Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Anna Cerezo

ABS-CBN News

Taunted for his acne as a teenager, Marlou Colina didn’t let the insults leave lasting scars—instead, they fueled a lifelong passion to study skincare that can help others find lasting solutions. Without access to dermatologists growing up, Colina experimented with whatever products he could afford, hoping something might work. “I was an acne patient. Growing up I was insecure. I was bullied. Hindi maganda skin namin. Alam niyo Chin Chun Su? Extra derm, lahat yan ginamit ko. Wala naman ako access and pera for derma. So High School, Volleyball, ang sigaw sa buong gym Chin Chun Su!” Colina, CEO of MHCO Group of Companies, recalled.Even after moving to the United States to further his career as a makeup artist, the struggle followed him, driving him to search for solutions for himself. “Gumanda na balat ko kahit papano. Pero ng dumating ako America, pinimples ako ulit—sinabihan ako pa-bouldozer mukha ko. So I went to aesthetic school for me to find a solution for myself. Passion ko yan. Ma pimple katawan ko, hindi maganda skin ko,” he said.Colina’s work as an MUA took him to different places, including Hollywood, where his clients included celebrities such as Selena Gomez and Kylie Minogue.But behind the glamour, he began noticing a pattern among many of the faces he worked on—particularly among Filipinos and people with similar skin types: melasma. “Buong America, ang dami talaga may melasma. Pinoy mostly, hispanic, mga may dark hair,” he noted. Rather than selling products, he said his goal is to educate. Instead of chasing fast-moving beauty trends, Colina focuses on science-based approaches and working with medical professionals who treat skin conditions every day. “It has to be done through an organization through derma associations, doctors, and skincare clinics. I want to educate not to sell. This is the missing link. I prioritize working with leaders in the field. When you educate doctors, they can disseminate the information to their patients and communities,” he said. “MC Aesthetics formulation is strong. It’s not like a TikTok skincare product where you just buy it and use it. This requires professional guidance. A doctor or aesthetician has to dispense it and guide the patient through the process.”His work has expanded to treating conditions such as hyperpigmentation, acne, psoriasis, eczema, keratosis, and hair thinning. The formulations he helped develop are distributed in countries including Japan, Spain, Germany, and Canada. “At the end of the day MC Aesthetics, solid ground is treating one specific problem— not treatable by other products. Whether there is new trend or not—eto lang need mo. Follow our protocol and you will see results,” he said. He, however, hopes to bring the work closer to home and collaborate with local doctors and clinics in the Philippines.“We actually brought it to Bali, Indonesia recently during the Summit Awards. There’s also strong interest from India, as many people there experience similar skin concerns. The goal is really to expand awareness and bring the treatment to places where it’s needed,” he said. Colina hopes others struggling with their skin won’t have to search for answers the way he once did—alone. “Through education, innovation, and ethical practice, we hope to reach as many people as possible,” he said.

Taunted for his acne as a teenager, Marlou Colina didn’t let the insults leave lasting scars—instead, they fueled a lifelong passion to study skincare that can help others find lasting solutions.

Taunted for his acne as a teenager, Marlou Colina didn’t let the insults leave lasting scars—instead, they fueled a lifelong passion to study skincare that can help others find lasting solutions.

How an aesthetic nurse turned a personal acne struggle into a mission to help others

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How an aesthetic nurse turned a personal acne struggle into a mission to help others

Anna Cerezo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 14, 2026 11:38 PM PHT

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Skincare

Aesthetic Nurse

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