Nail Art Tutorial: "Promod Top" Inspired Nails

Good morning!  Are you well rested to start the week right?  If you missed last week's nail art tutorial, well, I was able to do a nail art design but since I was home alone and there's no photographer helping me out to take  a photo, I wasn't able to take a good picture of it!  Sorry!  

This week, I wanted to start the week right with nails that screams "Simplicity is Beauty"!  I was inspired by my Promod Top which I wore on my Vaseline Road Trip Adventure.  Photo taken at Bangui Windmills.

And here's my nails inspired by my outfit on top!

How do we create such nails? Easy!  Just follow steps below...

Step 1:

Apply your preferred Base Coat to protect your nails.  I recently repurchased The Face Shop's Base Coat (click HERE for review).  Apply 2 coats of Elianto's White Polish and The Face Shop's Nail Color in BL604.  Alternate both colors.

Step 2:

Create thick French Tip alternating both shades used. 

White French Tip on Blue fingernails

Blue French Tip on White Fingernails

Step 3:

Using any thin brush.  In my case, I am using L.A. Art Deco polish in white to create lines, just like my outfit inspiration.

Create lines on the dark blue French Tips

Create longer lines on the dark blue base of the nails

Step 4:

Choose any glitter polish (either gold or silver), apply L.A. Colors Art Deco Gold for that nice contrast.

Step 5:

Making sure the design is completely dry, protect your nail art design with your preferred top coat.  I am using Elianto's Top Coat. 

Sit back and enjoy your newly designed nails!  Simple yet gives out a loud statement!

Hope my nail art tutorial brings out the smile on your lips :)
Have a wonderful and meaningful week ahead!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Weekend Food Tripping at: Focaccia + Lorys Hair Cream 5 Winners

For my friend's Despedida Soltera party, we gave her a surprise party at Focaccia, at The Fort.  I have always wanted to give this restaurant a try as I've read good reviews about their Pazzo Rollo.  How did my tummy find it after dining in here?  Worth to go back to this place?

Spinach and Artichoke Formaggio

served with focaccia bread

Love this, I actually downed myself with 3 focaccia bread!

Arugula Shrimp Salad

Arugula, onion and shrimps served with lemon vinaigrette

I love salad but I'm not a fan of this, the leaves are quite bitter for my taste

Calamari Fritti

Fried calamari served with aioli sauce

Aioli sauce is also known as Garlic sauce.  This appetizer is love!

Bruschetta con Pomodoro

Toasted ciabatta bread (my favorite) topped with tomato, 

sundried tomato, basic and fresh mozzarella

This is super filling!  But tastes great.  Love the crunchy ciabatta bread

Meatballs Pasta

Blend of pork, beef, regato and herbs in tomato sauce

I am not a fan of spaghetti meatballs but I actually love this!  

Probably the mix of pork and beef made this dish unique to taste.

Scampi Victoria

Lemon olive oil based pasta with sauteed shrimps and basil herb

I took a taste of this and another unique dish! I did not eat a lot because of the shrimps 

but this is a nice olive oil based pasta for a different taste in the mouth!

Prosciutto Tartufo

Truffled cream sauce with prosciutto and mushroom slices

I am a fan of cream based pasta and this is no exception!

Pazzo Rollo

The restaurant's specialty!

Gambini - consists of ham, bacon, salami and cheese sauce

Capellini - shrimp, garlic and pesto sauce

Sette Formaggi - fetta, mozarella, cheddar, romano, gorgonzola, ricotta, cream cheese

Chicken Pancetta

Pancetta slices and cheese wrapped in chicken roasted in olive oil served on farfalle noodles

Love the mini potatoes that goes with this dish!

Red Iced Tea

Wonderful experience dining in this restaurant, experience something unique and different.  Such a nice dining place and the ambiance of the restaurant is really great for friends, families and even for couples on a date!  Great service and parking space is quite far though!

I have to add that the restaurant also serves Angelati Italia Gelato for Php120.00 (approx $4.00) per scoop.

Focaccia

The Fort Strip

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Winner 1

Roxan Go

Winner 2

Jam Malicden

Winner 3

Leilani Sonza

Winner 4

Mel Rodriguez

Winner 5

Sella Escosa Goden

Congratulations to the Lorys Hair Cream winners!  I will email you for details on how we can meet up for the products!

Happy weekend food tripping!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

I Wonder: "Do You Hide Beauty Marks?"

Oh Saturday, how I love thee! =)

If you read my tweets and Facebook stats, you'll know that I was busy with a 3 day shoot for an AVP a week ago, it was really tiring but one of the best makeup gig experience I've ever had!  

In this shoot, I've met a model, she's Australian, French and Filipina.  Anthea's background is really impressive!  She's done a couple of runway shows, TV commercials (ex. Lucky Me Saucy, Del Monte Fit n' Right, etc...) and she can also act and worked for a film and you have probably seen her in previous "Magkaribal" episodes. 

Being her makeup artist on this 3 day shoot, I am in charge of her makeup and I create her looks base on what the director is aiming for.  Before doing someone's makeup, I make sure to study the facial features first and create a "Face Chart" inside my head.  When I saw her pretty face, I can see that she has a beauty mark on the left side of her cheek near the nose. 

Which led me to this "I Wonder" question for the week ---

"If you have beauty marks, do you hide it with make up?"

"If you don't have beauty marks, do you think people who do should hide it?"

You want to know my answer?  Well, I've decided not to!  As her beauty mark is actually pretty on her face and it doesn't disrupt the focus of her overall look! The least I could do is to "lighten" it a bit with makeup but not totally be a trying hard in hiding it!

Here's my before and after shot of her

Makeup used ---

For the Face

• Becca Silky Hydrating Primer - concentrating on the drier areas of her face
• Graftobian Cream Foundation - as foundation and concealer
• Paul & Joe Compact Powder Foundation 020

For the Eyes

• Paul & Joe Eyebrow Pencil no. 2
• Guerlain eye primer
• Lancome 6 Color Focus Powder Eyeshadow - Gold and Matte Brown
• MAC Carbon eyeshadow
• Stila Smudgepots in Black
• Paul & Joe Curly Mascara in Black - curled with Shu Uemura Lash Curler
• Elianto Stay On Eyeliner Pencil in Black - waterline
• Urban Decay Glide On Eyeliner Pencil in Yeyo - on inner waterline to make the eyes pop

For the Cheeks

• MAC Shadester - to contour the nose and the cheeks
• Nars Blush in Orgasm
• Set with MAC Blot Powder 

For the Lips

• Kiehl's no. 1 Lipbalm - blot with a tissue paper
• Revlon Lipstick in Soft Rose - applied using a lip brush
• The Body Shop Love Gloss Clear - on the center of the lips for a nice fullness

And here's her close up shot!  With the beauty mark, she looks gorgeous the way she is....
(Photo uses Flash, so face may look too fair, but in person, it's not) 

Have a lovely Saturday everyone!
Keep that smile and love the way you are!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Tip for the Day: Achieving Perfect Base with The Body Shop

Most of you have read my Report on The Body Shop's Autumn Trend 2010 event, and as I promised, I will be sharing what I learned in this event! 

The event started when the pretty and no-makeup, Ms. Billie Liboro-Palabyab, PR Manager' Trainee of the Body Shop Philippines, introduced us to the lovely Smoke and Fire makeup collection.

I got really excited when we were introduced to The Body Shop's Finalist for the Asia-Pacific Regional Make-up Competition, Ms. Roma Reposo, to teach us how to achieve perfect base, The Body Shop style!

I have tried my best to remember everything but spare the old and forgetful brain that I have!  I'll share to you the simplest method I've learned so you can achieve your own perfect base!  

1. Pre-foundation application - use a primer if necessary especially on areas that oil up easily.  

In this photo: Roma applied  The Body Shop's Skin Primer Matte It on Billie using a foundation brush for more precise and even application.

2. Foundation and concealer application - always test foundation color on your jawline to determine which foundation is best for you.  You can always mix 2 shades to achieve a better shade close to your skin tone.  

In this photo: Roma mixed 2 shades of The Body Shop's Oil-Free Balancing Foundation adding extra foundation on areas that needed the most coverage (undereye circles, sides of the nose, etc...)

In this photo: A concealer brush was used to cover redness and blemishes

In this photo: You can always stand back and check if there are areas that you missed that needed more attention

3. Setting the foundation  - after concealer and foundation application, lightly dust with Loose or Pressed Face Powder to set.

In this photo: Loose Face Powder was used with Smudger Brush for smaller areas

In this photo: A powder puff was used to set the whole face with a patting motion.  Try not to apply too much to keep skin fresh and natural looking.

4. Contouring  - Use a matte contour powder and brush onto forehead, cheeks, chin, nose and decolletage for that natural contoured look!

In this photo: The Body Shop's Bronzing Powder was swept lightly on Billie's nose.

In this photo:  To pop Billie's cheeks and create a nice contour, Roma used a blush brush (but she strongly suggests to use a slanted blush brush) on the hollow of the cheeks.  You can achieve this by sucking in your cheeks.

5. Post-Application Technique - Spritz The Body Shop's Vitamin E Face Mist to set foundation/ powder and keep complexion looking fresh throughout the day!

And here are photos to share for you to see the rest of the lovely people who attended the event!

 

Stay tune for another tip on how to create a simple smokey eyes using Kajal Liners as base from Ms. Dens Congco, the Chief Make Up Artist of The Makeup Den.  I'm sure you'll get a tip or two and you can achieve these looks even with your current makeup!

A shoutout to Ms. Rozanne Salcedo and Ms. Argie Lingat, for making my makeover such a pleasure! 

Have a wonderful Friday!
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Something New: Kerastase Nutri Thermique

Kerastase, one of my favorite hair care brand, is proud to introduce another line under its Nutritive range --- Nutri Thermique.  This is the first line of nourishing treatments from Kerastase with heat-reactive ingredients for intense, long-lasting effects.  This line provides a solution for recurring dryness.

Nutri-Thermique refers to two existing benchmarks of the range: "Nutri" which refers to Nutritive range dedicated to the nutrition of dry hair, and "Thermique", which refers to the use of heat to boost the product's performance. 

There are 2 new range that I will be testing and will be writing about my experience for the coming weeks.  

Bain Nutri-Thermique 

(High Nutrition Shampoo for Very Dry Hair)

Application:

• Wet hair with hot water and apply shampoo.
• Massage into hair and scalp with circular motions.
• Always rinse with hot water for optimum results

SRP: Php1,425.00 (approx $32.00) for 250ml

Bain Nutri-Thermique 

(High-Nutrition Thermo-Reactive Hair Mask for Very Dry Hair)

Application:

• Apply to damp hair.
• Massage into hair and scalp with circular motions and work into a lather
• Always rinse with hot water for optimum results.

SRP: Php2,635.00 (approx $59.00) for 200ml

Expected Results:

• Hair is deeplly nourished for a longer period of time
• Silky-smooth feel
• Easy to untangle

If you are too lazy to do these at-home treatment, this coming October 2010, Kerastase will be offering the salon industry something new, something exciting --- a new range that maximizes the use of heat for hair!

Nutri-Thermique Ritual

Nutrition intensified by heat for very dry hair. Pamper yourself with a few minutes of relaxation and well-being while achieving better results thanks to the power of heat. 

TIME: 15-20 MINUTES 

Water temperature at 35º C for optimum results
Every Kerastase Salon is designed to provide customers with a truly enjoyable and unique hair treatment experience that will bring out their hair's natural beauty.

Advise from a Professional:

Diagnosing the condition of the scalp and hair is the first essential step taken in order to offer our clients the best personalized solution for their problems. The new Kérastase Mobile Scanner that we use in our salons allows us to perform accurate diagnoses and propose personalized solutions for any type of problem. The Kérastase Mobile Scanner is especially useful for analyzing dry hair since it allows us to accurately determine the degree of dryness so that we can recommend the most suitable treatment. The Kérastase Nutritive line has long provided us with hair treatment solutions for this type of hair. However, the new Nutri-Thermique line now allows us to go even farther by treating very dry hair in a more profound, long-lasting manner so that it recuperates its natural beauty in just a few minutes. --- Fernando Peluqueria, Kerastase Ambassador, Malaga Spain

I'm not sure if I'll be able to try the in-salon treatment, but for now, let me try the Home Treatment and I'll definitely report back for reviews!  Will tell you if it's worth the investment or not!  

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!