The industry icon discusses how she helped change the narrative on clean beauty, Philippine skincare products and more
It wasn’t long ago that most Filipinos made their choice of beauty products dependent on a single qualification: Is it imported? As consumers evolve and learn to consider everything from the item’s ingredients to its impact on the environment, inspiring mompreneur Tyff Short of proud local beauty brand One Earth Organics proudly reflects on the extent to which the market’s mindset has changed – a transformation shaped by her important influence.
Short admits that she, too, based her purchases of beauty products solely on whether they were manufactured abroad. Ultimately, this led her to learn firsthand about the harmful effects of chemical-based products, and why she founded One Earth Organics over a decade ago as a healthier alternative. The brand offers safe, clean, best quality skin care products, as organic as possible, designed to enhance and preserve natural beauty.
More than that, One Earth Organics has always stood for beauty that is not only deep within the skin, but also deep within itself, rooted in principles that have become industry staples today. Without a doubt, Short is a visionary, a bona fide disruptor in the Philippine beauty industry.
“From the beginning, our goal was to educate people about the benefits of organic skin care in a way that was not just a trend, but as a lifestyle,” says the founder of One Earth Organics. “We were able to prove that the quality of One Earth Organics as a local brand is as good as or better than imported products; and that we can also compete with the premium brands.”
Ahead of the curve
Short founded One Earth Organics in 2013 using her small savings as a single mother to make ends meet. Her goal was to provide the market with organic beauty solutions and to give her son a better future.
Through innovative offerings that resonated in the marketplace, One Earth Organics proved to be the answer for many. The brand, a member of PETA, champions all-natural materials and combines advanced plant-based solutions with the powerful synergy of organic and natural components. The aim was to create a positive impact on both health and the environment. That means One Earth Organics has always trumpeted concepts like “sustainability,” “niacinamide” and “paraben-free,” even before they became the beauty buzzwords they are today.
“One Earth Organics has paved the way for local consumers to become more aware of the dangers of using highly toxic chemicals, and for women to talk about and act on their beauty concerns and insecurities,” says Short.
One of the brand’s hero products since its inception has been the multi-award winning, groundbreaking One Earth Organics Under Arm Therapy Set, consisting of antibacterial whitening deodorant spray, healthy glow enhancer serum and deep whitening armpit cream for the underarms. Matching the popularity of the product, the brand led to the “kili-kili selfie trend that became a revolutionary online phenomenon, allowing women to be more open about their armpit insecurities.
“I always believe that the armpits are just as important as the face because it plays that confidence factor,” says Short. “All the products we produce come from addressing a specific beauty problem or women’s insecurities. We can solve it without using harmful chemicals and by increasing confidence so they can focus on their goals.”
More needs to be done
Short and One Earth Organics have had quite a ride over the past eleven years.
The brand evolved from its humble beginnings as a constant attendee at bazaars, to changing countless lives with its distributor/reseller program, to breaking new ground with landmark partnerships with national wellness chains Watson’s and Beauty Bar. One Earth Organics is also proud to have overcome the trials of the global pandemic.
According to Short, the key to rebuilding the brand was getting its priorities straight, which started with fixing everything internally. One Earth Organics began its rebuilding efforts in the last quarter of 2022, after two years of losses and system collapse. Short looked after the well-being of the brand’s employees across all departments, from human resources to operations, and then proceeded to create a new roadmap for the brand.
“I fought for it,” she says. “I wanted to stay true to myself and my interests, which meant fixing everything from the inside out before we started producing and marketing our products. Moreover, I did not want to compromise the quality of our offering. So we had to make sure everything was right.”
Today, One Earth Organics is back on its feet with bigger goals than ever, including global expansion already underway. The brand went live on its export partner’s trade website this year, bringing One Earth Organics one step closer to availability in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Indonesia.
Short admits the trip exceeded her expectations. What started as a business to help people like her and give her son a better chance at life has turned into a full-blown revolution in women’s empowerment. She receives messages from female entrepreneurs thanking her for inspiring them to take control of their lives. Some have even ventured into beauty and wellness, but Short doesn’t see them as competition.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about empowering women and supporting other women,” she says. “I am happy and also inspired by their story.”
Check out One Earth Organics at Watsons and Beauty Bar, as well as LazMall and Shopee Mall. For more information about One Earth Organics, visit www.oeorganics.com. Follow the brand on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/oneearthorganicsbeauty and Instagram on https://www.instagram.com/oneearthorganicsbeauty/.
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