BUSINESS OF LOOKING GOOD Miss Derm owner and founder Marzen Salazar

The psychological impact of looking good and taking care of yourself is often discussed, yet I feel it doesn’t get the kind of recognition it deserves. I think it’s so important to acknowledge that boost of confidence you get when you wake in the morning and see yourself in the mirror looking already made up. Looking put together relays a feeling of being put together, and I personally cannot deny the effect this has had on my productivity on a day-to-day basis.

Most advertisements and trends will try to urge you to try to attain a certain beauty standard, fit into a singular mold of what they deem is the ideal look. I’ve found that it is simply impossible to have the same quality of confidence if you just keep trying to follow what the next person does, as you fail to embrace what’s your own. At Miss Derm, they work in collaboration with the client, finding what fits you best aesthetically.

Located at Centuria Medical Makati, Miss Derm’s first of three branches, the clinic offers a wide range of services. From originally focusing on brow microblading, it now also offers lash perm and extensions, lip tattoo, diode laser and wax hair removal, and HIFU tightening services. In late May, I was given the opportunity to pay Miss Derm a visit on the occasion of its third anniversary in business.

Miss Derm founder and self-made entrepreneur Marzen Salazar recalls growing up with her grandmother in Laguna. “My grandmother always draws on her eyebrows. She would try it but (I) would never be satisfied,” she recounts. “When I was growing up in the ’90s, eyebrow tattooing was a popular solution to the fading of the brow for the elderly and people with thin strokes—but even tattoos have their limits.”

So, Marzen took it upon herself back in 2020 (boldly, in the beginning of the pandemic) to launch an aesthetics clinic that specializes in microblading, back then a relatively new technology to Filipinos. From there, the services that the clinic offers have only continued to grow and cater to our beauty needs.

From Makati to Las Piñas to Quezon City, the business has expanded from north to south. Marzen explains that when artists would approach her, she couldn’t help but give them a space, an opportunity to hone and practice their craft. Hence, the continuous expansion of the brand all over Metro Manila.

As I previously mentioned, Miss Derm prides itself for being client-centric. Marzen believes that clients always know themselves best when it comes to how they want to look. The artists undergo intensive training to ensure high-quality outcome, and always work hand in hand with the client in order to achieve the best, most optimal results.

ON POINT Laser room at Miss Derm Makati

I experienced this kind of service first-hand, as I even got the pleasure of consulting with Marzen herself. Originally, I went there with the intention of trying out the brow microblading service. When I spoke with Marzen and told her this, she advised that perhaps I would prefer to start with brow lamination first, as it is only temporary and a less intrusive process, especially for “virgin” brows like mine.

When I laid on the beauty bed, she, along with one of Miss Derm’s seasoned brow artists, took a look at my eyebrows and determined what would look best on me. We all came to a unanimous decision to keep it simple—a gentle brush on the brows and no tint—because they were already thick to begin with. Looking back, I am so, so glad I went with this instead.

In conclusion, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well the Miss Derm team executes their beauty services and how accommodating they are with their clients. I also enjoyed hearing Marzen’s stories of how the brand came to be and seeing how passionate she is about catering to Filipino beauty needs, as well as her willingness to provide the creative space for artists and estheticians to grow. I can’t wait to go back and try their other services!

Enhance your natural features and elevate your appearance by visiting Miss Derm at any of their three branches—Makati (9/F Centuria Medical Makati), Las Piñas (304 Aurora Bldg, Zapote-Alabang Road), or Quezon City (20 Shorthorn Street). Follow www.instagram.com/missderm.