Life
Kojiesan team and partners celebrate the brand’s 10th anniversary
Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016
FASHION & BEAUTY
D1
The beauty to light millions
B
EAUTY Elements Ventures Inc. (BEVI), the manufacturer of the country’s favorite skin lightening product, Kojiesan, is celebrating 10 fruitful years of bringing a lighter, flawless and more beautiful complexion to Filipinos.
BEVI’s success story is a testament to the undaunted determination of its owner. From a few dozen orders to millions of bars sold, the soap steadily became a favorite among Filipinos. The innovative product reached consumers across the country, and soon after, distribution went worldwide as an export commodity. BEVI started in a humble office in a residential area in Makati. Now, the company operates from an entire building. It also owns a six-hectare manufacturing facilities in San Pablo, Laguna, providing employment to more than 500 employees. BEVI launched the original kojic acid soap formulated the traditional Japanese way and made it even better by adding high-grade virgin coconut oil into the mix. Kojiesan is an exceptional treatment to even out skin tone, erase dark spots, and other forms of skin pigmentations. It also corrects skin discoloration while lightening the skin. The Kojiesan Classic Line includes the Skin Lightening Soap, Cleanser+Toner, Face Lightening Cream, and Body Lightening Lotion. With the success of the Classic Line, Kojiesan was able to extend its product lines to other categories such as anti-aging, acne treatment, men’s skincare, cellulite control, sunblock, and fragrances. Results vary individually. How your skin reacts to any skin lightener will depend on your unique skin sensitivity, the extent of the pigmentation, and/or daily sun exposure. Initially, an improvement should be seen in the first or second week, then the ultimate result within the next 30 days or a few weeks thereafter.
of Filipinas for 10 years
Kojiesan’s commitment to quality is ref lected in the recognition it garnered for five consecutive years as “Bath Soap Brand of the Year” at the Watson’s Health and Beauty Awards and Consumer “SM Top Choice” Awards. With more tricks than truth behind what brands say, Kojiesan enjoins us to be careful with what we buy. Some labels brandish catchy, creative terms — triple effect this, intensive that, pinkish white whatever, and touting invented numbers: 4 tones fairer, 7 days faster— with zero consideration for your natural skin’s reaction to adverse products. And for all the claims and white lies told, the question remains: have they shown us results? It’s time we see the light. No lab-made chemical complexes, no marketing-invented promises. Just you and your natural beauty, shining at its lightest. Kojiesan believes that the proof is in the pigment, and seeing is believing. The country’s leading kojic soap brand encourages everyone to join the millions who’ve witnessed visible results “We will continue to innovate products and expand our distribution to bring the highest level of consumer experience to a greater number of people. We want to be known as the company who delivers quality and effective products,” says Tricia Gregorio, marketing head of BEVI.
BEVi CEO Jazz Burila
Brand Manager of Defensil Chelsea Chua
Kojiesan Sales Director Jun Matos
Marketing Head of Kojiesan Patricia Veronica Gregorio
Brand Manager of BVP Joan Decena
Kojiesan’s range of skin lightening products includes the Classic and Men’s line
Be new everyday with Oli Natural WITH Oli Natural whitening beauty soaps you can achieve that and so much more. Made from coconut oil, Oli Natural is traditionally processed that successfully combines natural ingredients to condition and enhance one’s natural beauty conveniently and economically. “Oli Natural soaps are what we call ‘real’ soaps. We can confidently say this because our soaps are not just for keeping the skin clean. We produce soaps in a traditional way called cold processing so that the active properties of its natural ingredients remain intact and benefit those who
will use the product. Unlike other brands that leave your skin dry and stripped of its natural oils, Oli Natural moisturizes and conditions your skin to bring out a new you,” said Jerry Sesmundo CEO of Activo Global, Inc., the company behind Oli Natural soaps. To date, Oli Natural soap has five variants: Gluta Papaya for excellent moisturizing; Green Barley, responsible for anti-aging and in achieving an odorfree day; Activated Charcoal for deep cleansing and detox; Intense White for extra strength whitening; and soon to be
Oli Natural’s Gluta-Papaya, Activated Charcoal, Intense White and Komenuka variants
available, Komenuka, natural booster of healthy skin. At the start, Sesmundo admitted that he was just a regular consumer who just couldn’t find what needed in a bar of soap. “I was in Italy when the idea came to me that I could make my own soaps. At first, I used olive oil so I named it ‘Oli,’ the Italian for oils. The results were great but it was just too expensive so I chose coconut oil as an alternative but kept the name.” Oli Natural is primarily made up of coconut oil, known for its high moisture content and rich lather. “We are confident in saying that each of our soap is made from coconut oil. “In the beginning, it was really a personal undertaking. I was just looking for a better option from what is available in the market. Backed by the business tools that I have, I began the production process and came up with a product line that is centered on consumer satisfaction,” said Sesmundo when asked how he started in the soap-making business. After its introduction to the market in 2014, Oli Natural products have been receiving rave reviews from consumers. In answer to the growing demand, Sesmundo and Activo Global, Inc. are now taking on the challenge of expanding the market presence of its premiere skin care products nationwide.
Activo Global CEO Jerry Sesmundo (second from left) with Oli Natural soaps endorsers Kristine Sablan and Raven Molina
The company has also chosen a couple of endorsers as part of their marketing campaign. Kristine Sablan is a model and budding actress from Star Magic, the talent management arm of ABS-CBN. Her first regular TV appearance was in the top rating teleserye, Pangako Sa ‘Yo. Raven Molina, on the other hand, is a basketball enthusiast-turned-model who dreams of becoming an actor someday. So far, he has appeared in several TV commercials, print ads and runway shows. “We chose Kristine and Raven because of their youthful image. They
belong to the fresh crop of talents. Just like Oli Natural, they are new in the business but have a lot of potential of making it big. I believe they are best suited to be the personalities that will introduce Oli Natural to the Filipino consumers,” said Sesmundo. “Filipinos have grown to be smart buyers. They still want affordability, but now they look for quality, value for their money as well. And that is what we guarantee with Oli Natural: a whitening beauty soap that brings out the new you every day,” added Sesmundo.