Mary Grace Manabit never imagined that her years serving chicken joy meals at Jollibee would one day lead her to running a cosmetics manufacturing company. Along with her husband Jerson, she is now at the helm of Ageless Beauty, a Davao-based skincare brand that has grown from scratch into a recognized name in just a few years.
Both Mary Grace and Jerson started their careers working as service crew while pursuing their studies. They rose through the ranks, eventually becoming managers. For many, that would have been a comfortable and stable career path. But the couple felt the pull of business ownership.
“We knew we wanted something more—something we could call our own,” Mary Grace said.
Their leap into entrepreneurship wasn’t immediate. Jerson first dabbled in supplying goods to Chinese businesses, but it was during the pandemic that the couple found their true calling in skincare.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, they began experimenting at home with plant-based soap formulations, starting with calamansi. To their surprise, the demand quickly grew to the point that they couldn’t keep up with orders.
That early momentum gave birth to Ageless Beauty.
From their first batches of calamansi-infused soaps, Ageless Beauty has expanded into a wide range of products, including cream gels, feminine washes, glowing soaps, liniment oil, lotions, antioxidant capsules, and even sunscreen for kids.
Its product line also carry foam wash, perfumes, underarm products, and a hair grower formula, practically covering every step of a consumer’s routine. With this extensive lineup, the founders say their goal is simple: to provide an affordable but complete range of beauty and wellness essentials.
From day one, they focused on affordability without sacrificing quality. Their rejuvenating sets—priced between P180 and P200—stood out in a market where similar products could easily reach double or triple that amount. “Some clients doubted at first because the products were cheap. But when they tried, they saw the results. Quality is something we never compromise,” Mary Grace said.
Ageless Beauty positioned itself in a unique space: plant-based and organic ingredients blended with proven skincare science. While many local products relied on chemical-heavy formulations, the couple leaned on their belief in natural medicine. “I thought, why not bring my knowledge of natural remedies into skincare?” Mary Grace said. That approach not only differentiated the brand but also tapped into a growing consumer shift toward cleaner, safer products.
The business grew steadily despite the pandemic. Social media became their showroom and consultation desk, with tutorials, testimonials, and customer engagement driving sales. The couple also built a dealer network, turning users into entrepreneurs themselves. This model provided additional income opportunities to hundreds of resellers, many of whom were also struggling to make ends meet during the crisis. “Our goal was not just to sell products but to help others earn, too,” Jerson said.
The company continues to develop new products while keeping its sights on wider distribution, aiming to expand beyond Davao and into Visayas and Luzon.
The couple is also conscious about giving back. They source natural ingredients directly from local farmers, providing both livelihood and dignity to their communities.
Their journey hasn’t been without struggles. Being newcomers in an industry dominated by established brands meant facing skepticism from consumers and challenges in scaling up production. Yet perseverance carried them through. “When we started, nobody believed in us. But we remained resilient. We’re grateful for what we’ve achieved, and we know God entrusted us with this opportunity,” Mary Grace said.
From their Jollibee uniforms to running their own cosmetic plant, Mary Grace and Jerson embody the grit and drive of Filipino entrepreneurs. Their story is proof that success isn’t built on occasional effort but on consistent hard work, adaptability, and vision.