May 16, 2008 at 12:09 am (All About Beauty, Books and Literature, Make-up is Art)
A trip to the good old Mall of Asia had worked wonders to my damped spirit (I’ve been so sad recently). The mall wasn’t crowded, the weather was great for sightseeing, in-house bands were playing and I have a budget to buy anything I want. I’m not going to spurge… (but sometimes we have to cheer ourselves up!)
I first went to The Face Shop to find a really nice lavender eyeshadow. I actually found two shades of the same color family. One is lavender and the other is lilac. I found the lavender intense and shimmery while the lilac is subtle and glistens a little. I honestly liked them both but I have to choose one. Since the lavender has a more user-friendly container, I guess I’ll be choosing it over the lilac.
Just before I pay for it I saw a really nice golden-yellow eyeshadow. I remember my tita owning a similar one that she uses under her eye to brighten and conceal the dark circles. I even recall borrowing it and putting some on my nose bridge to make it look more prominent. I set my lavender eyeshadow down and studied the golder-yellow eyeshadow. And I remembered my experiment “Au Naturale”. This definitely fits the category. I bought the classic golden-yellow eyeshadow.
Happy with my purchase, I went to National Bookstore and scourge over the Classic Literature section. I was trying to find Louisa May Alcott’s Little Men but could not find it. I was debating whether to get Ivanhoe, The Prince and the Pauper or Moby Dick (Ah… Just reading the first line of Moby Dick I felt like I’ll be hooked!). But then, I saw something from the corner of my eye. Its a French classic, Madame Bovary. She doesn’t seem like the typical heroine in a story and I don’t want to read another Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes (I kept blushing from every page and I found it rather repulsive… I didn’t learn a single thing! And I’m sorry to say that its not even close to my standards of “A Great Love Story”). But something about the word “French” and “Classic” made me put aside Moby Dick and go to the counter and buy Madame Bovary.
Ah… Starbucks… My favorite Caramel Machiatto and Madame Bovary to keep me company. It feels so good and thought I should do this often. I stayed there for 2 hours.
I still have another hour to spare. I’ll visit The Body Shop. And what can I say… surprise surprise… its their anniversary and they’re on sale! I immediately saw the cream blush on that I’ve been dying to buy… on 50% off! Though my shade Sunset Pink is unavailable, I chose the next best shade, Golden Pink. Hmmm… I think it will complement my new eyeshadow fairly well. I instantly bought it. Would you believe I stayed there for an hour? And it still wasn’t enough. You see, one of the saleslady there talked to me about a lot of things. I kinda know all the products of The Body Shop by heart and yet I found myself talking to her. She even asked me for personal tips on make up, skin care and dry brushing! Oh… It has been so long when I last had a real girl talk to somebody. It felt so nice. I was blushing with happiness. This has been a really good day for me.
Here are the classic finds that truly made my day close to perfect.
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May 12, 2008 at 6:34 am (All About Beauty, Make-up is Art, Skin Care)
All right, not that I’m defensive or anything, but that’s my current close up photo at the moment. And no, there was not a single part of my face that was edited by Photoshop. Though my current photo is not exactly “fashionable” (not even close to “pretty”), I’m proud to say its “Au Naturale”.
I’m currently trying this “Au Naturale Experiment” where you totally skip the foundation, blush-on, liner, primer, eyeshadow and highlighter with exemption to mascara and lip gloss (lipstick is optional as long as its natural. Doesn’t have to be pale). This way, I can re-apply either my oil-free moisturizer or my sunblock. Is press powder exempted? No (Oh, the horror! How do you control the shine?) I use oil blotting paper. It absorbs the oil and at the same time won’t hide your skin’s natural glow.
Alright, I have to be honest with you. This “Au Naturale Experiment” needs one important factor. A clear face. Let me broaden, you must have a pimple free and even toned skin. I know that’s very hard to achieve. I don’t have a “perfect skin” at all but I try my best to achieve it.
My very simple, and very short skin care routine for the summer is to cleanse my face with Ivory (currently in love with its Aloe scent), tone my face using .010% Tretinoin and 2% Hydroquinone solution and moisturize with DHC Alpha-Arbutin Milk. Another important thing, please don’t forget groom your eyebrows.
Believe me when I say that you’ll experience an increase number of pimple, blackhead and whitehead for a week or two. Its the effect of the tretinoin and hydroquinone. Afterwards, say hello to a new, firmer, smoother, clearer and whiter skin! A warning though, you’re skin will be very sensitive to the sun. Use your sunblock (you should use it even if you’re not in tretinoin and hydroquinone) and re apply every two hours at the very least.
I have to say I’m very happy with the results of my experiment at the moment. I feel as if resting my face from tons of make-up had dramatically improved my face. I do respect every individual’s taste in make-up but I think this no-make up look fits me perfectly well.
Oh one more thing, being able to re apply my oil free moisturizer and sunblock through out the day makes me feel as if I’m nourish my skin 24/7. It actually makes me feel good. So I guess this experiment for me is a success!
The last thing I want people to say behind my back is “She’s not really that pretty if you take aways that 10 layers of make-up off her face…”
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May 10, 2008 at 8:31 am (All About Beauty, Fashion Trend, Legendary Icons, Make-up is Art, Skin Care)
In a typical guy, the mere mention of the word “woman” may seem synonymous to fashion, make-up and a one hour skin care routine. And that is exactly what this post is all about. We women should know a little of everything not because guys expects that from us (well, maybe it is
one factor) but because this will boost our self-esteem and will actually make us feel good about ourselves.
Fashion is not only about the season’s new trends, the most expensive Louis Vuitton bags nor the runway’s latest fashion collection (though they are important in every sense). Fashion is an art. Sometimes you are born with a keen sense on it and sometimes we try to learn and master it. Are there any rules in fashion when it changes every season? There must be… but for me I keep this one rule all the time.
You can change your taste in fashion as fast as fashion changes itself but do keep one thing constant, your identity.
So what must you keep in mind regarding the art of fashion? Don’t get swayed by models or by people who wears the current trend. Not because its looks good on them doesn’t mean it will look good on you too (most of the time…). Keep in mind that body structure, skin tone and even your personality plays a vital role in selecting the right jeans, that indispensable handbag or that ever so flattering stilettos. Remember that this not only about fashion, this is about YOU being a real fashion icon!
Gisele Bunchen makes every designer’s dreams come true.
Ah, make-up. They are also the pride of the runway. You don’t really have to be Picasso or Bobbi Brown to master the basics of applying make-up. All you need is proper guidance and a lot of practice. First of, like in fashion, you need to take note of
a lot of factors that includes your skin tone, the occasion, the time of the day, the color of your clothes and of course whether you have a sensitive skin or not.
Two of my personal favorites (that I know can never go wrong) are mascara and lip gloss. Not far from the list is a very good liquid foundation and blush-on. Knowing what is best for your skin tone like “fair looks good on pink and light colors while dark looks great with deep colors like berry and blues” can ready enhance your natural beauty.
The more you learn and practice the more you’ll realize that with make up you can actually make your face appear slimmer or that small eyes appear bigger. It’s really just a matter learning, practicing and mastering. There are a lot of make up brands out there. Choose one that has a reputable name and one that you know will not add years to you face in the long run (if you know what I mean).
Lastly, remember this cardinal rule. Always take your make-up off before you go to sleep… and I mean ALWAYS.
Make-up + Aishwarya Rai = Art
Now for my favorite topic, Skin Care. My boyfriend could never really figure out why I
need to have atleast two different lotions for day (with tons of spf) and for night (creamy and loaded with vitamins and anti-oxidant) and why I put so many cream on my face (hello, its an eye cream, an emulsion, a moisturizer…). But at least he respects that.
All around the world, skin care varies. There are those three step routine that consists of cleanse, tone and moisturize and that eight step routine of cleanse, facial mask, tone, emulsion, serum, spot treatment, eye cream and moisturize. Of course, there are those who make their own routine which is fine as long it perfectly fits your need.
The skin, as you already know, is the largest organ in the body. Even the most expensive little black dress or the best make up in the world cannot replace a really beautiful skin. That skin shows more than your natural beauty, but also reflects how you take care of yourself.
Remember that in skin care it takes more than La Prarie or Lancome to work its magic. It needs your effort, consistency and your dedication. Consider both skin care an art and a science. Know what you put on your skin and the rationale behind it. Never ever get swayed with advertisement. And lastly, love the skin you’re in. Enhance and not change.
The Japanese perfected the science of Skin Care. Take it from Keiko Kitagawa!
You don’t have to be rich or be an artist to learn these art. You are special in your own way and you deserve to be beautiful. I’ve always admired women who’s beauty and talent were already encoded in their genes but lucky for us we too can actually learn. So never give up nor lose hope. Beauty is not just for one but for all. So for the very last time, learn, practice and master!
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A trip to the good old Mall of Asia had worked wonders to my damped spirit (I’ve been so sad recently). The mall wasn’t crowded, the weather was great for sightseeing, in-house bands were playing and I have a budget to buy anything I want. I’m not going to spurge… (but sometimes we have to cheer ourselves up!)
Here are the classic finds that truly made my day close to perfect.
