Filipinos Deserved Better Skincare. So These Sisters Made It.
Filipinos Deserved Better Skincare. So These Sisters Made It.
For Vanessa, it started with a rash. Angry, red patches on her daughter’s arms, eczema flaring under Florida’s heat. “Regular” soaps, aka store-bought and mass-produced, weren’t just ineffective…they were making things worse.
So she took into her own hands (literally). With a book, a YouTube playlist, and a pile of natural ingredients, she began to experiment.
Then came Ivy, her younger sister, a Filipina mom and self-described candle obsessive. She suffered from psoriasis and migraines, often triggered by synthetic fragrances from store-bought candles.
Together, they built Ives & Bees: a Filipina-owned skincare and candle brand devoted to handmade, non-toxic, and culturally-inspired wellness.
“More people should have this,” Ivy remembers thinking. “This should be accessible to more people.”
From a Health Crisis to a Handmade Movement
Vanessa didn’t set out to build a business. She just wanted relief for her daughter. But after six months of cautious testing, she handed out a batch of homemade soap to friends and family, and the feedback was undeniable.
Ivy, inspired by her sister’s quiet diligence, finally tackled something she’d long been afraid to try: candle-making. Her husband had even gifted her a full kit for Valentine’s Day. No more excuses. It was time.
“It became therapeutic,” Ivy says. “And we tested everything—especially to make sure our candles didn’t give anyone a headache like the ones I used to buy.”
A Clean Break From Corporate Skincare
Most Filipinos in America grew up with soaps from brands like P&G, Unilever, and Johnson & Johnson. But these mass-market formulas, often loaded with sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, are known to aggravate eczema and psoriasis—the very issues Vanessa and Ivy were trying to relieve.
A 2020 study published in Dermatitis confirmed that common surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) significantly disrupt the skin barrier, making them especially harsh for sensitive skin.
“We didn’t want to use soap that worked against our bodies,” Ivy says. “We wanted something we could trust—because we’re literally giving it to our family.”
Reclaiming Filipino Wellness, One Scent at a Time
At first, Ives & Bees focused on basics: clean soaps and candles. But a year in, they realized the product wasn’t the only thing missing from shelves—so was representation.
“We didn’t see ourselves in the wellness space,” Ivy recalls. “And honestly, we were shy to show ourselves at first. We come from that Filipino mindset of just focusing on the product—not the people.”
Eventually, they embraced their story and their culture. Filipino scents like Sampaguita, Calamansi, and Buko soon became core to their collections. Some, like Sampaguita and Narra, didn’t exist in ready-made fragrance oils. So Ivy blended her own.
“We knew what Sampaguita smelled like from childhood,” she says. “We created a mix from jasmine and honeysuckle until it felt just right.”
Rooted in Sisterhood, Reinvented for the Future
Today, Ives & Bees is more than a business. It’s a family legacy. Ivy makes the candles. Vanessa crafts the soaps. And though they live four hours apart in Florida, the business has drawn them closer than ever.
Their Maganda Ka Collection, a personal favorite, features artwork by Vanessa’s daughter—a morena Filipina in a Filipiniana attire, a celebration of believing true beauty lies in embracing who you are, unapologetically and authentically. The phrase “Maganda Ka” (you are beautiful) is both a design and a declaration.
Ivy mentioned that growing up, she’s seen beauty defined narrowly. With their Maganda Ka collection, they’re saying: “No—you’re beautiful just as you are.”
They’ve also launched a collaboration with a Filipina pottery artist, crafting candles in repurposable bowls engraved with Baybayin and the Filipino sun. After the candle burns, the vessel becomes a dish—sustainable and symbolic
Taking Up Space: One Soap and Candle at a Time
Markets remain a major part of Ives & Bees’ story. It’s where customers get to smell the childhood memories. One woman, Jess, broke into tears when the Sampaguita candle reminded her of walking past the neighbor’s tree in the Philippines.
Others have shared how the soap helped calm their eczema. Some discovered the brand during COVID, while shopping online in search of meaning, comfort, and a reminder of home.
“Our goal isn’t to be fancy,” Ivy says. “It’s to be real. It’s to create something our own families use, and make that available to others.”
In an industry full of empty claims and generic branding, Ives & Bees dares to be intimate. Relatable. Filipina. Honest.
And that’s what makes it beautiful.
Check out their website and instagram.
