We know beauty: Jake Galvez talks about the art of beauty and SM

He comes from a line of prominent beauty experts. And with his uncle Tony Galvez encouraging him to blaze a trail in styling and cosmetology, it is not surprising that Jake Galvez has become one of the country’s top professional makeup artists.

Jake says he knew he wanted to be in the beauty biz at a very young age. His uncle Tony not only taught him beauty basics, but brought him to trade shows and beauty conventions worldwide. Even while he was still starting, Jake turned to SM for his beauty tools.

“I remember getting my first beauty set at SM,” he recalls, “and up to now I’m still using their products. It’s a great beauty source.”

Beauty, however, took a backseat when he was asked by his family to help manage their businesses. A Business Administration graduate from Thames International School, Jake took over the management of one of their family businesses, The Tony Galvez School of Cosmetology.

Realizing that his professional calling was in the beauty and cosmetology industry, he started studying trends and techniques in cosmetology schools abroad. It was during that time that he immersed himself in intense training, traveling around the world to learn more about beauty.  His journey to learn the best in beauty took him from the Tony Galvez School of Cosmetology to May’s Beauty School and the Team Work Beauty School, both in Hong Kong; Cosmoprof Academy in Singapore; Cinema Secrets in Los Angeles; and at The Institute Technique du Maquillage in Paris

Combining his training with his passion for the arts — fashion, decor, crafts, and theater — Jake has come up with his own unique style that has made him a sought-after beauty expert. In the past seven years, he has accomplished many milestones. He has been selected as a makeup artist for the international brand Kryolan, and has been chosen as one of L’Oreal’s Professional Techni Artists and Ambassadors.

Jake has also successfully mounted two beauty exhibits in 2009 and 2010; and has contributed to and been featured in a US based professional make-up book Milady Pro Make-Up.

But if there is anything that speaks of his expertise, it is his amazing lineup of celebrity clients. He has had an opportunity to work with international stars like Mandy Moore, Mario Maurer, and Ed Westwick; and his own list of regular clients include some of the country’s most beautiful faces like Georgina Wilson, Andi Eigenmann, Marian Rivera, Carla Abellana, Heart Evangelista, Lovi Poe to socialites like Tessa Prieto Valdez and Tweetie de Leon Gonzalez to acclaimed actresses like Angel Aquino, Cherie Gil, and Judy Ann Santos. And yes, he is also behind the great looks of heartthrobs Gerald Anderson and Paulo Avelino.

Given a chance, he would like to work with Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue. “That would be exciting,” he says.

Here, he shares beauty tips and his top picks from SM Beauty.