NARS Bridal Palette

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Before my wedding, I was on the hunt for the perfect makeup items that would complete my arsenals on the big day. Never mind that I already got tons in my collection that I have previously used on other brides. I was particularly on the look out for the perfect blush. The cult favorite NARS Orgasm was something I had to have. Browsing through the NARS website, I chanced upon the Bridal Palette that seemed to scream out my name.

It was dubbed as the greatest hits palette because it contained the bestsellers of the NARS makeup line. Besides the Orgasm blush that I badly wanted, the eye shadows and lip glosses were too fabulous to refuse. Despite that NARS only accepted credit cards billed in the US, I took my chances and it was a good thing that they accepted my order and delivered it to my aunt in Seattle.

It got to me 2 days before the wedding. In the end , the makeups I used on the day itself were mostly the staple items in my collection  because I had limited time roadtesting this new baby. In the 2 days of getting oriented with the NARS Bridal palette, I decided that the Orgasm blush, Albatros highlighter and Night Fever eyeshadow were a must to pull off my contemplated bridal look.

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Orgasm Blush- I used it on top of NYX Pinky blush. The subtle shimmer and peach shade gave the blushing bride look a new perspective.

Albatros Highligter: W-O-W! This is my idea of the highlighter. I swept it on my cheekbones, temples, bridge of the nose,  under eye areas and chin. It added an instant glow to my face without looking like an oil spill.

Night Fever Eyeshadow- this shimmery black-lavender shade was used to blur the black contouring I applied  on my eyes. I also used this to the outer 2/3 of my lower lash line. I've always wanted a hint of lavender on my eye makeup and this was a good choice. This can instantly transform your daytime makeup into a diva drama during the night .

The other eyeshadows are:

Edie, Nepal and Ondine- lovely, classic shades that are perfect for a bridal and daily makeup. Since I am more into the "pop" factor, I sticked with my staple MAC Woodwinked. But for work and subtle everyday look, this suits me well. The quality is good: pigmented, not chalky, does not fall off and stays long enough with the aid of a primer.

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The lip palette:

MItzi, Babydoll, Sexual Healing and Roman Holiday- These are great choices for the smoochers but since I already set my mind on NYX Paris and Revlon Coral Color Stay lipsticks as my bridal lip colors, they were practically untouched except for the  Baby Doll lacquer which is obviously my favorite among the four, as evidenced by the craters it accumulated.

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Sorry for its dilapidated appearance on my pics. I should have taken shots of it when it was still unused. I am including the pic from the NARS website to give you an idea on how it should look like. The Night Fever shade is better captured in their shot.

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In summary, I consider it to be among my best buys. For $65, I get to own  smaller sizes of the 10 more popular selections from NARS in one handy palette with a mirror. The packaging and quality reflect the classy appeal of NARS Cosmetics. I highly recommend it not only for brides but also for anyone who want classic, polished look for everyday use. It would also make a good travel kit because almost everything you need in a makeup set is here.

TameraOnline: A New Makeup Shopping Haven

A few months ago, I wrote on my facebook status update: "I wish Sephora would start shipping to the Philippines." Don't you just hate it when you know there are a lot of good stuffs out there but you can't have them because of geographical restrictions? When I tried shopping online at Sephora and MAC to have my orders delivered to a friend in Cleveland, my excitement went phloof when I learned that they only accept credit cards that are billed in the  U.S.  I guess a lot of online shopping companies still have trust issues on international customers.

My next best bet would be eBay but good luck on the mark ups or the bidding. The cult favorite makeup you've been eyeing on will either have skyrocketed its cost or have gazillions of bidders edging each other out til it reaches a price higher than its SRP.

Living in a city down south in the Philippines, I have been deprived of access to the best cosmetic brands that are only available in Manila. No fancy brands like MAC, Shu Uemura, Smashbox or Make Up For Ever here. At best, we have a Shishiedo counter at Limketkai mall. When a new collection comes out, I can only ogle at it from afar or use my deadly weapon in the form of a credit card to order online wherever available. That's how I mastered the art of online shopping.

My wish of Sephora extending its services to Philippine customers hasn't been realized yet, but TameraOnline is something which brings me closer to that hope. It is a newly establshed online cosmetic company owned by Tamera Szijarto, a former Miss Philippines Earth finalist. I checked out the site and I must say it's very promising. To date, the products are still limited (sorry, no MAC or Shu or MUFE) but they offer products that are hardly available locally. Benefit and Physician's Formula goodies are ready to ship anytime. Apart from these two, they also carry Neutrogena and Smashbox (at least the primer is in the catalog). Not to be missed are the Benefit brushes and tools.

For starters, check out Benefit Posie Tint which was recommended by celebrities Alex de Rossi and Ciara Sotto when I tweeted them asking what's their staple blush. The one available in the site comes in mini size but that should do for now. I think they are still filling in stuffs because some categories are left blank.

The good news is, they ship for free in the Philippines! Yayness.  International customers are also welcome to buy. Prices are quoted in dollars and pesos. As a bonus, they throw in samples for every order above $35. Payment is through the trusty Paypal. No need to go to the mall to load your gcash wallet (Gcash being the popular mode of payment for most online sellers in the country). Since it is within the Philippines, local buyers don't have to wait for weeks to receive their orders. However, the prices are something they should work on. The Smashbox travel size primer that normally sells for $16 is sold twice its price for $32 on TameraOnline.

The store is fresh and I  hope to see more variety in the cosmetics array soon. To ensure their success, they should offer competitive pricing of goods. Otherwise, customers could always turn to eBay or Strawberrynet which ships internationally for free.   If any of you have tried shopping through the new online store, please don't hesitate to share your experiences. I'm not in any way affiliated with them so I would love some information too.

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Analyzing Color Schemes

This is an analysis of the makeup I did during a photo shoot a few months ago. I had the easiest time prettifying my already beautiful model Paola. To make a pleasantly shocking turn from her preppy style, I did a colorful variant of the Arabic makeup.  I don't know how to call it exactly but the photographers gave me the liberty to work my thing and this is how it turned out:

Going back to our lesson in color theory, the eye makeup popped out with the right choice of color combinations. The main color in this design is hot pink ( a tint of red) which is accentuated by adding its complementary color, green, in the outer corner of the eyes. Yellow, which is analogous to green, further adds to the drama.  The white was meant to add a gradient effect to the hot pink by blending it upwards. White is not a part of the color wheel as it is produced by the absence of colors.

To balance the outrageous eyes, I chose a pale pink lipstick using Nyx Strawberry combined with Nyx Paris.

Here are the eyeshadows for the curtain call:

• Ben Nye Azalea (hot pink)


• Elianto Green


• Shu Uemura ME Yellow


• Mac Gesso (white)

This is an addition to the previous article on examples of color schemes.

Hope you enjoyed this look.

non 12 step

Barbie Loves Twilight

Mattel, the maker of our favorite childhood companion- Barbie Doll- will be coming out with Edward and Bella Dolls this November. The launch of these collector items will precede the much awaited showing of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon ,"  which is slated for release in theaters on November 20, 2009. These dolls are currently available on pre-order basis at the Entertainment Earth site for $29.99 each.

As you can see below, these are practically Barbie and Ken donning Twilight clothes except that Ken here is painted kabuki white (too much glutathione?). Hmm.. is it  just me or does this Edward Cullen action figure remind you of Adam Lambert in his famous "Track of My Tears" performance? Maybe it's the sleek hair or the Adam fan in me speaking. But I wouldn't mind Edward crooning to that tune for Bella.

See, Twilight is so hot that Barbie didn't mind the vampire transformation. Well, if being a vampire means having an Edward Cullen by your side, I can't blame her. And that saves her from purchasing a life insurance policy. Err..

Charlie Chan Chicken Pasta

This gastronomic delight is sure to make your tummy growl. I've learned about Charlie Chan Pasta from friends but I never got to try it until recently.  The other day, my hubby brought me a take out from Yellow Cab,  so I got to try it for the second time. Before I could indulge myself into the mouth watering box of Charlie Chan Pasta, I took pictures of it. The bad news is, looking at it now makes me hungry again.

Yellow Cab is advocating an earth-friendly campaign by using recyclable materials for its products. This one comes in a box and is wrapped in a paper bag. A serving costs P215 but is enough to feed 2-3 persons, depending on how voracious your appetites are. This may look like your run off the mill "pansit" but the taste is uniquely rendered by the oyster sauce.  Alternatively, barbecue sauce could be used.  For those with arthritis, go easy on this one as peanuts are part of the ingredients.

It may be a good idea to try this recipe using kettlebell at home some time. I researched it on the web and I found this on recipezaar.com:

Ingredients

* 1 whole boneless chicken breast
* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 3 tablespoons sesame oil
* 1 piece onion
* 2 garlic cloves
* 1 1/4 tablespoons char siu sauce (lee kum kee)
* 1/4 teaspoon chili-garlic sauce
* 9 tablespoons oyster sauce
* 1/8 cup sugar
* 4 tablespoons water
* 1 kg cooked pasta
* peanuts (optional)

Directions

1. Sauté onion and garlic in a little olive oil.
2. Cook chicken until brown.
3. Mix sesame oil, char siu sauce, oyster sauce, chili garlic, and sugar in a bowl.
4. Add liquid mixture to chicken and simmer for a few minutes.

Yum.. Happy eating!

More NYX Lip Swatches

Last June, I ordered these NYX Round Lipsticks from Nonpareil Boutique. For some reason, they stopped shipping to the Philippines. It was a good thing my aunt from the US was on her way to the Philippines so I grabbed the chance to order the shades that used to be out of stock. I added lipliners as well. Here are photos of my latest haul from NYX:

Swatches with flash

Without Flash

A. Round Lipsticks

1. Femme- a vivid red with a tinge of orange

2. Indian Pink- It's more orange than pink in my opinion.. it's some sort of a frosted coral. Reminds me of Goddess, only less shimmery.

3. B52- a matte dark mauve that gives a nude look for dark-skinned women. Think of Thalia, only darker.

4. Louisiana- If you're a fan of fuschia, add this to your collection. Hot pink is it!

5. Narcissus- The Barbie Doll pink that I've been looking for, in the middle of Paris and Strawberry milk.

B. Lipliners:

1. Dolly Pink- Notice its similarity to Narcissus, only in pencil form

2. Tangerine- If coral is your thing then go for this one. It has a hint of shimmer to it.

Using Real Spongebobs For Makeup

One of the things I learned from Fanny Serrano during his lectures at the Cosmetologie event last February was the use of a natural sea sponge or seaweed sponge. Instead the the ubiquitous latex sponges, he prefers this natural alternative when applying makeup to his clients. Even my makeup teacher Sir Lourd Ramos demonstrated the techniques of TV makeup using this kind of sponge.

Fanny narrated that when he was having his vacation in Cebu (if I remember it right), he noted people by the shore collecting something which appeared to be of no importance. He asked them what they were for and he learned that these were being exported as a cosmetic accessory. He examined its appearance and realized that they were similar to the expensive natural sponges that he used to buy abroad and thing is, they actually originate from the Philippines.

I bought 3 sponges during the fair at P60 ($1.20) each. Fanny found a way to order from local sources so they come at a much cheaper price.

Here is my evaluation on the use of the Sea Sponge in Makeup Application:

PROS

• It is a natural product , eliminating dermatologic problems caused by latex materials. In addition, the production of synthetic sponges made of rubber or latex  uses a chemical called mercaptobenzothiozole which triggers dermatitis.


• When moistened, it feels soft on the skin


• Its texture improves skin renewal and blood circulation.


• It allows foundation to be spread evenly. When you are using cake or stick foundation, it lessens the tendency to create a mask-like effect.


• The foundation remains on your face instead of being soaked up in the sponge.


• It can be used to remove makeup.


• It is easy to wash. Have you ever tried washing those synthetic sponges with stubborn makeup stains? They are too difficult to clean that you'd rather throw them away.


• It is more environment friendly. The latex sponges that you keep throwing away are non-biodegradable. With sea sponge, it will take a long time before you will tire of it and they will not harm mother nature when disposed.

CONS

• It needs water. You have to keep a clean bottle of water handy during shoots. Otherwise, a dry sea sponge makes a good exfoliant.


• It requires the right amount of water. Too much of it will transform your makeup session into a bathing experience. The sea sponge absorbs a lot of water inside that you have to squeeze it out before application. It also tends to dry up on the surface fast because the water seeps its way to the core; hence it requires to be dipped often,  only to be squeezed again.


• You can't puff powders using it.


• It is difficult to find in local stores. When Fanny said that these sponges were available at his booth, we rushed before it could run out of stock. I hardly saw these sponges sold at cosmetics counter. Fanny mentioned that these can be bought at his salon after the fair.


• While its biodegradable nature is environment-friendly, too much harvesting of these sea sponges can be a threat to the ecosystem. However, this claim is countered with the fact that sea sponges have the ability to regenerate itself. The people harvesting them should be careful not to detach the base of the sponge to preserve its ability to regrow.

There are other types of sponges such as the polyurethranes which are less likely to cause skin irritations. New non-latex sponges are also coming out in the market. They are washable, biodegradable and affordable. Price starts at $2.50 each, I just don't know where to find them locally. Any tips?

I am glad that I secured my own sea sponges. I love the difference it makes in cosmetic application. I just wished I bought more so I wouldn't have to worry where to purchase them again without going to Manila.

Wanna Sing With Lea Salonga?

After pinching the hearts of the Filipinos with her poignant rendition of "Bayan Ko" at President Cory Aquino's burial, international star Lea Salonga is giving fans the chance to take part in her concert on December this year. Dubbed as "Lea Salonga.. Your Songs," is a special concert dedicated to her avid supporters. She is taking in requests for songs that you wanna hear her sing, your treasured photos with her, and videos of you singing your way to the concert stage. If you're a Lea fan, I'm sure you're getting giddy with the idea right now.

The last time I watched a Lea Salonga concert was in 2002, during the Broadway Songs special. I was having my internship in Manila at that time. Together with my friend Malou, a rabid Lea fan, who flew in from CDO just to catch her concert, we chose 2nd row tickets which positioned us just inches away from Bea Lucero, Louie Ocampo, and other famous personalities. We even managed to snag a photo after the concert with her mom, Mrs. Ligaya Salonga who was in the audience. Sadly, the pic with her mom was the closest we could get to Lea as we didn't get the chance to greet and meet her up close.

On December 11 and 12 2009, mark your calendars as she shares the stage with Ai-ai Delas Alas, Richard Poon, and maybe you! Send in a 1 minute video of yourself singing to any of Lea's hits and you get the chance to win 2 concert tickets plus a rare opportunity to be invited on stage. Gerard Salonga, her brother, will take care of the musical direction, while Bobby Garcia will be the concert director.

If you're too shy to sing, send in your song requests before September 30, 2009. They will be giving away tickets to lucky fans who will be requesting songs which will end up in the top 3. Please visit "Lea Salonga..Your Songs" to fill up the request forms and for further information. Good luck and give my regards to Lea when you meet her. Tell her I'm a big fan.

New Artistic Expressions From NARS

Two new makeup artist must-haves have come out from NARS Cosmetics: the Essential Eye Palette and the Best of Lips Palette.

A few months ago, I ordered the Bridal Palette which is also considered to be the "greatest hits" collection. It contained the bestsellers of NARS including the cult favorite, Orgasm blush. I must say it was one of my best buys. I will do a review on that later.

For now, lets marvel at these new babies from NARS:

6 Eyeshadows in a palette for only $55:



The collection includes (from left to right, top row first), with corresponding description:

• Unconditional Love- a soft shimmering copper


• Night Star- sheer peach with gold pearls


• Galapagos-bitter chocolate infused with gold


• Nepal- rose with shimmer


• Ondine- plum with gold shimmer


• Thunderball midnight- gray

The neutral colors will be perfect for your daily makeup at work while the smoky shadows afford you the instant transition into a night diva.

6 lip treats for only $55:

The luscious colors include (downwards, left column first):

• Dolce Vita- dusty rose


• Chelsea Girls- nude beige


• Copacabana- glistening pearl


• Red Lizard- full powered red


• Eros- raspberry with shimmer


• Orgasm- peachy pink with shimmers

These are six popular NARS lip colors conveniently packed together.

Both the eye and lip palettes are elegantly placed in a compact with wide mirrors. A single NARS eyeshadow typically costs $22 while a single lipstick sells for $24. For $55 a palette, you get smaller versions of each eye or lip color in one package. Nice deal, huh?

Images and descriptions from Narscosmetics.com

So Long, President Cory Aquino

One of the greatest women in the world's history, our former President Cory Aquino, will be laid to rest tomorrow.In my own little way, I'd like to honor through this blog, a beautiful woman who has lead an exemplary life.

The EDSA revolution, also hailed as the People Power revolution happened in 1986 when I barely understood its historical significance. All I knew was that the Filipino people found a new hero in President Cory Aquino. She was highly esteemed for restoring the country's democracy from the dictatorship of the Marcos regime, taking after the cause left by her husband Ninoy who was killed in 1983. At my young age, I caught the "Cory fever" together with the entire nation. I was a Cory kid who wore yellow shirts and danced to "Tie a yellow ribbon." Yellow, being her symbolic color during the campaign for presidency. Much has been spoken about her greatness. I remember President Cory earning the adulation of people from all over the world because of her leadership steering the the Philippines to a peaceful revolution. Her modesty, strong faith, purity of intentions, and integrity, were most admirable. In January 1987, she was named as the TIME Magazine's Woman Of The Year.  She brought so much honor to our race that she became my icon.

In these difficult times of our country being plagued with controversies, corruption, dishonesty, and lack of discipline by my fellowmen, it becomes hard to honestly utter the words "I am proud to be a Filipino."  However, remembering the times of President Cory leading the EDSA revolution renews my sense of pride. She is the most inspiring Filipina that my generation has been fortunate to know. A soft-spoken woman yet powerfully- moving leader who can influence her people to take conscientious action.

When she was diagnosed with colon cancer a year ago, I asked myself, "why her?"  It would have been easier to accept if cancer only afflicted shady characters. Unfortunately, being a cancer patient myself, I can't offer an explanation as to how one is chosen to suffer from it, aside from the medically plausible phenomena of heredity and environment. Knowing her age, I knew it would be a harder battle for her. I prayed that she will be blessed with the strength to fight on. I trusted that with the medical advances today, something can be done to save her. For some reason, cancer was bitchier than ever. President Cory continued to be ravaged by it despite her adherence to the treatment protocols. On August 1, 2009, her battle was over. I've been crying my heart out thinking of all the pain she must have gone through. She has suffered enough by losing her husband to political prison and ultimately, to assassination. Several years later, cancer had come to challenge and claim her. I would normally question God for these turn of events but President Cory was different. She accepted her sufferings wholeheartedly as a sacrificial offering to God and her country.

Along with the nation, I grieve for her loss. I can only take solace in the fact that she has moved to a much better place now after living an accomplished, meaningful life. Her spirit will soar, free from all the pain. The image of her being happily reunited with her husband beyond death should comfort the grief being felt by the people she left behind. May Ninoy and Cory continue their love story in heaven which has been traumatically cut by harsh circumstances here on earth.

Tomorrow, as you are laid to rest, I join the rest of the Filipinos in expressing their gratitude to you, the mother of democracy. We will celebrate your life and pass on your legacy. You have my highest respect, Madame President. Your beautiful heart and soul were God's gift to us. Thank you for being such a blessing to the Philippines. May the other heroes and all the saints usher you to your place in heaven and the angels serenade you to your path to eternal life.

Vanity Clinic Renovated

Finally, I am done tweaking this new template. My web hosting is due for renewal by the end of the month. I had no trouble with the previous host but then the renewal rate was too pricey for me. I decided to transfer it instead to another hosting service called JustHost. So far, I like its features and how they handle their clients. I had worries about not making the site work after its transfer but their customer service is excellent. They were kind enough to assist me with the process and was always quick to reply to my questions.

At some point I decided to discontinue this blog. I have not been updating this regularly because of work. However, browsing at my previous entries made me realize that the contents would still be useful for those wanting to learn more about makeup. This is my way of giving back.

To make the most of the hosting expenses, I will try to revive this website by writing more often. This time, I will not limit it to beauty talk. Makeup artistry will still be the highlight, but there are other valuable things I can cover. Hopefully I can write more self-esteem boosting articles like "Unconventional Ways of Being Beautiful."

Since my hands were itching to give this site a new look, I got a new template and I spent the last 2 days tweaking it. Sheesh, venturing into unfamiliar grounds involving html codes, php, css and the like certainly gave me a nosebleed! But then I had fun. It's always nice to learn something new each day. The next thing you know, I'm trading my makeup brushes for some highly technical computer software.

Before I shift into geeky mode, let me thank my readers if there are any at all. I hope you enjoy the new magazine-type look of this site and let me know you exist by dropping your comments or suggestions at the comments section or in the contact form above. While you're at it, you can do some shopping at the vanity store. These are a few of the additions to my newly renovated virtual clinic.

If you noticed, I changed the blog title. The previous one called "The Makeup Artist is In.. Scrubs" will have to take a rest for now. Some got confused as to what scrubs are. Just to clear it up, it's not the cleaning device used to polish up one's floor but are type of clothes that doctors (and even massage therapists) wear on duty. I'm putting it to the laundry so I can put on my white coat once again. The Doctor is (va)IN and ready for the next consultation.