Welcome to The Beauty Edit Honor Roll™️ 2025—a tribute to the moments, makers, and milestones that shaped beauty this past year. Themed The Beauty Edit Pop Awards, a.k.a. The Poppys, it’s our most exhaustive and dynamic edition yet—a winners’ lineup over two months in the making. Nominees were selected for achievements between October 2024 and September 2025, and winners were determined through votes from more than 200 editors, journalists, creators, founders, beauty executives, and industry insiders.
In recent years, Filipino beauty has proven it can go toe-to-toe with international brands. With affordable prices, formulas tailored for our climate, and shade ranges that cater to diverse skin tones, local products have become go-tos for both makeup pros and casual users.
This year marks a turning point for Filipino beauty on the global stage. Just as K-beauty captured Western markets a decade ago, Filipino beauty brands and trends are beginning to gain international attention. Though the excitement is just starting to build, recognition needs a starting point—and the brands honored in this edition of The Beauty Edit Pop Awards are undoubtedly propelling the industry forward, at home and abroad.
Duet of the Year: Hit Collaboration: blk Cosmetics x Bretman Rock
Bretman Rock is one of the OG YouTube beauty vloggers, so it was a major moment when he teamed up with blk cosmetics for a collaboration this year. This Hawaii-based Filipino’s first partnership with a local beauty brand featured truly covetable drops—from the Cooling Primer Stick and Radiant Glow Bronzer to the Glossy Serum Stick, Invisible Sunscreen Primer, and Creamy All-Over Paint.
The summer-themed collection perfectly blended accessible, Filipino-friendly beauty with Bretman’s signature flair and love for the tropics. While some collabs can feel forced, the partnership between blk and Bretman came across as completely organic—hitting all the right branding notes and making perfect sense to both blk’s and Bretman’s fans. “He’s larger than life and embodies everything blk stands for: fun, fresh, and unapologetically real,” said blk cosmetics Managing Partner Stephanie Abellada, highlighting why this collaboration was such a natural fit.
Soundtrack of Change – Advocate for Beauty Inclusivity or Sustainability: GRWM Cosmetics
GRWM Cosmetics doesn’t take its tagline, ‘Beauty on your own terms,’ lightly. From the sheer breadth of their offerings, it’s clear the brand aims to have something for everyone. Their complexion products, including skin tints and foundations, span 18 to 25 shades, while even their color cosmetics are carefully formulated to suit a variety of undertones.
Beyond inclusivity, GRWM Cosmetics is committed to ethical and sustainable practices. The brand is vegan, cruelty-free, and offers many multi-use products, reflecting their eco-conscious values. At the same time, they actively champion self-expression, mental health, and community initiatives, ensuring their impact goes beyond beauty and into meaningful change.
Best Solo Act – Breakthrough Beauty Treatment: Ultherapy Prime
Ultherapy has long been a favorite among celebrities and beauty enthusiasts, and this year, Merz Aesthetics introduced its upgraded treatment: Ultherapy Prime. Like its predecessor, Ultherapy Prime stimulates collagen to visibly tighten skin—but it does so faster, more accurately, and more comfortably. The new technology features enhanced real-time imaging for precise targeting, even around delicate areas like the eyes and jawline. With more efficient energy delivery, treatment times are shorter, and the procedure is reportedly less painful, making Ultherapy Prime a much-needed evolution in non-invasive skin tightening.
Global Stage Award: Sunnies Face
Filipino beauty is making waves globally, and this category’s winner, Sunnies Face, is leading the charge. The brand first gained international attention in 2018, when Allure U.S. highlighted its success in the Philippines and its popularity with US celebrities like Christina Aguilera and Amandla Stenberg. In 2022, the Fluffmattes won the title of Best Matte Lipstick in the Allure Best of Beauty Awards. Since then, the lipstick has been spotted on major celebrities, including Sabrina Carpenter, Bretman Rock, Lucy Hale, and Lola Tung. Expanding to a global audience, Sunnies Face is now available in the US, Thailand, and China, with worldwide shipping offered through its website.
Breakout Beauty Brand of the Year: Sola
Thanks to the growing skincare craze on TikTok, sunscreen has become an unskippable step in many everyday routines. Brands like Sola are helping people realize that sun protection doesn’t have to be the sticky, greasy chore it once was. With sophisticated formulas, intentional packaging, and a strong focus on the importance of sun care, Sola has become a staple in many Filipinos’ skincare and beauty routines. Its affordability and availability at retailers like Watsons make it accessible to the average consumer, while its sleek designs make it something people are proud to display on their vanities or carry in their purses.
Indie Darling: Tadhana
Slow, sustainable production and intentional storytelling are at the heart of Tadhana’s mission. The local niche perfume brand was founded by perfumer Shale Albao, who sought to tell Filipino stories by using rare and uncommon Asian ingredients in her fragrances. The result is a collection of esoterically named fragrances that evoke feelings, identities, and experiences with every note.
This year, Tadhana solidified its global presence with a debut at Grasse Perfume Week 2025 in France—a milestone that marks just the beginning of Philippine-based fragrances making waves on the international stage.
The Beauty Edit Pop Awards 2025 live ceremony was held last November 29 at Rockstar Greenhills, San Juan City.
