Manila, Philippines — The beauty business scene has been booming more than ever by the year in the Philippines, with more and more skincare and makeup products being launched almost every month. There are a lot of admirable lady bosses behind these thriving brands, and one of them is Maureen Estrada, founder and CEO of NuWhite and Oxina Nutricosmetics.
A nurse by profession, Maureen started her beauty business back in 2006.
“Personally, I have always had a genuine interest in the beauty and health industries, because I am a nurse by profession. I believe I am knowledgeable about the beauty, wellness and health industries because of my medical background, so in the beginning I always thought it would be easier for me to navigate the business. I recognize the fact that there’s a growing demand for beauty products, and I saw (producing and selling beauty products) as a lucrative opportunity for me as an entrepreneur. Plus, I have always loved beautiful things. I love to beautify, and I love to learn things on how to make people more beautiful and healthier,” Maureen told Stylish Magazine.
“It all started as a side hustle in the year 2006, distributing different products online. Our first offerings in my initial years as a beauty entrepreneur were glutathione products of various, different brands. I was one of the pioneer importers of glutathione injectables in the Philippines back in 2006. But these products have not sustained their distribution in the Philippines due to regulatory and safety issues back then. This has challenged me to look for a better and safer alternative product that I can offer to consumers that is as effective and efficient as the glutathione IV.”
“I started with 10,000php capital to buy and sell products. I couldn’t believe that the capital would grow into a multi-million business venture. After many years of experience in distribution and reselling in the health and beauty industries, I finally decided to build my own brand and company in 2019. That’s how NuWhite was born.”
From then, with more than a decade of experience in researching and producing beauty products, Estrada finally launched her very own company called Oxina Nutricometics Corp., with its flagship product NuWhite introduced in March 2019. Her roster of celebrity endorsers included Kim Domingo, KC Concepcion, and just recently, actress Marian Rivera.
Last March 2023, Estrada made it a point that NuWhite got to introduce another glutathione product that was truly a gamechanger. NuWhite was the pioneer in the country in introducing the breakthrough power of S-acetyl glutathione to the Philippine market, as endorsed by Filipina actress Marian Rivera.
NuWhite is the first S-Acetyl Glutathione in the Philippines, a superior and the only bioavailable form of glutathione. This new form of glutathione, a patented Italian S-Acetyl Glutathione, takes oral glutathione to the next level. It successfully addresses the problem of absorption limitations of oral glutathione.
S-acetyl is clinically proven to be the bioavailable form of glutathione that ensures maximum potency, making glutathione ingestibles more effective. The acetyl helps protect the glutathione from degrading when ingested orally, and can be absorbed 100 percent by the body. Aside from the skincare effect of the capsule, NuWhite glutathione can slow down the aging process, strengthen immunity, detoxify and protect the liver and cells, as well as reduce the effects of stress.
“I have witnessed and have been a part of the challenges that the glutathione industry had to face. I wanted to give the public the most innovative product that would outclass all the current products in the market in terms of superiority, efficacy, and efficiency,” she said.
She created the product with the vision of making glutathione more efficient, sustainable, accessible and affordable to the general consumer.
“When I first started hustling, I would do almost everything — from packing, deliveries, marketing, and social media promotions. I handled everything from strategic planning, marketing, to daily operations. That was a 24-hour job. I did not want to miss a client so I made sure to do a 24-hour customer service. Aside from responsibilities I have for my family as a mother and a wife, I had to learn how to balance everything,” she said.
Today, NuWhite is a multi-million enterprise. Maureen shared that her success is thanks to her vision to give value to her clientele.
“As a starting entrepreneur way back 17 years ago, I was motivated by the profit potential of the beauty and health industry. I can say that it was really a financially rewarding endeavour, especially if you capitalize on the market trends. But as I have grown as an entrepreneur and have developed my core as a businesswoman, I realized that the real fulfillment comes not with the profit that you get, but with the value that you create, and the impact that you leave on others. That is why creating a brand of my own is a mission to fulfill, to offer beauty solutions that will help elevate the quality of products in the industry that are based on science and innovation.”
She also noted that building and maintaining a beauty and health company make her feel fulfilled because of the many people she empowers through their products.
“Empowering women and men to gain confidence through our products is quite fulfilling. It’s very rewarding to see that this contributes to their happiness and overall quality of life. It’s a very meaningful endeavor for me knowing that I am making a difference,” she said.
When asked what would be her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, she had this to say:
“My advice to young entrepreneurs is to have a clear vision. Have specific goals for your business. Have a market understanding of the industry that you want to do business in because knowledge is power. The more knowledge you have in the industry, the better perspective you have and the better decisions you can make. The better decisions you have, the better outcome you have in your business. With these, you are positioning yourself with the highest chance of winning. Adapt to changes, and be open to learn from experiences. Challenges will always be part of the game, but never stop to reach for your goals.”
To learn more about NuWhite, visit www.nuwhite.com.ph.