Summer Getaway @ Batangas

With the sun shining brightly, I know that it wouldn't be complete without dipping in the pool or baking myself to sunkissed rosiness by the beach. When Mike and Nix organized a beach trip-slash-photoshoot, I signed up immediately. :) These were two days of fun, and working too was fantastic.

The day started at 6 a.m. where I met up with Mike at the studio after which, we proceded to Petron at SLEX for breakfast where we met up with the rest of the people - EJ, Nix, Mac, Glaiza, Jona, and Nando. Since I needed an upper, I took out something from Starbucks then picked Glenn up at Jollibee Carmona. We arrived to the place shortly after.

The place was breathtaking... complete with all the amenities, a lovely pool, and a fantastic view of the beach to perk us all up.

Again, our shoot would not be complete without food.

After we stuffed ourselves, it was photoshoot time. The look was supposed to be very casual and simple. We did, however, note that makeup had to be water resistant and not go get washed out with the water.

model: Glaiza

makeup: Bambi de la Cruz

photo: Michael Yu

I gave Glaiza definition on the brows. I used neutral browns and roses on her eyes and gave it a bit of smokiness, something different from her usual sweet image. lip was kept nude. Her hair was really straight so I kept it as it is.

Model: Jona

Makeup: Nix Abaca

Hair: Bambi de la Cruz

Photo: Mike Yu

Nix used palettes of pinks on Jona with a candy-pink lip as a standout statement. In contrast to Glaiza's straight hair, Jona had big, sexy, and soft curls.

Of course, the boys were not left out too.

model: EJ

grooming: Bambi de la Cruz

photo: Mike Yu

model: Mac

grooming: Nix Abaca

photo: Mike Yu

Of course, Doc Glenn being there took this fantastic sun-worshipping shot:

Me and my sun-worshipping buddy EJ. At this point, I let my hair down in its natural loose curl state with the saltwater holding the shape for me. I'm loving too the leopard print bling bikini (Bikini by Vanita)

My arsenals to prevent skin damage while basking under the sun:

Im definitely a user of this since it doesn't have this chemical smell and doesn't leave a white residue. The spray also cools me down if I've been baking too long.

And here's a video I made documenting the whole thing:

We definitely had a lot of fun. Till the next outing/shoot! :)

Spring Colour Collection Look Makeover: Simply Stunning

Just last week, I visited the MAC counter at Makati after an event I attended. I needed to purchase a few items as well and I was given a makeover courtesy of MAC counter manager Zeldy Liquigan. The look was supposedly simple with a bit of impact on the eyes using MAC's spring color collection.


The look happened to be very simple yet the impact was really nice, something I could wear for a daytime event then meetings and then back to a nighttime event. Colors were very basic... browns and pinks and the coverage was medium, without looking too made up.



Of course I had to start with clean skin, so I cleansed my skin with MAC wipes and then my face was sprayed with Charged Water and then let evaporate. After moisturizing my skin, Studiofix fluid in NC30 was brushed onto my skin using a 187 brush to even out my skin then set with Mineralize Satinfinish powder in Medium. Brows were defined using Brunette pencil and then for a natural look, this was brushed with a 208 brush.


Zeldy's technique was to start by framing the face first, so after defining my brows, she proceded to line my eyes with eyeliner to give it shape and lift. She used Blacktrack using a thin eyeliner brush only to tightline my lashes and make them look lush. Before eyeshadow, she prepped my eyes with Prep+Prime eye in light, which was a great base for eyeshadow plus evened out any eyelid discoloration.


For eyeshadow, Zeldy used Colour 4 from the Spring Colour collection. She dabbed Flip on the lid using a 239 brush and on the crease, she used Aztec Brick. These colors were blended well so there are no demarcation lines. On the outer V and outer crease, she defined it by using Creole Beauty, a brown shade that deepened my eyes and blended well with the two colors. For this, she used a 209 pencil brush, which she also used as a drop shadow to define my lower lid. For the browbone highlight, my browbone was shaded the lightest color, namely Manila Paper. The eyeliner was retraced again for more impact then my lashes were curled and applied 2 coats of Loud Lash. Falsies were then glued for more oomph. The techniques were really simple and she asked me to do the other side after to show how easy it could be achieved using only 2 brushes.



For blush, Azalea Blossom (a pink-and-lilac gradient blush) was applied on the apples of my cheeks. The brush was brushed onto the lilac gradient and the color was applied on the lower portion as a subtle contour.



To tie everything, Zeldy chose a universal color in the pink-brown family, Cosmo, for my lip color. Cosmo is in an Amplified formula, meaning it's less drying on the lips, and in fact, has moisturizing properties which make the lips look absolutely lush. It tied up the look because my eyes were in the brown/amber family while my cheeks were pink, so neither was out of place.



So here's my look after the makeover:

I love the new shape of my eyebrows. The thing I like was how the eye makeup wasn't really complicated. It only made use of 2 brushes and it really maximized the entire palette. The lashes really opened up my eyes too. and I like how the Studiofix foundation blended well with the Mineralize Satinfinish powder to give my skin a youthful glow.

My Solution For Moisturized Skin Without The Icky Goo Feeling

Welcome to the peak of summer. It's hot. We either love it or we hate it. We could love it at the beach or poolside wherethe sun can transform our pale complexion into sunkissed glow while effortlessly lying down on our backside or on our stomachs. We could hate it because it leaves us with makeup meltdown or a face that could deflect a thousand people with its oiliness. A common misconception we all have is actually to skip moisturizer during the hot months. We all go, "My skin is producing oil anyway, and in fact, it's practically haywire!" So hence, moisturizer is skipped. Actually, the more we need moisturizer because the sun can dry out our skin, ageing it and making it look more haggard than it should.

Actually, the real thing is to never skip on moisturizer, whatever season. Just like we switch to lighter clothing, flip-flops, and wide-brimmed hats, we should also find moisturizer that we could use during the summer months to keep our skin at tip-top condition. Moisturizer should be lightweight, non-greasy, and of course, not skimp out on the moisturizing benefits on the skin. Personally, I like it to smell nice and also to have a tad on anti-ageing benefits.

Currently, I'm using Olay Regenerist day cream, which contains all the anti-ageing benefits I need without leaving my skin red and raw. I still use my micro-sculpting cream as my night cream, and since at night I'm in a relatively controlled environment, I do not experience any regreasing much. For this hot weather, somehow, I still need something lighter. I love my day cream, but for weather going crazy and humid yet desert-like, my skin somehow would want something lighter, reminding me of my need to still replenish its lost moisture. Plus, my day cream's running out. Perfect timing.

In keeping my loyalty to this brand (which has really babied and pampered my skin as I've been using it for more than a year now), I was introduced to something that seemed to answer my prayers.

Olay Total Effects with Cooling Essence promises to give the skin a dewy glow all day while fighting signs of ageing. It's also proven to be less greasy than other moisturizers. Hmmmm.... anti-ageing, aesthetics, non-greasy, and hey... cooling? Seems to be the answer to my prayers yes? At Php 699, this is a good steal. :) Before I subjected myself or my test subjects to this product, I needed to do a patch test on myself. This time, I rubbed a significant amount on my forearm to see if I had any adverse reaction. Turns out I didn't. Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes! I could use it.

It comes in a very slim bottle, which looks quite elegant too. All I need is a pea-sized amount to be able to spread this evenly on my face and massage it. I like that it feels cool on my skin, giving my skin a boost of fresh energy. The cooling effect is actually due to the mint extract in the product, giving the skin a quick, cooling burst. It's quite energizing too. And just when you think this is for girls...

EJ seems to like it too. I used this as his moisturizer during our recent photoshoot. His comment was that it feels cool on the skin. By the way, in this shoot, I'm not wearing makeup but just the Total Effects cream.

The weather at this time was extremely hot, yet I'm glad that I didn't grease out as much. My face felt really moisturized after and I was less shiny and I didn't look that I had a head-on colision with a big and greasy lechon. I like too that the smell was really light and I didn't feel like my pores were getting too stuffed up and screaming "SAVE MEEE!". I have soft and supple skin without any greasy afterfeel.

Looks like whatever season, there's still no excuse for proper skin care. All we need are just the right products.

Olay Total Effects With Cooling Essence is available at local department stores and drugstores. SRP is Php699 for a 50 g bottle.

Regatta Goes Cool and Casual This Summer

Today I started my day with a glass of vino with a slice of strawberry. Elegant, yes?

Tiffany chairs and a sea of people dressed in white reminded me of cool elegance reminding us that summer is fast approaching and the cool colors kept everything crisp and clean.

At this morning's event, Regatta launched their Spring-Summer Collection that spells Vintage Summer. Think stripes, loose tunic dresses, lots of white bottoms (i.e. shorts and pants), twill, cotton... clothes that you could take from the streets to the mall to the beach. Preppy boys and girls, fresh looks with an optional red lip...well, you get the idea.

The look spells sophistication without looking too stiff and boring yet it's casual without looking too drab. For me, I like the short jersey dresses which could double as beach cover-ups. The comfortable stretch jersey is perfect to keep me comfy at work during location summery shoots. I'm comfy yet still look polished, not like I stepped out of the house with all my stuff.

For accessories and footwear, I see flats and sneakers to match the casual vibe of the outfits, roomy canvas bags to hold our summer essentials, and hats, which are essential to protect our hair from being fried to dryness by the hot summer sun. The fedoras the guys are wearing could look really cute too on girls. Pair this with a white tank top and shorts with flats. Keep jewelry minimal and let the outfit do the talking. I like the look to be minimalist, simple, and comfy.

Hair was swept in loose updos texturized by braids with tiny wisps and locks of hair to keep the look casual. Makeup was kept light, natural, and a bit glowy. It is summer, after all, so keep everything light and save the smoky eyes and contours for rainy days.

Looks like casual and fresh seem to be what's in this summer. :) So as I put my sweaters and boots at the back of my closet and make room for the shorts, flowy tunics, and cotton shirts, i officially welcome summer on the streets and well, everywhere. :)

My Big Speedy-like Brown Bag

At the mall last Friday, couldn't resist this beauty so off the shelf and into my shopping bag it goes:

And my Big Head giraffe seems to agree with me too. I got this at Cole Vintage at The Ramp for about Php 799.00 (imagine that) and it puts a check mark on all my bag requirements: big, sturdy, fashionable, and well, animal print. If I may be correct, it looks like faux reptilian skin (crocodile) although I'm not quite sure. :) I used this yesterday and it was able to fit my vanity pouch, wallet, phones, big body splash atomizer, keys, and even had enough space for a pair of flip-flops or an extra top. It is quite heavy, of course, with all the stuff I bring. It's so hard to find a decent-looking bag that I could tote with me to events, meetings, and stuff.

Yes I adore the Class Reptilia, don't you think?

Here Comes MAC's Spring Colour Forecast!!!!!

Fresh, fun, and lively colors dominated all the four MAC Counters here in the Philippines with the launch of their Spring Colour forecast. Before this, clients were calling the stores asking for reservations and inquiries and makeovers were scheduled.

For this event, I guested for 2 days - one during the launch at the counter in Glorietta, and second at MoA. I also passed by the Rockwell counter to give them a visit and to collect some purchases as well. Hahahahaha.

So these were the four color palettes to suit anyone's mood:

Pink: Giggle, tickle, and tease with pink. Pink is always all-girly and flirty so we have candy-colored lipglasses, lipsticks, eyeshadows, and the pink-lilac blush ombre gradient. Check out also the crush metal pigment stacked jars in Stacked 1!, which are great to layer over the eyeshadows for a 3d sparkly finish. Nail lacquer in Galore Pink is a sweet pink color that would flatter the hands.

Coral: Coral is one color that looks great on tanned skin and enhances our glow. A product to try is the Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach (which was a bestseller as they got sold out in a matter of hours as they arrived at the store). Fresh Salmon is also one of my favorites, an entry-level orange that flatters any shade and would look great on tanned skin.

Plum: Plum was the most difficult shade to wear but actually, it's one of the colors I love. The Blush Ombre in Vintage Grape is actually very sheer instead of scary and used sparingly or swirled, it creates a fantastic plummy sheen. Hang-Up is a deep plum lipstick that looks great with warm smoky eyes. Since this tends to bleed, I recommend using lipliner to seal the color in.

Amber: For the beautifully bronzed, amber has shades from bronze to gold. Gold dust warms up a cool lip to go with tanned skin and Springshine could be used as a bronzer or a subtle contour powder. Do check the palette: Colour 4 : with four eyeshadow colors in the brown and gold spectrum.

Clients were also given a workshop on how they could wear these colors. Here's MAC Training Manager Sam Gallardo doing a demo during the launch at the MAC Counter in Rockwell.

That's Kate pre-makeup, fresh, and natural. Sam starts everything first with skin care before makeup. Here, she demonstrates how to use the plum colors. This spring, it's all about color, so go ahead and experiment. :)

Kate after makeup. :) The dress looks so cute and so mod.

Aside from the demos and makeovers, clients and crew could also opt to have their picture taken at the photobooth and have the pictures printed out as a souvenir. And who takes the picture but a very handsome MAC male model:

At the MoA branch, here's us having fun at the photobooth during the low-peak hours.

Cyndee, Owen, me, Rudge, Peabo, and Kate. We literally had to squeeeesh in. :P Fun. Fun fun!

Of course, hanging out in MAC for more than 3 days, I couldn't help but make my quackie very happy:

Mantra's Shoot Staple

I realized I've been talking a lot about my shoots in Mantra but never really stated much about it. Actually, Mantra is Mike's photography group, hence his studio at his house in Bel Air is called Mantra studio. Most of my work is done here and through my work here, I've been both proud and happy to not only have fun while working (due to its relaxed environment) but also I get to know more people.

When I entered Mike's house for the first time, I've noticed how models have been feeling much at home there for the first time and also, the abundance of food. Apparently, Mike has a rule that his co-workers should not get hungry, thirsty, or faint due to crash diet and starvation. I carried on that rule myself (i.e. "You don't eat, I don't do makeup.")

Another thing I've noticed too with the studio is the abundance of Coca Cola cans and litre bottles in his ref... another staple in the house. He orders cases of it, too. :) I guess it's been a classic refresher for all of us, whether it be the red regular kind, the diet kind, the caffeine-free kind, and even the flavored ones (who remembers the sweet taste of Vanilla Coke or Cherry Coke?), whatever situation may be. I remember ordering a can of Vanilla Coke before my Departmental Exam in Clinical Parasitology and chugging it down at the org office while I burry myself on the slides and reviewers. It has been with me with both my work as a scientist and an artist.

Mantra Photography staples: Hakaw and a can of coke per crew.

Okay, as I was checking some of my Mantra behind-the-scenes, look what I found omnipresent in the shots.

Look at what Apy's holding. :)

lunchtime break :)

And even videos show our red can staple :)

I'll be there at the studio again tomorrow for more work. Yep, with this weather, we definitely need something to cool us down. :)

Right now, it's back to work again for me.

LIP OF THE DAY: Hot Pink Lips to Welcome Spring

To welcome MAC's spring colors, I sealed it with a bright pink kiss.Giving my reds and bricks a rest, I went for something that's playful, fun, and flirty with my own personal touch of a bright statement lip. And what else to catch an eye with a bright and flirty pink?

Here's what I used for this lip:

Moisturized lips prevent the flakes so I made sure I prepped my lips with lip conditioner beforehand. Before my shift, I already soaked my lips in lip conditioner.
Line lips with a hot pink color that matches and compliments the lipstick. I used MAC lipliner in Trimmed In Pink to line and fill my lips so my lips have a base. This is from the Too Fabulous collection.
Brushed one coat of Pink Burst (from the Spring Colour 1 Forecast) and blotted. Reapplied this again. Pink Burst is a bright fuschia shade when applied and instantly gives life to the face.
The shiny, creamy, Barbie lip is topped with Cremesheen Glass in Loud and Lovely (again from the Too Fabulous colelction), a bright pink lipgloss that gives the lips a shine. I'm not quite much of a lipgloss girl as I love matte but a bit of this gives my lips a final pop. Plus, this one isn't too sticky on the lips and this lasted quite a long time.

This look goes well with pink cheeks and subtle lilacy-pink eyes. I used Two Virtues Mineralize Blush Duo on my cheeks for a candy pink glow and kept my eyes subtle with pinks and lilacs. Towards the end of my shift, I smoked it up with Eye Kohl in Feline set with Carbon.

I might keep this look for a month or so. Now I wish there's still Pink Burst available at the mall... Please oh please oh please.... :P

TAG TAG TAG TAG

Let's all TAG!


SKINCARE

How many times do you wash your face daily?
At least twice a day, and each time I remove my makeup

What skin type do you have?
Normal to Combination

What is your current facial wash?
Olay White Radiance and Olay Regenerist. To remove my makeup, I alternate between Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil and MAC Cleanse Off Oil in Tranquil.

Do you exfoliate?
Yes once or twice a week.

What brand do you use?
Olay Regenerist. :)

What moisturizer do you use?
I use the Olay Regenerist skin care line and Shu Uemura Red-juvenus

Do you have freckles?
None.

Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
Never. Thank God.

Did you ever have to use Pro-Activ?
Nope.

MAKEUP
What foundation do you use?
MAC Mineralize Satinfinish and MAC Studio Sculpt. On counter, it's Studiofix or Select Sheer, if Studio Sculpt isn't available. I use NC35, although I could get away with NC30. I like being tanned

How about concealer?
MAC

Do you know your undertone color?
Golden Warm undertone.

What do you think of false eyelashes?
I don't wear them. Only in photoshoots or events, after which I take them off right away.

Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
Yep, although I stretch it a bit as long as it's not flaky and doesn't smell funky.

What brand of mascara do you use?
MAC, Maybelline, and Clinique.

Sephora or MAC?
Seriously, do you have to ask that question? MAC for ever and ever and ever!

Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
Nope. MAC Pro isn't available here in Manila. I wish I did though. I would hoard all brushes and colors.

What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?
Brushes, sponge only to blend, lash curler, cotton buds to clear out any smudgies, and buffer brush to even things out. set with makeup fixer (MAC Fix+)

Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes?
MAC Paint Pot and Laura Mercier Eye Base

For the face?
Not necessarily, makeup lasts long on me anyway.

What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
I'm more into lips, so for the daily basis, I just define brows, sweet a neutral color, and add liquid liner.

Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Pencil, liquid, and gel/cream.

How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Nope. Never.

What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
Color is super intense, but it can get messy, so handle with care.

Do you use mineral makeup?
Sometimes, when I want it sheer.

What is your favorite lipstick?
Only one brand tops my lipstick list-MAC. They have the best and most diverse shades of matte reds that I love (Russian Red, Ruby Woo, MAC Red, Diva, Dubonet, Viva Glam I)

What about lipgloss?
I don't use lip gloss. I like my lips really matte.

What is your favorite blush to use?
MAC Mocha, MAC Love Rock, MAC Peachykeen, and FS Georgia Peach (similar to NARS Orgasm but way cheaper)

Do you buy your makeup on eBay?
Nope

Do you like drugstore makeup?
Yes. Fanny Serrano waterproof concealer in Sand and Chestnut <3

Have you ever considered taking makeup classes?
Already did.

Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
Nope. :)

Name a makeup crime that you hate?
1. Makeup not blended well.
2. Chalky, pasty, and ashy foundation too white and/or too pink.
3. Horrible eyebrows.

Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick, eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
I always like bright lipstick.

Which celebrity always has great makeup?
Dita Von Teese for those retro-ish vintage looks. Lady Gaga for her out-of-the-box avante garde makeup styles. Coincidentally, these ladies are MAC Viva Glam endorsers.

If you could leave the house using just ONE makeup item, what would you use?
Eyebrow makeup.

Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
Yep. I did yesterday and worked. No biggie.

Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
On good skin days, yes.

In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
Again, do I have to answer that question? Of course it's MAC!

What do you think of makeup?
The best things in the world. :) My serious addiction too. If used properly, they could work for you. If not, they could work against you.

My Deluxe Massage Experience at The Spa Greenbelt

After a grueling photoshoot that was both fun and tiring (9 models for that day in a span of 6 hours, retouch and change looks included), I decided to use Mike's gift, which has been hanging long enough in my place. Ergo, after the shoot, EJ dropped me off this place for an hour or so of relaxation.

The interiors of The Spa in Greenbelt is way different from the busy streets of Paseo de Roxas. The moment I entered and climbed the steps, it didn't feel that I was in a mall located right smack at the center of the Makati Central Business District.

I was lead to the women's area (yes, they separate the boys from the girls) where I was given my locker room key to put all of my stuff. I changed to my fluffy robe and slippers and went to the shower. The shower had hot and cold options too and the shampoo/conditioner/body soap in one came in a handy dispenser. The shampoo/conditioner/body soap didn't dry out my skin and hair and I love how it didn't dry me like an old prune. Due to spa rules, pictures are prohibited in the spa area, hence the lack of photos.

After the shower, I proceded to the steam bath. Since the steam bath subjects you to high, humid temperature, it's best to be hydrated first. I drank water before I entered, stayed there for a good 5 minutes or so, and then drank water again. The steam bath helps eliminate toxins, opens the pores, and destresses you too. Do take note though, that there are certain health conditions that could prevent you from going to steam baths, so double check with your doctor if you could. Also If it's your first time to go to the spa, the attendants guide you to where you're supposed to go, what to do, and what to (or not to) wear. After that, I showered again, dried up, and relaxed while waiting for my turn for a massage. While waiting, I could enjoy a cup or two of ginger tea. The ginger tea was very mild. Tip: Wait for the tea to cool a bit before drinking.

I chose the combination massage, which combines both swedish and shiatsu. The attendants were very couteous in asking permission if they could massage certain areas and only speak to you if you need to turn to the side, front, or ask if the pressure is okay. Aside from this, you can opt for just swedish massage or shiatsu massage or deep tissue massage, for those who want it really hard. I like how the therapist quickly adjusts to the needs of the customer, like if a customer would prefer not to use oil on her face (like I did), if the stretch is too difficult, and so on. The oil is unscented mineral oil that feels lighter than regular conventional oils. If you want less of the oily effect, have the massage during the late afternoon. When you get out of the spa, it's probably night time anyway.

After my massage, I changed to my street clothes. I can say that I was pleased with the service and atmosphere of the place. Also, the spa asks you beforehand if you have any certain health conditions that you should declare, so they could take the necessary precautions.

I definitely will go back here, but since the price is quite hefty, maybe during special occasions like my birthday or a really good project done.

(The Spa also has branches at Alabang Town Center, Bonifacio High Street, Jupiter, and Acropolis)

MAC Launches its Spring Colour Collection here in Manila

Come to Rustans Makati on March 13, 2010. Launch of MAC's Spring Colour Collection.

Workshop for FREE!!!!! from 1pm to 2pm. Complimentary Spring Colour Makeover available the whole day.

Definitely a yes for me. I'm guesting today and it's gonna be lots of fun. I'll tell you more about it when I get back. Time to grab my black outfits. :)

If you see me, do say hi. :)

Review: MAC Impeccable Brow Pencil in Dirty Blonde

Not that the 80's are back, but brows are becoming thicker nowadays. Thicker brows are seen in runways, theater, and fashion editorials, and they look a lot better since thicker brows are more youthful. However, thick brows does not mean bushy, unkempt, and unruly. Thick but groomed and defined are the keys.

Hence, eyebrow pencils and brow makeup are forever my quests. MAC's All Ages, All Races, All Sexes line included a line of brow pencils called Impeccable Brow Pencils (Php900). As we have already reviewed the Penultimate Brow Marker, here's what I have to say of the impeccable brow pencils, one of which, was my recent purchase a few weeks ago at the MAC Glorietta counter.

I chose dirty blonde, a safe, and in-between color between the two others: Taupe and Blonde. I found the taupe too dark for me and the blonde too light (light as in it couldn't define much), so I settled for something in between. The color is somewhat ashy, as seen here, as I used it.
The color blends somewhat well to my complexion, and it gives more definition than powder. I like that there are no unsightly red hues on my brows and I could use this if I want to extend my eyebrows (which I did), create more definition and shape, and sharpen or flatten my eyebrow arch, depending on the mood. The texture though is waxier than the Lingering pencils, so what I do here is to "draw" the tail first and then blend the product to my brows with a stiff angled brush for a more natural look. If I want my product to stay put more, I set the pencil with eyebrow powder.

This isn't retractable though, and it does need periodic sharpening, which could be troublesome for most of us. However, in my case, I only need a little of this product so it lasts quite long. So far, it hasn't disappointed me. This color goes well with Beguile brow set and Charcoal Brown eyeshadow to set.

Summery Blue Look

When I got 3 days to prep up for a wedding I had to attend, I had to soak myself in self-tanner enhance my color for 3 days and hunt for a dress that's #1 cheap and #2 would look good and #3, would last me long. I saw this dress last Wednesday that I fell in love with. It was a long, blue empire cut dress that spelled BUY ME. It was either that or a body-hugging leopard print bareback dress, but I wanted to eat, so it was the obvious choice that I got.

Glad I soaked myself on self-tanner because the turquoise summery color looked good on sunkissed skin :) No time to tan friends!

On the rare times that I could be a girl, this was how I looked like yesterdayI'm a girl! I'm a girl! I'm a girl!!!!!!

The dress was absolutely long, and I had to wear heels to prevent myself from tripping. Height here became my advantage and the dress looked long to enhance how tall I was rather than drown me in fabric. Tip: empire cut dresses are fabulous. I could eat what I want and still hide it and still look good.

I've been always crazy with Diamond Hotel's desserts. :P, It's what I enjoy the most hahahahaha. The yogurt mousse was heavy, but it was really good.

I chose to curl my hair since the dress was very flowy, very laid back, and very bohemian. I used a 1" curling iron to curl my hair and lots of hairspray. My hair's naturally wavy so it doesn't fall flat easily and a lot of mousse and volumizer helped too. I kept accessories simple since I wanted to focus on the dress and the make-up, which is by the way, smoky blue eyes with a bit of sparkle and pastel pink lips. Makeup was done show-style since I wanted it to last, and boy it did. :DOn face:
Shu Uemura UV Underbase #01
Foundation: MAC Studio Sculpt NC25+ MAC Mineralize Satinfinish Liquid Foundation in NC42
Concealer: Undereyes: MAC Studio Sculpt NW20. For skin: MAC Studiofinish NC30
Powder: MAC Studiofix NC35
Contour: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Dark to shade and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Light to highlight
Blush: MAC Blush in Stark Naked
Highlight: MAC Minealize Skinfinish in Redhead

On lips:
MAC lipstick in Saint Germain

On eyes:
MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork
MAC Ricepaper to highlight brows
MAC Mood Ring and The Right Smoke on lids
MAC Waft and Cloudburst on crease
Liner: MAC Peacocked and Feline to tightline
Maybelline Cat Eyes Mascara topped with falsies
Barbie <3 Stila Smudge Pot in Little Black Dress to line my top lashline

yes, on some times, I could be a girlalee girl too. :)

Everything's Up and Cheery: The Body Shop Launches Its Spring Collection

The season of spring has been likened to everything coming alive. Just a few weeks ago, my parakeet's eggs hatched and we now have a total of eight pet birds. It's so cute to see little birds with colorful feathers with their mommy and daddy whenever I feed them. Before they used to be these featherless skinny little creatures. Now they look so cute and colorful. With this season, makeup brands also change their palettes and from the colder months' warm, spicy, and rich colors, we now have spring brights and colors spelling LIFE!

Last week, I was invited to attend the blogger's launch of The Body Shop's Spring Collection. I had a client beforehand and right after my client, on Friday traffic I went from The Fort to Glorietta dragging Nix along since I would be meeting with her as well. Over colorful cupcakes, bloggers were invited to try the products and create their versions of spring looks.

For a sneak peek, I'll let you in on three of my favorites:

This is one of The Body Shop's bestselling products: The Lip & Cheek Stain. This time, it takes a corally hue instead of the traditional berry color.

The swatch shows a bit of shimmer and the warm corally color makes it suit our skin better now that the heat makes it darker. You can use this alone or layer this with blush of your choice. However, since this blush is liquid, please use this after moisturizer and before powder makeup so it blends to the skin. Applying this for personal use is easy. Just dab a bit on your finger or cheek and blend well. For professional use, place the sponge tip applicator on a clean palette and use a flat cheek brush or your fingers to apply.

When I saw this white jar on my goody bag, I didn't know what it was until I opened it. It was actually a powder blush. This blush, called Kiss Of Color Cheek Blush comes with a sponge applicator that "stamps" the product on the apples of the cheeks after which, it could be blended with the fingers or a brush for a natural flush. This shade I have is Vibrant Rose, which is a pretty candy pink. This product also comes with a mirror so you could take this with you when you want a burst of pink on the cheeks.

On the sponge it looks like a really bright eye-popping pink, but it's a cute flush of pink actually when you blend it in. I've used this during the creation of my bridal portfolio and it really looks good on a bride. For professional use, a brush could be used on the product and sweep on the cheeks.



The eyes are not left out. The Shimmer Cubes are packed with twinkling colors in fresh shades of Sea Shell (a neutral shade), Hushed Orchid (a lilac shade), Emerald Sea, and Sparkling Sky.


Since the colors are shimmery, I suggest using a base or cream eyeshadow first and a stiff, dense brush to layer the eyeshadows for vibrant pops of color. Sea Shell is a very warm and neutral peach color I could use on the lids (balance the browbone with a matte color). The shimmer and shine opens the eye and brightens the expression of the face. This could also be used to highlight the tear ducts or the temples. Mix and match these colors for a fresh, youthful, and modern spring look. Since I'm creating mostly bridal and fresh looks now, the color I use is mostly Sea Shell. I'm thinking of combining Emerald Sea and Sparkling Sky with some of my blues since I'll be attending a wedding this weekend and it would compliment my dress and my tan.

After the event, Nix and I hung out for cheap dinner at McDonalds before heading home, since I had 2 jobs the following day, but not after talking and bugging Mike over the phone. Oh, these products are already in the market so do catch them now.

Rent Much?

Last Sunday was the last two shows of Rent. I was there to do makeup as well as watch the play among the audience during the matinee show (I usually watch the show from the wings) in-between touch-ups. I did makeup for a total of 5 days during the run.

I just noticed how Rent's theme is somehow connected to MAC Viva Glam, ergo MAC would be just the perfect makeup sponsor. How very, very apt. :)

Here's a compilation of some of the video clips I took while I was there. As soon as I got home, I opened my pc, unloaded my memory card, uploaded pictures, and did some video editing. Yes, that's in sepia tone. My peg actually was the video during the movie, hence the old effect but since Windows Movie Maker could only do so much, I just did what I could. The choice of music made it actually very senti, and I edited the film before I went to bed so the experience is still fresh. Nostalgia much?



Of course, vignettes from my little scrapbook of pictures. Most of it were taken during the last day.

This is Jenny, who was the first cast member I did makeup on during my first day at Rent. She plays Joanne. Since Joanne is a lawyer, I had to think corporate, corporate, and corporate. Strong eyes and strong lips and contours. I used MAC Chelsea for her lips and browns for her eyes. During the later runs of the show, we began experimenting with Russian Red.

That's Angel doing makeup on AJ, who plays the role of Angel. :) Two Angels.

I did makeup for Fred the last day. Fred plays Mark Cohen, one of the main characters. Since Fred appears in almost all of the scenes, he had to look very fresh all the time with minimal retouching.

Clowning around with Noel, who plays the role of Benny. The picture supposedly is for my portfolio purposes documenting my work. :P Anyway, it shows also though how much fun we also have backstage goofing and being dorks too. Noel and I know each other for a long time already since we're neighbors but we only got to work together in this show.

The fabulous, fabulous and gorgeous makeup artists with Arman, the stage manager. :) Black outfits = gorgeousnesses. That's me, Arman, Angel, and Carmen.

I'm surely gonna miss working for this show. It was a success though. Congrats to the cast! I will miss doing very natural and very modern makeup looks - contours, glitters, cat's eyes and guyliners.