shu uemura + Karl Lagerfeld = FAB!

I love the new collection of shu uemura! It's a collaboration with famed designer Karl Lagerfeld. Yes, of Chanel fame. Which makes me wonder why he didn't work with Chanel's makeup instead! Well, Lagerfeld answered that question at the launch (via video, haha, he wasn't there personally!). He said that no other makeup brand has the amazing colors that shu uemura has.

That is true. My job as a magazine editor has exposed me to a lot of makeup but, yup, nothing beats the pigments of shu uemura. When it comes to color, get shu uemura. My eye shadows and blushes are shu uemura.

Anyway! Lagerfeld's line for shu is called the Mon Shu Uemura. It's French for My shu uemura. Lagerfeld's signature black tie and white shirt is worn by the Mon Shu Girl he sketched himself. It's so cute and quirky!

For a better idea on what the products look like (and their correct colors), here are the official product shots:

Two beauty icons! Karl Lagerfeld and shu uemura's premium cleansing oil!

Must have before makeup! UV underbase. 

Makeup palette

One of the shadow palettes.

The bestselling lash curler with the rubber pad in blazing red.

Need more lashes? Try these!

Red lipstick. It's all you really need actually. 

That is the most flattering shade of red polish!

Add nail art stickers for instant designer nails!

Fab fab fab! Okay, I turned the next photos black and white. A little tip to events organizers: Never ever use lights that are blue and pink and other colors. Never! It messes with people's skin tones. Everyone looked either 100% cyan or 100% magenta. Sorry, had to use print publishing terms.

And if it's a product launch—whether it's makeup or clothes—the colored lights mess up the products' real colors, too. That is not a good thing. For example, the makeup above. The eyeshadows look muddy.

So always mimic sunlight. Take my photo above, for example. I posed near a window. So I look normal. No blue tones on my skin. Blue tones give people a deathly pallor. Hence, the B&W pictures below. Everyone either looked like zombies (blue) or lobsters (red). Such a shame because everyone from shu uemura looked amazing!

This is the always chic Nina Solano. Happy birthday!

Super cute and stylish Karen Crisostomo. You met her here.

My friend, shu uemura makeup artist John Pagaduan, weaving his magic using the shu x Karl makeup.
John always makes me so beautiful (see proof here)!

Beauty bloggers cluster around John to learn his secrets.

The finished makeup on the models. Sorry, no colors! Really such a shame. The makeup was gorgeous.
But the cameras couldn't capture it because the lights washed out the colors.

The shu uemura Philippines team!

I super love shu uemura's new collection! Actually, I love anything shu. And so will you! The special shu uemura x Karl Lagerfeld Collection is available at shu uemura boutiques at Power Plant Mall, Shangri-la Plaza, Rustan's Makati, Alabang Town Center and Trinoma.

I'm baaaaaack!

Wow. I have been gone from the fashion and beauty blogging world for months!

Will make up for that soon. In fact, I'll give a sneak peek at my makeup kit--something I've never done because I didn't want to give away my tried-and-tested beauty arsenal!

What you see above is my absolute no-fail makeup products. Benefit Benetint, Bobbi Brown bronzer, NARS blush, Body Shop makeup brushes, Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skin Tone Illuminator, Model Co. eyebrow kit, La Mer lip balm, La Mer powder and La Mer concealer.

I have bad skin--years of acne have led to scars and spots. But no one ever notices because of my ever reliable makeup. And I don't even pile them on. So even if the products I use are expensive, because a little goes a long way, they last forever. They end up not costing a lot at all. Try them!

Loving Stila's eye defining pens

Like the new duchess, I like eye liner. I don't have lush lashes, you see, so I rely on eyeliner to define my eyes.

image source

Unlike Catherine, I don't go overboard! Better to keep the eye liner soft since this defines the eyes without making it look smaller, which tons of eye liner tend to do. But don't get me wrong--I love Catherine! She's my hair and style idol!

Anyway, I use Stila liquid eye liner. I love it! It's so easy to use. I never make a mistake when lining my eyes and it stays put all day, despite the heat and humidity. So I got really excited when Stila announced they have new eye liners for their 2011 Fall Collection.

Here's the new Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, P745. It glides on lids and can be applied thinly or boldly!

I love liquid eye liner because it's easy to apply. A lot of girls won't agree with me, though. Liquid means you have to be very precise, with hands that do not shake at all. But I love my Stila liquid liner because the brush point is so thin, I can draw a skinny line first then just build on it. I can do cat's eye easily!

But if you prefer gentler and mistake-proof application but just as impressive results, the Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liners, 895, are fabulous for the job. They're much more fun with lots of shimmery colors to choose from: triggerfish, lionfish, moray, bluefin, stingray, silver dollar, blue ribbon, peacock, purple tang. Personally, I like moray, which is green. Green brings out the brown of my eyes!

Stila is available at Rustan's Essenses.

Make-Up Designory slashes price for their personal makeup classes this August!

At just P3,000, it's practically free! Sign up, sign up! Slots are limited!

I'd have loved up to sign for MUD's class but since it's only offered on Sundays, no can do. Sundays are family days!

You can get free--really free--makeup classes from Bobbi Brown makeup counters. It's just brisk five-minute pep classes. If you go every day, then hey!

But if you want a real class, you can get one but you'll have to buy P5,000 worth of Bobbi Brown products. Still a good deal if you compare it with MUD's. MUD's is 3K but no products. Bobbi Brown's comes with 5K worth of products and you can go to the counter anytime of the day, any day of the week. Plus, it's personalized and customized--just you and the makeup artist.

Will talk more about Bobbi Brown's classes in another post. For now, MUD's offer is a really great deal so enroll soonest!

Major madness over Majolica Majorca!

A few weeks ago, I received the loveliest packages from the latest makeup brand to hit our shores: Majolica Majorca.

They are so adorable! I haven't used them yet but my fellow magazine editors are in love with the makeup, especially the pressed powder encased in the golden compact.

I just love the packaging. It's so kawaii! Yes, Majolica Majorca is the baby of Japanese beauty brand Shiseido. Only the Japanese can come up with packaging that makes any girl want to grab the product--without knowing what the product is! In fact, when I saw the charming tins of blushes, I thought they were sweets!

It's only fitting then that Majolica Majorca gave media a product sneak peek at the candy-colored dessert boutique Bizu.

With Myrza Sison. I went to Bizu straight from the gym!

OK!'s beauty columnist Nikki Mercado and
Shen Gee of Shen's Addiction

Look at Nikki's tiny waist!

Majolica Majorca's Cath David

In honor of the yummy makeup, we were all asked to decorate cookies and here's what I did:

The loves of my life! Served with sprinkles and macaroon blushes!

For gorgeous photos of this exclusive media event, go to their Facebook page (and like it, too!)

Majolica Majorca is available at all SM Department Stores and Watsons nationwide.

Be BECCA Beautiful!

I'll be honest with you. Going to Adora at Greenbelt 5 intimidates me. I always feel like everything there must be so damn expensive that I don't even dare enter. Well, it's a good thing my friend Pinky Jacob-Ileto invited me to the launch of BECCA Cosmetics because I got to see that everything in Adora is such high quality that the prices aren't exactly expensive, more like quite reasonable.

Proof is when I checked out BECCA. This is a British brand created by Australian makeup artist Rebecca Morrice Williams. She couldn't find the perfect foundation so she set out to create it herself.

And I gotta say, when Becca makeup artist Nikki applied it on my skin, BECCA's foundation really did feel weightless. It also covered my blemishes and freckles but didn't settle on my fine lines. I looked fresh, not made up! Here are more of the line at the BECCA counters:

Really sorry for the sepia photos. Used my phone camera since I forgot my Olympus at home. But in case you want to know more about BECCA, go to their website or just hop over to Adora and shop there! The price points are the same as Shu Uemura and Lancome. Quite okay since the makeup's pretty awesome!

So looking forward to the new NARS eye shadow base!

The fabulous ladies of Visions & Expressions and Shey Mazon of Rustan's invited me to a little beauty launch of something very big: the NARS 2010 Summer Collection! Now I'm a NARS user (For blush, I only use Orgasm--it's perfection!) so obviously I had to go. I was so excited that I forgot to bring my camera! So I'l have to use the press images but there was a part in the demonstration that was really unbelievably amazing and I wasn't able to take a shot to show you! Am I annoyed with myself? YES!

Anyway, Rustan's flew in NARS makeup artist Michael Hanz. He is so adorable with really fluttery eyelashes. And he's such a girlfriend! The first time he met us editors and he made us feel like we've been friends for life. So, anyway! I asked him who his favorite Hollywood clients are and he said quite bluntly, "Emily Blunt." He also added that Sarah Jessica Parker is a fan of the Multiples line, Serena Williams and Beyonce love everything, and Kim Kardashian uses Turkish Delight gloss.  

Now, while we all oohed and ahhed over the many new products (like the Orgasm Illuminator, Pure Sheer Lip Treatment, etc), what really had me AMAZED was this little tube:

Behold, the PRO-PRIME Smudge-Proof Eye Shadow Base! Michael said it best: "This won't make you breakfast but it will change the world!" And when he showed us just how, I became a believer.

Beauty updates!

I've been very very busy putting to bed the June issue of OK! magazine and gathering stories for you. Here's the special stories to watch for:

1. Johnson's & Johnson's Body and Bayo's fashion and beauty show
2. Pond's Flawless White's latest TVC, Dear Diary
3. NARS' upcoming fabulous makeup products (this is beyond exciting!!!)
4. Kenneth Cole's new super comfy high heels
5. TOMS Shoes' campaign to help poor Filipino kids get shoes

And, last but most definitely not the least, a beauty giveaway featuring famous Japanese brand Shiseido!!! I'm doing a fantabulous giveaway so I'm going to make the mechanics just a little hard, just so I can see how much you want the prize!

Okay, that's it! Are you excited??? I am!!!

Lola Cosmetics' Klexius Kolby one beauty tip for the ladies!

A few weeks ago, I found myself at Makati Shangri-la's posh Red restaurant for an intimate lunch with makeup artist Klexius Kolby. There was just me, Preview's Pauline Juan and Good Housekeeping's Pia Rojas and--after a lovely meal of tuna tartar, sea bass and flourless chocolate cake--we just had to ask Klexius about Hollywood, makeup tricks and beauty tips.

Paul & Joe celebrates their 3rd birthday!

All you kikay girls need to mark your calendars this weekend! French fashion and beauty brand Paul & Joe is celebrating three beautiful years in Manila with a weekend of beauty!

I'm definitely going this Friday, before I get my Clarins facial. I've never used Paul & Joe products before so I'm very curious. The birthday bash will be held at the Paul & Joe beauty counter at Rustan's Makati. Let's go!

Makeup artist Nina Ricci Alagao will show pretty girls like us how to create spring's prettiest looks. I'm all about looking fresh and pretty so I'll see you there!

Halloween glamour!

It's Halloween this weekend! And with the second Twilight franchise coming to theaters in a few weeks, everyone's going crazy over Team Edward and Team Jacob. Well, at this year's Halloween parties, why not show whose side you're on by donning these glamorous looks?

Vampire

Werewolf

Fantabulous beauty blog Hair in Manila details how you can look like a sexy she-wolf or a sultry vampire in its Halloween Glam series. Hop on over there now for inspiration!

Support Breast Cancer Awareness with beauty

My weekend had a lovely start when I checked out the World Pink event yesterday at Rustan's Makati. The pink-themed affair was sponsored by Estee Lauder Group of Companies so I was very excited to see not just Estee Lauder products but products and activities from their other brands as well (La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Clinique).

The focus of the event is our wellness. So women attendees, especially those from the I Can Serve Foundation, had a fun time learning to value their health. There were cooking demonstrations, yoga classes, makeup lessons, facials, skin consultations plus the yummiest hors d'oeuvres served by Intercontinental Hotel. And, did I forget to mention the fabulous freebies? We all got a little pouch with a fluffy towel, a Bobbi Brown lip-and-cheeks pot rouge and mini blush brush, and--of course!--a pink ribbon.

Healthy food need not be yucky, guests learn at the cooking demos.

Exercise is needed for complete wellness so guests gamely do yoga.

This lady has her skin professionally scrutinized by a Clinique expert.

Everyone gets pointers on how to look good!

Beauty writer Marie Calica gets a pampering session from La Mer.

A guest goes through a makeover at the Bobbi Brown counter.

Each guest brought home a pouch full of prettifiers

Raise awareness on breast cancer and care more for yourself and the women in your life by going to World Pink this weekend. You still have all of today and tomorrow to enjoy some pampering!

First photo details: With the Estee Lauder ladies and fellow editors. That's me at center in a white Kate Torralba dress featuring embroidered pink cherry blossoms, Bayo cardigan, Schu flats and Longchamp clutch.