Getting the Sexy Bombshell Look With Covergirl

Today's makeup tutorial has a little bit of makeup history involved, yet even if it was a big hit in the 60s, it still serves as templates for sexy, come-hither looks. I'm talking about the bombshell look, characterized by cat eyes and nude and pouty lips. Probably the person that you might recall sporting such look is sexy siren Brigitte Bardot.

[image credits]

She got the essential ingredients for the classic bombshell look. Although through the course of time the look has got its upgrades (like a bit of tan, contours, slight pinks on lips and cheeks, more smokiness, etc), the essential ingredients still remain - big hair, sexy pout, fluttery lashes, and sultry eye makeup.

Popular brand Cover Girl's new collection, Bombshell Eyes allows anyone to recreate the classic makeup look for your themed Christmas party or - what the heck - everyday. It's got the essentials to create the bombshell eyes - cream eyeshadow in shiny formula that can also be used as base for your sparkly eyeshadow to hold, an easy-to-use eyeliner, mascara, and lipperfection colors.

I did my own version of this look using some of Covergirl's Bombshell eyes collection. It's less smoky which makes it nice enough to wear for a daytime event. You can lessen the cat-eye too if you'll be using this for work, or change the color scheme to fit your own preference. It's your face after all.

So how I did my bombshell look.

BIG HAIR

Brigitte Bardot was known for her big, bombastic hair. I already created a tutorial here in my blog. I curled my hair beforehand and kinda added some oomph by teasing the roots.

FLAWLESS BASE

Are eyebags sexy? Are discolorations sexy? Of course not. So we even out our skin with flawless base makeup. This choice, I leave up to you. If you want light coverage, conceal the dark spots, redness, and blemishes and mattify with powder. Full-coverage makeup base (concealer, liquid foundation, powder), may be used for special events.

CONTOUR

 Contour where needed to add shape for photo purposes. Add a flush of color with blush.

BROWS

Of course we shouldn't forget our eyebrows!

EYE MAKEUP

I applied primer on my entire eyelid because I hate creases. I used a satin-y shiny skintone color I use for the browbone (like MAC Ricepaper) all over the lid, from lashline up to the browbone.

I used a matte brown eyeshadow powder and a nice blending brush to contour my crease and open and round my eye more. Like all of my eye tutorials, I always blend so the eye makeup looks more like a natural shadow than a drawn-in curve of brown.

EYELINER

I first lined my eyes with pencil liner like Covergirl Perfect Blend Eye Pencil in Basic Black. The objective of it is to make lashes look fuller and avoid the white blank spots we have when we don't really get into the lash roots. Since this is pencil liner, I set this with black eyeshadow or dark brown, depending on your preference.

If you are starting out with cat eyes, you can slightly map out with pencil liner where to put the "flick of your wing liner. For me, it's easier to manipulate and erase pencil eyeliner than liquid liner, as there are some liquid or gel eyeliner which can be difficult to remove.

CAT EYES

Create the cat eye with liquid liner. I personally like Cover Girl Bombshell Intensity Liner. Instead of a fine, long brush and a bottle, the liquid liner is some sort of a pen-type liquid liner, so it's easier to apply most especially if you have fidgety or shaky hands. It's almost like drawing. I have here brown,. which is okay too, if you don't have black.

My personal technique is to work from outside to inside. I start a bit below where I want the flick to end and draw inward. I take a step back to make sure both sides are even. And then, I add a little flick just to create that tapered look. It does take a bit of practice though, especially if it' s your first time to use liquid liner.

LASHES

You may curl lashes and put on mascara. I used Bombshell Volume Mascara. It has two ends. The first end plumps and volumizes. The second defines the lashes. You can also use the second end on the bottom lashes.

LIPS

I chose a neutral pinkish shade here for a my-lips-but-better look.

The Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipsticks also has four shades, depending on your preference and mood

This swatch of an in-your-face pink is Bombshell Explosion. Lip Perfection lipsticks are great for those who want megawatt pigmentation but nothing drying on the lips.

And my finished version of the Bombshell look:

There are many versions of the Bombshell look and you can change color scheme to make it more bronzey, maybe apply a different hair texture, or add more smoke in the eyes. Like in all my tutorials, I don't limit to a specific shape or color scheme. You know your face better. :) In fact, this look might yet even evolve during the next couple of days. But the best advice to make even the simplest makeup look is to own it. :)

Celebrating Polecats Manila's 5th Birthday with Flight, Light, and Music

Every year, Polecats Manila puts on an anniversary show that takes their audience at the edge of their seats leaving them wanting for more. Last year, at their fourth anniversary show Amihan, local folklore tales were told using dance and aerial arts as medium. This year, as Polecats Manila turns 5, they went #beyondlimits by combining dance, aerial arts, and light in their anniversary show, Prism: Expressions of Flight and Light. This happened two weeks ago at Whitespace Makati, but even if it had been two weeks, it is still very much happening and alive in social media and photos.

Prism also  features visualizations by Vitamin See and live music by Tarsius. Being a Polecats Manila student, I wouldn't want to miss a show by my teachers. Polecats has introduced me to fitness and my strength and fitness goals, I owe it all to them (who would have thought I would have my splits and be able to do the things I thought were not possible?). From a tiny group of just a few dancers back in 2009 with a dream, the Polecats family has grown over the past 5 years, with new company members and taking flight as they go beyond limits, getting better and better each time I see them perform and teach.

My phone was somehow acting up during the show so I was only able to take a few shots. So, most of these photos are from my friends who took photos during that day.

Photo by Ida Ortiz

Photo by Ida Ortiz

Photo by Ida Ortiz

This trick is kinda new. I think it's called split grip straddle? It's pretty! 

For those who are curious with what men's pole is like, let the Tomcats show what men's pole is - a perfect mixture of grace, strength, and flexibility.

I always tell any guy who would be bewildered by the fact that men's pole fitness exist to watch the Tomcats in action. This one they have to see for themselves.

Photos by Ida Ortiz

For every Polecats student who has been with them since year one, this was a moment to not miss - the current Tomcats dancing with a video of AJ, the first Tomcat. I think I cried when I saw this. *senti tears*

We were taken back to the ground with this vavoom acro-chair number. 

Photos from Ann Dajon

These Skechers memory foam shoes are made for dancing as well as being pretty while walking while not sacrificing comfort. :) 

Aerial Hoop and Silk made their debut performance last Stellar 3 and students showcased aerial hoop and silk in last summer's stellar. This year's anniversary show also has our teachers up in the air in silks and hoops.

Photos from Ann Dajon

The silk shots from my camera and then my phone died.

The finale had all the dancers onstage.

Of course, aside from the Polecats who have worked hard for months to get this show up and running, students also took part on the show by being part of the production team. 

Our lovely Front-of-House and ushers making sure everyone gets seated.

Photo from Tin Villena

Pole wipers kept the x-poles in top condition, wiping them after each performance so they're ready for the next dancer. And take note, they were also in makeup and in coordinating clothes and were synchronized in their movements. They kept their toes pointed.

photo from Jinky Ureta's Instagram

Makeup Artists Ish Sison, Gery Penaso, Regi Escolin, and fellow Polecats student and #fitmua Jinky Ureta hard at work making our teachers pretty and stage-ready.

Hair by Piandre salon. I must take a style tip from them as they do hair so fast and so clean.

Bayani Brew kept everyone hydrated, as Jinky shows. 

Photo from Jinky Ureta's Instagram account

Nestle Drumstick as a treat for everyone

Photo from Jinky Ureta's Instagram account

Big hugs to Hannah, my pole batchmate who is now a company member of the Polecats teaching Moms and more and beginners classes. Also, she celebrated her birthday on the day of the show. What a nice way to celebrate your birthday doing what you love and flying high!

Thanks too to the show's sponsors Nestle Drumstrick, Peakform Manila, Bear Brand Adult Plus, Cloud 9, Magic Flakes, Skechers, Bayani Brew, Piandre Salon, Connie's Kitchen, Mister Donut, and Jamba Juice for being with Polecats Manila and making this awesome show possible.