The Nazareno family engaged in the pharmaceutical industry when their matriarch, Segundina Cornejo Vizcarra Amalingan (mother of art collector and educator Vicky Viscarra Amalingan), passed away with liver cirrhosis.

If you want something appreciable and invaluable to give this Christmas, I suggest that you give something that would enhance the beauty of the recipient.

Sometime ago, I visited Marv Nazareno-Miranda, who operates Beautiqa by Vizcarra Pharmaceutical Inc. in Shangri-La Mall in Mandaluyong.

She showed me around the shop, actually an apothecary (drug store to you and me), one that specializes in skin care products, among other things that would add to the “look good, feel good” value of a person.

Her family, for the longest time, has been producing finely crafted, handwoven bags and home accessories under S.C. Vizcarra. The Nazareno family engaged in the pharmaceutical industry when their matriarch, Segundina Cornejo Vizcarra Amalingan (mother of art collector and educator Vicky Viscarra Amalingan), passed away with liver cirrhosis.

Vizcarra Pharmaceutical has flourished and the company has become the go-to supplier when hospitals and medical practitioners need to address cases that require their kind of medicine.

Marv explained to us the various skincare products available at the Beautiqa.

Daily Tribune (DT): Where did the name Beautiqa come from?

Marv Nazareno-Miranda (MNM): Beautiqa came from two words, Beaute, meaning beautiful, and botika, meaning a pharmacy or apothecary that we see in European cities.

DT: It’s obviously not the usual pharmacy. What makes it different?

MNM: Beautiqa is a specialized concept store with skincare products by top international dermocosmetic laboratories. The brands and products at Beautiqa are either backed by medical research and development, or with cutting-edge technology. Brands and products at Beautiqa are exclusively brought in by Vizcarra Pharmaceutical Inc, a trusted name in the pharmaceutical industry known for providing hospitals, medical practitioners and drugstores with highly specialized vaccines, blood derivatives and consumer health products since 1988.

MNM: Luis Espiritu, Devi Deyra, Cecil Ravelas, my sister Rita and I, were working on a project together. And that’s how Beautiqa came about.

MARV Nazareno Miranda with her youngest daughter, Nicolette.

MNM: About two to three years ago when we exclusively brought in Boyan-I and Fillerina into our portfolio product mix. But our flagship store at Shangri-La came to light on 10 September last year.

DT: Who discovered all of these products?

MNM: Since we are a distributor of pharmaceutical products, companies around the world know about Vizcarra Pharmaceutical and would contact us to represent them in the Philippines. Consumers, however, in the Philippines, think that if it’s Vizcarra, it’s S.C. Vizcarra, which produces and sells quality-oriented woven bags. But, yes, a lot of doctors, and professionals within the medical industry know us as a pharmaceutical company.

DT: What do you suggest to shoppers what to buy?

MNM: It varies. It depends on their skin type. We recommend products that suit their skin. We will not recommend a product just because it has good benefits. Even if it has good benefits but your skin doesn’t take it, it would be useless. You really have to be cautious with what you apply on your skin.

MNM: Our products are for those who need to ensure that their skin care is researched and developed properly since they use this on a daily basis. Most of our products here are hyaluronic

acid-based, or with anti-aging properties, for both men and for women. So, Beautiqa is for those who have different needs in their skin care, whether these are children, the ladies, husbands and wives. If they have different skin conditions, they can come here.

MNM: They are of high-quality value since the brands are backed by medical R&D (research and development), or are based on technology that other consumer products do not have. We work with the doctors since we are still in the medical industry.

DT: You’re probably known to hospitals and to doctors because you bring in medicines that are not locally available.

MNMA: Yes, we bring in specialized biologicals that are needed for novel disorders or for the medical needs of Filipinos. As I said, the brands in Beautiqa are also specialized products for skincare that either have clinical studies or have cutting-edge technology to it.

DT: Tell me about some of your products.

MNM: I discovered Boyan-I on a trip to Korea). It is special for us since it is for children with hypersensitive skin conditions, but a lot of adults with sensitive skin use it as well. The main component of Boyan-I is the probiotic Lactobacillus ProBio 65, which is extracted from kimchi. It has multiple clinical studies. It is an ideal ingredient for atopic dermatitis and other allergic skin disorders. It is also good for preventing skin inflammation, reducing itchiness, moisturizing and protecting hydration. The beauty about this product is it doesn’t have any irritants, alcohol, parabens or colorants. It’s very natural and it’s good for kids, babies and for those with sensitive skin. My kids and I use this from head to toe. Shampoo to body wash, to lotion.

The products are cleanser as a wash, lotion which gently reduces skin roughness and tightness, providing lasting moisture and hydration; and Boyan-I Cream, which intensively moisturizes targeted areas for instant relief. They are from newborn onwards. They’re very light.

INTERIOR designer Cecil Ravela used stylized weaving pattern to create a place of beauty.

DT: So, tell me about your other products.

MNM: In 2015, Labo Cosprophar, a Swiss company, came here to give us the exclusive distributorship for their products, Fillerina and Crescina. Crescina is an anti-hair thinning cosmetic product. Crescina has a line specifically for men and women. And it also has specific grades from severe to minimal. If the hair thinning is more severe, the stronger version of the treatment should be considered. If it’s less, or just to protect hair from thinning out, go with the lesser one.

MNM: Fillerina is intended for plumping and anti-wrinkle control and maintenance. All Fillerina products have six hyaluronic acids, with varying molecular weight levels to address each skin layer of the epidermis. So, meaning the components will hit and target those six layers that we have and restore the skin’s moisture and keep the skin hydrated. The hyaluronic acids also add volume to sagging areas to give the skin a noticeable, but natural-looking lift.

Fillerina is a 14-day treatment along with the maintenance creams, the day creams, night creams and the eye and lip contour, as well as breast fillers and firming products. All of these have six hyaluronic acids. And all of these are non-invasive, topical products that could be used as an after-treatment and maintenance to enhance invasive procedures.

We just launched some Fillerina products with eight hyaluronic acids, and three varying molecular weight marine Collagen. Fillerina Mouth & Lip Gel, Fillerina Eye and Eyelids and Neck & Cleavage products. Fillerina is the only non-invasive brand that has six to eight hyaluronic acids as a cosmetic product. These are topical gels and creams. These can be used as a standalone, or as complementary products to dermatologists’ services and procedures. These can be purchased at selected clinics or spas around the metro.

DT: Do you have anything for firming up?

MNM: Oh, we do. It’s for breast firming. Or it can be a breast filler. These are topical fillers and firming products for the breasts. These are topically applied on the breasts for two months straight to help lift or to increase breast volume in case you need it.

DT: What if you want to lift or firm up your breast or your face?

MNM: We have separate ones for the breast. But if you want something for the face, we do have one.

CUSTOMERS take a look at Beautiqa merchandise.

MNM: This is topical in nature also. Total Dermic has eight hyaluronic acids and key ingredients with Transdermic Technology. The Transdermic term indicates that the product or ingredients being used will be absorbed more by the skin. Its ingredients have lower molecular weight structures that could be absorbed easily by the epidermis.

There are multiple Total Dermic products that address specialized and individualized skin conditions or skin types. There are serums and creams specifically to address wrinkles, sagging, pigmentation, fine lines, dehydration, dryness and oiliness.

The anti-aging line is for cellular renewal and to lift the skin. The second one is for anti-wrinkle maintenance to help diminish wrinkles on your forehead, on your neck, on your eyes and on your lips also. The third one is for the sensitive skin; it will help, rejuvenate and protect it. The fourth line is clarifying, which restores skin radiance and glow and addresses hyperpigmentation problems. All of the products in the Clarifying Line have Vitamin C. The last line is to address rebalancing skin oiliness to dryness.

DT: But how do you do these things? You apply one, then you apply the other?

MNM: Wash to cleanse face, apply the serum first. Wait for one minute until the serum dries up. The trick is to use the palm and pat it lightly onto the face, rather than spreading it, to activate the ingredients for it to be absorbed by the skin. Then you put the creams. The Total Dermic SPF 50+ is fluid-based so you can mix this with any creams to make your skin UVA/UVB protected.

DT: Okay, Marv. I’ve learned so much from you. Anything you’d like to tell our readers?

MNM: I hope you come to visit us at Shangri La Plaza on EDSA in Mandaluyong. Those who wish to pamper themselves and their loved ones with a special gift such as the skincare products we offer, you are most welcome to visit us. We have everything that would suit your specific skin needs. We’re looking forward to assisting you when you visit Beautiqa.