Gabbi Garcia is a girl who's quite literally grown before our eyes. From a wide-eyed ingenue in GMA's primetime series, she's become a leading lady in her own right, owning her space in a fast-paced industry.
Someone who's witnessed Gabbi's ascent firsthand is makeup artist Jason Delos Reyes. For 10 years and counting, Jason has been in charge of Gabbi's glam, coming up with the perfect formula to bring out the best out of her morena skin.
In an exclusive interview with Preview, he tells us about our March 2025 cover girl's signature style and how their relationship has blossomed through the years.
Jason Delos Reyes on Being Gabbi Garcia's Makeup Artist
How was the makeup look we did for Gabbi’s March 2025 cover shoot? Is it a usual or different look for her?
"Medyo staple siya kay Gabbi kasi bare skin lang siya dapat. Kasi focal point dapat yung damit."
When did you and Gabbi start working together?
"Natatandaan ko yung exact date: February 1, 2015."
"That's the first time I worked with her. Ni-refer lang siya sa akin ng friend ko. I think parang 16 years old pa lang si Gabbi at that time. And [she was] yung typical na Paulinian na Inglisera. [Laughs] Pero through the years na magkasama kami, natututo na siya ng mga gay lingo."
"Somehow, lumaki din sa akin si Gabbi. Parang ako naging older brother nya. Yung relationship namin ni Gabbi, hindi na siya as makeup artist and client. More than that na siya. As in may mga decisions siya in life na itatanong niya muna sa akin. Tapos same birthday pa kami!"
What moment made you realize that you and Gabbi will have a long-lasting relationship?
"Siguro nung nag-away na kami, nung nagkaroon na kami ng mga conflicts. In any relationship naman, magkakaroon at magkakaroon kayo ng conflicts especially kapag everyday kayo magkasama. Tapos yung conflict na yun na-resolve namin together. Ibig sabihin [ng mga yon] na nakakabisado na namin ang ugalin ng isa't isa."
"Parehas kami ni Gabbi na brutally blunt. Kapag may gusto sasabihin o kapag may ayaw sasabihin, o kapag may problema, idi-diretso namin yan kaagad. Feeling ko yun yung nag-work sa relationship namin ni Gabbi through time. Kaya siguro nagtagal relationship namin dahil parehas kami na ganon."
What would you say is Gabbi’s signature makeup look?
"We all know naman na Gabbi is super proud [of being] morena. Naging signature ni Gabbi yung monochromatic look na may warm tones. Parang doon kami nag-start. Parang pag wala kaming maisip, yun yung pinaka-safe na gagawin ko for her kasi alam kong bagay sa kanya yun."
"Never siya naging hesitant [or insecure] sa skin color niya. Pinu-push niya pa nga na kailangan ipalabas yung morena skin nya. Since day one, super proud si Gabbi na morena siya."
"Ang no-deal talaga ni Gabbi when it comes to makeup is pink lipstick. Parang doon kami lagi nag-aaway. Gawin ko na lahat, huwag lang pink lipstick na cool-toned. Feeling ko kasi nung bata siya, hindi din ako [gumagamit masyado] ng pink. Kaya parang nung tumanda na siya, nung tina-try ko na ulit mag-pink, ayaw niya na. Hindi niya talaga gusto."
Are your approaches to doing her makeup different depending on her agenda for the day, say if she was acting on set or hosting an event?
"Medyo same formula din naman lahat. But sometimes nagta-try din kami ng trends. Kasi pag paulit-ulit yung gagawin ko kay Gabbi, magsasawa kami pareho. So kailangan namin mag-innovate. Sometimes may hinihingi yung client, pero kapag may freedom kami, doon kami nage-explore ng ibang looks. Kasi open naman din talaga sya mag-explore ng ibang looks."
"Sa totoo lang, na-try ko na talaga ang lahat kay Gabbi. Graphic liner, colored eyeshadow, highlighter na kulay purple—na-try ko na siguro kay Gabbi."
Can you name some of the essentials in Gabbi Garcia’s makeup kit?
"Never mawawala ang moisturizer."
"Also color corrector because Gabbi has a birthmark under her eyes, so kailangan mo siyang i-color correct bago mag-concealer."
"Siguro mahilig din si Gabbi sa multi-use sticks. 'Yung sticks na pwedeng blush on, eyeshadow, or lipstick."
What’s the most admirable thing about Gabbi?
"Kapag meron siyang goal o meron siyang gusto, gagawin niya talaga lahat para ma-achieve yon. [An example is with] hosting. Ginusto niyang maging host so anong ginawa niya? [Nagpaturo] siya kay Tito Boy, nagpa-try siya sa manager niya. Nag-try sya nang nag-try."
"Basta pag meron siyang gusto, gagawin niya kahit mahirap. Yun ang kahanga-hanga sa kanya."
What are some things Gabbi’s fans don’t know about her yet?
"Parang alam naman lahat ng fans, open book na sya eh. [Laughs]"
"Siguro hindi nila alam kung gaano kabaliw si Gabbi in person. As in yung pagiging baliw niya na nakakatawa. Siyempre yun yung hindi alam masyado ng mga tao kasi parang it girl [lang image nya palagi.] Minsan may pagka-kanal sya na sobrang nakakatawa."
Read Gabbi Garcia's March 2025 Preview cover story here.
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