Controversial Designer Confesses Mistakes

You've probably heard the story. The controversies surrounding the young designer were feasted on in blind items, blogs, social network sites and the like. More than ever, a public scandal causes a famous individual to lose everything he had worked hard for. The previous litany of praises suddenly wilt into phrases of dismay, disappointment and even denouncement of association. In the very exclusive and oftentimes unforgiving circle of the social elite, judgment is quickly casted long before light is shed on the issue.

The clues were practically screaming his name. Puey Quinones is the top choice of celebrities, society figures and the wealthy crowd for wedding gowns. The testimonials of these influential people who were impressed by his talent catapulted him to A-list status. It was very recently that the man famous for his wrap-arounds and avant-garde designs became the subject of ridicule. Starting with one photograph tagged by a lot of people on Facebook, soon enough, everyone was pointing fingers. Suddenly, everyone has something to say.

In the August 2011 Issue of MEGA magazine, the man in question opens up to no less than the President and CEO of Mega Publishing Group, and Editor-in-Chief of MEGA Sari Yap for the first time to talk about the incident. “I agreed to do the interview only because of Sari,” Puey says. It is never easy to go public and admit your wrong deeds, but Puey chose to brave the odds and asked for an apology to those of whom he let down. In the said interview, he also shared that he didn’t like to prolong the agony anymore so he opted to face the music and say sorry than deny the allegations.

What does it take to make a scandal? Simple! But to erase the stigma of the scandal will take a lot more than the usual select all-delete-your-inbox command. Puey may have done some things wrong, but to err is human. Coming out clean by admitting his fault is the start. It is a long way indeed, but he is starting a new journey the right way.

Read more about the exclusive confession of Puey Quinones in the August Issue of MEGA Magazine with the gorgeous doctor/model/actress Maricar Reyes on the cover, out on stands now! Like them on Facebook , follow on twitter or visit  megastyle.ph.

MEGA is a prestige publication of the Mega Publishing Group.

Achieving a Flawless Look for Wedding Photos

MUA in Scrubs' note: The following article is a guest post from Ms. Sarah Logan. Just in time for the season of weddings, and in my long absence from this blog due to work stuffs (sorry peeps), she volunteered to share some tips with us on how to look picture perfect on the big day.

Wedding pictures hold some of the happiest memories of a lifetime, so be sure you consider all the angles when preparing to be photographed on the big day.

In the weeks and months leading up to the wedding…

Plan your procedures ahead- it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of tastings, fittings and appointments and forget to schedule facial treatments until the last minute. Don’t be tempted to get cosmetic lasering or chemical peels within 10 days to a month of the event, depending on the exact type of laser or peel. Even something as simple as a facial should be given a solid week for skin to normalize, especially if any extractions will be performed. Call well ahead of time and discuss this with the technician.

Practice good skin health- stay hydrated and eat healthfully leading up to the event. Don’t try new skincare products, or anything that may irritate your skin. Anticipate your skin’s history, and treat it accordingly depending on changes your skin may experience in the climate or weather that’s expected at the venue.

For the big day…

Start with a good base- be sure that your foundation is the right color and formulation for your skin. You may feel like you should use a heavy cream or stick foundation since you’re being photographed, but heavier formulas will look caked on and are more likely leave a line of demarcation around the neck and hairline that’s tougher to blend away. Just stick with the liquid or powder that works for you, and be sure it’s properly matched to your color. No one wants to look washed out, but it can also age you a bit if your base is too dark for you. Color correcting concealers, like green or yellow for redness, and peach or yellow for undereye circles are a much better choice than simply layering on more makeup. Remember that redness will be easily picked up in photographs so take care to balance that out, and stay away from more pink based foundations.

Avoid the shiny look- glitter will reflect too much on camera, and shouldn’t be worn to a nice event like a wedding anyway. Radiance-enhancing or shimmery foundations make faces look too slick and shiny for photos, so if you must, only keep the sheen on cheekbones and the cupid’s bow for highlighting purposes. Always finish the t-zone with powder, which is especially important to balance any highlighting applied. If you know you’re more oily, pop pressed powder in your bag so that you stay shine free.

The eyes have it- keep in mind that darker eyeshadows and heavy liner make eyes look smaller. A matte or pearl shadow formula will be universally flattering and especially in warm, earthy tones. To keep eyes looking big and bright, highlight the inner corners and brow bone with an off-white, light pink or pale gold shadow or crayon. The older you are, the more important it is to stay fast to the no shimmer rule, as it tends to bring attention to fine lines. Black eyeliner can also look too harsh for older women (same goes for liquid liner) and fair blondes are more suited for eyeliner and mascara in the brown tones. Don’t forget to make sure brows are properly framing the face- everyone looks better and younger with defined brows. Fill the arches with powder or if using a pencil, blend with a brush. Brow color and size are important considerations here, so don’t forget to use a light hand and blend.

Consider your venue and lighting- do take the time to stop and think about if the event/ photos will be taking place indoors or out, and at what time of day. Indoor photos will be taken with flash, so it’s important to use powder to combat shine and to also be sure foundation is matched well. If outdoors, soften makeup a bit as it can easily look too heavy or harsh. Also adjust your makeup look for more formal locations, and later times in the evening. When considering these factors, you will want to use more color and definition over simply adding more makeup.

Keeping these ideas in mind, remember its always most important to look like yourself and feel comfortable on your wedding day. These techniques will help ensure you look flawless both in person and in photographs for years to come.

Article submitted by Sarah Logan on behalf of ASI, which is a beauty school offering aesthetics certification classes and specialized coursework in cosmetic laser training, and microdermabrasion certification .

If you're interested to do a guest post on this site, please send me a message through the contact form above. Thanks!

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Lady Gaga and Beyonce- The Pinoy Parody

I could give you a thousand reasons why I haven't been blogging lately but let's skip that and proceed to the fun part. Here is a video which I'm sure will leave you laughing your guts out.

Lady Gaga has been known for her iconic looks and fashion sense that every budding makeup artist dreams of replicating a Gaga peg- which explains the sprouting of youtube makeup tutorials each time she comes out with a new single.  The avant garde makeup may be relatively easy and fun but the flamboyant costumes and fierce attitude needed to pull off a Lady Gaga act by the model may be the challenging part, especially when doing a video.

Apparently, that is not the case for these youtube kids who breezed through the process of doing Lady Gaga and Beyonce's  "Telephone" parody. Unlike the original video which was done grandiosely- from the costumes, to the makeups, and to the overall production, this local version is nothing sophisticated (watch the hollow blocks and nipa hut). They made use of ubiquitous materials with  flairs of ingenuity and sense of humor. Despite the impoverished setting, the creativity and editing skills are overflowing. If Gaga made use of Coke cans for curlers, these guys used empty mineral water and C2 (green tea beverage) bottles.   I don't wanna spoil the fun, just check it out yourself and see what else they used for costumes and props. These teenagers, are from Bunawan, Davao. They call themselves Lady Gagita and Haronce. Their video is spreading like mad on facebook and increasing views on youtube.

In case you haven't watched the original "Telephone" video, here's a link. And of course, below is the parody by vinzonleojay2009. Sometimes, all we need is a good laugh. Enjoy!



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Laser Skin Resurfacing

Because I’m a frustrated Belo successor (to her career path, not her love life), I will be discussing some procedures done at the doctor’s clinic to rejuvenate the skin, just so you’d have an idea of the modern techniques employed in the name of beauty. Let me begin with this article on Laser skin resurfacing.

Laser resurfacing, is a method of skin rejuvenation using a wand-like laser device. It has the advantage of more precision in penetrating the depth of the skin, hence ensuring more safety.

History

Earlier technologies made use of continuous wave carbon dioxide (CW CO2), which removed sun-damaged skin layer by layer to allow the resurfacing of fresher, smoother skin. The side effects of redness, swelling, skin infections, discolorations, and scarring made it a less appealing option despite its favorable results. Pulsed and scanned CO2 were then developed to address the problems of thermal injuries.

Erbium:YAG laser  later came out  but its efficacy was just comparable to that of CO2 pulsed and scanned technology. Both of them are classified under ablative techniques because they target mainly the upper layer (epidermis) of the skin and a little of the deeper layer (dermis).

Presently, non-ablative and fractional resurfacing methods have been developed to achieve excellent results with much lesser downtime and side effects. In contrast to the ablative method which aims for the top layer more than the deeper layer, the non-ablative variety targets the dermis, while leaving the epidermis intact. Because of this, collagen remodeling  ensues for a tightened and better skin texture. The ablative method produces more dramatic results but the non- ablative’s faster recovery period makes it the more popular choice. Fractional resurfacing combines the dramatic results of the ablative technique and the safety profile of non-ablative treatments.

Uses of Laser Skin Resurfacing

If you are bothered with wrinkles, persistent acne scars, skin pigmentation, and other blemishes, you may consider this effective albeit more expensive option. If you have excess fat in the chin, this can also be done to augment the liposuction procedure around that area, after the excess fats have been removed. It is more than just a modern alternative to chemical peeling and microdermabrasion.

For moms who want to look young, wrinkles that are due to sun damage, especially around the eyes and lips are most responsive to the treatment, although it can also benefit wrinkles from other causes.For people like me who have been badly scarred by Acne, our blemishes may be markedly improved although deeper scars will not be completely resolved. It can also remove brown spots (melasma) and repair uneven skin tone.

Other uses of laser resurfacing are: as a tattoo remover, hair removal device, and as a treatment for certain premalignant and malignant skin lesions.

Special Precautions

Caution is advised for those who are prone to scarring or have immune diseases like scleroderma. If you have very dark skin, this may not be for you. Having an active infection around the site for treatment, lowered immunity, and usage of tretinoin for the past 12 months are likewise contraindications to the procedure.

Does it Hurt?

The heat injury to the skin may produce some degree of pain. Your doctor may put topical or local anesthetics to lessen the discomfort. Cold packs can be also applied after to alleviate the stinging sensation 12 to 72 hours following treatment. Generally, the procedure which lasts for 30 to 90 minutes is well tolerated by most patients.

Expect some mild swelling, redness, and crusting after the treatment. You will be prescribed with medications to control the inflammation. Proper aftercare for your skin will also be instructed. If a bandage is applied, it will be replaced with a fresh one at the doctor’s office during follow up. Healing will take place in 7 to 21 days but the redness or pinkish appearance of the skin may persist for several weeks. Concealer makeup like Covermark can be used after 2 weeks to neutralize the redness. Avoidance of exposure to the sun is essential to prevent damage to the treated areas. Sorry, no Boracay vacation at this time.

Cost

The average cost for laser skin resurfacing is around $2500 per session in the US. The cost will depend on the extent of treatment, type of anesthesia applied, device used and the clinic providing these services. In the Philippines, it is a lot cheaper, as it  costs less than Php 20,000 per session. If you have the money to burn, then go ahead and check out your nearest Belo or Calayan clinics and contact them for appointments.

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