Career Diaries: Kristina Rodulfo, a Veteran Beauty Editor, on Her Skincare Journey, Must-Have Products and Representation in the Industry

Are there any tips or tricks you’ve learned after being in the biz for so long? 

Makeup doesn’t come with rules: Just because a lipstick is labeled a lipstick, doesn’t mean it can’t also be used as an eyeshadow or blush. There have been times all I’ve had in my purse was a lip liner and I drew circles on my cheek and used it as a blush! The point of makeup is to have fun! Experiment! Don’t lose sight of that while the trends keep coming and going.

I’ve been following you for a while and your content about dealing with acne as an adult has really resonated with me. Can you speak to how you dealt with acne while working as a beauty editor?

I have definitely felt imposter syndrome as a beauty editor struggling with acne — how could I be trusted to write about how to get clear skin when my own skin was anything but? I’d find myself caking on concealer and foundation, wearing big scarves to cover hormonal breakouts on my chin, or using my hair to cover up my face, and it was a really rough time especially because my job was so front-facing with meetings, video shoots, social media posts and more. I like to share raw photos of my skin journey because I want to normalize real skin. Instagram can make it really easy to forget what that looks like. Pores are normal. Hyperpigmentation is normal. Breakouts are normal. By being really honest with my experience and how long of a journey it can be, I hope to move people away from expectations of ‘instant’ results and unrealistic flawless skin.

Do you have any skincare tips that you’ve learned throughout your own skincare journey? 

Product-testing is a big part of being a beauty editor, what made the most dramatic difference in my skin was using the simple regimen suggested by my dermatologist. I simplified my routine down to a few steps: cleanser, prescription topicals, moisturizer and SPF. That’s it. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your skin is LESS. Consistency is the most important element. You really have to give topical products time to work!  Breakouts still happen here and there, and I really want to encourage people to separate their self-worth from their skin. Having less-than-perfect skin doesn’t make me any less qualified as a beauty editor or any less valuable of a voice in the beauty space.

What are some of your favorite products? Both at the moment and OG go-tos. 

Some current favorites are the Lawless Conseal the Deal Foundation, which is great for lightweight, but full-coverage foundation that feels like a serum. The Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Concealer is just as good as the foundation version, especially great to cover dark circles and redness around my nose or breakouts. The Tower 28 Beach Please Cream Blush is the most pigmented, creamy blush I’ve ever used. A little goes a long way! The L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer is perfect for faking fuller brows because of the tiny micro tip that lets me draw on individual hairs. My all-time favorite mascara is the L’Oréal Paris Bambi Waterproof Mascara – it works even on my tiny short straight lashes. Lastly, the Violette FR Yeux Paint, which is a stunning liquid eyeshadow developed by one of my favorite makeup artists, has amazing color payoff and lasts forever. 

Can you share a bit about what Filipino representation was like when you started out in the beauty industry? 

It is a major mission of mine to make the beauty and media industry more diverse — and to hold people accountable for that. Beauty has the power to help shape how people see themselves. How people feel about their identity. Their confidence. Their potential. I know this as someone who spent a decade in rooms as the only Filipina with a seat at the table — usually the only Asian and/or woman of color, period. There needs to be more of us working in the beauty industry at every level for change to really happen. Over the years, the network of Filipino creatives has really grown and it makes me so happy. There’s no point in rising to the top if you're not lifting others up with you. 

How is freelancing going? Can you share a bit about being your own boss and growing your brand?

It was such a difficult decision to leave my job (being a magazine beauty director was the ultimate dream!) but I was so inspired by the new wave of content creation and social media that I really wanted to see what would happen if I took my skills as a writer and editor and poured it into building up my personal brand. These days, being a team of one is the most difficult part. I used to produce videos with multiple videographers, an audio engineer, a lighting team, hair and makeup artists, set designers…and now it’s all on me. Content creation is far more difficult than anyone expects it to be (and you don’t know until you do it yourself!). The easy part has been really channeling my storytelling skills into multimedia format. My background as an editor really helps me when it comes to knowing how to create content that will make people click.

Lastly, do you have any advice for your younger self, beauty or non-beauty?

First, be your biggest advocate. You won’t get what you don’t ask for. Whether it’s a promotion, raise, assignment or opportunity like being on live national TV — these things won’t come to you if you don’t put them out there in the world. Second, you need to rest to create. Whether you’re a content creator or an editor, if you are constantly on the hamster wheel of the trend and news cycle you don’t give yourself enough time to let inspiration strike you. Take time to do something for yourself, whether that’s wellness practices like working out, going for a walk, journaling or meditating — that silence is absolutely necessary to help you do your best work. Third, stay focused on your own path – everyone’s timeline is different and no one’s is better than another’s. What you see are people’s highlight reels and you never know what is going on behind the scenes, so keep the blinders on and don’t get distracted by what everyone else is doing. What do YOU want to be doing? Let that be your guide. Last, take the time to really get to know yourself and what brings you joy, because that will light you up more than any highlighter can.