Welcome to Expert’s Spotlight, a new series highlighting leading dermatologists, editors, and creators—each sharing their trusted essentials and the philosophies behind them.
Jason Delos Reyes is a Manila-based makeup artist known for elevating morena beauty through precision, restraint, and an uncompromising eye for undertone. Clients like Gabbi Garcia, Megan Young, and Angelique Manto have sat in his chair; what they walk away with is never heavy, never overworked. His work celebrates depth rather than masking it—the richness of kayumanggi, golden, and deep complexions treated as the canvas, not the challenge.
In a landscape that once limited shade ranges and pushed warmer tones as default, Jason became known for correcting one of the most common mistakes in local makeup artistry: undertone misalignment. His philosophy begins with neutrality—understanding that many morena complexions are neither overly warm nor overly cool, but beautifully balanced.
Beyond technique, Jason approaches makeup as a study in dimension. For him, bronzer is warmth, contour is structure, blush is architecture, and glow must always be intentional. His signature aesthetic—softly bronzed skin, sunset-toned blush, and a natural dew—reflects his belief that luxury lies in seamless blending and subtle refinement.
Start With Undertone
“First things first: undertone,” emphasizes Jason. “Many of my morena clients assume they automatically have olive or warm undertones, but in reality, most morena complexions fall into the neutral undertone category.”
It’s a correction that sounds simple but changes everything. Go too warm and the foundation reads orange. Too yellow and it looks unnatural against the skin’s true depth. Neutral, he says, is where most morena complexions actually live—and where the best results begin. “Undertone is crucial. Not too warm, not too cool.”
“So many of us grew up hearing that lighter means prettier. Skin tone isn’t a hierarchy; it’s a spectrum—and every shade has its own luxury,” he adds.
The Beauty Edit Recommends:
Enigma Skintroduction Longwear Foundation in MN12 Medium Beige
P699, The Beauty Edit
Enigma Skintroduction Longwear Foundation in MN14 Warm Beige
P699, The Beauty Edit
Glow vs. Shine—in Philippine Heat
“Perfect skin preparation is key,” says Jason. “If you prep the skin properly, you can achieve that natural glow from within without relying on heavy highlighters. In a humid climate, the more products you layer, the more likely it is to melt. A good translucent powder is your best partner for balancing glow and longevity.”
In the Philippine heat, less is the strategy. He says fewer layers mean the skin can breathe—and hold. Rather than building up product, the approach is restraint: let the prep do the work, then seal it with a translucent powder to keep the glow from tipping into shine.
The Beauty Edit Recommends:
EB Daily Dose Skin Power Powder SPF 30
P395, The Beauty Edit
Popique Baked Powder
P499, The Beauty Edit
What Makes Skin Look Expensive
The answer, according to Jason, is seamlessness—and the discipline to stop before you’ve done too much. “It’s all about a seamless finish,” he stresses. “Softly bronzed skin, a touch of blush, and everything blended so well it looks almost undetectable.” The skin should carry a natural dew, just enough shine to read as alive, never greasy, always refined.
The Morena Formula
Jason breaks down his product approach, step by step:
Foundation & Concealer
Your base is where it all begins, and the principle is straightforward: “Neutral undertones usually work best.”
Bronzer vs. Contour
For dimension, he draws a clear line between bronzer and contour, two products that are frequently confused. “Bronzer adds warmth, while contour adds structure.” Contours should lean neutral to slightly cool brown.
Blush
For Jason, blush is where personality enters. “I like mixing two tones—coral with pink—to create a beautiful sunset blush effect.” The result reads warm but layered, never flat.
Highlighter
“For oily skin, powder highlighters are your best friend — but placement is key.” Apply only to the temples or outer cheeks—or skip it entirely and let the skin naturally glow.
The Beauty Edit Recommends:
Popique Multiuse Palette in Tropic Tan
P499, The Beauty Edit
Enigma Concealer in MN12 Medium Beige
P499, The Beauty Edit
Popique Face Forward Multi-Complexion Pot
P399, The Beauty Edit
Careline Multistick
P220, The Beauty Edit
Dala Dewphoria Duo Liquid Blush
P498, The Beauty Edit
Shop all these F-beauty brands and more at The Beauty Edit Gallery at Spatio, located on the 3/F of Opus Mall, Bridgetowne Destination Estate, Quezon City. An editorial-led retail concept—and the first-of-its-kind in the local scene—the gallery spotlights indie innovators, cult icons, and niche trailblazers shaping F-beauty today.
