The Nail Sanctuary

Ana, a clinical pharmacologist, had spent years researching the toxicological profiles of common nail product ingredients. Corinne, trained in fine art at the Ateneo de Manila and later at Central Saint Martins in London, had developed an aesthetic vocabulary that was simultaneously rigorous and deeply personal. When the two sisters decided to open a nail studio in 2017, they approached it the way they approached everything: with obsessive research and complete artistic control.

It took two years from concept to opening. Ana formulated the studio's house cuticle oil blend using Philippine-sourced coconut, ylang-ylang, and white rice extract — then had it tested by an independent laboratory for pH balance, absorption rate, and long-term skin interaction. Corinne designed every element of the interior, sourcing the marble nail tables from Batangas, the velvet chairs from a small upholsterer in Pampanga, and the lighting fixtures from a family workshop in Cebu.

The Nail Sanctuary opened in Rockwell in January 2019 with six stations and an appointment book that filled within 48 hours. The sisters imposed a rule from day one: maximum six clients at any time, mandatory pre-consultation for every new guest, and no walk-ins. It was a commercial risk that became their most powerful brand statement. Three years later, The Nail Sanctuary has a four-week waitlist for nail art appointments and a client list that includes some of the most photographed women in the country.