What began as a makeup artist’s passion project has grown into one of the most exciting names in beauty. Teviant, by Albert Kurniawan, is a proudly multicultural brand delivering luxury, performance, and purpose on the road to global recognition.
By Dara Clariza Evangelista
Stylish got the opportunity to sit down with Teviant CEO and founder Albert Kurniawan, and he was as warm and fun as you’d hope. Behind his calm confidence is a deep love for beauty, storytelling, and people. And just like the brand he built, he’s all heart.
Since launching in 2018, Teviant has grown from an artist-led collection of eye essentials into a full, thoughtfully curated beauty line. But at its core, it remains deeply rooted in one thing: performance you can trust.
“Before, I only knew the final goods,” Albert shares. “Now, I know every step.” From working as a professional makeup artist to overseeing R&D, lab work, and sourcing raw materials, Albert brings every ounce of experience into each product.
“With Teviant, I used all those learnings to improve and make things better. I’ve done weddings in the hottest places like Boracay and the coldest winters in Europe. So I want our products to be flexible and reliable.”
Teviant is all about making beauty joyful, effortless, and elevated. Multi-use favorites like the Skin Perfecting Starter and the brand’s signature trio palettes simplify routines without sacrificing glam. “We want to give people easy, curated solutions. You don’t have to think about what matches, we already did it for you.”
What makes Teviant even more exciting is how personal it is, while still feeling global in scope. Born in the Philippines, led by an Indonesian founder, shaped by years spent in Singapore, and formulated in Italy, Teviant reflects a proudly multicultural spirit. “I chose the Philippines to be the brand’s birthplace because I want Filipinos to be proud of it. But we’re building something that can stand anywhere in the world.”
That shift is already becoming visible in Albert’s own experience. “Before, people used to recognize me as Heart Evangelista or Kim Chiu’s makeup artist, and I was always proud of that. But now, when I travel or meet someone new, they say, ‘You’re the founder of Teviant.’ That change means everything to me. It reminds me that the brand is becoming bigger than me, and that’s exactly what I dreamed of.”
Albert is especially proud of the quality behind each product. “Right now, 80% of our products are still made in Italy. We share factories with global brands because we want our quality to meet international standards, and we’re proud of that.”
Teviant is a community-first brand, and Albert makes sure it stays that way. He involves everyone in the creative process, his team, his parents, friends, and fans. “I want opinions from different ages, different lifestyles, different genders. That’s how we make products that work for real people.”
And it’s clear the love is mutual. Albert beams when talking about longtime supporters. “There was this woman at SM Makati who told me she has every Teviant product ever released. Kahit minsan hindi niya kailangan, she still buys. That’s the kind of support that keeps me going.”
Even the brand’s recent warehouse sale, which drew over 700 attendees with no paid ads or influencer promos, came from listening to customers. “We kept seeing comments from people who wanted to try Teviant but couldn’t always afford it, so we made it happen.”
At the heart of it all is Albert’s ability to lead with joy, creativity, and care. He credits his family, his team, and his pets for keeping him grounded. “They know when I’m under the weather. Someone will ask if I want coffee or tea. Little things like that mean a lot.”
His parents remain his biggest inspiration. “My mom is still my first critic. She has an amazing color sense. My dad gives me business advice. I always show them my mood boards.”
Looking ahead, there’s so much more to get excited about. Albert is already deep into product plans for 2026 and dreaming up ideas for 2027 and 2028. “Every Teviant product is a dream product. I’ve played with thousands of formulas and colors.” He also hopes to reconnect with his Indonesian roots soon: “We’re working on entering that market with halal certifications.”
And as always, he remains grateful. “I moved to the Philippines 18 years ago with just $100. The community embraced me. Teviant is my way of giving back. I want people to see a local brand with international standards and feel proud.”
When asked to describe what Teviant stands for, he says it best: “Game changer and a trendsetter.”
And it is. Every launch, every story, every heartfelt detail, Teviant proves that beauty done with purpose will always shine.
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