Make-UP anyone?

Why should one do make-up workshop?

Not for purely vanity reasons.  Make-up is more than looking beautiful but it has been used widely to raise self-eteem and confidence.  And women who feel good about themselves proved to be better in their performances in both career and interpersonal relationships.

Why would I want to go to a make-up workshop?

As a photographer and a blogger, socializing and client calls are necessary.  I have learned in my past experiences that people do measure you in terms of how you look.  Sloppy make-up or no make-up at all makes you look inefficient and unprofessional.  Upon learning, I groomed myself to look the professional that I am and noticed that people are more at  ease and more comfortable with me and what I can do.

I know I am good, so I initially felt that I need not put extra effort in how I look..because, people hire me for my skills.  Wrong.  At a conference that I attended,  one of the major factors that people fail in offering their services is because they fail in impression management.  If you don't look efficient, you are most likely to be thought of as inefficient.

The thing is, you can control what you think of yourself, but you cannot control the thoughts of people surrounding you.  

Like for example when applying for a job...In the interview, they size you up the moment you come in.  And the first impressions you give will tend to condition the mind of employer during the interview.  If you look sloppy and plain, you will that you have to work twice as hard to convince the interviewer that you are worth their time.  In these type of scenarios (and similar to this), perception,most often than not,  becomes reality.

There are a few exceptional individuals of course...unfortunately, I am one ladder below them...so I have to kick ass to prove to other people that I am worth their money.  But before I could kick their asses, I have to put my foot on the door to  stop it from closing...and that is by packaging myself correctly.

Personally also, I find myself more confident in asserting when discussing a project...maybe because when I'm all made-up, I kinda look credible  *tee hee ^.^

My first attempts in make-up is disastrous.  I highlighted the wrong features and ended up scaring everyone.  Make-up lessons were not available in my turf then...so I ended up experimenting and experimenting -----and experiencing humiliation after another that it became a private joke between me and my mom.  Not a very long one though, my mom owned a salon so  that embarrassing moment of my life did not last long :P  But it was expensive.  She had to hire me a personal beautician for all the parties and  events that I need to attend...she had the money...but I don't... so I have to learn quickly.

The one thing I was very scared of to do wrong was shape my eyebrows incorrectly.  Clean eyebrows equals a clean face.  Bushy eyebrows is not very flattering...it makes the most attractive women look unattractive and plain...in some cases masculine.  Too thin eyebrows creates false expressions.  Eyebrows arched incorrectly is just plain disastrous... do you get my point? so be careful with your eyebrows, it's the one feature that actually defines your face.

My mom would always say that make-up is not about trying to be someone that you are not.  It supposed to bring out the best  in you...unless you're in theater.  The face is our primary tool in communication, and just like we choose the best dress, best gadgets, write the best letters, choose the best selections to represent us;  we should groom our face properly and appropriately, because its the only face people will look at and associate us with.

The  dilemma always is that when one tends to be beautiful one tends to wish for people to overlook the beauty to find something interesting in the person.   That one has characteristics and skills beyond the physical.  But most of the time people will only bother to dig deeper than what they see is when they look at an attractive face.  

Ironic, isn't it?

International Make-up Artist Mae Ann Cortez will be having a beauty make-up workshop/clinic on June 18-19, 2010.  Early Bird Registration is Php3,500.

Sexy in Red

Women who dress in red are seen as sexier by men than those who wear white, green, gray, or blue, according to a study at the University of Rochester. They're even 56 percent more likely to get asked out on a date than women in blue.

Beauty Regimen for a cleaner face

Ms. Dulce Lada

Having a clean face is important, no perfect make up can ever substitute a clean blemish free face.

Whenever I feel ugly, its not just because my make up doesn't feel right...it is usually when I have a pimple or we find my face too course or too oily. I call it a 'stressed' face.

The usual beauty regimen I do is  wash my face in the morning and at night.  Unless necessary, I try to wash my face twice a day, maximum -- It is more than enough for any skin type..

Here are some points to watch out for:

1. Washing the face too often may lead to oily skin, the glands may be tricked to thinking that it is not producing enough oil, thus it will, in effect, produce more.  Not cleansing regularly especially before you sleep may also lead to build up and eruptions.
2. Also when cleaning your face, use trepid water.  Hot water can dry and damage the skin and cold water won't dissolve and take away the grim as effectively as lukewarm water.
3. You can do without a sponge or a cloth, your fingertips can do a very good job in cleaning your face.  Make sure to wash your hands though before cleansing, otherwise, you might end up rubbing and working dirt in your facial skin.
4. Do not Scrub too much.  It will damage your skin.  Upward circular massaging strokes is enough to loosen the grime and dirt.
5. Rinse with lots of water otherwise the cleanser residue will clog and attract dirt.
6. Blot your face dry, do not rub!
7. Seal it off with a water based moisturizer afterwards because it is when skin is most receptive to nourishment.

Having a clean face is important, no perfect make up can ever be a substitute to a clean blemish free face.  However there are instances when facial wash is not enough.  Especially during my period or when I am very busy and stressed because that would mean not enough time to slee. I've end up having skin discoloration and then pimples would start to show...What I use to clean my face up, when facial wash and water doesn't do the trick is I buy the Beauche set.

my facial cleansing kit
*toner, clarifying lotion, exfoliating cream,
rejuvenating cream, age eraser cream

One set is Php 750 - a set consists of one of each:  soap, skin toner, clarifying lotion, exfoliating cream, rejuvenating cream, and an age eraser cream.

The soap is color orange and it smells really nice, Brendel said it's papaya.  The toner also has a sweet smell.  The age eraser cream actually works as a sunblock.  Just make sure to use it thinly on your face.  Too much of it will make you perspire as the cream is heavy.

If you decide try it, one thing you would notice after your first use is the softness and coolness of your skin.  Try touching your cheek and feel how instantly it loses its dryness.  The first two days though, you wouldn't want to go out, your pimples and blemishes is at its worst.

I don't normally peel off when I use it, nor does it make my face white.  It clears your face and it makes it blemish free, you would have a feeling that your face has brightened up.  I have a friend though who had experienced a mild peeling when using this kit.  So I think, it may vary, depending on your skin type.

Usually, after three days of use, my face would start to clear up.  Stubborn pimples dry and my face would be almost blemish free after a week of using it daily.  After using it for two to three weeks, I use the toner and clarifying lotion and the creams every other day or three times a week ^.^

Drop a size by just smelling nice.

According to Allure:

Women who wear spicy, floral fragrances seem thinner than they actually are. "On average, men perceive women to be 12 pounds thinner when they're wearing these fragrances," explains Hirsch. So if worrying about your weight kills your confidence, remembering this could relieve some anxiety.

Assuming thinner equals are sexier  or more attractive (which we think is not necessarily so), this may relieve some anxiety.  But how significant is this illusion when men doesn't normally know how to tell a woman's weight to begin with?

Here are some spicy florals to try:

• Chanel Chance (although technically Fruity Chypre, it's light and flowery)
• Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Hot
• Kate by Kate Moss
• Origins Ginger Essence
• Hermès Un Jardin Après la Mousson
• Yardley English Lavender (a shared fragrance between men and women)

"Many rich white florals and Fruity Florals have subtle spices in the blend whether such notes are listed or not, giving them vibrant, youthful appeal, such as Grès Cabotine,Monyette Paris, La Prairie Silver Rain and Benefit Maybe Baby.  It's interesting to me how the study distinguished Spicy Florals from Spicy Orientals (examples: Calvin KleinObsession, Yves Saint-Laurent Opium or, what the hey, Shulton Old Spice for Men).  Oriental fragrances are heavier and sweeter (ambery, vanillic) or more musky (often woody and / or animalic) than Florals.  Perhaps the trick here is to keep the fragrance high-pitched, just as light and airy instrumentation in music with harps and flutes can make an audience visualize sprites." - Saly Ogure - NY Fashion Examiner 

If anyone knows a local and cheaper counterpart, please post for our readers ^.^

Trim those eyebrows!

No plans to trim those bushy eyebrows?

Ladies, may I tell you that clean and well defined eyebrows is the key to looking neat and refreshed?  The eyebrows actually define the face.  If the hair defines your image by 50%, the eyebrows is the next big factor that affects how you look.

Another is, if you are not big on make up, maintaining your eyebrow is essential.  A naturally thick eyebrow can make the most beautiful woman looking masculine.

I don't mean you go ahead and pluck them crazy.  I meant, shape them properly.

 The biggest mistake other people make is they tweeze them too much making their eyebrows look like a divine mistake God committed upon his creation of that person.  Ever seen a woman that looks so much of a snob? most likely her eyebrows are arched higher than the rest.  It's called a "false expression" due to a "beauty malfunction".  You have to remember, eyebrows play a major role in expression and has an important facilitative role in communication.  Shaping your eyebrows incorrectly, like arching it too much, may send out a psychological signal that you are angry, when in fact you are not.

Eyebrows also help you define your personality.  A bright and "lit-up" face is not because of make up, but rather it is because of well trimmed eyebrows.  It brings attention to your eyes serving as a frame for your face.  Thick eyebrows bring attention to just the brows, period.

Your eyebrows complement your eyes, lips, and facial structure.  If you have a straight eyebrow, arching them might not look good on you.  The best way to trim your eyebrows is to work with what type of eyebrow you have.  If you arch them the wrong way, it will look prominent and out of place making you look weird.

Eyebrows also protect your eyes from sweat and other debris...so plucking them until they are only but a single line of their former "self" is not a good idea.  It makes you look washed out and outdated.  It will also add unnecessary maturity on your face e.g. makes you look OLD.

If you don't know how to, best to consult a professional.  When it starts to grow back, it is easier to upkeep it yourself.

Eyebrow Threading is already available is salons around the city.  It costs about Php100-150.

For those who are not familiar with eyebrow threading, it's a hair removal technique using a cotton thread instead of tweezers.  The aesthetician pluck a clean line of hair all at once.  Threading is the easier and quicker method of trimming the eyebrows.  It is more precise than waxing and does not use harmful products.

Threading is highly recommended for those who use Retin-A, Accutane, or similar products.

For those who would like to try it on themselves, please! please! do it with a good mirror and in bright light.  Do not tempt fate by trying this beauty trick in low light, or worse, in the dark! =P

TIP: The best time to pluck your eyebrows is the WEEK AFTER your first red day (period).  It is when our body is least sensitive to hair removal ^.^

Below is an instructional video from video jug featuring a professional make-up artist and her tips on how to shape your brow properly.  

You will need a stick or a pencil, eyebrow pencil, and tweezers.

(video from videojug.com)

Eyebrows:

How To Determine Your Eyebrow Shape