Plump, glossy and effortless, these are the lips everyone’s chasing right now and no one embodies this beauty trend quite like Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina breakout star of the global girl group KATSEYE. More than just a pretty face on stage, Sophia has become a lowkey beauty icon that redefined what it means to glow from the inside out.
Her signature lips have taken over TikTok, where a viral post by user @ughnotjas joked, “I fear Sophia’s lip combo will not work for a lot of y’all because the combo does not come with HER lips,” a a quip that now has over a million hearts. But the catch here is that Sophia’s iconic lips are not the result of filters or 10-step makeup routines. It’s the result of simple, consistent health habits.
Hydration
In an interview with global creative platform Refinery29 this year, Sophia revealed her no-fuss secret and it’s a lip care that starts with hydration. “I will never let my lips get chapped,” she said. “I just can’t focus when my lips are dry and I use my lips to tell if I’m not drinking enough water.” That might sound basic but it’s exactly the point. Sophia’s approach strips away the noise and centers on how you feel, not just how you look.
Science backs her up, too. According to Healthline in a 2018 article, one of the most common causes of dry skin (and lips) is simply not drinking enough water. Staying hydrated not only boosts overall wellness, but also enhances skin texture, lips included.
Exfoliate
Every night, Sophia uses a lip mask to lock in moisture, and every morning, she gently exfoliates. She doesn’t even rely on lip liner and that’s a message more of us need to hear.
In a world of product overload, Sophia reminds us that less can still be luminous. For many Filipinas, especially Gen Z girls growing up in the age of hyper-curation, her routine offers a refreshing, attainable alternative. You just have to take care of yourself.
Sophia’s influence goes beyond K-pop choreography and stage glam. As a proud Filipina with global reach, she’s showing that our roots, our skincare traditions and our value for simplicity can be powerful forms of self-expression. She’s showing us that the most powerful routine is the one you actually stick to, day in and day out.