Morticians name their favorite cosmetics brands
Women who wouldn't be caught dead not wearing any makeup really have nothing to fear. Evidently, local embalmers are using the same makeup brands that are bought off the counter.
Even men who've never so much as worn lip balm in their lives, in the end, will have to submit to the brush.
Given that final look of the deceased influences how the family and other mourners react and settle their grief, it's important for embalmers and morticians to use the right kind—but what that is, exactly, is somewhat of a sticky subject, since they all have their own favorites.
John MacFarlane, Jr., mortuary and crematory manager of The Heritage Park, swears by his 24 years in the industry that a fine, natural effect can be had from Revlon and no other.
"Since I started in the Philippines, five years ago, I've used Revlon. It stays on better, looks more natural, and really looks nicer than the local brands of make-up," he said in a phone interview.
This is the same guy who, as a mere apprentice, joined the four-man team who worked on Ferdinand Marcos's body in Hawaii. (The word on the street is that wax more than makeup now keeps the late strongman in eternal preservation.)
While others would use long-lasting liquid foundation, Mr. MacFarlane prefers to use the more delicate, finely-graded powder foundation.
Nor is he satisfied with a set color palette, instead blending colors together to come up with the right combination that would replicate the person's living complexion. A stickler for detail, he wouldn't just cover-up discoloration, but bleach the skin first before applying makeup.
"You have to pay attention to all the details. If it's not right, you have to fix it. If you see a drop of glue, a bead of makeup—if you notice it, the family will notice it. You make sure that the body is 100% as it should be. And I find that the family appreciates that," he said, adding that it takes him four-and-a-half hours to ready a body for viewing, and he would return three more times to re-touch before he leaves for home.
Meanwhile, La Funeraria Paz Sucat senior embalmer Traxedes B. de Vera, who has made-up such personalities as the late Lino Brocka, Eddie Fernandez, Jaime Ongpin and Panfilo Villaroel, said in a separate phone interview that he has been using Max Factor since 1972, favoring the waterproof and pan-stick varieties that do not cake even in a humid environment. On occasion, he also uses Cover Mark foundation and Clinique lipstick.
"Even if it's expensive, we use Max Factor because it doesn't fade even after a week, and we have a lot of natural colors to work with. We mostly use pan stick no. 12 (referred to as true beige); one tube can be used for 10 people," Mr. de Vera said, partly in the vernacular.
'Gumagwapo ang patay"
"Families have told me na gumaguwapo ang patay (the deceased gets better-looking)," he added.
Likewise, Arlington Memorial Chapels primarily uses Max Factor in combination with Cinema Secret, and occasionally, L'Oreal.
Arlington executive vice-president Cynthia Jose-Colet said in a phone interview that Arlington originally used Elizabeth Arden products because an aunt worked for the manufacturers.
When she retired, Arlington switched to Max Factor, garnering comments that their embalmers made the deceased look better post-mortem.
One bereaved lady was so impressed, she wanted to avail of the product herself. "She asked us for the empty box; it was really a compliment," Ms. Colet said. "I've actually tried the pan-stick foundation for myself, it's really a good product."
"And when the family sees their loved one looking good, it lessens their grief in a way. It lightens the burden, so we're happy to give that," she added.
On the other hand, a phone interview with Holy Trinity Memorial Chapels head embalmer Jun Calban revealed that Max Factor may not be the brand to beat when it comes to looking drop-dead gorgeous.
Mr. Calban said that he has switched from the brand to a cosmetician's kit specifically designed for lifeless skin made by The Dodge Company, the world's largest supplier of embalming chemicals and supplies.
"When a person dies, his skin loses its moisture—there's no perspiration either—so it becomes really dry. The skin tightens up, gets a pinched look. It's better if you use the specialized makeup," he said in the vernacular. "I used Max Factor before, but I wouldn't recommend the local brands of makeup, because it [sic] gets dry faster."
It should be noted that the other funeral homes also use Dodge chemicals, although they prefer to use everyday makeup.
But as for local makeup being unsuitable, Veronica Memorial Chapels head embalmer Jun Ranario begs to differ. "We use Avon cosmetics and they're just as good as our imported American products. We're not a big company, so we don't buy the more expensive stuff, but we do like keeping it simple. Families don't like the too red, too dark lipstick," Mr. Ranario said in a phone interview.
Differences aside, every embalmer and cosmetician strives for a simple, natural, and yes, healthy-looking façade. Their singular objective is to make the experience of seeing a beloved for the very last time, that much easier, lighter, with the magic of makeup.
But how do the makeup brands feel about the use of everyday makeup in funeral homes?
"No makeup artist is faithful to the same brand, I'm sure that they're using other brands besides Revlon. But there's so much variety in our products, and on the positive side, they must really like the feel of our products. We have over a hundred products, and around 20 of those products are for the face; if they use one, if that's their choice, then we have no problems with that," Revlon marketing manager Anna Fer said in a phone interview.
"In a sense, it's quite flattering," agreed Chechel Joson, professional makeup artist for Max Factor, in a separate phone interview. "That only means it's being used because of its longevity. It's really a good product if it's able to copy the skin of a living person. Copying [vital] skin is really hard to do. If the body looks fresh, if the person looks like he's really resting in peace, how can you go wrong?"
Originally published on 20 October 2007 on the cover of BusinessWorld.