How to: D-I-Y Brows that Wow

For me, one of the things every woman should know is how to groom their eyebrows. With or without make-up, the power of a well-groomed brow makes a huge impact not just on your eyes but your whole look as well. It has the ablility to make one look young or old, happy, tired or worried like Bert of Sesame Street or perpetually angry like the Angry birds and Oscar the Grouch. Just as foundation evens out the skin tone which is the canvas, eyebrows frame the face. It has the ability to make or break your look. This is a great tip especially for those who wear glasses. A well-groomed brow opens up and brightens up the face. For the younger teenage crowd though, I would suggest you wait until college before you start touching your eyebrows. An exception can be made probably for your prom or graduation by occasionally having it professionally cleaned at a salon or your trusted make-up artist. Taking DIY route before you are even old enough to get a driver’s license is usually a source of regrets later on when you realize that you over-tweezed and have a hard time growing them back. For the rest of us who are of legal age, DIY can be a way to go and here is how I do it, my way ☺

Things you need:

A pair of good tweezers – I find that the one with the slanted tip works best
Eyebrow pencil, eyebrow powder or cream
White eyeliner (optional. for beginners)
Clear mascara
Angled brow brush

The eyebrow shape should depend on your face shape in order to balance it out. That’s a bit advanced for many and I can do a separate post on that. For now, we’d stick to the basics. To know where your brows should start, arch, and end, use a pencil to measure. From the side of the nose, hold the pencil vertically up, crossing the inner corner of your eye going up the brow line. This is where the brows should start. Look straight in the mirror then keeping one side of the pencil on the side of the nose, move the other end at an angle crossing the outer part of the iris towards the outer corner of the eye extending to the brow line. This is where you place the arch. Moving the pencil it farther away like the hands of a clock, crossing the outer corner of the eyes to the brow is where your brow should stop. To better understand what I mean, kindly see diagram below.

I don’t really do this to my clients but for beginners, you can follow this extra step to help guide you. Using the white eyeliner, mark off the three points where the brow should start, where the arch should be and where it should end. Connect the dots as illustrated below. This would be your cheat guide. With your pair of tweezers, pluck out all stray hair that are outside of the guide you just drew, pulling it out toward the direction of the hair growth.

For those with very sparse eyebrows, I would just clean the area under the brow and avoid plucking the hair on top in order to not make it look too thin. For those with extra bushy brows, you may use a pair of scissors and a brow comb to trim the upper part while you comb the hair upwards.

Do the same thing to the other eyebrow while stepping back from the mirror every now and then to check if they are symmetrical. Remember though that restraint is key. Never ever be too tweezer-happy that you overpluck. You will regret it later on as the hair that grow back are really thin if they do ever grow back.

After removing stray hair, don’t forget to erase the guide you drew earlier. It is now time to fill in the gaps. With this step, I prefer using eyebrow powder as it is easier to control and looks natural for everyday wear. It is safest to go a shade or two lighter than your hair. An exception to the rule is if you are blonde, you should chose something that is a shade darker. Using your angled brush, outline the lower portion of your brow following its new shape. Brush the color upwards filling in the sparse areas keeping it lighter in the inner corner and a bit darker towards the end. Finish it off with clear mascara to keep the brows in place.

Filling in the gaps with eyebrow powder

Finished look without clear mascara


There you have it, the secret to DIY well-groomed eyebrows. A word of warning though: only the brave beginner should dare to go this route. Haha! If you are unsure or are not yet too confident to do it yourself, it is best to let the professionals do it for you, then maintain the shape yourself later on as the stray hair grows back. What about you, how do you shape and groom your brows?

Complete with full make-up for photoshoot

10 Tips for Effortless Beauty for Moms on-the-Go

Hey everyone! It has been a while since I last wrote something but I do have a last-quarter-of-the-year resolution I’m hoping to keep: Blog more! haha! I have been wanting to share more of my thoughts and helpful tips with you but it has been quite busy lately with my little one, Amanda who is turning two years old in a months time. When I gave birth to her, beauty and makeup routines were almost down to zero for me as I embraced motherhood, a new chapter in my life. My husband and I really wanted to be hands-on parents and opted not to get a nanny to help take care of her. With very little sleep, looking and feeling pretty was last priority and my peg for my everyday look was a zombie. Don’t get me wrong because I believe that being a mom is really one of the most beautiful roles a woman could have. It allows her to exercise her inner beauty when she selflessly puts her baby’s needs above her own. However, it is somewhat challenging to match that inner beauty with your outer appearance. I vividly remember that the only me time I had back when Amanda was a newborn was my own bath time and I could only do that when my husband or my parents were around. Now that Amanda is almost two, keeping up with a playful toddler, taking care of my husband’s needs, doing household chores, being a professional makeup artist and trying to look my best on top of it all can still pose as a challenge but definitely not mission impossible. Let me share a few of my tips for effortless beauty on the go.

1. Make time for quiet time. Staying connected to the ultimate Creator of beauty keeps me focused and helps me figure out which tasks to prioritize. At the end of the day, I no longer worry if I am not able to check out all items on my to-do list because I believe in what the bible says that “ Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21. Worrying less is a well kept beauty secret for a youthful glow.

2. Hydrate and nourish yourself well. Being a mom is a lot of hard work. Especially when you breastfeed your child, it is best to have a bottle of water to bring along with you when you are out. To be healthy, it is already a given that you should eat a well-balanced meal whether you are a mom or not. Taking vitamins and your daily supplements would help boost your immune system resulting to a healthier, more beautiful you.

3. No time to exercise? Take short walks with your little one around your village, in the park or even at the malls whenever you can. Think of ways you can incorporate exercise into your daily activities like taking the stairs instead of the elevator. It is an added bonus for breastfeeding moms that breastfeeding does burn some of the extra calories.

4. Give your closet a makeover. Being a busy mom is no excuse to wear frumpy clothes. Keep your maternity clothes and find things you could mix and match from your pre-pregnancy days that fit you now. Do a little bargain shopping for clothes that flatter your figure without breaking the bank. If you’re lucky to have a sister like me, you could even shop in their closets if they will let you.

5. Sport a low maintenance haircut that looks great on you. You can even match it with some color if you are bold enough to update your look.

6. Take care of your skin by going back to the basics of cleanse-tone-moisturize routine. Find the right products suited to your skin type and not just what is popular now. Don’t forget to put on your SPF to protect you from the premature aging effects of sun exposure.

7. Do wear some make-up to enhance your natural beauty. Put on some concealer set with powder on areas that need it. Mascara on curled lashes can make a huge impact on your peepers to make you look more awake despite the lack of sleep. Add a little blush and some gloss to finish off to make you look put together. Mind you, with some practice, it doesn’t really take up much time to look polished.

8. Tame those brows. Your eyebrows frame your face and a well-shaped pair instantly brightens up your features with or without make up. Have a professional do it for you if you do not know how. Better yet, stay tuned to my blog as I will be doing a brow tutorial very soon.

9. Schedule regular dates with your husband. It keeps the romance in your marriage alive by giving you time alone together to reconnect. It also gives you a motivation to look and feel pretty for the one you are spending the rest of your life with. It’s a no brainer that your beauty blooms even more when you are in love.

10. Smile is still your best accessory. A joyful grateful heart makes it easier to genuinely flash those pearly whites even during crunch times and those moments that are not exactly going the way you want it to. This is where tip number one can help.

Ironically, looking effortlessly beautiful can really take some effort on our part. Even if becoming a mom has made our schedules impossibly busy, the choice is still ours to make to squeeze in some time to take care of ourselves and be beautiful both inside and out.

PRODUCT REVIEW : Make-Up Designory Foundations and Loose Powder

As a professional makeup artist, I am always on the lookout for great professional quality products to use on my clients and even on myself. In this field of work, I simply cannot afford to look less than my best especially when I go out. When I do my makeup shopping for my professional kit, I do my research first so I could get the most bang out of my buck. Buying makeup for me is an investment and it pays to be wise. I read other blogs and reviews online then I ask my fellow makeup artists about a certain product I am eyeing to buy before I actually run to the store and buy it. One of the most important products you simply cannot skimp on is the foundation. No matter how nicely you have done your smokey eye or painted a perfect red lip, having a blotchy foundation that is too light for your skin tone is a makeup mess. For me, a good foundation should have buildable coverage from sheer to full coverage depending on my client’s skin condition and still look and feel like skin without caking or flaking, good for high definition cameras. It should also be long-wearing with minimal or no need for touch-ups.

After some research, in my quest for good quality foundation, I went to Purbeauty in Serendra during their sale to check out for myself the MUD (Makeup Designory) Cream Foundations and loose powder. I originally wanted to buy foundation palette #2 which had 8 shades suited for Asian skintones but since I was just on the testing mode I opted to buy refills of some shades I could mix and match. I got shades YG 1, YG 3 and GY3 for mixing and contouring. Since I also ran out of loose powder in my kit, I got MUD’s too in the shade Butter Cream which suits a variety of skintones.

MUD says :

CREAM FOUNDATION
The Basics: From a sheer natural look to a flawless full-coverage finish, these versatile Cream Foundations are easy to apply and hold up beautifully under the most extreme conditions. Formulated for ultra-smooth blending and application. Find your perfect match and use it alone, or blend colors like the pros to achieve a specific skin tone.

Pardon the scratches on the cream foundations as I have already used them prior to this shoot :-)


LOOSE POWDER
A finely-milled Loose Powder that creates a beautifully soft, smooth finish. So ultra-light, it stays on the skin’s surface without settling into fine lines. The silky-smooth formula applies evenly and comes in a spectrum of delicate tones from no color at all to a deep, rich brown. Perfect for setting foundation. A must-have to conquer shine.

Royal Blush says:
This product holds true to what it says it does. When used with the MUD face primer (which I purchased a few months back) and applied with the Beauty Blender sponge, it gives a sheer coverage without streaking. It is buildable for fuller coverage without looking as if it is caked on nor will it leave you feeling like you are wearing a mask. It works beautifully when set with the loose powder which locks it in for fewer or no-retouch at all. I actually used it yesterday morning when I visited some friends from my former office and I still looked and felt fresh after lunch without touch-ups. Too bad I wasn’t able to take pictures to prove it that. But I did use it on my model during a photoshoot session and it held up really great under the high definition lenses and warm lights. Don’t you agree it looks flawless on her?

Model: Joan Ramirez
HMUA: Dianne Castillo
Photographer: Marco Castillo

I even mixed it and applied it using a Beauty Blender to give her a bronzed look. I think it looked divine.

Model: Joan Ramirez
HMUA: Dianne Castillo
Photographer: Marco Castillo


Best part of it is that you only need a very small almost pea-sized amount to cover your entire face because it is highly pigmented which means a little goes a long way. This saves you money on the long run and indeed gives you a bang for your buck. Will I buy it again? Probably not the same shades as what I bought would last me a long time. But I’ll definitely go back and buy a very light shade for highlighting. I have nothing negative to say about any of MUD’s products I tried so far and I am greatly satisfied with its performance. I’m giving them two thumbs up and I’d say they are must-try products not only for professional makeup artists like me but also for any makeup enthusiast out there looking for products worth their every penny.


Disclaimer : The products I reviewed here have been purchased by yours truly and honest opinions posted are based on my own experience. No strings attached :-)

Tips from the PROS

After the storms have passed, the sun was out on a Thursday. It was an answered prayer because I was so looking forward to attend this free workshop from Purbeauty in Serendra during their sale dates and I didn’t want it to be cancelled due to bad weather. It was hitting two birds with one stone because I’d also get to look for great items to refill my makeup kit at discounted prices. I arrived early and I had ample time to shop. Being in Purbeauty made me feel like a kid in a toy store. It was not very easy to decide which items to buy. Good thing I took a mental note of what was already lacking in my pro kit. Even so, seeing all the good stuff made me more confused because being a makeup artist gave me the valid excuse that whatever I would be buying that night would be an investment. So, after consulting my manager who happens to be my very supportive husband, I took the well-thought-of items to the counter. You would think that I paid for it right there and then, but no! My thrifty mode was on and I told the lady at the counter that I would go back and pay for those items right after the workshop which was about to start.

Ms. Georginna Desuasido, sharing her journey as a makeup artist

I eagerly went in the workshop room and took my seat. In the Facebook ad, it was supposed to be about makeup in the wedding industry, trade secrets and basically the business side of things which I wanted to know more about. Being in this business is much more than just a hobby or a creative outlet. It is a lot of hardwork and definitely not for the faint-hearted. The speaker for the night was Ms. Georginna Desuasido, a professional make-up artist and an instructor at Makeup Designory Manila. She candidly shared to us how she started in this field. Here are some nuggets of wisdom I gleaned from the seasoned artist:

1. Being a make-up artist is not easy but you have to stick with it. Out of 10 people who study make-up, only 2 of them become real professional make-up artists. You have to find ways to stay in this profession. Give yourself at least two to three years before you finally decide it’s not for you.

2. Network, network, network… This business they say is 20% talent and 80% connections. This does not mean that you have to be the daughter of so and so to make it work. It’s all about being proactive in sending your portfolio to the production houses & decision-makers, marketing your services to the right people, and having great work etiquette and attitude. You’ve got to hustle and do what it takes to make it work.

3. Being shy will work against you. You have to be confident and take pride in the work that you do. It is not because you are just being boastful and thinking you are the best but simply because you gave it your best. Early in her career, none of those to whom she sent samples of her work called back. Did she think it was worth it? YES, because she knew she was doing something to reach her goals and not just sitting around hoping things will happen.

4. Being punctual is a must. There is no excuse to being late. She told us a story when she was just apprenticing for a makeup artist. Traffic was really not moving and she called the key artist about the situation. The reply she got was “ I don’t care how bad the traffic is. You park your car somewhere and get here on time!” And she did just that.

She also shared some valuable tips and tricks on how to deal with clients, pricing, making our portfolio and about the competition. She emphasized the importance of letting your clients sign a contract and to stand by it. It will protect both you and your clients from not-so-good sticky situations. Business is business therefore, we should value the investment and hardwork we put into it by doing what we say we would do and be firm with the decisions we make.

The workshop was supposed to be for 45 minutes only but it lasted for a lot more. I felt blessed to have those extra minutes to listen to what she had to say because as a makeup artist, I found that I could relate to pretty much everything she shared with us. She even gave us information how we could get in touch with her if we had more questions. She may not be able to answer them immediately but she makes sure she does reply. It was definitely worth every minute of the time I spent that night and the best part is that I got it for free! I went home feeling so high and inspired to continue working hard to pursue my dreams. Thanks MUD Manila and Purbeauty for real inspired learning.

That's me in blue...well just my back. hahaha!


Post script: If you are wondering if I ever got to buy the stuff I needed for my kit that night, I didn’t. The workshop ended late and the shop was already closed. It was a blessing in disguise though because I got to consult Ms. Georginna about the items I was contemplating on buying, saving me more money in the long run. I went back on the last Sunday to finally buy them. Watch out for my product reviews of the things I bought, coming real soon.

* All photos are from Makeup Designory Manila's Facebook page

Help and Beauty

Hi everyone! Amidst all the "unli-"rains and floods in Luzon these past few days, I think it's about time we let our true inner beauty shine by helping out our dear brothers and sisters out there. Let's take a look at our cupboards for food items we can give, clean and revamp our closet in search of good clothes we can share, and remember to take time to say a prayer for those affected by the floods.

'In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Matthew 5:16

In Full Bloom

It was one Saturday and it was raining cats and dogs where most people would love to sleep in and stay home. However, this was not the case for me. I was in a very sunny mood and also much excited to work. I was actually praying that we would push through with the project that day as I would be helping out some very special ladies look their best and be camera ready for their shoot. No, I do not know them nor have I met them yet in person, but for me, next to brides on their big day, they are literally glowing and are in full bloom: soon-to-be-moms. I texted my good friend Feliz Lucas of Lifestyle by Feliz to confirm if we are good to go to which she happily said yes. Together with her spunky photographer husband, Jayjay Lucas of Chestknots Studios, they organized a fun maternity shoot. When she texted me a few days earlier to ask if I wanted to help out, I knew it was going to be a blast so I volunteered. In their Facebook Ad, the expectant moms were supposed to come all made-up with hair and makeup. She told me later on that there were some clients who requested if they can
avail of the hair and makeup service at the venue of the shoot.

Now we fast forward to Saturday, after dropping off my daughter at my parent’s house, I arrived at Pioneer Studios where we were having the shoot about 30 minutes earlier than my call time so I could to settle in and set up. It was a very cozy place that made one feel at home and at ease while working. A few minutes later my first client and soon-to-be mom, Nieva arrived with her very supportive sister. She said she just wanted to look natural and fresh for the shoot.

Sexy expectant mom Nieva at 7 months


Next is my client Sylvia. She came in with her husband Marvin all the way from Lipa, Batangas. They braved the storm to have fun with the other expectant moms and dads. Like Nieva, she wanted a fresh natural look for her make-up and luscious curls for her hair.

Sweet and Supportive Soon-to-be-dad Marvin with beautiful soon-to-be-mom Sylvia

Simply breath-taking photo of pregnant Sylvia at 5 months


While I was helping their beauty glow even more for the cameras, I was also able to give the expectant moms a few tips I learned about motherhood and breastfeeding. I told them that they will get all sorts of advice from everyone about being a mom but they should not be pressured to follow everyone of them. It will ultimately be a test and adventure with their husbands to firmly decide how they want to raise their own child and learn how to just politely nod to ideas that they may not necessarily want to follow. Based on my experience, I also advised them to treasure their times alone with their husband and cherish sleep as early as now before their baby comes out because having a baby is definitely life-changing … in a good way of course.

It’s too bad my husband was not available to take behind the scene shots while I was working. I didn’t even have a camera on hand but thanks to my trusty old Nokia E52, I managed to take a few pictures to share with you.

Some pictures with my new found friends and proud expectant parents after the photoshoot :

As an added bonus, I even got cool give-aways from Tiny Buds and wall decals from Mesh


I have never seen that many pregnant bellies together at once. It was indeed a unique and cool inspiring way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon: being able to work with some of the most talented photographers and stylists and be surrounded by some really beautiful ladies beaming with pride for the God-given gift inside their womb.

My sexy momma friend Feliz Lucas, also in full bloom at 9 months

* Otherwise indicated, all photos and styling were done by Chestknots Studios

Project: The Blush Challenge

Project Runway, America’s Next Top Model, Shear Genius: These are just some of my favorite reality TV competition series as they are very much related to my field of expertise. With series like these, I get to hit two birds with one stone because they are not only fun to watch but I also get to learn a thing or two about the beauty industry. You could just imagine my excitement a few months ago when Velvet channel aired season one of Blush: The Search For the Next Great Makeup Artist. It’s like Project Runway but instead of designers, it’s for make-up artists like me! I was surfing channels one time and when I discovered this one, it was like I hit the jackpot.

Taken from their official show website this is how the show works:

In Lifetime’s new reality competition series, "Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist," contestants from around the country will compete for a contract as a professional artist with Max Factor, a cash prize of $100,000 and the opportunity to be the makeup artist for an upcoming InStyle photo shoot.
In each episode, the contestants, all living under one roof in Los Angeles, compete in two different makeup competitions, designed to test the skills and personality traits — including compassion and confidence — necessary for success in the field. Following the second challenge, one contestant will be eliminated.

Nine Makeup Artists compete for the title

Mentor Charlie Green with contestant Maura "Mo" Lewitts and her model


How cool is that? I watched every episode of it and tried to glean every bit of wisdom and tips I could gain to help me in my profession. It shows how being makeup artist is not just about being able to whip up a look for the client with fluffy brushes and all that some consider superficial. It is a serious business that entails hardwork, determination, creativity, and passion for the craft. Being able to collaborate with other people in the industry is equally important as the looks you create should jive with what the art director, photographer, stylist and whoever is calling the shots would envision it to be with a touch of your signature style in it. They say art could not be rushed but with this industry, makeup artists must be able to work with speed and precision and be able to deliver results with grace under pressure. All of these, I believe, the reality competition series was successful to capture what goes on in real life.

The series is over and instead of just talking about the blow by blow account of each episode here about who won the challenge and the drama that transpired between the contestants, I decided to do something different. There is a saying that learning is not confined to the four walls of the classroom and another that states that experience is a great teacher. So to take my learning process up a notch, I will be taking on what I call the Blush Challenge. Every so often, I will be posting about one challenge in one of the episodes and try to do it myself as if I were the contestant in the series. I will be looking for volunteer models on whom I could create the required looks for in the same amount of time that was given to the competitors in the show. Leave a comment below if you’re willing to be my victim… I mean volunteer. (haha) If my mentors are up for it, I could even invite them to be the judges too. That way, I could get constructive criticism for my work. Do watch out for it, be a part of my own adventure series coming very soon brought to you by Royal Blush.

Judges Joanna Schlip, Hal Rubinstein and Danni Minogue

Contestant Todd Homme with model

Now I’m wondering now if there’s ever going to be season 2 for Blush. If there will be a contest like that here in the Philippines, I would definitely love to join. Meanwhile, I would take every opportunity to grow and learn in my craft and the Blush Challenge is just one of them. I just love learning. Whatever profession you are in, you should use the gifts and talents God has given you and create opportunities to learn and grow. Seize the moment. For me, it makes life more interesting, fun and just worth living. After all, what could be better than having our Heavenly Father say to us in the end, “ Well done, good and faithful servant. ”