines the creamy glide of a balm, the nourishing benefits of a lip oil, and the power of a lipstick.
Amante’s vision for Clocheflame is to become a homegrown brand that Filipinos can be truly proud of. Her advice to those looking to follow her footsteps? Remember that “failure is not fatal” and that “it is the courage to continue that counts."
“That [line] speaks to me on so many levels,” she said. “I’m only 25, I know that that’s very young, but I use that as an advantage for me to have more room to make mistakes and do better. I always tell others just to know your why, stay true to your identity, and protect that spark. The one thing that will differentiate you from others is your story and your purpose—own that.”
Creating Natural Skincare Solutions
Meanwhile, Apotheke Science was likewise developed from a simple intent to help others.
It all started with the founder of the local skincare brand formulating a salve that would help the skin of patients undergoing chemotherapy heal from the effects of radiation. The product proved to be effective for them, as well as for those who suffered from the effects of eczema, psoriasis and dry skin. Initially distributed in a hospital, it also worked for doctors and nurses whose skin was damaged from stress and lack of sleep.
The salve would eventually be known as the Apotheke Skin Doctor balm, now sought-after for its anti-aging effects. Following its success, the founders decided to develop more products to serve the wider population in need of effective but affordable skincare solutions.
“We now have a wide range of products that deal with acne, uneven skin tone, premature ageing from stress, lack of sleep and exposure to the sun, dryness, oiliness, clogged pores, and all the fundamental issues that damage one of our body’s largest organs and its first defense against external threats to the body,” the Apotheke team said.
Apotheke set up shop on Lazada, citing the platform’s wide network and logistics capabilities as the main driver for their choice.
“Lazada has helped us reach customers throughout the country that we most likely wouldn’t have been able to reach with our own resources,” the Apotheke team said.
The different tools available were also a big driver for the brand’s sales and performance on the platform. The team leveraged LazLive to connect with its audience at the height of the pandemic when people were mostly home and on their phones. Apotheke takes notes as well from Lazada University on eCommerce education, while maximizing marketing tools such as Lazada Bonus and Free Shipping Max to boost sales especially during major campaigns.
“Our products have helped so many people have better skin and regain their confidence,” the Apotheke team said. “This has resulted in higher demand for our products, which in turn has allowed us to give more jobs to people and fund more projects that help various communities.”
The Apotheke team is passionate about helping Filipinos feel more confident about themselves, as well as building a good and honest brand through their best practices. They share that this is their core belief in continuing to build Apotheke’s success.
“Be generous – whether it’s with our consumers or our own people. It will always come back in ways to help us grow,” the Apotheke team said.