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While Katseye’s Sophia Laforteza has fans guessing the secret to her lips, makeup artist Booya spills hers on how to get the same look.
There’s one question that Sophia Laforteza keeps getting: “What’s your lip combo?” Laforteza, always spotted with glossy, plump, pink lips, has kept hers sealed when asked about the secret.
That hasn’t stopped fans from speculating, though. Many believe that it’s Luca’s Papaw Ointment, which she has been spotted using in between performances and during some Weverse livestreams. Others claim that it’s the Amuse Dew Velvet Lip Tint, which the Katseye member featured in an Olivia Young haul from her trip to Seoul. Most recently, Katseye debuted the Katseye x Glossier GRWM collection, which includes the Lip Glaze and Lip Gloss for Laforteza’s look.
But in Katseye’s Teen Vogue May/June 2025 cover story, Laforteza said, “Being so for real. I don’t have one specific lip gloss.” The statement holds up with her previous answers in other interviews: that there is no lip combo, but rather a lip care routine.
There’s a science behind her method. According to Healthline, lips don’t have sebaceous glands, which keep our skin soft and moisturized. Due to this, moisturizing and exfoliating your lips at least once or twice a week can help prevent them from being dry. Exfoliating your lips can also help lip products apply more uniformly, making it look smoother.
Makeup artist Booya is a personal fan of Laforteza’s lips. “What I love about Sophia Laforteza’s lip preference is that it’s all about hydration and that high-shine finish, which is perfect for anyone, regardless of skin type,” she weighs in. This makeup look, she says, is easy to achieve. For her, this look doesn’t need a specific product; any thick or thin gloss, lip oil, balm, or even tinted hybrid will do, as long as it’s hydrating.
While the girl group leader has kept her lips sealed about her favorite lip gloss, Booya recommends local products to help achieve the same look.
Sunnies Face Lip Glaze in Tiramisu
According to Booya, this product is a local version of the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, which Laforteza has been spotted using in a few videos. “It has the same glossy, cushiony feel, and the star ingredient here is peptides, which help boost collagen, keeping your lips soft, strong, and plump,” Booya says.
BLK Cosmetics Gloss Gel Tint
A Filipino dupe for the Amuse Dew Tint, the BLK Cosmetics Gloss Gel Tint has the same juicy finish and balmy texture, with shades that are curated for the Filipino complexion.
GRWM Cosmetics’ The Booze Color Balm
Lastly, there’s GRWM Cosmetics’ The Booze Color Balm, which is a good local swap for the Amuse Dew Balm. “I love this one, not just for the lips but even as a makeup artist trick: I use it on the high points of the face for a dewy, editorial glow during shoots,” she says.
