From Endorser to Entrepreneur: Maja Salvador finally joins the beauty business

As if becoming a new mom wasn’t enough of a life shift, Maja Salvador is also stepping into a brand-new chapter — this time, in the beauty business.

With the recent introduction of her skincare line Majeskin under her own company Reigning Majesty — which she co-founded with beauty mogul Rhea Anicoche-Tan of Beautéderm and her husband Rambo Nuñez — Maja transitions from longtime endorser to brand owner, a move she has taken on with a clear sense of purpose.

“’Yon, sabi nga nung asawa ko, hindi naman sa yung kung yayaman or what… dun kami sa may purpose kami,” Maja shared. “So bonus na lang siguro po ‘yun kung tangkilikin ‘yung product namin and I hope nga tangkilikin para mas makatulong pa tayo… I always want to do something that can be of help because we are so blessed.”

According to the TV5 host and actress, the idea behind Majeskin was born out of her desire to empower people to feel confident in their own skin — just as she has learned to do so, especially after getting pregnant and giving birth. And you’ll get to see her hard work and effort in the pictorial she especially did for the brand.

“I’m not doing this just to make you go ‘wow.’ I just needed to challenge myself. I needed to bring out that old Maja that was very dedicated (to self-care and fitness),” she explained.

“You need to see that I’m very confident in myself. That I’m very confident in my own skin. Even after giving birth… That’s the message: This is the new Maja and she’s now more confident in her own skin.”

For her part, business partner Rhea Anicoche-Tan has long seen the potential in Maja not just as an endorser, but as a collaborator.

“This is Maja’s first time in the beauty business. Rambo is into events and the restaurant business, so what’s great is we’re able to exchange ideas. I’m more familiar with the retail market and how things work there. I also have my own restaurant.

“Like I said, it’s easier to earn here because we have 85 branches nationwide — that’s automatic, we sell the products.”

Given her longer tenure in the industry, The STAR asked Rhea how she mentored Maja in treading the competitive beauty space.

“We really need to keep posting these days because there’s so much competition now. We have to be very aggressive. It doesn’t end at just launching the product. There always has to be something new, because others are also great at marketing. We need to stay visible all the time.”

Beautederm’s exact involvement in the Majeskin is more on the finance side, as well as product development. Nevertheless, more than the business aspect of it, their partnership also feels personal being Maja’s wedding godparent.

“This is also my first time to have a business partner but because it’s Maja and Rambo, no questions asked,” said Rhea.

She said that even before she came into the couple’s lives, they had already decided on venturing into the skincare and beauty scene, but they were “very respectful” enough to ask her to become a business partner rather than risk becoming a competitor.

“They really treat me like family,” she said.

Majeskin is a passion project of Maja, said her husband Rambo, who is also the actress’ biggest influence as she enters her “businesswoman era.”

When they met Rhea, the couple took it as a sign that “people were being led to us” to push through with the project. “We really made sure that we just wanted to work with her.”

And Rambo said he just encouraged Maja to pursue her interest, which is skincare, for a business.

Majeskin is starting with the body wash, lotion and scrub.

“We wanna make sure that it does well first before we take the next steps… Parang anak ‘di ba na baby steps… ‘Pag lumaki then that’s when you decide again (on what to do next). Eventually, it’s the main goal that we can build it bigger and bigger. ”

Asked by The STAR about what he learned about doing business with his wife, he said, “I think what’s important is the trust and the awareness (acknowledgment) that ‘this is something that I’m doing now and this is what I’m good at (and vice-versa).’”

According to Rambo, Maja is very hands-on as an owner, from product development to marketing strategies.

Even with Maja’s other business, which is the talent agency Crown Artist Management, it’s the same.

“I’m really just more on the operational side,” he said. “But in terms of decision-making, it’s more of a husband’s advice. She knows the entertainment industry more than me. Kabisadong kabisado na niya. Basically, we just follow her lead and direction.”