Makeup Must-Haves For Your ID Photos

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post on ID photo tips. So finally, I was able to get my plastic DL card last week. When I saw the photo, I was just super thrilled because I came up with quite a decent ID photo, probably the best ID photo I ever took with a webcam. My license the last time, I wasn't exactly bad looking but it could use more improvements.

I never really realized how important looking good in government ID photos mattered to most people. It was when I saw how many blog posts were there about it when I saw that indeed, it does matter. Not really a requirement, but it counts in life.

I was quite surprised at the likes and comments I got with my makeup look for that photo (a friend even joked I should have brought my own fan so I can have that Beyonce-ish effect) so I thought about writing a part 2 post on how to look good for your government ID photo, this time enumerating the stuff I usually use whenever I have to do a headshot using a webcam.

get the natural look that radiates on a webcam using these products

Benefit The POREFessional Face Primer (Php 1,800)

This has got to be the favorite of every single makeup artist I know. It smoothens out the face to a nice, velvety texture, makes makeup last longer, and matts out shine. I have this problem on the center of my forehead that tends to look shiny even if I'm not even oily. The POREFessional takes care of that.


Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation (Php 825)

I forgo BB creams and use Liquid Foundation set with loose powder or powder foundation instead. BB creams have high SPF content and may cause a white cast, especially if there's harsh, un-metered flash that makes photos reminiscent of our "Gulat-Me" 80's to early 90's ID photo days. Colorstay lasts long enough, which is perfect in slowing down makeup meltdown most especially for locations where whatever we do, we're still prone to makeup melting. Again, this sets matte.


MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in Dark (Php 2,100)

This adds warmth and contours which create shape and dimension. I just add a tad, instead of photoshoot-level ready, just so my face doesn't look flat. The key to natural-looking contours is all in the blending so blend this well.  Save the heavy contours for fashion shows or theatre performances.


Benefit Blush in Coralista (Php 1,600)

Personally, I stick to warm colors for government ID photos so I don't look super washed out with white fluorescent lights and blue backgrounds. This isn't too flat matte but not too shiny that it looks oily either.


MAC Blush in Mocha (Php 1,200)

A healthy, natural flush of pink also works. This bridal staple doesn't have too much shimmer speckles and delivers a nice, pink color to the cheeks, kind of like a natural glow.


Revlon Brow Fantasy Pencil and Gel in Light Brown (Php 575)

As overhead top lights can sometimes make my brows disappear, I need extra definition. This product gives me a more defined brow that doesn't disappear with the lighting yet it's natural enough for real-life appreciation. It gives me the defined, strong, but still natural type of brows. The mascara tints the brow hairs, (most especially if you have colored hair) and keeps the brows in place.


Happy Skin Eye am Here To Stay 24h Gel Eyeliner in Chic Brown (Php599)

Black liner in the bottom lashlines can look harsh, My alternative is dark brown eyeliner tightlined to make the lash roots fuller. You don't even have to worry about lines being perfect,


Colourpop x Hello Kitty Ultra Satin Lip in Tiny Chum (USD 6.00 at colourpop.com)

Colourpop has been making waves for having major color payoff that's comparable with expensive brands at a fraction of the price. This gorgeous liquid lippie has a pretty, fresh pink shade that's great for fair-skinned ladies. Paired with a blush, you can have a gorgeous, natural rosy glow instead of looking ghostly or pasty,


L'Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray (Php 500)

The long lines plus humidity can cause makeup meltdown. The setting spray does the job of locking the makeup or making it last longer. It also helps blend the makeup as well on the face so it looks gorgeous on photos, more like healthy skin instead of powder.

ID pictures do matter in a way that it represents you for the years it is still valid. It represents you in legal and official documents and it really is a confidence booster when you have an awesome visa or passport photo (that still follows the rules obviously). These arsenals for the gorgeous lasting look can be your best bet, especially if you have no idea what to use. Let me know which ones are your favorite or which one you use for yourself. okay?


Image Directory

Cover Photo shot by Ozzy Lavina


Store Directory

Benefit Cosmetics

1/F Greenbelt 5, Makati; (02) 729-9854; 3/F TriNoma Mall; Rustan’s Makati; Shangri-La Plaza; Mall of Asia; benefitcosmetics.com; facebook.com/benefitcosmetics; facebook.com/benefitcosmeticsphilippines

Colourpop
colourpop.com; facebook.com/ColourPopCosmetics; instagram.com/colourpopcosmetics

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

L'Oreal Paris

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

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

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

Nail Colors That Never Go Out Of Style

These nail polish colors have transcended time, generation, and trends. If you want to go back to basics or have a classy and formal event to go to, keep these nail polish colors in your nail kit for pretty hands and feet whatever color your outfit is, whatever age you are.

French Tips

Zoya Naked Manicure for the perfect French tip

French-tipped nails are a favorite of girls from the time of their junior prom up to the day they get married. It's classic and looks really clean and elegant. I like my French tips with a beige base since it looks more natural with my skin tone and semi-sheer white tips rather than full-on liquid paper white. Try Zoya Naked Manicure, which has a vegan and cruelty-free formula that's safe even for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Aside from giving your nails a flawless look with a natural finish, it also cares for your nails by restoring its natural health and beauty with continued use.


Nude

Revlon Nail Enamel in Grey Suede

Just like a nude pair of heels, nude polish looks great with any outfit and any complexion. It makes your nails look done while it's light enough that it's not too scary-looking. Choose a light taupe or beige if you want something that you can take from work to date night as well as to a Sunday brunch with the family. Try Revlon Nail Enamel in Grey Suede

Pink

Mommas who still want to have their tips in top shape can try Zoya in Tulip from the Petals collection

I'm not really a pink fan but pink, from blush pink to dusty mauve and even an occasional bright pink can be for those events that you just feel like being a girl that day. If you're having a hard time perfecting the French tips using your non-dominant hand, a coat or two of light pink polish gives the same clean, dainty effect. Try Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in Cardshark for a light pastel pink or go bright with Orly Basket Case


Metallic

Revlon Brilliant Strength in Magnetize

Whether it's gold, silver, copper, or bronze, a metallic color is pretty to show off a tan or just when you want your tips to look festive for a Christmas party. I find metallics the easiest to apply too, making this something I recommend to DIY nail newbies who want less difficulty with maximum impact. Be sure to have a really sturdy topcoat with this as metallic formulas tend to chip easier. Metals to choose: Caronia Gold Rush, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Spice Age, or Revlon Brilliant Strength in Magnetize.


Coral

Bright or light? Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Pretty Piggy (left) and Caronia Pique (right) 

Another shade that compliments a summery tan, a nice coral shade looks great during summer or spring, or whatever occasion you want to bring out some happy, inner sunshine at your fingertips. Go from pretty and peachy to a bright corally-red depending on how you feel. Try Caronia Pique or Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Pretty Piggy


Red

Red for for bridal. Hairpiece and faux fur muff by Dennis Celestial. Photo by Owee Salva
On Nails: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in Cherry Red 

Red is a classic color that transcends generations. There's something with the statement red finishing touch (like  red lipstick, red shoes, etc) that's sexy and classy at the same time. Brides sometimes choose red as their nail color of choice instead of pastels and nudes, and I couldn't see why not. In fact, it was my own personal choice. Red, especially those with a blue undertone, also makes the hands and feet look whiter and cleaner.  Classic reds are Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in Queen of Hearts or Max Factor Max Effect Mini Nail Polish in  Red Carpet Glam


Wine

Max Factor Glossfinity Nail Polish in Ruby Fruit

For nights when you want to unleash your inner vamp and feel sexy, choose a pretty wine color that matches the beverage you're sipping. It also has the same effect of bright red nails - it makes the hands and feet look whiter and cleaner as well. Try Max Factor Glossfinity Nail Polish in Ruby Fruit or Chanel Le Vernis in Vamp.

Which among these colors are your go-to shades?

Store Directory:

Caronia
Available at all leading department stores, supermarkets, and drugstores nationwide

Chanel
Available at Rustan's and Essenses; rustans-thebeautysource.com; chanel.com; facebook.com/chanel

Max Factor
Available at all leading department stores nationwide; maxfactor.com; facebook.com/MAXFactor; facebook.com/MaxFactorPH

Orly
Available at at Purebeauty stores, Landmark TriNoma and Makati, select SM and Watsons, select Robinsons and Gaisano stores, and PCX

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

Sally Hansen
Available at at leading department stores nationwide; sallyhansen.com; facebook,com/SallyHansen

Zoya
Available at all leading salons; beautymnl.com/brands/zoya; zoya.com; facebook.com/ZoyaNailPolish; facebook.com/ZoyaPolishPH

10 Tita Lip Colors That Even Millenials Would Love

Avoiding browns or brown-tinged shades?  So did I! I used to avoid the browns at the makeup counter thinking that they would either age me or make me look muddy. I thought the brownies were just too Tita so I go for the brights, pastels, and deep, vampy colors.

With browns and all these rosy shades making a comeback, I gathered some of the browns or brown-tinged colors that are pretty for any occasion and won't make you look like you just stole the lipstick from your mom's vanity and secretly wore it. These brown and brown-hued colors look good even for brides (where we usually choose brights or pastels)  or for everyday or a night out. Wear them with subtle smokey eyes or a complimentary smoky eye (I like the olive green smokeys like Emily Blunt in Devil wears Prada) or simply eyeliner and mascara and you're good to go.

Lipsticks  most probably in Tita's vanity, and flatlayed on a Tita staple: the shawl. 

So here are the Bambikitty-approved Tita colors that transcend generations.

MAC Lipstick in Twig

This satin finish shade was actually the shade of my very-first MAC lipstick way back in the 90s with  MAC's old packaging. The pretty "soft, muted brownish-pink" is an MLBB (my-lips-but-better) color. For bridal, I mix it with a bit of bright pink or pink pastel but on its own, it looks good with very little eye makeup and paired with a neutral pink blush like MAC Mocha.

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in #N13

This is also another brown-pink color that's more on the cushy, moisturizing formula. The color is comparable to twig but it has a shinier finish and a more moisturizing feel.  It's perfect for editorial or natural look. Pair it with just tightlining eyes and mascara or with brown smokey eyes and lashes if you're going for a night out.

HappySkinXLoveMarie Shut Up and Kiss Me Moisturizing Matte Lip Liner in First Date

Happy Skin's recent collaboration with  Heart Evangelista showcases lip-loving products such as mini matte lippies and lipliners featuring her own illustrations. It was hard to pick a favorite here actually, as I wanted them all. First date is a sexy, plummy-mauve color. The lipliner actually can function as a lipstick on its own and I recommend this to ladies with thin lips as it's easier to control.

Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Rose Brown

Another pink-brown with a bright and youthful effect. This also functions as a cheek tint and eye color, making this a very versatile product you can take with your anywhere, Just buy a separate sharpener for this, also available at Bobbi Brown counters.

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in OR 540

When I bought this color in Shu Uemura, I asked for a nice coral or orange lipstick that is great to be worn by the mother of the bride and they gave me this. The formulation is cushy and not drying and gives a kiss of coral, in case you're into the warmer palette for makeup. Use this during the summer when your skintone is much warmer or anytime you want to wear peaches and browns in your makeup.

Maybelline Creamy Matte lipstick in Nude Nuance

Maybelline brings the browns back in their recent collection, the Creamy Matte Brown Nudes, which are selling quite well. The bestseller, Nude Nuance, is a nude color but not dead nude and there's enough color that it can stand on its own with little or no eye makeup. Using this lipstick and a few techniques, you may pull off the pouty, Kylie look.

Revlon Matte Balm in Fierce

Remember the 90's It Girl look? The choker, the babydoll dresses, platform shoes, mini backpacks, eyeliner, and the perfect brown lipstick to accentuate it all. Think Neve Campbell or Jennifer Aniston in Friends. Millenials, this is the 90's brown your Titas loved and probably wore to prom. You will love it too.

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Dahlia

Dahlia is actually quite bright but it's not too in-your-face. The moisturizing formula gives a healthy look to lips and the creaminess is what makes it very Tita-approved. as too dry formulas can age you a bit as they make the lines on the lips more pronounced. This type of brown-red actually has a brightening effect on the teeth.

MAC Viva Glam I

One of my favorite reds, this red is bricky brown  that's super sexy. This one lasts long on the lips. This is a classic as well and can be mixed with other reds or color a really pale nude color, if you wish in order to create  your own MLBB brown shade.

MAC Dubonet

This is another power color I can wear on events. I like it when I do power looks  if I want to look really strong and make a statement, like if I'm conducting a workshop for corporate clients. It's a serious color but not necessarily blah. Dubonet is deeper that Viva Glam I, almost like a browner and less matte MAC Diva.

The brown shades I chose are subdued enough for office wear or everyday but have just that amount of color so you won't look too dead. Ladies who still would want something bright on their lip can love the deeper brick or brown colors, as they give the face some  brightness but it's not too outlandish. It kind of spells like power woman (boss, madam, CEO, that sort of vibe) and isn't powerful sexy? These show that brown does not necessarily mean ageing or muddy shades. You can have a pink-brown, mauve-brown, or a coral brown, the 90's sexy brown, or the deep brown-red. There are also different finishes from creamy to full-on matte, depending on what you would prefer.


Store Directory:

Bobbi Brown
Rustan's Makati (+632) 519-9984, Rustan's Shangri-la Mall (02) 633-4636 loc 114, Rustan's Ayala Center Cebu (+6332) 231-5633, Essenses Power Plant Rockwell (+632) 822-9400, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, bobbibrowncosmetics.com; rustans-thebeautysource,com; facebook.com/BobbiBrownPH

Happy Skin
Available at  Rustan's Beauty Source, Beauty Bar, and Plains and Prints; happyskincosmetics.com; facebook.com/happyskincosmetics

MAC Cosmetics
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) 6215248; 1/F TriNoMa Mall, Quezon City, (0915) 990-9571; makeupforever.com/ph; 2/F, Main Mall SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, (0919) 273-4805; facebook.com/makeupforeverPH

Maybelline
Available at all leading department stores nationwide; maybelline.com; facebook.com/maybellinephilippines

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

Shu Uemura
Upper Ground Level, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa; Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati, (02) 945-7322; All Rustan's Department Stores nationwide; shuuemura.com; facebook.com/shuuemuraphilippines

Nude Lipsticks to Love

I'm a lipstick and brow product junkie. Even without a full face of makeup - brows, lipstick, and a bit of powder on the T-zone is my super quick go-to look when I need to look more human without going over-the-top. I'm always on the lookout for nice brow products and I collect lipsticks of almost every color. I've lost count of how many lipsticks I own, both for personal and gig use.

I'm afraid of wearing nude lipsticks on their own because I always thought I'd look dead. If I do wear nude lipstick, it;s usually with a very heavy or dramatic smokey eye or cat eye. Fortunately, nude lipstick doesn't necessarily mean looking dead. There are also nude lippies which give a nice and clean look to the face, or a my-lips-but-better natural look. No need for heavy smokey eyes for some. They look great just like that or with help of eyeliner and mascara, just for more definition.

Some of my favorite nudes

1. NYX soft matte lip creme in Abu Dhabi 

I discovered this a couple of months ago when my friend Jinky and I were shopping for makeup at SM. This pretty nude shade looked great on me and the brown isn't too muddy.

wearing Abu Dhabi during a cat cafe visit

The liquid dries matte and doesn't budge or feather too much. Also, it's quite blendable with other lipliner colors.

2. Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Matte Lippie in Too Cool

 This is a limited edition lipstick that is actually a collaboration between the brand and Preview magazine for Preview's 20th anniversary. Such a pretty color that's not drying and also it's super pigmented. It may be pale and almost skin tone on swatch, but I actually like wearing it with just me defining my brows and powder on my T-zone.

3. MAC lipstick in Hug Me

This is one of MAC's lustre finishes that I like. Hug Me is an awesome sheer shade that photographs well in beauty shoots. I use this for ladies who are scared of a bit of color on their lips. In shoots, I layer this with a neutral mauve lipstick for a nice, natural my-lips-but-better look.

4. Revlon Lipstick in Pink Cognito

I got this in our August BDJ Elite Box along with an array of other Revlon goodies. Glides like butter and gives a nice rosey shine without looking too psychedelic. Use this on your own or as a gloss. There's a bit of reflective particles and for some who would want more coverage, I suggest using a lipliner for this.

5. MAC Lipstick in Blankety 

This is pale as pale as can be, almost white on swatch. I know others can wear this on their own and it looks fine on them. Since this is a super pale lipstick in a nice creme finish, I go heavy on my eye makeup wearing this, so the look isn't too lost and I don't look like I need a blood transfusion. I also wear this with lipliner since it's not too pigmented like Too Cool. But it's a really pretty shade if you're going for the 60s sex kitten look or Victoria's Secret smokey-eyed model.

6. Fashion 21 lipstick in Ginger

Fantastic color payoff without sacrificing moisture quality. It looks great on my lips with a hint of coral and neutral brown. I used to be scared of browns because I thought it makes me look muddy but it actually worked on me. Also, it's super cheap. I can take this to travels as well, since it's such a nice warm neutral color to wear for everyday. I should steer this from higher temperatures though because it's prone to melting. Or maybe, I can depot this to a lip palette.

Any lipstick that you would like to  share?