It’s hard to believe, given her clear skin, that Waepril Chua, the famous Canadian beauty influencer originally from Manila, Philippines, was once a teenager who suffered from acne.
Long before she was one of Canada’s most trusted beauty influencers—before the 350,000+ Instagram followers, before the Prada, YSL, or Vichy partnerships—Waepril Chua was just a teenager trying to figure out why her skin was breaking out and why nothing seemed to help. “I remember sitting on the floor of my room with a bunch of half-used products, wondering why I still looked like this,” she says.
That frustration didn’t magically fade. It pushed her into learning about ingredients, skin reactions, and what actually works. Waepril Chua didn’t become a public figure overnight. Her credibility was built the hard way: through trial and error and by refusing to promote anything she hadn’t personally tested.
Waepril’s voice stands out in an industry drowning in overclaims and overfilters. While many influencers ride the algorithm, she’s focused on staying useful. Whether it’s short-form skincare videos or longer-form content on her website, GlamByWaepril.com, everything she posts comes from her own experience. “I’m not trying to sell a lifestyle. I just want people to make informed decisions. I spent years wasting money. I want to help someone avoid that.”
A report from the Dove Self-Esteem Project says that 1 in 2 teen girls feel worse about themselves after viewing beauty content. Meanwhile, over 40% of Gen Z say they’ve bought skincare products based on a single TikTok video.
“That’s terrifying,” Waepril Chua says. “There’s a responsibility that comes with posting. I take that seriously.”
Waepril Chua
That mindset is exactly why brands trust her. She was recently invited to an exclusive Vichy dinner in Vancouver for the launch of their Collagen 16 line. She’s also been featured in several fashion and beauty publications, where her thoughtful approach to skincare earned her praise as one of the most trusted voices in the industry.
Apart from attending brand events and testing new products, Waepril Chua loves to spend time outside hiking, doing yoga, or watching tennis. Offline, she’s reflective. Online, she’s careful. Some products take a month of testing before she posts.
What makes her especially rare is that she doesn’t gatekeep. She breaks down routines. She’s upfront about price points. If something is good but unnecessary, she’ll say it. If something works but isn’t for everyone, she’ll explain who should skip it. It’s this kind of transparency that’s built her audience—and kept it.
Now, with a growing focus on sustainability and clean beauty, Waepril’s looking toward more refillable, vegan, and cruelty-free partnerships. She sees the shift coming—and she’s already adapted. “People care more. And brands need to match that.” Eventually, she hopes to take that alignment even further. “I’ve always wanted to be a brand ambassador for the brands I truly love. That kind of partnership means something when your values actually line up.”
She’s also expanding her site with blog-style entries and skincare journaling. Not everything belongs in a reel, she says. Some things need space—longer reviews, honest takes, slow reads.
Asked how she defines success, she pauses: “It’s building an authentic personal brand and sharing quality content that reflects my unique voice,” she says. “And right now, that means helping people feel less overwhelmed by all of this.”
Waepril Chua may be a public figure now, but her roots haven’t changed. She still approaches skincare the way she always has—quietly, methodically, and with just enough skepticism to cut through the noise.
And that might be exactly what people need.
