MY O.D. LOOK

This post is a marriage of two things that I feel for the most.. dreaming of being a cabin crew and makeup! Going to an open day for any airline requires the applicant to be his/her absolute best, physically, mentally, and emotionally. One of the tools to help us to be extra beautiful is makeup.well not only make up , but the right application of it. It is meant to enhance, not to make us look like clowns.

My ultimate go-to look for an open day/assesment day/interview is natural makeup paired with red lips. It spells professional and sophisticated.

Here's a step by step guide to achieve the look:

1. Primer

A primer is a product that will makeup your makeup last longer through hours of waiting, sweat, rubbing etc. Its also a great way for makeup to adhere more to your skin, making it look more natural. Basically, it prepares your skin for the other products that you will apply on your face.

Must try: Smashbox Photofinish Primer. (available at Beauty Bar)

2. Foundation

Okay, this is meant to even out your skin tone and not to whiten your skin! So in choosing the perfect foundation for you, test three shades on your jawline and see which one disappears more on your skin. I personally love liquid foundations as it is the easiest for me to blend.

You can use a flat foundation brush, stippling brush, beauty blender, or your fingers to apply on the skin. Make sure to clean your hands first though! Start on the center of the face, going outwards. Use downward strokes to flatten our tiny facial hairs.

Must try: MAC Studio Fix Fluid (Powerplant, Glorrieta, Rustans Shang)

3. Concealer

Choose a concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin, preferrably on the yellowish undertone. This will neutralize the darkness in your eyebags. Apply in a patting motion and blend evenly so it adheres seamlesly onto the skin.

Must try: Kryolan Dermacolor Concealer

4. Powder

After the application of cream/liquid products on the face, it is important to set it with powder. Dust your face with translucent powder or 2 way foundation powder, adding more to the undereye area, and oily parts.

Must try: MAC Studiofix Powder

5.Blush

Smile and apply on the apples of the cheeks going upwards, to accentuate the cheekbones. Remember to blend blend blend since this is the key to the natural look! Fair skinned girls look best in peachy-pink blush, while morenas look best with rosy pinks. Avoid loud fuschia at all costs! haha

Must try: MAC Blush in Melba

6. Eyes

Emphasize your eyes! Personally, I wear neutral color eyeshadow on the eyes since I use red lipstick. Just choose one part of the face that you will emphasize. After applying eyeshadow, line your lower lash line with black or brown liner. Line your upper lash line with liquid eyeliner.

Curl your lashes, and apply 3 coats of mascara. Don't forget to apply mascara on the lower lashes as well! This will really open up your eyes.

Must try: Prestige Waterproof Eyeliner, MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack, Maybelline Mascara

7. Eyebrows

Thread, pluck, or shave the stray hairs please! Have it done professionally if you're not quite sure how to do it. Once you have neat brows, lightly simulate hair growth with a eyebrow pencil or eye brow powder. Use strokes going upward to make it very natural and not penciled-on.

Brush your eyebrows with eyebrow gel to make it look very groomed. Use clear or colored (dark brown for dark hair, light brown for light-haired girls)

Must try: MAC Browgels

8.Lipstick

Apply lipbalm. blot off the excess with tissue. Line your lips with red lip liner... not just the edges but every inch on your lip. This will make your lip color last very long. Blot the excess with tissue. Apply your red lip color with a lip brush so the edges will be more precise. Blot excess.

Lightly dust your perfectly done red lips with translucent powder. This is the secret to the longevity of the lip color.

Personally, I like matte dark red lipstick. I don't use gloss afterwards, but if you want to, feel free to do so. After all, makeup is applied to you feel your ABSOLUTE BEST!

Must try: MAC Lipstick in Russian Red, NYX Lipstick in SnowWhite

After achieving your OD look, don't forget to smile! This is your weapon in capturing the eyes of the RO's. :)

QR August Open Day

Check out the QR website! Open day in Manila, Philippines on August 21, 2010! :)

BOOK: Moudifa! Culture Shock From the Top

I've been obsessing about anything even remotely affiliated with flight attendants these days, and finding the book Moudifa! Culture Shock From the Top was something to feed my addiction. Haha. I've read about it from flygirl's blog, (sadly, I'm not updated about her exciting flying life anymore since her blog is already closed to the public) many many months ago but did not have any luck in finding it. The book was always out of stock or they just plain didn't have it.

So, one day in Megamall, after hoarding clothes at Forever 21 (the main reason why I've been frequenting Megamall lately) I decided to drop by Central Books since I remembered that they carry that book there. So without really expecting, I went and asked. And luckily they have one on stock! Finally. :)

I haven't finished it yet so I can't really give a review or anything about it. All I can share is that it is written by a former cabin crew for Arabian Air (does this still exist?) Margarita Marquis. I believe that the book revolves around her life in Saudi Arabia, and her adventures/misadventures in a land that is completely different from where she grew up.

The book only costs 275 so it's a steal! So guys, if you're interested, go buy one at Central Books in Megamall. I think it's on the topmost floor, but I'm not so sure.

Here's a picture of the book.

The beautiful author.

P.s.

Still waiting for the results. Wish me luck! :)

Back in Business

Its been years since I last wrote here! A flurry of activities, events, and happenings here and there led to the slow death of my just been born blog. Haha. So hopefully Ill continue writing and sharing whatever. :)

This 2010, Ive started having this quarterlife crisis which is just scary. Its like being in purgatory not knowing if you're bound for heaven or hell. So after the direct and indirect nudging from my family to apply as a flight attendant, I decided to give it a try. After the first attempt, I was shocked how it was so painstaking to make it. God, it was hard! Right now, I have overflowing appreciation for flight attendants who went through American Idol-like screenings just to get to the top. No pun intended. hehe. It was a grueling process, with numerous tests, and personally, the most painful of all is making it through most of the tests and getting booted out the last minute. So close and yet so faaaaaaaar.

I started to research online, on this exciting lives that FA's lead. Along the way, I saw some blogs of FA aspirants sharing both the happy and sad in their quest to fly. I felt for them, as I have also been through what they experienced. I am not alone! :)

Thank you for sharing what you know! Positivity always helps! :)

Love,

Maru

Alexandre

Situated at the heart of Bonifacio Global City, Alexandre is the perfect place to experience the smorgasborg of tasty treats that France has to offer. Alexandre's elegant and classy interiors goes perfectly with its offerings from the other side of the world.



This place delivers ultimate relaxation with its cool ambiance, coffee, and various pastries. I personally loooove the Almond and Chocolate Croissant! Whenever I go to Alexandre, I always find myself staying a wee bit more because of the comfortable surroundings, and the oh-so welcoming staff. Owned and operated by Alexander Guignard and her gorgeous fiance Anna Gala, Alexandre is their labor of love that will sure tickle the tastebuds of any discerning customer. Crepes, croisants, baguettes, salads, wines, coffee.. they have it all. And the best part is, its not heavy on the pocket at all!! Now that is a definite plus.

Visit a piece of France in 31st street, corner 1st Avenue, Fort Bonifacio Taguig. It's directly in front of Bonifacio Technology Center. Unwind, relax, study, eat.. you can basically do anything at Alexandre. Oh, and I forgot to mention.. THEY HAVE FREE WI-FI!!!!!!!!!!!! :))

Some of their items:

"Salade Niceoise" - Tuna Salad (also served with a bunch(and I mean a bunch!) of breads)


"Vive la Pizza" - They have this 1.2 feet.. WHOA! :)) This one is super yummy. Also a favorite.

(pictures from Alexandre's facebook)

Add them to your facebook account. They are very interactive with their customers :)Click here.

Review: Maybelline Impact Express Smooth Felt Liner

I was out doing some make-up shopping in Landmark,Trinoma when I chanced upon Barbi Chan of Maybelline in the Maybelline counter (wherelse??!! lol) Being a make-up freak that I am, I approached her and asked for a picture. We chatted a little ( ye-hesss haha), and talked about make-up.. and then, she whipped out this product that she was raving about... The new Maybelline Impact Express Smooth Felt Liner! She tested it on her hand.. and well.. it looks buy-able to me, being a smoky / black liner-loving girl that I am.

she's very pretty and skinny! :)

So then I bought it. Unfortunately I forgot about the price.. but as far as I can remember it is very inexpensive, at about 300 plus Php. It comes in only one color though, which is in black. I was in a hunt for a pen liner because I have to do very precise lines for a photoshoot. Let's see how Maybelline's liner delivered...

Description:
-Black
-Shaped like a pen
-It dispenses the black liquid on its own, with no twisting or clicking (which is not really positive since one has to guess about the amount of the product, or how the amount that it will dispense.
-Smooth felt tip ( can really draw precise lines, but it would be much better if it is a bit more stiff. After harassing it in the shoot that we did, the tip has become softer but very much usable still)

The product:
-very helpful in drawing precise lines, like a winged eye!
-dries up fast
-application is a breeze with this one
-easy to grip because of its pen form
-The color of the product is a little on the shiny side ( i like matte better)
-I tested the product on my lids and slept through the day wearing it. when I woke up, it is still intact. I forgot that I am wearing it and rubbed my eye vigorously.. and it produced one hell of smudge! (so much for the no smudge claim. lol. )
-If you're going to apply a second layer, make sure the first layer is still wet, because if its not, it will not adhere to the skin.. it will only remove the first layer of liner that you applied.
-after prolonged use, the felt tip will slowly get softer and softer
-this product will always keep you guessing.. one day it seems as if its about to run out because it won't dispense a generous amount, and the next day it will.

Some pictures:

I love how it can make very defined points! (Experimenting on myself here)

The product

The tip that makes precision a breeze

swatches: unsmudged and smudged. (excuse the glitter, its from another product. :))

Over-all:
-This product is a steal because of it's lovable price. It delivers the general purpose of a felt liner because of its precision. This is perfect for personal use. It won't smudge unless you touch with pressure/harass your lids. :)

Love,
Maru

Cheetah / Old Hollywood Photoshoot

As I am writing this, I've still got the make-up school hangover ( I even get dreams involving make-up!), and I'm wondering what to do next. I'm about to leave for Singapore in a few weeks, and it's a shame that I wasn't able to maximize my full make-up artist potential here. :( sniff. Oh well, I hope I can widen my network there so that I can probably score little make-up gigs here and there. I hope!

We culminated the end of our very fabulous make-up class with a photo shoot. There was an electric excitement in the air, but also a sad realization that we are all going to part ways soon. Aww, I miss them already :( Everyone was helping each other out, no pressures, just plain fun with the thing that we love most.. MAKE-UP!

Before we proceeded to the main make-up application to our models, the very creative Ms. Nina Dumpa was there to demo her amazing amazing skills. Her work shows that technical skills + creativity = astounding make-up. having the complete make-up arsenal won't do it for you.. one has to have that passion. Ms. Georginna Desuasido was also there to demo a bridal look, with the use of an airbrush. The finish was really really clean and natural.. perfect for brides , and for TV. With the HD technology looming over us, it helps to be make make-up as seamless as possible, because a flaw is a no no in the HD world.lol. Ms Georginna also shared really helpful tips and advices about being a make-up artist. She is an inspiration, as her neverending journey of learning is very obvious in the way she talks. She is always walking the path of reinvention. It was really nice meeting you Ms Nina and Georginna! :))

So.. for my first look, I emulated safari glam. It was all browns, bronzes, blacks, and of course the highlight of the face is the cheetah print. Rar! Here's a picture of my first look.. and I'm very happy with this one!

The second look that I did was Old Hollywood.. Romantic and elegant! Here's a pic:

Over all, I am very happy with the job that I did for this shoot, and I can't wait for the final pictures to come out! I'm so looking forward to collaborating with my other Make-up artist friends :) I hope to be able to at least shoot some before I leave..

Some pictures with the Basement people.. to bad our beloved teacher Cheryl wasn't there to send us off.. Please get well soon!!!!




That's it for my post! Ciao for now!!!

Love,
Maru