I was supposed to go to this event last Friday, but I didn't push through because the traffic was utterly horrible. I couldn't flag down a cab for thirty minutes so I just gave up. I mean, I do love nice events, but not when they come at such a hassle. Unlike trad media, bloggers don't get salary and reimbursement for transportation whenever we go to an event. :P

Ok that's just me being bitter that I didn't make it. Hehe. Anyway, I did do a nice look with a lilac lipstick, so all my preparations last Friday were not totally in vain! A reader requested that I show off how the Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Primrose can be worn. I feel that if you're medium-toned, the best way a pale lipstick like this can work is with smoky, lined eyes. 

Face: MAC Studiofinish concealer, Clinique Perfectly Real powder foundation, Guerlain Meteorites

Cheeks: MAC Harmony to contour, Estee Lauder Silky Powder Blush in Tender Petal

I wore this look to a gloomy Saturday out with Marco. I had some time to play with my toys so I thought of using some Estee Lauder makeup that I bought, but don't wear out as often as I would like. I was inspired by my Forever 21 jeggings (cheesy but true!) so I used some dusky blue eyeshadow and added smoke almost up to my eyebrows. For a change!

The colors don't quite appear as they are in the pan when applied, but I do like the effect nonetheless. They're very subtle, very classy together.

Face: The Balm TimeBalm liquid concealer, Ellana mineral foundation and finishing powder

Cheeks: Estee Lauder Silky Powder Blush in Tender Petal (I really should review my EL blush palette soon)

Eyeshadows: TFSI primer, Estee Lauder Pure Color eyeshadows. Refer to the diagram for the shades.

Last Wednesday, Japanese cosmetics brand Majolica Majolica officially launched here. They also introduced the latest collection called Fake Sleeping, a two-product affair that is quite unique if you ask me. Will talk more about these in a bit! In the meantime, I'd just like to share what I wore to the event.

Thrifted peach dress and printed cardigan/ SM lace up heels/ Ferretti satchel/ Parfois gold leaf necklace

It was kind of difficult to dress up for this particular shindig because (1) It was held in Opus, a night club in Resorts World and (2) It was 3pm on a Wednesday! Should one wear a clubbing dress? A breezy tea dress? Night makeup? Day makeup? Lol. I just went along with my mood and the weather that day (which is super hot btw). In any case, the dress code is supposed to be playful, fun, and whimsical.

For the FOTD, there was no question: I used my fave Majolica Majorca makeup!

Face: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, MAC Studio Finish concealer, Clinique Blended Powder to set, Guerlain Meteorites

So, this is the look I wore to the Bloggers United bazaar last Friday. I was inspired by my turquoise nails at that time, so I thought of building a look centered on an eyeshadow called Shattered from Urban Decay. It's a golden teal, almost turquoise shade that's super flattering on Pinay skin.

I wanted to keep things light since I'm going to two events in the afternoon. I added a rich golden eyeshadow from MAC to add depth to the eyes and a nude brown color to blend everything seamlessly. Lips and cheeks were downplayed since the eyes had center stage.

Face: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, MAC Studio Finish concealer, Clinique Blended Powder to set, Guerlain Meteorites

You know, it's just Tuesday, but I'm already tired. What's up with that. Working from home is not a piece of cake, believe me. You actually end up spending more time working because you more or less have to be on call. It's not a 9 to 6 thing with free weekends.

Don't get me wrong though, I love my job and the people I work with! I just need to better manage my time since I juggle a lot of things right now. Anyway, before doing my tasks for the day, I just want to show you what I wore to Parfois when I became their stylist for the day.

Topshop maxi dress/ Topshop cardigan/ Fuchsia top from dept store/ Parfois bag/ Charles & Keith mary jane platforms (photo by Kari)

Once again (drat it), I didn't have much time to do my makeup so I settled for heavily-lined, semi-cat eyes and a loud pink lip. Eyeshadows were used to just contour the eyes while the blush was as understated as possible. I just used a stippling brush both for blush and contour to get that natural, barely there effect.

I went to a meeting yesterday and didn't have a lot of time to do my makeup. So, instead of doing colors, I settled for the default: neutrals! But I tried to liven it up by adding a pop of bright gold on the eyes and a cheery coral shade on the lips.

I realized later on that the earrings were too much, so don't worry, I took them off. :P

Face: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, MAC Studiofinish concealer, Clinique loose powder

We don't have spring here in the Philippines, but that shouldn't stop us from wearing spring colors! I was inspired by one of Avon's quad palettes so I built this look around its pretty green, pink, and blue colors.

Now, the trick to wearing pastel eyes is to make sure that all the colors sort of melt in together. Use brushes that can give you the precision you need, such as a domed bullet brush for the crease, a mid-sized flat brush for the lid, and a big fluffy brush for blending all the harsh edges.

Face: Majolica Majorca Pore Cover Skin Remaker foundation, The Balm Liquid Time Balm concealer, Clinique Blended Face Powder in 20 Invisible Blend

Cheeks: Revlon Matte Powder Blush in Perfectly Peach

I attended a couple of meetings last Thursday in Makati. They weren't really the formal type so I wore something comfortable, heat-friendly, and non-fattening! Anyway, I've been wearing this block-striped bodycon dress a lot lately. It's my absolute cheat dress right now, if  you must know. Thought the Ferretti wedges matched the dress's stripes so in they went.

No brand dress/ Thrifted chambray polo/ Satchel from Muradito/ Accessories from Avon/ Ferretti wedges

For the FOTD, I chose to wear as little makeup as possible. Since I like my skin lately, I opted for a sheer formula, lush lashes, and fool-proof red lips. It's my good ol' red lippie look only with different products.

Whoever said that neutrals are boring is wrong! Why? Because neutral makeup has different "levels" (for lack of a better word). They can be dramatic, barely there, soft focus - the list goes on. It's not enough to just dump any brown eyeshadow and MLBB lipstick on your face. You have to know the colors that suit you best and have the effect you want in mind. It's easy, true, but it's a challenge when your skin tone changes or when you simply want to come up with something better than you already have.

I was experimenting with my palettes the other week. Was really pleased with what I came up with!

Face: Guerlain L'Or primer, Clinique Supermoisture foundation, Ellana mineral finishing powder in Espresso Con Panna, The Balm Liquid Time Balm concealer

Cheeks: Revlon Matte Powder Blush in Blushing Berry

Have you been under the sun lately? IT'S CRAZY. I'm trying to remember if it has ever been this hot before, but I can't recall anything in particular. Wearing sunblock, shades, or an umbrella is no help at all because the heat burns as long as you're outside. I just try not to go out at all.

But sadly that's not an option. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! Last Saturday, I went out to host Project Vanity's second Clinique Party after holing up in the condo all Friday working. Needless to say, the Clinique Party was a blast! A lot of girls turned up and they seemed happy with their au naturel makeovers. Hay, I have to say, I really enjoy what I do.

Anyhoo, here's what I wore that day:

I used a bunch of new products in this look, mostly from Majolica Majorca's newest collection called Sugary Trap.

I promised to show you my favorite way of wearing this awesome gold eyeliner from In2It, and here it is!

It's super simple. Just use a brown eyeliner (I like the Urban Decay eyeliner in Bourbon), then top it with the gold one.

A lot of girls loved the colorful MAC Peacocky look I posted a couple of weeks back. Are you ready for the next round? :D This time, Mikee will be showing off MAC's Wonder Woman collection. It will be launching on March 19 (Saturday) here in Manila!

Launch dates at the bottom. Open image to view full-sized.

The MAC Wonder Woman collection comes in super-sized, toy-like packaging that sports the heroic femme fatale's signature colors. Notable products are the dual-color Mineralized SkinFinish powders (P2,125), Eye Quads (P2,500), and the colored Opulash mascaras (P900). 

Excited to see the look Mikee came up with? Here goes!

Before photo: Say hi to Janelle, our model!

After

Mikee priming the canvas (Lip Conditioner + Fast Response Eye Cream + Prep+Prime Skin). She used the Studio Fix Fluid foundation to even out the skintone, set it with loose powder, then dusted a bit of MSF for a natural glow.

Here I am again with my Valentine's Day makeup suggestion! I feel that this look is flirty and light, just the thing to NOT scare off your date on Valentine's. I know we girls love smoky eyes and red lips, but there are guys who don't appreciate those kinds of looks. No matter. We should wear what we want if it makes us feel good! But for Valentine's day, perhaps it's better to tone it down a little in consideration of our dates.

So, I made a tutorial for this FOTD!

Step 1: Start with a well-primed and evened-out face. I suggest using a primer to prevent makeup meltdown, something like the L'Oreal Base Magique (face) and the Too Faced Shadow Insurance (eyes). For this look I used the Avon Ideal Shade Foundation + loose powder from the same line. I also used the MAC Studiofinish concealer

Step 2: Apply a champagne eyeshadow like MAC All That Glitters all over your lid.

I just want to share the look I wore last Saturday to my fave weekend market:

For this look, I skipped the usual pinks with something that I find very flattering on Asian skin: coral and bronze! I tried to keep everything fresh so I didn't use a lot of products. I think this look only took me five minutes to do.

I also took the opportunity to try the latest Bobbi Brown foundation called the Illuminating Finish Powder Compact Foundation. It's so photogenic no?

I was 18 when I started going crazy over makeup. I'd read through tons of blogs and watch lots of tutorials everyday, and when I can afford it with my student budget, I'd buy makeup for myself. I'd pile on colorful eyeshadows and powders just for the fun of it. As I got older though, my enthusiasm reared back a bit. I mean yeah, I still read tons of blogs, buy makeup, and enjoy applying all this gunk on my face, but the real world (work, tiredness, or just plain laziness) intervenes. Hence I have tamad looks like these:

MAC Studiofinish concealer, Colorescience pressed mineral foundation, NARS Super Orgasm, Revlon Colorstay automatic eyeliner, L'Oreal Curl Impact mascara, Paul & Joe Eye Crayon in 01, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Demure

The goal is to use as less products as possible while still looking pretty and polished.

Today I hung out with Ina Casas, Bobbi Brown's newly promoted Marketing Executive (congrats!). This girl is so fierce! I love all her outfits, plus she's a serious makeup enthusiast. This is a photo of her during last year's Preview Ball:

Panalo! Anyway, while we were chatting today, I told her that I was really impressed with the Black Swan look she posted on Facebook. It was done by Owen Sarmiento, one of MAC's resident makeup artists, for Estee Lauder's Christmas costume party. The look was exclusively designed by MAC for Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis's movie.

Natalie Portman

Ina Casas! Minus the white, mask-like skin and gray pallor of the original

I love! But I'll tell you what the real clincher is: the whole look was created only with Bobbi Brown products. Hard to believe eh?

Last week, I had the pleasure of being a guest for Net 25's morning show called Homepage. I talked about the fashion trends for 2011 and, needless to say, I had so much fun. The hosts, especially Ivy, were super nice and accommodating. There was no room to be shy! Of course, the researchers Steph (who invited me) and Blueberry (yes that's her name!) made sure that I felt welcome. It definitely made my trip from The Fort to far away Quezon City worth it.

This is my third time to be on TV. I think I'm getting the hang of it, lol. The first two times were embarrassingly awkward. Anyway, here's a photo diary of what transpired last Wednesday!

A friend of mine (hi Anne!) sent me this Maybelline palette from Canada. I don't buy Maybelline palettes because whenever I swatch one in the store, I always feel underwhelmed. However, I was really surprised by how this particular palette performed! The eyeshadows were silky, highly pigmented, and performed well over a base. Definitely a keeper.

Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes

I love the color selection because they make for a quick, flattering smoky eye that's not too dark. I'm not sure if this palette is available in the Philippines, but if they are, I will definitely buy one in different colors. 

Face: Clinique Supermoisture makeup, MAC Studiofinish concealer, Ellana mineral foundation and finishing powder, NARS Super Orgasm

Do you feel Christmas in the air? Me, sort of! The weather is definitely colder (at least during mornings and evenings) and the neighbors are putting up wreaths and trees. Shopping malls are playing Christmas songs on loop, which I think is sneaky since it makes people mellow and make them want to buy more stuff! Anyway, I'm already making plans for the holidays - gifts to give, food to prepare - but I'll never forget the most essential thing...what to wear!

This season means more parties to attend, whether they're with family, friends, or co-workers. Allow me to suggest a look that features two major holiday themes: sparkle and the color red. What I like about it is that it's versatile and has that "wow" factor. If you're not comfortable with a strong red lipstick, you can easily replace it with a toned-down shade.

Are you ready for my tutorial? Read on!

Step 1: Start with a well-primed and evened-out face. Parties tend to last until late, so your makeup should be able to keep up! I used the Smooth-365 Peptide Serum as primer, then applied the Paul & Joe Creamy Compact Powder Foundation, MAC Studiofinish Concealer, topped by Ellana mineral finishing powder. In2It for the brows and Too Faced Shadow Insurance as eye primer.

Step 2: I patted on a sparkly white eyeshadow (Urban Decay Polyester Bride) on the lid. It's whiter and more glittery in person! I always thought it's a lot like snow.

The so-called "prime look" is the makeup that's put together to enhance your natural features. The colors used are the ones nearest to your actual skin tone and color, and they are applied in such a way that will highlight or recede your features. Okay, now that sounds more complex than it is, but it really isn't.

A prime look is simply the look that makes you appear your best. In other words - perfect glowing skin, neutral eyeshadows, flattering blush, and lipstick close to the real color of your lips. It's not that hard to achieve with makeup you probably already have!

Now the makeup I use for my personal prime look varies from time to time, but the technique I use is the same. Read here on how I fake the perfect skin. For eyeshadows: I only use two or three - a light brown on the crease, a dark brown to contour, and a beige to highlight. Then I use black eyeliner and mascara. Easy peasy!

Face: Smooth-365 Peptide Serum as primer, MAC Studiofinish Concealer, NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Barcelona, Colorescience pressed foundation in California Girl