Francis Libiran says he was 8 years old when he thought of being a fashion designer. But following his parents’ advice, he first studied architecture at University of Santo Tomas.
He worked in an architectural firm but couldn’t resist his calling; he quit his job and enrolled at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines.
Backstage Pass lets Francis talk about his profession and grooming habits.
I believe clothes should… tell a story. Every piece that I create has its own inspiration. From the silhouette, color and details, I always want the output to have a story.
Guilty pleasure
The one grooming product I have the most of is… Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap. It makes my skin naturally renewed.
When it comes to maintaining my health… I always see to it that I give my body the proper care it needs. Every morning, I go to the gym and I must say that my creative juices flow when I work out.
I spend good money on… Kiehl’s skincare products. For my body, I always secure bars of Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap. I also use Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense whenever I have to walk under the sun and Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Heavy Lifting to keep my skin firm.
A perfect shower always includes these three things… Kiehl’s Amino Acid Shampoo to healthily refresh my hair from the roots; Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap to naturally remove dead skin cells in my body; and Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash to energize and cleanse my face. I also light a Manuel Canovas scented candle for a calm shower mood.
My grooming guilty pleasure… is having a full body massage every weekend to relax my body and help me prepare to be more productive the following week.
Top tips
Francis’ extensive bathroom routine keeps him looking fantastic, and we applaud him for using no fewer than five skincare products a day.
So when Backstage Pass came across Visible Solutions’ five-step skincare routine, it was something we had to announce.
The advanced skincare line consist of: One Minute Wonder (P2,940) to shed dead skin cells; Youth Recovery Serum (P4,020) to help firm and smooth your face and neck; Skin Brightening Mousse (P3,300) to diminish the appearance of enlarged pores and uneven skin tone; Replenishing Cream (P2,940) to diminish visible lines and wrinkles; and Eye Rescue (P2,940) to hydrate the under-eye area and address the appearance of fine lines and dark circles.
*Francis’ atelier: 126 Scout Fernandez, Quezon City (tel. nos. 9255495 and 4169098); Makati branch at Basement Shopping Arcade, The Peninsula Manila; tel. 8231003