Playing a cutthroat beauty CEO on national television while managing your own sensitive skin and doing your own glam? That’s no joke. But Kyline Alcantara makes it look easy—with the grace of a pro and the practicality of someone who’s learned through experience.

On GMA’s new drama Beauty Empire, Kyline plays Shari De Jesus, a sharp-tongued, glam-obsessed boss who’s unapologetically loud, stylish, and always online. Off camera, though, Kyline is refreshingly pared down. She enjoys doing her own makeup for the show, sticking to a routine that’s simple, skin-friendly, and entirely her own.

“So, whenever I do my makeup kasi—whether it’s here at taping or just for some events—it’s really therapeutic for me. It’s my zen moment, it’s my me time,” she shares with Zeen.

Her approach? No foundation. “I only have concealer, blush-on, mascara, kilay—ganyan-ganyan.” But with the base, no foundation talaga.”

It’s a choice that’s as practical as it is personal. With the show’s emotional scenes and frequent tears, less product means fewer touch-ups. Kyline expresses that when you wear foundation, one common issue is the appearance of streaks where the tears fall. And unless you’re a makeup pro, retouching that without messing up the rest of your look is nearly impossible, and something she admits she’s not an expert at herself.

It’s no wonder she’s found a system that works. Beauty Empire isn’t your typical teleserye—it’s a high-stakes drama that spans Seoul and the Philippines, with some scenes set in the heart of South Korea’s beauty industry. It’s also a major collaboration between three media giants, starring powerhouses like Barbie Forteza, Sid Lucero, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Korean actor Choi Bo-min in his first Filipino series.

But Kyline’s low-maintenance routine didn’t happen overnight. She’s honest about the long journey it took to get here, especially with sensitive skin and a hectic schedule. There was a time when she experimented with just about everything—products, treatments, procedures.

“Nung sobrang dami kong pimples … pinost ko naman ‘yun sa social media, ‘yun ‘yung time na grabeng pag-experiment ko with Mausoderma,” she recalls. “Para akong maglalagay, magla-laser, tapos papa-RF ako. I mean, sobrang na-damage talaga ‘yung skin ko. Nagugulat ‘yung skin ko doon sa anumang ginagawa ko sa skin ko.”

She even had a 9-step routine in the morning and another 9 at night, using different products for each. Eventually, she pared everything down to just three essentials. While she’s keeping those go-to products to herself (“a girl’s gotta have her secrets”), she stands by the rule that now guides both her skincare and her mindset: less is more.

Still, she shares a few favorites: “ I love Ate Heart Evangelista, I use Luxelle—’yung Sunblock Serum. And… Avon lipstick, kasi, I’m an Avon baby.” Her lipstick doubles as blush and even works on the eyes.

If the idea of going foundation-free sounds risky on television, just watch her in action. As Shari, she’s bold, funny, and confidently flashy—but the real flex is showing up onscreen with skin that breathes, even during breakdown scenes. 

Beauty Empire is more than a battle of beauty brands—it’s a story about power, identity, and finding your place. Kyline’s decision to do her own makeup adds an extra layer to that story. It’s not about achieving perfection. It’s about showing up honest, grounded, and present—lashes, brows, and all.

For others navigating glam with sensitive skin, her advice is simple: “Less is more. Less is definitely more,” she says. “When it comes to everything … less talk, less mistakes. ‘Di ba? ‘Yun lang, OA.”

Doing her own makeup isn’t just a skincare strategy. It’s how Kyline stays true to herself in an industry that often pressures you to do too much. Her vision of glam may skip the contour and filters, but it’s thoughtful, sincere, and completely her own,

And in a world like Beauty Empire, where image is everything, that kind of authenticity is its own rebellion.

PHOTOS: THECREAZIONSTUDIOS (via Instagram), VIU PHILIPPINES (via Facebook)