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