Estée Lauder and BJ Pascual’s New Beauty Campaign is All About Self-Expression and Inclusivity

The beauty brand’s newest campaign is inspired by all types of beauty

“When we were going through plans of how we were going to celebrate tonight, I instantly thought of giving props to the people who have been with me throughout my journey of discovering myself. These people continue to inspire me—and they’re a lot,” says fashion photographer BJ Pascual, as he candidly talks about his family and friends who were also attending his launch as the face of Estée Lauder’s My Shade, My Story campaign.

Estée Lauder isn’t foreign to inclusivity as they have been at the forefront of championing diversity and equity. When the Philippine team of the makeup brand relayed the news to Pascual that he had been chosen as their regional brand ambassador, the photographer’s initial reaction of surprise turned into elation.

esteelauder_vph_bjpascual | vogue philippines — Erwin Canlas

“Representation for the LGBTQIA+ community has and will always be my advocacy. I’m really happy to do this because the community continues to support me. It warms my heart that a lot of people who are LGTBQIA+ are getting recognized and are out there inspiring a new generation of creatives and let them be themselves,” shares Pascual.

Set in a variety of nude-shaded panels, Whitespace Manila turned into an immersive art gallery designed by Moss Interior + Event Design. Entering through a tunnel laid with photos of the campaign shot by Shaira Luna, the expansive space allowed guests to create, learn, and express themselves through an interactive wall, try-on foundation swatches, and a pocket workshop led by makeup artist Gery Penaso and RB Chanco. The event was also hosted by Jaz Reyes.

The evening was also dedicated to one of Estée Lauder’s liquid foundations, the Double Wear Stay-In-Place, a lightweight foundation with 24-hour staying power that is also waterproof and transfer-resistant. To show off the natural matte finish of the Double Wear, makeup artist Jelly Eugenio applied the shade Dawn on Pascual’s visage which accentuated his skin tone.

“Makeup has become second nature to me. I enjoy being able to express myself whether it’s through a simple look or when I’m in the mood to experiment. I see how it’s transformative to the people I shoot, and it has the same effect when it’s applied to me,” shares Pascual.

The 32-shade range of the Estée Lauder foundation was also the inspiration for the night’s attire with friends and colleagues of Pascual and Estée Lauder arriving in their best nude ensembles that highlighted their skin tones.

To up the ante of the celebration, DJ XTina Superstar played upbeat pop music with a packed dance floor swaying to the beat. The mood was set with canapés from Bizu and a variety of cocktails from Ruby Wong GoDown—from customized gin and tonic to cognac-fused cocktails—to pair with dancing.

With today’s beauty landscape, Estée Lauder’s message is clear: makeup can be used by anyone to express the inner you and help you find your inner beauty. Whether it’s a bold smokey eye or the subtle glow of foundation, makeup is a tool that can make you feel beautiful and confident no matter who you are or what skin tone you have.