Lasting Makeup Over or Underwater with Make Up For Ever Aqua Collection

It's Stellar season once again since it's summer and while I'm not dancing this year as I did two years ago, I'm doing backstage work this time since I'll be doing hair and makeup with my pole sisters and brother. Yesterday, we just had our photoshoot and I was at the studio the whole day transforming students to comic book villains, sorcerers, and sweaty, sexy jazz dancers. Even though it's a photoshoot and the makeup would need to last up until the last pose, I took this as our "trial makeup" for the actual day.

As dancers need makeup that not only would be seen way up to the back of the theater, they also need to last long. A few weeks ago, I was invited to the launch of Make Up For Ever's Aqua Collection. The Aqua Collection is supposed to be made for synchronized swimmers who need to look pretty with their makeup not melting and turning the pool to a rainbow of pigments. If it could last swimming with no retouch, it can last  a sweaty pole dance number.

The Aquamatic glide-on eyeshadow glides on like a pencil and blends well like an eyeshadow. It can be used as an eyeliner for a quick look on the go or blended like a wash of color. It's got a wide range of colors from the natural and wearable ones like blacks and browns to metallics and brights. Use the brights and metallics not just on the face but to create festive body art.

Aquamatic Glide-On Eyeshadow in Matte Black, Php 1,350

The black one (Matte Black) is your basic black matte for smoky eyes or cat eye if you don't want to bothered with a lot of control liquid liner needs. Yesterday, I used it to make question mark details and lasting cut-creases on my makeup for Riddler and Two-Face. I blended it as soon as I applied it if I am doing the cut-crease or the dark-eye detail of Harvey Dent's evil side.

Lanie (left) as the Riddler and Angela (right) as Two-Face. I used black to create the question mark details and the dark makeup detail. 

Just last week, I did makeup for my yoga teacher Nikki since she would be attending an event at Resort's World. I used Noir Mat as a smoky eyeliner for the eye makeup to stay put.

Brights like purple and blue can be used as a statement eyeliner too if you are tired and bored from the usual blacks and browns

 Just in case you want a pointier tip for your glide-on eyeshadow, the bottom end twists off for a built-in mini sharpener. Just be careful in using it so you don't break off the tip. How waterproof is this? I wore this as an eyeliner without setting it with powder, taught a yoga class at noon when it's really hot and I even sweat buckets,  took a shower, and I still have my liner on with no smearing at all. You would need makeup remover to remove this. Make Up For Ever suggests Sens'Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser to remove this easily.

Compliment your colorful eyes with sweet kisses of apricot and cotton candy with the Aqua Rouge liquid lip color. The colored product is topped with a sealing topcoat (clear formula, like a clear lipgloss) to seal the color without the stick or crack so your color lasts the whole day.  

The Apricot color is my personal favorite for nude lip colors. I'll be using this in a prenup shoot later. Php 1,550 at Make Up For Ever stores.

Dancers, make up artists, theater performers, and even makeup afficionados who would love their makeup fix without the smear wherever they go would love this because of its durability and user-friendliness. Have the basic black or dark brown with you for subtle eye definition and probably choose your favorite color pop if you want to buy. If this product can withstand synchronized swimming and a yoga class in the hot humid weather we have, it must be awesome.

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Flutter and Frame with L'Oreal False Lash Butterfly Mascara

For lazy daisies with eye makeup, a lash curler and mascara is probably like manna from above.  On days when eye makeup seems so much of an effort, mascara can create that wide-awake difference.  I admit that there are days, even for me, where  setting up primer, eyeshadow palette, brushes, etc etc.  can be just too much, like on weekends. Even on shoots, I try limiting my makeup on myself and focus on getting to the trick. I do know that behind-the-scenes photos would be appearing so to look just at least more awake on my eyes, I just groom my brows and curl my lashes and apply mascara.

The newest mascara from L’Oreal Paris, the False Lash Butterfly Mascara gives vavoom lashes by defining and enhancing our lashes to really make our eyes pop even without any eyeshadow. Even if your eye makeup is heavy that day, (I.e. very heavy smoky eyes), this mascara will make lashes still stand out and not look lost in strong eye makeup even without falsies.  Thanks to the lovely people of L’Oreal Paris who sent this over for me to try.

If you look at the brush, it’s not the usual teardrop-shaped mascara wand we’re used to seeing. The brush has actually an asymmetric  shape (the left side is different from the right).

 This is the key to making the lashes pop out more. The application is more precise, with product getting into the hard-to-reach lashes at the corner of the eyes.  As the product is deposited on the lashes.  The lashes stretch out (like the wings of a butterfly!) for a spread-out, wide-eye look with lashes that frame the eye.

Take note of the before and after photos.

my bare eye, just lashes curled

with False Lash Butterfly Mascara 

The False Lash Butterfly Mascara is also waterproof. I tried it, went to pole class and there are no mascara runs or flakes  on my face from sweat. I really needed very potent eye makeup remover to get this all out. Conditioning power is awesome and bridal makeup artists should have this in their kit, especially if the bride opts not to wear false eyelashes.

There are numerous ways of wearing the False Lash Butterfly Mascara. One of course, I have mentioned is on a bare eye, if you want to give your eyes oomph at minimal effort. You can wear this too with bridal makeup and your classic smokey eye, as shown here in the video. Check out the video on how to get the Le Papillon Eye Look and see how easy it is to do with L'Oreal products:

 

My own take too to this smokey eye is slightly darker and I used a coral lip.

I like how my lashes, even at a distance and not like a Tom Hooper-like close headshot, can still be seen. You can take this on a night out, party, or what the heck, even at a pole performance. Right I told you that these lashes can withstand intense pole class I had? Well yes, I model these looks on the pole.

Top: Brown Belly Yoga

Shorts: Landmark

Makeup Artist Karim Rahman created the Butterfly Looks – bold eye makeup designs where you can wear with your mascara. The looks are really edgy and pretty and I decided to do my interpretation of these looks.

A wearable look, the Flying Fluttery Look channels 60s sirens with exaggerated winged eyeliner. Think Amy Winehouse’s iconic eyeliner with lots of lashes framing it.  It’s a great party and performance look to do.

An edgier, bolder look that reminded me of Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra, is the Bold Nympha, which looks really cool in photos and would be a really cool makeup peg in a pole competition.

With lashes that defy gravity, I decided to  defy gravity as well. Like butterflies that take flight, I also take flight on the pole, because what better way to showcase these looks than to fly as well right? 

The Flying Fluttery on a Hummingbird

Sport Top: Zobha

Swimsuit Shorts: Sabre by Lizanne Cua

When I saw the Bold Nympha, I got my pole competition costume that I wore to Vie and Vault two years ago. As I said earlier, the defined strong eyes would really pop out onstage in fashion shows, performances.

Pole Costume by Dennis Celestial

If you want lashes that defy gravity,  L’Oreal Paris False Lash Butterfly Mascara is available for Php 695 at all L’Oreal Paris makeup counters. Get your lashes some #butterflyeffect and start posting your own #butterflyeffect, in air, land or water, since it’s waterproof. J 

Loving Covergirl's Liquiline Blast

Are you the type of person who spends a huge chunk of money on eyeliner? I'll raise my hand on that too, especially waterproof ones. Waterproof eyeliner (that includes waterproof eye makeup too) is a wedding makeup artist's best friend. Why? Because you'll never know who'll be crying that day, even if the bride claims that she's the most bato person ever. So when I know I'll be doing a wedding, whether it's makeup for the entourage or a guest, I wield waterproof eye makeup. And I never skip eyeliner, which defines eyes for that come-hither stare with matching "I do" (naks!).

I'm the type of girl though that always constantly looks for value for money, especially on eyeliner for everyday use or for show. In some days, we hafta save money. Thankfully, Covergirl has a new liner called liquiline blast, that costs almost half of what I usually spend for with the same waterproof ability. So I can save my luxury brands for special occasions and this for everyday (agree with me eyeliner-savvy ladies?)

Covergirl lashline blast is available in six different shades. The fun plum, blue, green, and silver-gray can be used for occasions when you want a pop of color on the eye to go with a candy-colored lipstick (Try the green one with a hot pink lipstick, Like Covergirl Lipperfection in fairytale or NARS Schiap). Thankfully, they have shades in black and brown. I chose a classic, full-on matte black for my purchase. It costs only Php450, and since it's super pigmented (I'll show you the swatch) this ought to last long. On the other end of the pencil is a smudger tip, which can be used to blend in the shadow for a smoky effect.

Swatching it, it's very intense, almost like a liquid liner. It glides on smoothly without the annoyingly uncomfortable tug on the eyes, so we're protected from the damage of wrinkles somewhat. Great for tightlining or drawing an Angelina Jolie cat eye look.

So comparing it with gel liner and regular pencil eyeliner, You could see that had I not shown which is which, it looks almost as intense as gel liner. But can it withstand tests? Let's see.

Rub Test:

First up, we have our three swatches here, right? So I rubbed the swatches with my thumb, a bit lightly at first, like brushing a finger on the lid or dabbing a tissue. Then, I tried rubbing it vigorously, like "My eyes are itchy!!!!!" level (until I realize that I'm wearing eyeliner). Compare the "after" swatches:

The gel eyeliner and Covergirl Liquiline intensities remained but our regular pencil liner faded even by slight rubbing. Don't trash the regular one, guys! You can still use this on days when our eyes need rest from waterproof makeup or for shoots where there's no water pouring involved.

Workout test:

I wore eyeliner and did two hours of pole at home. Since I do makeup on my teachers on some gigs, I have to make sure that their eyes are still sultry-smoky past dance numbers and stage lights.

So eyeliner, and then pole!!!! I did extra jumping jacks and burpees for warm-up and lots of inverts. So after:

Just a little smudgie but no biggie, hardly noticeable!

Water test:

I subjected my hand with the swatch on faucet water- with Fort Bonifacio's generously strong water system. This is simulating the situation that I live and breathe eyeliner that I have to swim wearing eyeliner and I still have to look human and not a panda.

And to further torture it, I rubbed my hand and then, here it is, with water droplets to prove it.

If you look closely, I'll be honest and say it's got a little fade but it still looks black. I tried wiping it with a tissue and the swatch is still there. Of course, don't expect it to stay on forever. It's eyeliner, not a tattoo, and even tattoos fade. But if it can withstand torture - rub, water, and workout sweat, and still look acceptable instead of runny, it's a sure win.

For me, Covergirl Liquiline Blast is a win for the following:

• Bang for my buck
• Intense pigmentation
• Texture
• Long-wearing and waterproof ability, as proven by my tests.

I recommend this to girls who love intense eyeliner but find liquid liner or gel liner much of a hassle with the brush. This can be an alternative to your favorite waterproof luxury brand pencil liner.

Waterproof Love

Since most of my work last week has been involving water and beach shoots lately so the quest for water-resistant makeup has been my adventure the past few days (also i've been bombarded with shoots and all). Actually, I'd like to zero down two in my list that I've discovered so far. Waterproof makeup (especially the eye makeup) is also important not just for heavy-duty shoots but also weddings where a lot of crying is involved and sometimes every day life, when all's too sweaty.

However, since waterproof makeup can be expensive, I can zero in two of my favorite waterproof variants:

Here's my ever-so-fabulous mascara favorite:

FASIO Mascara (any variant) (Php395.00 at Rustans)

It's practically waterproof, smudge proof, cry proof, sweatproof, and everything proof. I think it's almost makeup remover proof, you practically need to soak it in makeup remover to get it out. I used that for my beach photoshoot and the models were surprised they didn't end up looking like a raccoon. :) Plus, if you don't remove it properly, you would have more for the next day. :)

For eyeshadow, I'm loving In2It waterproof colors. Plus, they go on sale!

That's my eye and I've already road-tested it by summerging my entire face in water. As you could see, the makeup is still intact. The technique though is to layer, layer, and layer. You can use a sponge tip applicator for intense application. That's what I did since I did an ultimate road test.

The good thing about in2it is that they have a variety of colors and the price isn't that high. I havent tried using a sealant yet but this looks like a good alternative for now. :) You have my claim on these products as I have subjected these babies into violent road-testing. Although that's a lot of layers, just to make sure. :)