Both the beauty and showbiz beats witnessed anew this week how and why a humble skin and personal care brand, built merely on a P5,000 investment, was able to rise to the top of the industry within a few short years and just keep going.

Yes, we're talking about the 14-year-old Beautéderm Corporation, which has penetrated markets beyond the Philippines.

The reasons are as simple as they are powerful. First, the company is honest, true and steadfast in delivering relevant and quality products to its massive customer base; and No. 2, the company genuinely has heart.

As Beautéderm's founder, CEO and president Rei Anicoche-Tan, said at a multi-contract signing event on March 7, 'The ambition turned into a mission.'

Indeed, in realizing her goal of building a company that 'beautefies' people on the outside so they can flourish on the inside, Rei has, from the very beginning, never forgotten humanism in doing business.

'Bata pa lang kasi ako mahilig na akong mag-share,' said the multi-awarded entrepreneur. 'Kahit tokneneng [a Filipino street food of battered boiled egg] lang sa mga barkada ko, kasi talaga, kahit gaano kaliit yan, babalik yan sa iyo.'