A pop of color and confidence for mature women
The running joke in Pops Fernandez’s circles is that she’s “eternally 28.” Not that’s she’s in denial about aging. “I don’t fear it,” she said. It’s just that, at 58—with all the experiences she has had and the freedom she now enjoys—she feels like she has, in some ways, turned back the clock.
“I always joke around that I’m just 28, because I honestly feel as energetic as I was 30 years ago … because I have never felt better and I haven’t enjoyed life as much as I’m enjoying it right now,” she told Lifestyle.
Fernandez has long cemented her place in show biz as an OPM icon. She’s an accomplished entrepreneur and event producer. And as a first-time grandmother who’s “very much single,” she gets to fulfill her new role in the family without having to give up quality time for herself.
At last, she has the freedom to explore new things and do what she loves—when she wants it, how she wants it.
“When I was young, the things I could do were limited. My mom was very strict!” she recalled. “But now, I’m at a stage in my life where I can travel to places I want to go to, and make decisions in life without being hindered by family or whoever.”
No better time
And with maturity, confidence and self-love come more naturally. Gone are all the insecurities or questions that plagued her youth. “I have been through a lot in life. While there were challenges, there were more success stories. And I have learned and continue to learn from those,” she said.
As such, there’s no better time, Fernandez said, to fulfill her long-held dream of having her own cosmetics brand. In collaboration with Viva Beauty, Viva Entertainment’s new lifestyle business arm, the singer begins her foray into the beauty world with Pick Cosmetics, a makeup line that targets women 30 years and older.
And with that demographic in mind, she might as well be the face of her brand. While the industry is undeniably youth-obsessed, a sizable chunk of the market are working women who have the purchasing power, and middle-aged women who still want to look good and feel good about themselves, she pointed out.
“Endorsers of makeup brands are usually the bagets. But I think the ones who really need to use them are the women who go to work, or the housewives who love fixing themselves up. Pick is suitable for all ages, but it’s women—or any makeup user, for that matter—in their 30s and up that we’re hoping to reach,” she said.
Fernandez’s initial offering is the Perfect Pout lipstick, which comes in three shades: Playful is a sweet sangria red; Posh, a rich mauve; and Popular, a bold swipe of crimson. “I chose the colors myself. My favorite is Posh for everyday use. Popular is for those evenings when I just want to put light makeup on, but still want to stand out,” she said.
Plumping and firming
Perfect Pout is formulated with peptides for hydration and Sepilift DPHP, a lipoamino acid used in skincare products for its plumping and firming effect—a must for maturing skin.
“I wanted to make sure that my lipsticks are hydrating, because there are other very expensive brands out there that dry out your lips. I would know because I’m a lipstick fan and have tried so many of them,” she said.
Available on Shopee, Lazada and TikTok for P300 a pop, Pick is expected to release other makeup essentials like foundation and blush this year, before eventually expanding into skincare. “Of course, we also have to take care of our skin. Aside from cleansing, toning—all the usual—I also love having facial treatments,” she said. “Sleep and proper diet are also very important.”
After four decades in entertainment, Fernandez has seen countless makeup trends come and go. Name them, and she has probably tried all of them, either onstage or in front of the cameras. But there’s one big shift she has observed. When she first started out in the industry in the early 1980s, makeup was more of a transformational tool.
“I started wearing makeup only when I started performing. I was so thrilled when I first tried it. Ang saya pala because it can really transform you. Suddenly, iba na ang tindig mo. You become more confident. Your aura changes,” she recalled.
But these days, Fernandez said, more and more people see makeup as a way to enhance one’s natural looks, something that gives a little boost of confidence, especially on days when you feel like you got up on the wrong side of the bed. And that’s what Pick is about—a little pick-me-up on down days.
“We all have flaws; no one is perfect. And there’s nothing wrong with us. I believe everyone is beautiful. But we can all use a bit of reassurance from time to time. And makeup can give you that. It won’t change you, but it can make you feel better about yourself,” she said.
