Beauty: 24/7 Must-Know Make Up Tips

Lucky me I'm beginning to find my HG makeup kits essentials which now include eye shadows! I've practiced on innocent victims like my sister and her co-workers, to my tita and my mom. I guess with makeup, it's a never-ending study and practice.



So, here are extensive and brand new makeup tips from Avon Color's Creative Consultant, makeup artist Lala Flores to help keep you looking fabulous from day-to-night. (read more below)

1. A working day

The situation: You wake up at 6 a.m., prepare for work, and do your usual 8-hour grind. You are in and out of meetings – with clients, suppliers, and your own office team. Your only time to put on makeup (or retouch it) is when you are in transit to your next meeting or in between 5-minute bathroom breaks. How can a woman-on-the-go like you pitch in time for full makeup coverage?

Lala says: We always want to put on a professional look no matter the kind of work we do. A light foundation, powder, blush, lipstick, one wash of eye color and mascara will help us look good the whole day no matter how hectic your schedule is. Stay away from very bold colors. Your usual everyday statement is you should look pretty and polished enough and ready to work. To stay fresh on your usual day, touch up with a powder and lipstick when needed.

Try this from Avon: Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Knockout Pink, Ideal Shade Dual Powder Foundation SPF 15 (choose your best shade suitable for your skin tone: Natural Beige, Pure Beige, Shell, Nude).

2. A relaxed weekend with friends
The situation: It’s a Saturday – the day you’ve been looking forward to. After a week of hard work, you decide to reward yourself by reconnecting with your friends, exchange stories over a cup of coffee and watching a movie you’ve been raring to see. The challenge is you want to look your best without overdoing your makeup.

Lala says: It is best to put on light powder to even out skin tone, a nice swirl of healthy looking blush on, mascara to open up eyes and lip gloss to add glow on your face. It may seem simple but it is a sure way to look made up without an explicit full coverage.

Try this from Avon: Your favorite Glazewear Lip Gloss shade, Ideal Shade Pressed Powder (choose your best shade suitable for your skin tone)

3. A romantic Friday night date
The situation: The guy you’ve been eyeing for months finally asked you out! You’ve been seeing him around the office for quite some time but tonight, you want to look different. You want to look sultry without being too sexy.

Lala says: You have to choose which one to accentuate -- your eyes or your lips. If you want to look pretty all night for your date, choose to accentuate your eyes. A good combination would be neutral shades of brown, eyeliner, and mascara to define the eyes without looking heavy. This would instantly make your eyes sparkle. Swirl on a neutral rose color blush on cheeks and a nude pink gloss. Night lighting is so tricky.

Try this from Avon: True Color Eyeshadow Quad - Sandy Corals, Glimmersticks Eye Liner Dark Brown, SuperCurl Mascara - Black

But if you’re pressed for time, Lala recommends to just skip putting on eyeshadow. Instead, put on 2-3 coats of mascara to keep your eyes open, swirl on a blush, and then choose a really nice lipstick shade in pinks or reds that compliment your skin tone. This is a typical dinner date makeup that works. Just make sure to check your lipstick if it is still intact after dinner. Touch up lipstick if needed.

Try this from Avon: SuperShock Mascara in Black, Smooth Minerals Lipstick in Pink Quartz, Smooth Mineral Blush in Golden Glow

Tried and Tested: Revlon PhotoReady Compact Makeup Foundation

Photoshop in a compact. Price Php 995

Read this: 3D makeup! I swear, new products and innovations are just too cool to ignore and when I chanced upon this "3D" makeup I have been seeing print ads of, I just had to try it just like Halle Berry.


Your makeup is 3D. The Revlon PhotoReady compact has a magic screen that turns cream into liquid foundation.

The reason why many call it 3D makeup is because it catches light in all angles making your face "PhotoReady" at all times. I think PhotoReady is synonymous to Photoshop, as in this product will no longer require pictures to undergo photoshop or photo manipulation to improve people's faces. I am sure many makeup artists use this already especially for weddings and photo shoots.

I tried it for myself and here is my review in bullets:

- the cream turns into liquid

- it is better to use your beauty finger than the sponge

- the product completely disappears or blends with my skin tone, I chose Rich Ginger but I think this is not yet the right shade for me. I will buy another one.

- it completely covers acne scars, blemishes, and uneven skin tone. I skipped applying my Body Shop highlighter/concealer.

- the product evolves from cream -> liquid -> powder = magic! and I do not feel the product on my face at all. Sometimes, I feel the warmth and heaviness of make up but not with this one. Feels like wearing skin, no kidding.

- Although it covers the skin very well and feels and looks natural, I am not used to an un-mattified face so I dusted a bit of mineral powder above the PhotoReady cream/liquid/compact. It looked great!

- Make sure you spread and blend the product evenly :) A little goes a long way when you use your beauty finger :)

I am tempted to use this product everytime I go out. It is just so easy to wear, so far it is friends with my skin but I'll have to see how regular use might affect my sensitive skin. I think it is worth the Php 990 price, considering the time you save from skipping concealer and just using this one product that provides the perfect coverage while looking au naturale.

Revlon PhotoReady Compact is available this November at Watsons, Beauty by SM, Robinsons, Landmark, PCX, Gaisano Metro, Sta. Lucia East, Unimart and other major retailers nationwide.

Beauty: Simple Eye Makeup with Revlon Grow Luscious

Here's a simple eye makeup routine that uses the simplest, no-brainer, eye makeup products from Revlon, Maybelline, and The Body Shop.


Without eye makeup

First, start with clean eyebrows by using an eyebrow blade/shaver. Around Php 60 for 3 sets of blades in beauty stores.

Next, I discovered how using a higlighter/concealer from The Body Shop beneath the eyebrows makes your eyes look even cleaner.

Line your brows lightly with Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil. Fuller eyebrows make you look years younger.



Now time to bring out The Body Shop Kajal Gel Eyeliner. I've learned to use it just on the top lids, then smudge the outer edge of your lids with your lady finger. Makes it look a bit smoky without too much fuss.



I lost my MAC eyelash curler but I grabbed a new Revlon Mascara which makes the eyelashes look longer. I like the big bristle brush which have been replaced nowadays with fancy shapes. The bigger the brush or wand, the easier for me to finish everything fast.


with Revlon Growluscious Mascara

Even without curling, the lashes look darker and fuller. Matches the kajal eyeliner gel well. Tada! Now you have eyes that are not too fancy and not too plain. Just simple like grey.

Beauty: The Body Shop Autumn-Winter Collection

Time to toss your sunglasses away, it's the start of rainy days and according to the beauty experts, smoky eyes are the best accessory right now. Again, I have no idea how to put on makeup properly - I confess, what more on making smoky eyes? But if you are like me, there's hope with The Body Shop's Autumn-Winter Collection.



Any make-up dummy could just ask the staff to grab all the items in the collection, put them in the signature TBS brown bag, and you're now equipped with the latest beauty trend this season. I did just that and here are my hauls:


My makeup brownie bag

The Body Shop gives free makeovers and lessons. Apparently, you use the eyeliner gel stick first, then brush on some eyeshadow, finish off with a mascara.



The Autumn Leaves compact can be used on your cheeks and decolletage. The tones are really fire-y, so don't forget to just put a little of this unless you want to look really red.


Kajal Eyeliner – SRP: 695.00, Eye Colour – SRP: 595.00, Autumn Leaves Compact – SRP: 1,395.00

Now I always have these Body Shop items in my messenger bag and practice, practice, practice. Personally, I could just do with the Kajal eyeliner during my lazy days because it is just so easy to use and smudge.



Another product I just discovered is The Body Shop's Lightening Touch which is amazingly both a highlighter and concealer. I used it now on a daily basis to achieve a cleaner, brighter look.

Will post photos soon. My stash is missing a mascara so I should get one to have the "full" effect.

OC about Eyebrows

Yesterday I got the Elianto Eyebrow Oval Pencil and here are the photos comparing my eyes with and without it:


With the eyebrow pencil

I spend hours just inside our little nursery at home watching the baby, so I made use of some of my free time plucking my eyebrows. I realized, it really looks better plucked than shaved. Do not over pluck though and be patient or else.


Without the eyebrow pencil

And the lesson is, it pays to give time trimming and lining your eyebrows because they make such a huge difference without too much fuss :)

Must Try: Avon Smooth Minerals

If you are not into mineral makeup yet then you are missing a lot! I have big big love for mineral makeup because they blend smoothly on my skin and do not aggravate acne. Someone told me that Avon now has mineral makeup which was just released late last year. These would be available starting on June 16 through your Avon lady.

Here's their press release:




The coverage of liquid foundation…now in a pressed powder.

The Avon Smooth Minerals Pressed Powder glides on smooth for buildable coverage and easy touch-ups. Avon’s fine-milled formula with our 100% naturally derived mineral complex is enriched with vitamins and essential nutrients. After just one week, complexion looks healthier, more radiant and feels better, even without your makeup on.

What do you think? I want to try it out because I am currently using another brand. It's interesting how Avon's mineral makeup comes in the form of pressed powder unlike the usual mineral make up that come in jars.

It is also more affordable at Php 395. Will follow up on this if I get my hands on them :)

P.S. I am so excited to do reviews again!

Beauty Event: Paul & Joe's 3rd Birthday Bash

Ready your make up brushes and head to Paul & Joe's 3rd Birthday Bash at Rustan's. Meet Nina Ricci Alagao, the beauty queen turned makeup artist and bring home fab freebies!

See you all there, the fun starts at 4:00 PM.

Merry Neutrogena Christmas!

Looking for the perfect kikay gift to give your girlfriends this Christmas? Look no more as Neutrogena, the brand recommended by dermatologists, offers great deals on its hottest and must-have products this yuletide season!

Fine, Fair and Smooth Skin For Less



‘Tis the season to achieve fine, fair skin for less! Buy one Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact and get 50% off on the second compact. Share this beauty secret with your girlfriends. With the pack conveniently designed for the holiday season, all you need to do is attach a card and you’re ready to spread the love for fine, fair skin this Christmas.

Available in shades of natural and light beige, the Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact is clinically-formulated to blend evenly with the skin tone and provide beautiful, natural-looking coverage. Its Vitamin C and Licorice Extract plus sunscreen protect the skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, preventing sunspots and premature skin aging. The Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and does not clog pores. It is also resistant to humidity, sweat and oil, thus, giving the skin lasting coverage needed for all the merry-making this season.

In addition, get the same 50% discount on the Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact when you buy Neutrogena Body Oil. With its light sesame formula, the Body Oil is easily absorbed by shower-damp skin, leaving it soft and silky with a radiant and healthy glow. And with Christmas just around the corner, you only need a few drops of the Neutrogena Body Oil to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized amidst the cool holiday breeze.

Christmas must-haves



Make Neutrogena’s Christmas gift bundles the perfect kikay must-haves this holiday season! Share the love for healthy and beautiful skin with your girlfriends. Get amazing discounts from Neutrogena: two (2) Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compacts, with the second compact at 50% off, at a bargain price of P1,063.59; and one (1) Neutrogena Body Oil and one (1) Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact (at half its original price) for only P939.50. Hurry and grab the Neutrogena Christmas gift bundles in select drugstores and department stores from December 1 to 31, 2009.

Tried and Tested: Maybelline Clear Smooth Face Powder

Manila's hot and humid weather has forced me to finally buy a pressed face powder. In the many make-up workshops I have attended, make up artists always tell us to top off our foundation with a dusting of loose or pressed face powder to set our make up and prevent them from sliding (melting) off. However, I had the notion that dusting powder creates a cake-y looking face but I was wrong.



Enter another classic from Maybelline, the Clear Smooth Face powder at Php 199 is worth the space inside your make up bag. I asked the attendant if this was okay to use with Clear Smooth Minerals - she said no but I thought otherwise. This time, I am right! Ladies, the Clear Smooth Face powder is the best finishing touch to Clear Smooth Minerals powder foundation. Even if they are powder x powder, they work seamlessly well if you use a kabuki brush (free with Clear Smooth Minerals). Using a brush to dust on powder to your foundation ensures that you do not put too much and the powder is evenly spread. Swirl the Kabuki brush lightly on the face powder and shake off excess.


Ultimate Trio: Clear Smooth Minerals, Clear Smooth Face Powder, and soon to be reviewed - the new Clear Smooth Minerals Natural Concealer

Wearing the Clear Smooth Shine-Free Face Powder, my face felt and looked more matte. I also could not decipher why my face feels lighter and more comfortable with the face powder on. The box reads:

1. Lasting oil control: combined oil absorbing ingredients remove shine, for a clean shine-free finish for all day.

2. Silky smooth texture: the extreme fine powder glides like silk and melts smoothly on the skin. It covers flawlessly but looks perfectly natural.

3. UV protection SPF18: It contains high UV protection to prevent skin darkening and to have a fair, natural skin tone.


Whenever SM Malls are on sale, Maybelline Make Up stands are too!

The shade of my Clear Smooth Minerals is W02 Natural Ochre and it goes well with Clear Smooth Shine Free Face Powder in Natural shade. If you have extra Php 199, this face powder is worth your dime :) It will save you trips to the lady's room to re-touch and more so, oil absorbing films.

Tried and Tested: Avon's Ultra Moisture Rich 24k Gold Lipstick

The product name is a mouthful but after swiping Avon's UMR lipstick, your lips will never be the same again. As a non-lipstick user, my lips are almost virgin when it comes to lipstick. Most of the lipsticks I tried float on my lips and are so embarassingly obvious and awkward.



Today I tried Avon's Ultra Moisture Rich 24k Gold Lipstick in Golden Peach. My ignorance set in and I tried to put lip balm and powder foundation on my lips first before applying the lipstick itself. My lips looked super nude which was cool but my lips felt heavy and I am not sure if my foundation is edible?


Avon's Ultra Moisture Rich 24K Lipstick in Golden Peach

So after I munched on some Greenwich pizza, everything was gone and I simply swiped on the Ultra Moisture Rich lipstick. I couldn't believe my eyes, it looked even better by itself and there is no need for special rituals (like putting powder on lips first). It matched my skin perfectly whilst still maintaining the nude color that I love.

The shine provided by the UMR lipstick is from its micro sparkling elements and not from a sticky glossy substance some lipsticks have. My lips didn't feel heavy and it was as if one is wearing nothing.


My instant collection of Avon's UMR lipstick, thank you Santa! :)

As for the staying power, some of my UMR lipstick transferred to my table napkin while enjoying desserts. Yet I think it is normal because of the swiping movement I do with my table napkin. I checked my glass and some lipstick also left a trace. And because I knew how great my lips look with the UMR, I hurriedly excused myself for a re-application :) It's as if I discovered lipstick for the first time. On another note, the UMR did not dry my lips or made it flaky.

I think this lipstick is going to be a mainstay in my makeup kit. Surprisingly, lipstick can also affect a lady's diet. Why? Because you wouldn't want your lipstick to be messed up by eating. I love it! :)

The Practical Maybelline Makeup Kit

Makeup purchasing mistakes are not cheap and when everyone's tightening belts and purses, a little advice goes along way. Readers, I would like to share the most practical but beautiful makeup kit I've ever assembled.



1. Maybelline Clear Smooth Mineral Powder - I've written about this before here but just to add, this container has been with me for around 5 months! You only need a few dustings for a neat look and one container would last you a very long time unlike pressed powders which could only last you for 2-3 months.

2. Maybelline Clear Smooth Mineral Blush - blends seamlessly with the Maybelline Clear Smooth Mineral Powder. Tap a little amount on the cap and dust on your face lightly with the Kabuki brush (free with the clear smooth minerals). If you look closely, you'll see it has a little bit of shimmer for that natural glow.

3. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - the best mascara of all time according to makeup artists. If you smudge some on your eyelids, it easily comes off with a swipe of a q-tip. Apply as much as you want and it won't clump your lashes in a weird way. It also easily comes off with our favorite makeup remover, Pond's Cold Cream.

4. M.A.C Eyelash Curler - gets the job of primping those lashes up fast. It has a good grip and the curls last very long, even without mascara.

5. Lucas Papaw Ointment - I use this as a lip balm, thank you to my sister who introduced this to me in Melbourne. If you have a relative down there, ask them to get you a tube which will last you fairly long. Available at pharmacies in Australia.

And these are all you need for a daily "neat" look, except if you are a makeup expert. But for us non-pro's, I think this everyday combo is already a winner.

If you are finishing off your old makeup and want to try something better, then keep the Maybelline combo in mind :)



P.S. Don't forget to add Johnson's Oil Control Film to keep oiliness at bay.