My makeup for Jessica Soho's show

On Topaz Horizon, I talked about my guest stint on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, where I was asked about British women and their crazy hats. People who watched it Tweeted me (follow me!) asking about my makeup, especially my lipstick. Like, people were going crazy about it.

So here ya go!

And here's my makeup info:
Skin: La Mer concealer in Medium and La Mer liquid foundation in Honey
Eyes: shu uemura eye shadows, Stila liquid eyeliner, ModelCo eyebrow powder
Cheeks: Nars blush is Orgasm
Lips: Avon Smooth Minerals lipstick in Cranberry

Loving my La Mer lotion

I feel very soft and young and luscious lately because of a gift Ina Casas of La Mer gave me a few months ago--a big tube of La Mer Body Creme. She told me it was a "Congratulations on your pregnancy!" gift but I haven't been using it because, well, I wanted to try out Palmer's Cocoa Butter first.

Now I use them both--Palmer's on the ever expanding parts of me and La Mer everywhere else. And my skin is so soft! I feel so gorgeous and delectable. And it's also so hydrating, I don't need to use it every day. So even if it's pricey, I don't feel like my money is draining away because I hardly use it. In other words, it lasts longer.

Back to basics with Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mousse Foundation!

Oh my gosh, I have seriously neglected Beauty For A Living! While I haven't stopped updating my personal blog, this beauty blog is a different story because there's just too many beauty events, product launches and new beauty technologies out there! It's like there's something new every other day and I just gave up trying to post them all. I'm so sorry, my dear readers.

For this very first return-to-beauty blogging post, I've decided to report on the very basic of all makeup: foundation.

The stunning Halle Berry and her secret to flawless skin

Revlon sent me their latest product--the Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mousse Makeup. This boasts a formula that offers the benefits of mineral makeup in lightweight mousse form. The foundation will effectively cover facial flaws for up to a whopping 16 hours while protecting the skin with its SPF20. And yes, it's free from talc and parabens so if you have sensitive skin, you don't need to worry about irritation.

Now I love mineral makeup--it's the first kind of makeup that did not make me break out--so I'm pretty excited about this foundation. I was excited, too, when I saw all the tubes Revlon sent over! Whee! Thanks, Ruby Dela Cruz!

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mousse Makeup comes in 6 shades to suit all skin tones. Each 30mL tube costs P875 and is available at Watson's, Beauty by SM, Robinsons Dept Stores, PCX, Mercury Drug Glorietta, Gaisano Metro, Cinderella, Landmark, Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall and Unimart.

NARS and my new Orgasm!

NARS makeup artist and West Coast Lead Trainer Dawn Stultz was here last week and I was able to have a lovely chat with her about--what else?--makeup! First, I just want to say how incredibly mesmerizing Dawn's eyes were. I have no idea what color they are. Because of the warm soft light in Rustan's Essences, her eyes kept changing color from gray to blue to a light hazel. Incredible.

So anyway, I asked Dawn what makeup essentials a woman should have in her bag. She replied that it really depends on the woman since some girls love playing up their eyes or just having powder and blotting paper or really piling it on! However, she did quip, "Stop any woman in this store right now and I bet you'll find three kinds of lip products in her purse!"

For summer, Dawn recommends simple makeup so a powder, a lip gloss and a bronzer stick are enough to take a girl from day to night. She's really in love with the NARS bronzer stick in Palm Beach. She applied some on me and I looked healthy and glowing! The trick is to apply it in the figure 3--temples, cheeks, jawline--and blend, blend, blend. You can use the bronzer on your eyes, too, and on lips then just top with gloss. Simple and easy. I like that a lot!

Oh, and not only did I get to chat with such a lovely woman, I also got to take home these lovely products! Thanks, Dawn, NARS, Rustan's Essences and Visions & Expressions!

I did buy my own blush, the phenomenal Orgasm. Dawn says that NARS Orgasm is the bestselling blush in the entire world. I believe her. All the Hollywood stars and makeup artists swear by it--it's the only blush that looks great on every skin color and tone! Dawn adds that it's almost always out of stock. I believe her, too, since I've been trying to buy Orgasm forever. Just my luck, at her interview, NARS had new stocks! I immediately bought one! Now I look so pretty. Yey!

NARS cosmetics are available at Rustan's Essences, Glorietta 4, Makati City.

The Beauty Writer

*bronzer stick image from Sephora.com

Questions on eye creams and foundations answered (kinda sorta!)

Hi to my new readers! Welcome again to my new beauty blog! Anyway, I've got a couple of requests to write about certain beauty topics:

Hope you can review eye creams in the market - Anonymous
Can you share some tips on finding the right foundation to use? Specifically what brand is the best? - Ranran

For Anonymous, off the top of my head I can guarantee that Olay Regenerist has a fantastic eye treatment--the one I used was the Eye Lifting Serum (P999). Right now, however, I'm using Garnier's Anti-Puff Eye Roller. It feels kinda weird and I miss Olay Regenerist but I'm going to give this Garnier a chance. I'll write about that in a month. Keep glued to this blog!
Ranran, to answer your question will entail an entire book! I'm kidding... Actually, it's not really about the brand; it's really about your skin. An expensive product can look awful if it's not meant for your skin tone and type. So give me time and I'll answer this in detail.
My personal pick is L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation. I use both the liquid and mineral powder foundations. I've been a fan since 2007, when my bridal makeup artist, L'Oreal Paris Chief Makeup Artist Jigs Mayuga, showed me my true match (Golden Beige) the day I wed my true match (Vince Sales)! The range of shades they have is amazing, making it easier for you to find your, er, true match! Plus, it's just below P1,000 and available at all department stores nationwide. Just throw away the brush of the mineral powder--it's scratchy and stiff.
I'll interview some beauty editors and do some research, too. Thanks!

The Beauty Writer

Olay Touch of Foundation needs just a touch more color

I am seriously in love with everything Olay comes out with. After years of acne and dull skin, my skin now looks unbelievably great (yes, despite my flirtation with a not-so-effective skincare line). I owe all this to Olay Total Effects which I started using in 2007 and to Olay Regenerist which I am currently using. So when Proctor & Gamble came out with Olay Total Effects Touch of Foundation, I was totally ecstatic.

Now, however, I feel ambivalent. On one hand, it's a fantastic moisturizer--it's still the same 7-in-1 anti-aging cream that made it such a favorite; on the other, it's a mediocre foundation.

I guess it's okay--it's not like they promised coverage since the foundation is just a "touch." If you need more coverage because your skin isn't perfect, then skip this product and grab your trusty concealer and liquid foundation. But, assuming you're a longtime user of Olay and therefore already have flawless skin, then Olay Touch of Foundation has just the right tinge of color to bring a subtle glow to your skin.

Olay Total Effects Touch of Foundation is available at all leading department stores and drugstores for P749.

Oh, and I'm giving away a Shu Uemura makeup brush kit, a Jurlique Facial Care set and a Shu Uemura lipstick case! Join now!

UPDATE: Okay, okay... I'm changing my mind on this product. Every time I use it, I get compliments. My mother-in-law thought I was glowing. I gave one to my sister-in-law and she absolutely loves it. So I may not see the effects but since other people do, then it's effective!

The Beauty Writer

*product photo courtesy of BigW