Friday, January 20, 2012

AMW Reviews: Benefit's Bella Bamba Blush

"Para bailar bella bamba...
Para bailar bella bamba...
se necesita una poca de gracia..."

Come on, you have to admit it that I had you singing on top of your head!    Who can stop me from being so corny?  The name, is just so gorgeous!  Bella Bamba....but let's not fall in love with the name or packaging and start getting professional, how does this really fair and who needs this?  

(I hear a lot of "mes") :P

Benefit's Bella Bamba says ---
Amplify cheekbones and create the illusion of sculpted features with this 3D watermelon blush. Laced with shimmering gold undertones, Bella Bamba takes eye-popping pretty to the third dimension...you'll never use traditional blush again!

Ingredients: TALC, MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), POLYETHYLENE, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, DIMETHICONE, ZINC STEARATE, MAGNESIUM MYRISTATE, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140), ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE (CI 77002), IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), BORON NITRIDE, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, LECITHIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360), CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007), TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), TIN OXIDE, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL, TOCOPHEROL, LIMONENE, BHT, RETINYL PALMITATE, CARMINE (CI 75470). N° 05361/N

Size: 8.0 Net wt. 0.28 oz.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Nail Art Tutorial: Year 2012 Nail Art

Nail Art Day today!  I haven't been creating much as I got into the "nail art bumming" stage plus I left my nails "nail polish free" for a couple of days before I went for brights again to jump start the Chinese New Year!

I do plan to create a "Water Dragon" inspired nails but checking out water dragon photos, they would either look weird on my nails as they may look cute as a cartoon but they may end up looking like a donkey on my nails!  *hahaha*  I do not plan to add up Donkey as part of the 12 animals!

I planned to create something bright and Very Oriental instead....

Chinese Lantern 
with a Chinese Character "Fu" which means...
Luck or Blessing
a photo of Chinese New Year Nail Art

Step 1:
Apply 2 coats of any bright colored polish of your choice.  Since everyone's been using red for CNY, I went for bright orange instead!  Thanks to dearest friend (#evurl girl) for this bright orange colored Color Combos polish which was very pigmented and dries up quickly!  

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

AMW Makeover: Gotta Wake Up Early For This!

Good Happy Humpy Wednesday dear readers!  Did you have a wonderful sleep?  
Today is AMW Makeover day!  I am so lucky to have the chance to prettify the gorgeous people as I get to talk to them and know them too!

This, I have to say, is the earliest, non-bridal makeup gig I've done so far!  The call time was at 4:00am so I had to be awake by 2:45am to at least prepare the stuff and put them inside the car, get ready and of course, at least prepare MidFast (midnight snack+breakfast).  *hahaha*  In unforgiving hours like these, coffee are definitely my bestest of all best friend! 

Joey is my old client, I did her makeup around 2 years ago and it was great to see her again!  

Skin Condition: Normal to Dry
Request: Natural Makeup that's kid friendly
She is a gorgeous mom and I need to do makeup on her that lasts!  She wouldn't have time for touch-ups so I prepared her skin by moisturizing the dry areas and primed the rest with an oil-free foundation primer from Laura Mercier.  I applied HD Foundation on her care of Graftobian and applied cheek tint so whatever that will be removed from powder blush, there will be a "backup plan" underneath!

I went for more eye makeup application as compared to the first time I did her makeup as she's more used to having her face done by other people and she's very comfortable having slightly more makeup to show up on photos! 

I finished the look with pink blush and pink lips, she can definitely sport this as she looks young and sweet even with kids! :)

 

Skin Condition: Combination
Request: Nothing much, just to look good
Client B has combination skin (combination normal and oily) and she does suffer from acidic skin condition, meaning, foundation darken on her after application.  I prepped her skin prior to foundation application by applying primer.  I used MAC's Studio Fix liquid foundation in a shade lighter to even out the color of her face and neck!  The rest was pretty easy after foundation application as her features are very easy to work with.  I did a semi-smokey eye makeup look to focus her eyes a bit as I contoured the rest of her face and showed her cheekbones even more!  

A peach colored blush was used at the same time, a deep coral lipstick to complement her skin tone.


Skin Condition: Normal
Request: Very natural, no white cast makeup!
I understood Client C right away when she held my hand and requested for a makeup that doesn't look like a clown!  I told her not to worry as I don't like her to look like a clown either!  For someone who's already a grandma, Client C has wonderful skin as she takes care of it by using moisturizer and probably smiling at all times!  (Told ya!  Smiling is the secret to fountain of youth)

I used GSL Tri-Aktiline Total Face on her but making sure she does not suffer from any allergic reactions to skincare ingredients.  After making sure the moisturizer gets absorbed into the skin, I picked out a moisturizing foundation from I'Nuovi and applied it all over her face with a patting motion to "maintain moisture".  

After the "base" was complete, the rest was easy as I applied a neutral colored eyeshadow and applied a natural pinkish shade for blush applied on the apples of her cheeks going upwards which gives an illusion of a higher cheekbones.  



Skin Condition: Very Oily
Request: to make her look young
I do apologize as it was a super busy morning we forget to take a photo of Client D's Before photo.  Most mature skin individuals suffer from dry skin but not Client D.  Client D has a skin of a teenager and suffers from very oily skin!  I had to prep her skin carefully not to make her skin dry after oil-control primer application.  I pat everything gently and checking on areas that may have dried up.  Giving time for the primer to sit in, I chose an oil-free foundation from her which was MAC Studio Fix.  I carefully waited to see if the foundation turns dark on her then adjusted a bit with powder foundation.

She had her eyebrows tattooed and I'm so glad to have bought the K-Palette Eyebrow Liner to fill in the rest of the gaps and I am positive it'll stay the whole day!

Client D is very comfortable with parties and makeup and she advised me to go dark on  her makeup and I obliged but still making sure to make her look like herself still, and not somebody else.

It doesn't hurt that these wonderful clients put up an extra accessory --- SMILE.
They all look gorgeous even without makeup as their personalities shine through!  Such a heart-warming family!

**hair by: Kim

Thanks for the trust!
Keep smilin'
Stay Happy!



Tuesday, January 17, 2012

I Wonder: "Do you carry more or less makeup today?"

Looking back, it amazes me how I bring less and less makeup since I became a professional make up artist.  Looking at my Year 2008 post, I talked about what's inside my bag and make up bag!

Let me show you the photo I took 4 years ago


A couple of months later, I updated the photo and it changed to this....


Still a lot! 
Today, I usually just carry a powder or powder foundation and a lipstick and lip balm.  Usually I don't even bring a makeup pouch with me anymore!

I don't know why if it's a makeup artist in me that tries not to lug as much makeup anymore since I've been doing that for makeup gigs and I want to put to rest, or could be, I am growing older so putting on a lot of makeup is not a thing for me anymore (not unless for special occasions).

Now that I'm thinking about it, I think I knew the answer!  I have probably learned so much from my own product reviewing that I get to use the right products  and I can get away with less retouching for the day and the fact that most products that are available in the market are targeted on different skin types and I was able to use the one that's perfect for me! 

Less retouching = less lugging of makeup!

I wonder:
"Do you carry more or less makeup Today?"


I'd love to hear from you and  let's solve this mystery!
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!




Monday, January 16, 2012

Estee Lauder Gives: Advanced Night Repair (ANR)

January 11, 2012 in the afternoon, I received 2 sets of Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair via courier.  Quite surprising as I wasn't able to attend the lunch meeting.  I was told that one is for me to review and the other one for blog giveaway.  *yay*!

 

The giveaway is to celebrate ANR's 30 years of unstoppable innovation. Estee Lauder asked me: "Want to Look Younger on Your Next Birthday?"  OF course I do!  And it doesn't hurt that my birthday is coming up next month! :)


That same night, I incorporated ANR on my nightly regimen as I'm a bit confident on using it as I'm already an Estee Lauder Time Zone Night user!  (Tell me if it's just me or when a certain brand works for me, I'm quite confident using different products as long as it came from that same brand!)

To check out my skincare regimen, smile and click HERE.  Everything's still the same minus the Clinique Superdefense SPF25/PA+++ as I'm already done with the sample!



I have my Seattle's Best 2011 Notebook (this will be my official thoughts and reviews notebook as my organizer is meant for organizing!  *laughs*) ready with me as I chronicle my 4 weeks experience!  And to make this test a bit more fun!  I pulled my mom-in-law in this with me as I want to see the result of the same product on different age group!  I won't divulge my mom-in-law's age but we're definitely more than decades apart!

Both of us won't be changing anything on our skin care regimen and will just be incorporating the ANR Serum!

As we're doing the "test", here's the good news!  I'm sure you've probably read about the giveaway from my Co-testers who are also my blogger friends! 

Estee Lauder Philippines is giving ONE full size bottle of the ANR worth Php4,800!!!



Here's how to join:
  • Comment together with your name and email address.
  • Answer this question: "Want to look younger on your next birthday?  Tell me why!"
  • Contest open to Philippine Readers but international readers who have tried this can feel free to comment and tell me what to expect in this product!
  • One entry per person please!  I guess most of you can join the same contest from other bloggers to increase your chance of winning but you get to win ONLY ONCE.  (To give chances to others.)
  • One winner will be chosen via Fruit Machine.  
  • Contest starts today, ends February 13, 2011. 
Good luck to the joiners and wish me and my mom-in-law good luck too with this 4 weeks trial! I'll definitely share to you our experiences.  At the same time, to those who have tried this product, can you let me know what to expect --- pretty please? :D

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!