Artworks celebrating womanhood were showcased at a pop-up museum at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, part of a feminine hygiene specialist’s advocacy to empower women and boost their skin confidence.
The 14 artworks represented diverse stories of women’s lives, highlighting their struggles and the ways they overcame them.
“Each artwork here, as much as possible, we try to represent the different stages of womanhood from childhood, teenhood, all the way to graceful aging, even motherhood,” Jamie Superable-Martin, the brand manager of Lactacyd, said.
“Art is the most effective way to tell a story [and] invoke emotion,” she added.
Some artists shared that their artworks reflected their personal experiences and challenges as women.
For Michelle Alde, expressing her story through oil painting was difficult because she struggled with skin insecurities during her teenage years.
However, she said her artwork, “Of Poise and Power,” also represents how she overcame her self-doubt.
“Because my previous, actually my whole body of work, it centers around veiled figures. So, most of my figures are covered in blankets. So, I think this one, this is the unveiling of my figure,” she said.
“Because finally, I feel like I can show myself confidently enough. It’s a push that I needed,” she added.
Meanwhile, Zee Venti, an artist with two works featured in the gallery, said she wanted to share her personal skin story.
“So it’s the first time I actually drew a lot of skin. But in the same way, I wanted my art to always be positive. And so, instead of feeling uncomfortable creating this, I actually wanted to speak,” Venti said.
“I think this is, for a long time, we kind of like hide everything, the skin, whatever our issue is with our skin. I think now, we’re more open and more inclusive and more open in sharing,” she added.
According to Venti, each of her two artworks tells a different story, one highlights women’s experiences during menstruation, while the other focuses on confidence despite the pain and scars.
Lactacyd’s Museum of Speaking Skin also features interactive stations, a child-friendly space and a product portfolio.
The pop-up museum will be open to the public until September 28.
New product
Aside from the pop-up museum, Lactacyd also unveiled its new product line, the body wash products Healthy Bright and Ever Fresh.
According to Superable-Martin, the Healthy Bright contained actipone and niacinamide, which could brighten the skin, while the Ever Fresh body had a 24-hour odor protection, which could be beneficial for individuals with an active lifestyle.
She also clarified that the body wash could be used by men.
The new products also feature an improved formulation called Lactobiome+, which is present in Lactacyd’s other offerings.
This formulation combines Natural Lactoserum, which nourishes and hydrates the skin, with Organic Lactic Acid, which helps maintain the skin’s mildly acidic pH and protects against pathogens.
With the addition of the new line, Superable-Martin said the brand aims “to become a total skin health brand.”
The brand also introduced new packaging that highlights the Lactobiome+ droplet.
Established in 1947, Lactacyd manufactures products for feminine hygiene and baby care.