Sunnies Face
Martine Ho, Creative Director and Co-Founder to Sunnies Face
Inaperlas Magazine interviews Sunnies Face and chat about Sunnies Face’s much awaited launch into the US, what Filipino beauty means to her, and where she draws her inspiration from.
Sunnies Face, Lip Dip
I absolutely adore Sunnies Face products. Would love to know the story about how Sunnies Face came to be?
We started our eyewear brand Sunnies Studios back in 2013 and while creative directing the campaigns, I was always very focused on the lip colours of our models. From our shoots to my personal beauty collection, I always felt it was so challenging finding the right tones for the range of warm Filipino skin tones. When we started first developing Sunnies Face years ago, our initial goal was to create beauty products we wish existed in our very own makeup bags. Like everything we do at Sunnies Inc., we wanted to bring great products at accessible price points to the Philippines and we are so excited that globally this has been so well received.
I’ve been loving speaking about Filipino standards of beauty with my mother, what comes to mind when you think of beauty looks Filipinos love?
The spectrum of Filipino beauty is so vast in regards to our features and skin tones, and for years, Filipino beauty was defined by such a small margin. It was practically impossible to see a representative spectrum of Filipino skin tones a decade ago, but I am so happy with the movement of more representation of Filipino beauty.
“I always felt it was so challenging finding the right tones for the range of warm Filipino skin tones. When we started first developing Sunnies Face years ago, our initial goal was to create beauty products we wish existed in our very own makeup bags.”
The brand has such a distinct and unique look to it, where does your design inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from my past interests as a young girl to current obsessions as an adult – from cartoons, toys, music videos, magazines to even furniture and architecture. The sources of inspiration is endless, as long as your eyes are open to it. My father in law has a collection of all the mini hotel shampoos from over decades. I found an amazing art deco shampoo bottle that we have used as inspiration for some future products. As a creative, I really try see the most in every detail no matter what the object is.
You are set to launch in the United States later this month. I can finally stop asking my aunt to send over product from PI. What are you most excited about for this launch?
It brings me a lot of joy and pride that those outside of the Philippines can enjoy and appreciate what we have created at Sunnies Face.
Fluffmatte, Red
Martine’s favourite things
Everything In Its Right Place by Radio Head, Martine’s Favourite Song
You can always find me... having a cup of tea and chilling with my thoughts
Most used word.. cute
Smell you love.. my daughter’s head
How you treat yourself.. massage
Favourite Song... everything in its right place by radio head
Image of Devon Aoki, Martin’s Muse
Uniform.. cashmere sweatpants, crewneck and a baseball cap and comfy sneakers
Trend you’re loving now... space age everything
Go-to beauty look.. peachy tonal with fluffed up brows and dewy non shimmery highlight
Place to visit.. Mexico City
Dinner spot.. Son of a Gun in LA
Muse... Devon Aoki
“The sources of inspiration is endless, as long as your eyes are open to it. ”
Do you have a favourite Sunnies Face product? If you were to put together a full look of Sunnies Face what would it be?
Fluffmatte in Vacay has got to be my all time favourite product. It’s a personal concoction of mine that I mixed together for years to get to a flattering, everyday wearable peachy nude.
Your campaigns are always so beautiful. Do you have a dream location and model you’d like to shoot?
We’re actually shooting this month at the Neuendorf house in Mallorca, which has been a dream. And as for models, I adore Devon Aoki.
Lastly, you’ve been coming out with some great new products (huge fan of the lashlift) - what’s next for Sunnies Face?
Alongside the brand expanding into global markets, we have some really exciting new products we’re launching this year that I can’t wait to share. I can’t give away too much but they are solid, lifelong additions to our collection.
Face Erase, Micellar Oil Make Up Remove by Sunnies Face
