The Quickest Makeup Tutorial Ever

Peak season for makeup artists means we have earlier call times on certain days. An earlier start at the office means I have to shave off a lot on morning rituals, than say an afternoon or mid-morning call time. I do quick morning workouts to jump-start my system and pre-prepare my breakfast (because you know me, I should never miss a good breakfast) of overnight oats, giving myself more time to spare. Since I have to go to work, I should make the effort of looking a bit more presentable, whether I'm teaching a morning yoga class or working on a wedding or a shoot. Since there's no time to do like the usual shebang of a 2-hour hair and makeup routine, I worked on a quick routine which makes me look made up while faking a good night's sleep. This routine also gives me more time for a better breakfast or time traffic allowance.

This look is easy, clean and versatile and achievable by anyone. It also uses less tools so it's super efficient. To make things more efficient, I placed everything I'm going to need in one makeup bag. 

Shortcut your prep time by placing all the makeup you need in one kit.
Better if the cat is asleep too.

Placing everything in one bag just zeroes in on what we would be using. It also keeps me focused on the routine so there's no more temptation to experiment on eyeshadow combos. Save that for a later call time. 

Create a perfect base

Products used:
Pond's Age Miracle BB Cream in Beige
Revlon Colorstay Concealer in Medium

After skin care and primer, I applied concealer on redness and dark circles and blended this evenly. If you want more coverage, use a BB cream before concealer. BB creams are like one of the best inventions of modern-day makeup because it creates a super smooth, flawless base while caring for your skin. 

Set your base

Product Used:
Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation

We can get away with powder in colder climates but since we live in a humid country, powder has been the best friend of every Pinay I know. To know if I set my base right, I give my skin a tap. If it feels powdery and velvety with no "stick", it's good. 

Define your brows

Product Used:
 K-Palette Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow Pencil

Use a brow pen or a brow pencil to define the brows and avoid looking funny. A long-lasting formula is awesome especially for long work days, so I don't end up with a half-brow come midday.

Apply some blush

Product used:
Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Gorgeous Berries

Blush makes you look not dead. If you have  a super early call time, this also fakes the sallowness from lack of sleep. 

Define eyes.

Product Used:
L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Superstar in Black

We love our eyes and eyeliner is our best friend. I'm thinking aside from lipsticks and powders, eyeliner is one of the most favorite makeup products. I know a friend who doesn't wear makeup anymore except eyeliner in a graphic cat eye. So yes, eyeliner is important in creating wide-awake eyes. What I did here is just to line super close to the lash roots, creating the illusion of thicker lashes and wider eyes. With this technique, I won't have to worry about winged eyeliner being even or super straight lines. I used black in this look but you can go crazy and use colored or metallic eyeliner.

Thicken those lashes

Product used:
Fairydrops Volume Burst Waterproof Mascara

In an effort to bring more attention to eyes sans eyeshadow, curl your eyelashes and be generous with mascara. Hello, eyes! 

Apply lipstick

Product Used:
Happy Skin x Disney Princess Moisturizing Matte Lippie in Aurora

Choose any lipstick you like that matches your blush. You can go with a neutral shade or a pop of color as shown below:

Product Used:
Sephora Collection Color Lip Last Lipstick in Royal Raspberry

Highlight For A Final Touch

Product Used:
MAC Iridescent Powder in Coupe D'Chic
(MAC Cinderella Collection)

We like things all pretty and healthy-shiny, instead of shiny-oily or dull matte. Highlight creates dimension and gorgeous glow. Apply highlight on the tops of the cheeks, browbone, and maybe the bridge of the nose and the chin.

Complete Looks:

with natural-colored lipstick

with  a bright berry hue

This is something really quick you can do when you're going to work or going somewhere early and you don't have that much time or if you would want to spend more time with say, getting 10 minutes extra home workout or maybe a nicer breakfast. The quick look also doesn't compromise a lot. It would probably take around 10 minutes to do, and when you've memorized the moves, maybe 5 minutes? Let me know how it goes and what products you used.

Store Directory:

Fairy Drops

fairydrops.com; facebook.com/FAIRYDROPS/

Happy Skin

Glorietta 3, Ayala Grand Mall; Greenbelt 5, 2/F; Powerplant Mall 2/F; Robinson's Magnolia 2/F; SM Megamall, 2/F Mega Fashion Hall; Eastwood Mall, 1/F; UP Town Center, 1/F; available at Rustan's Beauty Source, Beauty Bar, and Plains and Prints; happyskincosmetics.com; facebook.com/happyskincosmetics; instagram.com/happyskin_ph

K-Palette

Available at Beauty Bar; facebook.com/kpalettephilippines; instagram.com/kpalette_ph

L'Oreal Paris

Available at all leading groceries, beauty hubs, and department stores nationwide; lorealparis.com; lorealparisexclusif.ph; facebook.com/LOrealParisPhilippines

MAC

Click here for a complete list of stores; maccosmetics.com; rustans-thebeautysource.com; maccosmetics.com.ph; facebook.com/MACCosmetics 

Make Up For Ever

2/F Mega Fashion Hall Building D, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, (02) 631-5681; G/F Greenbelt 3, Makati City, (02) 621-5248; 1/F TriNoMa Mall, Quezon City, (0915) 990-9571; 2/F Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City (0919) 273-4805; makeupforever.com.ph; facebook.com/makeupforeverPH

Max Factor

available in all leading department stores and beauty hubs nationwide; maxfactor.com; maxfactor.ph; facebook.com/MaxFactorPH

Pond's

available at all leading department stores, drugstores, and supermarkets

Revlon

available at all leading department stores nationwide; revlon.com; facebook.com/Revlon; facebook.com/RevlonPhilippines 

Sephora

sephora.ph; facebook.com/sephoraphilippines; instagram.com/sephoraph

Beauty Tips for the Busy Lady From Ponds.

A beauty routine need not be complicated. Just last Saturday, I attended an event where Cheska Garcia-Kramer shares with us her beauty secrets that are quick and simple. Cheska started out in the 90s as a teenybopper star and now, she not only is an actress but she is also a model, designer, and a mom of three children. She is a hands-on mom and she describes how she takes good care of her family. However, as she takes care of her family, she never forgets to take care of herself and it could definitely be seen by her glowing skin with very minimal makeup.

Although I'm not a mommy to humans, I could still learn a thing or two from her tips. I wear a lot of hats - makeup artist, yoga teacher, cat mom (yes, it's a hat. taking care of pets is not an easy task), pole dancer, the list goes on. On a normal day, I'm not really into the whole 2 hours of hair and makeup kind of thing (I save that for special events or shoots), especially for everyday and more so in today's weather. However, there is a need to take good care of your skin and to look just a bit better. I emphasize on the skin. We should take good care of our skin too, because no matter how expensive the makeup is, if the skin is in bad condition, how will the makeup still look good? Also, with good skin, there's less to cover, less makeup, less sticky feels.

Here are some tips I learned in simplifying my morning routine:

Have your makeup kit ready and organized with your essentials

We have our big baul of makeup that stores our palettes and magic tools. On a normal day however, let's stick to the essentials and keep this in a smaller kikay kit ready for us to use. An eyebrow pencil, lip and cheek tint, eyeliner, mascara, lash curler, a few bright lipsticks, BB cream/tinted moisturizer and powder are all you need to look just a tad better. Sneak in a few brushes (clean of course!)  It's summer still. Go have fun.

Get that checklist and tape it where you can see it.

#ChekasChecklist is all the tutorial you need on a busy day. It's simple and fast and gets the basics covered. One thing about Cheska's super fast and super efficient makeup tutorial is that she really stresses a lot on brows. Brows are what frame the face. In one shoot I did, the designer client also noted how the brows change the entire face. I personally prefer using my favorite trusty eyebrow pencil (Shu Uemura hard 9 formula) to give my brows some shape and definition. They even last an hour of pole class and a quick ashtanga workout.

For beginners, I would recommend what Cheska used here, which is brow powder or a nice matte brown eyeshadow that's a step lighter than the head hair color.

Caring for your skin is as simple as 1-2-3!

Clients would know me as aside from being very OC with brows and blending, I really have to start makeup with clean skin. Either tell my model or client to get their face washed or I would cleanse it myself using facial cleansing cloth or makeup remover and Evian water (wiped with facial wipes). Toner and then moisturizer come next and we don't have to put a lot.

Pond's  Age Miracle Cell ReGEN Day Cream is a non-sticky facial moisturizer

We just need a pea-size amount. The best way to apply moisturizer is to massage it to the face in an upward motion because this will counter the downward moment of sagging (one tip I learned). The massage also boost circulation and creates a glow from within.

Pond's Age Miracle BB Cream is a primer, foundation, concealer, and sunblock in one awesome tube.

 A layer of BB cream protects the skin and enhances its glow. Pond's BB Cream has SPF to protect our skin from the harmful rays of the sun and it's tinted so it also acts as a foundation evening out the skintone. I also like that it's light enough and perfect for warm climates. Now do your makeup and you're finished! Not hard!

Looking good doesn't have to be hard, and no matter how busy we are, we should always take time to take care of ourselves, because it's something we owe to ourselves and keep ourselves balanced, mom or not.

One-Stop Glow With Benefit Pocket Pal Plus Tutorial

I've heard great reviews with Benefit's Benetint from a lot of blogs or just conversing with friends, how it provides a natural flush on the skin and a slight tint on the lips instead of looking clownish and funny. It was quite intriguing that when Benefit cosmetics wasn't here yet, it was a pasalubong list of many girls from relatives going abroad. So I decided to try it out for myself last Tuesday, to see what the fuss was about.

When I got in the Benefit Cosmetics branch in Greenbelt, I was intent on purchasing the full-size bottle. But before my purchase, I wanted to ask for a sampler first. Thinking that I would be given the full-size bottle, I was surprised that I was handed a double-ended wand, with one end containing clear gloss and one end containing the Benetint liquid. The girl instructed me on how to put it on, like dab a little first on the apples of the cheeks and blend quickly. For the lips, I had to dab some of the stain on the lips and top with the clear gloss. Although the full-size bottle was available, I thought I'd purchase this one first. For one thing, it's cheaper (PHP 1,100 as opposed to the full-size bottle which was Php 1,800) and also, I was still trying it out. Makeup usually lasts quite a long time and it pains me to see makeup dried up in the closet. Maybe if I ended up liking it, I'd purchase another one, yes? By the way, if the pink isn't your thing, there's also a Chacha Tint version of the pocketpal, for a peach glow.

The pocket pal looks like this:

It's as big as a regular lip gloss and it could fit into any a teensy bag. Anyway, the darker end, like I said earlier contains the lip and cheek tint while the clear one contains the gloss.

Just be very careful in opening the container. When using the tint, remember to open the container gloss side up to prevent spilling of product or else you will cry. Why? Because your beloved tint will fall on your dress or the ground and since it's a stain, it would be hard to remove.

When I tried it on counter, despite the deep red shade the tint had, it came out fairly natural on my skin, like I just ran a few rounds or did a few inverts. I like natural flushes though, and since I was pole-ling that night, it was perfect. The gloss also wasn't too sticky. You know I don't like sticky glosses.

Just some key points, since this is liquid, apply this under powder so the glow is more natural. Since stains can be quite drying, prep up lips with lip balm before applying the stain.

On my skin, I tell you, it looks very natural.

I especially like the lip color has got that just-eaten-a-strawberry-popsicle look, minus the red teeth and tongue stains.  can take this with me anywhere if I want to look alive, like during travel after a loooong plane or road trip.


Anyway, since I was feeling ill today, I wanted to share a tutorial for, well, you got it, people who are feeling ill but still want to look human. We all are guilty of still leaving the home even when nursing a fever, cough, or cold. We all need to work, and it's hard to be absent. I myself am guilty of going to school despite a 40-degree fever and taking an exam. But of course, I looked horrific then, you'd think I was struck with the Ebola virus miles away. Looking back, there is a way to fake the health, until we get better. We may go out looking ill, but it doesn't mean our looks have to announce it right?


The look is quick and easy and I'll describe it as quickly as possible. It's an effortless no-makeup look that will make you look alive. In my own technique, I didn't use brushes at all, and you'll see why. Maybe in yours, a brush or two may be used, depending on the products and personal preference.


What you'll need:

• Concealer to hide your eyebags and redness
• Tinted moisturizer (you may use your favorite BB cream or go DIY by mixing a droplet of your favorite foundation with your moisturizer)
• Eyeliner - black or brown
• Face Powder
• Eyebrow pencil or your favorite eyebrow makeup
• Benefit Benetint, because this is the product I'm featuring, in my case, the Benetint Pocket Pal
• Eyelash curler and mascara (try Benefit's They're Real!) 

1. First of all, wash your face well and pat dry. Get your tinted moisturizer and massage it on the face and neck. Don't just apply and spread. Massage it. Why did I emphasize on massaging it? It will give the face a lifted look and boost circulation. Take as much time as you need here. 
2. Conceal your panda eyes or redness around the sniffly nose with concealer. Blend well to create the illusion of even skin tone.
3. Before setting the makeup, apply Benefit Benetint on the apples of the cheeks and blend in. This will create the rosy and healthy glow. Make sure to blend very well. Dab some on the lips and blend outward for that just-bitten look.
4. With the complexion looking rosy and even, set makeup with powder to prevent sliding. I prefer using pressed powder in here, because loose might exacerbate your snifflies.
5. Eyebrows need to be defined, so go ahead and frame your face by defining brows with eyebrow makeup. A groomed brow instantly gives the look impact.
6. Tightline the eyes with eyeliner to accentuate them. When I say tightline, just wiggle the pencil on the roots of the lashes to make them look fuller. use a trusty and smudge-proof liner here. I lined just my top lashes, but depending on your preference, you can go and line the bottom lashes. Just use brown for a more natural look.
7. Curl lashes and apply mascara.
8. Finish off with the clear gloss that comes with Pocket Pal or your favorite lipgloss. 

I decided to skip the use of eyeshadow and go with the essentials in looking healthier, focusing on evening out and brightening the complexion. For those who still want to use eyeshadow, just apply a matte skintone eyeshadow to brighten the eyes from lashline to browbone to open things and reapply top liner. Again, I used little brushes here because I want it quick and simple and making use of things that are easy to tote in a purse or tiny makeup kit.

While in the process of getting better, remember to drink lots of fluids and get some rest when you have the time. I'm doing that now because I want to get better. Hope you like this quick and easy tutorial!

QuickBlogLog: Glowy Skin, Red Lips

Another quick tutorial for those with no time.

The sich: I want to look glam but I have no time!

The look: Red lips, clean face, defined eyes, and all-over glow

1. Buff mineral foundation all over face after concealing imperfections using concealer.
2. Brush illuminizer on the tops of the cheeks, T-zone, and chin for an all-over glow.
3. Tightline eyes with dark brown eye pencil and smudge to soften.
4. Curl lashes and add mascara
5. Define eyebrows.
6. Create oomph by lining the lips with a nude lipliner and filling in with a richly-colored red lipstick in a long-wearing formula preferably a matte or satin finish.

(Products used: Monave Minerals Foundation in Saturnina, Monave Minerals Illuminizer in Glow, Nichido dark brown eyeliner, Sephora lengthening mascara, Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil, Sephora nude lip liner, The Face Shop matte lipstick in Deep Wine)

He says the look is very Dita Von Teese, which reminds me I'm working on a vintage look tutorial for those with more time. Take care all!