Most of us have been there. Staring in the mirror, a new, unwelcome visitor glaring back from your face: a pimple. For teenagers and young adults, breakouts can feel like the end of the world, a source of insecurity, and a blow to self-esteem. But what if, instead of hiding those blemishes, we could embrace them, or even celebrate them? That’s the revolutionary idea behind Matchy Patchy, the Philippines’ first aesthetic pimple patches.
Filmmaker-entrepreneur Gayle Oblea at the media launch of Matchy Patchy in Marikina
Matchy Patchy: Where Zits Meet Their Match
Born from a desire to make skincare fun, expressive, and empowering, Matchy Patchy is transforming the way we think about acne care. “The whole point is to really make sure that we go really outside of the box,” says Gayle Oblea, Chief Marketing Officer of Matchy Patchy. “So if you’ve never tried pimple patches, normally the pimple patches really go for those invisible ones, diba? That you put on and then you put your makeup on, or for boys, they put it on so that it stays invisible. Nobody would see the pimple.”
But Matchy Patchy isn’t about hiding. It’s about expressing your unique style while caring for your skin. “The whole point is to, you know, embrace who you are, embrace yourself,” Oblea explains. “I mean, growing up, especially for teenagers up to like, early 20s to even late or mid-30s, we still experience pimples, especially for teenagers, no?”
More Than Just a Pretty Patch
With six different designs, each pack of Matchy Patchy contains 20 eye-catching patches. From heart shapes to holographic gems, flowers to stars, there’s a patch to match every mood and personality. But these patches aren’t just about aesthetics. Formulated in Korea with hydrocolloid and tea tree oil, they’re designed to be as effective as they are stylish. “One thing that you’d like about the pimple patches is that it’s not just for aesthetic reasons but it’s also very effective,” Oblea assures. “In fact, if you put one pimple patch on your pimple, you just have to wait for six to eight hours, it will be gone.”
Made with Filipinos in Mind
While the patches are produced in Korea, Matchy Patchy is a proudly Filipino brand. “We are a Filipino brand so meaning to say that when we actually went to Korea we just really made sure that the ingredients used are of quality,” Oblea states. “So, we basically really manufactured this, basing it on the weather of the Philippines, the skin type of most Filipinos and what we made sure of, in general, is it really is friendly to those who are oily or dry skin.”
Targeting Teens and Young Adults
Matchy Patchy’s marketing strategy is focused on reaching teens and young adults, the demographic most likely to experience breakouts. “Well, one thing is for sure, we’re really targeting the teens and of course, the mid-twenties,” Oblea confirms. “Because usually the younger you are, the more breakouts you experience. And then of course, the more senior you become, the lesser pimples you get to experience.”
To connect with their target audience, Matchy Patchy is collaborating with bands and planning events in schools and call centers. “We’re trying to tour around Metro Manila and collaborate with different bands because most of the people who actually go to their gigs are the ones who actually experience these breakouts,” Oblea explains.
Available Online
Ready to embrace your breakouts with flair? Matchy Patchy is available on their official TikTok shop and website. “This is already available on our TikTok shop. You just have to look for Matchy Patchy Official and also our website,” Oblea says. “We have an official website which is www.matchypatchyofficial.com.”
Filmmaker-entrepreneur Gayle Oblea said:
“One thing is for sure, we manufactured this in Korea. So, we made sure that these are all vegan-friendly, the materials used are vegan friendly, and effective because there is hydrocolloid and also tea tree oil that really dries up your pimples. In fact, if you put one pimple patch on your pimple, you just have to wait for six to eight hours, it will be gone.”
Direk Gayle added: “Usually, when you say pimples, inaasar ka lagi, ‘Maligo ka naman!’ but the thing is, it’s normal to have pimples. So we’re here also to kind of like, inform everyone to just embrace who you are but at the same time you know you can be you can go outside of the box be fun, be flair, and then you know, make use of these you know eye-catching pimple patches right while you heal.”
A Collaborative Effort
The creation of Matchy Patchy was a true collaboration. The pimple patches were developed by Primestar Skincare Products Trading, a local company with connections in Korea. “Oh, they [the makers] actually just inquired from our page,” Oblea shares. “So the name of the company is Primestar Skincare Products Trading. It’s under Primestar. They are locals. Meron lang silang connection doon [Korea].”
The branding and marketing, including the packaging and commercials, were handled by Creative Kartel, Oblea’s own marketing firm. “So actually, it was my team who designed the packaging,” Oblea says. “So from the packaging, the ideas, the video execution, the commercials, it was done by Creative Kartel. Because that’s what we really do by profession.”
A Fun and Effective Solution
With its unique blend of creativity and efficacy, Matchy Patchy seems all set to revolutionize the way Filipinos approach acne care. By encouraging self-expression and embracing individuality, Matchy Patchy is helping young people feel confident and empowered, even in the face of breakouts. Earlier, after the media launch, even without pimples to cover (I mean, today! You see, at 39, I deal with other skin problems beyond breakouts, haha), I went home with a star on my face. I can attest it’s such a fun and versatile product! So, I suggest, go ahead, match your patch to your mood, and let your personality shine through. 🙂
