This is a little late I know but I thought I'd share my two cents anyway. The protest train has come and gone, Belo has apologized and taken down the ads. But I thought this is a worthy point of discussion, particularly about irony and hypocrisy.

Last Sunday, Belo Men has released a new campaign promoting their whitening range for guys. Three ads came out showing a conyo guy who is supposedly 10% lighter and thus 100% more sosyal and attractive. 

The knee-jerk reaction is that the ads are racist and promotes social stratification. But you know what? I think they're funny (while wrongly promoting social stratification, though definitely not racist)! The ads are tasteless but what Belo has here is self-deprecating sarcasm. Notice how the guy has a Kia - an old, far from sosy car. That's your giveaway. If there were only two ads or if his car is say, an Audi, I would think that Belo is being an asshole. But they're just trying to be funny, even going so far as to poke fun at their target market and even themselves.

Okay let's backtrack. From the car ad, we see a good looking guy throwing his keys at a valet in a swanky place. But he speaks in over-the-top conyoese and drives an old Kia, which means that he's not rich but that he's trying to climb the social grapevine.

Do you guys watch Downton Abbey? YOU SHOULD. It's a historical drama about the lives of an English titled family and their servants in the early 20th century. Affecting them all are events happening in the larger world like the sinking of the Titanic and the first World War. The actors are fantastic, the story, poignant, and the clothes! My dears, you shall be inspired.

The ladies wore charming tea dresses with immaculate, softly tailored tops. While we can still definitely do this today, wouldn't it be a little impractical to be walking around in heavy lace and full-length dresses? It is. Which is why I love JC Buendia's collection for Kashieca: it's inspired by Downton Abbey, except the clothes are made for the 21st century no-fuss working woman.

Don't expect any print-crazy trendy stuff. JC Buendia had something a lot more sophisticated and body-friendly in mind! The collection is full of figure enhancing tops and bottoms done in practical fabrics that can handle daily wear and tear.

The cuts aren't the sort that you'll see in your average Bangkok and China rebranded stores. Since the clothes are exclusively designed, you get the extensive experience and knowledge of the female body only a trained designer can give to his work.

I've been terribly busy last week so I haven't had the chance to take as many photos as I want. The only time I get to take a breather is when I'm eating; hence the gratuitous food portraits. Hehe. Enjoy!

Doodle earlier at a meeting. "He never came." 

Made mechado for dinner. It took me two hours to make! The beef is of some unknown type of diamond.

Bought these Grendha sandals yesterday at Bambu BHS. It's the perfect errand/rainy day flipflops.

Do you know how the "pinup girl" came about? During the Second World War, American soldiers would put up posters of sexy women on their walls or lockers. Sex symbols of the day such as Betty Grable, Marlyn Dietrich, and other girls who became pinup stars had an honored place in these testosterone-filled military camps. Popular pinup artist Gil Elvgren also drew women for these posters, one of which is this:

Photo from Oh, for the love of vintage

So that's a short history lesson for you. :) Anyway, today I want to talk about MAC's latest collection to hit the Philippines - Hey Sailor! It's inspired by the nautical pinup girl, with shades of bronze and tan capturing beautiful beach skin while brilliant blues and greens remind us of the sea. Here's the price list for your reference.

I went to the launch to have my makeup done (will show you in a bit). Of course, the girls from MAC were also there to join in on the fun. Check out their Hey Sailor! looks:

Rizel Magno in navy blue smoky eyeshadows and a bright red lip (Red Racer, a bright yellow red)

I've been beauty blogging for four years now, and in that time I've answered a lot of questions about makeup - especially ones referring to application. Some questions I've answered waaay back in the past, so I take it for granted that everyone who reads this already knows a thing or two when I review products.

But I still get a lot of inquiries from new readers (welcome, guys!) so I thought I'd compile all the basic tutorials I've done for their benefit.

Beauty Basics: What every girl needs in her makeup kit

How to apply flawless face makeup: learn how to maximize your liquid foundation and concealer to fake perfect skin (this is more for girls who need heavy coverage).

I initially wanted to include my review of this powder compact along with its soul mate, the Etude House Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream, but I thought it deserved a separate post on its own. It is A Really Good Powder, after all, one that I've been using ever since I got it!

Truth be told I was initially excited and then intimidated about the SPF50 the Etude House Precious Mineral Sun BB Pact has. Would it be too white? Higher SPF products usually have more titanium dioxide in them, a minerally-derived substance that's responsible for the white cast in photos (or even in plain sight).

I wanted to talk about how shorts are a staple yada yada but I'm sure that everyone else has exhausted the topic. To summarize: we live in a tropical country. Shorts are part of our national identity.

On a completely different note - one phrase has been running in my head repeatedly this morning. "If you want to lose weight, EAT LESS." It's like a freakin' mantra. But how less is less, and at what point do we need to eat more? I've been on a no carb diet for the past three weeks and it's consuming me. I do cheat once in a while, of course, but I make sure to make it up in the next meal.

Ferretti bag / Forever 21 knit top and blazer / Bench shorts / Pinbox headband and bracelets / ZARA heels

Just a few years ago, a makeup junkie's options for awesome and affordable palettes were very limited. Thanks to online resellers though, we now have access to drugstore brands from other countries like NYX, Sleek, Models Own, and Beauty UK. Kids these days are lucky! :P

Anyway, one product that I've recently come across is the Beauty UK Eyeshadow Palette in Earth Child (P355 at The Makeup Suite). It's a set of smoky and earthy neutrals that should give you sultry eyes for a dressy day out.

What I love about the product

• All colors have high pigmentation. There are some chalky textures (the white and beige shades) but they still apply opaque.

A male friend of mine asked me last week, "How much pain are you willing to go through for a pretty pair of shoes?" I said, "A lot!" Someone once said that good shoes can take you to good places, so if you're willing to take some pain for your vanity then you can potentially get some satisfaction out of it.

Anyways, I recently got two new pairs of shoes just to update my wardrobe. I've been mooning over them for a few weeks beforehand - they're not exactly cheap, so I had to think long and hard if I really needed them. I just felt miserable until I gave in. Next time, I won't put myself to all that trouble! If I badly want something, I'll just go freakin' get it if I can afford it.

First off, I finally got these Zara Basic Sandals. I've seen a lot of fashion bloggers wear them (especially abroad). I'm not the type to fall for trendy things, but I just love how beautifying these heels are!

Got this interesting question over at Ask Liz. Read on!

Hi Ms. Liz! I don't know if I'm really asking a question or just seeking affirmation...I'm really "balbon": my arms and legs are hairy (but not like a man's, whew, could've been worse right?). Worse, I have facial hair! I have "baby bangs" that aren't really part of my "real hair" anymore (they're more facial hair than real hair because it's on my forehead already), and I can't even have the part above my eyebrows threaded for fear that it'll look really weird!

But I guess the worst part of it all is that I have a moustache! Eek! I really want to have it removed but I don't want to deal with it growing (thus I do not want it waxed). I would really love to have it lasered but that's too expensive, and I'm just in my early twenties! :(

Oily girls, listen up! I have a great reco for you: the Etude House Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream (P978). It's a long-lasting, water and oil resistant BB cream that has SPF50 to boot. It's ideal for those days when you need to hustle under the sun for long periods of time - super useful here in our country where summer is the default weather.

I'm really diggin' this product, and here's why!

Coverage and finish. The Sun BB Cream has a medium to heavy coverage. It can hide minor blemishes and eyebags - really useful for those who have far from perfect skin. The finish is quite matte (not flat though) and very smooth. Just remember to blend it very carefully to avoid uneven coverage.

Shade selection. There are three shades available, Light Beige (for fair skin), Natural beige (fair medium), Sand Beige (dark medium). The one I have, Natural Beige, is roughly two shades lighter than my skin upon application but it settles down to one shade lighter.

I was dawdling in First Aid, Greenbelt 5 while waiting for a movie to start. There's a wide range of practical beauty products and tools that's exclusive there such as my fave Sebamed Face & Body Wash! Anyway, I ended up buying my first ever pack of cellulose sponges and you know what? I can't believe I only got one now.

This stuff is amazing. A pack of two Aqua Massage sponges is only P52 (crazy) but you can do a lot of things with it! Here's how I like to use these sponges:

• With my facial wash as a pore cleanser and exfoliator. The sponge is soft and firm at the same time so it can take off deep-seated dirt and flaky skin without being abrasive. 
• As a physical makeup remover. I soak it in warm water then gently rub it on my face to dislodge the makeup. No need to use anything else while doing this.

Here's whats been happening in the beauty industry! For your information. ;)

Be Part Of The Beauty Buzz with Pond's

Visit the “Pond’s Institute” Manila booth at the SM Mall of Asia’s Main Mall Atrium and be one of the privileged ladies to experience beauty and technology when you join Pond’s beauty activities from June 15 to July 4. Get a free skin analysis and a derma consultation every Saturday and Sunday. 

Rouge is one of the first types of makeup ever. From as far back as ancient Egypt when men, women, and children painted their lips and cheeks red to the roaring 20s when color on the face symbolized women's emancipation, rouge has been a staple in every makeup kit. Fortunately, we live in the 21st century so we don't have to worry about lead and mercury poisoning from our pots/tubes of rouge. :P

That said, one product has found a permanent space in my bag: the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink (P1,500)!

I love this because it's extremely easy to use. Fingers and one minute is all you need with this to get perfect lips and cheeks! I have tried other cream blushes before but this one is probably the prettiest and most convenient of them all. Here's why!

What I love about the product

• It's easy to apply - with your clean fingers, dab it on the lips then pat it on the apples of your cheeks. It doesn't dry up too quickly or leave streaks so you have time to blend it properly.
• Doesn't feel greasy or thick on the lips/cheeks. It does settle as a normal stain would. 

Have you read Gabbie Tatad's article on Philippine Star called "A fashion blogger reality check"? Do! It's a great opinion piece on the culture of fashion blogging in the country. I agree with many of the things she said, particularly in these passages:

As far as I can see, everything in this world has its place. Sure, clothes have a myriad of positive effects — changing the way you feel, skimming down features you’re not exactly thrilled with, expressing the facets of your personality only you might be aware of. And yes, I will be the first to tell you that fashion is art, expression, freedom, inspiration, and creation.

But it is also function and comfort, and days when clothes really are just clothes. Because while we’ve been made to believe that they might make the man, they aren’t magical enough to produce substance where there is none. They serve their purpose, but fall second to character, skill, intellect, and depth —something so easily forgotten in a haze of lens flare and digitally-retouched lighting.

I do have a comment on something else she pointed out. 

You can get a pretty good idea of what a person is really like when you check his or her Instagram feed. Pictures do speak a thousand words, and I so enjoy listening! In a sense.

Here's what peppered my week.

Cooked grilled rosemary and lemon chicken for dinner.

Tried using this sea sponge with warm water to remove my makeup last night. Think I need more practice!

Dreaming of salmon.

There are a myriad of techniques and styles when it comes to applying eyeshadows, but I like to keep it simple for an everyday and versatile look. By simple, I mean using only three colors and one brush. Yes, one brush. :) Brushes are fun to use but only for advanced and very detailed eyeshadow work. For a basic day look, one brush and three colors is really all you need!

I love doing colorful eye looks but for this tutorial, I thought I'd show you a universal way to highlight and contour your eyes. Knowing how to do neutral, enhanced eyes is crucial knowledge; with it, you can wear virtually any shade of blush and lipstick. If you have to know only one eyeshadow look, this is it.

Here's the step-by-step tutorial!

Step 1: Prime your lids with an eyeshadow base. An eyeshadow base is a MUST when wearing eyeshadows because it intensifies their color and extends their lasting power. Pat on a thin layer and wait a few seconds for it to dry. I love the Urban Decay Primer Potion and the ArtDeco Eyeshadow Base.

I know how hard it is to shop for makeup on a budget. Even if we want to buy MAC or Urban Decay eyeshadows all the time, for example, it's just not practical for our wallet. That's why we should never dismiss drugstore products. Who knows, we just might find a pearl in the sea!

That said, Revlon eyeshadows have come a long way with the new reformulated ColorStay 16 Hour Quads (P550). These are surprisingly good - I would even say that some palettes are worth including in your must-have makeup kit. Here's why!

What I love about the product

• Fairly pigmented and color-true (meaning what you see is what you get) for most colors. Just use it over a base to maximize the pigmentation and lasting power.
• Great color combinations! They're not too common and plain, IMHO.

I recently got new contact lenses since the pair I was wearing has expired. I bought two sets, one in my normal color which is a light brown (Cinnamon), and another one which is rimmed in brown with flecks of violet in the middle (Amethyst). Here is the latter in action!